Morning everyone. Momentum is growing to start charging EV drivers a tax to drive their cars, as the federal government seeks a new revenue source to replace the fuel excise as EV takeup accelerates.<\/p>\n
Plus: a study shows the jobs least (and most) at risk from AI, Donald Trump warns Russia of \u201csevere consequences\u201d if it doesn\u2019t agree to a truce in Ukraine, and Paul Kelly says farewell to Joe.<\/p>\n
Australia Photograph: Brook Mitchell\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u2018Mind blown\u2019 | About 5% of common Australian wild birds including kookaburras and lorikeets could have undergone a \u201csex reversal\u201d<\/a> where their genetic sex does not match their reproductive organs, according to a new study.<\/p>\n Charging up | Anthony Albanese has signalled that the long-delayed reform of road charging for electric vehicle drivers will be thrashed out<\/a> at next week\u2019s productivity roundtable as the surge in the use of EVs reduces the revenue from petrol.<\/p>\n Bookie bust | A man who \u201cbinge gambled\u201d $40,000 in an 11-hour session was awarded VIP status<\/a> by the bookmaker BlueBet and assigned a dedicated manager who encouraged him to keep betting.<\/p>\n At the double | Qantas has cancelled flights at double the rate of Virgin<\/a>, its main competitor, which had the lowest monthly cancellation rates of any major domestic airline over the past year.<\/p>\n Racing chance | The Victorian government could save almost $500m in subsidies if it follows Tasmania in phasing out greyhound racing, according to independent analysis<\/a>.<\/p>\n World Photograph: Miguel Riopa\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Wildfire warning | The heatwave-fuelled wildfires that have killed two people in Spain and destroyed thousands of hectares of land are a \u201cclear warning\u201d<\/a> of the impact of the climate emergency, the country\u2019s environment minister has said. Elsewhere, 400 people have died<\/a> from extreme heat in Arizona\u2019s Maricopa county alone this summer, while Alaska\u2019s capital city of Juneau is urging many residents to evacuate<\/a> because of the risk of flooding caused by glacial melt. Veteran US scientists are planning a response<\/a> to a government report casting doubt on the consensus on the climate crisis<\/a>.<\/p>\n Trump pledge | Donald Trump said there would be \u201csevere consequences\u201d<\/a> if Russia doesn\u2019t agree to end the war after he spoke to European leaders <\/a>before his summit with Vladimir Putin tomorrow.<\/p>\n A Pitts take | Los Angeles police have formally linked a break-in at Brad Pitt\u2019s home in the city in June to a string of other burglaries<\/a> at properties belonging to celebrities including Nicole Kidman and Austin Butler.<\/p>\n Caught out | David Lammy, the British foreign secretary, has referred himself to the environment watchdog after going fishing with JD Vance without the required licence<\/a> during the US vice-president\u2019s trip to the UK.<\/p>\n Rap sheet | Lawyers for Drake allege that the head of Universal Music was \u201cpersonally involved\u201d<\/a> in the notorious Kendrick Lamar diss track aimed at the rival rapper and which is now the subject of a defamation case.<\/p>\n Full Story Composite: AP<\/p>\n Al Jazeera\u2019s managing editor on Israel\u2019s killing of journalists in Gaza<\/p>\n Al Jazeera\u2019s managing editor, Mohamed Moawad, talks to Nour Haydar<\/a> about the death of their correspondent Anas al-Sharif and why he refused to leave Gaza.<\/p>\n Full StoryAl-Jazeera chief on Israel’s killing of journalists in Gaza<\/p>\n Sorry your browser does not support audio – but you can download here and listen $https:\/\/audio.guim.co.uk\/2025\/08\/13-28035-FS_AJZ.mp3<\/p>\n In-depth Photograph: Jobs and Skills Australia<\/p>\n The march of artificial intelligence spells danger for professions such as accounting and research, but you\u2019ll be all right if you\u2019re in cleaning, construction or hospitality. At least so says a new report<\/a> by Jobs and Skills Australia whose authors nevertheless conclude that no matter \u201cwhich sector you are in, or at what skill level: you will be influenced by AI\u201d.<\/p>\n Not the news Photograph: Asanka Ratnayake\/Getty Images<\/p>\n It began with a mysterious death notice published in a newspaper mourning \u201cJoe\u201d. But it soon became clear that the \u201cmuch-loved father\u201d was the protagonist of Paul Kelly\u2019s How To Make Gravy and that the veteran singer was promoting Rita Wrote a Letter, a kind of coda to his famous song. Jenny Valentish hears more<\/a> from the great man.<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/a><\/p>\n Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what\u2019s happening and why it matters<\/p>\n Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/a>. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy<\/a> and Terms of Service<\/a> apply.<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n Sport Photograph: Quinn Rooney\/Getty Images<\/p>\n AFLW | Officials hope a \u201cGoldilocks\u201d combination of face-to-face access to players, kick-to-kick after the siren and entertaining football within a community setting will spark an upswing in attendances for the 10th season of the AFLW starting tonight <\/a>with Collingwood v Carlton.<\/p>\n Cricket | The Cricket Australia chief executive, Todd Greenberg, has warned some nations will go \u201cbankrupt\u201d<\/a> if they continue to play the longest format of the game, stressing he sees a future with less Test nations. With 100 days to go before the Ashes, Scott Boland says Australia won\u2019t be fazed<\/a> by England\u2019s aggressive style.<\/p>\n Tennis | Venus Williams will make her return to grand slam singles at the US Open after a two-year absence at the age of 45, making her the oldest entrant for nearly five decades<\/a>.<\/p>\n Flights to and from Bali have been identified as the worst for unruly passengers<\/a> as alcohol and drug abuse fuels bad behaviour on planes, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Far north Queensland has seen a surge of bookings<\/a> from tourists, the Cairns Post says, while the Courier Mail reports the state\u2019s south-east has been hit by \u201csnowlike\u201d hail<\/a>. The Age celebrates the \u201cdrab\u201d views<\/a> that are part of the appeal of Melbourne\u2019s newly reopened ferris wheel.<\/p>\n What\u2019s happening today<\/p>\n New South Wales | \u201cKnitting nannas\u201d Helen Kvelde and Dominique Jacobs face jail when they are sentenced for environmental protests.<\/p>\n Northern Territory | Hearing at federal court Sydney in a lawsuit to protect water at Daly Waters from fracking.<\/p>\n Business | Origin Energy and Telstra both report full-year results today.<\/p>\n Sign up<\/p>\n If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here<\/a>, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter<\/a>. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland<\/a>.<\/p>\n Brain teaser<\/p>\n And finally, here are the Guardian\u2019s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Morning everyone. 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