The FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off this week in Australia and New Zealand. Over the following month, a total of 64 games will be played across nine cities in the two host nations.

More than a million tickets have been sold – including over 80,000 for the Matildas’ first match against Ireland on Thursday night.

Earlier in the year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese exclusively told TDA there would be a "race" to declare a public holiday if the Matildas won the World Cup.

We’ll be watching closely!

The quote
"I think I'm going to have some beer, it's been an exhausting two weeks.” - Tennis player Markéta Vondroušová after winning Wimbledon over the weekend. Vondroušová made history as the first unseeded player to win the Wimbledon women's singles title in the professional era.

The stat
100+ million
The estimated number of people currently under heat warnings in the U.S., according to The New York Times.

Today in history
1955: The first-ever Disneyland opened its doors in Anaheim, California.

Some headlines from this morning:

The first over-the-counter daily oral contraceptive pill has been approved for use in the U.S by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This will mean millions will be able to buy the pill without a prescription.

The FDA approved the medication, called Opill, for customers of all ages. It will be available in pharmacies, convenience stores, and grocery stores across the U.S.

The active ingredient in Opill has been available in prescription contraceptive pills for fifty years.

The pill's manufacturer, Perrigo, said a panel of 17 independent scientific advisers to the FDA had voted unanimously in favour of making Opill available over the counter, deciding the benefits outweighed the risks of unwanted pregnancy or possible side effects.

They described its approval as "a significant milestone towards addressing a key unmet need for contraceptive access".

Criticism
Religious groups across the U.S. have opposed the approval of Opill.

Last November, the National Catholic Bioethics Centre wrote to the FDA that they "strenuously [opposed] the non-prescription availability of Opill".

They argued that such access would violate the commitment of healthcare professionals "to do no harm" and believe patients should be medically evaluated before obtaining medication with "potentially life-threatening side effects".

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Australian battery-caged eggs will be phased out from supermarket shelves within 13 years.

The proposal has been endorsed by Federal, state and territory Agriculture Ministers. However, NSW has rejected the 2036 timeline, and will commence its own phase-out on a separate schedule.

What are caged eggs?
Battery-caged eggs are produced by hens that live in small cages inside large sheds.

This differs from free-range eggs, which are laid by hens with access to the outdoors.

Battery-caged eggs are being phased out because of animal welfare concerns.

Recommendation
The recommendation to phase out battery-caged egg production was included in an animal welfare standards document published by the Federal Government last year.

The document sets out minimum standards for useable space in cages. It also ensures access to important features like perches, scratch areas, and claw-shortening devices.

Endorsement
The recommendations were endorsed by states and territories at a meeting this past week. However, each state and territory can still set their own timeframe, despite this commitment.

Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said some governments would "move faster than others [and] some will move slower".

Coles and Woolworths have pledged to take caged eggs off their shelves by 2025.

What has NSW done?
The NSW Government has said it will forge ahead with its own timeline.

The state's Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty told 2GB they had no deadline for phasing out caged eggs but would operate in "everyone's interest" to ensure the continued and steady supply of eggs.

Moriarty said that NSW, Australia's most populous state, had a "significant-sized industry" that had to be consulted before the "right timeline" could be put in place.

Industry response
The egg industry wanted to delay the phase to 2046 due to the financial impact it says a quicker transition will have.

Bede Burke, the chair of Egg Farmers Australia, said "it can take up to 30 years to pay-off debt on existing cage egg

businesses" and that a premature phase-out could spark future egg shortages and higher prices for consumers.

Melinda Hashimoto, the CEO of Egg Farmers Australia, also said cage egg producers need more clarity from states "so that farmers can plan for their future."

Price surge?
Caged eggs make up about 30-40% of consumer egg purchases in Australia, sparking concerns a phase-out could lead to a future lack of supply.

A caged egg phase-out in New Zealand did contribute to a significant price hike for consumers.

Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt dismissed claims of a possible surge, saying recent modelling found the "average egg consumer" would pay less than $2 more per year.

Advocates’ response
The Australian Alliance for Animals' Policy Director Jed Goodfellow said he was "disappointed" states and territories can determine their own timelines for the phase-out.

He said it added uncertainty for consumers and the industry.

Goodfellow still "fully" expects NSW to work towards the 2036 timeline, and has called on each government to release their timeline for the phase-out.

Get all the news you need to know today in your ears on The Daily Aus podcast!

Effective immediately, there will now be equal prize money for men and women at all international cricket events, including World Cup tournaments.

Last year, the winners of the men's T20 World Cup were awarded $1.6 million, while the women's winners were awarded $1 million this year.

Women's football has reached new heights in Australia - and continues to ignite a broader passion for women's sports, from grassroots fields to professional stadiums.

The Matildas have already played a pivotal role in this global phenomenon. So, on the eve of the world’s biggest moment for the “beautiful game”, this is the perfect moment to remind ourselves just how far our national team has come.

Since the first Australian Women’s national team was invited to participate on a global stage in 1978, to the naming of the Matildas in 1995, to becoming the first Australian national football team to win silverware in Asia in 2010; they’ve gone on to break both TV viewing and attendance records. Once a largely unknown team, the Matildas now inspire a new generation of football fans.

TDA and Nike invite you to join us in celebrating their successes both on and off the pitch and remember the power of women’s sports to build a better game for all.

TW: domestic violence

Do you remember when a dress broke the internet?

Back in 2015, the internet was divided on whether the dress was blue and black, or gold and white. The dress was for a wedding and the mother of the bride sent it to her daughter as an option for her to wear when they realised they were seeing two different colours.

It was posted to Tumblr to settle the debate, but it instead divided the world.

Eight years on, there’s been a horrific twist to that story. Keir Johnston (whose wedding it was) has been charged with attempting to murder his wife, Grace Johnston, according to The Times.

He allegedly subjected his wife to domestic violence over an 11-year period.

Johnston appeared in court in Glasgow, Scotland, last week. He has denied all charges against him.

1800 RESPECT