Good morning. Independent testing of recycled soil fill products from NSW landscape and garden supplies stores – carried out for Guardian Australia – has revealed that two of four samples would not meet legislated thresholds and one contained asbestos. The test results have prompted the NSW environment regulator to express concern about the “poor product and levels of non-compliance we are seeing in the industry”.
In Papua New Guinea emergency workers have given up hope of finding more survivors as UN officials say the likely death toll of a massive landslide has exceeded 670.
And a fossil discovery suggests that ancient Australia once experienced an “age of monotremes” – and that long before it became the land of pouched marsupials, it was dominated by furry egg-layers. One of them has been dubbed the “echidnapus”.
Australia
‘Enormously exciting’ | Fossils found in a NSW opal field suggest Australia had “age of monotremes”, as the discovery of “echidnapus” and two more species reveal that the furry egg-layers pre-dated marsupials.
Exclusive | Asbestos has been found in recycled soil fill for sale in NSW landscape and garden stores more than a decade after investigators first raised concerns about contamination.
Peter Dutton | The Australian government has denied the opposition leader’s claim that it was consulted by the ICC regarding the pursuit of Israeli leaders over their conduct of the war in Gaza.
Housing crisis | Data released after a freedom of information request has revealed that public housing is regularly being offered to people who have died while on the NSW waiting list.
‘Senseless’ | WA’s premier says more needs to be done to combat domestic violence after the “chilling and horrific” murder of a mother and daughter by a gunman searching for his ex-wife.
World
‘Land is still sliding’ | More than 670 people are believed to have been killed in a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea, as emergency workers and relatives give up hope that any survivors will be found.
Gaza crisis | Hamas has said it launched a barrage of rockets at Israel’s commercial centre Tel Aviv for the first time in months in an apparent display of strength as Israeli forces continue to target Rafah.
Hospital fire | Six newborn babies have died in a fire at a Delhi children’s hospital. The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, called the blaze and deaths “heart-rending”.
Presidential candidates | The end of official mourning for the Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi has unleashed a battle for succession in which as many as 20 credible names have been proposed.
Turbulent travel | Eight people have been taken to hospital after turbulence on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Dublin, just days after rough air currents left one man dead and dozens of people injured on a Singapore Airlines flight.
Full Story
What does bird flu actually mean for Australia?
A highly pathogenic strain of bird flu, H5N1, has been detected in Australia for the first time, although there is no evidence of the disease spreading. At the same time a more common strain of the disease, H7N3, has been detected in two chicken egg farms in Victoria. Matilda Boseley speaks with Calla Wahlquist about why the poultry industry is worried – but everyday Australians don’t need to panic yet.
In-depth
It’s not been smooth sailing for Labor’s proposed ban on importation and penalties for commercial possession of vapes. The proposals are dividing MPs: everyone agrees kids shouldn’t be vaping but some are saying it doesn’t justify legislating something that is almost the toughest possible approach. Paul Karp argues that it is incumbent on the government to show how a ban would work – and, if its intent is not to criminalise individual vapers, the bill should be fixed to guarantee that it won’t.
Not the news
Australia’s leaders have shown an almost touching naivety about the perils of being online. They’re worried about young people’s vulnerability to “harmful content”, and their proposed solution is to simply remove “online” from young people, and thus protect them. But as Anna Spargo-Ryan says, even with a social media ban gen alpha will find a way to connect – and it’s up to the platforms (and grownups) to ensure they have a safer internet.
The world of sport
AFL | Controversy reigns as umpires turn a blind eye to common sense, Jonathan Horn writes.
Football | The Mariners take their place in A-League pantheon with back-to-back titles; Southampton is promoted to Premier League after downing Leeds.
Formula One | Australia’s Oscar Piastri has claimed a podium spot as Charles Leclerc won the Monaco Grand Prix.
Cycling | Australia’s Kaden Groves finishes third on the final stage in Rome as Tadej Pogačar completes his emphatic debut victory in the Giro d’Italia.
Media roundup
Nearly four years after it was discovered, a Wheeny Creek waste dump site in the Hawkesbury region now appears to be contaminating a protected wetland that borders the Blue Mountains world heritage area, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. An exodus is under way in the UK’s embattled NHS health system as workers seek better pay and conditions – and one in five staff who head overseas are moving to Australia, ABC News says.
What’s happening today
NT | The coronial inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker is scheduled to continue in Alice Springs.
WA | Curtin University is hosting an international symposium to address urban warming.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
