Morning everyone. Our political editor examines the challenges facing Anthony Albanese as he prepares to replace two cabinet ministers this weekend, and we pay tribute to outgoing minister for Indigenous affairs Linda Burney. The FBI director has thrown the narrative around the attempted assassination of Donald Trump into question, and the Matildas were well beaten 3-0 in their first outing at the Paris Olympics.
Australia
Nine strikes | Journalists employed by Nine Entertainment’s publishing division have voted overwhelmingly to strike over pay from Friday for five days, hampering the company’s coverage of the Paris Olympic Games.
Labor reshuffle | Linda Burney has been praised for her “courage” and “dedication” after she resigned as minister for Indigenous Australians, and our political editor looks at the challenges for Anthony Albanese as he tries to find a replacement for her and outgoing skills minister Brendan O’Connor.
Lazenby retires | Former James Bond actor George Lazenby has announced his retirement at the age of 84. The Australian actor, best known for playing 007 in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, made the statement on X on Thursday.
‘Did a lot of praying’ | The mother of Elizabeth Struhs told police she “did a lot of praying” when the eight-year-old stopped breathing after six days without her diabetes medication, the judge in her murder case has heard.
Greens attack | Police are investigating after the New South Wales Greens’ office in Sydney’s inner west was graffitied with Islamophobic and white supremacist messages.
World
Shooting question | The FBI’s director has raised questions about whether Donald Trump was actually shot by a bullet during the assassination attempt against the former president earlier this month or whether he was instead struck by shrapnel.
Let the Games begin | Paris is making the final preparations for an ambitious, amphibious Olympics opening ceremony along the River Seine with the first such event to take place outside a stadium. Meanwhile, the IOC is facing calls for an investigation into how a convicted child rapist has been allowed to compete for the Netherlands at the Paris Olympics.
‘I cannot believe it’ | Jennifer Aniston has taken issue with JD Vance’s description of some of the most powerful people in US politics as “childless cat ladies”, saying she “cannot believe” it is coming from a potential vice-president.
Jasper jeopardy | A fast-moving wildfire has destroyed parts of Jasper, the old mountain town in the Canadian Rockies, with the mayor warning the damage was “beyond description and comprehension”.
Pegasus spyware | The Israeli government took extraordinary measures to frustrate a US lawsuit that threatened to reveal closely guarded secrets about one of the world’s most notorious hacking tools, leaked files suggest.
Full Story
Newsroom edition: what kind of leader do voters want in these chaotic times?
With the US election race turned upside down this week, Bridie Jabour speaks to Guardian Australia’s editor-in-chief, Lenore Taylor, the national news editor, Josephine Tovey, and the head of news, Mike Ticher, about the politics of being sensible and what voters really want in their leader.
In-depth
Kai McKenzie was surfing off the mid-north coast of New South Wales on Tuesday morning when a suspected great white shark bit him. He and his severed leg were airlifted to hospital, sparking speculation that surgeons may be able to reattach the limb. Luca Ittimani has been finding out whether it will be possible to reattach his leg, how the limb should be stored in the meantime and what happens afterwards.
Not the news
From Pumping Iron to Twins, and from The Terminator to True Lies (pictured), we rank the top 20 films of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s unlikely rise from Austrian bodybuilder to Hollywood superstar. For her number one pick, Anne Billson says Arnie has “never been as perfectly cast”. But what film is it?
The world of sport
Football | The Matildas were given a masterclass by Germany in their opening group game at the Paris Olympics overnight, going down 3-0.
Olympics | Australian swimming boss Rohan Taylor says public support for a South Korean athlete from Dolphins by one of his coaches is “unAustralian”, as the team also weighed in over concern about a lack of rigour in the Olympic doping regime.
Cricket | Ben Stokes has backed his England paceman Mark Wood to become the first person to be clocked bowling in excess of 100mph (161km/h) in Test cricket after the Geordie hit a top speed of 97.1mph against the West Indies last week.
Media roundup
Support for Australia becoming a republic is growing thanks to recent royal scandals, the Australian claims in an exclusive poll. The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald both report on the planned strike by staff at the papers over pay. The Courier Mail reports on a Queensland woman whose promised tax rebate of $3,000 ended up being just $300, and she warns people to be careful before they lodge their own returns.
What’s happening today
Sydney | Judgment in Gladys Berejiklian’s case to overturn Icac’s corruption findings.
Security | Indian Ocean Defence and Security 2024 conference and anti-Aukus protest.
Media | Nine Entertainment strike starts today.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
