Welcome, readers, to Afternoon Update.
As polls in the final hours of the US election indicate an extremely close contest, both presidential candidates have held duelling rallies in Pennsylvania, making their final pitches in the key swing state.
They offered starkly contrasting visions for America’s future: Harris delivered a more positive closing argument, shifting focus away from the ex-president – who gets no mention in her final ad – and insisting “we all have so much more in common than what separates us”.
Conversely, Trump rambled through dark and dystopian speeches painting migrants as dangerous criminals while also launching personal attacks on a number of high-profile Democratic women. Meanwhile, podcaster Joe Rogan officially endorsed Trump, citing the influence of “the great and powerful” Elon Musk, who was also granted a legal reprieve today as a US judge rejected an attempt to shut down his $1m voter giveaway scheme.
Though the US election might be happening thousands of kilometres away, Peter Lewis explains why Australians shouldn’t be lulled into thinking it’s “just something that happens over there”.
Top news
Eight staff of AEC contractor fabricated voice referendum location data | The AEC is “considering its legal position” after an investigation prompted by Guardian reporting into allegations from a McNair whistleblower found 13 staff were told to alter location data on survey responses, and eight complied.
William Tyrrell foster mother abused outside court | The coroner overseeing the inquest into William Tyrrell’s disappearance issued a warning after someone yelled at the foster mother at Lidcombe coroners court and “mentioned her name”, risking a breach of the non-publication order.
ABC to review editorial policies after investigation | An independent review found five additional sounds of gunshots were “inadvertently but inaccurately” introduced into footage showing a commando firing from a helicopter.
Beau Lamarre-Condon granted legal aid after lawyer withdraws | A former Sydney police officer accused of killing two men with his service weapon will be back in court in two weeks, after his lawyer withdrew from the case. Lamarre-Condon will be represented by Legal Aid NSW.
RBA holds interest rates at 4.35% | The Reserve Bank has left its key interest rate unchanged for an eighth meeting in a row, offering no relief to borrowers as it awaits more evidence inflation will soon return to its target range.
Dutton rules out Coalition abortion policy changes | Peter Dutton has blasted Coalition MPs for fuelling a federal debate on abortion laws, declaring there would be no change to policy if he wins government and they must show more “discipline” on the topic.
Incendiary device plot targeting UK may have been dry run | An incendiary device hidden in a DHL package that caught fire in Germany in July was due to be sent by air to the UK as part of a suspected Russian sabotage plot that may also have been a dry run for a similar attack on the US and Canada.
Concerns over ‘excessive’ surveillance in smart devices | Air fryers that gather your personal data and audio speakers “stuffed with trackers” are among examples of smart devices engaged in “excessive” surveillance, according to the consumer group Which?
Edinburgh zoo’s pygmy hippo Haggis could be internet rival to Moo Deng | “Who deng?” Khao Kheow open zoo’s Moo Deng went viral on social media earlier this year and fans became obsessed by her personality and charm. However, Edinburgh zoo in Scotland has its very own new arrival.
In pictures
Are you saying neigh to the Melbourne Cup?
Or is it just horses for courses, asks cartoonist Fiona Katauskas.
In numbers
According to the Japanese Association for Sex Education, it’s the lowest figure since the organisation conducted its first survey of sexual behaviour among young people in 1974.
Before bed read
Inexperienced, poorly trained and underfed: the North Korean troops heading to Ukraine
Kim Jong-un has called his army the “strongest in the world” but they are vulnerable to malnutrition, and none have seen combat or know the terrain in Russia’s war, writes Justin McCurry.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: URN. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
Sign up
If you would like to receive this Afternoon Update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or start your day with a curated breakdown of the key stories you need to know with our Morning Mail newsletter.
And check out the full list of our local and international newsletters, including The Stakes, your guide to the twists and turns of the US presidential election.
