Good morning everyone. Our top story today reveals a staggering death toll from government inaction. In a five-month investigation, scouring coronial findings from 248 deaths, Guardian Australia has found that 57 inmates in Australian jails hanged themselves in the past two decades using ligature points that were known to authorities but not removed.
Plus: Anthony Albanese will map out his priorities for his second term in a key speech today, Los Angeles braces for more unrest, and we hear about a time when Monet, Cezanne et al were panned by the critics.
Australia
‘Meet the moment’ | Anthony Albanese will tell the National Press Club today that government and democratic institutions “including a free media” can meet the demands of global uncertainty, despite growing attacks around the world and the shooting of an Australian reporter covering the Los Angeles unrest.
18C ‘battle’ | A Sydney cleric being sued in the federal court for alleged racial discrimination of Jewish people has described his case as an existential battle “between Islam and unbelievers”.
Koala cut | New South Wales environmental activists say an area that is home to endangered koalas and southern greater gliders has been left out of the Minns government’s assessment for its proposed great koala national park.
Tasmania tangle | After a week of drama in Tasmanian politics, the premier, Jeremy Rockliff, is expected to visit the state’s governor on Tuesday to request a state election.
Greensill case | The Australian financier Lex Greensill has told a court in London that senior managers at SoftBank “felt threatened” by his relationship with Masayoshi Son, the founder of the Japanese tech investor that pumped millions into Greensill’s company before its collapse.
World
Veteran warning | As crowds gathered in Los Angeles for a fourth day of protests against immigration detentions, veterans warned the Trump administration’s deployment of national guard troops to the city over the head of California’s governor is a major escalation that risks the politicisation of the US military. Unions have demanded the release of a leader arrested and injured during the Ice raids in the city on Friday. You can follow developments live, and also learn more about the protests with our visual explainer.
AI ‘limits’ | Apple researchers have found “fundamental limitations” in cutting-edge artificial intelligence models, in a paper raising doubts about the technology industry’s race to develop ever more powerful systems.
Russia threat | Russia could be ready to attack westwards within five years, Nato’s chief has warned, with member states expected to agree to increase military spending to 5% of GDP later this month. Ukraine claims to have damaged two fighter jets in another audacious raid deep inside Russia. Western guests including Elon Musk’s father will speak at a pro-Putin conference being held in Moscow.
Boat blocked | A boat with Greta Thunberg and fellow activists on board is being held in an Israeli port ahead of deportation hearings after the country’s military seized the vessel when the group tried to break the blockade on Gaza.
Celebrity defamation | A judge has dismissed Justin Baldoni’s US$400m defamation claim against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, finding that Lively’s accusations of sexual harassment against Baldoni were legally protected.
Full Story
Trump takes on the LA protesters and Elon Musk
Washington DC bureau chief David Smith tells Nour Haydar why Donald Trump’s reaction to the LA protests is a diversion from his feud with billionaire Elon Musk.
In-depth
There’s a shrine in Karen Reid’s home to her son Luke. His white hard hat sits on top of a toolbox. His old vape is there, tucked inside one of his favourite sneakers. Luke died in 2022 at 27 years old on his first night on remand. He took his own life by hanging in a prison cell that authorities knew contained a dangerous ligature point, but failed to remove. As part of a new Guardian Australia investigation launched today, Karen speaks out, saying government negligence allowed her son to die. She calls on authorities to take seriously their responsibility to keep inmates safe, and to urgently remove known hanging points from prison cells, “so that no other mother and family has to go through this pain”. We have also asked other states why they haven’t removed ligature points.
Not the news
The National Gallery of Victoria’s new show, French Impressionism, celebrates some of the greatest names in art such as Monet, Renoir, Degas, Morisot and Pissarro. But the curator of the show tells Sian Cain that when they first started one critic said the style “makes me sick”.
Sport
Test cricket | The World Test Championship starts tomorrow with Australia taking on South Africa at Lord’s. Martin Pegan examines where the match will be won and lost.
AFL | Collingwood showed why they are flag favourites by edging out the Demons by one point in a tense game at the MCG.
Football | After sacking Ange Postecoglou last week, Tottenham have approached Brentford over appointing Thomas Frank as their new head coach.
Media roundup
Former federal minister Eric Abetz is a “creditable candidate” to be Tasmania’s new premier, a key backer tells the Hobart Mercury. The De Bortoli winemaking family tell the Herald Sun they are “doing the unthinkable” and ripping out vines amid a slump in wine sales. Circular Quay will be transformed by a giant half-woman half-whale sculpture, according to Sydney Morning Herald.
What’s happening today
Business | NSW premier Chris Minns and treasurer Daniel Mookhey will speak at a NSW Economic Review event ahead of the state budget.
Technology | Summit in Sydney to discuss energy and water challenges faced by the data centre sector.
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.
