STARING DOWN THE BARREL
The Russian military is shedding floor and Vladimir Putin is shedding face after the sustained success of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. The setbacks have impressed the world’s greatest economies to double down on the Kremlin’s purse strings and put a value cap on Russian oil. The SMH ($) reviews that Australia will observe go well with and signal on to the US-led G7 initiative. Australia blacklisted Russian oil, gasoline and coal again in February when Putin first ordered the invasion of Ukraine so the announcement is much less a Hail Mary and extra a positive signal of assist. Domestically, Treasurer Jim Chalmers known as the cap a way to fight “rising power costs” and the “skyrocketing price of dwelling”.
It’s hoped that the ceiling will cripple money flows into Moscow, however specialists are sceptical. The New Every day reviews that the West has underestimated Russia’s resilience and financial “security cushion” (aka China and India). Russia remains to be working a price range surplus with oil income up 40% final month, based on Reuters. The incoming caps seemingly received’t thwart provide and sale to cosier counterparts within the Indo-Pacific, however come December Putin should deal at a lowered value, the AFR ($) says. Crude oil is buying and selling at simply over $125 a barrel, however this might rise to $180 when the European winter hits, says the Monetary Instances ($). The US is but to place a quantity on the brand new ceiling, however Reuters reviews that it might be as little as $90 a barrel.
FUEL FOR THOUGHT
Greens chief Adam Bandt has known as on Labor to cancel virtually $2 billion of “zombie fossil gasoline subsidies” promised to the Parliamentary Finances Workplace (PBO) courtesy of the Coalition authorities, Guardian Australia reviews. The Greens-backed inquiry into the PBO discovered that not one of the cash put aside for Morrison’s “gas-fired restoration” had truly been dedicated. For as soon as, the shortage of follow-through from the previous authorities is being heralded as “excellent news”. However Labor doesn’t look to be issuing any move-on notices to the fossil gasoline funding pot. Opposition spokesman on local weather change and power Ted O’Brien accused the Greens of getting “no regard for regional Australia nor the normal industries that many Australians depend on”.
Information achieved fearlessly.
Save 50% while you be part of Crikey as an annual member at present.
However business is shifting on … considerably. Origin Power is strolling off its Beetaloo Basin shale fields, The Australian ($) reviews, buying and selling in a “high-cost, high-risk long-term exploration portfolio” for one thing in realm of renewables. The latter comes with a “quicker payday and inexperienced credibility”. The catch? The power big will retain royalties within the Beetaloo and continues to speculate massive in different gasoline initiatives, together with its flagship Australia Pacific LNG three way partnership. AGL alternatively is dealing with extra inside combustion issues with the appointment of Patricia McKenzie as its new chair and Miles George as non-executive director, says The Australian ($). Its preliminary decide, Paula Dwyer, was shot down final week by main shareholders, because the AFR ($) reviews.
A ROYAL WAVE TO ROYAL COVERAGE
The rolling protection of the late queen’s state funeral has supercharged the information cycle over the previous 24 hours. To spare you the difficulty of hours of livestreams and rigorous royal evaluation, her majesty has now formally been laid to relaxation within the royal vault at Windsor Fortress. That inside scoop from the ABC’s London entourage. The occasion was a who’s who of world leaders, a lot of whom shouldn’t be in the identical area, says The Australian ($). Put 200-250 “pleasant” and “much less pleasant” heads of state and senior dignitaries in a room collectively and there’s a lot “diplomatic alternative and threat”. Tensions flared between Australia and Britain when respective broadcasters drew blanks on the id on the opposite’s head of state. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro missed the memo that the event was meant to be apolitical and convened an impromptu election “rally” in entrance of the Brazilian embassy the place he postured on home insurance policies on medication, abortion and “gender ideology”, The Guardian reviews. Clearly no time for tea and biscuits.
On-line onlookers have been extra attuned to the finer particulars of the funeral, says The Guardian. A spider was topped king of the digicam, whereas others noticed purple over the much less beneficial protection afforded to a younger choir boy.
ON A LIGHTER NOTE
On the earth of biking, the arms race to beat aerodynamics has gone to riders’ heads. Helmet designs have leaned closely into streamlined cranium-cradling buildings that “information the passing air past the rear of the pinnacle with minimal turbulence”. Whereas the sleek surfaces would possibly effectively shave seconds off the clock, the phase-out of any and all wind traps (helmet holes) are proving a loss of life lure for riders relating to birds. No holes, no mechanism to connect zip ties. No zip ties, no defence mechanism or early warning detection system for aerial assaults.
The UCI World Street Championships at Wollongong have been a racy affair for elite athletes trying to thrust back each wind resistance (public enemy primary) and Australia’s aerodynamic springtime particular, The Age/AAP reviews. Magpies and minimalism don’t match. There’s been a couple of ruffled feathers (birds and riders), however to this point nobody has been knocked out of the competitors in a single fell swoop. Plus cyclists can’t say they weren’t warned. There’s an indication close to the end line that reads: “Birds swooping. Dismount and stroll your bike via this space.”
Hoping you breeze via your Tuesday, people.
SAY WHAT?
The extra that Putin is pushed right into a nook, the extra he acts like a wounded animal that lashes out.
Peter Khalil
The Labor MP mentioned subsequent strikes for the Kremlin on the ABC’s RN Breakfast, telling listeners that he’s “very involved” about Vladimir Putin’s propensity to roll out chemical, organic or, “even worse”, nuclear weapons following the sustained success of the Ukrainian counteroffensive.
What’s with the creepy one-fingered salute by Trump supporters?
“Unusual issues occur in crowds and it’s extremely seemingly the sign isn’t some extent to early twentieth century fascism and the Nazi ‘Sieg Heil’ salute or a far-right conspiracy principle gesture however relatively a spontaneous outburst of collective emotion at an occasion designed to elicit precisely this type of feeling.
“Nevertheless, as The Q Origins Mission writes on Twitter, simply because it didn’t start as a QAnon gesture it received’t cease the far-right motion from adopting it. It’s pretty seemingly you’ll see it repeated at rallies and mentioned at size in columns as Trump ramps up his marketing campaign to turn out to be the forty seventh president of the US.”
Prime bureaucrat in Barilaro saga is posted — out of public service
“The bureaucrat on the centre of the appointment of John Barilaro to a NSW commerce fee publish in New York, secretary of the Division of Enterprise, Funding and Commerce Amy Brown, has been sacked from the NSW public service.
“Brown introduced her departure in a single day, saying: ‘My tenure has come to an finish.’ Grilled repeatedly by a NSW higher home inquiry into Barilaro’s appointment, and the prior withdrawal of a proposal of the publish to profitable candidate Jenny West, Brown revealed that then commerce minister Stuart Ayres had repeatedly been engaged within the course of involving Barilaro, regardless of his claims that it was carried out ‘at arm’s size’ from him. Ayres resigned from the ministry in early August however was later cleared of breaching the ministerial code of conduct by an impartial report.”
READ ALL ABOUT IT
Taliban launch US engineer Frerichs as Biden approves swap for drug smuggler (Reuters)
UN: warring sides committing atrocities in Ethiopia’s Tigray (Al Jazeera)
Main earthquake shakes Mexico’s central Pacific coast (The Guardian)
Russia seeks nearer safety ties with China as key purpose (The Washington Submit)
Biden once more says US forces would defend Taiwan in opposition to Chinese language aggression (CNN)
Queen of Soviet pop denounces Vladimir Putin’s warfare in Ukraine (SBS)
Spielberg’s The Fabelmans wins Toronto movie competition Folks’s Alternative award (The Guardian)
THE COMMENTARIAT
An excellent monarch — even for the life-long republicans — Greg Sheridan (The Australian): “I as soon as stood up Prince Charles, as he then was, for a social event. I will be the solely Australian ever responsible of such a solecism. Forty-odd years in the past I used to be working for the now defunct Bulletin journal. A pal within the state authorities despatched me an invite to a morning tea with the visiting prince. I used to be a republican, however not remotely hostile to the prince. Nor did I’ve any curiosity in him. He appeared a bit lame and daffy — listening to his crops and all that — however actually he simply had no declare on my thoughts. I didn’t boycott the occasion, I simply forgot to attend.
“Here’s a paradox of the brand new king’s state of affairs. If he’s to be a profitable head of state for Australia, he should turn out to be simply as boring as he was then, however in a wholly new manner. Folks typically say to politicians: don’t simply stand there, do one thing! For Charles, good recommendation is the precise reverse: Don’t do one thing, simply stand there.”
Focus ought to now be on boosting COVID immunity, not avoiding an infection — Peter McIntyre (SMH): “The World Well being Group (WHO) has cautiously flagged the ‘starting of the tip’ for the pandemic. However in Australia, acquainted voices have been lamenting shortened isolation durations, minimal mask-wearing and low protection of COVID-19 vaccines amongst kids below 12.
“They are saying advocates of much less rigorous measures are pushed by monetary or self-interest and ignore knowledgeable well being recommendation. These criticisms rang true as little as 9 months in the past when Omicron was devastating Australia, inflicting massive will increase in deaths in residential aged care because of low booster protection. However the nature of the sport has modified.”
WHAT’S ON TODAY
On-line
-
UNSW’s nationwide drug and analysis centre will host its annual analysis symposium. The 2-day occasion will delve into illicit drug markets, developments in use, novel therapies and interventions.
Eora Nation Nation (often known as Sydney)
-
The third iteration of the World Anti-Doping Company’s (WADA) World Schooling Convention will start at present. Run in partnership with Sport Integrity Australia, the three-day occasion is devoted to protecting sport and athletes clear.
Kulin Nation Nation (often known as Melbourne)
-
Journalist Kristine Ziwica, creator of the most recent Crikey Learn Leaning Out, will speak at Readings about her guide on gender equality in Australia. As a prelude to the in-conversation occasion, you possibly can learn an excerpt or take heed to our very personal Crikey Talks.
Whadjuk Nyoongar Nation (often known as Perth)
Turrbal and Jagera/Yuggera Nation (often known as Brisbane)
-
Creator, screenwriter and former director Greg Woodland will chat to Evelyn Saunders about his new thriller The Carnival is Over at Avid Reader Bookshop.
HOLD THE FRONT PAGE
Crikey is information for readers who can deal with the reality.
We’re amazed by the assist we’ve had from everywhere in the world over the previous few weeks — and thanks for those who contributed to our defence fund.
Simply in case you’ve been that means to subscribe, we’re protecting the 50% low cost on for slightly longer.
Gina Rushton
Information editor
