H5 Bird Flu Alert: NSW has its first suspected H5 bird flu case after a giant petrel near Hawks Nest tested positive in preliminary checks, with CSIRO confirmation pending; authorities say there’s still no sign of spread to poultry and surveillance is ramping up. Youth Justice Under Fire: Rights advocates and experts say Australia’s youth detention system is using “medieval” punishments and breaching international child rights, with a Senate inquiry hearing claims of cruel treatment. Social Media Ban Fight: The Coalition has blocked reforms to the under-16 social media ban, pausing tougher fines and extra watchdog powers, triggering a heated debate with Health Minister Mark Butler defending the bill. Cost-of-Living Pressure: Power bill debt has hit a five-year high, with more than 164,000 households overdue by 90+ days across NSW, Queensland, SA, Tasmania and the ACT. Business & Industry: South32 is selling major aluminium assets to Alcoa for $5.6b, while NextDC’s planned Sydney data centre (NextDC S7) is set to offer 612MW capacity. Sports Watch: The Boomers, Tall Blacks and Opals all play in a busy early-July FIBA window, with Boomers debutant Bryce Cotton a key storyline. Local Culture: More than 100 remote Indigenous artists have travelled to Sydney for the National Indigenous Art Fair.