Morning. When Anthony Albanese meets Joe Biden for talks and dinner at the White House tomorrow, the subject of the Middle East will surely be one of the main topics of conversation. But while they are seeing eye to eye on support for Israel, back home the Greens are kicking up a row about Australian defence exports to the Tel Aviv government. It comes as the UN secretary-general calls for an immediate ceasefire to end “epic suffering” in Gaza.
In the US, Donald Trump’s fraud trial has heard that he told staff to “reverse-engineer” asset values to a number he made up. And Google’s AI chief reckons the risks posed by artificial intelligence technology should be taken as seriously as climate change.
Australia
Dragon quest | A US biotechnology “de-extinction” company behind efforts to bring the Tasmanian tiger back from the dead is backing a project to save a tiny Australian dragon – the Victorian grassland earless dragon – which was feared extinct before being rediscovered in the wild this year.
Israel exports | Australia has approved 322 defence exports to Israel over the past six years, according to new figures that will bring awkward questions from the Greens at a Senate hearing today. The Greens’ defence spokesperson, David Shoebridge, said Australia had “one of the most secretive and unaccountable weapons export systems in the world”.
Fires victim | A body was found in the Tara area west of Brisbane last night where fires had forced residents to flee their homes with fire crews battling more than 40 blazes across Queensland. One Tara man who fled his home said the “whole sky was just red” as the fire bore down on the area.
Mental block | The stepfather of a man shot and killed by New South Wales police while suffering from psychosis says the current system is “useless”, his comments coming as the Guardian reveals officers aren’t allowed to talk with mental health workers during high-risk callouts – even on the phone.
Voice on hold | Indigenous leaders may wait until next year to propose a new agenda after the unsuccessful voice referendum, with some arguing privately there may need to be a renewal of leadership and more time for consultation.
World
Trump’s trials | Donald Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen (pictured) has told a court in New York that the former president tasked him with reverse-engineering asset classes by “whatever number Mr Trump told us”. Follow developments in Trump’s fraud trial live. Elsewhere, lawyers acting for Trump in his federal subversion case have told a judge that it should be dismissed because it violates the former president’s free-speech rights and is vindictive. And another of Trump’s former lawyers, Jenna Ellis, is taking a plea deal in the Georgia election subversion case.
‘Could backfire’ | The UN has called for an immediate ceasefire to end “epic suffering” in the Gaza Strip after Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed more than 700 people, while former US president Barack Obama said Israel’s actions could cost it global support. Yocheved Lifshitz, the 85-year-old hostage released by Hamas, shook hands with her captors and said “shalom”, a Hebrew greeting meaning “peace”, after being released back to her family, footage shows.
WFH bludge? | Steve Schwarzman, boss of Blackstone, the world’s biggest commercial landlord, has accused remote workers of staying away from the office because it means they “don’t work as hard” and can save money on commuting, lunch and clothes.
China reshuffle | China has removed the defence minister, Li Shangfu, and ousted ex-foreign minister Qin Gang from its cabinet, according to state media, in a major reshuffle of top leadership.
Diabetes fake | Several people have been admitted to hospital in Austria after using suspected fake versions of Novo Nordisk’s diabetes drug Ozempic.
Full Story
How a contested history feeds the Israel-Palestine conflict
Certain dates are seared into the minds of those who have tried to untangle the decades-long Israel-Palestine conflict, be it 1917, 1947, 1967, 1973 – and now 2023. Chris McGreal reports on how the war is only understandable by looking to the past.
In-depth
The world must treat the risks from artificial intelligence as seriously as the climate crisis, one of the technology’s leading figures has warned. Demis Hassabis (pictured), the British chief executive of Google’s AI unit, said the world must act immediately in tackling the technology’s dangers, which included aiding the creation of bioweapons and the existential threat posed by super-intelligent systems. Ahead of a major summit in the UK, our technology editor looks at how AI pioneers are divided over the threat it presents.
Not the news
There are only a few days to go before Halloween. But for some, such as the devotees of festivals like Monster Fest (pictured) or regular screenings such as Blood Ritual in the Melbourne suburb of Coburg, the horror never ends. Justine Costigan wasn’t too scared to go along and join in.
The world of sport
Football | Manchester United say farewell to Sir Bobby Charlton as they take on Copenhagen in the Champions League, while Arsenal are at Sevilla.
Women’s football | The Matildas play Iran tomorrow night in Perth in the first of three matches in a week as they aim to secure their place at next year’s Olympics.
Brisbane Olympics | The Greens candidate for Brisbane lord mayor says the party will oppose the city’s 2032 Games unless organisers abandon plans for a $2.7bn redevelopment of the Gabba stadium.
Media roundup
Sydney’s inner-city suburbs will experience more planes overhead in a shake-up of aviation rules, says the Sydney Morning Herald. An upmarket Melbourne school has banned any celebration of the “sinister occult” ritual of Halloween because it is “annoying and destructive” for the neighbourhood, the Age reports. The West Australian leads with the “out of control” bushfire in Kings Park in Perth that has forced people to leave their homes.
What’s happening today
Diplomacy | Anthony Albanese meets president Joe Biden for talks in Washington.
Economy | The latest inflation figures are out at 11.30 this morning.
Canberra | Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon speaks at the National Press Club.
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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.
