Australia news LIVE: Greens senator claims rumours weaponised against him, denies being on leave from party; Riots, looting in France as more than half a million protesters take to streets

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By Emily Kaine

Hello and welcome back to our live coverage of national and world news this Monday, October 19. Here’s what is making headlines this morning.

Greens senator Jordon Steele-John has accused factions within the party of weaponising rumours about him for political reasons, as he denied taking leave from the party despite leader David Shoebridge claiming Steele-John would not be in parliament while the investigation is ongoing.
Concerns are growing within the Reserve Bank that the fallout from the war against Iran means inflation will remain elevated and force it to push interest rates higher. Senior sources within the bank told this masthead that oil prices were showing no sign of falling as the war in the Middle East broadens.
Overseas, there is a little over a week remaining until election day in Israel and the latest polls show the pro- and anti-Netanyahu blocs evenly matched. US President Donald Trump endorsed Netanyahu in a glowing social media post and urged Israelis to support him when they vote on October 27.
And protesters clashed with police for a second day in major French cities after massive rallies about the cost of living and school standards descended into violence and looting. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence in an emergency address to the nation.