China space station crew returns to Earth after 6 months in space – The Associated Press

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  1. China space station crew returns to Earth after 6 months in space  The Associated Press
  2. China's Shenzhou 18 astronauts return to Earth after 6 months in space (video)  Space.com
  3. Watch Chinese space crew return to Earth  BBC.com
  4. China: Astronauts from Tiangong space station return to Earth  VOA Asia
  5. Watch Chinese Shenzhou-18 space crew return to Earth  BBC
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‘Fact-finding’ mission to look at $300,000 payout for Australian public servant after relationship declared

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Cate Saunders was seconded to Services Australia but accepted an incentive payment to retire from public service in 2023

The Department of Parliamentary Services has ordered an independent “fact-finding” mission into the role its officials played in a $300,000 payout to a former deputy secretary, who was moved to another department after a “close personal relationship” was declared.

Appearing before Senate estimates on Monday, the acting secretary, Jaala Hinchcliffe, addressed a number of open questions about the parliamentary department, after a series of high-profile integrity issues.

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Japan successfully launches a defense satellite carried by a new flagship H3 rocket – ABC News

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  1. Japan successfully launches a defense satellite carried by a new flagship H3 rocket  ABC News
  2. Kyodo News Digest: Nov. 4, 2024  Kyodo News Plus
  3. Japan launches Kirameki 3 military communications satellite with H3 rocket  SpaceNews
  4. Japan launches defense satellite on new flagship H3 rocket  The Associated Press
  5. Japan launches military communications satellite on 4th flight of H3 rocket (video)  Space.com
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New Queensland government bins Labor’s hydro project set to be key part of renewable transition

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LNP energy minister rules out considering a smaller version of the Pioneer Burdekin scheme

Queensland’s new Liberal National party government has cancelled a Labor hydro project despite public service advice that a downsized version of the scheme would have delivered “exceptional value on both a capacity and storage basis”.

Announced under premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in 2022, the gigantic Pioneer Burdekin pumped hydro scheme formed a key element of the state’s legislated plan for a renewables transition by 2035.

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Independent MPs cancel airline VIP memberships – as it happened

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In case you missed it – political editor Karen Middleton talked to shadow transport minister Bridget McKenzie about the Qantas saga for the Australian Politics podcast – please enjoy McKenzie’s nimble wordcraft:

Westpac has recorded a $7bn full-year profit, representing a modest decline on last year’s strong result, as the number of homeowners falling behind on repayments jumped higher.

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Heatwave to turn parts of Australia into ‘one of the hottest places in the world’ this week

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Some of the east coast and the north will bake in a furnace of potentially life-threatening heat, the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts

A heatwave is due to strike Australia’s east coast, with temperatures expected above 40C, making the country’s north “one of the hottest places in the world” this week, the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast.

Residents in northern New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory are being warned to brace for unsettled weather through the week, starting on Monday, as a mass of heat moves eastward from central Australia.

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