Welcome, readers, to the Afternoon Update.
Donald Trump has made his first public appearance since Sunday’s attempted assassination, making a dramatic entrance to large cheers on the first night of the Republican national convention in Milwaukee.
Trump, who did not speak at the convention, wore a bandage over his ear, after it was hit by a bullet during the rally in Pennsylvania. Trump worked his way across the convention floor before making his way to a box, where he joined Republicans including Tucker Carlson and the Ohio senator JD Vance, who he named as his pick for vice president.
Earlier in the day, Elon Musk promised to donate US$45m a month to a pro-Trump Super Pac.
Separately, a Florida judge dismissed charges against Trump in the classified documents case. Read Ed Pilkington’s analysis examining how justice Clarence Thomas may have affected the case.
Top news
Police share clues in bid to identify missing woman | A paperback novel, reading glasses and backpack are among objects that police have linked to the remains of a woman found on a New South Wales beach a month ago. Forensic analysis of the remains, which were buried, led police to believe the bones were that of a woman in her 50s and had been on the beach since between 2021 and 2023.
Sydney Harbour tolls should be higher, report says | Drivers crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge and tunnel should be charged in both directions, a review into the city’s toll roads says. The shake-up would help ease toll prices in western Sydney, the independent review commissioned by the government said.
Wild weather lashes east coast | The Victorian SES fielded more than 300 requests for assistance overnight as damaging winds and driving rain brought down trees and and flooded low-lying areas. Rain and strong winds also pelted New South Wales overnight while snow flurries were reported on the road towards the Queensland border.
Trump shooting motive remains elusive | Authorities have pored over the home of alleged shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks and have since gained access to his phone, but are no closer to learning the motive behind the assassination attempt. Meanwhile Joe Biden told NBC it was a “mistake” to talk about putting Donald Trump “in the bullseye”, saying he meant put a “focus on” his opponent’s policies.
NZ super trawler returns, sparking fears for threatened fish | Conservationists are disturbed by Australia’s decision to authorise the return of the Amaltal Explorer, a factory ship that will net orange roughy, a threatened fish that can live for more than 140 years.
Parts of Tonga without internet | An undersea cable damaged in an earthquake has left a third of Tonga’s population in the dark for two weeks. The crisis has been compounded after the government ordered the Starlink internet satellite company to cease operations in the country until it was granted a licence.
North Korean diplomat flees to South | Ri Il-kyu, who was responsible for political affairs at the North Korean embassy in Cuba, has reportedly fled to the South. Ri has become the highest-ranking North Korean diplomat to escape to the South since 2016.
Harry Kewell sacked as coach | The Socceroos great has been sacked by J1 League powerhouse Yokohama F. Marinos after less than seven months. Fellow Australian John Hutchinson will takethe reins on an interim basis.
Generation Kill author dies | Evan Wright, the award-winning journalist who wrote about US subcultures in the book Generation Kill, which he helped adapt into the HBO miniseries of the same name, has died aged 59.
In pictures
Beaker Street science photography prize
As part of Tasmania’s annual Beaker Street festival, finalist images in the science photography competition will be on show at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery from 6-23 August.
What they said …
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“Myths, truths, and outright disinformation.” – Clean Energy Council chief executive Kane Thornton
Speaking at the Australian Clean Energy Summit, Thornton criticised “bad faith actors” who he said were deliberately derailing the conversation around renewable energy.
In numbers
Dr Lee Coaldrake, a 71-year-old retired anaesthetist, has been fined $5,000 for her role in a 2023 climate demonstration at Queensland parliament. Coaldrake on Tuesday pleaded guilty to disturbing the legislature, an offence created to quell the “pineapple rebellion” of 1939 and last used more than 30 years ago under the Joh Bjelke-Petersen government.
Before bed read
The nature of … a hairy caterpillar: a ginger toupee, twitching cartoonishly
When Helen Sullivan was in school, for a few weeks every year caterpillars were the most exciting thing happening.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: NIM . You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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