Good afternoon.
Hillary Clinton has delivered a withering rebuke to a congressional committee investigating her supposed links to Jeffrey Epstein, saying the proceedings were designed “to protect one political party and one public official, rather than to seek truth and justice”.
The former US secretary of state faced questions about UFOs and the Pizzagate conspiracy theory in her long-awaited appearance before the committee. Clinton said after her testimony: “I don’t know how many times I had to say I did not know Jeffrey Epstein.”
Meanwhile, three memos that describe four interviews conducted by the FBI in 2019 contain explicit but unsubstantiated claims that Donald Trump sexually abused a woman when she was a minor in the early 1980s with the assistance of Epstein, according to a Guardian review of those documents.
Top news
Jim Chalmers confirms changes to negative gearing on the table ahead of May budget
‘Seems I’m not dead’: Magda Szubanski says she’s in remission after treatment for stage four cancer
Massive Sydney rain dump brings flash floods as other states await further deluge
Australia v India: second women’s one-day cricket international – live
In pictures
London’s new “fountain of filth” statue is among the highlights as the Guardian’s picture editors select daily photo highlights from around the world.
What they said …
***
“I hope I have paved the way for the next woman to be elected to, and succeed in, both these roles.” – Sussan Ley
The former opposition leader said she was proud of being the first woman to lead the Liberals as she formally resigned from parliament, triggering a byelection in the Farrer seat she has held for almost 25 years.
Full Story
Back to Back Barries: the politics of no sympathy for ‘IS families’
Tony Barry and Barrie Cassidy examine the divisive political debate over the future of the 34 Australian women and children languishing in a Syrian detention camp.
They also discuss why capital gains tax is becoming a real pressure point for Labor, Anthony Albanese’s careful words for One Nation voters and why there’s a proliferation of polls.
Before bed read
CBGB launched the careers of the Ramones, Talking Heads, Television, Blondie and more – all while having surfaces covered in graffiti, overflowing ashtrays and “notoriously filthy” toilets. As the New York dive bar and punk venue’s 1975-1986 era is celebrated in a new box set, Garth Cartwright details its colourful history.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: BEG. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
Sign up
If you would like to receive this Afternoon Update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or start your day with a curated breakdown of the key stories you need to know with our Morning Mail newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland.
