Afternoon Update: Reserve Bank decision; Julie Bishop…

Afternoon Update: Reserve Bank decision; Julie Bishop accused of bullying in Senate inquiry; and Swifties celebrate

People walk out of the Reserve Bank building in Sydney, Australia — The Reserve Bank of Australia has delivered a much-anticipated rate cut, lowering the official cash rate from 3.85% to 3.6%. Photograph: Mark Baker/AP

Good afternoon. The Reserve Bank of Australia has delivered a much-anticipated rate cut, lowering the official cash rate from 3.85% to 3.6% even as it warned Australians to brace for lower growth and wages in the future thanks to weaker productivity growth.

Once lenders pass on the relief to their borrowers, the third rate cut of the year will deliver somebody with a $500,000 mortgage a $74 saving on their monthly interest payments, according to Canstar, bringing the total drop to $272.

The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, said the rate cut was “very welcome relief for millions of Australians” that gave the government “confidence that we are on the right track”.

In pictures

Zooming right in: the vivid landscapes revealed in nanophotography

Each year, researchers at the University of Queensland’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology mark National Science Week with a photography contest to see who can snap the best image. Here are some of this year’s entries.

What they said …

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“This is not about public safety – this is about power.” – Samantha Davis

Davis, an organiser at Free DC, was among the scores of protesters who took to the streets after Donald Trump said he was deploying national guard troops to Washington DC and temporarily taking over the city’s police department. The US president claimed it was necessary because the city “has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals”, despite violent crime being at its lowest rate in more than 30 years.

Full Story

Australia’s plan to recognise Palestine

Anthony Albanese has confirmed his Labor government will join other allies to formally recognise Palestinian statehood. Our chief political correspondent Tom McIlroy speaks with Full Story host Nour Haydar about why the Australian government is making this move now – and whether it will change anything for the Palestinians living under attack in Gaza.

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Before bed read

It’s the latest couples’ hack for the online age and involves splitting the evening into chunks – including one full hour without phones. Could the “three-hour night” routine really save a struggling relationship?

Daily word game

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

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