Morning everyone. A massive Australian government lawsuit against 3M claims the American industrial conglomerate knew about the dangers of hazardous “forever chemicals” in its products 50 years ago, our exclusive lead story reveals.
There is alarm about the potential use by Coles and Woolworths of facial recognition technology in stores, and we identify the species most at risk from bird flu.
Overseas, heatwaves and drought threaten to devastate Europe’s harvest, and Donald Trump has threatened to “bomb the shit” out of Oman if it impedes his plans for the Middle East.
Australia
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‘Widow’ warning | Angus Taylor says the Coalition will only support the Albanese government’s proposed overhaul of the NDIS if it first removes the so-called “widow tax” from its changes to taxing investment properties.
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Exclusive | Manufacturing conglomerate 3M knew more than 50 years ago that its firefighting products – including components in Pfas “forever chemicals” – could be hazardous to the health of humans and animals and damage the environment, the federal government has claimed in court documents.
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Facial tests | Consumer privacy advocates have responded with alarm after Coles and Woolworths confirmed they were testing facial recognition technology.
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Super bad? | Conservative critics are gunning for the super system, arguing it has not saved the federal budget any money. Our economics editor tests the arguments.
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Gambling ‘opt-out’ | The Albanese government has pledged a new single-service opt-out register for gambling ads – an idea similar to the Do Not Call register for spam calls, as well as restrictions on inducements and limiting commissions for agents.
World
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Expletive diplomacy | Donald Trump has threatened to “bomb the shit out of Oman” if Washington’s long-term Gulf ally “gets in the way” of his effort to end the US-Israel war on Iran. Benjamin Netanyahu has told Trump’s son-in-law and envoy Jared Kushner there can be no progress on the stalled Gaza ceasefire deal or an Israeli withdrawal from the coastal strip until Hamas first disarms.
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‘Insufficient demand’ | China’s economy is showing signs of extending a slowdown with a slump in industrial output and retail sales.
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Russia crisis warning | The chief economist at Russia’s second-largest bank has been fired after a series of critical comments about the state of the economy, including warnings that Moscow would not win a prolonged economic war with Ukraine.
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‘Catastrophic’ harvests | Successive heatwaves and a severe drought have left many of Europe’s farmers in an “unprecedented” crisis, with vegetable and grain growers in particular warning of “catastrophic” harvests. The deputy leader of Reform UK says there’s nothing anyone can do about the climate and people should just enjoy the warmer weather, although a cold front is about to bring rain and lower temperatures to the UK and Europe.
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Holy water | A group of Italian nuns is fighting back against local council plans to take their beach club away from them.
Full Story
Why is the New Zealand PM fighting for his political life?
Our New Zealand correspondent Eva Corlett joins Reged Ahmad to talk about the crisis surrounding New Zealand’s prime minister, Christopher Luxon. Can he make it to election day?
In-depth
Bird flu has devastated wildlife around the world and is now threatening Australian species. Lisa Cox looks at which of our native species are most at risk, from the silver gull to the white-bellied sea eagle, the Australian fairy tern and the black swan.
Not the news
In the latest of our “job that changed me” series, Jasper Peach explains why being a marriage celebrant was “like karaoke but an actual job” at first, but increasingly made him uneasy.
Sport
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Cricket | As Australia try to pick themselves up from the Bangladesh humiliation, England will try to reset their Test fortunes with a three-match series against Pakistan beginning at Headingley tomorrow.
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Football | The Premier League will permit audio of on-field conversations between players and referees during live broadcasts for the first time when the action starts again this weekend.
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Athletics | Amy Hunt, the British sprinter who became the first athlete to win four golds at a European Championships, says she celebrated with KFC and champagne.
Media roundup
A $10,000 bitcoins purchase made in Tasmania a decade ago has triggered a high court battle that could rewrite the legal definition of cryptocurrency in Australia, the Mercury says. WAtoday asks “where have all the babies gone?” as it bemoans a demographic slump.
What’s happening today
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Environment | Seasonal bushfire outlook released at 9am at AFAC national conference in Melbourne.
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Technology | ACCC chair Luke Woodward and former chief scientist Cathy Foley address the Mallesons digital future summit.
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Brain teaser
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