What we learned: Wednesday 11 October
Before we close the blog for today, let’s recap the big headlines:
Prime minister Anthony Albanese greeted ultramarathon runner and former Liberal MP Pat Farmer as he arrived at Uluru.
HSC exams began in NSW.
Richard Goyder revealed his plans to step down as chair of the Qantas board.
Organisers of the pro-Palestine rally in Sydney earlier this week said they will be going ahead with a second rally this weekend, despite comments from the premier saying this is “not going to happen”.
The Australian government asked Qantas and Virgin for urgent help to repatriate Australians from Israel.
The home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, said the national coordination mechanism has been triggered in response to the Israel-Hamas war.
The federal court dismissed a legal challenge to decisions made by the environment and water minister, Tanya Plibersek, in relation to two proposed coalmine expansions.
Cheng Lei, an Australian journalist detained in China, returned to Australia.
Thanks for reading, we will be back tomorrow morning.
Updated
Man satisfied with action on anti-Semitic threats
AAP reports a man subjected to anti-Semitic threats on a Melbourne street is satisfied with an investigation into the incident, police say.
The confrontation happened on Tuesday afternoon, just days after Islamist group Hamas launched an attack on Israel from Gaza, triggering tensions around the world.
The incident involved a car pulling over near the man on Toorak Road at South Yarra about 4pm, with the threats made by up to four passengers in the vehicle.
Police said in a statement late this afternoon:
Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit detectives have investigated reports of anti-Semitic threats made in South Yarra.
Police have spoken to the parties involved and after a thorough investigation, the matter has been determined to the satisfaction of the reporting person.
Updated
