Morning everyone. Donald Trump says he might order a strike on Iran, or he might not, pointing out that “nobody knows” what he’s going to do in response to the Israel-Iran conflict. He also spoke about the potential for a peace deal. We have an expert team of reporters and commentators to try to make sense of the crisis and what it means for the world.
We also report on what Anthony Albanese will risk if he goes to Europe to try to meet Trump, how Labor can reform the economy, the highest paid executives in Australia, and an incredible win for Queensland in Origin II.
Star performers |Australia’s bogong moths are guided by the stars as they navigate up to 1,000km to a place they’ve never been before,new research has concluded, making them the first invertebrates confirmed to use celestial navigation.
Albanese’s dilemma |Anthony Albanese will have had plenty of time on the long flight back from Canada to consider whether he should make a snap trip to Europe next week to get a meeting with Donald Trump. But our chief political correspondent, Tom McIlroy, says itwould risk a second humiliating snub.
Liberal rethink |Special tax breaks for mothers should be considered as part of an overhaul of the tax system to better support “modern families”,a Liberal MP has argued.
Levy break |Developers in New South Wales will be able to choose between paying a levy of $12,000 per lot, or building infrastructure such as roads and parks themselves as an “in kind payment” in a further push tospeed up the constructionof new housing in the state.
News extra |News Corp’s chief executive, Robert Thomson, is the highest-paid chief executive of an Australian-listed company,according toan analysis of pay figures, taking home $42m last year.
Iran warning |Donald Trump has left the world hanging over whether he will join Israel’s war on Iran after the country’s supreme leaderrejected US calls for surrenderand warned that joining the war (pictured) would lead to “irreparable damage”. We look at how the Israeli assumption about the US joining inis being tested, why the conflict isbad news for Russia, and how the Iranian opposition is positioning itself ina fast-moving situation. Australians stranded in Israelare waiting anxiouslyas the conflict intensifies. In the US, a majority of Trump votersoppose intervention, while Tucker Carlson confronted Ted Cruz in a televised spat thatexposes the riftin Republican ranks. Followall the developments live.
Fed hold |The US Federal Reserve kept interest rateson hold overnightdespite calls by Donald Trump that it should cut them, but policymakers did signal that they might make some cuts later this year.
Pride of Europe |Dozens of MEPs from around Europe have pledged to go to Budapest to take part in this month’sPride marchin defiance of Hungary’s hardline prime minister, Viktor Orbán.
Trans rights |A Tennessee state law banning gender-affirming care for minors can stand, the US supreme courthas ruled, in a devastating loss for trans rights supporters.
Heist charges |Seven men in Californiahave been chargedover the “largest jewellery heist in US history” after allegedly stealing $100m worth of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds and luxury watches from an armoured truck.
The Air India crash and the miracle of seat 11A
Aviation journalist Jeff Wisetalks about last week’s Air India crashin which 270 people died – and the story ofhow one passenger survived.
Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $https://audio.guim.co.uk/2025/06/18-07864-FS_TiF_AirIndia_ch_180625_1205.mp3
Jim Chalmers has asked people to forget their narrow interests and consider the national interest in economic reform. But that,Patrick Commins argues, is a big ask in a risk-averse political climate where a relatively minor tweak on taxing super provoked uproar. With so much talk about how to increase productivity,Greg Jericho whistles upsome of his trademark charts to suggest five things that the government could do to help.
Midwinter is nearly here and that means it’s getting cold inside as well as outside. So we asked an interior designer, Emma Blomfield, to come up with some tips abouthow to make your home feel a bit cosier.
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Rugby league |Queensland showed huge character to hold off a remarkable second-half comeback by the NSW Blues andclinch a 26-24 winin the second game of the State of Origin series in a rain-soaked Perth last night. Cameron Munster was the difference as he showedwhy he’s been made Maroons captain.
Rugby union |Winger Harry Potter expects the Lions series to be “pretty monumental” after being named as a surprise pick for the Wallabies squad. For their opponents, Maro Itoje will play his first game as captainwhen the Lions take on Argentinatomorrow.
Football |Manchester City’s defence of their Club World Cup crown has started with a2-0 winover Morocco’s Wydad, while Real Madridare in action against Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia.
The driver whocrashed a stolen LandCruiserthrough a Melbourne shopping centre has been urged to give themselves up, theHerald Sunreports. There are more doubts over Tasmania’s new stadium after a state MP claimed to theMercurythat the federal governmenthas capped spendingon the project. People on the south coast of NSW are beingurged to take partin a huge survey of migrating whales,Bega Newsreports.
Melbourne |Victorian Liberals meet this evening over the future of former leader John Pesutto.
Sydney |Closing submissions in the fair work hearing between NSW government and psychiatrists.
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And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
Quick crossword
Cryptic crossword