Good morning. The chaos at the top of Liz Truss’s government in the UK is spreading with the resignation of one of her most senior ministers, who delivered a scathing parting shot at her boss. In Australia, a meeting this weekend between our prime minister and Japan’s is expected to see a new security deal signed. And there are fresh fears over the disease Japanese encephalitis, spread by mosquitoes that can spawn in flood waters.
Japan and Australia will share intelligence assessments about China’s military buildup and intentions under a security deal to be signed by the two prime ministers this weekend. Japan’s ambassador also hinted that Australia was likely to be invited to the G7 summit in Hiroshima next year, saying its participation would be a “natural” step at a time of worsening tensions in the region.
Warming temperatures combined with flood waters could leave almost 750,000 Australians vulnerable to Japanese encephalitis – a disease that until last year was confined to Asia and far-northern Australia. A new study has modelled how the disease could spread, especially in the vicinity of piggeries (pigs are one of the main carriers of the virus).
Suella Braverman has been forced to resign as UK home secretary, one of the most senior ministerial roles in government. She was replaced by Grant Shapps, who was fired as transport secretary by Truss six weeks ago as he had supported her opponent in the Tory leadership contest. In a pointed resignation letter, which contrasted her actions with those of Truss, Braverman wrote: “Pretending we haven’t made mistakes, carrying on as if everyone can’t see that we have made them, and hoping that things will magically come right is not serious politics. I have made a mistake; I accept responsibility; I resign.”
Australia
Volunteers in flood-hit Rochester are calling for more assistance before rains return, saying community spirit is heartening but “only goes so far”.
Labor is announcing movement on its promise to improve the national broadband network, with money in Tuesday’s budget to expand full-fibre access to 1.5m homes and businesses, mainly in outer city and regional areas.
The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, has shot down the Bureau of Meteorology’s request for people not to call it “the BoM”, saying Australians should be free to call it whatever they like as the full cost of the rebrand was revealed.
A worker died of a heart attack during construction of the Sydney Metro tunnel near Barangaroo station amid allegations from the unions that a defibrillator was not readily available in the construction zone.
A woman has been left incontinent after giving birth after Mackay Base hospital’s failures and is considering joining a growing number of women in a class action lawsuit against it.
The world
Vladimir Putin has declared martial law in the four provinces of Ukraine where Moscow controls territory after Russian officials warned of a Ukrainian assault on the key southern city of Kherson.
The first snapshot of a Neanderthal community has been pieced together by scientists who examined ancient DNA from fragments of bone and teeth unearthed in caves in southern Siberia.
Reports that a 16-year-old girl has died in a Covid quarantine centre after pleas from her family for medical help were ignored have caused anger in China, where ongoing tight pandemic controls have started to take their toll on a weary population.
The UK foreign secretary has not ruled out Chinese officials being prosecuted or expelled from Britain for the “completely unacceptable” violence against pro-democracy protesters in Manchester.
Recommended reads
Need to get a gateaux from A to B? Katherine Sabbath conveniently has some tips for making a car-proof cake.
You have a choice – you can use the internet to buy uranium on the dark web or laugh at this list as Dave Woodhead brings us this week’s 10 funniest things I have ever seen (on the internet), which includes Aunty Donna, a bad Drake cake and a sketch so funny that Woodhead thought he might die.
There are cool directors, and then there are directors as cool as Soda Jerk, whose films are almost like forbidden fruits, writes Luke Buckmaster, in a four-star review of his new film, Hello Dankness.
Listen
In the latest episode of Ben Roberts-Smith v the media, Ben Doherty takes us inside the raid on Whiskey 108. We hear evidence presented by Ben Roberts-Smith and others who support his version of events, as well as witnesses for the newspapers, read by voice actors.
Full Story is Guardian Australia’s daily news podcast. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcasting app.
Sport
Australia have taken the Constellation Cup to a deciding fourth game after a barnstorming 62-47 win over New Zealand in Melbourne.
Ahead of the T20 World Cup, pace bowler Josh Hazlewood reveals he prefers to watch footy.
Media roundup
Health programs left unfunded, “zombie” measures unlikely to ever become law and cost blowouts for major infrastructure projects have forced billions of dollars worth of extra spending into treasurer Jim Chalmers’ first budget, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. And the Australian reveals that a French test audience who watched the new Australian tourism ad featuring Ruby the Roo were less than impressed.
Coming up
Jury deliberations continue in the Bruce Lerhmann trial.
A report is due from the NSW parliament inquiry into homelessness among older people.
An Extinction Rebellion Victoria protest is set to disrupt Melbourne’s CBD to call for an end to gas exploration.
And if you’ve read this far …
Check out the incredible pictures of beetles and bacteria captured in this year’s Nikon Small World photomicrography 2022 competition.
Sign up
If you would like to receive the Guardian Australia morning mail to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here.
Get in touch
If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email newsletters@theguardian.com.
Discover Australia Weekend
Every Saturday at 6am, enjoy early access to the best journalism planned for the weekend in one elegant app, plus a curated selection of the week’s news and analysis from Australia and the world.
