Good morning. Julian Assange’s brother says Anthony Albanese must “up the ante” on attempts to bring the WikiLeaks founder back to Australia, comparing the case to the successful return of Australian Cheng Lei from China. Assange remains in a London prison fighting an extradition order to the US. On his recent trip to the United States, the PM did raise the long-running case with the president, Joe Biden, – but has since said Biden “doesn’t interfere” with the US justice department.
Meanwhile, the squeeze on tenants around Australia is continuing as the number of available properties for rent has fallen to a record low. And tributes are pouring in after the death of Matthew Perry, the actor who brought Friends’ sarcastic and neurotic Chandler Bing to life.
And in Gaza, there are fears over reports of an evacuation warning sent to a major hospital.
Australia
Rental crunch | New data shows the total number of rental listings nationwide has fallen to a record low, as tenants across Australia continue to grapple with rising rents and limited supply of properties.
Julian Assange | The WikiLeaks founder’s brother has urged the Australian government to “up the ante” after Anthony Albanese confirmed he had raised the case with Joe Biden last week.
‘It’s up to every single one of us’ | The NSW domestic violence prevention minister is urging the public to call out “inappropriate behaviour” towards women after a death at an elite Sydney school.
Defence spending | A new report has warned that Australia should cut back its $45bn Hunter-class frigate project or the navy will end up with too many ships focused on anti-submarine warfare.
‘Bureaucratic bungle’ | Farmers have been left less than impressed by a regional council in Victoria proposing to restrict grass length on private properties – including paddocks – to 30cm.
World
Israel-Hamas war | Israel is under growing pressure to trade Palestinian prisoners for Gaza hostages; emergency UN security council meeting called; as a communication blackout gradually lifts, phones in Gaza are flooding with news of those lost. Follow the latest on our live blog.
Matthew Perry | Tributes are flowing for the American-Canadian “comedic genius” – best known for playing Chandler Bing in the sitcom Friends – after his death aged 54 in Los Angeles.
‘A victory for all women’ | As other countries move to restrict access, French president Emmanuel Macron has promised to enshrine a woman’s right to an abortion in the constitution by next year.
A US withdrawal | Mike Pence’s early exit from the Republican presidential nomination race whittles down a crowded field, but those left in the running face an uphill task against Donald Trump.
Sharp rise in attacks | Amid lack of acorns and beechnuts in their natural habitats, bears in Japan have killed two people and injured 158 since April as they struggle to find food.
Full Story
Bruce Lehrmann revealed as the ‘high-profile’ man charged with rape
Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) has been revealed as the “high-profile” man accused of raping a woman in Toowoomba two years ago – a charge that he denies. The former Liberal staffer can now be named in the case after his lawyers lost a legal bid to maintain his anonymity. Joe Hinchcliffe speaks to Laura Murphy-Oates about what to expect as the case proceeds.
In-depth
Northern Territory coroner Elisabeth Armitage (pictured) is diving deep into the systemic failures that led to the death of four women from domestic violence in what she calls a “national shame”. Her investigations reveal 81 women have died as a result of domestic violence in the Northern Territory since 2000; 93% of them were Aboriginal. “This is not somebody else’s horror. This is our horror,” Armitage says.
Not the news
Mutiny in Heaven is a warts-and-all portrait of the Birthday Party’s debauched journey from Melbourne to London – a scuzzy time capsule filled with juicy revelations about Nick Cave (pictured) and co. Reviewer Luke Buckminster says fans of the legendary post-punk band will take to the new film like pigs to slop, relishing the badassery of its subjects and their drug-addled journey to greatness.
The world of sport
Rugby | South Africa beat New Zealand to secure a record fourth World Cup; Pieter-Steph du Toit battles back from rare condition to join greats.
Football | Matildas maul the Philippines in Olympic qualifier; Haaland doubles up as Manchester City crush neighbours Manchester United.
Cricket | Australia pip New Zealand in World Cup run feast; India’s Jasprit Bumrah sends England crumbling to 100-run defeat.
Media roundup
Sports betting firms have offered to remove logos from football club match-day jerseys amid an intense standoff with the government over a looming clampdown on gambling advertisements, reports the Age. Australia has walked away from a free trade deal offered by the European Union after a new round of negotiations collapsed over the weekend, reports the Australian. ABC News looks at how a world-first ban on engineered stone benchtops could help save the lives of Australian tradies by reducing the risk of the lung disease silicosis.
What’s happening today
NSW | A public hearing is scheduled for the inquiry into the equity, accessibility and appropriate delivery of outpatient and community mental health care.
Victoria | A coronial inquest continues into the death of a 17-year-old Aboriginal girl who had been living at an Anglicare residential unit.
ABS | Retail trade figures for September to be released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day – with plenty more on the Guardian’s Puzzles app for iOS and Android. Until tomorrow.
