Morning, everyone. An Indigenous elder has rebuked Lidia Thorpe as “disrespectful” for the senator’s vocal protest against King Charles during his Canberra visit yesterday. Overnight, the British prime minister has defended the monarch. We also have news of how Australian voters see the king in our latest Guardian Essential poll.
In other news, BHP is accused of trying to avoid responsibility for a 2015 Brazil mining disaster in the biggest group lawsuit seen in English legal history, and an Australian comedian recalls squatting in Kanye West’s house for a week.
Australia
Wildfire threat | Global heating is causing more of the planet to be burned from wildfires and probably killing an extra 12,000 people a year from breathing in smoke, new research has found.
‘Disrespectful’ | A Ngunnawal elder has rebuked Lidia Thorpe for her confrontation with King Charles, saying the Victorian senator doesn’t speak for her people and that her comments were “disrespectful”. Other First Nations activists are continuing protests against the visit but the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, said the king was doing “a fantastic job”.
Exclusive | The king has stronger approval among Australians for the way he is doing his job than either the prime minister or the man who wants to be PM, according to the latest Guardian Essential poll.
‘Hook, line and sinker’ | Victoria’s premier, Jacinta Allan, is trying to use planning policies to frame herself as the champion of young people, with the opposition and nimbys cast as the villains.
BHP accused | The mining company has been accused of “cynically and doggedly trying to avoid” responsibility for Brazil’s worst environmental disaster at the opening of the largest group lawsuit in English legal history.
World
Sudan warning | Refugees and aid agencies have warned of deteriorating conditions in overcrowded camps in Chad as intensifying violence and a hunger crisis in Sudan led to huge numbers crossing the border – including 25,000 in the first week of October alone.
Spy ring | Israeli police and the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency say they have arrested a network of Israeli citizens spying for Iran who allegedly provided information about military bases and conducted surveillance of individuals.
‘No plan’ | Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor and Democratic vice-presidential candidate, said Elon Musk’s plan to give away $1m a day in support of Donald Trump is a reflection of a ticket with “no plan”. The governor of Pennsylvania has questioned the legality of the giveaways in the key swing state. Kamala Harris is beating Trump on questions about the economy, polling shows.
India hoaxes | A reported 90 bomb threats have been made against Indian airlines in the past week, provoking chaos as planes were grounded, diverted and flown to safety by fighter jet escorts.
Moldova’s yes | Moldovans have voted by a razor-thin majority in favour of joining the EU after a pivotal referendum clouded by allegations of Russian interference.
Full Story
Dating apps and attacks on gay men
Josh Taylor speaks to Tamsin Rose about concerns that “methods of attack” against gay people are being promoted online and that men are being targeted after agreeing to meetings via apps including Grindr.
In-depth
After more teal success against the Liberals in northern Sydney, Labor’s strongholds in western Sydney could be targeted by independents fired up by the war in Gaza, and the cost-of-living and housing crises. Ahmed Ouf, a pharmacist who emigrated here from Egypt, believes the time has come when “someone with dark skin, an immigrant, someone from a minority” can challenge for the seat held by the education minister, Jason Clare. “Labor’s time in western Sydney has run out,” he tells Mostafa Rachwani.
Not the news
Amid the Middle East conflict, the Jewish Australian comedian John Safran was inspired to visit Los Angeles and pay a call at the home of the rapper Kanye West, who has become notorious for antisemitic outbursts. When no one answered, Safran slipped in through an unlocked door and spent “a very strange week” trying to better understand West’s psyche, sleeping in his bed and raiding the kitchen. He discusses the resulting book, Squat, with our very own Sian Cain.
The world of sport
Women’s football | More than 100 players – including the Matildas player Alex Chidiac – have signed a letter calling on Fifa to end its sponsorship deal with the state-owned Saudi Arabian oil company Aramco, accusing Saudi authorities of “brutal human rights violations”.
Rugby union| English rugby has been warned it is facing an existential crisis and has been urged to make radical changes to schools rugby to avoid becoming a “declining minority sport” amid a damaging drop in participation.
Formula One | Max Verstappen has told his McLaren rivals to stop complaining after Lando Norris was penalised for a failed attempt to overtake the Dutchman in the US grand prix on Sunday.
Media roundup
Business insolvencies hit a record high in the September quarter amid an ATO crackdown on unpaid tax bills, the Australian reports. Labor’s plans to build high-rise blocks in Melbourne’s suburbs has sparked a fierce backlash, the Age reports. The surfing world is in shock, according to the Daily Telegraph, after an influencer well known in the sport died when she was impaled by a swordfish in Indonesia.
What’s happening today
Melbourne | Closing submissions will be heard in the defamation case against the Victorian Liberal leader, John Pesutto.
Sydney | Hong Kong democracy activists plan to protest as the Hong Kong appeal court judge Patrick Keane speaks about Christian inspiration.
Queensland | The third and final leaders’ debate will be broadcast by Sky News at 7.30pm.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
