The Republican “red wave” in the US midterm elections is so far looking more like a ripple. The Republicans are on track to take control of the House of Representatives, but their chances of gaining a majority in the Senate were dealt a blow with the Democrats hanging on in the battleground state of New Hampshire. The blue team might also keep Pennsylvania by a razor thin margin, with the New York Times tipping Democrat John Fetterman will edge out Republican Mehmet Oz for the Senate seat.
In the governorship races, Sarah Huckabee Sanders – Donald Trump’s former White House press secretary who admitted to lying on the job – is now the governor-elect of Arkansas.
Meanwhile, a green wave is also rolling on in the US, with Maryland the latest state to vote in favour of legalising recreational marijuana.
Election counting in some tight races might continue for days, so do keep an eye on our live results tracker.
Top news
Trump warns Republican rival | Donald Trump has threatened to reveal unflattering “things” about his party rival Ron DeSantis if the Florida governor runs for president in 2024. DeSantis has emerged as the most powerful opponent to Trump in Republican circles, governing his state with rightwing policies popular with the party’s Trumpist base.
Medibank data released | Home affairs minister Clare O’neil said she’s “disgusted” by a ransomware group’s decision to publish hundreds of names, addresses, birthdates and Medicare details. The alleged hacker posted the first data dump overnight. Responding to the streak of data breaches, the lower house last night passed Labor’s new privacy bill. The bill strengthens penalties against companies that fail to sufficiently protect consumer data – from $2.2m to $50m or more.
Warhol painting targeted | Climate protesters have scrawled over one of the National Gallery of Australia’s prized modern art pieces, Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s soup cans. It’s understood the prints themselves were under glass frames and not damaged. The Stop Fossil Fuel Subsidies group said in a statement it wants the Australian government to end support for the oil, gas and coal industries.
Future Fund’s fossil fuels investment | The climate protesters weren’t wrong about Australia’s support for the fossil fuel industry. The nation’s sovereign wealth fund is investing $3.4bn in major fossil fuel companies, Senate estimates questioning has revealed.
China-ADF links investigated | China is alleged to have approached ex-Australian defence personnel to provide military training. The deputy PM, Richard Marles, revealed that the counter foreign interference taskforce, led by the Australian federal police and spy agency Asio, was “currently investigating a number of cases”. The announcement followed reports that Beijing had been seeking help from retired western pilots to train China’s air force, an issue that prompted British defence intelligence to issue a rare “threat alert” last month.
US warns Australia on nuclear treaty | Canberra is being pulled in opposite directions on a landmark treaty banning nuclear weapons by its two closest allies. The US is warning Australia that support for the treaty could hamper defence arrangements between the US and its allies. Conversely, New Zealand said it welcomed Australia’s “positive shift” after the Albanese government abstained in a recent UN vote on the treaty.
Queensland police powers expanded | The force will now have the authority to stop and search people for knives using detection wands, after a recent trial on the Gold Coast. The new powers were granted despite a public inquiry last month that surfaced allegations of racism and misogyny within Queensland police. Premier Annastacia Palazczuk says she “make[s] no apology for initiating powers such as these”.
Full Story
Cop27: greenwashing and lies – or a chance for change?
Is this yet another conference where leaders make lofty statements about climate action – without actually acting? Our climate and environment editor, Adam Morton, has travelled to Sharm el-Sheikh to find out. Listen to his analysis of Cop27 in this 14-minute episode.
What they said …
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“For reasons that are clearly unrelated to science, economics or polling the Albanese government is not just so far resisting the introduction of a windfall profits tax on the gas industry, it remains determined to support the expansion of gas and coal extraction in Australia.” – Richard Denniss, chief economist for the Australia Institute
The Albanese government is under pressure to impose a windfall profits tax on the surging profits of fossil fuel companies, but as Denniss writes, the government might be too scared of the industry to do so.
In numbers
Before bed read
The oldest known written sentence has been discovered – and something very relatable to the fears of modern-day parents.
“May this tusk root out the lice of the hair and the beard,” was discovered on an ivory comb believed to have been made around 1700 BCE in the Canaanite city state of Lachish.
The Canaanite script, the earliest alphabet, was invented about 3,800 years ago. It was then standardised by the Phoenicians in ancient Lebanon, before becoming the foundation for ancient Greek, Latin and most modern languages in Europe today.
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