Monday, 2 November 2026today, still filling

A Federal Court judge has ruled that ex-political staffer Bruce Lehrmann must be blocked from accessing two pages of his personal diary after finding they contain sensitive Cabinet information. Justice Brigitte Markovic upheld a public interest immunity claim by the National Anti-Corruption Commission over the pages, which the court heard contained information relating to confidential Cabinet committee considerations and a Cabinet decision on costings. The diary was seized during an AFP raid on Lehrmann's Hobart home in June 2024 as part of his legal dispute with Special Minister of State Don Farrell and NACC boss Paul Brereton, whom he is suing over the raid and claims he was denied legal funding to fight corruption allegations.

Oleksandr Usyk, the undefeated Ukrainian heavyweight champion, plans to return to cruiserweight boxing for a final push to win all the division's belts. The 39-year-old has targeted the vacant IBF title as his first objective, then aims for a fight with David Benavidez, who holds the WBO and WBA titles. Nyika, a New Zealand Olympian based in Queensland, is the IBF's top-ranked challenger but his title fight is on hold pending the organisation's legal dispute with Australian champion Jai Opetaia.

A large crocodile has been spotted on the bank of the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton, about 600km north of Brisbane, reigniting debate over whether the venue should be changed. The river is the chosen location for rowing and canoeing at the 2032 Olympics, but crocodile sightings have become recurring. Rowing Australia member Ray Ebert told ABC News Breakfast the sighting was 'a bit of a shock' and called for reconsideration, saying 'it's not the crocodiles that you can see that I would be worried about, it's the ones that I can't see'. The International Olympic Committee has completed a safety review of the river.

Lily Allen wrapped up her Australian tour at RAC Arena in Perth on Sunday night with her West End Girl show, performing all 14 songs from her 2025 album. The 41-year-old British singer presented a theatrical one-woman performance about the demise of her four-year marriage to actor David Harbour, treating the songs like diary entries. The stage featured five LED screens, elaborate props including a fridge, swing, bed and lounge, and theatrical production values comparable to a Broadway set.

Alan Jones stands trial on 19 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching, denied by the former 2GB broadcaster. A witness told the court he saw Jones and the alleged teenager near a parked limousine on the roadside. The alleged complainant, known as Complainant A, claims Jones kissed him without consent when he was 17 at Jones's Fitzroy Falls farm. Jones denies all allegations.

Victorian voters have until Melbourne Cup Day, Tuesday November 3 at 8pm, to enrol or update their details for the state election on November 28. Anyone who has moved house, turned 18 or changed personal details in the past four years must register. The Victorian Electoral Commission reports more than 4.7 million voters are already enrolled.

Rachel King, a British-born jockey, will ride the Bjorn Baker-trained So You Are in the $10.2 million Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday. This is King's fourth start in the race; she finished tenth on Military Mission last year. King says So You Are, among the favourites, offers her best chance yet at victory in the 165-year-old race.

The Jaecoo J7 Black Edition costs $49,990 drive-away, $2000 more than the flagship SHS-P Summit AWD plug-in hybrid it is based on. The special-edition SUV arrives in dealerships this month with test drives starting mid-November. Exterior chrome, including the grille, wheels, mirrors and roof rails, is finished in black, along with black interior headliner and pillar trim.

Local Government NSW member councils are requesting tighter planning controls to combat flourishing black market tobacconists. Darcy Byrne, leader of the group and Inner West Mayor, said councils need development approval powers before new tobacco retailers can open, to consider location, proximity to schools and community facilities, and the number of existing retailers nearby. The calls come as a government inquiry into NSW's illicit tobacco problem prepares a formal response, due near the end of November, which has recommended increased collaboration between state and local government and the imposition of caps on retail licences.

Toyota has increased prices for the LandCruiser 70 Series by $1300 across every model grade and body style, effective from November 1, 2026. The entry-level WorkMate wagon now starts at $76,900 before on-road costs. The price rise comes weeks after Toyota warned that emissions laws would make new cars more expensive.

Matt Tomkins made a spectacular return to the NHL after more than two years away, leading the Edmonton Oilers to victory over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The 32-year-old journeyman stopped 27 of 28 shots and was named first star of the game, helping Edmonton to their 11th win in 15 games to start the season. Captain Connor McDavid praised Tomkins, saying 'He was awesome for us' and 'He just gave us a chance to win'.

First baseman Matt Olson and utilityman Mauricio Dubón of the Atlanta Braves won Rawlings Gold Glove Awards for the 2026 season on Sunday night, recognised as the National League's premier defenders at their respective positions. They are the Braves' first duo to win Gold Gloves in the same year since pitcher Max Fried and shortstop Dansby Swanson in 2022. Olson, 32, captured his fourth Gold Glove, joining Christian Walker and Paul Goldschmidt as the only active first basemen with four such awards.

Australian small businesses face growing cyber threats but often lack the experience and resources to recover from attacks, which can cost them more than larger organisations, a federal inquiry has been told. The inquiry is evaluating cyber preparedness and the adequacy of government guidance. Recent high-profile breaches, including a global PHP outage and an OpenAI agent breach into Australian government data, have prompted fresh warnings to bolster cyber security, with the Australian Cyber Security Centre recording 82,000 attacks in the past financial year.

Disgraced author Craig Silvey will be sentenced on Monday in Western Australia District Court for producing and distributing child exploitation material. The 44-year-old pleaded guilty to the offences in May, less than a year after police raided his Fremantle home in January and seized electronic devices. Both offences carry a maximum penalty of ten years' imprisonment.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has recorded a minus 16 approval rating in the latest Newspoll, with only 24 per cent satisfied with his performance. Labor's primary vote fell to its equal-lowest level since winning government in 2022, while One Nation gained a one-point lead at 28 per cent and the Coalition's core support rose to 21 per cent. The polling comes ahead of a widely expected interest rate hike.

Chery has launched Lepas, a new premium brand positioned as a sister to its existing Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo marques in Australia. The first model is the L6 electric SUV, a mid-size front-wheel drive vehicle with around 440km of range, priced above comparable models from other Chery brands. Lepas will have its own independent dealership network and plans to offer a plug-in hybrid version of the L6 and additional models including a hatchback by 2028.

A charge alleging mining magnate Clive Palmer breached takeover laws has been dropped after his company Palmer Leisure Coolum pleaded guilty and was fined $10,000. The charge related to a proposed buyout of timeshare investors at the former Hyatt Regency Coolum golf resort on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, which Palmer Leisure Coolum took over in the early 2010s. A Commonwealth prosecutor told a Brisbane magistrate on Monday it would not proceed with the personal charge against Palmer.

Victorian Magistrate Vicky Prapas has been reprimanded by the Judicial Commission of Victoria for inappropriate language from the bench, including threatening remarks to legal practitioners. The watchdog found she told a court user 'I want to slap you around a bit too' and made other offensive comments, amounting to a 'pattern of victimisation' against legal practitioners who proposed complaints. Ms Prapas acknowledged her conduct had been 'unfiltered and intemperate', citing her intention to promote recovery and accountability within the drug court's therapeutic framework.

First basemen Christian Walker of Houston and Matt Olson of Atlanta have each won their fourth Gold Glove awards on Sunday. Boston right fielder Wilyer Abreu won the honour for the third consecutive year. The Red Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks tied for the most winners with three each.

Australian marathon runner Haftu Strintzos achieved a fifth-place finish at the New York City Marathon, completing the distance in two hours, six minutes and 34 seconds. This was the best performance by an Australian man at a World Major marathon in over 30 years. Strintzos said he was happy with the result and secured an automatic qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

TUI flight BY1767 from Lanzarote to Newcastle transmitted a 7700 'squawk code' emergency signal at approximately 17,900 feet shortly before 1am on Monday. The aircraft landed safely, about 45 minutes behind schedule. The cause of the emergency code has not been confirmed; a 7700 code can indicate various incidents including engine problems, cabin smoke or medical emergencies.

Winston Peters, New Zealand's 81-year-old foreign minister, is seeking a 14th term as an MP and has made immigration control central to his election campaign. NZ First, polling around 11 per cent, is proposing what it calls the most serious immigration reform in a generation, including new deportation powers, tougher welfare access and a referendum on capping resident visas. Peters is demanding the immigration ministry if the right bloc is re-elected and argues New Zealand should follow the migration models of Asia, bringing only people the country needs, not those who need the country.

The Melbourne Cup has been shaped by remarkable achievements including mare Makybe Diva's unprecedented three consecutive wins from 2003 to 2005, Japanese horse Delta Blues becoming the first from Japan to win in 2006, and female jockey Michelle Payne's 2015 victory aboard long-shot Prince Of Penzance, the first woman to win the race.

South Africans are voting in local government elections that will determine control of major cities and test the ruling ANC's electoral strength. The ANC lost its parliamentary majority in 2024 and formed a unity government with the Democratic Alliance. In the last municipal elections in 2021, the ANC lost control of several major cities.

Heavy rain and wind are threatening Melbourne during the Spring Racing Carnival this week. A weather system moving across the city will bring rain on Monday afternoon and evening, with conditions remaining soggy on Tuesday morning, though the rain should clear before the Melbourne Cup at 3pm. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that temperatures will drop to a chilly 18 degrees, with a fresh southerly wind making it feel even cooler.

Tamika Chesser, 34, a former Beauty and the Geek contestant, has pleaded not guilty to murdering her partner Julian Story and to destroying human remains. Story, 39, died in Port Lincoln, South Australia on 17 June last year. The case may not proceed to trial pending psychiatric assessments to determine whether Chesser is mentally fit to stand trial.

Xiaomi, the world's third-largest smartphone maker, is recruiting staff in Australia for roles including an automotive legal counsel, signalling an imminent local launch of its electric vehicles and extended-range hybrids. The company has not officially confirmed the launch, but multiple Sydney-based job advertisements suggest it is preparing to enter the Australian market. Xiaomi launched its first vehicle, the SU7 sports sedan, in China in 2024, and confirmed at its April 2026 investor day that overseas expansion would begin in the second half of 2027, starting with Europe, before entering right-hand drive markets in the first half of 2028.

Melbourne Victory drew with Central Coast at AAMI Park on Sunday after playing most of the match with ten men. Midfielder Jordi Valadon scored his first A-League goal in his 75th game, ending the league's longest active playing streak without a goal. Victory have not won in the A-League Men this season, but Valadon said the performance showed character and would spark improvement.

Prescott Mayor Cathey Rusing declared a state of emergency after heavy, continuous rainfall caused significant flooding across the city and overtopped Watson Lake Dam on Sunday. Saturated ground in the mountains produced two to three times the normal runoff. Water flowing into Watson Lake peaked at more than 4,000 cubic feet per second, though flows later dropped to about 1,680 cubic feet per second. The dam is designed to handle water flowing up to 10 feet over the top, and Upper Goldwater Reservoir also topped. City officials are monitoring dams for structural concerns and have closed all low water crossings.

A jury in Brisbane Supreme Court has been shown bodycam footage of former RAAF pilot Robert Crawford being questioned by police after his wife Frances Crawford was found dead at their remote property on 30 July 2024. Crawford, who has pleaded not guilty to murder, initially told police his wife had died in a lawnmower accident. The footage shows Crawford becoming emotional as he recounts the night to officers, describing his relationship with his wife as 'making headway' despite tensions. He has admitted to affairs and emotional infidelity over 20 years of marriage.

Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to question the validity of Israel's election have been weakened as officials say the results will be certified. The head of Israel's elections committee, flanked by the attorney general and the head of the Shin Bet intelligence service, made clear the vote would stand even if claims of foreign interference were substantiated. Netanyahu's bloc lost its parliamentary majority in the election.

Tamika Sueann Rose Chesser, 36, a runner-up on Beauty and the Geek in 2010, has appeared in the South Australian Supreme Court charged with murdering Julian Story, 39, and destroying human remains to pervert the course of justice. She pleaded not guilty and will mount a mental health defence. The court ordered further reports on her mental competence and fitness to stand trial.

Real Madrid maintained their winning run with a 3-0 victory over Racing Santander, with Kylian Mbappe scoring his 12th league goal of the season from an 11th-minute penalty. Jude Bellingham also scored as Madrid remained three points behind Barcelona in Spain's top flight. In Italy, Lazio moved top of Serie A after beating Cagliari with a late goal from Andrea Pinamonti in the 83rd minute, giving them their best start to a season in club history with nine wins and one draw from their opening 10 matches.

Roman Heilman, a six-year-old boy, was reported missing in Louisa, Kentucky on Sunday, 1 November around 3:45 p.m. from Tadpole Road. He is described as a white male, approximately 3 feet tall, weighing 60 pounds, with shoulder-length light blonde hair and blue eyes. Kentucky State Police have issued an IAN Alert. He was last seen wearing a green fur jacket, red and white monster pyjama pants and crocs. Lawrence County Emergency Management says the child is known to respond to the song 'If You're Happy and You Know It' and is asking anyone with information to call 911 immediately.

A semi-truck overturned on Interstate 64 westbound near Barboursville, West Virginia on Sunday evening around 7:30 p.m. The crash occurred at the 17th mile marker, just past the Merritts Creek exit. No injuries were reported and the road has since reopened.

Mercedes-Benz Australia is recalling certain 2022-2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Mercedes-Maybach S-Class sedans due to a manufacturing defect affecting front axle brake hoses. The defect could cause brake fluid leaks resulting in reduced braking performance, increasing the risk of accidents. Owners must schedule appointments with authorised Mercedes-Benz dealerships for free repairs.

Two people were injured in a shooting at the intersection of Stoddard and Frye in East Lansing on Saturday night during Halloween celebrations. Residents heard dozens of gunshots and described people running from a nearby house down the street. Woodtv reports that five people were hurt across two shootings on Halloween night, with police holding a news conference to discuss the incidents.

Malcolm Roach sacked Patrick Mahomes on fourth-and-goal on the final play Sunday, securing Denver's 28-24 comeback win over Kansas City and putting the Broncos in first place in the AFC West. Denver trailed 24-13 in the third quarter before Bo Nix led two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs had reached the Denver 1-yard line with under a minute remaining but could not score.

Sedona city officials reported that approximately 2,700 gallons of sewage spilled into Oak Creek near Bear Wallow Lane on Sunday morning when heavy rainfall overwhelmed the Bear Wallow Pump Station. Pumper trucks were dispatched to assist, and normal operations resumed within about an hour and a half. This follows a similar incident the previous week when between 1,000 and 5,000 gallons of untreated wastewater entered the creek, traced to a grease clog at a restaurant.

A historic property in Manningham, Bradford, has been severely damaged by fire, with construction workers estimating repairs could cost around £100,000. The building is located in one of Bradford's designated conservation areas. A neighbouring property escaped the flames but suffered smoke damage, with occupants temporarily displaced while cleaning work was carried out.

A high-speed train crashed into a stationary train near Urda in central Spain on 28 October, killing at least 69 people. Four United States citizens were among the dead, along with nationals from Canada, Japan, Argentina, Mexico, Tunisia and the Czech Republic, plus 54 Spaniards. Two Australians and one Japanese citizen remain missing. Transport Minister Óscar Puente blamed a traffic controller's poor judgment, though railway unions cited deteriorating working conditions.

Australia has rested test captain Pat Cummins and fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood from the upcoming ODI and T20 series against England. The selectors are managing player workload ahead of a gruelling schedule that includes ten Tests in fourteen weeks. Key batsmen Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Josh Inglis, Cooper Connolly and allrounder Cameron Green will also be managed through the T20 series after long tours to Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Asian share markets have fallen as worries about the sustainability of the AI investment boom affect the tech sector. Gold has hit a one-year low and oil prices have slipped. Japan's Nikkei fell 0.5 per cent on Monday, while South Korea lost 0.8 per cent. Major tech earnings from Apple, AMD and Palantir are due this week.

One Nation state leader Warren Pickering announced plans to make Victoria's finances transparent by publishing all state expenditure and cabinet documents on a public website if elected in November. However, he confirmed the party will not release costings for its own policies, saying it will not use the Parliamentary Budget Office because its projections cannot be trusted. The coalition separately pledged to add 335 fire trucks to rural and regional fleets at a cost of £200 million.

Police in Wisconsin released allegations that Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs physically abused three women between 2021 and 2022. Jacobs' lawyers denied all three accounts, calling the release 'character assassination' and saying the allegations are 'old, hearsay, and easily disproven'. They stated Jacobs has 'a substantial body of tangible evidence' to support his denials and that one woman's claim was previously reviewed by the NFL, which took no action.

Journalism has been described as a vital part of national infrastructure. It holds power to account, strengthens resilience and connects people to their communities.

WA paceman Mahli Beardman has been named in Australia's 14-man ODI squad for three matches against England, beginning in Perth next Friday. The 21-year-old is likely to make his ODI debut in a pace attack without rested players Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Beardman is one of five West Australian players in the squad, alongside captain Mitch Marsh, Cam Green, Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly. He has also been named in the T20 squad for five matches that will follow.

Qantas and multiple other airlines including Japan Airlines, ANA, Cathay Pacific and Korean Air have been targeted in a cyber security breach at Spanish travel technology company Amadeus. An unauthorised agent potentially accessed data about passenger reservations and booking information. Amadeus contained the issue in September. Qantas said there was no impact to its own systems or databases, which remain secure, and that there was no evidence payment records or financial data had been accessed. Qantas has notified Australian cyber security authorities.

The News Media Association Chief Executive Theo Bamper writes that trusted journalism should not be taken for granted and calls for government action to protect it.

The Philadelphia Eagles will face the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football in Week 8, with the Eagles sending their backup quarterback Tanner McKee after starter Jalen Hurts was ruled out for the season with blood clots in his lungs. Both teams are dealing with significant injuries, with the Eagles ruling out wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks, linebacker Jihaad Campbell, and cornerback Jonathan Jones among others. The Commanders are also missing key players including left tackle Laremy Tunsil, wide receiver Terry McLaurin, and defensive lineman Da'Ron Payne. The Eagles are 2-5 and on a five-game losing streak, while the Commanders are 1-4-1.

England's NHS is introducing the National Paediatric Early Warning System (PEWS) in hospital emergency departments to help staff identify sick children who are deteriorating quickly. The system measures vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels and consciousness, with a high score flagging when a child needs more urgent attention. The roll-out is designed to improve care during winter when NHS pressure peaks.

The government is launching a Journalism Matters campaign recognising journalism as part of national infrastructure. Local reporters hold power to account by covering council chambers, courts and planning meetings, and can unite communities during crises by challenging misinformation. However, access to good local journalism is becoming increasingly unequal, with the market alone unable to sustain it everywhere.