Good afternoon.

The Reserve Bank has held the official interest rate at 3.6% in a move widely expected by economists and banks. The central bank’s board did not raise the prospect of future cuts in its statement, with the RBA governor, Michele Bullock, saying unexpected jumps in employment and inflation made the board “a little bit cautious”.

The Coalition took advantage of the news during question time, where Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers took turns batting the opposition’s attack lines away.

Top newsIn picturesA statue of Yakov Mikhailovich Sverdlov, one of the initiators of the Bolshevik party, in Sucleia, Transnistria. Photograph: Didier Bizet

Photographer Didier Bizet has documented life in the self-proclaimed autonomous republic of Transnistria, which is not recognised by the international community. As Pjotr Sauer explains, its status raises complex questions about the identity of its inhabitants – Ukrainians, Russians, Moldovans and Bulgarians.

What they said …Senator Andrew Bragg. Photograph: Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images

“We’ve been married for a long time. There have been times where there have been marriage counselling sessions.” – Andrew Bragg

The senior Liberal frontbencher told the ABC today that he wants the Coalition to stay together – but not at any cost – and that the Liberal party needs to reach its own position on a net zero emissions by 2050 target after the Nationals abandoned it at the weekend.

Full StoryProtests on an outback road in the Northern Territory have refocused attention on Pine Gap, the secretive US satellite base near Alice Springs. Composite: AFP

The rising resistance to Pine Gap

Nour Haydar speaks with senior reporter Ben Doherty about the questions the spy base raises about Australia’s complicity in alleged crimes abroad.

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Full Story The rising resistance to Pine Gap

Sorry your browser does not support audio – but you can download here and listen $https://audio.guim.co.uk/2025/11/03-14331-fs_pinegap_20251103_ds_1421.mp3

Before bed readZohran Mamdani, the New York mayoral race’s frontrunner, whose campaign has centred on affordability. Photograph: Heather Khalifa/AP

By this time tomorrow, New York will have elected its new mayor, after one of the most closely watched races in the city’s history.

It’s clear why Zohran Mamdani has held such a commanding lead, writes Guardian US columnist Margaret Sullivan. His opponents may have been vocal, but as others have noted, there’s a clarity about his message that stands in sharp contrast to many Democratic politicians.

Daily word game Photograph: The Guardian

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

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