RUSH HOUR: The stories you need to know today
DINERS pay more than US$300 a person to eat at a three-Michelin star restaurant in New York where the chef allegedly decides “s***’ Asians get the worst cuts of meat.
Good morning, and welcome to our morning news coverage. We will be bringing you the best of what’s happening this morning, so you can get across the news quickly.
10am
That’s it for our live #RUSHHOUR news blog. You can get across the stories you need to know today below or go to news.com.au for the latest headlines.
9.45am
A drink-driver was allegedly punched in the face after he accidentally forced another car off the road.
According to the NT News, maintenance man Ross Cook, 38, said he was decked by a man whose daughter was driving the other vehicle. The car followed him back to a house in rural Darwin.
“I was definitely in the wrong,” he said. “The only thing I had a problem with was that they followed me into private property and the father got into fisticuffs with me and knocked me to the ground.”
9.15am
A doctor and his staff who did sterilisation surgeries that left 13 women dead in India used the same needles for all of the procedures and never changed their gloves, according to an independent investigation.
Dr RK Gupta has denied any wrongdoing and claimed he was being made a scapegoat after he was arrested over the deaths.
According to AFP, an investigation by a team from four public health organisations found the doctor and his staff operated on 83 women in unhygienic conditions and that some of them probably died of infection.
9am
A Queensland mum has taken to classifieds in a quirky and heartwarming show of support for her son, who just a week ago was a daughter known as Beth.
In the births section of The Courier-Mail Yolanda Bogert of Jimboomba placed a light-hearted birth retraction.
“In 1995 we announced the arrival of our sprogget Elizabeth Anne as a daughter. Oops our bad. We would like to present our wonderful son – Kai Bogert.”
Kai Bogert, as he is now called, was known as Elizabeth Anne for 19 years. Ms Bogert last night told The Courier-Mail that placing the ad was “a no-brainer”.
“I needed to show my son I support him 100 per cent and wanted to let the world know that.
8.30am
The chef at a three-Michelin star restaurant in New York insisted that lesser pieces of meat be given to Asian customers, a new lawsuit claims.
Customers at Chef’s Table paid a flat fee of US$255 per person to eat at the Brooklyn restaurant plus a US$50 service charge each, but allegedly did not receive the same treatment.
According to the New York Post, former sous chefs and servers have accused chef César Ramirez of openly prohibiting Asian customers from being placed too close to him, referring to them as “s- -t people,” ex-server Emi Howard alleges in the suit. The tiny restaurant only seats 18 customers and currently takes bookings six weeks in advance.
The suit says when it came time to distribute cuts of meat during the fusion French-Asian meal service, Asians — along with suspected Upper West Siders — were given inferior scraps, while preferred diners were given choice chunks.
“When a large piece of meat was cut into many pieces for the guests, Defendant Ramirez instructed Ms. Howard to give the worst pieces of meat to the ‘s- -t people,’ i.e. Asian people, and to Upper West Siders,” the suit states.
8.20am
Taylor Swift appeared at the Victoria Secret fashion show last night. For a full gallery of images of the parade, click here.
8am
A 3.3 magnitude earthquake has struck 120 kilometres south-east of Melbourne.
Geoscience Australia confirmed that the earthquake occurred in the area of Korumburra at 3.34am this morning, at a depth of four kilometres.
Emergency services have not received any reports of damage or injury.
Dozens of people have called triple-0 this morning after a 3.3 magnitude earthquake shook up Korumburra.. no reports of damage #7NewsMelb
— Kristy Mayr (@KristyMayr7) December 2, 20147.30am
The ACCC believes it can help people to save about 10c/L on petrol using a new website that it will launch today.
For each of the mainland state capitals, ACCC analysts will, wherever possible, recommend whether to purchase or postpone a pit stop. This should allow motorists to buy closer to the low point of the fuel “cycle”. The price difference between the high and low of a cycle can be as much as 20c/L.
People in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth will be able to use the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website to work out whether it is a good time to refuel.
7am
The Abbott Government’s university reforms were voted down in the Senate yesterday.
Christopher Pyne told ABC’s 7.30 program that he will be introducing a new reform bill to parliament today which picks up nine of the 10 elements of the previous bill and drops the indexation at the 10 year government bond rate.
“It will be passed and sent to the Senate early next year. Great reform takes time,” he said.
The bill was defeated 33 to 31, with the help of Labor, the Greens, PUP Senators, Jacqui Lambie and Nick Xenophon.
The result capped off a difficult day for Mr Pyne after he was accused of harassing PUP senator Glenn Lazarus over the university reforms. Mr Lazarus released a public statement asking Mr Pyne to stop sending him text messages. Mr Pyne was also corrected on the pronunciation of Dio Wang’s name by 7.30 host Leigh Sales.
6.40am
Phillip Hughes’ funeral will be held today in Macksville and will be aired from 2pm.
There will be updates on news.com.au and Anthony Sharwood has been reporting from the town as its prepare to farewell the much loved cricketer.
6.20am
Accused balcony killer Gable Tostee has complained of “struggling” in prison and being frightened when a fellow prisoner snuck into protective custody to speak to him.
Tostee described the bizarre approach from another prisoner in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court.
“I am struggling in prison,” the Gold Coast carpet-layer wrote in an affidavit.
“On 9 October 2014 a man named ‘Colin Latimer’ gained access to my cell area and told me that he was a ‘family friend’ and had ‘sorted out special privileges for (me) with the screws (prison guards)’.
“This man seemed to have bypassed officers … in getting access to my area despite my telling the officers that I did not want to see him and did not know him.”
Tostee is currently on bail where he must adhere to strict conditions.
He has been charged with the murder of New Zealand tourist Warriena Tagpuno Wright after she fell 14 floors from his balcony in August. The pair had met that evening through dating app Tinder.
6.15am
Footage has emerged of a woman whose car swerved off a road and into a river in China.
The accident reportedly took place in the Xiangshan area and the driver was rescued from her sinking vehicle by passerby.
Scomo tops list for ‘highest honour’
Australia’s 30th Prime Minister has been given the top honour in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours.
Confronting reason teens carrying knives
Principal lawyer of major law firm reveals knife crime is more common than you think, and the reason kids are still carrying will shock you.
Ousted rebel Lib plots surprise return
Just weeks after she lost her seat to a Labor newcomer, Bridget Archer has announced her return to politics eyeing a seat in a yet-to-be announced election.