Good afternoon. After a six-week trial, a high-profile Sydney man has been found not guilty on two counts of rape, with a jury unable to reach a verdict on three other rape charges.
The man was found not guilty on four out of a total nine charges. After 12 days of deliberation, the jury – made up of nine men and three women – was unable to reach a verdict on the remaining five charges, which included three counts of rape against three separate women. The man could now face a second trial on those charges.
Guardian Australian cannot name the man due to a suppression order on his identity. This order was due to lift once a verdict was returned on all charges, but because the jury failed to reach a majority on five charges, it remains in place.
Top news
Crisafulli backtracks on resignation vow | The Queensland opposition leader has walked back his campaign promise to resign if crime victim numbers do not reduce under a Liberal National party government, claiming he was referring to per capita rates and not the overall number of victims.
No-grounds evictions banned in NSW | No-grounds evictions have been outlawed in New South Wales with the passing of new laws designed to rebalance power between the state’s 2.2 million renters and their landlords. While the changes, promised before the 2023 election, did not go as far as some had hoped, advocates described the reforms as some of the biggest in the state’s history.
Book claims secret Rudd-Gillard handover pact | A memoir by the former Labor senator Kim Carr says Kevin Rudd agreed to relinquish the prime ministership to Julia Gillard after two terms if they won the 2007 election. The book also alleges Gillard used “tricked-up” polling funded by the mining industry to undermine Rudd.
AI ‘ghost workers’ left without pay | One-third of contractors training AI systems used by companies such as Amazon, Meta and Microsoft have not been paid on time after the Australian company Appen moved to a new worker management platform.
‘Amorous couple’ arrested over Melbourne train station flooding | A couple accused of damaging a water pipe and fire sprinkler, causing the evacuation of the Melbourne Central and Flagstaff train stations, had been arrested.
David Warner’s lifetime leadership ban lifted | Six years after the notorious “sandpapergate” scandal, an independent panel unanimously determined Warner met the criteria to have his ban overturned, paving the way for the batter to hold a formal leadership role with the Sydney Thunder in this summer’s Big Bash League.
A-listers come out for Kamala Harris rally | Big names including Tyler Perry and Barack Obama joined the Democratic nominee at a rally in Georgia, with singer Bruce Springsteen warning that Donald Trump is a would-be “tyrant”. Trump, meanwhile, used a rally in Arizona to call the US a “garbage can” because of immigration policies.
Putin does not deny North Korea sent soldiers to Russia | Speaking at the close of the Brics summit in Russia on Thursday, Putin accused the west of escalating the Ukraine war and insisted that it was up to Moscow as to how to run its mutual defence clause with Pyongyang.
Police raid hotel where Liam Payne died | An Argentinian special investigations unit raided the hotel in Buenos Aires where the former One Direction singer fell from a balcony, reportedly seizing items including computer hard drives and footage from hotel cameras on orders from the public prosecutor’s office.
Podcast
Undercover inside a ‘scientific racism’ network – Today in Focus
About a year ago, journalist Harry Shukman set out to infiltrate a group of far-right activists. But instead of finding street thugs, he met a network of people who considered themselves intellectuals, dabbling in what they called “human biodiversity” – more commonly known as scientific racism. He tells Michael Safi what he learned about how some of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful people see race.
What they said …
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“None of us can change the past but we can commit with all our hearts to learning its lessons and to finding creative ways to right inequalities that endure.” – King Charles
Addressing Commonwealth leaders at the Chogm summit in Samoa, the king acknowledged “painful aspects” of Britain’s colonial past but sidestepped calls to directly address reparations for slavery.
In numbers
Telstra and Optus will begin shutting down their 3G networks on Monday, and have warned customers that if they have incompatible devices they may be cut off. Telstra’s shutdown will begin in Tasmania, with the rest of Australia completed by 4 November. People can SMS “3” to 3498 to check if their device is affected.
Before bed read
I’m a death expert. I designed eight questions to help you think about dying
Part of what it means to be human – part of the human condition, if you like – is to be aware that we will one day die, writes Joanna Ebenstein. The modern era has eroded the myths and traditions of death – but there’s a way to create your own belief system.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: WELL. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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