Monday, 2 November 2026today, still filling

Winston Peters, New Zealand's 81-year-old foreign minister, is seeking a 14th term as an MP and has made immigration control central to his election campaign. NZ First, polling around 11 per cent, is proposing what it calls the most serious immigration reform in a generation, including new deportation powers, tougher welfare access and a referendum on capping resident visas. Peters is demanding the immigration ministry if the right bloc is re-elected and argues New Zealand should follow the migration models of Asia, bringing only people the country needs, not those who need the country.

The Melbourne Cup has been shaped by remarkable achievements including mare Makybe Diva's unprecedented three consecutive wins from 2003 to 2005, Japanese horse Delta Blues becoming the first from Japan to win in 2006, and female jockey Michelle Payne's 2015 victory aboard long-shot Prince Of Penzance, the first woman to win the race.

South Africans are voting in local government elections that will determine control of major cities and test the ruling ANC's electoral strength. The ANC lost its parliamentary majority in 2024 and formed a unity government with the Democratic Alliance. In the last municipal elections in 2021, the ANC lost control of several major cities.

Heavy rain and wind are threatening Melbourne during the Spring Racing Carnival this week. A weather system moving across the city will bring rain on Monday afternoon and evening, with conditions remaining soggy on Tuesday morning, though the rain should clear before the Melbourne Cup at 3pm. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that temperatures will drop to a chilly 18 degrees, with a fresh southerly wind making it feel even cooler.

Tamika Chesser, 34, a former Beauty and the Geek contestant, has pleaded not guilty to murdering her partner Julian Story and to destroying human remains. Story, 39, died in Port Lincoln, South Australia on 17 June last year. The case may not proceed to trial pending psychiatric assessments to determine whether Chesser is mentally fit to stand trial.

Xiaomi, the world's third-largest smartphone maker, is recruiting staff in Australia for roles including an automotive legal counsel, signalling an imminent local launch of its electric vehicles and extended-range hybrids. The company has not officially confirmed the launch, but multiple Sydney-based job advertisements suggest it is preparing to enter the Australian market. Xiaomi launched its first vehicle, the SU7 sports sedan, in China in 2024, and confirmed at its April 2026 investor day that overseas expansion would begin in the second half of 2027, starting with Europe, before entering right-hand drive markets in the first half of 2028.

Melbourne Victory drew with Central Coast at AAMI Park on Sunday after playing most of the match with ten men. Midfielder Jordi Valadon scored his first A-League goal in his 75th game, ending the league's longest active playing streak without a goal. Victory have not won in the A-League Men this season, but Valadon said the performance showed character and would spark improvement.

A jury in Brisbane Supreme Court has been shown bodycam footage of former RAAF pilot Robert Crawford being questioned by police after his wife Frances Crawford was found dead at their remote property on 30 July 2024. Crawford, who has pleaded not guilty to murder, initially told police his wife had died in a lawnmower accident. The footage shows Crawford becoming emotional as he recounts the night to officers, describing his relationship with his wife as 'making headway' despite tensions. He has admitted to affairs and emotional infidelity over 20 years of marriage.

Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to question the validity of Israel's election have been weakened as officials say the results will be certified. The head of Israel's elections committee, flanked by the attorney general and the head of the Shin Bet intelligence service, made clear the vote would stand even if claims of foreign interference were substantiated. Netanyahu's bloc lost its parliamentary majority in the election.

Tamika Sueann Rose Chesser, 36, a runner-up on Beauty and the Geek in 2010, has appeared in the South Australian Supreme Court charged with murdering Julian Story, 39, and destroying human remains to pervert the course of justice. She pleaded not guilty and will mount a mental health defence. The court ordered further reports on her mental competence and fitness to stand trial.

Real Madrid maintained their winning run with a 3-0 victory over Racing Santander, with Kylian Mbappe scoring his 12th league goal of the season from an 11th-minute penalty. Jude Bellingham also scored as Madrid remained three points behind Barcelona in Spain's top flight. In Italy, Lazio moved top of Serie A after beating Cagliari with a late goal from Andrea Pinamonti in the 83rd minute, giving them their best start to a season in club history with nine wins and one draw from their opening 10 matches.

A semi-truck overturned on Interstate 64 westbound near Barboursville, West Virginia on Sunday evening around 7:30 p.m. The crash occurred at the 17th mile marker, just past the Merritts Creek exit. No injuries were reported and the road has since reopened.

Mercedes-Benz Australia is recalling certain 2022-2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Mercedes-Maybach S-Class sedans due to a manufacturing defect affecting front axle brake hoses. The defect could cause brake fluid leaks resulting in reduced braking performance, increasing the risk of accidents. Owners must schedule appointments with authorised Mercedes-Benz dealerships for free repairs.

Malcolm Roach sacked Patrick Mahomes on fourth-and-goal on the final play Sunday, securing Denver's 28-24 comeback win over Kansas City and putting the Broncos in first place in the AFC West. Denver trailed 24-13 in the third quarter before Bo Nix led two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs had reached the Denver 1-yard line with under a minute remaining but could not score.

A high-speed train crashed into a stationary train near Urda in central Spain on 28 October, killing at least 69 people. Four United States citizens were among the dead, along with nationals from Canada, Japan, Argentina, Mexico, Tunisia and the Czech Republic, plus 54 Spaniards. Two Australians and one Japanese citizen remain missing. Transport Minister Óscar Puente blamed a traffic controller's poor judgment, though railway unions cited deteriorating working conditions.

Australia has rested test captain Pat Cummins and fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood from the upcoming ODI and T20 series against England. The selectors are managing player workload ahead of a gruelling schedule that includes ten Tests in fourteen weeks. Key batsmen Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Josh Inglis, Cooper Connolly and allrounder Cameron Green will also be managed through the T20 series after long tours to Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Asian share markets have fallen as worries about the sustainability of the AI investment boom affect the tech sector. Gold has hit a one-year low and oil prices have slipped. Japan's Nikkei fell 0.5 per cent on Monday, while South Korea lost 0.8 per cent. Major tech earnings from Apple, AMD and Palantir are due this week.

One Nation state leader Warren Pickering announced plans to make Victoria's finances transparent by publishing all state expenditure and cabinet documents on a public website if elected in November. However, he confirmed the party will not release costings for its own policies, saying it will not use the Parliamentary Budget Office because its projections cannot be trusted. The coalition separately pledged to add 335 fire trucks to rural and regional fleets at a cost of £200 million.

Police in Wisconsin released allegations that Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs physically abused three women between 2021 and 2022. Jacobs' lawyers denied all three accounts, calling the release 'character assassination' and saying the allegations are 'old, hearsay, and easily disproven'. They stated Jacobs has 'a substantial body of tangible evidence' to support his denials and that one woman's claim was previously reviewed by the NFL, which took no action.

Journalism has been described as a vital part of national infrastructure. It holds power to account, strengthens resilience and connects people to their communities.

WA paceman Mahli Beardman has been named in Australia's 14-man ODI squad for three matches against England, beginning in Perth next Friday. The 21-year-old is likely to make his ODI debut in a pace attack without rested players Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Beardman is one of five West Australian players in the squad, alongside captain Mitch Marsh, Cam Green, Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly. He has also been named in the T20 squad for five matches that will follow.

Qantas and multiple other airlines including Japan Airlines, ANA, Cathay Pacific and Korean Air have been targeted in a cyber security breach at Spanish travel technology company Amadeus. An unauthorised agent potentially accessed data about passenger reservations and booking information. Amadeus contained the issue in September. Qantas said there was no impact to its own systems or databases, which remain secure, and that there was no evidence payment records or financial data had been accessed. Qantas has notified Australian cyber security authorities.

The News Media Association Chief Executive Theo Bamper writes that trusted journalism should not be taken for granted and calls for government action to protect it.

The Philadelphia Eagles will face the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football in Week 8, with the Eagles sending their backup quarterback Tanner McKee after starter Jalen Hurts was ruled out for the season with blood clots in his lungs. Both teams are dealing with significant injuries, with the Eagles ruling out wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks, linebacker Jihaad Campbell, and cornerback Jonathan Jones among others. The Commanders are also missing key players including left tackle Laremy Tunsil, wide receiver Terry McLaurin, and defensive lineman Da'Ron Payne. The Eagles are 2-5 and on a five-game losing streak, while the Commanders are 1-4-1.

England's NHS is introducing the National Paediatric Early Warning System (PEWS) in hospital emergency departments to help staff identify sick children who are deteriorating quickly. The system measures vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels and consciousness, with a high score flagging when a child needs more urgent attention. The roll-out is designed to improve care during winter when NHS pressure peaks.

The government is launching a Journalism Matters campaign recognising journalism as part of national infrastructure. Local reporters hold power to account by covering council chambers, courts and planning meetings, and can unite communities during crises by challenging misinformation. However, access to good local journalism is becoming increasingly unequal, with the market alone unable to sustain it everywhere.