Want to get this in your inbox every weekday? Sign up for the Morning Mail here, and finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter
Morning everyone. Donald Trump has chaired his first cabinet meeting as we gradually get more information about a rare earth deal he plans to sign with Ukraine – which apparently won’t include security guarantees. He also shared a bizarre AI-generated video of a Gaza transformed into a Dubai-style city featuring bearded belly-dancers.
At home, the artist blocked from the Venice Biennale says he will exhibit his work anyway, and we dig into the contested timeline of how Australia’s defence forces learned that Chinese ships were doing a live-fire drill off the coast.
Taiwan holds its breath as Trump turns on Ukraine
With geopolitics in turmoil, our correspondent in Taipei, Helen Davidson, tells Nour Haydar what we know so far about Donald Trump’s stance on Taiwan – and what’s at stake.
Taiwan holds its breath as Trump turns on Ukraine
Last year, homicide cases involving religious cults came to neighbouring courts in Queensland. One concerned the Wieambilla shootings in which six people died. The other was the tragic case of Elizabeth Struhs, an eight-year-old diabetic left to die by cult members – including her parents – who prayed God would save her. Andrew Messenger examines the parallels between the two cases, and what could be done to prevent a repeat.
After doing his best to ruin a trip to Rome by overplanning food stops and things to see, Tomas Telegramma is now a recovering Type A traveller who realises it’s best to do less. “Live in the moment and don’t let a subpar sandwich ruin your day,” he advises.
The Australian reports that people have been slugged with the highest hike in health insurance premiums for seven years. Victorian public school students are being short-changed by the federal funding system, the Age says. Fans of Drake have been left disappointed after the Canadian rapper cancelled his shows in Brisbane and Sydney, the Courier Mail reports. The NT News begins a run down of the top 120 “most powerful” Territorians.