Afternoon Update: Fuel suppliers investigated over alleged price-gouging; Epstein’s emails visualised; and an ancient skeleton mystery | Australia news

Good afternoon. The fuel crisis is again dominating headlines, as Anthony Albanese appointed a new national fuel supply taskforce coordinator – and urged motorists not to buy more than they needed.

The competition watchdog is meanwhile investigating major suppliers including Ampol, BP, Mobil and Viva Energy for alleged anti-competitive conduct amid growing shortages sparked by the Iran war.

Petra Stock has looked at which fuel and energy solutions Australia could implement quickly to be less dependent on foreign oil.

And if you have cancelled a holiday, are working from home more or taking fewer journeys because of the petrol pinch, the Guardian would like to hear from you.

Top news

In pictures

The prince, the sultan and the politicians: our visual analysis of more than a million emails reveals Jeffrey Epstein’s deep and longstanding ties with wealthy and powerful elites.

What they said …

“Being an archaeologist can be a very frustrating profession.” – archaeo-anthropologist Annamaria Latron

French schoolchildren this week found an ancient skeleton peeking out of a circular pit: the latest in a series of bodies discovered in Dijon buried in a seated position facing west. Scientists know the city was once special to the Gauls – but as yet, have no idea why they opted for this upright interment.

Full Story

What Nigel Farage will say for money

The Reform UK leader has a lucrative extra gig sending paid-for Cameo messages. But an analysis of more than 4,000 shows they include videos for a neo-Nazi group and a rioter – Henry Dyer reports.

Listen to the episode here.

Before bed read

South Australian Liberals are hoping that preferencing One Nation will give them a fighting chance – but is the brand damage worth it? Ahead of Saturday’s election, political correspondent Dan Jervis-Bardy reflects that John Howard’s principled stand against Pauline Hanson appears a distant memory for the present-day party, who have prioritised political expediency.

Daily word game

Today’s starter word is: REV. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.

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