Welcome, readers, to Afternoon Update.
The $1.9bn in renovations may not have been enough to sufficiently improve the water quality in the Seine, with Paris Olympics organisers postponing the anticipated men’s triathlon due to water pollution concerns.
After meeting in the early hours of Tuesday morning, organisers made the decision just hours before the scheduled start, saying heavy rain over Paris had pushed more sewage and E coli into the famous river.
The event was tentatively rescheduled for 10.45am on Wednesday local time, however looming storms have left athletes anxious to see if the water quality will improve.
Swimming in the Seine has been banned for over a century. But since 2015, organisers have spent around $1.9bn to ensure a cleaner river for the Games, and will allow Parisians to swim in it afterwards.
Top news
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Robert Geeves signed agreement he would not take unborn baby, court told | A court has heard that Amber Haigh asked Robert Geeves – the father of her baby – to sign a handwritten agreement not to take the child, days before the infant was born. Haigh disappeared some months later. The trial into Haigh’s alleged murder continues.
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Legionnaires’ disease cases confirmed across Melbourne | At least 22 people across Melbourne have contracted legionnaires’ disease – and most have been admitted to hospital. Health authorities fear the outbreak that began on Friday will continue to spread.
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Uncertainty about the future of Rex | Australia’s third-largest airline has stopped taking bookings for routes between capital cities and the carrier’s shares suspended amid reports it is about to appoint administrators. There are concerns it faces a similar situation to Bonza. Rex’s regional services can still be booked.
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Biden calls for supreme court changes | The US president is proposing a new constitutional amendment to America’s highest court including a code of conduct, term limits and criminal code applicable to presidents. Donald Trump’s conduct demanded legislative changes, he said. The proposal is considered significant but too late.
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Ukraine military intelligence claims role in deadly Wagner ambush in Mali | Andrii Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency, confirmed Ukraine shared “not just information” with Malian rebel forces that resulted in heavy loses for Russia’s Wagner group last week. There was no comment on whether Ukrainian military personnel were involved in the fighting.
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Maduro’s departure ‘irreversible’, says Venezuelan opposition leader | María Corina Machado told the Guardian that Nicolás Maduro should understand he lost the presidential election. Thousands have taken to the streets in protest Maduro’s disputed claim he won.
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McDonald’s sales fall worldwide | Inflation-weary consumers skipped eating out or chose cheaper options, affecting McDonald’s sales which have fallen for the first time in four years – by 1% globally. The company said it is working on fixes like meal deals and new menu items.
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Queensland’s ‘knee-knocking’ cold to continue | Southern and central Queensland recorded chilling temperatures on Tuesday morning, the Bureau of Meteorology said. Things won’t be warming up any time soon with the Sunshine State bracing for a week of cold mornings.
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Australians in action on day four in Paris | Don’t miss a beat thanks to our full schedule highlighting Australia’s hopes on the fourth day at Paris 2024 including swimming, basketball, canoe slalom and tennis – all times in AEST.
In pictures
‘Conditions were perfect’: how the breathtaking image of Olympic surfer Gabriel Medina was taken
On a distant reef 16,000km from Paris, surfer Gabriel Medina has given Olympic viewers one of the most memorable images of the Games yet, with an airborne celebration so well poised it looked too good to be true.
What they said …
“Such noisey sounds!” – Sakura Mizutani
Japan’s Olympic women’s rugby sevens team were left beaming after a roaring crowd of more than 60,000 people watched their victory over South Africa. It was a stark contrast to the nearly empty stands in Tokyo three years ago. Monday night’s nail-biting match was described as a “significant moment for rugby”.
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In numbers
The Future Traveller Strategy report by Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tourism, said Australia risked losing its reputation as a desirable destination if it doesn’t improve the passenger experience, including abolishing the Incoming Passenger Card which requires you declare food, plant material and animal products on a form on your way out of the airport.
Before bed read
‘They made me feel like I had my life together’: pyjama enthusiasts on their favourite sleepwear
From first class airline sets to prized op-shop finds, four pyjama lovers share their favourite pairs.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: LIED. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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