Consumer price index rose last month at an annual rate of 4.9%, which is lower than economists had forecast

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Australia’s inflation rate has eased sharply in October as weak consumer spending made it less likely the Reserve Bank will inflict another interest rate rise on the economy.

The consumer price index rose at an annual clip of 4.9% last month compared with a 5.6% pace in September alone, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday. Economists had expected CPI to come in at 5.2%.

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Flood rescues launched in NSW as Bureau of Meteorology warns of thunderstorm risk for ‘most of the east coast’ on Wednesday

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Multiple people have been rescued from flood waters in New South Wales as rain falls across large parts of Australia, with thunderstorms expected along most of the east coast on Wednesday.

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) conducted two flood rescues on Wednesday morning, rescuing two people from their car at South Nowra and another group from a home at St Georges Basin, near Jervis Bay.

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Analysis recommends the government stop subsidising its forestry arm and generate carbon credits, a move likely to be opposed by industry and conservationists

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Ending native forest logging in Tasmania and valuing the state’s centuries-old trees as carbon storage could save the state at least $72m, according to a report by a pro-market thinktank.

The analysis by the Blueprint Institute, to be launched on Wednesday, recommends the state government immediately stop subsidising its forestry arm, Sustainable Timber Tasmania, and announce logging will end in mid-2025.

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If you’ve ever been cursed with a soggy stir-fry, the cookbook author advocates a blanch-and-batch approach that works wonders in her easy vegan spring-summer recipe

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Stir-fries are fast, full of flavour and extremely versatile. But if that’s got you looking forlornly at your wonky wok, electric cooktop or last night’s soggy sweat-fest, then I’m here to tell you all is not lost. In fact, you don’t even need a wok!

The key to a great stir-fry is in the name; it’s about moving ingredients around at a vigorous pace, on a vigorous heat, with as much pan contact as possible. And while woks heat up quickly and offer plenty of surface area to burnish every ingredient, they’re also reliant on flames licking up the sides for the “wok hei” (breath of the wok) or fancy-schmancy induction wok burners that you’ll rarely see beyond commercial kitchens.

Until now it was unclear what walking speed was needed to reduce risk of type 2 diabetes

Walking faster is linked to a significantly lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to the first global study of its kind.

Type 2 diabetes is one of the world’s major health threats, with its prevalence rising sharply in the last three decades, according to the World Health Organization.

Sr Const Kristian White, 33, was previously charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm and common assault

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The New South Wales police officer accused of Tasering 95-year-old Clare Nowland who later died has been charged with manslaughter after advice from the state’s director of public prosecutions.

Police announced the upgraded charges for Sr Const Kristian White on Wednesday morning.

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Lehrmann has sued Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson, alleging they have defamed him. Follow the latest news from the federal court today

• Watch the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial live stream on YouTube here
• Higgins takes stand in Lehrmann defamation trial as lawyer warns her evidence will be ‘graphic and distressing’

The federal court is live and Justice Michael Lee has reminded members of the public watching via YouTube that they should not record the proceedings.

Lee said “vilifying witnesses or victimising witnesses” who give evidence can amount to a contempt of court.

Invitation comes after tech billionaire accompanied Benjamin Netanyahu to inspect Israeli kibbutz that was attacked by Hamas

Hamas has invited Elon Musk to Gaza to witness the devastation of the Palestinian territory under Israeli attack after the hi-tech billionaire accompanied Benjamin Netanyahu to inspect a kibbutz targeted by Hamas.

“We invite him to visit Gaza to see the extent of the massacres and destruction committed against the people of Gaza, in compliance with the standards of objectivity and credibility,” Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, said in a press conference in Beirut on Tuesday.

Newcastle have waited 20 years to play again in the Champions League group stage and no part of any of their players was ready to bow out after five ties. After a night of high stress and drama, they live to fight another day in the Group of Death.

It should have been more. They were within minutes of a glorious victory that would have seen them seize control of their last 16 destiny ahead of the final tie at home to Milan.

Tamimi, 22, on list released by justice ministry as ceasefire deal with Hamas extended for another two days

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Another 50 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli jails have been put forward as candidates for release after the hostage swap and ceasefire deal with Hamas in the Gaza Strip was extended for another two days – including the high-profile activist Ahed Tamimi.

Tamimi, 22, was on the list released by Israel’s justice ministry on Tuesday. The writer, part of a prominent family from the West Bank village of Nabi Salih, has been a symbol of resistance against the Israeli occupation for protest action and confronting Israeli soldiers since she was about 11 years old.

Vice-chairman of Berkshire Hathaway – and a billionaire in his own right – died at a California hospital, company says

Charlie Munger, the veteran right-hand man of billionaire stockpicker Warren Buffett, has died aged 99.

The vice-chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett’s sprawling empire, became known for his sharp investment strategies – and tongue – as they transformed it from a textile manufacturing enterprise into a global investment powerhouse.

Politicians and public figures gathered on Tuesday to celebrate the former first lady Rosalynn Carter’s life following a public memorial. Former president Jimmy Carter, 99, attended the tribute for his late wife of 77 years, traveling from his hospice care at home to the Glenn Memorial church in Atlanta.

• Jimmy Carter, Biden and Clintons pay tribute at Rosalynn Carter memorial
• Rosalynn Carter: a life in pictures

Border Force has suggested man was ‘non-compliant’, but Guardian understands he was not read his visa conditions or fitted with ankle bracelet

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Clare O’Neil has refused to rule out that a man was able to leave immigration detention without electronic monitoring because Australian Border Force failed to read out visa conditions to him.

The ABF has insisted the individual and three others have not complied with visa conditions, but also refuses to say if those conditions were read to the missing man.

Book reportedly revealed name who expressed ‘concerns’ about what skin colour Harry and Meghan’s son would have

A new book about the royal family has been taken off shelves in the Netherlands after reports it named the person who allegedly expressed “concerns” about what skin colour Harry and Meghan’s son Archie would have.

Xander, publishers of the Dutch translation of Endgame by the journalist Omid Scobie, have put sales of the book on hold “temporarily” over what it called an “error”.

The man was convicted of using a machete in a Toronto massage parlor to kill one woman and seriously wounding another

A Canadian man who used a machete to murder a Toronto massage parlour employee has been sentenced to life in prison for a killing the judge deemed to be an act of terrorism motivated by the online “Incel” subculture.

The man cannot be named because he was 17 at the time of the February 2020 attack in which he killed Ashley Noelle Arzaga, 24, and seriously wounded another woman identified only by the initials JC.

Survivors feel relief, guilt and regret as they gather in Canberra to hear Anthony Albanese apologise for the disastrous morning sickness drug

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“Gut wrenching,” says Lisa McManus. She is looking for words to describe how she and other thalidomide survivors feel ahead of a historic apology by Anthony Albanese for government failings in the tragedy. She adds “angst”, and “arduous”.

She is grateful for recognition of the medical disaster, and relieved that a decade of advocacy has come to fruition. Around 80 of the 146 recognised survivors will witness the apology in Canberra on Wednesday in what McManus hopes will be “a step in the healing process”.

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Morning everyone. The battle to stop the spread of vaping is intensifying amid a surge in the number of shops selling the products. Our top story this morning shows that 600 outlets in New South Wales looked to cash in on the highly profitable trade despite tough new federal rules coming in next year.

There is alarm about the appearance of lethal fire ants in Australia, and concern about diversity in Queensland police. And India had some cheery news as all 41 workers were rescued 17 days after being trapped underground, but their cricketers have been buried by an incredible Glenn Maxwell century in the latest T20.

Renewables slump | New investments in solar and windfarms and batteries declined further in the September quarter, falling below one-tenth of the pace required for Australia to meet its decarbonisation targets.

Exclusive | Anti-nicotine campaigners are concerned that the surge in the number of shops selling vapes in NSW shows that they believe the industry will succeed in watering down a federal ban on the importation of nicotine and non-nicotine vapes from March next year.

Exclusive | Queensland police say they are recruiting a more inclusive and diverse workforce, but we reveal today that less than a quarter of recent recruits are women, with First Nations people and those from diverse backgrounds also underrepresented.

Ant explainer | Fire ants have been discovered in NSW – what are they, why are they on the march south and what dangers do they pose?

Lehrmann lies | Over the course of giving evidence in his defamation case against Network Ten, Bruce Lehrmann admitted to six lies including to his former boss Linda Reynolds, in a TV interview and to Parliament House security.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry ‘blindsided’ by changes to legislation. Follow the day’s news live

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Free TV has welcomed the government’s commitment to ensuring that all Australians can access their local free television services on connected TVs through the introduction of legislation to implement a prominence framework in coming days.

Free TV chief Bridget Fair said viewers were being steered in the direction of services that favour the commercial interests of big tech and TV manufacturers rather than being given access to the full set of free local television services that they want to watch.

While we are still awaiting full details of the legislation it is clear that there are still a few issues to be resolved with the Government’s proposed model. We look forward to participating in the next stage of discussions around this important issue.

Being able to share in the sporting moments that bring Australians together as a nation is also fundamental to our community. It’s important that the government has reaffirmed that live and free access to key sporting events remains a central part of the Australian way of life. With cost-of-living pressures top of mind for Australians, we cannot allow access to key sporting events to be limited by the subscriptions Australians can afford, their internet access or their data plan.

The IPND is essential in a crisis when emergency services or police need to contact or locate people in harm’s way. We will keep Telstra focused on fixing these longstanding issues and giving consumers confidence that their data is being accurately recorded.

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The other game in Milan and Dortmund’s group: Open another tab in your favorite browser and please join Barry Glendenning as he watches Newcastle play PSG.

Hello everyone, and welcome to the ever-exciting Matchday 5 in the Champions League. Teams will clinch berths in the round of 16. Teams will be eliminated. Teams will muddle through to inconclusive results.

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• Live scoreboard | And read the latest Football Daily email

Trouble in Paris: Newcastle fans have been encouraged to stick together to stay safe in the French capital after trouble flared briefly in the buildup to Tuesday’s Champions League game.

Referee: Szymon Marciniak

Assistant referees: Tomasz Listkiewicz and Adam Kupsik
Fourth official: Paweł Raczkowski
VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski
Assistant VAR: Ivan Bebek