Morning, everyone. Pat Cummins has reprised his Ashes batting heroics to steer Australia into the World Cup final with a thrilling three-wicket win against South Africa in Kolkata. But the mighty India await in Sunday’s showdown.
Labor has passed its legislation to close a loophole in the legal treatment of asylum seekers released from indefinite detention but has been accused of caving to opposition pressure. We’ve got the full story, plus what the boss of Optus can expect at her Senate grilling today. And, with summer coming, we taste-test ice-cream.
Australia
World
Santos to go | The Republican congressman George Santos said he would not seek re-election next year after the US House ethics committee found him guilty of “grave and pervasive campaign finance violations and fraudulent activity”.
Sánchez victory | Pedro Sánchez has clinched a second term as Spain’s prime minister for his Socialist party after winning an ill-tempered investiture vote that was dominated by his decision to do a deal with Catalan separatists.
Apec armistice | China has praised the “warm” meeting between Xi Jinping and Joe Biden in California, in a marked shift of rhetoric after months of negotiations aimed at stabilising what has been a testy relationship.
Manchin warning | Joe Manchin, the outgoing Democratic US senator from West Virginia, has warned that if Donald Trump is sent back to the White House in next year’s presidential election “he will destroy democracy in America”.
Musk’s ‘truth’ | The billionaire owner of Tesla and X Elon Musk has tweeted his agreement with a tweet accusing Jews of “hatred against whites”, calling it the “the actual truth” and criticising America’s Anti-Defamation League.
Full Story
Newsroom edition: why is Australia more divided than ever?
A survey has found that social cohesion has significantly decreased in the past year. Guardian Australia’s head of newsroom, Mike Ticher, and national news editor, Patrick Keneally, discuss what is dividing the country and where it is leading us.
In-depth
We have some striking before-and-after video footage showing the extent of destruction in Gaza City. Apartment blocks, shops and streets lie in ruins amid the onslaught by the Israeli military in the wake of the surprise Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October. In today’s developments Israel has dropped leaflets into southern Gaza telling Palestinian civilians to leave, raising fears that its war against Hamas could spread to areas it previously said were safe. Amid ugly anti-Israel protests in Washington, could Tel Aviv alienate its biggest supporter? And we’ve also updated our explainer on the whole Israel-Palestine issue.
Not the news
If you’re wondering which ice-cream to buy this weekend, we’ve got you covered. In his latest taste testing session, Nicholas Jordan has taken on the all-important task of finding the best and worst of supermarket tubs, helped by two of Sydney’s best gelato makers. The results might surprise you.
The world of sport
Cricket | Australia’s bowlers set the template with a brilliant display against South Africa in the World Cup semi-final overnight, limiting the Proteas to just 212. It looked like a formality for Australia but several key wickets were thrown away and it needed the old heads of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc to steer them home.
Football | Jamie Maclaren grabbed a hat-trick as Australia thumped Bangladesh 7-0 in their opening World Cup qualifying game in Melbourne. He was one of a number of veterans to star but Graham Arnold will have to bring on a new generation before the tournament in the US in 2026.
Tennis | Novak Djokovic defeated Hubert Hurkacz in his final round-robin match at the ATP Finals but must wait to see if he qualifies for the last four.
Media roundup
The Sydney Morning Herald conveys the wish of Fairfield’s mayor, Frank Carbone, that clubs pay a super tax on gambling profits. The Courier-Mail fears that spending cuts could jeopardise transport projects crucial to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, while the cost of holding the Australian Grand Prix is going to cost Victorian taxpayers $100m, according to the Age. In the Northern Territory, work on Santos’s giant Barossa gas export project has been halted after the federal court backed an appeal by traditional owners, NT News says.
What’s happening today
Education | Schoolchildren across the country are staging a climate strike.
Melbourne | An application will be heard for a doctor suspended for giving a large number of Covid vaccination exemption certificates.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day – with plenty more on the Guardian’s Puzzles app for iOS and Android. Until tomorrow.
