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. The loss of Australian threatened species habitat has doubled in the past year in what conservationists call a “deeply distressing” development. That’s our top local story, but we’re also reporting on Donald Trump telling Iranian protesters “help is on its way”, how scientists have cast doubt on a series of reports claiming that our bodies have become riddled with microplastics and the watery world of professional mermaids. Deep water | Two divers have survived becoming stranded in the ocean after losing their boat while diving in a popular fishing spot off Western Australia. Ryan Chapman and his friend swam for 90 minutes to a passing boat, found their own boat and then carried on diving. ‘Distressing’ | More than 57,000 hectares of threatened species habitat was approved for destruction by the Australian government in 2025 – the most in 15 years, a study has found . That is more than double the 2024 figure, and five times the 10,426 hectares approved for razing in 2023. Also, we have a special multimedia feature mapping how much of the world’s forests are being lost to bushfires . ‘Skews incentives’ | Generous capital gains tax rules have pushed up property prices and damaged housing affordability, the NSW government says , warning the discount benefits wealthy investors at the expense of first home buyers. Rudd replacement? | Former ministers Joel Fitzgibbon and Stephen Conroy are among the favourites to replace Kevin Rudd as Australia’s ambassador to the US. Other contenders include defence department boss Greg Moriarty and career diplomat Justin Hayhurst, government sources have said . Western Australia | Prominent Australian author Craig Silvey has been charged with possessing and distributing child exploitation material after a search warrant was issued at his Fremantle home on Monday. Continue reading...