AFP assesses Gaza war crimes allegation, median wealth falls, Socceroos aim to make history

Morning everyone. Australian federal police have been handed a 61-page brief detailing alleged war crimes committed by an IDF battalion in Gaza across 2023 and 2024 – one of whose members was an Australian citizen. It comes as a poll reveals Australians have an increasingly negative view of Israel.

We also report on how middle Australia is going backwards while the rich get richer, large parts of the US face a ferocious heatwave over the 4 July weekend, and the impossible dilemma of the Egyptian diaspora as the Socceroos try to make history.

Australia

‘Win-win’ | The nation’s 45,000 strong Egyptian-Australian diaspora faces an agonising predicament when the two teams meet in Dallas at 4am AEDT tomorrow morning, with both teams bidding to win their first World Cup knockout match. Caitlin Cassidy hears about conflicting emotions of a possible “win-win”, a musical mashup, and also about how football can transcend “a shit world”.

Wealth gap | Middle Australia’s wealth is going backwards while the richest claim an ever-greater share of the pile, according to new research that shows more than 25,000 people across the country became millionaires last year.

Gaza probe | Australian federal police investigators are assessing a brief detailing alleged war crimes committed by an Australian citizen serving in the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza. Meanwhile, the latest Guardian Essential poll has found that Australians have a more negative view of Israel than of China.

Social media | Mainstream platforms are fighting to distribute and monetise “gore” and “fringe” content, the eSafety watchdog has told the antisemitism royal commission, adding that she has to fight Elon Musk’s X to restrict footage on the platform, including of the Bondi terror attack.

Exclusive | A survivor of childhood abuse at the hands of the Christian Brothers has waited 60 years for justice. But the abandonment of his trial thanks to legal moratorium obtained by the order is a “gut-wrenching” blow for him and many others.

World

Hot holiday | A “prolonged, dangerous heatwave” is expected to intensify across parts of the central and eastern United States into the 4 July weekend, bringing record-breaking temperatures of up to 46C. Amid it all, Taylor Swift appears to be all set to get married at Madison Square Garden.

Quake rescue | A 43-year-old security guard who survived last week’s devastating earthquakes in Venezuela thanks to a pocket of air in his workstation cabin has been pulled from the collapsed basement where he was trapped.

Papua ‘message’ | Separatist rebels in Indonesia’s restive easternmost region of Papua have shot dead an American pilot and set a civilian ⁠plane on fire in what a spokesperson for a local militant group described as a “message” to the US and Indonesian governments.

Kyiv attack | At least 21 people were killed and dozens injured in Kyiv in what the city’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, called the worst Russian attack on the capital during more than four years of air assault on Ukraine.

Rabies death | Doctors in Canada say a child who awoke to find a bat resting on his nose and mouth while visiting an Ontario cottage later died of rabies in an “exceedingly rare case”.

World Cup

Socceroos latest | The penalty taking skills of assistant coach Mile Jedinak, who never missed from the spot for Australia, are coming in handy as the Socceroos prepare for their knockout tie against Egypt.

Match catch-up | Spain have breezed past Austria 3-0 into the last 16. England’s win yesterday means a last-16 tie against Mexico at the Azteca, scene of the infamous “Hand of God” goal by Diego Maradona in 1986. And Fifa have blocked a possible way for England to cope with the altitude at the stadium.

Off the pitch | Keir Starmer intervened to allow pubs across England and Wales to stay open until 5am on Monday for England’s match against Mexico but he’s drawn the line at giving kids Monday off school.

What to watch today | Portugal v Croatia kick off at 9am Australian time, and it’s Switzerland v Algeria at 1pm.

Full Story

Back to Back Barries: The Liberal party needs more than a rebrand

Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry discuss what led to a drop in One Nation’s poll numbers, and why the voters turning away from Pauline Hanson are not turning back towards the Liberals.

In-depth

Australia has one of the lowest daily smoking rates in the world but health experts and tobacco campaigners are concerned that the depiction of smoking in films, streaming services and as a fashion accessory has made the habit cool again despite its well-documented lethality. Wendy Syfret investigates.

Not the news

From the revamp of Central station to a garden oasis hidden within a city terrace, by way of a glamorous public school, western Sydney’s new airport and a dazzling farm shed in Byron Bay, here is a selection of this year’s winners of the New South Wales architecture awards.

Sport

Wimbledon | Alex de Minaur is warming to his challenge as he reached the third round under blazing London skies with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win over French veteran Adrian Mannarino. In the women’s singles, Iga Świątek put the tears and fears of the first round behind her to dismantle Karolina Plíšková 6-1, 6-3.

Cycling | The Tour de France is braced for unprecedented stage cancellations with temperatures forecast to hit 44C as the race begins this weekend.

Cricket | One of our UK sports writers, Jonathan Liew, launches an assault on Bazball, describing it as a “nihilistic cult”, the failure of which has exposed the “emptiness of English men’s cricket”. England’s women’s team are hoping to beat South Africa this morning and set up a T20 World Cup final against Australia.

A major snowstorm hit the NSW and Victorian Alps last night, the ABC reports, after the worst start to a ski season in decades. Pauline Hanson says Liberal renegade Moira Deeming would not be welcome in One Nation because she lacks discipline, according to the Herald Sun. And Nine has signed a landmark deal with Microsoft, with the tech company agreeing to pay the masthead for access to its journalism to be referenced by AI chatbot Copilot.

What’s happening today

Sydney | The royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion continues.

Sydney | A hearing at 2pm at the supreme court of NSW in a case against the state environment minister to stop brumbies from being culled.

Victoria | The state Liberal party meets at 6.30pm to decide Moira Deeming’s endorsement.

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Brain teaser

And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.

Quick crossword

Cryptic crossword