Australia's Morning Mail: Key Events and Developments

Good morning. New figures highlight how house prices have fallen nationwide in recent months – to the surprise of the Reserve Bank governor.

There are fears that this year could become the worst on record for First Nations deaths in custody in New South Wales, after two men died last month at the Lithgow and Clarence correctional centres.

Australia’s athletes have ended their Commonwealth Games on a golden high, and the trial of Alan Jones is due to begin today in Sydney.

**Australia**

Exclusive | After two men died in correctional centres in July, First Nations advocates warn that prisons in NSW could exceed last year’s record number of Indigenous deaths in custody.

Alan Jones trial | The trial of former broadcaster Alan Jones on charges of indecent assault and sexual touching is scheduled to begin in Sydney, with 76 witnesses expected across four months.

Market cools | House prices have fallen in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth as the market downturn spreads across Australia with the Middle East conflict and tax changes beginning to bite.

‘Incredibly far-ranging’ | Queensland is considering a bill to “streamline” major projects by bypassing conservation and planning laws – but it is raising alarm bells for property owners.

Temperature Check | Karl Stefanovic’s “great net zero debate” was anything but – so beware the Coalition claims of renewables taking over “two Tasmanias” in terms of land, Graham Readfearn writes.

**World**

Middle East crisis | Donald Trump says he cancelled military strikes against Iran on the basis of “rapidly” reaching a deal on its nuclear program and the reopening of the strait of Hormuz.

Wildfire tragedy | Two Australian firefighting helicopters have collided in gale-force winds near Athens, amid frantic efforts to control a massive wildfire barrelling towards the outskirts of the Greek capital.

‘All I need is a chance’ | The chaos of their border crossing gives way to limbo for Moroccans on Ceuta’s streets as they face uncertain prospects after more than 50,000 people entered the Spanish enclave.

Elisabeth-Jane Ross | Greek police say a man has been arrested over the death of a Scottish woman whose body was found in a suitcase by a homeless man in a derelict building in Athens.

Drought impact | There are warnings that Britain could face food shortages as farmers battle to salvage what they can of their crops with parts of England suffering a punishing drought.

**Full Story**

**Your guide to Alan Jones’ trial**

Alan Jones will today front court on 22 charges of indecent and sexual assault, spanning a nearly two-decade period. He denies all charges. Once a media giant who enjoyed the height of influence and power, he is now the centre of one of Australia’s highest-profile criminal cases. Amanda Meade joins Nour Haydar to get us up to speed on the trial.

**In-depth**

In the 1990s, a mystery virus in Australia started killing horses. Then humans. Epidemiologists scouring for clues in their quest to find out how the virus had jumped to humans from horses then discovered its origin: bats. In his new book, Sentinels: When Diseases Spread Between Humans and Animals, author Michael Delaney asks whether this was the moment our coronavirus era began.

**Not the news**

In the latest in our Kindness of strangers series, we hear from a reader who found themselves injured, starving and dehydrated after hiking to find an incredible waterfall deep in the Thai rainforest. They wonder what might have happened if a fellow backpacker they had only met a few hours earlier hadn’t picked them up and carried them back towards safety.

**Sport**

Commonwealth Games | “Never give up”: Australian para bowler Louise Hoskins, 76, won a historic gold medal; and Australia capped off its medal table dominance with golds for track cyclists Tara Neyland, Leigh Hoffmann and Alyssa Polites. Before the closing ceremony (featuring Delta Goodrem), the Glasgow 2026 chief hailed the “phenomenal success” of the revamped Commonwealth Games.

AFL | Josh Fraser has morphed from low-key interim coach to the best man for the top Carlton job, Jonathan Horn writes.

Football | Pressure on embattled Fifa boss Gianni Infantino is increasing as Uefa members prepare to oppose his re-election.

Cycling | Lorena Wiebes won again on stage two of the Tour de France Femmes to retain the yellow jersey; the UCI president backed night-time drug testing after the Tour de France controversy.

Olympics | Concept plans for Brisbane’s Olympic stadium precinct have been revealed – but critics say they are “fantasy vision”.

**Media roundup**

A former Asio agent has made a new bid to return to Australia to give evidence to the Bondi royal commission despite being denied a visa, ABC News reports. Police say the scale of child abuse in NSW has become an epidemic with more than 300 incidents reported to authorities each week, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

**What’s happening today**

NSW | The trial of former broadcaster Alan Jones begins today in Sydney.

ACT | A public hearing in the inquiry into the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill is being held in Canberra.

WA | The Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum begins today in Kalgoorlie.

QLD | A public hearing is scheduled in Brisbane in the inquiry into the Support at Home Program.

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**Brain teaser**

And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.

Quick crossword

Cryptic crossword

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