Good afternoon. Matildas fever has gripped the nation, with the seismic World Cup semi-final against England due to kick off tonight.
There are only two matches left between the team being crowned world champions – but they are still massive games.
The Australian goalkeeper, Mackenzie Arnold, has said she is looking to stay grounded ahead of what is one of the biggest sporting occasions in the nation’s history.
The key matchups for Wednesday’s game include Australia’s Caitlin Foord against England’s Lucy Bronze, Lauren Hemp against Ellie Carpenter and Sam Kerr against Mary Earps.
In other news, senator Lidia Thorpe has said the voice referendum should be called off and Pauline Hanson has won an appeal against a defamation finding.
Top news
Lidia Thorpe says referendum should be called off | The independent senator outlined her criticisms at the National Press Club in Canberra, saying the voice is “window dressing for constitutional recognition”. “The voice is the easy way to fake progress without actually having to change a thing,” she said.
Pauline Hanson wins appeal against defamation finding | The leader of One Nation has had a legal victory, overturning $250,000 in defamation damages awarded after she made claims about the conduct of a former New South Wales senator in her One Nation party. Hanson was ordered to pay damages in October after the federal court said her comments on Nine’s Today program in March 2019 were “seriously damaging” to Brian Burston’s reputation.
Matildas fans face scammers in hunt for tickets | The scramble for the hottest tickets in town has turned to frustration for fans, who have had to face a wave of scammers and online difficulties.
Home test checking abortion worked reduces follow-up surgery | A study has found that a home test that checks whether a drug-induced abortion has worked is not only safe but reduces rates of unnecessary follow-up surgery. The lead author of the study said those who took part did not have to take time off work, travel to clinics or pay for associated expenses such as childcare to attend a follow-up appointment.
Erin Patterson says media portrayed her as ‘evil witch’ | The woman at the centre of the mushroom lunch that left three people dead and a fourth fighting for his life has told media she feels like she has become a prisoner in her own home.
Six things to watch for at Labor’s national conference | The conference is due to be held tomorrow, with expectations that topics such as Aukus and tax cuts will feature.
More than a million have fled ‘spiralling’ conflict in Sudan | A joint statement from United Nations agencies has declared that more than a million people have fled Sudan to neighbouring states, as people inside the country run out of food and die due to a lack of healthcare after four months of war.
Governor tells Trump Georgia’s 2020 election ‘was not stolen’ | Georgia’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp, has declared that the 2020 presidential election in his state “was not stolen” in an apparent defence of the latest criminal indictment against Donald Trump.
Full Story
Two Matildas on why it’s time for glory
Tonight the Tillies will face England’s Lionesses, the European champions, in Sydney. But do they have what it takes to go all the way?
Two women who have played for the Matildas – Joey Peters and Chloe Logarzo – tell Laura Murphy-Oates what it’s like playing for Australia, why this is the golden generation of women’s football and how the girls can bring this one home.
What they said …
***
“I was not aware that these mushrooms had hallucinogenic properties. I learned that later.”
US treasury secretary Janet Yellen after she inadvertently ate hallucinogenic mushrooms in China.
In numbers
The fines are for people caught moving materials including soil, hay and potted plants into NSW without a permit, as Queensland and NSW authorities are given stop-and-search powers to contain red fire ants.
Before bed read
For years Calla Wahlquist has only eaten meat from animals whose names she knew, and to her it made perfect sense.
She says there are many reasons to be vegetarian but she doesn’t mind what happens to an animal after it dies, so long as it lives well.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: RHO. 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. And start your day with a curated breakdown of the key stories you need to know. Sign up for our Morning Mail newsletter here.
