Morning Mail: All eyes on World Cup final; how police use facial recognition tech; ‘wellbeing poverty’ on the rise

Good morning. Today the biggest World Cup ever seen reached its crescendo as Spain and Argentina chased glory in an epic final matchup. We have all the action and reaction as events unfolded in New Jersey.

Meanwhile, the US has launched fresh airstrikes to “swiftly punish” Iran after American soldiers were killed in Jordan and Tehran continues its attacks across the Middle East.

We assess the controversy around the facial recognition technology being trialled by Western Australian police. And amid a rise in “wellbeing poverty”, we consider what might be driving Australians’ dissatisfaction with life.

Australia

How are we feeling? | Nearly 2.2 million Australians are living below the wellbeing poverty line, with the share of people reporting “very low life satisfaction” doubling over the past decade.

Asbestos scare | Parents were assured that asbestos-contaminated play sand posed a low risk to children’s health based on a supplier’s own assessment – which was not independently verified.

AI scrutiny | The use of AI in automated decision-making by government departments and agencies will be subject to tough rules.

Online safety | Social media companies could soon be forced to identify anonymous accounts accused of online vilification in Victoria.

‘We will defeat them’ | The National party’s Bridget McKenzie has claimed at a conference of the populist right in London that conservatives are at war against “leftwing globalists”.

World

Middle East crisis | Israel has threatened a “full force” response if Iran fires any missiles towards it; the US may send more warplanes to the Middle East after the deaths of American troops; a Trump official says the Iran war has pivoted towards ensuring oil flow. Meanwhile, Zohran Mamdani says he is exploring whether Benjamin Netanyahu can be arrested if he visits New York.

Tate brothers | The controversial influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate have been arrested in the US as part of a UK police investigation into a number of alleged sexual offences.

Russia-Ukraine war | Russia has carried out one of its biggest ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv, launching a five-hour assault that left at least six people dead and dozens injured.

Spotlight on surrogacy | The rise in the use of surrogates abroad is leaving more babies at risk of becoming stateless, experts have said.

‘Liberate the lidos!’ | In the war over Italy’s private beaches, “free beach” campaigners are fighting back against the mafia, the military and those profiteering from sun loungers and cocktails.

World Cup

World Cup final | After weeks of matches to decide our World Cup finalists, it is Lionel Messi’s Argentina facing Lamine Yamal’s Spain in an ultimate matchup of football heavyweights. We have a separate blog going for the bits with Madonna, Shakira, and everything else that’s not football.

Ten-goal thriller | A Bukayo Saka hat-trick sealed a rollercoaster 6-4 win over France in the third-place playoff that secured England’s best World Cup finish since 1966. Harry Kane is backing coach Thomas Tuchel.

Off the pitch | Fifa looks set to announce record revenues from this summer’s World Cup. Plus: why Gianni Infantino’s Fifa power can’t be touched.

Full Story

Can Nolan’s Odyssey revive cinema?

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has opened in Australia to much hype and intense interest. Some hope this film could help the ailing cinema industry in an age of streaming. Reged Ahmad speaks with Sian Cain about whether The Odyssey has the capacity to entice people back to the big screen.

In-depth

WA police are trialling real-time facial recognition technology that can scan hundreds of faces a minute, instantly cross-referencing them against a database of people of interest. But critics are sounding the alarm over privacy and discrimination concerns.

Not the news

At a low moment in 2016 Amy Shark told her husband that maybe it was time to give up on music. But a couple of days later, her lush, lovestruck pop track Adore was played on Triple J and, suddenly, everything changed. Ten years after that song sparked a major-label bidding war, the Gold Coast singer is back with a new album that delivers the best work of her career.

Sport

AFL | Collingwood brought Carlton back down to earth just as an AFL wildcard spot seemed in reach, Jonathan Horn writes.

Motorsport | Kimi Antonelli tightened his F1 title grip with a Belgian Grand Prix win after George Russell crashed out.

Golf | New Zealand’s Ryan Fox has won this year’s Open Championship after a frenetic final round at Royal Birkdale.

Cycling | Jonas Vingegaard crashed out of the Tour de France before Remco Evenepoel won stage 15.

Cricket | England took the India ODI series after Ben Duckett’s ton and Jacob Bethell’s brilliant star turn.

Media roundup

The booming industry selling Australians on the promise of living longer is exploiting significant gaps in health regulation, the ABC reports. Pharmaceutical companies are warning that a complex approvals process is leading Australians to miss out on important medicines, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Banks, super funds and financial services firms were collectively hit with a record $830m in fines in the past 12 months, the Age reports.

What’s happening today

VIC | Hearings are scheduled in Melbourne in the royal commission into antisemitism.

ACT | Public hearings are scheduled in the parliamentary select committee into productivity in Australia.

QLD | An inquest into the fatal Sea World helicopter crash continues this week in Brisbane.

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Brain teaser

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

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