Morning, everyone. He wasn’t in handcuffs (he reportedly sat in his trademark angry way with his arms crossed), but Donald Trump has appeared in court in Miami to answer criminal charges that he illegally hoarded classified documents. It looks as though it’s the start of a wild ride. Back home, the fallout from the Hunter bus tragedy is raising questions about safety, while there’s someone at large in Queensland decapitating crocodiles. And the great US author Cormac McCarthy has died.
Australia
‘A great bloke’ | Friends, sporting clubs and employers have paid tribute to victims of the Hunter Valley bus tragedy, including a mother and daughter, a promising junior doctor and a couple who leave behind two children. The NSW premier, Chris Minns, is heading for the region as his government considers stricter safety rules for buses.
‘Unsustainable’ | The Australian defence Force cannot continue to help with natural disasters and defend Australia at the same time, a senior defence chief has told MPs. Air Vice Marshal Stephen Chappell said the “unrelenting tempo” of bushfires, floods and the pandemic had strained resources, damaged morale and interrupted training.
Nauru’s over | Australia is expected to move all remaining refugees and asylum seekers off Nauru by the end of the month, activists believe, although the government will retain an “enduring” capacity for offshore detention on the island.
Croc serial killer | Queensland authorities have launched a hunt for the person responsible for decapitating two crocodiles in the state’s far north and then boasting about it in a call to rangers.
Keeping faith | Prominent yes campaigners on the Indigenous voice referendum say they won’t be “caught up” analysing polls – some of which show a decline in the yes vote – saying their job is to “keep the faith” and talk to the Australian people, not politicians and pollsters.
World
Trump arraigned | Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty in a federal courtroom in Miami to a host of criminal charges related to his handling of classified documents after leaving the presidency. He failed to recruit any new lawyers to boost his team. The indictment also named several other people, including Trump’s valet, Walt Nauta.
Cormac McCarthy dies | The author of classic US books including All the Pretty Horses, The Road and No Country For Old Men, has died at the age of 89, publisher has announced.
Nottingham deaths | A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after three people – two of them students – were killed in Nottingham in the UK, and a further three are in hospital after being hit by a van.
Kenya cult deaths | The death toll linked to a pastor accused of ordering his followers to starve themselves to death to meet Jesus has passed 300, with the figure expected to increase as more exhumations are planned.
‘Incredibly rare’ | The remains of a Roman mausoleum “with an astonishing level of preservation” have been unearthed in London.
Full Story
Is the RBA pushing Australia into recession?
The Reserve Bank has raised interest rates 12 times in 13 months and says it could keep going if necessary. Guardian Australia’s economics correspondent, Peter Hannam, explains why rates keep going up, and Greg Jericho asks whether the central bank is killing the economy.
In-depth
Two leading Australian universities have launched two national teaching programs – Quantum Girls and Einstein-First – in schools. They hope to reverse a trend which has seen children – especially girls – give up studying science before university age, aiming to stimulate interest in “modern” concepts such as black holes, quantum computers and climate science.
Not the news
Luke Buckmaster salutes the first series of The Betoota Advocate Presents, a satirical take on news that uses as its vehicle the aforementioned eponymous publication, AKA “Australia’s oldest and most trusted newspaper”. Starring Akubra-wearing editor Clancy Overell and editor-at-large Errol Parker (real names Archer Hamilton and Charles Single), the show is fast and funny, with well-observed takes on familiar targets.
The world of sport
Tennis | Nick Kyrgios has lost his comeback match against China’s Wibing Yu 7-5, 6-3 at the Stuttgart Open and faces a fitness battle in the lead-up to grass court season.
Football | Kylian Mbappé will leave Paris Saint-Germain when his contract ends next year, leaving the club a headache to try to renew his contract or risk losing him.
Basketball | The Denver Nuggets have won their first NBA title after defeating Miami Heat to take the series 4-1, thanks in part to the competition’s outstanding player, Nikola Jokić.
Media roundup
The Newcastle Herald reports that communities in the Hunter Valley have rallied around victims of the wedding bus crash, while the Sydney Morning Herald carries an account of the chaotic scene found by first responders on Sunday night. And the Financial Review reveals that a law firm is taking a group of Russian hackers to court.
What’s happening today
Environment | There will be a federal court hearing into whether Australia owes a duty of care to Torres Strait Islanders because of the impact of the climate crisis.
Media | The ninth annual Reuters digital news report for Australia is released, showing the number of people paying for online news continues to grow.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day – with plenty more on the Guardian’s Puzzles app for iOS and Android. Until tomorrow.
