Good morning – Vladimir Putin has hinted at tensions between Russia and China over Ukraine. There’s a near-8km queue of Queen mourners (or are they?) in London – but in Australia, the Country Women’s Association is thinking of dropping the monarchy, and God, from its motto.
The United Nations’ torture prevention watchdog has been urged to investigate Australia’s use of handcuffs on asylum seekers when seeking medical care – a practice advocates condemn as inhumane and unlawful. The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (Piac) has requested the UN’s subcommittee on the prevention of torture investigate the practice during its visit next month – it is expected to scrutinise Australia’s immigration detention network.
Vladimir Putin has publicly referred to China’s “questions and concerns” about the war in Ukraine, in a rare nod to tensions between the two states caused by the Russian invasion.
An inquest into the police shooting death of Northern Territory man Kumanjayi Walker has been told “negative interactions” with Indigenous Australians could to lead to “normalised” racism within the police force. The Warlpiri man, 19, was shot three times by the NT police constable Zachary Rolfe during an attempted arrest in the remote NT community of Yuendumu in November 2019. Rolfe was found not guilty of murder and two alternative charges after a six-week trial in the supreme court in Darwin earlier this year.
On the first full day of Queen Elizabeth II’s lying in state, a huge queue formed in London – approaching its 8km limit (though as one crowd behaviour expert points out, not everyone there may be in mourning). The Queen will rest finally at her favourite home, Windsor Castle, but first King Charles III and his siblings will stand vigil over her coffin on Friday night, and on Monday the country will grind to a halt for her state funeral. As the outpouring of mourning continues, Martin Belam has rounded up some of the most overzealous efforts.
Australia
The final design and cost of Australia’s nuclear submarines will be known in early 2023, defence minister Richard Marles has said, linking the cutting-edge technology to the country’s economic and trade success.
The Albanese government is being urged to expand voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds and people in prison in submissions to an inquiry into the 2022 election – which also include calls for regulation of “electoral lies” and stricter caps on political donations.
Experts are recommending botox patients undergo mental health screening, saying the low cost and ready availability of cosmetic injections makes them dangerous for people suffering body image issues.
Plus: What exactly is the review of the Reserve Bank of Australia hoping to discover? Peter Hannam lays out four key areas to watch ahead of the review making its recommendations to the treasurer.
The world
Hungary can no longer be considered a full democracy, the European parliament has said in a powerful symbolic vote against Viktor Orbán’s government, citing a breakdown in democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law.
A hundred years after the rise of Italian fascism was heralded by Mussolini’s 1922 march on Rome, Italy is on the verge of electing its first far-right leader since the second world war. Lorenzo Tondo examines why.
Scientists are hailing an autoimmune disease therapy breakthrough. A study has found CAR T-cell treatment sends lupus into remission, raising hopes it could be used to treat diseases such multiple sclerosis.
And scientists say Saturn’s famous rings could be the aftermath of a moon that was ripped apart.
Recommended reads
Six years ago, the American gender-nonconforming writer Alok Vaid-Menon was punched by a stranger on a Melbourne tram. Now they’re back in Australia to speak about why they forgive him, at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas. “He said he was OK with gay people, but I was too much,” Vaid-Menon tells Sian Cian in a powerful interview.
Marshmallow, Victoria Hannan’s second novel, tells the stories of five close friends in their thirties a year on from the accidental death of a two-year-old at a Melbourne birthday party. It’s a return to familiar terrain for the writer, suggests reviewer Jack Callil, “interrogating the variegated nature of grief and what the path to recovery – or at least a coexistence with pain – may look like”.
“The dream of flexible capitalism became a nightmare for many workers – but there is a path back to the sweet spot,” Brigid Delaney writes.
Plus: Timothée Chalamet has made history as British Vogue’s first solo male cover star. And: why is House of the Dragon so dull?
Listen
Is Russia on the retreat in Ukraine? Ukrainian forces have launched a devastating counteroffensive in the past week, retaking Russian-held territory. In today’s episode of Full Story, Guardian UK’s defence and security editor Dan Sabbagh and central and eastern Europe correspondent Shaun Walker explain what it means for the war as the nations head into winter.
Full Story is Guardian Australia’s daily news podcast. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcasting app.
Sport
Roger Federer will retire next week at the age of 41 after the Laver Cup in London, marking the end of one of the greatest ever sporting careers. A 20-time grand slam champion, Federer announced in a social media post on Thursday that next week will be his last as a professional player.
In a rollercoaster season where every epic victory has been followed by a crushing defeat, the Wallabies had one gutsy hand on the Bledisloe Cup until a bizarre last-minute refereeing decision turned their historic 37-34 victory into a heartbreaking 39-37 defeat.
“Collingwood’s rise is anchored by the fortitude of those involved in the Do Better report,” Ben Abbatangelo writes. “Without the review, which found a systemic culture of racism at the club, the Magpies’ vision, purpose and ideals would not have been unified this season.”
Media roundup
Six months after Lismore’s deadly floods, health services are ‘“begging for help”, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. According to the Australian, a special administrator is on the cards for Star Casinos in Queensland. And with US stocks dropping, the ASX is set to fall, per the Financial Review.
Coming up
It’s the one-year anniversary of the Aukus pact, the federal cabinet is meeting in Port Hedland, and RBA chief Philip Lowe is due to appear at an economics standing committee hearing.
And if you’ve read this far …
Can you name seven female stereotypes likely to be found in Australian ads? A new campaign is pushing to reduce sexist stereotyping in advertising to avoid reinforcing dangerous social norms.
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