Morning Mail: recession fears ease, Nigel Farage’s resignation ‘stunt’, Messi’s great escape

Morning everyone. The good news this morning is Australia is expected to escape a full recession. The bad news is that living standards are still going to languish. We have a full report as economists read the freshest tea leaves.

Overseas, there’s more ruckus in UK politics as Nigel Farage, head of the rampant Reform, (sort of) resigns his seat in the face of financial scrutiny.

Plus, we taste test parmesan cheese, and there has been another World Cup classic as champions Argentina came from 2-0 down to beat Egypt 3-2 thanks to that man, Messi.

Australia

Bird life | The explosion of “Pam the Bird” graffiti on Melbourne landmarks and buildings has divided the city around the question: is it art or vandalism?

Recession fears ease | Fears of a recession have fallen away, with economists saying that Australia is set to safely navigate the biggest global oil supply shock in history despite substandard growth in the year ahead.

Concrete risk | Australia must finally deal with a deadly danger on football fields, sports safety advocates say, after the death of a suburban Aussie rules footballer.

Melbourne Modi | The Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to Australia in three years has sparked calls for Anthony Albanese to raise human rights concerns when they meet in Melbourne.

Prosecutor accused | A New South Wales parliamentary committee report accuses the state’s top prosecutor of giving false evidence under oath.

World

Farage ‘stunt’ | Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has announced he is to resign as the MP for Clacton but will fight a byelection to be re-elected. Labour, Tories and Lib Dems said they would not contest the “stunt” poll. Farage is under a second investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog over undeclared gifts. Here’s an explainer on what’s going on.

Trump threat | Donald Trump landed in Turkey for the Nato summit and immediately revived his bid for the US to acquire Greenland and threatened to pull all American armed forces out of Europe. Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier argued for Ukraine to be allowed to join Nato at its annual summit.

Media win | Prince Harry and six other prominent figures have lost their case against the publisher of the Daily Mail over claims it sourced stories using an array of unlawful methods.

Le Pen chance | A French court of appeal has upheld Marine Le Pen’s ⁠conviction ⁠for embezzling European parliament funds but shortened her ban ⁠from office, potentially reopening a path for the far-right ​leader ‌to run ‌for president in 2027.

‘Male crisis’ | Men’s average testosterone levels have halved over the past 50 years, according to scientists who say that society is facing a male fertility crisis.

World Cup

Match catch-up | There were only 11 minutes left and Egypt were leading 2-0 but goals from Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez broke their resistance in a dramatic finish in Atlanta. After the USA blew the Cup chances, Belgium has been united by their team’s success.

Off the pitch | France’s Kylian Mbappé has hit back at a Paraguayan senator, describing her ⁠as a “despicable woman” after she launched a racist attack on him. .

What to watch today | Switzerland is playing Colombia for the right to play Argentina in the quarter-final.

Full Story

Have social media platforms fuelled antisemitism?

Reged Ahmad speaks to senior reporter Tory Shepherd on what the platforms have to say about accusations they have fuelled antisemitic content online.

In-depth

Queensland comedian Henry Bretz, who has earned viral acclaim for his videos parodying Karl Stefanovic, explains why the TV presenter turned populist podcaster was “ripe for parody” as someone “cosplaying a conservative”.

Not the news

In the latest supermarket taste test, Nicholas Jordan and friends take on what he calls “one of the great culinary inventions of our species”: parmesan cheese.

Sport

Rugby league | Laurie Daley has coached NSW to within a game of winning an Origin nine times but has only succeeded once, writes Angus Fontaine, and unleashing backrower Liam Martin is his only chance.

Olympics | The International Olympic Committee has lifted the suspension on Russia that was imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.

WImbledon | Czech player Karolína Muchová beat Naomi Osaka 7-6, 6-4, while Coco Gauff beat Jessica Pegula to join her in the semis. In the men’s draw Jannik Sinner defeated Jan-Lennard Struff 7-5 7-6(4) 6-3.

Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming wants four members of the party’s state executive banned from any discussion over her political future, the Herald Sun reports. Struggling windfarms crucial to national renewables targets are seeking state support, according to the Financial Review. WAtoday features a house in the Wheatbelt for sale for the price of a used car – but there’s a catch.

What’s happening today

Asia Pacific | Anthony Albanese in talks with regional leaders.

Economy | RBA assistant governor to deliver speech.

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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