Good morning. Israeli forces have carried out a wave of airstrikes in southern Gaza and closed off the territory to aid supplies amid accusations that Hamas violated their ceasefire agreement.
Meanwhile, company records have revealed that Bupa staff were given $14m in bonuses shortly before the insurer admitted to deceptive conduct towards thousands of its Australian customers.
And: jewel thieves have pulled off a spectacular heist at the Louvre museum in Paris, Anthony Albanese is set to touch down in the US, and Oscar Piastri faces a tough task to stay ahead of his F1 title rivals.
Australia
Bupa bonuses | More than $14m was awarded to senior Australian health insurance staff a year before Bupa admitted to unconscionably causing customers to cancel or delay medical procedures.
Exclusive | The NSW government rejected advice from an expert scientific panel before it attempted a failed reintroduction of koalas to a forest that resulted in the death of more than half the animals.
Catching Zs | Sleep monitoring is a boom industry, but Australian experts are asking how accurate sleep trackers are, how useful the data is – and even what good sleep looks like.
Nationals turmoil | David Littleproud has urged Barnaby Joyce to stay in the party after the former leader announced his intention to quit – prompting talk of a potential defection to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.
Port Douglas scare | A crocodile discovered lying in a Queensland resort’s pool has been removed by wildlife rangers, with the state’s environment regulator issuing new warnings about the reptiles.
World
Gaza crisis | The Israeli air force has carried out airstrikes in Rafah, in what marks the most serious threat so far to the fragile ceasefire in Gaza; Israel reportedly halted supply of aid into Gaza as it launched the attacks; Palestinians in Gaza fear the ceasefire “could collapse at any moment”.
Louvre break-in | “Priceless” historic jewellery – including a necklace that Napoleon gave to his wife – has been stolen from the Louvre in Paris after men used a mechanical ladder to break into one of the museum’s most ornate rooms.
Prince Andrew claims | UK police are looking into claims Prince Andrew asked his taxpayer-funded close protection officer to uncover information about Virginia Giuffre hours before the emergence of a bombshell picture of them together.
Russia-Ukraine war | Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has urged allies against appeasing Russia after returning from a trip to the US, where he failed to secure Tomahawk cruise missiles.
‘It’s a crucial vote’ | Voters in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus have been casting ballots in a poll seen as pivotal to determining whether peace talks can be revived on the divided island.
Full Story
Ex-ambassador to the US on how Albanese can tackle Trump
Anthony Albanese is due to have his first face-to-face meeting with the US president at the White House. Reged Ahmad speaks with former ambassador to the US and former Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos – a man who’s been in the room with Donald Trump – on what Australia should be offering this most unpredictable of presidents.
In-depth
Peter Drew works swiftly, transforming a blank city wall into a work of art designed to spark questions about what it means to be Australian. He has faced outrage and vitriol from those challenged by his striking “Aussie” posters – and gratitude from new arrivals and those who see hope in his evocative images. So he says he’ll continue his work, as immigration policy debate is again used by some as a front for white nationalism and racism.
Not the news
Over their mind-boggling 15-year, 27-album career, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard have switched gears with the speed and abandon of a stunt driver. And in July, they made their latest hairpin turn: removing all their music from Spotify, in protest of CEO Daniel Ek’s A$1bn investment in military tech. Frontman Stu McKenzie tells Shaad D’Souza the decision to abandon Spotify was an easy one to make – as was making all their music available for free online.
Sport
Motorsport | Australian Formula One driver Oscar Piastri is under pressure, starting on sixth on the grid in the US Grand Prix – with his main rivals on the front row.
Cricket | Mitchell Marsh steered Australia to a seven-wicket victory over India in a rain-hit first ODI in Perth; England held off India by four runs to secure a Women’s World Cup semi-final spot.
Football | Manchester United have won at Anfield for the first time in nine years after a Harry Maguire header stunned Liverpool; Marco Silva is emerging as Nottingham Forest’s top target to replace Ange Postecoglou; Rangers’ managerial chaos continues as talks with Kevin Muscat break down.
Media roundup
Residents in some parts of NSW are being forced to travel almost 300km to see a dentist for check-ups, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Suspected space debris is believed to have crashed near a WA mine site, with officials confirming the object was not from a commercial aircraft, ABC News reports. Private security guards patrolling housing estates in Melbourne’s outer west will soon start carrying guns, the Age reports. Tasmania’s pioneering green AI factory is set for nationwide expansion in a project that could create thousands of jobs, the Mercury reports.
What’s happening today
Foreign affairs | The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is to arrive in the US ahead of his White House meeting with Donald Trump.
VIC | A public hearing is scheduled in the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into cults and organised fringe groups.
VIC | A hearing is scheduled in the Senate inquiry into the Thriving Kids initiative in Melbourne.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
