Angus Taylor approval crashes, Japan quake, Qantas record

Angus Taylor's approval rating has taken a sharp dive, dropping 16 points among men and four points among women, according to the latest Guardian Essential poll. The opposition leader's standing is now dangerously underwater, even as One Nation's primary vote appears to have plateaued. The Coalition has also slipped in the polls, raising questions about the party's direction under Taylor's leadership.

Japan earthquake leaves many feared dead

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan's Kyushu island, leaving at least 100 injured and many trapped. A collapsed shopping mall is feared to have caused a 'considerable number' of deaths, as rescue crews work to reach survivors. The quake triggered widespread damage, with aerial footage showing buildings reduced to rubble.

Qantas completes record ultra long-haul flight

Qantas marked a milestone in aviation with the completion of an ultra long-haul commercial flight from Melbourne to Toulouse, lasting 24 hours and 24 minutes. The Airbus A350-1000ULR touched down in France overnight, demonstrating the viability of non-stop routes connecting Australia to Europe. The flight is part of Qantas' Project Sunrise initiative.

Victorian Labor gets new premier

Ben Carroll has been sworn in as Victoria's new premier, and his first act was to announce a royal commission into alleged corruption in the construction sector. Experts say the move could boost Labor's hopes of retaining power in the state, but Carroll faces the tough task of convincing voters he offers a genuine break from the past.

Other notable developments

The federal government is escalating a legal battle with former senator Rex Patrick, insisting he pay up to $150,000 in costs if he loses his fight to access Aukus documents. Meanwhile, the corporate regulator ASIC has accused banks of 'not getting the basics right' after discovering faulty mortgage offset accounts that overcharged borrowers tens of millions of dollars in interest.

In France, thousands more tourists are being evacuated from Atlantic coast sites as wildfires rage west of Bordeaux, exacerbated by returning winds and extreme heat. Apple became the second company to surpass a $5 trillion valuation, buoyed by investor interest in AI and semiconductor stocks despite a broader tech sell-off.

In a bizarre cricket controversy, a slip fielder in the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League allegedly clicked his fingers to mimic the sound of a nick, leading to a batsman's dismissal. The incident has been dubbed 'Clicky Ponting'. Separately, a UK Labour MP has taken legal action against Elon Musk's xAI over fake sexualised images created by the Grok AI tool, which was reportedly instructed to operate with no restrictions on adult content.

Looking ahead, the fallout from Taylor's declining approval will be closely watched, as will the rescue efforts in Japan and Qantas's progress toward regular ultra long-haul flights. The political landscape in Victoria and the ongoing legal battles over document access are also set to shape the news cycle in the coming days.