Candidates in uniform, election battle of the burbs, Trump’s plea to Putin

Battle of the burbs | The verdict of voters in the outer suburbs of capital cities will be crucial in next Saturday’s election and both parties are throwing a lot of resources at trying to win them. Henry Belot travels to Hawke on Melbourne’s north-western fringe where he hears that people feel short-changed on services which haven’t kept pace with population growth. Preferences could also be crucial and Ben Raue has taken a close look at five seats where they may decide the result.

Pulling rank | The defence department has issued a “respectful request” to veterans such as shadow defence minister Andrew Hastie who are standing as election candidates to stop using pictures of themselves in military uniform on their campaign material.

Immigration pledge | A Coalition government would abandon a longstanding Howard-era target for a two-thirds share for skilled migrants in an effort to slash permanent migration by 25%, or 45,000 people, next year.

Dental ‘blindspot’ | The rising cost of going to see a dentist and the “stubborn” refusal of the major parties to include dental care in Medicare mean that young Australians will remain victims of an oral health “blindspot”, experts fear.

Highland heritage | A developer wants to turn Berrima’s historic jail into a hospitality venue to meet growing demand in the NSW southern highlands. But some locals want it to stay in community hands and lead heritage tourism.

Asia alarm | India and Pakistan have moved closer to military confrontation as Islamabad warned that any effort by Delhi to interfere with the supply of water would be viewed as an act of war.

‘Vladimir, STOP!’ | Donald Trump has pleaded with Vladimir Putin to halt Russian missile attacks on Ukraine after dozens were killed in an assault on Kyiv, writing “Vladimir, STOP!” on social media. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine could not accept US recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

Atlantic bridge | In another hectic day in Washington, Donald Trump claimed the US was holding trade talks with China even though a spokesman for Beijing denied any negotiations were taking place. The US president also said he was meeting “of all people” Jeffrey Goldberg, the Atlantic’s editor who exposed the Signal group chat fiasco. A federal judge blocked a White House move that could have disenfranchised millions, and Trump denied federal aid to Arkansas where dozens have died in storms. Follow developments live.

‘Class of victims’ | Mental health advocates have hit back at Nigel Farage after the UK Reform leader claimed the country is “massively overdiagnosing those with mental illness problems” and creating a “class of victims”.

Kremlin capture | Alleged former members of an international neo-Nazi terrorist organisation are claiming its Russia-based and American leader is a Kremlin spy, casting light on its sabotage operations inside Ukraine.