Hi there. It's Thursday, August 11 and you're reading The Loop, a quick wrap-up of today's news.
Let's start here: The interim report from the Defence royal commission
Here's what you need to know from the first take of the royal commission's report into defence and veteran suicide:
- The report made 13 key recommendations, with five focusing on the Department of Veterans' Affairs' claims processes and staffing levels, with another eight intended to make it easier for witnesses to appear before the commission and allow it to more easily access documents
- The report noted concerns "about a range of cultural issues within the ADF", with commissioners noting that ADF culture was one of the main issues raised in private sessions
- The commissioners also identified more than 50 previous reports into the issue and more than 750 recommendations
- The report also warned that the backlog of almost 42,000 unprocessed compensation claims from veterans needs to be addressed urgently, warning that the situation may lead to further suicides
- Minister for Veterans' Affairs Matt Keogh said the federal government would review all of the recommendations and provide a formal response to each "as soon as we are able"
- Public hearings will resume in Darwin in October, then move to Wagga Wagga from November 28, with the final report due in 2024.
This is heavy reading, and there is support for you or anyone you know who may need it.
You can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, or for Defence-specific support services, Open Arms provides 24-hour free and confidential counselling and support for current and former ADF members as well as their families on 1800 011 046.
There are more helplines you can access at the top of this page.
We heard a lot about Donald Trump
Let's get you up to speed:
- The former US president was ordered to appear in front of the New York Attorney-General as part of a civil investigation into his family's business practices
- The New York State Attorney-General, Letitia James, is looking into whether the Trump Organization overstated the asset value of hotels, golf courses and other real estate to obtain favourable loans, while understating the values to get tax breaks
- Instead of answering questions during his appearance, Trump instead pleaded the Fifth Amendment, which offers protection against self-incrimination under the US constitution
- A statement from Mr Trump said: "I once asked, 'If you're innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?' Now I know the answer to that question"
- Mr Trump has denied any wrongdoing and said the investigation against the Trump Organization was politically motivated
- It's the second high-profile encounter he's had this week, after the FBI raided his Florida estate on Tuesday
- Meanwhile, Mr Trump is still publicly flirting with the idea of running for president in 2024 — but has not yet confirmed he will.
News alerts you might have missed
- The family of Olivia Newton-John has accepted the Victorian government's offer of a state service. Premier Daniel Andrews says it will be "much more of a concert than a funeral".
- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared victory over COVID-19, and has ordered restrictions be lifted. According to state media, his sister blamed the country's outbreak on leaflets from South Korea. It's not known how many cases North Korea has recorded.
- Ukraine has accused Russia of killing 13 people and wounding 10 others after firing rockets at the Zaporizhzhia region. The attacks were allegedly launched near the Zaporizhzhia plant, which Russia seized back in March.
What Australia has been searching for online
- Paul Green: In news that's shocked the rugby league world, the former NRL coach and player died suddenly in Brisbane aged 49. Green played more than 100 NRL games, coached the Cowboys to their first premiership in 2015, and coached Queensland's Origin side in 2021.
- Kyle Sandilands: The radio shock jock and his fiancee, Tegan Kynaston, have welcomed their first child together, a son they've named Otto.
- Polio: The UK is launching a polio vaccine booster campaign for kids aged 10 and younger in London, after authorities confirmed the virus is spreading in the city for the first time since the 1980s.
One more thing: Spider-Man turns 60
Happy release anniversary, Peter Parker — the comic was first published in the United States on August 10, 1962.
Created by the late Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Spider-Man's debut took place in Marvel's Amazing Fantasy #15. At the end of the comic is when Peter Parker learns the phrase he then strives to honour (and was later attributed to his Uncle Ben): "With great power, there must also come great responsibility."
(Yes, it's technically August 11 here in Australia, but it's only just ticked over from August 10 in some parts of the world.)
You're up to date
We'll be back with more news tomorrow.
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