Good morning. Ukraine has made another surprise strike against Russia, this time detonating an explosive under the bridge linking Russia to Crimea.
In other world news, at least 27 people were killed by Israeli fire as they waited for food at a Gaza distribution point. And the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has disparaged Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful” bill online just days after leaving the White House.
Back home, Erin Patterson has been telling her side of the story in court, giving evidence in her trial for allegedly killing three people through a beef wellington lunch.
Australia
Accident data | Every three days, a child injured on an e-scooter would come through the emergency department doors of Sunshine Coast university hospital, according to Dr Matthew Clanfield.
Mushroom trial | Erin Patterson had been in the witness box for 142 minutes when her barrister Colin Mandy SC said: “I’m going to ask you some questions now about mushrooms” – the closest the triple-murder accused had come to being asked directly in court about the fateful lunch of deadly beef wellingtons she served in July 2023.
Justice | In 2020, tens of thousands of people defied Covid restrictions to march in support of the families of Indigenous Australians who have died in custody, as part of the global Black Lives Matter movement. Five years on, the same families face fresh grief.
IT issues | Ticketek has downplayed reports of widespread problems with its online sales platform from cricket fans trying to buy tickets to the Ashes, saying multiple browsers can trigger bot protection services designed to protect customers.
‘Gooning’ ban | A social media account dedicated to masturbation on campus has been suspended by Meta after allegedly infringing the trademark rights of the University of Melbourne.
World
Doge woe | Elon Musk has upped the ante in his criticism of Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful” tax and spending cuts bill, calling it a “massive, outrageous, pork-filled … disgusting abomination” that will expand the “already gigantic” budget deficit. Follow our US politics live blog here.
Russian invasion | Ukraine has detonated a massive underwater blast targeting the key road and rail bridge connecting the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula to Russia, damaging its underwater supports.
Middle East | Masked Israeli soldiers have blocked an international group of reporters from visiting Palestinian villages on the West Bank that have been under sustained attack by Jewish settlers and which were the subject of an Oscar-winning documentary film. Meanwhile, at least 27 people were killed by Israeli fire as they waited for food at a distribution point in Gaza.
Netherlands | The Dutch government has collapsed after the far-right leader Geert Wilders pulled his party out of the ruling coalition in a row over immigration and asylum policy.
Philanthropy | US tech mogul Bill Gates has pledged the majority of his $200bn fortune towards health and education services in Africa.
Full Story
Slut-shamed and bullied by students: why teachers are quitting
An alarming cultural shift is happening in Australian classrooms as teachers report an increase in bullying and misogynistic and violent behaviour from their students. Education reporter Caitlin Cassidy talks to Reged Ahmad about the teachers speaking out about why they are leaving the profession
In-depth
Labor is planning to double the tax on superannuation earnings to 30% but young people are not concerned about it. While critics have said the younger generation will shoulder a bigger tax burden, one 27-year-old said it would be a “privilege”. Luca Ittimani spoke to several people in their 20s who aren’t worried about potentially losing a tax concession when they’re much older.
Not the news
A show where celebrities participate in a spelling bee does not sound like a hit show, but Guy Montgomery (above) has found success in hosting Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee. Montgomery speaks to Michelle Duff about the origins of the show during the Covid-19 pandemic and the how intense the fandom can get.
Sport
Swimming | Swimmers (like Australian olympian James Magnussen, above right), coaches and officials who compete in or support a controversial new sports event allowing performance-enhancing drugs will be barred from elite competition, World Aquatics says.
IPL final | Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Virat Kohli ended a 17-season drought by winning their maiden Indian Premier League title, beating the Punjab Kings by six runs.
Soccer | Australia’s rapid recovery under Tony Popovic in qualification for the 2026 World Cup has left the Socceroos on the cusp of a place in North America with two group games to play, and a direct berth could be secured as early as Friday morning.
F1 | Max Verstappen has admitted that his crash into George Russell’s Mercedes in the Spanish Grand Prix was “not right and should not have happened”.
Media roundup
Telstra has been fined for failing to provide access to emergency services for an almost 12-hour period, reports the ABC. The Sydney Morning Herald has a copy of the plan to stop “taxi rip-offs” at Sydney airport. South Australian doctors are likely to strike over a pay dispute, per the Advertiser.
What’s happening today
Canberra | The domestic family and sexual violence commissioner, Micaela Cronin, and the Australian Law Reform Commission’s president, Mordy Bromberg, will address the National Press Club.
Sydney | The chair of the Climate Change Authority, Matt Kean, will deliver the Talbot oration at the Australian Museum.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
