Your morning Briefing: In these times we must unify: Trump

Welcome to your 2-minute briefing on the day’s top stories and must-reads.

Hello readers. Here is your 2-minute digest of what’s making news today.

CNN pipe bomb - first pics

Pipe bombs rock US

Donald Trump has condemned the bomb campaign after crude pipe bombs targeted Hillary Clinton, former President Barack Obama, and CNN were intercepted. The package sent to the CNN offices was addressed to John Brennan, former director of the CIA and a vocal critic of Donald Trump. Mr Obama’s attorney general Eric Holder and Democrat Maxine Waters have also been targeted. The device addressed to Mr Holder was delivered to the home of Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, as she was named as the return addressee.

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Jim Brennan and George Soros.

CNN President Jeff Zucker has blamed the White House for instigating the attacks by its hostility to the media. In a statement, Mr Zucker said: “There is a total and complete lack of understanding at the WhiteHouse about the seriousness of their continued attacks on the media. The President, and especially the White House Press Secretary, should understand their words matter. Thus far, they have shown no comprehension of that.” Follow developments as they unfold in our live rolling blog.

-

Treasury Secretary Philip Gaetjens after appearing at senate estimates at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

Savings ‘raids’

Treasury has warned that Australians will be forced to raid their savings accounts over the coming year to counter record-low wage growth and rising costs of living, leaving them more vulnerable to economic shocks. New Treasury secretary Phil Gaetjens yesterday predicted that Australia’s household savings rate, which has already hit a 10-year low of just 1 per cent, had even ­further to fall. Don’t miss the day’s play from parliament in our live blog, PoliticsNow.

-

Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman addresses the Future Investment Initiative conference, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018. The Crown Prince addressed the summit on Wednesday, his first such comments since the killing earlier this month of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. (Saudi Press Agency via AP)

Prince breaks silence

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince has denounced the “painful” murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and vowed justice would prevail, in his first public comments on the case, without addressing US accusations of a monumental cover-up. After phoning Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss the October 2 killing in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, which triggered a diplomatic crisis, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also pledged there would be “no rupture” in ties with Ankara.

-

Another Aussie innings, another Aussie collapse ... Australia has been bowled out for just 89 in the first T20 against Pakistan. Photo: Fox Sports

Another innings, another collapse

Imad Wasim grabbed 3-20 on his return to international cricket after almost one year out to help Pakistan earn an emphatic 66-run win over Australia in the first Twenty20 overnight. Wasim dismantled Australia’s top order with his left-arm spin in his first three overs to dismiss the visitors for 89 in 16.5 overs.

-

Kudelka’s view

Jon Kudelka Letters Cartoon for 25-10-2018. Version: Letters Cartoon (1280x720 - Aspect ratio preserved, Canvas added)COPYRIGHT: The Australian's artists each have different copyright agreements in place regarding re-use of their work in other publications.Please seek advice from the artists themselves or the Managing Editor of The Australian regarding re-use.