Good morning. US military interests control or have access to more than half of Australia’s military bases, according to new data compiled by the Nautilus Institute and published by the Guardian today. Some analysts describe it as a “saturation” or “colonisation” of Australia’s military – and warn it could drag Australia unwillingly into a US war with China.
The Greens claim that Labor has failed to take action following a former Israeli military officer’s “reprehensible” comments over the deadly strike that killed aid worker Zomi Frankcom in Gaza.
And overseas, a far-right political party is projected to win a state election in Germany for the first time since the second world war – but exit polls suggest it may yet fail to secure a majority.
Australia
‘Reprehensible’ | The Greens have criticised statements from the former Israel Defense Forces officer who ordered the attack which killed Zomi Frankcom, and accused Labor of failing to take action.
Exclusive | US military interests control or have access to more than 100 defence facilities on Australian soil, in what some analysts describe as a “saturation” and a “colonisation” of Australia.
Exclusive | Some greyhound trainers in Victoria may be forced to take training to understand effects of misogynistic and sexist comments, after Animal Justice party MP Georgie Purcell faced abuse.
Biodegradable coffins | A woman has been buried in a coffin made from mushrooms in NSW in an eco-friendly first for Australia – with the casket taking just 45 days to break down.
‘The engine’s on fire’ | A passenger has recalled “a lot of screaming” after a Qantas flight from Queenstown to Sydney was rerouted after flames were seen coming from the plane’s left engine.
World
Far-right gains | The far-right Alternative für Deutschland has emerged as the winner in the Saxony-Anhalt state election in Germany, exit polls suggest – but they may fail to secure a majority.
Russia-Ukraine war | The US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have arrived in Kyiv for talks on how to end the war in Ukraine – having first visited Russia’s president Vladimir Putin.
Middle East crisis | Donald Trump’s war with Iran is likely to drag on for another six months, a former US defense secretary has warned; the US energy secretary says a nuclear agreement with Tehran might not be reached.
Slavery’s legacy | Jamaican delegates have arrived in the UK to hand a petition to King Charles over slavery reparations, aiming to confront historical crimes that disadvantage Britain’s former colonies.
Ash cloud risk | Indonesia has halted operations at eight airports, including from its main international hub, affecting hundreds of flights as a result of an ash cloud from the Anak Krakatau volcano.
‘So systemic’ | The enduring cult of male genius is keeping down female film-makers, one of the only two female directors in the running for the top prize at the Venice film festival has warned.
Full Story
Why can the US access so many Australian military bases, and could they drag us unwillingly into war?
Dotted like an outline around parts of Australia’s coast are military bases – the majority of which the US has control of or access to. Now a special Guardian investigation reveals the breadth of Donald Trump’s US military presence in the country, to a scale that the Australian public might not be aware of. Ben Doherty speaks with Reged Ahmad about whether America’s strong military presence in Australia could drag us unwillingly into war.
In-depth
To protect our cognitive abilities and perhaps even enhance them as the years pass, human brains build out networks of nerves which act pretty much like the scaffolding inside a skyscraper. In his new book, The Brain Cliff, Dr Norman Swan outlines this science of brain ageing – and shares his strategies for staving off cognitive decline, from letting your mind wander, not retiring, and stopping worrying.
Not the news
In the latest of our Kindness of strangers series, we hear from a reader whose 94-year-old mother found that a discounted vacuum cleaner was out of stock at her local store. When she was unable to travel to another store an hour away where it was still in stock, a “mind-blowing” act of generosity followed.
Sport
AFL | The complacent Lions reappear as the Swans show they have spirit amid the turmoil, Jonathan Horn writes.
Motorsport | Kimi Antonelli ends Italy’s 60-year wait for a home F1 win with spectacular Monza triumph after starting in 19th position.
Football | Martin Ødegaard fires home the winner as Arsenal complete a comeback win over Chelsea in the Premier League; an Ashley Maitland-Niles stunner rescues the late point for Everton against Manchester United; the embattled Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, has declared his intention to stand for re-election.
Cycling | ‘What are we doing?’: Matthew Brennan’s anger at racing in 44C heat as Wout van Aert wins a shortened stage 15 of the Vuelta a España; Tim Wellens pulls away on the last stage to win the Tour of Britain.
Rugby union | The Wallabies’ key weakness lets Argentina off the hook, but Les Kiss won’t “catastrophise it”, Jack Snape writes.
Tennis | Aryna Sabalenka and Linda Noskova win and Carlos Alcaraz faces Tommy Paul on day eight of the US Open; Dane Sweeny’s “career-changing” US Open comes to an end – along with Australia’s singles hopes.
Media roundup
Analysis has revealed that Australians perform about 31bn hours of unpaid labour each year – more than all paid work combined, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Legal experts believe there is a significant prospect that a ban on neo-Nazi group White Australia could be overturned by the high court, ABC News reports. Melbourne airport is pressing ahead with controversial plans to scrap the arrival and departure ramps as part of its expansion, the Age reports.
What’s happening today
ACT | Federal parliament is sitting in Canberra.
Victoria | The AI Summit Australia is set to begin today in Melbourne.
NSW | The trial of former broadcaster Alan Jones continues in Sydney.
NSW | The Australian Financial Review Property Summit 2026 is being held in Sydney.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
