Good afternoon. It’s been a big day for international news: Donald Trump and some of his closest confidantes have been indicted on state racketeering and conspiracy charges.
The indictment relates to efforts to reverse Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election in Georgia – and makes the former US president a criminal defendant in a fourth case as he campaigns to recapture the presidency.
And in other news, the four Australians who went missing when their boat encountered poor weather off the coast of Indonesia’s Aceh province on Sunday have been found alive.
Top news
Trump indicted over bid to reverse 2020 election loss | A sprawling 41-count indictment, handed down by a state grand jury in Atlanta late on Monday night, charges Trump himself with 13 counts and accuses him of orchestrating a criminal enterprise. Prosecutors also charged 18 other defendants, including Trump’s former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.
Missing Australian surfers found | Steph Weisse, Will Teagle and Jordan Short were found floating in the water on surfboards on Tuesday. Elliot Foote, who is believed to have paddled to an island to seek help, was also found, his father told Channel Seven News.
Man accused of plane bomb threat refuses to face court | Canberra man Muhammad Arif, 45, has refused to leave his police cell to face court after being charged with making a false statement about a threat to damage an aircraft and for failing to comply with cabin crew’s safety instruction. Arif allegedly made a bomb threat on an international flight out of Sydney airport on Monday afternoon.
Wage growth weaker than expected | Workers’ wage growth accelerated at a slightly weaker than expected pace in the June quarter even as employers scrambled to hire staff in a tight labour market. The wage price index for the June quarter rose 0.8% for the three months and 3.6% from a year earlier, despite economists forecasting wages would increase 0.9% for the quarter and at an annual clip of 3.7%.
Warren Mundine told to explain ‘secret sackings’ | The Liberals for Yes have demanded that Warren Mundine explain the full details of “secret sackings”, after the Recognise a Better Way spokesperson claimed he had ejected two volunteers for making alleged racist remarks.
Voluntary assisted dying costs creating ‘substantial barriers’ | Queensland doctors are calling for a standardised private bill structure with an out-of-pocket expense of $860, claiming the current costs are limiting access to euthanasia.
Peter Dutton calls Matildas public holiday a ‘stunt’ | The opposition leader has rejected a proposed public holiday if the Matildas win the Fifa Women’s World Cup, calling it an “ego trip” for the prime minister, Anthony Albanese.
Teen gives birth after being denied abortion | A 13-year-old from Mississippi who fell pregnant after being raped was forced to have the baby after her mother could not afford to take her to the nearest clinic, nine hours away.
Jack Riewoldt announces retirement | The triple Richmond premiership hero has announced he is stepping away from the game, after playing 346 games with the club. The announcement comes just five days after Trent Cotchin called it quits.
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Photograph: Balkis Press/ABACA/PA Images
Dear son, why I left you in Afghanistan
Two years ago, Guardian contributor Shadi Khan Saif fled Afghanistan for Australia, hoping his wife and young children would soon follow him. But he is still waiting to be reunited with them.
On the second anniversary of the fall of Kabul, he speaks about the heartbreak of being separated from his family and why he wrote a public letter to his son.
What they said …
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“By all means, blame us. But give us a say in the decisions that are made about us before you do.”
Yes23 campaigner Noel Pearson says Australia must reach a point in its relationship with Indigenous people “where it is legitimate to blame us”, saying the voice was “claiming the right to take responsibility”.
In numbers
There has been a run on all things green and gold this week in Australia, after the Matildas’ streak of victories in the Women’s World Cup. Nike said that there has been “record-breaking” demand for the team jersey, with Asia-Pacific general manager of Nike, Ashley Reade, calling this year’s tournament a “generational moment” for sport and culture.
Before bed read
On Wednesday Australia face off against England in Sydney in the second semi-final of this Women’s World Cup. The winner, in progressing through to the final, will make history: neither team has previously played in a World Cup decider.
In preparation, Kieran Pender has broken down the matchups that could make or break our chances of going all the way.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: FIE. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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