Welcome, readers, to the Afternoon Update.
Heatwave conditions have pushed temperatures beyond 45C in four states and territories, with the mercury passing 40C in some Adelaide suburbs by 10am.
More than 50 schools and early childhood centres in Victoria were forced to either close, relocate or switch to remote learning. The remote New South Wales towns of Wilcannia and Ivanhoe were forecast to break December heat records, with some areas not expected to record their maximum temperatures until about 5pm.
Top news
The remaining Bali Nine face their new normal returning home to Australia
Chalmers reveals two appointments to Reserve Bank’s new monetary policy board
Two of four Australians in suspected mass alcohol poisoning in Fiji to return home
Cricket commentator Isa Guha apologises for Jasprit Bumrah ‘primate’ comment
Netanyahu says he held ‘friendly’ talks with Trump over Syria and Gaza hostages
South Korea ruling party leader steps down after backing impeachment of President Yoon
In pictures
A traditional Maasai high jump competition in Kajiado, Kenya, takes top spot for our picture editors’ selection of photographs from around the world over the weekend.
What they said …
***
“Good governments know that they have to renew themselves.”
After a decade in the job, the Victorian treasurer, Tim Pallas, is quitting politics. His announcement today follows a series of other senior government ministers in the state who have quit politics in recent years.
In numbers
The latest annual report by the Electric Vehicle Council has found almost one in every 10 vehicles bought in Australia in 2024 was an electric vehicle. The report predicts the popularity of EVs to double over the next two years.
Before bed read
Just over a week ago no one knew who Luigi Mangione was. After he was revealed as the alleged assassin of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, on 4 December, he quickly became one of the most polarising figures in American pop culture. Ben Makuch unpacks the forces – rage, race and good looks – behind the lionisation of this murder suspect.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: MAC. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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