Your noon Briefing

Welcome to your noon digest of what’s been making news and what to watch for.

Hello readers. Here is your noon round-up of today’s top stories so far and a long read for lunchtime.

Image ©Licensed to i-Images Picture Agency. 23/04/2018. London, United Kingdom. The Australian High Commissioner to The UK Alexander Downer pictured in his office at the High Commission of Australia in London, UK.Picture by Ben Stevens / i-Images

Crossfire Hurricane

The FBI reportedly sent two agents to London to interview Alexander Downer over what he knew about possible Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Hours after the FBI opened the investigation — codenamed Crossfire Hurricane — the agents were dispatched in secret to meet with Australia’s High Commissioner to the UK, with only a few officials in the know, according to the New York Times.

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Radio host Alan Jones is seen arriving at the Supreme Court in Brisbane, Thursday, May 17, 2018. The Toowoomba-based Wagner family is suing the talkback radio host over comments he made during 32 broadcasts in 2014 and 2015. (AAP Image/Darren England) NO ARCHIVING

Jones takes stand

Broadcaster Alan Jones has told Brisbane Supreme Court he persisted in his campaign over the Grantham floods because he hoped “he would get an answer” to explain what had happened. He said he was told by many residents that a man-made “bund” was built at the Wagners’ quarry, which collapsed after a “backflow” of water became to great.

He said that resulted in what he described as a “tsunami” and a “wall of water”, and spoke about some of the people who died in the floods.

“The bund was ground zero.”

Alan Jones

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Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Secretary Sally McManus speaks to the media as union workers protest for better pay and more secure jobs in Melbourne, Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Thousands of workers have blocked off part of Melbourne's CBD, saying Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull can keep the federal coalition's slated tax cuts for low- and middle-income workers. The rally on Wednesday is part of a nationwide campaign demanding better work conditions and pay. (AAP Image/Joe Castro) NO ARCHIVING

Probe blackmail: McManus

ACTU secretary Sally McManus called for an investigation into the Coalition’s knowledge of events that led to the blackmail charges against Mr Setka and Mr Reardon. Ms McManus said the government had “serious questions to answer”.

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WESTWOOD, CA - MAY 06: (L-R) Actors Mary Steenburgen, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Diane Keaton attends Paramount Pictures' Premiere Of "Book Club" - Red Carpet at Regency Village Theatre on May 6, 2018 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)

Ageism ‘alive and well’

The film is about four older women reinvigorating their sex lives after reading Fifty Shades of Grey. The only problem? The studios did not want older actors. Jane Fonda, 80, said ageism was “alive and well” in Hollywood after revealing that studio executives had demanded that younger actors should replace her and Diane Keaton, 72, in the forthcoming film Book Club, which also stars Mary Steenburgen, 65, and Candice Bergen, 72.

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WINDSOR, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Royal fans relax after setting up their positions ahead of a four day wait for the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, on May 15, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images )

The long read: Meghan’s learning curve

Meghan Markle has been forgiven many of her early faux pas — crossing legs, public displays of ­affection, touching commoners, wearing jeans, black outfits and sleeveless dresses — as she joins Prince Harry, now matured from his hard-partying Las Vegas days. But it’s a right royal learning curve for a commoner and a foreigner, writes Jacquelin Magnay.