Welcome, readers, to Afternoon Update.
Today, Republican presidential nominee hopefuls Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley hashed it out in an animated debate.
The pair carried out the fifth Republican primary debate but with less than a week to go before the first-in-the-country Iowa caucuses, they aren’t the only nominees who made waves today.
Representing the two polar ends of the nominee pool, Chris Christie officially suspended his campaign, commenting, “It is clear to me tonight that there is not a path to win the nomination,” while Donald Trump, the undisputed leader of the pack, held his own town hall hosted by Fox News, using his airtime to attack all of the above.
We would also like to apologise for the absence of today’s Morning Mail which regretfully did not go out due to technical difficulties.
Top news
Dutton urges Woolworths boycott | The opposition leader has called for a boycott of Woolworths over its decision to stop stocking Australia Day merchandise – a move the supermarket says is due to a lack of demand from customers.
Alleged plot to kill OneFour rap group members uncovered | Two men, including 26-year-old arrested in Cartwright, in Sydney’s south-west, are expected to be charged with conspiracy to murder, drug and firearm offences.
Wieambilla shootings inspired ‘true threats’ court hears | Donald Day Jr made serious threats to kill others after allegedly encouraging deadly Queensland shootings, prosecutors say.
Could you save on your holiday road trip if Australia had fuel-efficiency standards? | Climate Council finds average Australian car needs more petrol to travel same distance as more efficient models that are common overseas.
Alex de Minaur downs world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz | Australian (pictured above) defeats Wimbledon champion 6-4, 5-7, 10-3.
UN security council demands immediate end to Houthi attacks | Resolution calling for end to the attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthis was adopted despite abstentions from Russia and China.
Port Moresby rocked by deadly riots as police strike over pay | A violent riot has led to several deaths and shops and businesses being set on fire in Papua New Guinea’s capital.
Trump told European leaders that US ‘will never come to help you’ | Then president told European commissioners in 2020 that “Nato is dead” and the US would never defend Europe if it were attacked.
In pictures
How New Zealand’s story in a million pictures was almost lost forever
Rescued by an American gallery, a trove of photos depicting pivotal scenes in modern New Zealand is now being auctioned and sold to institutions. Click here for the full story.
What they said …
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“I am sorry for these people, because they believed some idea with me at the forefront and believed in what I said, and God knows what these people have lost. And I do feel bad about this.” – Stephen Harrison, who posed as the chief executive of HyperVerse, one of the hyper crypto investment schemes in which people lost millions of dollars. Harrison was paid for his role but denied he had “pocketed” any of the money they lost.
In numbers
Before bed read
Is it OK to speculate about Taylor Swift’s sexuality? Arwa Mahdawi takes more offence at the idea that it’s upsetting to discuss a public person’s sexuality in 2024 – especially when no one seems perturbed at gossip about celebrities’ straight sex lives.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: HOM. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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