Good morning. Last time Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the White House, it didn’t end well: Donald Trump and JD Vance berated him and accused him of ingratitude. This time he will come with a support crew: European leaders including the UK’s Keir Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron will join him to push back against a deal with Russia that would permanently cede large parts of Ukraine.
Back in Australia, the Productivity Commission chief has warned young people need major government intervention to improve their lives. Plus: we farewell Terence Stamp, the British actor who starred in one of the great Australian movies.
Australia
World
Full Story
How doomsday prepping went mainstream in Australia
It used to be a view held by a secretive few on the fringes of society, but preparing for disaster has now grown in popularity, with many believing having a backup plan just makes good sense. Senior reporter Kate Lyons spoke to Reged Ahmad on whether there is value in preparing for an apocalypse that may never come.
In-depth
The independent MP Kate Chaney makes the case for why Labor must take advantage of its comfortable majority to fix Australia’s tax system. The one we currently have overburdens younger Australians, she argues. Chaney writes: “Any party that wants to be taken seriously as a contender for government in 2028 must come to the election with a tax plan that is fair, future-focused, and fit for the demographic changes ahead.”
Not the news
Dellaram Vreeland has a habit of striking up conversations with strangers, even swapping numbers with people she’s just met. While some of her friends may recoil at the thought of doing so, she says the fear of “stranger danger” is getting in the way of building community and genuine human connection.
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Sport
Trump’s tariffs concern Australians more than China’s military, according to a Newspoll reported in the Australian. British rock star Robbie Williams has become an investor in Sydney-based non-alcoholic beer company Heaps Normal, per the Financial Review.
What’s happening today
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Canberra | Productivity Commission chair Danielle Wood will address the National Press Club.
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Sydney | The federal court will decide Qantas’ penalty for illegally outsourcing roles during Covid-19.
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Financials | Lendlease and Ampol will release their FY2025 results.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
