Hard Numbers: Oz buys Aboriginal flag, Malawi vs corruption, ISIS human shields, Boris the party animal

14: The Australian government paid $14 million for the copyright of the Aboriginal flag so that anyone can display it without fear of being sued. Indigenous artist Harold Thomas created the flag 50 years ago as a protest image; since then, it has become the dominant Aboriginal symbol and an official national flag.

3: Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera sacked the entire government after corruption charges were brought against three ministers. Critics say Chakwera has not delivered on his promise to fight graft since he was elected in 2020.

700: Islamic State fighters are using some 700 boys as human shields to stop US-backed Kurdish forces from storming a prison the jihadists attacked to free ISIS prisoners in northern Syria. American airstrikes are supporting the Kurdish combatants in a rare US military intervention.

30: British police are investigating whether a surprise birthday party for PM Boris Johnson, which was attended by some 30 people in June 2020, violated COVID lockdown rules. Johnson is fighting for his political life amid growing calls from within his Conservative party for him to step down.