Morning Mail: $89 camera glasses, education war, Iran talks, and sport updates

Good morning. This morning we report on $89 camera glasses now on sale across Australia, which a digital rights expert has called a “privacy nightmare” waiting to happen.

We dive into the culture war over educational theory, amid parent concerns that Montessori and Steiner streams are being shut down or phased out in Victoria in favour of “explicit instruction”.

And, despite Donald Trump’s claims otherwise, Iranian officials say they’re not yet ready to revive negotiations with the US – but they are speaking with their neighbours about getting shipping moving.

Australia

Class struggle | Under a policy introduced in 2024, Victoria’s public schools are phasing out the Montessori and Steiner streams embedded in the system. But some parents fear the one-size-fits-all approach to learning will harm their children.

‘Credibility’ defence | As Alan Jones’s trial for historical sexual offences began in Sydney, his legal strategy was apparent from the very first: seek to undermine the “credibility and reliability” of his accusers. Ben Doherty was in court and has a full report here.

Bird flu spreads | Aerial surveillance has detected mass bird deaths in Victoria after a South Australian case in another suspected escalation of the spread of deadly H5 bird flu.

Anko alert | Kmart has sold out of Anko-branded $89 camera glasses across Australia, which a digital rights expert says presents a “privacy nightmare” as people face being filmed without their consent.

Mounting toll | The cost of using Sydney’s biggest tollroad will continue to rise at least 4% a year despite the state government’s attempt at sweeping reforms.

World

Middle East crisis | Tehran has denied Donald Trump’s claims that US-Iran negotiations are set to take place – but it is speaking with Oman about a new route through the strait of Hormuz; meanwhile, Trump says Iran is being “unbelievably duplicitous”. Trump has met his obstinate match in Iran’s hardball regime, Andrew Roth writes.

Migrant tensions | Spanish officials have accused Morocco of helping to fuel the mass border crossing of migrants into Ceuta; a senior EU leader says stronger borders are needed after the Ceuta crisis.

Moscow bombing | Russia has blamed Ukraine for a blast at a restaurant in Moscow that killed five people, amid speculation that a senior Russian military commander was the intended target.

Drought impacts | Romania’s navy carried out a controlled explosion to help redirect vital cooling water from the drought-hit Danube River to the country’s last working nuclear reactor.

‘A terrible thing’ | A vampire-obsessed man who apparently believed he would live forever if he drank blood has been detained in England after being caught dumping animal corpses outside churches.

Full Story

How does Barnaby Joyce’s support for refugees square with One Nation policies?

The One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce has repeatedly declared that he doesn’t “believe in multiculturalism”. But the reality on the ground in his New South Wales electorate of New England suggests otherwise. Nour Haydar speaks with Adeshola Ore about how Joyce’s actions to help refugees in the town of Armidide contrast with his party’s policies on immigration.

In-depth

Why do we keep using highly addictive, malevolent social media platforms that allow the wilful encouragement of suicide and violence, especially in the young, and feed on isolation and loneliness? Paul Daley considers the challenge of going analogue.

Not the news

Greg Butyn, the creator of the viral AFL game Footy Redraft, was shocked by the positive feedback after 300,000 players signed up in under a month: “I was a bit worried the demographic was just for me and my mates, and then … it really blew up,” he tells Jack Snape.

Sport

Football | The English FA will formally withdraw its support for Gianni Infantino’s re-election as the Fifa president as pressure grows on him to quit.

Commonwealth Games | Glasgow proved that a streamlined program could hold the key to reviving the prospects of a seemingly doomed event, Sean Ingle writes.

Cycling | Sigrid Haugset stunned Tour de France Femmes favourites by storming to a stage three win; Tadej Pogacar will ride the Vuelta a España in a bid to complete the Grand Tour treble.

Sailing | The Black Foils, New Zealand’s SailGP team, are on the crest of a wave in the fight against destructive marine trawling.

Media roundup

Property values have fallen by $230bn, the Australian reports. A martial arts-obsessed nurse used jujitsu to restrain an aggressive patient at a major hospital in Brisbane, according to footage obtained by the Courier Mail. With bare peaks and mild nights, the Western Advocate asks if NSW’s southern tablelands have seen the last of snowy winters.

What’s happening today

Military | Defence force chief admiral Mark Hammond is due to launch a defence innovation, science and technology strategy this morning.

Economy | The Diggers and Dealers mining industry summit continues in Kalgoorlie.

Canberra | The governor general is scheduled to unveil a portrait of Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo at the National Portrait Gallery.

Sport

Commonwealth Games | Glasgow proved that a streamlined program could hold the key to reviving the prospects of a seemingly doomed event, Sean Ingle writes.

Cycling | Sigrid Haugset stunned Tour de France Femmes favourites by storming to a stage three win; Tadej Pogacar will ride the Vuelta a España in a bid to complete the Grand Tour treble.

Sailing | The Black Foils, New Zealand’s SailGP team, are on the crest of a wave in the fight against destructive marine trawling.

Media roundup

Property values have fallen by $230bn, the Australian reports. A martial arts-obsessed nurse used jujitsu to restrain an aggressive patient at a major hospital in Brisbane, according to footage obtained by the Courier Mail. With bare peaks and mild nights, the Western Advocate asks if NSW’s southern tablelands have seen the last of snowy winters.

What’s happening today

Military | Defence force chief admiral Mark Hammond is due to launch a defence innovation, science and technology strategy this morning.

Economy | The Diggers and Dealers mining industry summit continues in Kalgoorlie.

Canberra | The governor general is scheduled to unveil a portrait of Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo at the National Portrait Gallery.

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Brain teaser

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

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