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Australia news LIVE: Biden welcomes PM to White House for state visit; Australian households taking on more financial risk
Anthony Albanese has been welcomed to the White House, Australian households are taking on more financial risk and a state treasurer has slammed ads for engineered stone.
- by Caroline Schelle
ASX declines, weighed down by rate concerns and losses on Wall Street
The Australian sharemarket had a soft start after a weak lead from Wall Street amid speculation the RBA could raise rates to a 12-year-high on Melbourne Cup Day.
- by Millie Muroi
Israel-Hamas conflict live updates: Israeli ambassador says Gaza humanitarian situation is ‘fair’ as death toll continues to rise
Israel stepped up bombings of south Gaza, killing many Palestinians, officials said on Wednesday, as violence flared elsewhere in the Middle East and a showdown loomed at the United Nations over aid for the besieged enclave.
- by Mike Foley
Breaking
Mass shooting
At least 22 dead, 50 wounded in mass shootings in Maine, US
The Central Maine Medical Centre in Lewiston issued a statement saying it was “reacting to a mass casualty, mass shooter event” and co-ordinating with area hospitals to take patients.
- by David Sharp
Opinion
Inside China
China’s $217 billion attempt to stimulate a sluggish economy
China has announced spending that will make its budget deficit the largest in 30 years. It’s the biggest attempt yet to lift a weak growth rate that is threatening Xi Jinping’s long-term ambitions.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Shing faces fiery questions in Games inquiry
Harriet Shing, who was the minister for Commonwealth Games legacy, said she was not informed that lawyers were engaged for advice to cancel for a week.
- by Rachel Eddie
‘You’ve got to stand for something’: Why this Nationals MP stands alone on Gaza
Nationals MP Mark Coulton says calling for the respect of civilians in conflicts should not be a radical position.
- by Angus Thompson
Britney Spears shows how much a woman can bend before she breaks
For years the world and Spears were told she was unfit, unwell, and unsafe. The voice that spills out of The Woman in Me is anything but.
- by Brodie Lancaster
Exclusive
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
‘Like funding al-Qaeda’: Israeli MP rejects Australian call for ‘humanitarian pause’
A leading MP, who spent six years living in Australia, says asking Israel to pause was the equivalent of asking the US to aid al-Qaeda after 9/11.
- by Matthew Knott
Prosecco over champagne, mince over steak: Coles shoppers trade down, down
Australia’s second-largest supermarket chain is readying for a Christmas spent at home – but its first-quarter results have undershot expectations.
- by Jessica Yun
Facebook followers could get Super League clubs relegated. What if the NRL did the same?
The Super League is using the number of social media followers to help determine which English clubs are included. These would be the NRL clubs in trouble if the same measure was applied here.
- by Adrian Proszenko
Exclusive
Marine life
The ‘underwater bushfire’ coming for Australia that can’t be stopped
Marine experts have asked the government for $40 million in urgent funding to help brace for a severe marine heatwave bearing down on the nation’s south-east.
- by Angus Dalton and Laura Chung
State shelves dream to fix eyesore dubbed the ‘black hole of Melbourne’
The government has quietly abandoned the idea of decking the Jolimont rail yards next to Federation Square, after successive state leaders have struggled with costly plans for a century.
- by Jewel Topsfield and Royce Millar
Loved, hated, soon to be updated: The next chapter for Federation Square
Jeff Kennett was no fan of Fed Square, but like many Melburnians, has grown to love it. But challenges with Melbourne’s civic space remain.
- by Jewel Topsfield and Royce Millar
‘We were seeking an opera house’: Melbourne’s quest for a monument of its own
Two decades before Melbourne finally got Federation Square, a major competition gripped the imagination of the city - and the world - for the space. This is what they came up with.
- by Jewel Topsfield and Royce Millar
World is at ‘tipping point’ after global debt binge, warns HSBC boss
HSBC chief Noel Quinn says countries risk being “hit hard” after allowing borrowing to balloon in the wake of the financial crisis and the pandemic.
- by Szu Ping Chan
Bullock opens door to rate rise as RBA assesses inflation threats
Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock has raised the possibility of a further interest rate rise in a bid to keep inflation under control.
- by Shane Wright and Rachel Clun
‘There had to be change’: Why Molloy had to leave Collingwood
AFLW star Chloe Molloy declares there’s not a hint of malice or drop of bad blood between her and her old side. But she knows leaving Collingwood was the right choice.
- by Marnie Vinall
Facebook parent Meta posts bumper result, but outlook is ‘uncertain’
The owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp unveiled its strongest growth in two years, but warned the economic outlook may hurt its sales.
- by James Titcomb
Crown Resorts posts $199m loss as $3b expense bill wipes out profits
The casino giant’s profits have been wiped out for the third year in a row, but it’s a significant improvement on its near $1 billion loss in 2022.
- by Amelia McGuire
Apple raises prices for Apple TV+ subscriptions, Arcade games and News
The monthly fee for the streaming service rises from $10 to $13 as the iPhone maker looks to generate more revenue from services.
- by Mark Gurman
Haaland and Mbappe star as Man City, PSG win big in Champions League
A late double for Erling Haaland ensured the holders avoided a slip-up against Swiss club Young Boys but there were no such issues for the French giants, who hosted AC Milan.
- by Lori Ewing and Fernando Kallas
New House Speaker Mike Johnson played leading role in effort to overturn 2020 election
On the eve of the January 6, 2021 votes, the far-right Congressman presented colleagues with arguments they could use to oppose the will of the voters.
- by Luke Broadwater and Steve Eder
‘Trust but verify’: Biden warns Albanese on risks of dealing with China
The US president also said he believed the Congress would back the AUKUS agreement on nuclear-powered submarines.
- by David Crowe
‘Blatant’ violation: Donald Trump fined $US10,000 for violating gag order
Justice Arthur Engoron last week fined Trump $US5000 after finding that he had not taken down a post disparaging the judge’s law clerk.
- by Jack Queen and Luc Cohen
Manufacturers and schools to buy energy directly from revived SEC
Victorian manufacturers and schools will be able to buy renewable energy directly from the resurrected State Electricity Commission.
- by Kieran Rooney and Annika Smethurst
Giant seagulls and a new, low-cost blues festival headed to Sydney
Director Olivia Ansell says next year’s Sydney Festival will have a particular emphasis on the harbour, which she hopes will impress even ‘the most jaded Sydneysider’.
- by Nick Galvin
Graphic content
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israel bombs southern Gaza as world leaders seek pause in fighting
Days ago Israel had told civilians in the northern Gaza Strip, including residents of Gaza City, to move to the south of the enclave, saying it will be safer there.
- by Nidal al-Mughrabi and Emily Rose
★★★
Review
The smart money is on this real-life revenge-of-the-nerd story
Based on the GameStop short squeeze saga that gripped Wall Street in 2021, Dumb Money is funny, absorbing and often suspenseful.
- by Jake Wilson
The Melbourne regions set to grow up to 141 per cent as population booms
Three fast-growing areas of outer Melbourne will have to take in more than 840,000 new residents while middle-ring suburb populations stall, new projections show.
- by Adam Carey
Why Maxwell ‘didn’t really want to bat’ before breaking record with 40-ball ton
Australia’s master blaster said he had not felt like batting on Wednesday night, but once he got going, he had an eye out for a record and duly broke it.
- by Greg Baum
Updated
US politics
Trump ally elected new US House Speaker, ending weeks of wrangling
Three weeks after Kevin McCarthy was ousted from the job, Republicans put aside their differences for long enough to appoint his replacement.
- by Farrah Tomazin
Laine bought a unit in a great suburb, but couldn’t upgrade to a house there
Melbourne’s median house price has risen again, dealing another blow to home-buying hopefuls. Can the price rises continue?
- by Melissa Heagney-Bayliss and Tawar Razaghi
Exclusive
Consumer spending
The graphs that show households are putting themselves at financial risk
New data reveals how stressed households are grappling with the cost of living crisis caused by inflation and higher interest rates.
- by Matt Wade
Local heroes: Australian-made fashion labels that deserve your money
More homegrown designers are offering affordable ways into their brands, including one that wants to be the next Jacquemus.
- by Melissa Singer
Maxwell masterpiece turns match into rout as Australia demolish Netherlands
David Warner made his second run-a-ball century in a row, but this one will pass unremembered as in less than one frenetic hour, Glenn Maxwell upstaged him.
- by Greg Baum
Cricket World Cup 2023 as it happened: Australia v Netherlands
Pat Cummins’ men head to Delhi to take on a Dutch side that rocked the tournament with an upset victory against South Africa last week.
- by Malcolm Conn
Tech billionaire Cannon-Brookes backs climate jobs platform
Terra.do was founded in 2020 and launched in Australia this week, with about 4500 clean energy jobs available across the country.
- by David Swan
Regulator takes to big screen to spread smart word on ‘dumb money’
ASIC is going direct, to a cinema near you, with its warning on not getting burnt by social media investing.
- by John Collett
Chinese gangsters accused of laundering $228m through business spruiked by ex-minister
Police swooped on suspected members of the “Long River” Australia-wide crime syndicate, accusing them of serious financial crime.
- by Nick McKenzie
Rank outsider wins Cup lead-in but runner-up will enter race that stops the nation instead
The connections of Geelong Cup winner Amade said they’re unlikely to press onto the Melbourne Cup, despite triumphing in a thrilling finish to the race on Wednesday.
- by Damien Ractliffe
Israel-Hamas conflict live updates: IDF escalate bombardment of Gaza; Hamas say at least 5700 Palestinians have been killed
The Hamas-run Health Ministry said at least 5791 Palestinians have been killed as Israel escalated its bombardment of targets in the Gaza Strip ahead of an expected ground invasion.
- by David Estcourt, Caitlin Fitzsimmons and Latika Bourke
It’s not OK to use women’s bodies to mock them
Readers respond to Mark Knight’s controversial depiction of Jacinta Allan.
Rugby World Cup in Australia shifted to avoid clashes with NRL, AFL finals
The 2027 tournament will also be expanded to 24 teams, and there will be a new global, 12-team competition featuring the Wallabies.
- by Iain Payten
‘Take the race away from them’: The farcical rule that could cause a protest in the Melbourne Cup
Prominent owner Terry Henderson says he will lodge a protest in the Melbourne Cup if his horse is narrowly beaten by a horse whose jockey breaks the whip rules.
- by Damien Ractliffe
Malaysian PM doubles down on refusal to condemn Hamas
Anwar Ibrahim says he will not bow to “threats” from other governments and vowed to maintain dialogue with the organisation.
- by Chris Barrett
Judge ticks off Amorosi mother’s lawyer over ‘outrageous’ late move
As the bitter family feud wound up in the Supreme Court, lawyers for the mother of singer Vanessa Amorosi delivered one last curveball.
- by Karl Quinn
‘Hollywood-on-Sea’ turns on Cate Blanchett over home renovations
The Australian star of Blue Jasmine, Elizabeth and The Lord of The Rings trilogy is building a new house in Mawgan Porth, Cornwall, a popular surfing spot.
- by Rob Harris
Big four bank boss feels the need for speed to fix housing crisis
The time between submitting an application and putting a shovel in the ground should be three to six months, not the three to six years it can take, NAB’s chief executive says.
- by Adam Carey
Wong steps up calls for ‘humanitarian pause’ to hostilities in Gaza
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said “nowhere near enough” aid had been delivered to 2.3 million people in Gaza – but Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, insisted the situation was fair.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Super Saturdays and ‘HIT’ clinics to slash surgery waitlist backlog
A radical blueprint proposes several measures in a bid to cut the number of people waiting in pain for surgery.
- by Aisha Dow and Henrietta Cook
Updated
NRL player movements
Knights join Eels in hunt for Addo-Carr as Dragons and Tigers watch with interest
Newcastle and Parramatta are both interested in entering talks with the star winger, but only if Canterbury agree to an immediate move.
- by Michael Chammas, Adrian Proszenko and Adam Pengilly
‘There are always going to be challenges’: Luckless Pucovski returns, stars push for Test call up
Batting prodigy Will Pucovski, cult hero fast bowler Scott Boland, and dasher Matt Short will look to impress on what the curator hopes is a quick MCG pitch against a NSW side featuring ‘The GOAT’ Nathan Lyon.
- by Jon Pierik
Updated
Crime
Sydney man charged with murder of Melbourne gangland figure Gavin Preston
Jaeden Tito, 22, was not known to police before he was arrested without incident in an early morning raid in south-west Sydney.
- by Chris Vedelago and Lachlan Abbott
Four-year-old boy dies after suffering critical burns in Geelong shed fire
A fourth sibling remained in a critical condition in hospital following the backyard blaze that claimed the lives of her brothers and sister.
- by Alex Crowe
Updated
Sharemarket
ASX drops as inflation surprise raises risk of interest rate rise
The Australian sharemarket reversed its earlier gains on Wednesday as the latest inflation data kept the door open to another Reserve Bank interest rate rise.
- by Millie Muroi
Chance of rate rise for Melbourne Cup Day increases as inflation rises
Higher-than-expected inflation through the September quarter, driven by petrol, rents and insurance, have lifted the chances of another interest rate rise.
- by Shane Wright and Rachel Clun
Tabcorp shareholders protest against ‘excessive’ executive pay
Almost 35 per cent of shareholders voted against the wagering giant’s remuneration plan, arguing it did not match the company’s size and performance since demerging from The Lottery Corporation.
- by Amelia McGuire
Jamie Durie’s $11m purchase of Paul Bangay’s Stonefields falls through
The extraordinary private garden was set to become a luxury accommodation venture. Instead, options will be explored to find a new buyer.
- by Melissa Heagney-Bayliss
Thirty-five years after her acquittal, Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton and a key scientist reunite
Chamberlain-Creighton, wrongfully convicted of murdering baby Azaria, says Hans Brunner’s evidence was vital in clearing her name.
- by Carolyn Webb
Exclusive
Voice to parliament
Anonymous letter-writing Indigenous leaders to blame for Voice loss: Liddle
In the most forthright response to the criticisms of Yes leaders, the Coalition frontbencher took aim at an open letter that labelled the outcome “appalling and mean-spirited”.
- by Paul Sakkal
Trump’s chief of staff testifies, given immunity in election interference probe
Donald Trump’s final chief of staff, Mark Meadows, has testified before a grand jury in the case against Donald Trump, according to a person familiar with the case.
- by Chris Strohm
Melbourne wine bar Hope St Radio under fire over anti-Israel banner
The Collingwood venue has been criticised for hosting a pro-Palestine event by Indigenous activists where a banner was made calling Israelis “dumb white dogs”.
- by Melissa Cunningham
What eucalyptus, beetroot salad and cutlery reveal about the US-Australia alliance
The First Lady of the United States, Jill Biden, promised the dinner would provide comfort at a fraught time in world relations.
- by Farrah Tomazin
Milli Vanilli, 30 years on from scandal: ‘I realised how mean human beings can be’
Paramount+’s new doco is compelling, even for those of us familiar with pop’s wildest – and most tragic – scandal.
- by Robert Moran
Former Victorian cabinet minister jailed for falsely claiming more than $170k
A retired Victorian MP will spend at least a year behind bars after falsely claiming more than $170,000 in administrative expenses.
- by Annika Smethurst and AAP
★★★★
Review
Michael Fassbender is masterful as cold-blooded murderer in The Killers
Bleakly sardonic humour underlies the violence in David Fincher’s latest film.
- by Sandra Hall
‘One word – shambles’: What it’s like to be an Australian fan at the World Cup
David Williams has been at every one-day World Cup since 2007. With ticket pick-ups 10 kilometres from the stadium, banners falling in the stands and even “a small riot”, the chaos of this event has been like nothing he’s experienced before.
- by Daniel Brettig
Woolies CEO promises cheaper groceries as meat and vegie prices ease
Customers put more items into their shopping trolleys in the September quarter, lifting Woolworths’ sales by 5.3 per cent, but the Christmas trading outlook is cautious.
- by Jessica Yun
Australia news LIVE: PM probed about Pratt dealings with Trump; RBA warns of more rate rises
Anthony Albanese announced an extra $4b for mining companies to produce minerals for US renewables, the RBA warns of more rate rises and Voice debate continues.
- by Caroline Schelle
A 14th House Speaker candidate steps up after yet another drops out
The GOP infighting has left the House unable to respond to President Joe Biden’s $US106 billion request for aid to Israel and Ukraine.
- by David Morgan