☕️ U.S. launches fresh strikes on Iran

We were truly spoilt for sport this weekend, with the World Cup nearing its end at the same time as the Wimbledon finals.

If you missed the dra-mah of yesterday’s World Cup games, fear not. Here’s what’s coming up. (Or, for the less sport-inclined, here’s when to expect cheering from your local pub in the wee hours):

For sports knowledge that is, thankfully, slightly more advanced than mine, sign up to TDA’s sport newsletter here!

The quote: “Senator Graham's family ‌appreciates prayers at ‌this time and ⁠asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.”
A statement from the office of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who died yesterday aged 71 after a “brief and sudden illness”. Graham was a high-profile Republican senator from South Carolina and a key ally of President Donald Trump. Graham returned from a visit to Ukraine on Friday, as part of a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers sent to discuss new economic penalties set to be imposed on Russia.

The stat: 10,000. The number of party hats distributed to attendees at yesterday’s NRL game between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Newcastle Knights to celebrate former player Jai Arrow’s 31st birthday. Arrow was forced to retire in May after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease. The NRL marked the occasion by raising funds for Arrow’s family, as well as attempting to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people wearing party hats. (The record still needs to be confirmed.)

The big question:

Friday’s results: More than half of you regularly snack between meals (62%). Thanks for voting - your responses inform TDA's journalism and research. [2,300 votes]

Together with AAP.

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Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady has been denied entry to Egypt, days after authorities banned the LGBTQIA+ cruise from docking in Türkiye.

The tour group organising the cruise told passengers on Thursday the ship had been “denied entry into Egyptian waters”.

It comes after Turkish officials said the visit on Monday was “planned by groups known for behaviours that do not align with the structure of our society and our moral values”.

In Türkiye, homosexuality is not criminalised, but same-sex marriage has not been legalised. Transgender people have been able to change their gender markers on legal documents since 1988. However, protection of LGBTQIA+ people is not legislated, and pride events have been banned since 2016.

In Egypt, same-sex activity and transgender identification are not specifically criminalised, but police often arrest and charge LGBTQIA+ people under ‘decency’ laws.

The tour group Atlantis Events has hosted LGBTQIA+ cruises across North America and Europe since 1991. According to its website, around 90-95% of guests on Atlantis cruises are gay men, however, women are also welcome.

Its 10-day cruise from Athens to Venice on the Scarlet Lady departed on Sunday (local time), stopping at the Greek islands, Türkiye, Croatia, and Italy.

On 29 June (local time), Turkish authorities from the region of Aydin posted to social media, saying the plan to dock at their port “has caused great discomfort in various segments of our society [and] has been canceled.”

“It is absolutely out of the question for the said group to come to our province with an organisation of the specified nature,” they said.

Cruise organisers shifted the itinerary, instead planning to travel to Alexandria in Egypt.

On Thursday morning (local time), passengers received a letter from Atlantis President Rich Campbell, saying the cruise had been “denied entry into Egyptian waters”.

Speaking to CNN after Türkiye blocked entry, Campbell said it was the first time a cruise had been blocked in Atlantis’ 36-year history. The ship has been rerouted to the Greek island of Crete.

At the announcement of the Turkish leg being cancelled, Broadway star Patti LuPone – who was onboard to perform – said she was “shocked.”

“I am furious, but I am sailing,” she said.

Reporting by Emily Donohoe.

🎧 On today’s TDA podcast, editor-in-chief Billi reveals the jobs most at risk from AI. Listen or watch on Apple here, Spotify here, or YouTube here.

⚽️ The World Cup semi-finals are upon us. You can sign up to TDA Sport here to make sure the explainer is in your inbox on Wednesday morning.

Pianist Jayson Gillham has lost his Federal Court case against the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO).

Justice Graeme Hill ruled against Gillham on Friday, nearly two years after the MSO cancelled one of his 2024 concerts over comments he made about Israeli forces killing Palestinian journalists in Gaza.

Gillham alleged the orchestra had unlawfully cancelled the concert because of his political beliefs. The MSO maintained it was entitled to control what happens on its stage.

In August 2024, Gillham performed a recital in Melbourne.

Composer Connor D’Netto wrote a piece for Gillham to perform, titled ‘Witness’. D’Netto attached a note dedicating it to “the journalists of Gaza”.

Before the concert, Gillham said:

“Over the last 10 months, Israel has killed more than 100 Palestinian journalists. A number of these... as they were travelling in marked press vehicles or wearing their press jackets... In addition to the role of journalists who bear witness, the word witness in Arabic is shaheed, which also means martyr.”

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Israeli forces have killed 263 journalists in Gaza since October 2023.

Under international law, it is a war crime to deliberately target journalists, health workers, or hospitals.

Following Gillham’s recital, the MSO cancelled a second, scheduled performance.

They told ticketholders Gillham made “personal remarks without seeking the MSO’s approval or sanction,” and that it “does not condone the use of [its] stage as a platform for expressing personal views.”

In October 2024, Gillham sued the MSO in the Fair Work division of the Federal Court.

During the trial, Gillham argued that cancelling the concert was an illegal “adverse action” taken against him because of his political beliefs, and that he was discriminated against and had his reputation damaged as a result.

The MSO alleged that Gillham breached his contract with the organisation by failing to provide notice of his comments, which they deemed “unprofessional”.

In handing down his judgment on Friday in the Federal Court in Melbourne, Justice Graeme Hill accepted the MSO’s policy of remaining unaffiliated with either Israel or Gaza.

The judge found the MSO “would have taken the same actions” if Gillham had expressed a pro-Israel view instead.

He said: “I find that there is a custom or practice that classical musicians do not make statements on sensitive political or social issues from the stage without approval of the host.”

Gillham was an independent contractor, not an employee of the MSO, so the judge found standard workplace protections didn’t apply to his case.

It’s not yet clear whether Gillham will appeal.

Reporting by Elliot Lawry.

Want to get more out of your internet connection? Your in-home set-up might just need a quick check.

Before you assume it’s your connection, it helps to know that a lot of everyday frustration can come down to your in-home setup - from your Wi-Fi router’s age to where it’s placed. 

A few simple changes could help things run more smoothly. nbn is here to help you get more from your internet, with practical tips to improve your setup. 

The initiative will provide free or discounted pet food and supplies to community members experiencing financial hardship. New York City Council has allocated $US750,000 to the program over the next year, its first-ever investment in pet food pantries. The funding was announced as part of the council’s FY2027 budget, which includes an additional $750,000 for free and low-cost pet desexing programs. The council’s Animal Welfare Caucus welcomed both initiatives, which they said will help to “ease pressure on the shelter system, and ensure that New Yorkers are not forced to choose between basic needs and feeding their pets”.

Reporting by Emma Gillespie.

Are you a Swiftie? 🫵 Are you still secretly seething you weren’t invited to your close personal friend Taylor’s wedding? 🫵

Well, if you were lucky, you could have been a part of the nuptials… through garbage. 

Justin Gignac suited up to collect the trash outside MSG after Taylor’s wedding and curated it into mini boxes. The boxes contained abandoned items, including bottle caps, straws and even AirPods. The boxes were selling for $US25 (around $AU36), and are now sold out.

One billionaire’s wedding trash is truly her fandom’s treasure. 

Reporting by Anju Dhanushkodi.