☕️ Police arrest man over NYC murder

There is breaking news overnight that police have arrested a 26-year-old man, named Luigi Mangione, over the killing of a health insurance CEO last week in New York.

In a press conference this morning, New York authorities explained the man was eating at a McDonald’s in western Pennsylvania when he was recognised by an employee who then called police. He was carrying a gun, a silencer, and fraudulent ID that matched the one the suspect used at the hostel. Authorities say he also had a note with him that “speaks to both his motivation and mindset”.

No doubt we’ll be hearing a lot more about this in the days to come.

“Despite nuclear power being a component of electricity generation for 16 per cent of the world’s countries, it does not currently represent a timely or efficient solution for meeting Australia’s net zero target.”
Australia’s science agency the CSIRO in a new report on nuclear energy.

$1,396
The median weekly salary in Australia in August 2024, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. That’s about $72,500 a year.

1932
The Great Emu War ended in Western Australia, with the Australian army retreating. The attempt to reduce the emu population, which was eating crops, was considered a failure.

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Proposals to ban NSW Police from marching in next year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras have been rejected at the organisation’s annual general meeting over the weekend.

This means NSW Police will be allowed to apply to participate in the parade like any other group.

Here’s what you need to know.

At Saturday’s meeting, three motions opposing police presence at the parade were introduced. They required 50% of eligible votes to pass.

All three motions failed.

The outcomes of these motions are “non-binding recommendations.” The board is set to meet within the next week to decide whether to accept them.

The proposals came after community consultation revealed that while some respondents respected and felt protected by NSW Police, many reported feeling threatened or marginalised.

A survey by the Mardi Grad board found that 54% of respondents opposed police participation in the parade.

The first Mardi Gras march in Sydney was in 1978. The night ended in police brutality, with more than 50 people arrested. Police have since been accused of using excessive force against participants on several occasions.

NSW Police have marched in the annual parade since 1998. This year, uniformed officers were asked not to march after the arrest of police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon, who allegedly murdered Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies. This decision was then reversed and officers participated in the parade “in a reduced capacity”.

NSW Police said it welcomes the outcome and values its “ongoing close relationship” with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

It said the event is “important and significant” for LGBTQIA+ staff and allies, as well as their friends and family.

“The NSW Police Force is dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ communities and takes pride in its role as a community leader for inclusion and diversity,” it said in a statement.

Reporting by Achol Arok.

Rapper Jay-Z has been accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000.

The allegations were made in a civil lawsuit. The complainant alleges she was raped by Jay-Z first, while Combs watched, and then by Combs. It’s alleged an unnamed female celebrity watched it happen.

In a statement via his company Roc Nation, Jay-Z denied the allegation. Combs has also denied the allegation.

This lawsuit was initially filed in October in New York with Combs as the sole defendant. It has since been re-filed to include Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter.

The incident is alleged to have occurred at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party in 2000.

Combs has been named in several criminal and civil sexual abuse lawsuits this year. He has been held in a New York jail after he was arrested on sex trafficking charges in September. Combs has denied all allegations against him.

Jay-Z has denied the allegation, describing a legal letter from the complainant’s lawyer as a “blackmail attempt”.

He said the allegation is “so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one”.

He added: “My only heartbreak is for my family. My wife [Beyoncé] and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people.”

The complainant’s lawyer is named Tony Buzbee, who is representing a number of Combs’ alleged victims.

In response to Jay-Z’s statement, Buzbee said: “I won’t be bullied or intimidated. People will see through this effort to discredit me and my clients and the truth will be revealed. I also won’t allow anyone to scare my clients into silence.”

This lawsuit is civil, not criminal.

That means it involves a dispute between two parties, with one party seeking some form of damages.

In comparison, in criminal cases, the state brings charges against a party for violation of a criminal law.

In a civil case, the party bringing the case has to prove the allegations ‘on the balance of probabilities’, which is lower than the criminal standard of ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’.

A prison sentence is also not an option in civil proceedings, however it can pave the way for criminal charges to be laid in a separate trial.

Betty’s will be shouting burgers for their new app users this December!

With Betty’s Burgers new Beach Club Rewards App, you’ll earn $1 for every $10 spent, plus birthday treats and app-only perks. Just scan your membership card in the app and watch the rewards stack up!

The best part? Spend $30 before December 24th, and Betty’s will shout you a Classic Burger.

Download the app today and start making every Betty’s visit even better!

🍊 The biggest sports contract in history. More details here.
🍊 Gout Gout broke a 56-year-old Australian record.
🍊 Aussie cricket recorded two wins over India on Sunday. Find out more.
🗞️ Also in the Sport Newsletter: rugby sevens, a random fact and more…

In April 2019, a fire engulfed the 850-year-old cathedral, destroying most of the wood and metal roof and the spire. Immediately after the fire, French President Emmanuel Macron said the church would be restored “more beautiful than ever” within five years. At its reopening, Macron said: “The bells of Notre-Dame are ringing again.”

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Reporting by Achol Arok.

A parody musical based on Australian breakdancer Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn will not go ahead, after the dancer/academic sent a cease and desist.

The musical’s creator Steph Broadbridge took to Instagram to share that a planned performance of her show over the weekend was stopped by Gunn’s lawyers.

Broadbridge said the lawyers “were worried that I was damaging her brand, which I would never do.”

Reporting by Lucy Tassell.

Rebel forces have taken control of Syria, ending the Assad family’s 54-year regime. Bashar al-Assad has reportedly fled to Russia, and international governments have said they’ll work to stabilise the country as it enters a new era. In today’s deep dive, we’ll explain how rebel forces took over Syria in just two weeks’ time, and what could be next for the Middle Eastern nation.