Good Afternoon. The buildup to what is potentially the biggest game in the history of the Matildas is gaining steam, with their World Cup quarter-final against France being played tomorrow afternoon.
All around Australia, World Cup fever has taken hold, with fans showing their appreciation in a wide variety of ways, from tattoos, to gingerbread and baby onesies.
Earlier today, a 111th-minute goal scored by teenager Salma Paralluelo secured a semi-final berth for Spain in a nailbiter against the Netherlands.
Elsewhere, the defence department is under pressure after soldiers were mauled by a crocodile, while News Corp profits have nosedived.
Top news
News Corp profits dive | Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp has recorded a steep 75% drop in full-year profit, weighed down by lower print and digital advertising at News Corp Australia, a division that includes flagship newspaper The Australian.
‘Huge’ coral bleaching unfolding across the Americas | Scientists are stunned by an unprecedented heat-stress event that is leaving coral bleached and dead, prompting fears that an unfolding tragedy in Central America, North America and the Caribbean could become a global event.
Defence department criticised after soldiers mauled by crocodile | Australia’s Department of Defence could be given a $1.5m fine for failing to properly train its personnel after two of its soldiers were mauled by a crocodile.
Sportsbet spends extra $19m ahead of expected ad ban | Anti-gambling advocates have called Sportsbet “utterly irresponsible” as it spends millions in a blitz before an expected crackdown by the Australian government.
Sam Kerr will start quarter-final if fit | The Matildas coach, Tony Gustavsson, will make a call on whether to start the Australian star striker Sam Kerr for tomorrow’s last eight clash after a final medical briefing tonight.
RBA boss says inflation not rates the big drag on households | The outgoing RBA boss, Philip Lowe, has said the “really big drain” on household income is high inflation rather than high interest rates.
Crackdown on e-scooter ‘hoons’ | E-scooter riders who flout Melbourne’s road rules will trigger an audio warning as part of a crackdown on illegal footpath and tandem riding.
US senator ‘thinking seriously’ about leaving Democrats | The West Virginia senator Joe Manchin is “thinking seriously” about abandoning the Democratic party to run as an independent for Congress or as a third-party candidate for president.
Death toll from Hawaii wildfires rises | The death toll from catastrophic wildfires in Hawaii has increased to 53, as the search for survivors continues.
Quebecers push to remove governor general for lack of French | A group of Quebecers have cleared a major hurdle in their efforts to have Canada’s governor general removed because she does not speak French.
Full Story
Newsroom edition: nuclear power and Peter Dutton’s politics of diversion
Peter Dutton is ramping up his calls for nuclear power in Australia. Despite the Coalition not taking up the nuclear option while it was in power, the opposition leader is now saying nuclear energy is a safe, cheap and consistent power source, which will help Australia transition from fossil fuels towards a zero emissions economy. But his claims are not backed up by the facts.
What they said …
***
“If he had been a westerner, he would have been rescued immediately. No one felt responsible for him. What happened there is a disgrace. A living human was left lying so that records could be set.”
Fellow climbers say video footage shows a record-breaking mountaineer and her team walking over the body of a frostbitten porter during a record ascent.
In numbers
The pint-sized whale has been discovered by palaeontologists in Egypt who say the species may have lived a short, speedy life.
Before bed read
The life of an undercover officer in Northern Ireland during the Troubles was one marked by paranoia and violence.
A fascinating read from Rory Carroll on the clandestine career of an officer with the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), a precursor to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: Tach. 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.
