Morning everyone. The Middle East is on a knife-edge again this morning after Donald Trump blamed Iran for the downing of a US helicopter, with the US president pledging that he “must respond”.
Also in the region, Australia has joined the UK and other western powers in imposing sanctions on firms and one individual for enabling settler violence against Palestinians.
We’re also looking at how the US-Iran war is affecting Australian farmers; we taste test the best apples; the Australian men’s cricket team have lost to Bangladesh for the first time in 21 years; and why are rich countries better at women’s football?
Australia
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Bird watching | It started by chance when scientists at James Cook University noticed that the same ospreys were nesting every year at the tip of a giant crane set up to observe the rainforest. Today, “Osprey cam” livestreams the life cycle of the birds who haven’t missed a season on the crane for 15 years.
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Settler sanctions | Australia has joined the UK, France and other western allies in imposing sanctions on six firms and one individual involved in enabling and financing the recent upsurge in settler violence in the West Bank.
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Consultant case | The Australian chief executive of global accounting firm KPMG has resigned and its lucrative government contracts are under threat amid a growing scandal over alleged leaks of clients’ confidential information.
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Fracking fears | The federal government has repeatedly raised concerns about an American company’s bid to frack for gas in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, part of the world’s largest and most intact tropical savanna, documents released under freedom of information show.
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Football divide | In contrast to expectations around the Matildas, even the most rabid Socceroos fan has to be cognisant of the team’s limitations going into the World Cup. It underlines a feeling now proven by data and explained here by our economics editor that rich countries do better in women’s football.
World
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‘Sickening’ stabbing | Politicians and community leaders have accused the far right of seeking to foment unrest in Northern Ireland and across the UK after a graphic video of a knife attack in Belfast prompted calls for mass street protests against immigrants and refugees.
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‘We must respond’ | Donald Trump has blamed Iran for downing a US army helicopter near the strait of Hormuz, warning that the United States would be forced to respond to the attack. Follow updates live. In Lebanon, Israel has bombed Tyre, killing eight people, as it issued forced evacuation orders for the historic Christian quarter of the ancient city.
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Murder trial | The alleged mastermind and financial backer of the murders of the British journalist Dom Phillips and the Brazilian activist Bruno Pereira in the Amazon four years ago will stand trial before a jury, a federal judge in the state of Amazonas has ruled.
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Rightward march | A new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center finds hard-right groups have increasingly expanded their influence across the US government, which is pursuing a federal fraud case into the civil rights organization.
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Tech vow | White House displeasure over the prospect of an under-16 social media ban will not deter the UK from cracking down on tech platforms, the British government has said.
Full Story
El Niño is imminent. How worried should Australians be?
Nour Haydar speaks to climate and environment correspondent Graham Readfearn about how our weather is about to change and what it means for Australians.
In-depth
Wars are not good for farmers, reckons John Bennett, who has seen the closure of the strait of Hormuz increase fertiliser costs and caused delays in supplies that could strip about $600,000 from his bottom line. Tania Lee finds out how the ripples of conflict have spread from the Middle east to western Victoria.
Not the news
Nicholas Jordan finds himself unexpectedly positive about yellow apples in this week’s taste test, but still manages to be sour about a few contenders as he crunches through to find a winner.
Sport
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World Cup | Mo Touré – Australia’s Ter-Mo-Nator – tells Jack Snape why he isn’t interested in celebrity and heads into his first World Cup with a strong connection to his roots and feet firmly on the ground. Follow the buildup live and if you’re finding yourself a bit behind, here’s a beginner’s guide to the football jamboree.
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Matildas | Two old hands – Alanna Kennedy and Caitlin Foord – helped the Matildas to a 3-1 friendly win over Mexico in Parramatta last night but it was marred by some bad mistakes.
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Cricket | Australia have crashed to their first ODI loss against Bangladesh in 21 years, crushed by 86 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis system in the opening match of their three-game series. Ben Stokes looks likely to be left out of England’s squad for the second Test against New Zealand after a nightclub incident in the early hours of Monday morning.
Media roundup
The Nine newspapers ask how long Angus Taylor has to save the Liberal party in the face of multiple problems. The Financial Review laments the likely collapse of Barbecues Galore, with 62 shops facing closure. Residents in Melbourne’s west are demanding major infrastructure upgrades to keep pace with soaring population, the Age hears. People have lost more than $90m in Central Coast pokie machines in the first three months of the year, according to the Community News.
What’s happening today
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Immigration | A high court judgment on Abdel-Hady v Commonwealth is due, which could determine if the NZYQ cohort are entitled to compensation.
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Canberra | Andrew Leigh MP will address the National Press Club on the future the charitable sector.
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Sydney | Accused Bondi Beach shooter Naveed Akram will appear at the Downing Centre court
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Melbourne | Neale Daniher’s state funeral will be held at the MCG at 1pm.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
