Morning everyone. Iran has launched missile strikes on US bases in Qatar overnight with Donald Trump reportedly in the White House situation room to monitor events, as what the French government called the Middle East’s “spiral of chaos” continued to worsen. We have reports, live developments and analysis.
Also today we reveal serious concerns about the consulting activities of an obscure firm that is helping fracking companies influence traditional owners in the Northern Territory. Leaked documents reveal claims the firm promised private deals, gathered signatures and hired land council members to smooth the way for gas sales. And should under-16s also be banned from watching YouTube?
Pumped up |Petrol pricescould riseto $2 a litre after US military strikes on Iran, some analysts have warned. Any Australian assistance in US airstrikes on Iran could make Australia a target for retaliation,nuclear experts say, as ministers decline to comment on the potential involvement of the secretive US-Australian surveillance base at Pine Gap in Sunday’s bombardment.
Caravan case |The president of the New South Wales upper house hassought legal adviceover whether he can seek arrest warrants for government staffers who failed to give evidence to an inquiry examining the Sydneycaravan “fake terrorism plot”, Guardian Australia understands.
YouTube ban |YouTube should be included in the ban on under-16s accessing social media, the nation’s online safety chiefhas saidas she urges the Albanese government to rethink its decision to exclude the platform from the new rules.
‘No austerity’ |The Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, haspromised no austerityin his first budget, despite the state facing a forecast $218bn in debt. He says his government can “respect people’s money” and still lift public services.
Super claim |A major superannuation fund isunder firefor substantially increasing its investment in the coal company Whitehaven while still claiming to be committed to reaching net zero emissions.
Iran retaliation |Iran has launchedshort-range and medium-range ballistic missilesat the US Al-Udeid air base in Qatar, officials from both sides have said. Tehran said the attacks were “mighty and successful” but US officials said the retaliation for Sunday’s blitz on Iran’s nuclear installations was “symbolic” andcommunicated in advance. In the UK, where there were protests against the US action (pictured), the government warned Iran that closing the oil tanker route through thestrait of Hormuzwould be anact of “self-harm”. Our diplomatic editor considers why Iran’s nuclear programis so importantto the oil-rich nation, while airlines arepaying the pricefor disruption. Follow developments in the Middle Easthere, while we also havelive updates from Washington.
Up in smoke |Aggressively marketed vapes threaten to undo progress made on smoking control,according tothe World Health Organization.
Moon shot |A giant asteroid could smash into the moon in 2032, sending debris hurtling towards Earth,researchers have said.
Abortion rise |Three years after the US supreme court erased the national right to abortion, the number of abortions performed in the USis still on the rise– including in some statesthat ban the procedure.
Self-kelp groups |Killer whales have been observedgrooming each otherwith kelp, the first known instance of a marine animal using tools in a way that was previously thought to be the preserve of primates such as humans.
US strikes Iran: the breakdown of the rules-based order
Prof Ben Saul, the Challis chair of international law at the University of Sydney,tells Nour Haydarwhy he thinks the weekend’s events signal the breakdown of the rules-based order.
Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $https://audio.guim.co.uk/2025/06/23-28454-FS_BEN_SAUL.mp3
In August last year, a curious letter and four-and-a-half pages of signatures from traditional owners arrived at the Darwin office of the head of the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority. The letter is part of a major leak of documents from the Northern Land Council that reveals serious concerns among traditional owners and bureaucrats about the consulting activities of a company called Good Advice on behalf of the gas company Empire Energy.A new Guardian Australia investigation, launched today, reveals claims that the consulting firm allegedly promised private deals and unrealistic royalties to traditional owners, gathered signatures and hired members of the land council in its efforts to smooth the way for its client’s gas sales in the Northern Territory. Empire Energy said the company had “a long history of respectful engagement with traditional owners”.
In this week’s 10 Chaotic Questions feature, the Ghostbusters and Blues Brothers star Dan Aykroydtells Sian Cainabout living in a haunted house, jamming with a president, and kissing Jamie Lee Curtis.
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Rugby union |British and Irish Lions managers have reminded Joe Schmidt, the Wallabies head coach,to make his national players availablefor their Super Rugby clubs in games against the tourists.
Cricket |Centuries from India’s KL Rahul and Rishabh Pantset England 371 to winthe first Test at Headingley, with the hosts 21-0 in their second innings at the close of play on day four.
Tennis |Emma Raducanu says her upcoming Wimbledon mixed doublespartnership with Carlos Alcarazis a reflection of the friendly connection the pair made as they were rising up the rankings at the start of their careers.
There has been a10-fold increase to relief and recovery paymentsin NSW’s budget since the deadly black summer bushfires, theSydney Morning Heraldsays. Bans forcing homeowners to replace broken-down gas heaters and hot-water units with electric versionswill not go aheadin Victoria,the Agereports. The Australian War Memorial haswon a national awardfor its design,CanberraTimessays.
Politics |Lockups ahead of budgets in NSW, Queensland and ACT.
Canberra |eSafety’s Julie Inman Grant addresses the National Press Club.
Middle East |The National Union of Students will hold a press conference in Canberra to demand Labor retract its support for the US bombing of Iran.
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And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
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