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Good morning.
Two truths and a lie is here. As always, here are three headlines from the past week, but one is fake. Which one is it? Answer in the tidbit!
About $1 million has been found in a car boot in Perth, which will now be put towards funding crime prevention.
U.S. President Joe Biden’s dog Commander has now bitten a total of 11 people at the White House.
A new study has found that one in five Americans don’t know that New Zealand is not part of Australia.
I've got 10 seconds
The quote
"Honestly, every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber." – Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, to fellow candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, at the latest Republican debate. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, widely considered the leading candidate, did not attend.
The stat
390,400
The number of jobs that were vacant in August, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Vacancies are lower than the last update in May, but there are still over 70% more jobs empty than there were before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today in history
2021: Britney Spears’ father Jamie Spears was suspended as her conservator by a judge in LA after claims of abuse.
I've got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
Sir Michael Gambon has died aged 82. Known for playing Albus Dumbledore in several Harry Potter films, Gambon was a celebrated actor with a decades-long career. A statement from his family said: “Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife, Anne, and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia."
The final report of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability will be handed down today. The Royal Commission was called following reports of abuse against people with disability, and ran for almost four years.
I've got 1 minute
Remote First Nations communities are some of the most "digitally excluded" in the world, according to new research led by RMIT.
'Digital inclusion' refers to the accessibility of digital services, like Internet and communication technologies.
The latest Mapping the Digital Gap report found 43% of 1,545 remote First Nations communities had no mobile service. Some relied on shared public phones, while others had no telecommunications at all, it said.
Lead investigator Dr Daniel Featherstone said as more services move online, all Australians should "have the opportunity to benefit from digital technologies".
"We use these technologies to access essential services for health, welfare, finance and education, participate in social and cultural activities, follow news and media, as well as connect with family, friends, and the wider world," he said.
No Silly Questions in the wild!
Thanks to Zoya for sending us this epic photo from Gleebooks in Sydney, and thanks to Gleebooks for labelling our book as “the best no-judgement guide to our world!” 🥹
Where else have you seen our book in the wild?!
I've got 2 minutes
A U.S. soldier who crossed the border into North Korea has been returned to U.S. custody.
Travis King was with a tour group in South Korea when he entered North Korea in July.
White House officials confirmed King boarded a plane to the U.S. and landed yesterday.
Who is Travis King?
King is a U.S. soldier who was detained in North Korea after "wilfully" crossing the border on 18 July.
He was on a tour of the demilitarised zone (DMZ) between South and North Korea – an area frequented by tourism groups.
King's motives for entering North Korea are unclear. However, he reportedly spent time in a South Korean prison for assault, and was due to face further disciplinary action in the U.S.
North Korean response:
North Korean state-run news agency KNCA said on Wednesday that King would be deported after the investigation into his "illegal" entry had finished.
It claimed that King crossed the border due to "inhumane abuse and racial discrimination within the U.S. military and disillusionment with the unequal American society".
King’s return:
King was transported to North Korea's border with China where he was met by the U.S. Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns. Sweden helped facilitate King’s transfer.
He was then flown to South Korea, where he boarded a plane to the U.S.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson thanked the Chinese and Swedish Governments for their help "facilitating the transfer" of King out of North Korea.
Diplomatic tensions:
King’s return comes during heightened tensions between the U.S. and North Korea.
Earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It's believed they discussed the sale of North Korean weapons to further Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The U.S. Government threatened North Korea with additional penalties if they sold their weapons. North Korea and Russia are already subject to several U.S. sanctions.
Give me some good news
Millions of extra U.S. students will be eligible for free breakfasts and lunches while at school.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that 3,000 additional school districts serving over five million students would be included in the program.
A message from our sponsor
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A TDA tidbit
A new study has found that one in five Americans don’t know that New Zealand is not part of Australia.
This is false. You should give them more credit!
U.S. President Joe Biden’s dog Commander has now bitten a total of 11 people at the White House.
This is true.
According to CNN, Biden’s younger dog recently bit another U.S. Secret Service agent, making it the dog’s 11th biting incident since living at the White House.
It comes after another of the President’s dogs moved out of the White House in 2021 after behaving aggressively.
About $1 million has been found in a car boot in Perth, which will now be put towards funding crime prevention.
This is true.
The cash was found in vacuum-sealed plastic bags in a car boot in Perth last year. Police have now announced it will go towards funding community programs.
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The Daily Aus acknowledges the Gadigal peoples of the Eora Nation who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work. We acknowledge and pay respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.