World Cup Build-Up: USA and Australia meet in Seattle for a crucial Group D clash, with Australia confident after beating Türkiye 2-0 and the US coming off a 4-1 win over Paraguay; Christian Pulisic is a late fitness watch with a calf injury. Bird Flu Alarm: Australia’s first suspected mainland H5N1 case has been found in WA after a migratory seabird tested positive for avian influenza; results are due Saturday and officials say there’s no sign yet of poultry infection or mass die-offs. Teachers Strike Threat: Victorian public school educators have rejected the Allan government’s 28–32% pay offer, setting up more industrial action with 24-hour strikes now on the table. Police & LGBTQI Tensions: Sydney police raids on Oxford Street venues during Pride Month have sparked claims of intimidation and aggressive searches. KPMG Whistleblower Fallout: KPMG Australia has agreed to a three-month freeze on bidding for government contracts as the whistleblower scandal continues to be grilled in parliament. Clean Energy Push: ARENA will fund an extension of the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics to 2033, backing next-gen solar research. Tech in Policing: WA Police will trial overt live facial recognition to speed up identification of wanted people and those banned from areas. Business & Community: QUT swimmers are fighting to stop a planned closure of a Kelvin Grove pool, while EOFY shopping plans show Australians still spending but staying cautious.