The federal environment minister says Australia is preparing to see mass deaths of birds and mammals from bird flu.

Yesterday, Australia confirmed its first case of H5 bird flu detected in a mammal, a fur seal found dead in South Australia's south east.

There's now a second suspected case that's been discovered, also in a seal in SA.

A major Australian study has found parents caring for young children with disability are twice as likely to experience psychological distress and nearly twice as likely to say they're not in good health.

The results also show they are 50 per cent more likely to feel parenting is demanding, compared to carers without children with disability.

It comes as the government prepares to divert some families from the National Disability Insurance Scheme onto the new Thriving Kids program, which begins in October.

Authorities in France say there's been more than 300 drownings in the past two months...linking the sharp rise in deaths compared to last year to prolonged heatwaves.

A government minister announced the 14-per-cent hike, saying the drownings were recorded in open water and in areas that are not authorised or supervised for swimming.

Climate change is driving up temperatures around the world - but particularly in Europe.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to step in to settle new energy and water rules for massive AI data centres at a national cabinet meeting on Wednesday - despite Queensland's opposition.

Queensland's rejection of rules tying data centre construction to new renewables projects means the federal government will be forced to legislate to override the state.

The Queensland and Northern Territory governments say they will not sign on to the new standard.

An Australian man charged with murdering a Thai teenager says that he's innocent and acted in self-defence.

Simon Peter Carman is charged with murdering Tunchanok Donhomla... he claims he was trying to stop her from stabbing him.Thai police have accused him of picking up the 17-year-old along Pattaya's popular Beach Road and then killing her and discarding her body.

About 1,000 little penguins on Phillip Island have now received a dose of the H5N1 bird flu vaccine.

Authorities are planning to vaccinate 5,000 of the island's 40,000-bird population.

It comes as the first mammal tested positive over the weekend, a long-nose fur seal that was found dead at Beachport in southeastern S-A.

There have now been 298 positive H-5 bird flu events recorded in Australia.

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The H5 strain of bird flu has been detected in a mammal in Australia for the first time.

Sydney's AFLW team has won its game over Essendon at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with a record crowd turning out for the women's game after a week of controversy embroiling the club. 

Tensions between the US and Canada are intensifying, with both sides imposing tit-for-tat tariffs.

The deadly H5 bird flu virus has been detected in a mammal in Australia for the first time.

Some Sydney Swans supporters are expected to walk out of the SCG today as the club holds a double-header.Inside Canada, support continues to grow for the Prime Minister Mark Carney to impose retaliatory tariffs on the United States.The Weather Bureau says Australia will potentially experience both record heat and rain as El Nino develops into Spring.

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