Welcome, readers, to Afternoon Update.
James Comey, the former FBI director and one of Donald Trump’s most frequent targets, was indicted on Thursday on one count of making a false statement to Congress and one count of obstruction of a congressional proceeding, the latest move in the president’s retribution campaign against his political adversaries.
Trump celebrated the charges in a post on Truth Social, writing: “JUSTICE IN AMERICA! One of the worst human beings this Country has ever been exposed to is James Comey, the former Corrupt Head of the FBI.”
Responding to the indictment, hours after it was filed, Comey said in a video statement posted on Instagram that he was innocent and welcomed a trial. “My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump, but we couldn’t imagine ourselves living any other way. We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn’t either,” Comey said.
Top news
Abnormally hot days may hit Australia’s south-east after rare sudden warming over Antarctica
Controversial Queensland mayor Troy Thompson resigns after corruption inquiry
Trump says he ‘will not allow’ Israel to annex West Bank after lobbying from allies
UN watchdog sounds warning after drone detonates near Ukraine nuclear plant
European broadcasters to vote on expelling Israel from Eurovision 2026
‘Cloudy but dry’: weather bureau predicts near-perfect conditions for AFL grand final
In pictures
The Bigambul-Kamilaroi artist Archie Moore’s monumental installation, featuring a family tree stretching 65,000 years and a memorial to Indigenous deaths in custody, opens in his home state after making history overseas.
WARNING: Contains distressing and offensive content
What they said …
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“These weapons threaten to change war itself, and they risk escalation without warning.”
In a speech to the United Nations security council, Penny Wong warned the rise of artificial intelligence could potentially endanger the world if the technology were used to control nuclear weapons.
Full Story
Newsroom edition: Trump’s war on truth reverberates in Australia
Anthony Albanese was at the United Nations this week, taking to the stage to call for unity in times of global conflict. But the headlines were dominated by Donald Trump, whose words told a much different story. At times, the false claims and mistruths came so fast it was difficult for journalists to keep up. So how do journalists cover disinformation when it spreads to Australia so rapidly?
Bridie Jabour talks to the editor, Lenore Taylor, and the national news editor, Josephine Tovey, about the globalisation of misinformation and why facts are more important than ever
Before bed read
A “reply guy” is a person – typically male – who exists in the inboxes of multiple women simultaneously. His modus operandi is simple: start and maintain multiple low-effort conversations with as many warm bodies as possible. But, wonders Lucinda Price, what are his motives?
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: EEK. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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