Good afternoon. Israel and Hamas have agreed to a four-day ceasefire, which will include the release of 50 women and children hostages held in Gaza in return for 150 Palestinian women and children to be freed from Israeli jails.
But the war will go on, the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed, “until we achieve all our goals”. A statement from Netanyahu’s office also said the “lull” in Israeli military operations would be extended for an additional day for every 10 more hostages released. Read this analysis on how the pressure on Netanyahu has resulted in a shift in position.
In Australia, civil liberties groups have accused New South Wales police of heavy-handed tactics against pro-Palestine protesters at a rally at Port Botany last night – a charge the Labor premier, Chris Minns, rejected.
Top news
ABC settles defamation case with Bruce Lehrmann | But the case against Network Ten proceeded today, with the federal court hearing that Ten’s broadcast of an interview between Lisa Wilkinson and Brittany Higgins on The Project “utterly destroyed” Lehrmann’s life. It is day one of the trial, with Lehrmann seeking significant compensation, his barrister told the court.
Remains of Port Phillip Bay plane crash victims found | Victoria police said they discovered what they believed were the remains of the 30-year-old camera operator, Surrey Hills man James Rose, and the 56-year-old pilot, Stephen Gale, of Brunswick. Their aircraft was one of two Viper S-211 Marchetti planes conducting a formation flight for a Jetworks Aviation promotional video about 12km west of Mount Martha on Sunday, before colliding midair.
Police appeal over suspected arson attack on Friendlyjordies’s home | Detectives are hoping CCTV footage could spark a breakthrough in their investigation into a suspected arson attack on the home of YouTube personality Jordan Shanks-Markovina. The footage released today shows two cars investigators believe could be linked to the 23 November 2022 blaze.
Legal aid at risk of turning people away | Almost $500m in extra funding is needed each year to meet demand for legal assistance in Australia, a new report commissioned by National Legal Aid has found. It found commonwealth funding for legal aid had fallen 3% per capita over the past decade but demand for employment, housing, goods and related services had increased.
Drunk stowaway travels 400km up east coast in truck undercarriage | After a big night out, a NSW man got more than he bargained for when he hitched a ride underneath a semi-trailer and ended up on the Gold Coast in Queensland. “Just stupidity, to be honest with you,” he described it.
China closing hundreds of mosques in northern regions | Researchers at Human Rights Watch said the Chinese government was significantly reducing the number of mosques in the Ningxia autonomous region and Gansu province – homes to the highest Muslim populations in China after Xinjiang – as part of broader efforts to “sinicise” China’s religious minorities.
US Catholic priest marries teen | Alexander Crow, a 30-year-old Roman Catholic priest in Alabama has married an 18-year-old girl who he met through his ministry. Crow was investigated by US law enforcement after he fled with the recent high school graduate to Italy, and married her upon returning to the US. In late July, the Catholic archdiocese of Mobile removed his clerical duties.
Jill Stein launches White House bid as Green party candidate | Stein is the latest in a series of mostly leftist figures to announce candidacies with the potential to erode Joe Biden’s core support.
In pictures
2023 ocean photographer of the year
The winners and finalists of this year’s contest celebrate the blue planet but they also draw attention to the many environmental challenges to marine life and ecosystems. Click here to view the photo gallery.
What they said …
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“A World Cup, you only get one chance every four years and especially playing somewhere like India, it’s hard. To be pitted up against the rest of the world and come away with a medal, it doesn’t get any better than that.” – Pat Cummins, Australian cricket captain
In numbers
And 54% said fuel efficiency standards would save them money, a national survey commissioned by the Climate Council found. The Labor government has yet to release details of a fuel efficiency standard, which advocates say is slowing the uptake of electric vehicles.
Before bed read
At 43, Claire Mulcahy realised she could no longer afford to live alone. Living with her mother was not the life trajectory she expected but it has come with its own opportunities.
“What we don’t foresee is our mother anxiously inquiring at our bedroom door at 6am, wondering why we are not up yet: ‘Aren’t you going to be late for work?’ In that moment we are 15 years old again.” Read the story.
Reader callout – how are you saving money this Christmas?
And so this is Christmas, and what have you done … to pay for it? In the spirit of sharing, we want to hear your approaches to giving gifts, decorating your home and entertaining family and friends, with limited budgets in mind.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: WARM. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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