Morning everyone. The Middle East has edged closer to a full-blown regional conflict after Hezbollah’s leader threatened Israel with “tough retribution” and Israeli jets roared over Beirut.
Tasmania police’s plans to watch Hobart CCTV cameras in real-time have raised privacy fears, while centurion Travis Head has guided Australia to victory in the first one-dayer in Nottingham.
Australia
Premium pricing | Insurance costs are soaring and sending premiums through the roof. We hear from one homeowner in the Hawkesbury area of New South Wales whose home insurance went up by 47.5%.
Property probe | Rod Sims, the former chair of Australia’s competition law enforcer, says he believes the regulator should consider investigating the behavior of the property portal realestate.com.au for potentially anti-competitive behavior.
CCTV outcry | Police in Hobart have been granted real-time access to footage from hundreds of city council CCTV cameras in a move labeled “a massive intrusion on rights” by the Australian Privacy Foundation.
Whistleblower threat | The threat of potential jail time could “gag” complainants and whistleblowers who come forward about issues with parliament’s new workplace behavior watchdog, critics warn.
Nuclear cost | The Coalition’s plan for seven nuclear power plants would lift power bills for average households by $665 a year based on the estimated costs of six overseas nuclear projects, according to a study.
World
‘Crossed all red lines’ | Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has blamed Israel for the attacks on pagers and walkie-talkies that have killed dozens, vowing “tough retribution and just punishment”. Meanwhile, the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said Israel would face a “crushing response”. An Israeli front company seems the likeliest explanation for the attacks on electronic devices.
Trans model murdered | A well-known Georgian transgender model has been murdered, local officials said, a day after the government passed legislation that will impose sweeping curbs on LGBTQ+ rights in the country.
Mali attack | Scores of people have reportedly died in a jihadist attack in the capital of Mali in West Africa, raising more questions about the junta’s capacity to tackle a 12-year insurgency.
‘Mini moon’ | The Earth will be getting a second moon in the coming weeks as, according to a study, an asteroid roughly the length of a bus will be captured by Earth’s gravitational pull and orbit our planet for about two months.
Kylie’s back | Kylie Minogue has announced her biggest tour in a decade with the dates to begin in Australia early next year.
Full Story
Labor and the Greens hit an impasse on housing
Chief political correspondent Paul Karp speaks to Nour Haydar about the delays and arguments over the government’s housing reforms – and how a double dissolution election would change parliament.
In-depth
The latest Australian Study of Health and Relationships was revealed at a conference in Sydney this week held by the International Union Against Sexually Transmitted Infections. It doesn’t sound much fun but the results are our sex report card and make for fascinating reading. They show, for example, that one-third of Australians have searched for a partner online – people like Andrew and Josella (pictured) who met on Tinder and are now an item. Natasha May finds out more.
Not the news
The largest international exhibition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art will open next year at Washington DC’s National Gallery of Art and will tour for three years across North America. Myles Russell-Cook, a senior curator at the National Gallery of Victoria, tells Dee Jefferson that it was an “impossible task” to properly capture the diversity of Indigenous art. The tour includes masterpieces by the late Emily Kam Kngwarray (pictured), Rover Thomas, Sally Gabori, and Albert Namatjira.
The world of sport
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Cricket | Travis Head scored an unbeaten 154 as Australia romped to a seven-wicket win over England at Trent Bridge in the first of three ODIs. And young star Phoebe Litchfield rescued the women’s T20 team to secure a win over New Zealand.
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AFL | Port Adelaide has not lost to the Sydney Swans since 2016 but will arrive at the SCG tonight for the preliminary final as the underdogs against the minor premiers.
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Netball | A near-flawless shooting display from Sophie Garbin secured a 70-57 victory for Australia against England in the first netball Test last night.
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Rugby union | James Slipper says he feels “every one” of his 139 Tests as he prepares to set a new record of 140 against New Zealand this weekend.
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Football | There’s more Champions League action this morning with Arsenal away to Atalanta in Italy. Follow live here.
Media roundup
The Fin Review’s leader column says a strong jobs market and big spending by federal and state governments means the Reserve Bank can’t follow the US Fed in cutting rates. Anthony Albanese has not ruled out reforms to negative gearing as part of housing reforms, the Australian reports, while the Sydney Morning Herald says he’s under fire because immigration numbers have blown out.
What’s happening today
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Indigenous affairs | Queensland truth-telling and healing inquiry public hearings.
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Brisbane | Mentions for Russian-Australian couple on espionage charges.
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Sydney | Directions in Uber’s case against NSW state revenue commissioner.
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