Morning everyone. If you’ve been feeling a bit crook recently, you’re not alone. Australia is being hit by a big wave of Covid cases this winter combined with an outbreak of other respiratory illnesses. We also examine some curiously placed ads for the gas industry appearing in news bulletins, the story of Peter Costello being accused of assaulting a reporter at Canberra airport (he says the journalist fell over) and the Australian Border Force apologising to staff.
Plus: an entente not-so-cordiale as British paratroopers landing in Normandy are asked for their passports.
Australia
‘You’ve just assaulted me’ | Peter Costello (pictured above), the former federal treasurer and current chairman of Nine Entertainment, has been accused of assaulting a journalist from the Australian newspaper as he refused to answer questions about the embattled media company. Costello says he never laid a finger on the reporter, who he says hit an advertising placard and fell over.
Covid warning | Leading epidemiologists say it could be a “few weeks” before the country sees the peak of the current Covid outbreak as a drop in vaccinations and a lowering of the public guard means a double-whammy effect. The impact of a “big wave” of Covid-19 infections is being made worse by a rise in influenza, respiratory syncytial viruses, pertussis (whooping cough) and pneumonia.
Exclusive | The Australian Border Force has apologised to its staff for failing to “prevent workplace misconduct from occurring” after two damning reports found sexual discrimination and harassment rife in the ABF.
‘I felt your pain’ | The Labor party’s national president, Wayne Swan, has criticised the Albanese government’s future gas strategy, opposing its encouragement of new gas fields and telling the party’s environment activists they should push for a plan to lessen domestic demand.
Exclusive | Channel Ten has been accused of blurring the lines between news and advertising by running commercials for the natural gas industry that appear to be part of the network’s prime-time news bulletins.
World
Freedom struggle | Joe Biden has marked the 80th anniversary of the D-day landings in Normandy with an impassioned call to western allies to continue supporting Ukraine in the face of the “unending struggle between dictatorship and freedom”. Eyebrows were raised at the UK Ministry of Defence when French immigration insisted on checking the passports of 400 British paratroopers immediately after they dropped into fields in Normandy (pictured) as part of the D-day celebrations.
Exclusive | The UK Conservative party is facing questions over its decision to keep more than £15m given by its biggest-ever donor, Frank Hester, after former employees made a series of fresh allegations.
Starship launch | Starship, the mighty space rocket designed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company, has recorded its first fully successful test flight, splashing down in the Indian Ocean minus any fiery explosion that ended previous attempts.
Data delete | Google will delete everything it knows about users’ previously visited locations, the company has said, a year after it committed to reducing the amount of personal data it stores about users.
Symi search | A search is under way for the British TV doctor and newspaper columnist Michael Mosley who went missing after going on a coastal walk on the Greek island of Symi.
Full Story
Newsroom edition: how lobbyists delay reforms everyone else wants
Lobbying has hindered action on gambling ads, the climate crisis and other important issues. Lenore Taylor and Mike Ticher discuss how pressure groups can get in the way of good governance.
In-depth
With little sign that the Reserve Bank is about to cut interest rates any time soon, our business correspondent has picked out four charts to starkly reveal the financial pressure being felt by Australian households. From rising insolvencies (pictured) to affluent stress, and from falling spending to more inequality, the signs of strain are building.
Not the news
Everything Is Water is the writer Simon Cleary’s account of a 344km-long walk along the Brisbane River, guided by histories, traditional owners and some unexpected weather. The result is a rich account of the natural world, writes Adele Dumont, in which he “contrasts the types of knowledge western society privileges – cartography, demography, hydrology – and the sort of understanding that an extended stay in bushland can awaken”.
The world of sport
State of Origin | Queensland produced a miraculous comeback in the second leg of the three-match women’s series to beat the Sky Blues 11-10 in driving rain in Newcastle thanks to a late field goal from Lauren Brown (pictured).
Football | Graham Arnold criticised the playing surface as “unacceptable” and “dangerous” after the Socceroos ground their way to a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Bangladesh in Dhaka.
French Open | Jasmine Paolini beat the teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva to set up a final against world No 1 Iga Swiatek who dispatched Coco Gauff in the other semi-final at Roland-Garros.
Media roundup
Two companies owned by agri-business deal-makers Sam Mitchell and Danny Thomas have collapsed, owing millions, according to the Australian. Some Melbourne families are splurging up to $15,000 on their child’s first birthday party as they compete for the fanciest event, the Herald Sun reports. Paramedics have criticised thrill-seekers including one man who jumped off a Gold Coast bridge from a moving car, the Courier Mail reports.
What’s happening today
Sydney | Australia’s Economic Outlook conference will take place, with speeches from Anthony Albanese and the deputy RBA governor, Andrew Hauser.
Canberra | There is a Senate estimates hearing on the cross-portfolio Murray-Darling Basin plan.
Art | The winners of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman art prizes will be announced.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
