Welcome to the 9News.com.au live blog for Wednesday, October 26, 2022. The jury in the rape trial of Bruce Lehrmann has been discharged after fears of misconduct of a juror. Lehrmann was accused of raping former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in 2019. Higgins spoke outside the ACT Supreme Court and her comments have now been referred to police by his lawyers. The rental housing crisis is worsening, with a new report showing properties are snapped up in just 19 days. And the federal government has announced Australian soldiers will help train Ukrainian troops in the war against Russia.

- Jury in Bruce Lehrmann rape trial discharged

- NSW teen who tried to blackmail Optus customers after hack to plead guilty

- Rental properties gone in just 19 days as crisis worsens, report warns

- Aussies need a $6,600 pay rise to keep pace with inflation, new data shows

That concludes our live breaking news blog for Thursday, October 27.

Here are some of the day's top stories:

The jury in the Bruce Lehrmann rape trial has been dismissed after it was discovered one of the jurors obtained information outside the evidence presented in court.

The rental housing crisis is worsening, with a new report showing properties are being snapped up in just 19 days.

And the federal government has announced Australian soldiers will help train Ukrainian troops in the war against Russia.

Thanks for following along, we will be back tomorrow with all of the latest news.

Until then, you can stay up to date at 9news.com.au and nine.com.au.

A prominent union is pushing the state government to pilot a four-day work week for some public servants in Victoria.

The call has been met with some backlash, with both the government and opposition shutting the proposal down almost immediately.

Under the plan, the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) claims public servants would work reduced hours with the expectation they maintain the same workload as before.

After a sunny start, severe thunderstorms are forecast for Sydney, Newcastle, and the Hunter and Mid North Coast from late afternoon today.

The SES warned that heavy winds and large hail could hammer homes.

Areas such as Coffs Harbour, Armidale, Orange and surrounding communities may be at risk of local and flash flooding.

The SES is preparing for an increase in calls for assistance from the public, while major flooding continues across the state.

There are 75 active warnings across the state, including 10 emergencies.

Some scaffolding is hanging about three metres off the side of a construction site on Balaclava Road in Eastwood, in Sydney's north-west.

No injuries or falls have been reported.

One lane of Balaclava Road is closed.

The scaffolding company is on scene stabilising it.

Bunnings is recalling a popular LED light over fears it could catch on fire.

The Brilliant Lighting Lagos 90w LED slim batten 1200mm lighting fixture's defect means the light could overheat and cause the casing to "distort, melt or ignite".

If the light does ignite, it could cause serious injury, death or property damage.

Check out the full details of the recall here.

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