Good afternoon. Barnaby Joyce is in the headlines again, with Anthony Albanese calling for the Nationals MP to be dumped for likening ballots to bullets at an anti-renewables rally.
Joyce urged the crowd to “load that magazine” at the voting booth against the prime minister and the energy minister, Chris Bowen, adding: “Goodbye, Chris. Goodbye, Albo.”
Joyce’s subsequent apology has not stopped an incredulous Albanese from asking: “What does this bloke have to do to lose his job?”
Top news
Paris Olympics | The Matildas could face a rude awakening after a fever-dream win and a civil war is bubbling as swimmers Ariarne Titmus (pictured) and Mollie O’Callaghan clash in the 200m. And, our guide to what else to follow as day three unfolds.
Forced marriage | Ruqia Haidari was murdered by the man she was forced to wed. Her mother, Sakina Muhammad Jan, became the first person in Australia to be found guilty of arranging a forced marriage. Jan has now been jailed over the marriage.
Wieambilla massacre | In Queensland, the families of slain police constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold have spoken for the first time, as the coronial inquest gets under way.
Sinéad O’Connor died from natural causes | The singer’s death certificate confirmed she died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchial asthma.
It’s cold – and it feels even colder | It’s 5C lower than average temperatures across most of Australia’s east, with “feels like” temperatures far lower in some places. The cold snap is likely to last until the end of the week.
‘Spot something missing?’ | Surfer Kai McKenzie, who lost his leg in a shark attack in New South Wales last week, has posted a lighthearted photo of himself in hospital flanked by supporters.
Mortgage ‘prisoners’ stuck as regulator retains buffers | Australia’s banking regulator has retained affordability buffers for mortgage holders, denting hopes the levels would be relaxed to allow so-called “mortgage prisoners” locked into uncompetitive rates to refinance.
Nicolás Maduro declared winner of Venezuela’s presidential election | The result, by the government-controlled electoral authority, was immediately contested by his political rivals and several governments in the region.
Janet Andrewartha dies aged 72 | The Australian entertainment industry is paying tribute to the actor who had recently appeared in television thriller Fake and was perhaps best known for playing Lyn Scully in Neighbours.
Historic uni debt for parrot problems waived | A man who was denied his graduation for 41 years because of an unpaid bill of £64.80 (A$127.19) relating to a parrot has finally donned his cap and gown on the same day as his son.
What they said …
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“Just plain weird” – Kamala Harris
In the words of presumptive Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, the way Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance describe her is, well, weird.
In numbers
The naming process is the first step in an exercise aimed at identifying every civilian killed during the Israeli military campaign.
Before bed read
Martin Phillipps’ legacy of melancholy brilliance
The Chills founder has died at the age of 61. Despite being a shining musical export, the band was dogged by tragedy and Phillipps’ personal struggles, writes Andrew Stafford.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: PER . You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
• Friday’s Afternoon Update was written by Luca Ittimani, which was not reflected in the byline.
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