Welcome readers to today’s Afternoon Update.
Liberal senator Linda Reynolds’ defamation trial against Brittany Higgins continued on Tuesday, with Scott Morrison giving evidence via video link in the high-profile legal battle.
The former prime minister testified that he witnessed the “weaponising” of Higgins’ rape allegation for political purposes, suggesting it was to discredit him and Reynolds.
Morrison also said he was concerned for the former defence minister’s mental health, saying “for a period there we were very concerned that this could be a fatal outcome for [Reynolds]”.
He added that he was disappointed he didn’t know about the rape allegation before it was aired.
Top news
Wieambilla ambush was an act of terrorism | The trio responsible for the Wieambilla massacre believed they were “fighting alongside Jesus” in a battle of good and evil, gunning down police and a neighbour in 2022, a coronial inquest heard.
Seek reports ‘significant reduction’ in job ads | Revenue from Seek’s Australian and New Zealand operations fell 8% to $840m over the financial year as ad volumes fell 20%, sparking hot competition for a dwindling number of roles.
Vic shelves plan to raise the age of criminal responsibility | In 2023 Daniel Andrews committed to a two-stage process to raise the age from 10 to 12, and then to 14 by 2027. The Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan, said her decision to ditch the plan was made “at a different time, by a different government with a different premier”.
Trump’s rambling interview with Musk | Donald Trump sat down with billionaire Elon Musk for a rambling and vitriolic interview. Musk blamed a 40-minute delay on a “massive” cyber-attack, but the cause was not clear.
Ukraine says it has seized 1,000 sq km in Kursk offensive | Vladimir Putin has vowed a “worthy response” after Ukraine’s top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, confirmed swaths of Kursk were captured during a surprise assault on Russian territory.
Asian cities and countries jostle to host 2036 Olympic Games | If the 2036 Olympics should go to Asia – a logical option to follow Paris, Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032 – then Indonesia will push its case as a fast-emerging economy of 280 million people. But the IOC said it has a “double-digit” number of cities or countries in talks post-Paris.
A Maugean skate hatched in captivity for the first time | Described as ‘a quadrangular ray-like species’, the Maugean skate is under threat from the Tasmanian salmon industry. Tasmania’s Macquarie harbour is the only place in the world where the fish still exists.
Voice actor of Misty in Pokémon dies | Rachael Lillis, the actor who provided the voices of multiple Pokémon characters in the cartoon series and films, including Misty, Jessie and Jigglypuff, has died at the age of 46. Lillis was diagnosed with breast cancer in May.
In pictures
What are the arguments in favour of unlimited gambling ads?
The future of gambling advertising was heavily discussed on Tuesday. Labor minister Bill Shorten said that the ads were needed to save free-to-air TV from “diabolical” financial trouble, but independent MP Zoe Daniel says Shorten “got it wrong”.
What they said …
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“I’ve no idea about Keating but I think that it was a stupid statement to make, and I don’t know what his connection is to China that he would say such a thing.” – Nancy Pelosi
Former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi has hit back at the former Australian prime minister’s comments that Taiwan is “Chinese real estate”. The two former leaders have been locked in a back-and-forth on the issue on Tuesday, with Pelosi’s full remarks to air on ABC’s 7.30 program on Tuesday night.
In numbers
“Australia is getting more unequal,” said David Richardson, a senior research fellow at the Australia Institute, which is calling for more comprehensive capital gains tax, an annual wealth tax and a wealth transfer tax on inheritance.
Before bed read
Australians have lost so much faith in government that just being heard feels like special treatment
There is still no appetite for systemic reform to close the gap – even a year on from the failed voice referendum – the latest Guardian Essential poll shows.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: REO. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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• In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org
