Morning everyone. After a very successful first day in Washington DC, Anthony Albanese has faced questions over so-called “ambiguity” in the Aukus deal which the US wants to change.
At home, Murray Watt has given us an exclusive interview about his plans to reform the country’s environmental laws, we report on how some big companies pay more in bonuses than they do in tax, and how to keep your pets cool as the heatwave hits the east.
Australia
Exclusive | The Albanese government wants the power to strip companies of any financial gains made from breaking environment laws as part of a package of reforms to be put before parliament in the next two weeks. Speaking to Guardian Australia, the environment minister, Murray Watt, said he also wants a definition of “unacceptable impact” to be enshrined in law.
Aukus ‘updates’ | Anthony Albanese continued his visit to Washington today and indicated the United States could seek updates to the Aukus agreement. It comes after a day after Donald Trump’s navy secretary spoke of his hopes to “clarify some of the ambiguity” in the nuclear submarine deal. Although the rare earths deal that Albanese signed with Trump involves mines that are probably not commercially viable, the deal “couldn’t have gone any better” according to one leading expert.
Business bonus | Some of the nation’s biggest companies – including CSL, Optus and Santos – regularly spend more on bonuses for their chief executives than they pay in company tax in Australia, new analysis shows.
Cult question | Two Christian lobby groups have pushed back against any new laws to protect vulnerable people from cults with an inquiry in Victoria told of a “palpable fear” they could affect mainstream churches.
Gold rush | The ABC Bullion Sydney store has seen huge queues as investors trade out of shares and currencies and into gold thanks to the huge increase in price. That being said, the precious metal saw its biggest one-day fall since 2020 overnight.
World
Vance visit | The US vice-president, JD Vance, has arrived in Israel to solidify the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, expressing “great optimism” about its chances of holding despite violations on both sides since Sunday. He warned, however, that Hamas would be “obliterated” if they did not cooperate with the deal.
Putin off | The White House appeared to hit reverse on Donald Trump’s comments last week and said there were no plans for the US president to meet Vladmir Putin “in the immediate future” as European leaders rallied for a peace in which Kyiv would not give any territorial concessions.
Palace intrigue | British MPs have moved to lodge a parliamentary motion to formally strip Prince Andrew of his dukedom. The prince has already volunteered to no longer use the title, but pressure for more action follows revelations about the prince not paying rent on his luxury 30-room house in Windsor.
Beware the GFC | The governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, has warned recent events in US private credit markets have worrying echoes of the sub-prime mortgage crisis that kicked off the global financial crash of 2008.
‘Disastrous message’ | The case of a single vote which determined the election outcome of a federal seat in Canada risks sending the “disastrous message” to voters that “some votes count more than others”, the lawyer of a former MP said as a court considers whether to void the controversial election and hold a new vote.
Full Story
Will Barnaby Joyce jump to One Nation?
Dan Jervis-Bardy speaks to Nour Haydar about why the former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce says he wants to quit the party – and what this says about the Coalition’s looming crisis over net zero.
In-depth
The ongoing costs of flooding are laid bare by a new report today which shows that of the 2m flood-prone houses across Australia, at least 70% have had their values reduced by flood risk and the value gap between them and flood-free homes has increased to $75,000. Donna Lu talks to people in northern NSW made homeless by flooding and their battle to find new accommodation.
Not the news
Putting ice cubes in the water bowl, freezing treats to leave in puzzle toys and taking advantage of wading pools are just some of the ways in which Guardian Australia staff will try to keep their pets cool as temperatures on the east coast soar.
Sport
Rugby league | Adam Hills and England legend Martin Offiah have teamed up to urge the home side not to treat Australia “like gods” when the Kangaroos go into the first rugby league Ashes Test at Wembley on Saturday.
Cricket | There’s an Ashes clash before then as Australia take on England in the semi-final of the Women’s World Cup in Indore today, with England’s Amy Jones insisting no one is thinking of the drubbing they suffered in January.
Football | Arsenal are at home to Atlético Madrid this morning in the latest round of men’s Champions League matches, while Newcastle entertain Benfica and Leverkusen take on PSG.
Media roundup
A Westpac worker has won a landmark case after the bank refused to allow her to work from home to manage her two daughters’ school run, in a decision that the Daily Telegraph says could have implications for return-to-office mandates. The Bass Strait ferry operator TT-Line might need a bailout as its port terminal project costs blow out to nearly $500m, the Mercury reports. The Age reveals the eight drama-filled days at the centre of a feud between Racing Victoria and the chief vet in the buildup to the Cox Plate.
What’s happening today
Sydney | Directions at NSW supreme court as Asic sues Rex and directors.
Canberra | National Press Club address by biomedical engineer Daniel Timms.
Public affairs | Prof Megan Davis delivers the Centre for Public Integrity’s annual integrity oration in Sydney.
Sign up
If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland.
Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
