As it happened:Former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe assassinated;Nick Kyrgios through to Wimbledon final;NSW ICAC witness found dead

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ByAmelia McGuire

That’s where we’ll leave today’s national live coverage.

Here’s a look at the day’s biggest headlines.

Former Japanese leader Shinzo Abe was assassinated on Friday.

Former Japanese leader Shinzo Abe was assassinated on Friday.The Sydney Morning Herald

Former Hurstville Labor councillor Clifton Wong under cross-examination at the Independent Commission Against Corruption on Monday.

Former Hurstville Labor councillor Clifton Wong under cross-examination at the Independent Commission Against Corruption on Monday.ICAC

Anthony Albanese meets with British PM Boris Johnson at the NATO leaders’ summit in Madrid,Spain,in June.

Anthony Albanese meets with British PM Boris Johnson at the NATO leaders’ summit in Madrid,Spain,in June.Alex Ellinghausen

Our live coverage will be back next week to bring you the headlines as they break.

As always,thank you for reading.

Good night.

LATEST UPDATES

India to mark Abe’s assassination with national day of mourning

ByAmelia McGuire

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the country will observe a national day of mourning to mark the death of Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe tomorrow.

Referring to Abe as a “dear friend”,Modi said the former Japanese leader was “always” passionate about strengthening the ties between their two countries.

“Mr. Abe made an immense contribution to elevating India-Japan relations to the level of a Special Strategic and Global Partnership. Today,whole India mourns with Japan and we stand in solidarity with our Japanese brothers and sisters in this difficult moment,” Modi tweeted.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with Japan’s former leader Shinzo Abe in 2019.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with Japan’s former leader Shinzo Abe in 2019.Bloomberg

Albanese responds to ‘tragic’ death of Shinzo Abe

ByAmelia McGuire

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has responded to the “tragic” assassination of Japan’s former leader,Shinzo Abe.

“Shocked and saddened by the tragic death of former Japanese PM Abe Shinzo. He was a great friend and ally to Australia. Deepest sympathies to his family and the people of Japan. We mourn with you.”

Albanese said Abe was one of Australia’s “closest friends” and championed a vision of a “free and open” region.

Nava Medical University hospital explains circumstances of Shinzo Abe’s death

ByAmelia McGuire

Representatives from the Japanese hospital treating Shinzo Abe after he was shot have held a press conference explaining the circumstances of the former leader’s death.

The doctor’s from Nava Medical University hospital said Abe arrived to the hospital with no vital signs and was suffering from a subcutaneous hemorrhage. Despite resuscitation attempts and a failed blood transfusion,he died from his injuries about 5pm (6pm AEDT),roughly five hours after the assassination attempt.

“We couldn’t stop the hemorrhaging. Unfortunately,he died,” said Hidetada Fukushima,who leads the emergency medicine department at Nara Medical University Hospital.

Fukushima said Abe presented to the hospital in a critical condition with two gunshot wounds to the neck and chest.

“The damage to the heart was serious,there was a wide gaping hole in the heart and the bullet penetrated his shoulder,” he said.

Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is on a stretcher to a helicopter after being shot in front of Yamatosaidaiji Station on July 8,2022 in Nara,Japan. Abe is shot while making a street speech for upcoming Upper House election.

Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is on a stretcher to a helicopter after being shot in front of Yamatosaidaiji Station on July 8,2022 in Nara,Japan. Abe is shot while making a street speech for upcoming Upper House election.The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images

Shinzo Abe dies after being shot,an official from his political party says

ByAmelia McGuire

Japan’s longest serving prime minister Shinzo Abe has died after he was shot while delivering a speech in Nara on Friday.

Japan’s national broadcaster said an official from the Liberal Democratic Party confirmed the news just before 7pm on Friday.

The 67-year-old was the country’s longest-serving leader before stepping down for health reasons in 2020.

Shinzo Abe receiving blood transfusion after shooting,brother says

ByAmelia McGuire

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe is in the process of receiving a blood transfusion after an assassination attempt.

Abe’s brother and minister for defence,Nobou Kishi confirmed Abe remains in a critical condition and condemned the shooting as “unacceptable” at a briefing to reporters in Tokyo.

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was delivering a campaign speech in Nara before being shot.

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was delivering a campaign speech in Nara before being shot.Getty

Officials earlier said Abe was shot in the neck and chest and has suffered significant internal bleeding,according to theBBC.

Political violence is rare in Japan. It’s one of the strictest countries in the world when it comes to gun restrictions. Abe appears to have been shot with a handmade gun fashioned by the alleged shooter,41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami.

The last major assassination attempt was in 2007 when the mayor of Nagasaki,Iccho Itoh,was killed by a member of the yakuza.

Japan PM Fumio Kishida condemns shooting of former PM Shinzo Abe

ByAmelia McGuire

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has condemned today’s shooting of former prime minister Shinzo Abe as a “barbaric” act.

Shinzo Abe was shot shortly before midday on Friday while giving a speech in Nara. He was taken to hospital and is currently in a “grave” critical condition.

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida served as foreign minister under prime minister Shinzo Abe.

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida served as foreign minister under prime minister Shinzo Abe.AP

Kishida said he was “praying from his heart” for the former prime minister’s survival and the “malicious” perpetrator would face the “most extreme laws available”.

“It’s barbaric and malicious and cannot be tolerated,we’ll do everything we can,” Kishida said. “I’d like to use the harshest words possible,” he continued.

Kishida would not speculate as to whether Abe will survive the shooting.

“Doctors are doing everything they can,I’m hoping and praying that Abe survives this,” Kishida said in a press conference on Friday afternoon.

Japan’s election will take place on July 10. Kishida said the timing of the shooting threatened the very foundation of democracy.

All cabinet members have been instructed to return to Tokyo.

Kishida rebuffed a question about the effect on the looming election,saying it was too early to make any decisions.

Former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe is carried on a stretcher to a waiting helicopter after being shot on Friday.

Former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe is carried on a stretcher to a waiting helicopter after being shot on Friday.Kyodo/AP

Thousands march for justice for First Nations people

ByJackson Graham

Thousands of First Nations people and non-Indigenous protestors marched through Melbourne on Friday,calling for Aboriginal land rights,lower incarceration rates and tweaks to Victoria’s truth-telling process.

For some younger people,it was their first march from the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service in Fitzroy through Melbourne’s CBD as part of NAIDOC week,and for others it was a return of the rally after the pandemic cancelled it for two years.

The march stopped at key intersections for dance and speeches including at Parliament House,the intersection of Bourke and Swanston streets and Flinders Street Station.

This NAIDOC week’s theme,“get up,stand up,show up”,represents a change for Professor Henry Atkinson,a Woolithiga man,who recalls a different era where he felt he was told to “shut up” because “nobody would want to listen”.

NAIDOC rally marches through the CBD

NAIDOC rally marches through the CBDEddie Jim

Atkinson,the Victorian NAIDOC elder for 2022,said there had been a change since Victoria’s Yoorrook Justice Commission,but he called for it to go further and hear from non-Indigenous views as well.

“Why should we be telling the truth when we didn’t perpetuate all those masacres and taking of land,or stealing of children or jailing the young generations?” Atkinson said.

“I don’t see any truth coming from anybody except setting up arrangements to have the truth telling.”

Alister Thorpe,a Gunai,Yorta Yorta and Gunditjmara man,who marched with son Willun,reflected on growing up dancing in front of parliament at earlier protests.

Jedah Lee Wickey marches for justice.

Jedah Lee Wickey marches for justice.Eddie Jim

“We got taken to these marches to fight for our rights since we were born really,and it’s the legacy of our people,our past leaders who have done that too,” Alister said.

Willun said support at the rally from non-Indigenous people made this year’s protest feel different,while he called for “more rights,a property treaty and sovereignty” for Aboriginal people.

Latoya Baker,a Kalkadoon Kanju woman from northern Queensland,attended her sixth NAIDOC march since becoming a Melbourne resident and was relieved it returned after a two-year hiatus.

She called for action on high incarceration rates of First Nations people and improved support programs to prevent Aboriginal people entering the justice system.

“There’s transgenerational trauma. Lots of things have happened to our mob. Rather than lock them up and throw away the key,actually support them,” Baker said.

Alleged gunman arrested after Shinzo Abe shot

ByAmelia McGuire

New footage has emerged of 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami being tackled to the ground after allegedly shooting former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe on Friday.

Yamagami has since been arrested and is in the custody of local police.

Police tackle the suspected gunman after Shinzo Abe was shot on Friday.

Police tackle the suspected gunman after Shinzo Abe was shot on Friday.Getty

It’s alleged the suspect used a handmade gun and shot at the former leader twice as he delivered a speech in the city of Nara.

Australian prime ministers ‘distressed’ at news of Abe shooting

ByRachel Clun andAmelia McGuire

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has responded to the “shocking news” former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was shot on Friday.

“Our thoughts are with his family and the people of Japan at this time,” Albanese said in a tweet.

Former prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison have also expressed shock at the news.

On Twitter,Turnbull said he was “horrified” by the news. “Abe Shinzo is one of the great leaders of our times. Right now we must hope and pray that he pulls through,” he wrote.

Morrison said in a Facebook post that he was “deeply distressed” to hear reports of the alleged attack.

“PM Abe is a great and wise friend of Australia and one of the most important global leaders of the post war era,” Morrison wrote.

“Our prayers are with him,his wife Akie and the people of Japan at this very difficult time.”

Abe was prime minister of Japan from 2012 to 2020. Australia had five prime ministers over that period,including Turnbull and Morrison.

Timna Jacks is a Senior Reporter,covering health for The Age. Timna has previously covered transport and education.

Amelia McGuire is the aviation,tourism and gaming reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

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