Jack Larkin

Ben Carroll has been sworn in as Victoria’s premier after Jacinta Allan resigned before a Labor leadership challenge. Carroll appointed Gabrielle Williams as deputy and said his first major action would be to establish a royal commission into the construction sector, alongside a special prosecutor, while promising to govern differently from Allan and Daniel Andrews. The live coverage also reported ACTU leadership departures, hearings into the ATO’s use of outsourced call centres, KPMG’s seventh senior resignation following its audit-leak scandal, and Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock’s indication that slowing economic and housing activity has made an August interest-rate rise less likely. Other developments included a High Court challenge to Queensland’s ban on the slogan “from the river to the sea,” an ICAC inquiry into alleged factional work and donations involving Catholic Schools NSW, confirmed H5 bird flu in South Australian birds, and Moira Deeming’s resignation from the Liberal Party.

Thousands of Socceroos fans gathered at Sydney’s Tumbalong Park at 5am to watch Australia play the United States in the 2026 World Cup. Australia lost 2-0, ending the optimism that followed its victory over Turkey and disappointing around 10,000 travelling Australian supporters.

The podcast examines 764, a global online network accused of manipulating and coercing children into self-harm, violence and sexual exploitation, sometimes turning vulnerable minors into perpetrators. It discusses urgent FBI warnings to parents and hundreds of investigations worldwide, including in Australia, while highlighting the broader dangers these networks pose to children.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has generated intense interest in Australia and prompted fans to travel long distances to see it in its original 70mm IMAX format. The podcast examines whether the film’s scale and theatrical experience can persuade audiences to leave streaming devices behind and help an ailing cinema industry recover.

A Full Story podcast examines the defining moments of the 2026 World Cup as the tournament approaches its final between Spain and Argentina. Nour Haydar and football writer Sam Lewis discuss the competition’s record 102 matches, presidential interference, controversial VAR decisions, predictions for the final and how the tournament may permanently change the World Cup.

Australia’s AI revolution is raising fears about workplace displacement and broader social disruption. The Labor government has moved slowly on regulation as it balances worker protection against claims that excessive rules could undermine investment and an AI-led economic boom. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to address the issue in a landmark speech, with the central challenge being how to embrace the technology while managing its risks for workers and society.

The podcast examines Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese’s growing use of podcasts and the risks and rewards of operating in an increasingly fractured media environment. It focuses on his unequivocal apology for an off-colour comment about Kylie Minogue during a “shag, marry, date” game and considers what the incident reveals about his media strategy and political communication.

Anthony Albanese’s apology for an off-colour remark about Kylie Minogue during a podcast game highlights both the opportunities and risks of politicians using informal digital media. Josephine Tovey discusses the incident with Patrick Keneally, Gabrielle Jackson and Josh Butler, examining what Albanese’s appearance reveals about an increasingly fractured Australian media landscape and the double-edged nature of social-media-driven political communication.

Donald Trump’s threat to “take” Cuba has intensified fears on the island that the United States could intervene militarily. Escalating U.S. sanctions and an oil blockade have contributed to blackouts, shortages of essential services and a near standstill for Cuba’s 10 million residents. Nour Haydar speaks with Ruaridh Nicoll about conditions in Havana and the likelihood of further escalation.

New South Wales will face a difficult State of Origin decider against Queensland at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, where the home state has won seven of 10 deciders, with one draw. However, NSW has previously won game three in Queensland in 1994, 2005 and 2024. Those victories included dominant performances in 1994 and 2005 and a tense 14-4 triumph in 2024, showing that a hostile Maroons home crowd does not make a Blues victory impossible.

Anthony Albanese is pursuing closer ties with Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and India as Australia seeks to counter China’s influence in the Pacific. The strategy includes a new defence alliance with Fiji and diplomatic outreach through meetings and rugby-related events. The podcast also considers whether criticism of Albanese’s comments about Kylie Minogue could distract from his international agenda. Since recording, China’s long-range missile test in the South Pacific has prompted Foreign Minister Penny Wong to describe the action as destabilising.

Australian man Simon Peter Carman, 45, was charged with the alleged murder of teenager Thunchanok Donhomla after her body was found in a suitcase near railway tracks in Pattaya, Thailand. Carman denies the charges. Guardian reporters discuss the arrest, the questions it raises, and the wider context of Thailand’s sex tourism industry.

Sydney’s Algerian community gathered at Cafe Tanja in Surry Hills to watch Algeria’s decisive World Cup group match against Austria. Amid tea, North African food and intense nerves, supporters celebrated goals by both teams, including Riyad Mahrez’s late strike, before Austria equalised in the final seconds. The 3-3 draw nevertheless sent Algeria through to the round of 32, reinforcing the cafe’s role as a place where Algerian Australians can connect with their heritage and community.

Socceroos defender Jason Geria has urged schools and employers to let students and staff watch Australia’s decisive World Cup group match against Paraguay at noon on Friday. Australia needs only a draw to finish above Paraguay in Group D and has additional routes to the last 32 even with a defeat. Former Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams backed the call, while former Socceroos captain Paul Wade argued that workplaces should use technology rather than give employees the day off. Victorian public schools may screen the match, and an SBS survey found widespread support for watching it at work. A petition is also seeking a public holiday if Australia advances.

Cape Verde, an Atlantic archipelago of about 500,000 people, has made a historic World Cup debut after qualifying by topping its African qualifying group ahead of Cameroon. The Blue Sharks held Spain to a 0-0 draw and drew 2-2 with Uruguay, earning their first World Cup goals and a chance to reach the knockout stage. The explainer covers the country’s geography, Portuguese colonial history, independence, population, diaspora and football squad, which includes many dual-nationality players. A win over Saudi Arabia would guarantee progression, while a draw could also be enough.

ANZ, Commonwealth Bank and NAB now expect Australia’s cash rate to remain unchanged this year before falling from mid-2027, while HSBC also anticipates delayed cuts; Westpac remains the outlier, forecasting rate rises later in 2026 and no cuts until 2028. A Melbourne One Nation fundraiser was relocated after the venue cancelled amid planned protests, while Nationals leader Matt Canavan rejected closer electoral cooperation with One Nation. New South Wales referred Yancoal and Glencore’s proposed Hunter Valley Operations expansion to the Independent Planning Commission, despite climate concerns raised by the Net Zero Commission and environmental groups. The federal government defended AUKUS after the resignation of Britain’s defence secretary. Other developments included legal approval for a representative challenge to Queensland’s ban on gender-affirming treatment for transgender children, strong growth in Australian travel to Indonesia, and ABC managing director Hugh Marks defending engagement with News Corp journalists.

Nick Kyrgios began another comeback at the ATP event in Stuttgart by defeating world No. 36 Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-4 in under an hour. The unranked Australian, who has undergone wrist reconstruction and four knee surgeries and played little singles tennis since 2022, said he was delighted to be back after questioning whether he would continue competing. He next faces Japan’s Sho Shimabukuro, while a strong grass-court run could improve his chances of receiving a Wimbledon wildcard.

New South Wales coach Laurie Daley has named Mitchell Moses in the Blues squad for State of Origin game two, despite the Parramatta halfback’s ongoing recovery from a hamstring strain. Moses must prove his fitness before the Melbourne match and is expected to partner Nathan Cleary, with Ethan Strange moving to the bench. Payne Haas and Api Koroisau return, while Dylan Lucas replaces Haumole Olakau’atu among the selected players. Queensland has recalled Reece Walsh after omitting him from game one, but Billy Slater has not decided whether he will start, play from the bench or cover the halves. The Blues lead the series 1-0.

The Guardian’s live coverage reports a growing contest between the Coalition and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, with Liberal MP Andrew Hastie accusing Hanson of putting Donald Trump’s MAGA ideology ahead of Australian interests over the US war on Iran. One Nation’s polling surge is prompting the Coalition to reject a small-target strategy and promise a fuller policy platform. The coverage also follows condemnation by Anthony Albanese, Julia Gillard and Victorian politicians of misogynistic “ditch the witch” billboards targeting Jacinta Allan; announces a state funeral for cancer researcher Richard Scolyer; reports climate groups urging Chris Bowen to halt new fossil-fuel projects; and covers a plane crash near Melbourne, airport arrests and a deadly earthquake in the southern Philippines.

Australian defender Kai Trewin gained about 100,000 Instagram followers overnight after football creator RubikayTV challenged fans to make him the “Cristiano Ronaldo of the World Cup.” The campaign followed a similar effort by Valen Scarsini that propelled New Zealand defender Tim Payne from roughly 5,000 followers to more than 4.6 million. Trewin, included in Australia’s 26-man World Cup squad, has played for Brisbane Roar, Melbourne City and New York City FC, while Payne represents Wellington Phoenix and the All Whites. Payne thanked his new international audience, although New Zealand’s momentum was tempered by a 4-0 defeat to Haiti in a warm-up match.

Guardian Australia’s Carly Earl and Matilda Boseley take a University of New South Wales test designed to determine whether users can distinguish AI-generated faces from real portraits, highlighting how increasingly difficult it is to identify synthetic images by sight alone.