Good afternoon. Brittany Higgins was back in the witness box in her fourth day of testimony, meaning she has spent longer in the box than Bruce Lehrmann in his defamation proceedings against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson.
Higgins was challenged by Lehrmann’s barrister, Steve Whybrow SC, over her account of the alleged rape that took place at Parliament House, including casting doubt over how drunk she was.
“Are you kidding?” Higgins replied through tears at Whybrow’s suggestion. “I hadn’t been raped yet but I was skipping in the middle of parliament with no shoes on so it indicates someone is pretty drunk, yes.”
Top news
Israel issues travel warning for Australia | Israel has upgraded travel warnings to multiple countries, including Australia, citing a rise in antisemitism stemming from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. This comes as the deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, acknowledged the rise of both antisemitism and Islamophobia, urging people to express views on the war “in a safe and a peaceful way”. On the ground, Israeli forces are expanding operations deeper into southern Gaza as the World Health Organization expresses “grave concern” about the resumption of hostilities.
EV sales up 50k in last year | More Australians than ever before are buying electric vehicles, according to VFACTS monthly vehicle sales data. Year-to-date sales of battery electric vehicles have reached 80,446 – compared with 28,326 at the same time last year.
Cash rate unchanged at 4.35% | In line with expectations, the Reserve Bank held the cash rate today after the inflation rate resumed its slowdown in October to 4.9% and the jobless rate ticked higher.
First cyclone of the summer to form near Queensland | Cyclone Jasper, as it will be called, is expected to intensify as category three on Thursday and possibly cross into Queensland next week, potentially reaching as far south as Brisbane.
Thousands protest in New Zealand against new policies affecting Māori | Protesters blocked traffic on key roads and lined streets in towns and cities while calling for the new conservative government to scrap plans to review the Treaty of Waitangi, the country’s 180-year-old founding document which was signed between the Crown and Māori leaders. The government recently announced it would dial back the use of Māori language in government organisations, and scrap anti-smoking legislation and the Māori Health Authority at a time when health issues, including lung cancer, disproportionately affect Māori.
Kangaroo punches Canadian police officer | A kangaroo that escaped its handlers during transport to a new home has been captured east of Toronto after a weekend in the wild, but not before delivering a punch in the face to one of the police officers who brought her run to an end.
King Charles to visit Australia next October | Charles will also attend the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Samoa from 21-25 October.
New York woman dies in garbage chute | A 24-year-old woman who had gone missing before her body was found in a luxury Manhattan apartment building’s trash compactor died after falling down a garbage chute, police in New York City have concluded.
In pictures
Grubby and extreme: Mulletfest 2023
Mullet haircuts are judged in various categories – including grubby, everyday, rang (red hair), vintage, extreme, international and junior – at this Australian festival that raises money for brain cancer research in Kurri Kurri, New South Wales. Click here to see the mullets.
What they said …
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“Nowhere is safe in Gaza and there is nowhere left to go.” – Lynn Hastings, UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories
In numbers
A new National Tertiary Education Union report says more than 97,000 university staff have been underpaid by more than 30 employers, a situation it calls “a disgrace” and “shameful”.
Before bed read
Cheesecake, snowflakes and lamington ice-cream – here are impressive chocolate dessert recipes from Australia’s “chocolate queen”, Kirsten Tibballs.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: NEWS. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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