Australia Faces Bird Flu Extinction Risk, Europe Swelters

Morning everyone. A potential bird flu outbreak presents a “very high risk” of extinction to 150 of Australia’s native and unique bird species, including Perth’s black swans and the fairy tern.

France has seen 40 people drown and its average daily temperature hit an all-time high in the heatwave engulfing Europe. We analyse how Labor’s Senate tax win could be costly, look at Karl Stefanovic’s encounters with the far right, and Cristiano Ronaldo has scored at a record sixth World Cup.

Australia

Pod praise | The Channel Nine TV presenter Karl Stefanovic praised UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson’s “tenacity” and “courage” in his latest eponymous podcast episode, which has since been removed from YouTube.

Bird flu risk | More than 150 of Australia’s native and unique bird species – including the red goshawk, shy albatross and black swan – have been assessed as being at “very high risk” of extinction or major decline if they catch the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain.

Hastie security | Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie is set to receive extra security in what he believes is a response to a One Nation-fuelled campaign against him, including over his stance on the Ben Roberts-Smith war crimes allegations.

‘Tech bro free-for-all’ | Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has called for a moratorium on the building and approval of new datacentres in Australia and said the nation was “sleepwalking” into an AI crisis.

Analysis | The government scored a crucial win yesterday by securing support for its tax changes through the Senate. But that victory may have dinged Labor’s chances of passing its NDIS reforms.

‘Grand and intimate’ | The 2026 Miles Franklin literary award shortlist has been announced, with four first-time nominees, two of whom are debut novelists.

World

Europe roasts | France has registered its highest ever daily average temperature as 40 people across the country were confirmed to have drowned while swimming in unsupervised areas over the last few days. High temperatures also swept the UK with public systems struggling to cope. Two wildfires broke out in Greenland earlier this month.

Gaza crisis | Israel continues to commit genocide by deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, an ⁠independent UN inquiry has found.

Ice cold | A group of anti-Ice protesters have been handed sentences ranging from 50 to 100 years in prison after being convicted in Texas of terrorism charges.

Strait talker | The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has said that no country – including Iran – would be allowed to charge tolls for shipping in the strait of Hormuz. A tech stock sell-off has accelerated on global markets overnight as market attention turned to the future of AI companies.

‘A huge life’ | Madonna says a movie about her life that she was personally overseeing was cancelled after a budget dispute with the studio. “I’ve had a huge life, so I needed a big budget,” she says.

World Cup

Socceroos latest | Australian defender Jason Geria has called for schools to allow their students to watch the team’s final group match on Friday.

Match catch-up | Not to be outdone by Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice and became the first player ever to score at six World Cups as Portugal thrashed Uzbekistan 5-0.

Off the pitch | Donald Trump will present the trophy to the World Cup winners, Fifa has said, Iran’s players will be allowed to travel early to the US for their match in Seattle against Egypt on Friday.

What to watch today | England are under way against Ghana, and Panama v Croatia follows at 9am AEST. Then Colombia v DR Congo wraps up the second round at midday.

Full Story

How worried should we be about bird flu?

As the H5N1 strain of bird flu lands on Australian shores, Reged Ahmad speaks to Graham Readfearn about how governments and wildlife experts alike are anxiously waiting to see if this is just the beginning.

In-depth

Scientist Kent Kiehl has convinced the US legal system he can find evil in prisoners’ brains with an MRI scan. His theories have been since used by defence lawyers – with potentially deadly consequences.

Not the news

Luke Buckmaster recommends The Killings at Parrish Station, a new series on Stan. It might be a bit ridiculous, he says, but he couldn’t stop watching as a pair of detectives investigate the murder of four scientists in the outback.

Sport

Tennis | Australian veteran Ajla Tomljanovic has described the lengthy doping ban administered to Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon singles champion, as a disgrace.

Cricket | Australia have thrashed Pakistan by 113 runs in the women’s T20 World Cup at Headingley. Ben Stokes returned to the England set-up overnight following talks with the coach, Brendon McCullum.

NBA | AJ Dybantsa is widely expected to have his name called first in the draft later today. We run through other young stars worth keeping an eye on.

Media roundup

The Sydney Morning Herald says motorists and schools have done well out of the NSW budget, while the Courier Mail reckons the LNP government is taking the axe to $500m of public spending in Queensland. The Age claims Victorian Labor has drawn up a list of 16 seats it could lose to One Nation in this year’s state election.

What’s happening today

Economy | Monthly inflation figures are published at 11.30am and the RBA’s deputy governor delivers the Douglas Copland Oration at 6pm.

Politics | Opposition foreign affairs spokesperson Ted O’Brien speaks at the National Press Club.

Canberra | Ceda State of the Nation conference at Parliament House.

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Brain teaser

And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.