Good afternoon. Donald Trump has been charged with several federal crimes in connection with his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 US election, in a historic indictment that is deepening the former president’s legal peril.
The charges, filed in federal district court in Washington DC on Tuesday, accuse Trump of conspiracies that targeted a “bedrock function of the United States federal government: the nation’s process of collecting, counting and certifying the results of the presidential election”. Here are the key takeaways.
In other news, the commonwealth ombudsman has found up to 100,000 Centrelink debts or potential debts were miscalculated, and the ABC has backflipped on a plan to abolish local 7pm Sunday TV news bulletins.
Top news
Child protection in focus | After a Queensland childcare worker was charged with more than 1,600 child abuse offences, the NSW government is moving to strengthen information sharing between state law enforcement agencies and is calling for an urgent meeting of state government agencies.
Centrelink debts miscalculated | The commonwealth ombudsman has found that up to 100,000 debts or potential debts were incorrectly calculated over two decades by “unlawfully apportioning” welfare recipients’ income.
Dutton was briefed on US-Australia talks on war crimes allegations | Peter Dutton was briefed five times about sensitive discussions between the US and Australia over whether war crimes allegations jeopardised military cooperation, Guardian Australia can reveal.
Woolworths hit with payroll charges | Wage Inspectorate Victoria alleges the supermarket giant underpaid more than $1m in long-service leave to 1,235 former employees.
Australian teenager ‘alive’ in Syrian prison | Yusuf Zahab was believed to have been killed in an an Islamic State airstrike in Syria more than a year ago, but is now believed to have been found alive, with his family saying they are “overwhelmed with joy”.
Denmark braces for the Matildas | The Matildas’ round of 16 opponents say they are ready to take on the Women’s World Cup co-hosts, despite the Australian home crowd advantage and the potential return of Sam Kerr.
ABC’s change of heart | After a public outcry, the ABC has backflipped on its plan to abolish eight local 7pm Sunday TV news bulletins in favour of a national one.
Washed away in Lismore | Photographer David Maurice Smith has documented the struggle to make sense of the NSW northern rivers floods, the largest in modern Australian history, in this interactive piece.
Newspaper accused of ‘giving away’ independence | Local media in Solomon Islands have been accused of compromising their independence by entering into agreements with Chinese news organisations and accepting thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment from the Chinese embassy.
Nigerians survive 14 days on ship’s rudder | Four men have travelled about 5,600km on the rudder of a ship before being rescued by Brazilian federal police in the south-eastern port of Vitória.
What they said …
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“It’s going to hurt.”
The Labor MP Sheena Watt, a Yorta Yorta woman, says if the referendum on the Indigenous voice to parliament doesn’t pass it will “set Indigenous relations back to a time that bears not thinking about”. Watts was door-knocking in Victoria, hoping to convince people to vote yes.
In numbers
The new swimming jellyfish species, named Burgessomedusa phasmiformis, was found in Canada and is exceptionally well preserved.
Before bed read
Bad customer manners at restaurants are always a wild read. In this piece, chefs, restaurant owners and sommeliers reveal what really irks them, from failing to read the menu to invading the kitchen. Something to keep in mind next time you dine out.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: Cole . You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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