Afternoon Update: celebs speak at DNC; texts between Higgins’ husband and journalist; and globally famous penguin dies
Welcome, readers, to Afternoon Update.
Bill Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and Tim Walz were among the high-profile figures to speak on day three of the Democratic National Convention, but it was the celebrity endorsements for Kamala Harris that set the day apart.
After live performances by the musicians Stevie Wonder and John Legend, and appearances from Saturday Night Live comedian Kenan Thompson and actor Mindy Kaling, Oprah Winfrey stopped in for an unannounced speech and walked out to thunderous cheers.
Oprah put Harris’s candidacy into the historical context of other trailblazing Black women before rousing the audience with her call to action, singing the word “joy”.
Several prominent Republicans, including Olivia Troye – a former homeland security adviser to Mike Pence – also gave speeches throughout the day, which featured regular jabs at both Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance.
Top news
Linda Reynolds’ defamation trial | Brittany Higgins began “regretting” going public with her alleged rape in Parliament House and was concerned the then Morrison government was going to “discredit” her, text messages between her husband, David Sharaz, and a journalist have shown.
Jetstar passenger arrested after walking on wing | The man was reportedly pacing around the plane, which was parked at the time, before he opened the emergency exit, with flight attendants and passengers urging him to sit down.
Abul Rizvi accuses Coalition of misusing his words on Gaza visas | The former senior immigration official said the idea that people coming to Australia from Gaza posed a national security threat was a “complete beat-up”.
Taylor Swift speaks after terror threat cancels shows | The singer has spoken for the first time about the three Vienna shows on her Eras tour that were cancelled earlier this month after a foiled terrorist attack, saying she felt “a new sense of fear” and a “tremendous amount of guilt”.
Heat deaths in Europe may triple by end of the century | Heat deaths in Europe could triple by the end of the century, with the numbers rising disproportionately in southern European countries such as Italy, Greece and Spain, a study has found.
Texas to reconsider case of Black woman sentenced for trying to vote | Texas’s highest criminal court announced it would again consider the case of Crystal Mason, who was sentenced to five years in prison for trying to cast a provisional ballot in the 2016 presidential election when she was ineligible to vote.
World famous gay penguin dies | Vale Sydney gentoo penguin Sphen who, along with his partner Magic, shot to fame in 2018 when news of their same-sex male relationship in a Sydney aquarium made global headlines.
Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis trailer withdrawn | The video starts by going back in time to show negative quotes from established critics for acclaimed films from Coppola’s past, but included false and misleading quotes.
ABC managing director resigns | David Anderson has quit a year into his second five-year term after a 35-year career at the public broadcaster. Anderson told staff it was a tough decision but believed it was time for a leadership renewal.
In pictures
Best of the iPhone photography awards 2024
Across landscapes, portraits and abstract compositions, the images showcase the unique ability of iPhone photography to connect us to the world in profound ways.
What they said …
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“This is a pandemic of kookiness”
The assistant trade minister, Tim Ayres, has pushed back against a co-sponsored private member’s bill which “seeks to establish a commission of inquiry into Australia’s response to Covid-19 pandemic”, believing the Liberals have adopted a culture of playing to the “most loopy, far-right extremist views”.
In numbers
From July 2025, 12% superannuation will be paid to parents on paid parental leave. The social services minister, Amanda Rishworth, said the laws would boost gender equality and bolster the economic security of women.
Reader callout
Tell us about your experience taking antidepressants
We would like to hear about your experience with depression, and if you have ever tried to stop taking antidepressant medications.
Before bed read
‘As a GP, I don’t match people’s idea of a domestic violence victim. I’m confused how I got here too’
“Each time I read of another woman being killed, I feel the horror of this loss, but I’m also anxious that my experience becomes less believable,” a GP writes.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: SALT. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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