Your morning Briefing: Super Mario kills off England

Welcome to your morning digest of the top stories of the day.

Hello readers and welcome to your two-minute digest of what’s making news today.

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - JULY 11: Josip Pivaric of Croatia celebrates after teammate Mario Mandzukic scores their team's second goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Semi Final match between England and Croatia at Luzhniki Stadium on July 11, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Super Mario sends England home

Mario Mandzukic caught England defence napping in extra time to give Croatia a 2-1 win in gripping World Cup semi-final. Croatia will play France in Sunday night’s World Cup final.

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Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is seen making an address at the Queensland Media Club at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in Brisbane, Wednesday, July 11, 2018. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt) NO ARCHIVING

PM weighs coal fix

A proposal to guarantee new dispatchable power generation, including clean coal-fired plants, is expected to be taken to cabinet with the PM’s support. Judith Sloan writes that, unlike Tony Wood of the Grattan Institute, she believes the right policies can fix power prices. Meantime, Australia’s largest electricity companies are set to fight a watchdog proposal to overhaul retail power prices.

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One of the boys being rescued from the Thai Cave

Wild Boars on the mend

The first images of the Thailand cave boys and their coach in hospital have emerged with footage of the rescue also released.

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U.S. President Donald Trump checks time prior to a dinner of leaders at the Art and History Museum at the Park Cinquantenaire in Brussels on July 11, 2018. NATO leaders gathered in Brussels on July 11 for a two-day summit to discuss Russia, Iraq and their mission in Afghanistan. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Geert Vanden Wijngaert

Trump’s NATO dump

Donald Trump has piled further pressure on NATO allies over their “delinquent” defence spending and demanded they double it after a combative start to the two day summit in Brussels. After deriding Germany for being “totally controlled by” and “captive to” Russia’ because of their reliance on Russian gas, Mr Trump told leaders that defence spending should be increased to four per cent of gross domestic product.

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Billy Slater of the Maroons is chaired from the field by Cameron Munster (left) and Will Chambers following Game 3 of the 2018 State of Origin series between the NSW Blues and the Queensland Maroons at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Wednesday, July 11, 2018. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Origin medal muddle

Not even Billy Slater knew what to say when he was announced as man of the State of Origin series, writes Will Swanton. He hasn’t played the first match in Melbourne. He’s been very good in the next two without being great. He’s been on the losing team, although Queensland did salvage pride with gritty 18-12 victory in Origin III.

“I can live with the fact he takes the medal away. I don’t know if it was for the two games he played this series. There were a few players in our team I would’ve chosen.”

Brad Fittler

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Johannes Leak’s view

Johannes Leak letters page cartoon for 12/07/2018Version: Letters Cartoon (1280x720 - Aspect ratio preserved, Canvas added)COPYRIGHT: The Australian's artists each have different copyright agreements in place regarding re-use of their work in other publications.Please seek advice from the artists themselves or the Managing Editor of The Australian regarding re-use.

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