Afternoon Update: NSW police admit battery in Hannah Thomas case; tributes flow at Neale Daniher’s state funeral; and…

Good afternoon.

The state of New South Wales has admitted that a police officer punched Hannah Thomas in the eye while holding a torch at a pro-Palestine protest – and it has offered to pay her medical costs.

Court documents seen by Guardian Australia reveal that the state has admitted to false imprisonment and battery in its defence to a civil action launched by the former Greens candidate in October.

NSW has denied claims of malicious prosecution and malfeasance in public office.

Thomas was arrested and charged alongside four others at a pro-Palestine protest in Sydney in late June 2025 that was attended by about 60 people at SEC Plating.

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In pictures

Kysaiah “Kozzy” Pickett is rapidly becoming the most dangerous player in the AFL because of his vision, lightning-quick decision-making and breathtaking pace.

What they said …

“To the world you inspired so many, but to me you were simply my dad.” – Bec Daniher.

Thousands of mourners clad in blue beanies gathered at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the state funeral of AFL legend and motor neurone disease crusader Neale Daniher. Speaking at the funeral, Daniher’s daughter, Bec, said she will welcome a baby boy her father was desperate to meet but she knows he will have Daniher’s “spirit and laugh”.

Full Story

El Niño is imminent. How worried should Australians be? – Full Story podcast

Australia is set to experience its first El Niño weather event since spring 2023, according to the Bureau of Meteorology and other agencies. The phenomenon historically signals the arrival of hotter, drier conditions for the east coast and can have devastating impacts on the environment as well as the farming of crops and livestock.

Nour Haydar speaks to climate and environment correspondent Graham Readfearn about how our weather is about to change and what it means for Australians.

Listen to the episode here

Before bed read

Sabrina Carpenter, a car crash, a urinal, Kate Moss and, of course, those perplexing green lasers: Confessions II has it all.

Here are 10 surprising moments in Madonna’s new video, including (but not limited to) vagina lasers, bananas and an awkward Cumberbatch.

Daily word game

Today’s starter word is: NAP. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.

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