Thanks for Thank you for reading today. We’ll be back with more breaking news tomorrow in the Need to Know blog. A quick wrap of some headlines:

• Bruce Lehrmann named as accused in Qld rape case The former Coalition staffer can be revealed as the high-profile man accused of rape in Toowoomba.
• Netanyahu: Israel is preparing a ‘crushing’ ground invasion Israel is preparing for a ground invasion of Gaza, its prime minister has said as he cast the looming war in biblical terms.
• At least 22 dead in US shooting The US has suffered another mass shooting, with at least 22 dead in Lewiston, Maine, according to CNN.
• US and Australia must defend freedom, security: Biden Joe Biden says the United States and Australia must defend freedom and values, despite growing global uncertainty.
• Israel releases video of overnight raids in Gaza Israeli ground forces operated within the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, attacking multiple Hamas targets before withdrawing, the military said in a statement on what Israel’s Army Radio described as the biggest incursion of the current war.
• Biden and Albanese attend state dinner The state dinner for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the South Lawn of the White House allowed a small group of media inside the exclusive event attended by 325 people.
• Victorian government to sell electricity to schools, hospitals and industry Victoria’s new Premier, Jacinta Allan, says the revived State Electricity Commission will sell energy to manufacturers, schools and hospitals as she ramps up the state’s clean energy transition amid a slowdown in new project commitments nationwide.
• Qld records $13.9b surplus The Queensland government has recorded a bigger-than-expected budget surplus for 2022-23.
• ‘Trust but verify’: Biden warns Albanese on China US President Joe Biden has revealed he told Chinese President Xi Jinping America would continue to engage with Australia because the US was a “Pacific nation”.