Tom Flanagan
Powerball jackpot rolls over to $100m, Elon Musk weighs in on social media ban, emotional TV moment after methanol death
Plus a police officer has allegedly been stabbed in the chest in Sydney.
Tom Flanagan
·Homepage and Live Editor
Yahoo's live news blog for Friday, November 22 has now concluded. Powerball's jackpot has once again reached $100 million after there was no division one winner last night.
Elon Musk, fresh of the back of his new appointment in the Trump administration, has slammed Australia's planned ban on social media for children. The billionaire has previously clashed with the Albanese government and slammed this plan as a "backdoor way to control access to the internet".
Follow along as we bring you regular updates throughout the day.
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER15 updates
Adelaide reaches 38.8C
Temperatures are surging in Adelaide, with the suburb of Edinburgh hitting 38.8C at 2.30pm. West of the city in Pallamana the mercury rose to 39.1C earlier.
The burst of heat is part of a hot air mass moving towards the southeast of Australia, with elevated temperatures expected in Victoria and NSW over the weekend.
Read all about the forecast here.
- Tom Flanagan
Australia legally obliged to act on Netanyahu arrest warrant
Australia would be forced to arrest Israel's prime minister and former defence minister on charges of war crimes under an international court ruling that's splitting the global community.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) found there were reasonable grounds that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant bore criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes.
This includes allegations of using starvation as a method of warfare and attacks intentionally directed against civilians in Gaza.
An arrest warrant was also issued for Hamas' military wing commander Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri for crimes against humanity and war crimes of murder, extermination, torture and rape.
The warrants are not a finding of guilt.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong defended the court's independence while the coalition called on the federal government to follow the United States in rejecting the court's jurisdiction.
The chances of Mr Netanyahu visiting Australia are remote but the country's obligations as a member of the court under the Rome Statute are legally binding, international law expert Don Rothwell said.
The US position needs to be viewed on the basis that it is not a member, while Australia was, Professor Rothwell told AAP.
The issue of jurisdiction had already been decided when the court found it had the power to investigate alleged crimes in Palestinian territories, with Palestine being a member of the court, he said.
"Israel is not a party but the evidence is overwhelming that crimes have been alleged to be committed in the territory of Palestine - territorial jurisdiction is clearly met," Prof Rothwell added.
The international law expert said that until now the court had very strong bipartisan support in Australia, and any deterioration in that support could damage the country's international reputation.
Political leaders can't selectively apply legal rulings, Prof Rothwell said, pointing to widespread support for a warrant issued against Russian President Vladimir Putin following his invasion of Ukraine.
Read more here.
- Tom Flanagan
Special photos as volcano erupts for first time in 800 years
These are the remarkable photos from Iceland where a volcano dormant for 800 years has erupted.
The volcano, on the Reykjanes peninsula, erupted on Wednesday evening (local time) and has forced the evacuation of the famous Blue Lagoon tourist site.
Volcanic eruptions on the peninsula are common, with this the seventh of the year.
- Tamika Seeto
Interest rates cut despite lack of movement from RBA
ANZ has cut interest rates on its variable-rate home loan cementing its lead as the lowest-rate major bank for mortgage holders. The move follows similar rate cuts from Commonwealth Bank and NAB, despite the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) keeping the cash rate on hold for a year.
ANZ has cut new customer variable rates on its Plus and Simplicity Plus home loans by up to 0.15 per cent today. Like with the cuts from the other major banks, these rate reductions do not apply to existing customers.
ANZ continues to offer the lowest advertised variable rate of the majors at 6.09 per cent rate. It is also the only big bank to continue to offer cashback with up to $2,000 for refinancers and $3,000 for first-home buyers.
Canstar data insights director Sally Tindall said ANZ’s cuts weren’t sizeable but they were "significant".
“This is the third big bank to have sliced new customer variable rates in the last three months despite no move to the cash rate. This is confirmation the big banks are still fiercely competitive,” she said.
Read more here.
- Tom Flanagan
Man, 20, charged after cop allegedly stabbed
A 20-year-old man has been charged following the alleged stabbing of a police officer in Sydney's west.
Police say he was one of five men to flee the scene of a reported fight in Doonside in the early hours of Friday morning. When officers located him and tried to arrest him, an officer was allegedly stabbed in the chest, NSW Police said.
He has been hit with five charges including using an offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention and was refused bail to appear in court today.
- Tom Flanagan
Top items Aussie kids ram up their noses
Now we bring you some all-important data from the Queensland Children's Hospital.
Over the last 10 years since opening, the QCH emergency department has treated more than 10,200 children who presented after ingesting something they should not have.
Of those 1,650 were removed from kids' noses. See below what the most common items were.
Top 10 items swallowed by children
Beads
Coins
Button batteries
Lego
Food
Magnets
Glass
Batteries, other types
Marbles
Medications
Top 10 foreign bodies retrieved from children’s noses
Beads
Lego
Balls
Seeds
Nuts
Toys
Buttons
Crayons
Magnets
Batteries
The data was shared as part of a warning ahead of Christmas for parents to be vigilant of such dangers.
“It’s important to make sure all gifts are age appropriate but also be cautious with items purchased from overseas websites as they may not have the same safety standards as we do in Australia,” paediatric emergency consultant Dr Aaron Johnston said.
- Tom Flanagan
What will happen to the $9.5 million banana?
You've probably seen the crazy news a banana taped to a wall has sold for a whopping $6.2 million (A$9.52 million).
The piece of fruit was created by the Italian artist and satirist Maurizio Cattelan and attracted seven serious bidders.
The winner was cryptocurrency boss Justin Sun who remarkably revealed he plans to eat the banana.
See what he had to say in the X post below.
I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve bought the banana🍌 !!! @SpaceX @Sothebys I am Justin Sun, and I’m excited to share that I have successfully acquired Maurizio Cattelan’s iconic work, Comedian for $6.2 million. This is not just an artwork; it represents a cultural phenomenon… pic.twitter.com/lAj1RE6y0C
— H.E. Justin Sun 🍌 (@justinsuntron) November 21, 2024
- Tom Flanagan
Search goes on for winner of $4.8 million
Four days have passed and lottery officials still haven't been able to track down the winner of $4.8 million on Monday's Set for Life draw.
The ticket was purchased in Gawler, north of Adelaide, and gives the winner $20,000 a month for 20 years.
“If you discover you’re holding the winning ticket, contact The Lott on 131 868 to start the prize claim process. We’d love to help make your Christmas dreams come true!” a lottery spokesperson said.
- Tom Flanagan
Aussies anxiously awaiting relief
The light at the end of the tunnel appears to be dimming for Australian homeowners as two of the big four banks pushed back their rate cut predictions by three months to May. All four had February locked in for the first change in over a year but that is now being questioned by some at the top.
So are you thinking you'll get some relief in February? Have your say below.
- Tom Flanagan
Aussies warned about empty shelves in lead up to Christmas
A union boss says Aussies should expect empty shelves in Woolworths despite the supermarket saying a pay dispute in four of its distribution centres will have minimal impact.
“This will have a huge impact. We know when one warehouse goes on strike, shelves start going empty,” union organiser Dario Mujkic told the ABC.
“It’s actually unprecedented, this level of strike action across the Woolworths supply chain.”
Woolworths says it has contingency plans in place to cope with such strikes, but has stressed it is committed to reaching an agreement as soon as possible.
Read more from Yahoo Finance here.
- Tom Flanagan
Jurgen Klopp rocks up at regional Aussie tavern
Well this is someone you don't expect to bump into in the Top End.
Berry Springs Tavern near Darwin has shared photos a special guest they had last weekend, with the owner describing him as an "absolute legend".
Jurgen Klopp, the soccer manager to deliver Liverpool their first Premier League title, dropped by to the delight of fans. Here's a photo of him appearing to enjoy a schooner at the bar.
- Tom Flanagan
Footy coach says poisoned Melbourne teens deserved trip of a lifetime
The president of a Melbourne footy club two teenagers poisoned in Laos played for has given an emotional interview, saying the women deserved their holiday after a torrid few years without a social life.
Bianca Jones' family confirmed her tragic death on Thursday, while her best friend Holly Bowles remains on life support in a Thai hospital. The pair were on their "dream getaway" together travelling through Southeast Asia when they fell ill after drinking alcohol at a bar in Vang Vieng.
"They were part of the COVID generation that missed out on their social lives for a couple of years," Beaumaris Football Club President Nick Heath told ABC News Breakfast.
"They'd finished their schooling and both worked hard in their part-time jobs to get some money to have their dream overseas trip and off they've went full of zest for life and quest for adventure.
"[And they've been] presented with a situation where you're around lots of other people, in a backpacker environment, everyone is happy and excited and happy hour drinks are presented in all the excitement, their best judgement is probably by-passed for just one moment and that's all it takes.
"I think that's why so many people relate to this because it could happen to anybody and it just really smacks you right between the eyes.
"These young people deserve some social life and deserved their time in the sun. And now this happens. It's devastating."
- Tom Flanagan
Police officer allegedly stabbed in chest
A police officer has allegedly been stabbed in the chest while arresting a 20-year-old man in Sydney's west.
Police were called to reports of a fight in Doonside, with four men allegedly fleeing when authorities arrived, while one man allegedly fled on foot.
NSW Police said the vehicle used to flee the scene crashed into a pole, with the men inside allegedly running from the scene.
"Police... saw a 20-year-old man on foot. Police will allege during the arrest of that man, a 34-year-old male constable was stabbed in the chest," they said in a statement.
"The officer was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Westmead Hospital where he is reported to be in a stable condition. He will undergo further testing today.
"A 21-year-old man has been taken to Westmead Hospital to be checked as a precaution after the police van in which he was being transported was struck by a Highway Patrol vehicle. That man has since been released and is returning to Blacktown Police Station.
"The two remaining men who had been travelling in the hatchback – aged 20 and 18 – were arrested on Power Street and have been taken to Blacktown Police Station."
Police are searching for two more men.
- Tom Flanagan
Powerball hits $100m once again
We've reached the $100 million mark in the Powerball once again, and it could be a special Christmas for one Aussie if the jackpot is to be claimed in the coming weeks.
It's the joint sixth biggest jackpot in Australian lottery history. Earlier this year the biggest lottery win in Australian history was handed out to an Adelaide man who claimed the full $150 million Powerball jackpot.
In February, the biggest ever jackpot of $200 million was shared between two winners.
- Tom Flanagan
Elon Musk's swipe at Albo
Billionaire Elon Musk has once again taken aim at the Albanese government, calling the planned social media ban for under sixteens a "backdoor way" to control internet use in the country.
"Seems like a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians," Musk posted on X, the social media platform he created after purchasing Twitter.
Musk previously branded Canberra as "fascists" in response to proposed laws aimed at fining social media platforms for failing to curb misinformation.
Seems like a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians https://t.co/694yCzWOaB
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 21, 2024
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