Morning Mail: world leaders meet over Ukraine 'invasion', Australia sets conditions for Iraq role
|
Version 0 of 1. Good morning folks, and welcome to the Morning Mail – sign up here to get it straight to your inbox before 8am every weekday. Ukraine Ukraine’s president has effectively accused Russia of invading his country, saying troops have been moved across the border to support separatists. World powers have called a succession of emergency meetings to step up the international response to Russia. We have live coverage of events overnight, including Barack Obama’s statement in which he categorically rejected the possibility of US military action. Islamic State Tony Abbott has said Australia must have clear and achievable goals and a “humanitarian objective” if it is to contribute to a US-led military operation in Iraq. Lenore Taylor writes that the debate over military intervention in Iraq and Australia’s counter-terrorism plans is limited by binary “with us or against us” propositions, and more nuance is needed. Activists say Islamic State has killed 150 captured troops in Syria, while the UN says 43 peacekeepers were detained by gunmen in the Golan Heights. Egyptian group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis claims to have beheaded four men in a video that echoes the rhetoric and tactics of Isis. Australian news and politics • Labor has accused the government of using a $300m community grants program as a “slush fund” by spending 80% of it on marginal electorates the Coalition targeted in the 2013 election. • A Victorian study has debunked claims that plain cigarette packaging would hurt small retailers and increase use of illicit tobacco. • A 24-year-old asylum seeker being held on Manus Island is in a life-threatening condition after an infection developed into severe septicaemia, and has been flown to the mainland for specialised care. • Civil rights groups and security analysts have expressed renewed concern of the government’s plan to store metadata after revelations that the police mistakenly published metadata about criminal investigations. • A review of the renewable energy target has backed closure of the scheme to new entrants, a move which could stifle investment in windfarms and cutting subsidies for household solar power. • Aldi has withdrawn Roald Dahl’s classic children’s book Revolting Rhymes from its Australian stores following complaints over its use of the word “slut”. Around the world • Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu is facing political turbulence after the fighting in Gaza, with some observers predicting an election next year. • A failed satellite phone call placed by Malaysia Airlines staff to flight MH370 has been traced and supports the theory that the plane crashed in the Indian Ocean. • Turkey’s first popularly elected president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has taken office. • Police in Israel have found a body they believe may be a missing American student. • A Chinese panda may have faked her pregnancy for buns. More from around the internet • Among the most viewed on the Guardian this morning: Apple has confirmed an event on 9 September, when a new iPhone and possibly a smartwatch are expected to be announced. • Employers will be able to hire foreign workers on salaries below standard rates for skilled migrant workers under new rules for regions and industries that are losing staff, the Australian reports. • The Chamber of Commerce’s chief economist has been stood down over allegations of offensive Facebook comments, including referring to a childhood picture of Joe Hockey as a “fat little bastard”, Fairfax reports. Our take on the story is here. • NT parliament has heard that former magistrate Peter Maley, who resigned abruptly this week, told a mining prospector he could have access to sensitive government documents in exchange for a $10,000 donation, the NT News reports. • The chief executive of Medibank floated the idea of privately insured patients receiving priority treatmentin public hospital emergency departments at a function with doctors in March, Fairfax reports. One last thing Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have tied the knot in a small wedding ceremony in France. Have an excellent day – and if you spot anything I’ve missed, let me know in the comments here or on Twitter @newsmary. Sign up Get the Morning Mail direct to your inbox before 8am every day by signing up here. |