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Icac
Former NSW Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid is to be prosecuted over corruption allegations relating to restaurants in Sydney’s Circular Quay, after the Independent Commission Against Corruption found he acted corruptly.
Former NSW minister Ian Macdonald is also facing prosecution over a mining license, along with John Maitland, his union colleague and former chair of the mining company in question, Doyles Creek, who faces charges of being an accessory to Macdonald’s alleged offences.
Australian news and politics
• Foreign minister Julie Bishop has publicly rebuked US president Barack Obama for drawing attention to the vulnerability of the Great Barrier Reef because of climate change, and failing to acknowledge Australia’s remedial action.
• Jacqui Lambie is considering her future with the Palmer United Party and taking legal advice amid reports that she is planning to form a new alliance.
• In a leaked internal memo, ABC journalists have been warned not to “indulge” their personal feelings or “overstate” the impact of Coalition cuts when reporting the issue.
Around the world
• Julian Assange’s appeal to lift the Swedish arrest warrant against him has been rejected, meaning the Wikileaks founder still faces extradition to Sweden if he leaves the Ecuadorian embassy in London.
• Thirty countries meeting in Berlin have collectively pledged US$9.3bn for the Green Climate Fund which aims to help developing countries deal with global warming.
• Prince Charles’ intention to become an “activist” king could force the UK to rethink the role of the monarchy, MPs have been told.
• Nearly 1,000 people have been killed during the ceasefire in Ukraine, with abuses on both sides.
More from around the web
• Among the most read on the Guardian this morning: US comedian Bill Cosby has been accused of sexual assault by a seventh named woman; Hadley Freeman writes on how the comedian’s image shielded him from rape claims.
• Australia’s budget deficit is heading towards $40bn rather than $30bn, with iron ore prices triggering a blowout this year, the Australian reports.
• Clive Palmer stormed out of a Lateline interview last nightafter being asked about an upcoming civil case being brought against him by Chinese government-owned investment group Citic Pacific, the ABC reports.
• Egypt’s president Sisi says he is considering pardoning Australian al-Jazeera journalist Peter Greste and one of his colleagues, the ABC reports.
• UK Tories have described Tony Abbott’s attitude to climate change as “eccentric”, “baffling” and “flat earther”, Fairfax reports.
• News Corp reports on the Colt incest clan.
One last thing
Mike Nichols, director of The Graduate, has died aged 83; Peter Bradshaw writes about the career of a director who found the zeitgeist in every decade.
Have an excellent day – and if you spot something I’ve missed, let me know on Twitter @newsmary.
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