Good morning. As the US election looms, Kamala Harris has called out Donald Trump for his latest offensive comments directed at the nation’s women, whom he is promising to protect “whether the women like it or not”. This comes as polls show the political gender gap may be wider than ever.
Meanwhile, the deputy prime minister’s chief of staff claims her bullying complaint is being stonewalled, a massive typhoon is hitting Taiwan and new research has revealed how Indigenous scrub burning methods could help south-east Australia stave off wildfires.
Australia
Stuck in limbo | The deputy prime minister’s chief of staff has accused the government of ignoring her bullying complaint and stonewalling on her unresolved situation, appealing directly to the prime minister to intervene.
Up and down | Home prices hit a record high during the peak spring selling season but values in Sydney dipped in the city’s first month-on-month decline since January 2023.
Closing ranks | NSW Labor has been accused of trying to minimise the impact of a once-in-a-generation drug reform summit amid last-minute changes and concern from experts over transparency.
Flying high | Peter Dutton has admitted his office asked Gina Rinehart’s company for a lift on a Hancock Prospecting jet to a Bali bombing memorial service, days after he said he had never personally asked Australia’s richest person for help with flights.
Abortion fracas | The anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe has been banned from South Australia’s upper house after complaints were revealed in parliament alleging she had used “insults and threatening and intimidating tactics” towards politicians.
World
Beyond the pale | Kamala Harris has condemned Donald Trump’s comment that he would protect women “whether the women like it or not”, calling his remarks “offensive to everybody”.
Taiwan disaster | The biggest typhoon to hit Taiwan in decades has crossed over the island, leaving behind a path of destruction but minimal reported deaths or injuries.
To the brink | The UN’s food and agriculture organization and world food programme says food insecurity is expected to worsen in nearly two dozen countries and territories in the next six months, largely as a result of conflict and violence.
Democracy in danger | Officials in Georgia said a partial recount had confirmed the ruling party won its disputed election but a global research and data firm called the official results “statistically impossible”.
Inundated | As the death toll from devastating floods in eastern Spain rises to 158 and the country begins three days of mourning, the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has urged people to stay at home.
Full Story
Albanese and the Qantas firestorm
Just two weeks ago, the prime minister was engulfed in a crisis of optics when he bought a $4.3m property in middle of a housing crisis. Now he is under pressure once more for allegedly seeking free Qantas flight upgrades directly from the then CEO, Alan Joyce, while serving as transport minister and opposition leader – allegations he has denied.
Reged Ahmad speaks to political editor Karen Middleton about the politics of perks and why Anthony Albanese is facing a possible perception problem.
In-depth
Long before the colonisation of Australia, Indigenous cultural burning practices played a major role in reducing the intensity of bushfires in south-east Australia. But since the arrival of Europeans shrub cover has continued to increase to dangerous levels.
A new study published in the journal Science argues that the “wide-scale reintegration” of cultural burning practices is now needed once again as Australia faces the escalating climate crisis.
Not the news
Few animals fascinate humans as powerfully as whales, but Dr Joe Roman has spent three decades fixated on one specific aspect of their remarkable lives: their poo.
As he reveals, whale faeces can tell us not just what the ocean giants are eating but also a lot about their hormones, stress levels and ocean pollution – everything from microplastics to parasite loads.
The world of sport
Drug drama | Josh Addo-Carr has been sacked by NRL club Canterbury with immediate effect after failing a roadside drug test in September.
The ‘bat off’ | Australia are no closer to landing on the opener to partner Usman Khajawa in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar trophy series after three leading contenders failed to grasp their opportunity on day one of the India A match.
Appeal dismissed | The Richmond star Eilish Sheerin remains free to play a week out from the AFLW finals after the appeal board rejected an AFL challenge against her tribunal win.
Media roundup
The Sydney Morning Herald looks into who Donald Trump means by “they” in his increasingly bilious speeches. The Age reveals bad news the government tried to bury on the 2024 edition of “dump day”. The Australian examines how the gap between the country’s elites and mainstream classes is widening in the lead-up to the next federal election and the ABC carries the news that more than 1,200 large companies paid no tax in 2022-23.
What’s happening today
State politics | A new cabinet led by the LNP is to be sworn in in Queensland.
Disease alert | Agriculture ministers will convene to discuss the threat of a major bird flu outbreak.
Today in court | A much-delayed sentencing hearing is due for Ricardo Barbaro, who was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
