We’ve rounded up all the news you need to know today, so you don’t have to go searching.
1. The latest on the Brexit vote.
Following the UK’s vote on Thursday to leave the European Union, British Prime Minister David Cameron has resigned. Meanwhile, economies around the world are feeling the fallout from the Brexit vote, with the Australian share market suffering a blow of at least $50 billion.
A summary of key Brexit developments so far:
- Cameron announced his resignation on Friday morning (London time), saying it would not be right for him to be the “captain of the ship” while the UK negotiated its exit, The Daily Mail reports. He will stay on for three months before leaving the leadership role, which he has held for six years.
- The European Union has told Britain to leave as “soon as possible” following the vote, ABC News reports.
- The pound fell more than 10 per cent on Thursday night. It was the pound’s worst day on record, according to Bloomberg.
- ABC News reports that around $50 billion in shares has been wiped out on the local market following the vote.
- The Australian dollar has plummeted against the US dollar, losing 3 per cent to 73.8 US cents.
- There are fears the blow to European unity could prompt further referendums. The leader of Scotland has raised the possibility of a new independence vote — and the possible dissolution of the United Kingdom — saying Scotland sees its future as part of the European Union, Fairfax Media reports.
Read more here about Cameron’s resignation here or read more about what the Brexit means here.
2. Cadets raped with broomsticks at Army school
Cadets at an Army school in Victoria were raped with broomsticks as a “prank”, the Royal Commission into sexual abuse within the Australian Defence Force has heard.
Victim David Sparreboom, who attended the Army Apprentices School in Balcolme in the 1970s, told the royal commission he was held down on the ground and raped with a broom handle as a student.
Mr Sparreboom, who joined the Army at age 16, said he reported the horrifying assault, but his complaint was dismissed.
“I (told a senior officer) something like, ‘People are getting broomsticks up the bum. I don’t know what I can do about it’,” Mr Sparreboom told the inquiry on Thursday.
“(He said) something like, ‘You are all young fellas and pranks will happen’.”
The commission follows the establishment of a task force in 2012 to deal with more than 2,000 historical complaints, news.com.au reports.