Owners of the new foldable iPhone are reporting cracks in the device’s screen, as Apple confirmed an issue with a “small number” of units.

Reports of cracks have emerged on Reddit and social media platforms since the handset went on general sale globally on Friday. Experts said there had been too few examples to determine whether there was a more serious problem with Apple’s first foldable device, which retails from $1,999.

One user in Australia even reported that their Duo had cracked within six hours of taking ownership of it and posted their experience on Reddit, describing how they were showing it to a friend, but something around the internal hinge underneath the screen cracked and soon the screen also broke. Another user in Australia posted that they had heard “almost a cracking noise” on their handset, which resulted in a similar screen malfunction.

Apple confirmed some devices had been affected by a display glitch, and advised users to contact AppleCare for replacements. A report by the Bloomberg news service also highlighted similar issues among users in the US and India.

Angus Taylor has been criticised for his response to the alleged attack on Helen Haines, with crossbenchers Monique Ryan and Zali Steggall labelling a speech by the opposition leader “tone deaf” and saying he did not “read the room”.

Speaking in the House of Representatives, Taylor expressed deep sadness and distress, describing the incident outside her electorate office as a “horrendous” and “shocking day for our nation.” He noted that “Helen Haines epitomises civility, and that’s why the violent attack on her seems so unfathomable.” Taylor also explicitly denied a causal connection between the aggressive tone of federal politics and acts of violence, stating it is “foolish to think if question time changes, Australia changes.”

However, most MPs find his remarks very insensitive; independent Warringah MP Steggall said she was personally disappointed by Taylor’s speech and considers it rather tone-deaf. Greens Leader David Shoebridge also accused Taylor of “trying to craft a narrative out of the tragedy” for political gain, calling the inclusion of unrelated cultural issues “deeply, deeply inappropriate.”

The proportion of general practitioners bulk-billing all of their patients has more than doubled in a year, a report has found, after the government introduced financial incentives for doctors and practices.

The findings come from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) annual health of the nation report, to be published on Wednesday, which includes a survey of 2,766 GPs.The report also states that almost two-thirds (63%) of Australians are now bulk-billed for all their GP care, up from 56% in both 2024 and 2025, which the report says is “likely a reflection of the federal government’s recent investment in Medicare bulk billing incentives”.

Of the respondents, 26% of GPs reported bulk-billing all of their patients, up from 12% in 2025. In November, extra financial bonuses were introduced to practices that bulk-bill all eligible services for all Medicare patients, with those clinics receiving an additional 12.5% top-up payment split between the practice and the doctor. But the proportion of people bulk-billed for all GP care remains short of 2019 figures, when the report found it to be 70% of patients.

The RACGP president, Dr Michael Wright, said the findings indicate “greater affordability across the healthcare system”. Dr Luke Slawomirski, a health economist with the Australia Institute, said while the bulk-billing findings were “certainly good news”, it was important to remember the survey represents about 7% of the GP workforce. The RACGP, anyway, is calling for increases to patient Medicare rebates for longer consultations, and for the government to establish an independent primary care pricing authority to ensure Medicare funding reflects the true cost of delivering care.