Morning Mail: US warns Albanese over algorithm opt-out, cost of raising children rising, and a hot chook taste test

Morning everyone. The Trump administration has warned the Albanese government that its plans for a social media algorithm opt-out will be treated as “censorship” of free speech in a move that escalates tensions over efforts to curb the power of big tech.

The sensitivity comes as world leaders gathered at the United Nations to hear Donald Trump contemplate the “annihilation” of Iran. At home, a study warns that couples are being priced out of having children, the South Australian Liberals’ “vote-losing machine”, and supermarket roast chicken gets the taste test.

Australia

• Take a bough | A decades-old shady eucalyptus, an elm beloved by thousands of commuters, and a type of ginkgo once thought to be extinct in the wild are among the finalists for Victoria’s tree of the year with voting to close next month.

• ‘Censorship’ claim | The US has warned the Australian government that its plans to boost online safety through digital duty of care laws risks becoming a mechanism for “viewpoint-based censorship” and called for American platforms to be exempted.

• Bearing the cost | The cost for Australian families of raising two or more children has risen to at least $36,500 a year, according to new research, with the money needed to maintain a family increasing by 134% in two decades.

• ‘Vote-losing machine’ | The ascendancy of the rightwing senator Alex Antic in the South Australian Liberals has coincided with a collapse in the party’s vote. Could it have even further to fall now that he holds the party presidency?

• Mother charged | A mother has been charged after allegedly fatally stabbing one child and seriously injuring two others in the Blue Mountains.

World

• A day in Gaza | As part of our series following a week in the life of Palestinians in Gaza, we speak to Ramadan Ghaban, a 12-year-old boy who lives in a tent and works in a cafe. “I’m afraid they’ll bomb me,” he says.

• Trump plea | Donald Trump has called on nations to unite to isolate Tehran and bring down global energy prices, as he gave a bellicose defence of his administration’s foreign policy at the United Nations. He even mused about whether he should “annihilate” Iran. The US president’s domestic battles spilled over, however, when he scolded a CNN anchor for covering his speech after he banned the network and two other media outlets from the White House. Earlier, the outgoing secretary general of the UN said the world’s fault lines have turned from cracks into canyons as superpowers show that they alone do not have the power to solve the world’s problems.

• Trump Jr accused | A Republican senator has accused Donald Trump Jr of corruption and demanded a Senate investigation into revelations that a Russian oligarch bankrolled part of his recent wedding in the Bahamas. A second Florida Republican has publicly distanced himself from Trump Sr over the targeting of immigrants.

• Church sanction | Charlotte Church has accused Ed Sheeran of choosing “consumerism and capitalism over doing the right thing” over the removal of his friend and support act Macklemore from his US tour.

• Clavicular charge | The online influencer known as Clavicular – who helped fuel the rise of the extreme male appearance-improvement trend of “looksmaxxing” – has been charged with rape and drug offences in Massachusetts.

Full Story

Jim Chalmers on how Australia’s economy can survive in an uncertain world

The treasurer speaks to our political editor, Tom McIlroy, and economics editor, Patrick Commins, about why he’s optimistic Labor’s policy agenda is preparing the country for an unpredictable future.

In-depth

With the royal commission into alleged corruption in Victoria’s Big Build due to begin this morning, Benita Kolovos examines how it will work.

Not the news

Nicholas Jordan had no trouble recruitng taste-testers for his latest foray into supermarket food offerings: roast chicken. Despite the excitement in the taste team, they nevertheless managed to establish a pecking order. Find out how the chooks rated.

Sport

• AFL | The Brisbane Lions’ Lachie Neale will miss the AFL grand final – barring a last-minute appeal – after his suspension for striking Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan was upheld by a tribunal. The Lions are annoyingly likeable despite their two successive titles, while Fremantle’s bid for a first flag is a great fairytale. So who should the neutrals barrack for in Saturday’s grand final?

• Football | The Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, is widely expected to make an appearance at the UN this week where he will lobby heads of state for their federations’ support as he continues his campaign to be re-elected next year despite his near-toppling over the World Cup selloff debacle.

• Cricket | For its 100th issue, Wisden Cricket Monthly has identified 100 ways the sport has developed this century. Here are 15 things we have gained and 10 we have lost.

The Coalition is planning an eight-point policy plan to reverse Labor’s green revolution, according to the Australian. Barnaby Joyce has revealed secret talks between the Coalition and One Nation over a power-sharing deal, the Daily Telegraph reports. Experts have warned the proposed Fitzroy River Olympic rowing venue could push two endangered turtle species to the brink of extinction, the Courier Mail reports. The family of missing boy Gus Lamont are preparing to search eagle nests at their outback property for any trace of the child, according to the Adelaide Advertiser.

What’s happening today

• Defence | Defence industry minister Pat Conroy to announce a significant contract at CBG Systems in Hobart.

• Sydney | NSW public hearing at 9am into greyhound welfare and integrity commission.

• Brisbane | Bail application at magistrates court for man accused of bribing Bangladesh officials investigating the suspected murder of his estranged wife.

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Brain teaser

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