Joe Biden considers dropping charges against Julian Assange

AWK-US

US President Joe Biden says he’s “contemplating” dropping the fees towards WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, the BBC reviews. It was in response to a query in a single day about our Parliament (together with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) voting 86-42 for a movement calling for the return of Assange again because the saga had gone on lengthy sufficient, as Reuters reviews. His spouse Stella Assange tweeted (X’d?) on the president urging him to “Do the suitable factor. Drop the fees.” Assange stays at Belmarsh jail within the UK after his extradition to the US was placed on ice — London’s Excessive Court docket stated the US should present assurances Assange wouldn’t face the loss of life penalty in his 18 counts, 17 of which fall below the Espionage Act and one below pc misuse. The US alleges Assange helped US military intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning steal diplomatic cables and army recordsdata that WikiLeaks then printed, Guardian Australia explains.

In different US/us information, Anthony Albanese needs to make use of taxpayer {dollars} to incentivise extra manufacturing and clear vitality tasks on house soil, the SMH reviews, as we attempt to compete with Biden’s monumental Inflation Discount Act. After all, we will’t go “greenback for greenback” with the US, Albanese will say at the moment, however we will compete for worldwide funding. International locations just like the US, Japan, South Korea and Canada, in addition to the European Union, are seeing and appearing on the hyperlink between “financial safety and nationwide safety”, he’ll add, and we have to as properly. Albanese has lengthy stated we have to manufacture far more batteries and photo voltaic panels right here, significantly contemplating the world’s largest provider China stated moderately chillingly in a single day that nobody can cease a China-Taiwan “household reunion” as Al Jazeera reported. The US will certainly strive, Reuters reviews, and so they’re our most essential ally.

PEACEFUL LANDS

Opposition Chief Peter Dutton claimed Penny Wong saying {that a} two-state answer the place Palestine has statehood might result in peace was probably the most “reckless act of a international [affairs] minister I’ve seen in my 22 years”, The Australian ($) reviews. That is regardless of the feedback being “merely a restatement of Australia’s long-standing place” as 9 newspapers’ political and worldwide editor Peter Hartcher identified (and the final authorities froze our multi-billion-dollar commerce relationship with China by calling for a COVID-19 origin probe, however anyway). Dutton continued that “Hamas will at all times pose an existential menace to Israel”, which is one thing Wong really addressed head-on in saying Hamas might by no means play a job in Palestine’s management. The opposition chief additionally stated the October 9 protest on the Opera Home confirmed “one thing is rotten within the state of Australia” and implored cops to cease being weak and woke in relation to antisemitism, Guardian Australia provides.

In the meantime, a wishlist of drugs and gear for Gaza totalling $7.7 million was present in an working theatre precinct in Melbourne’s Royal Kids’s Hospital, The Australian ($) reviews, although it isn’t positive why. The precinct is a safe space that the general public can’t enter, sources advised the paper, and administration stated it could examine the 10-page-long record which seems to inflate the worth of things. Staying in Victoria a second and Premier Jacinta Allan says she’s pondering over former Treaty development commissioner Aunty Jill Gallagher’s suggestion that Indigenous peoples in Victoria ought to be exempted from paying land tax and stamp responsibility, Sky Information Australia reviews. It’s one in every of 10 issues Gallagher says ought to be a part of a Treaty between the state authorities and Indigenous peoples.

WHAT I GOT

NSW’s Impartial Fee In opposition to Corruption (ICAC) has ditched its investigation into former Labor frontbencher Tim Crakanthorp, the ABC reviews, as a result of his behaviour wasn’t critical sufficient to be “corrupt conduct”. Premier Chris Minns referred the Newcastle MP to the watchdog after Crakanthorp dobbed himself for a breach of the ministerial code of conduct — it was to deal with accusations of a battle of curiosity associated to his spouse’s household’s property portfolio within the area. Minns’ workplace stated it was getting some authorized recommendation about publishing the ICAC report, which — relying on its contents — might result in a pathway for Crakanthorp’s return.

In the meantime, Labor MP Julian Hill has declared a present described as a “75-centimetre statue of himself”, Guardian Australia reviews, and described its worth as “priceless” (however in all probability greater than $300). At his ft, the paper continues “are what seem like a feather duster and a white piece of cloth — each particulars Hill himself was unable to make clear”. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared a watch from the Sultan of Brunei and a customized vinyl file turntable from US President Joe Biden (each had been surrendered to the division). In the meantime, the cops have busted a $1 billion laundering rip-off allegedly involving 1,200 companies, The Every day Telegraph reviews. Police say companies might ship digital fund transfers or cheques for non-existent companies to a felony organisation and get pretend invoices in return. Then they acquired their a reimbursement much less a charge.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE

Heidi Ernst dangled her legs off a ship within the turquoise Caribbean Sea, wriggling her toes with pleasure. They had been diving in Shark Junction, one thing which may’ve frightened Ernst earlier than the 523 dives the 73-year-old had executed within the final decade. Ominously, the diving instructors held the divers again slightly longer — one other group had been feeding the sharks right here earlier, that means they’d been lured to the floor. OK, they stated, go! After her dive, she climbed again aboard. Off got here the diving masks, her tank, and her wetsuit with a plonk on the deck, and Ernst slid into the water as soon as extra. Refreshed, she grabbed the highest rung for the second time that day when she was blindsided by a horrible ache in her left leg. Trying again right into a pair of beady, inky black eyes, she realised her limb wasn’t seen anymore.

Ernst’s first intuition was to punch the reef shark, which retreated into the bloody water. Pulling her aboard, the crew shortly wrapped her leg. She recalled to The Guardian listening to a person murmur prayer as he held her head on the journey again to land. Her leg was later amputated. When she unwrapped her bandaging, Ernst famous the surgeon had saved one factor: her shark tattoo. That’s it, she thought. I made it, and I’m going to maintain on making it. Humour was an essential survival device — she joked to a good friend she appeared ahead to being photographed outdoors an IHOP restaurant, wore a sock that stated “a shark did it”, and even named her new prosthetic leg “chomp”. Then, the not possible: mere months after the assault, the fearless Ernst booked a flight to the Bahamas, pulled on a wetsuit, and slid into that heat ocean as soon as once more for a dive. Unattainable is nothing.

Hoping you possibly can summon even a skerrick of that braveness at the moment.

SAY WHAT?

Whereas nobody was killed throughout the October 9 protests, the occasions on the Sydney Opera Home had been akin to a Port Arthur second when it comes to their social significance.

Peter Dutton

The opposition chief thought that Australia’s worst bloodbath, the place a gunman shot useless 35 individuals, was an acceptable comparability for the pro-Palestine protest the place police discovered “no proof” anybody had chanted “gasoline the Jews”, as extensively claimed.

CRIKEY RECAP

If Lehrmann wins, he should still lose: right here’s what Justice Lee will likely be weighing up

Bruce Lehrmann (Picture: AAP/Bianca De Marchi)

“When a court docket offers with an allegation of significant wrongdoing, such {that a} constructive discovering can be detrimental to the alleged wrongdoer, the legislation applies the so-called Briginshaw commonplace. It comes from an previous English case, and principally says that the extra critical the allegation, the extra ‘exacting’ the usual of proof the court docket ought to require.

“In utility to this case, it means Lee’s process will not be so simple as deciding which of Lehrmann’s or Higgins’ variations of the related occasions he prefers after which deciding the case accordingly. He needs to be positively persuaded that the allegation is true.”

‘One other manner they’ll screw us’: Qantas pilots bristle at expanded frequent flyer program

“Bulletins akin to this are a time-honoured manner of distracting the market — and the media — from what’s really taking place contained in the enterprise, with Hudson persevering with to run into engine hassle. Qantas’ latest plane, the single-aisle A220s which might be changing its ageing fleet of B717s (common age 21.7 years) — which obtained the complete public relations remedy on the firm’s six-month outcomes announcement in February — are already having issues.

“The A220s come armed with so referred to as next-generation engines made by Pratt & Whitney which might be inflicting hassle for airways across the globe. These have already hit Qantas, engineers stated. Airbus A320NEO, additionally on order by Qantas, makes use of the identical sort of engine.”

Tony Abbott’s enjoyable new pals, Julian Hill’s enjoyable present, Julie Bishop’s enjoyable revisionism

“…[Bishop’s] function as international affairs minister and sole feminine cupboard member meant the cupboard boasted yet another girl than Tony Abbott had wished to nominate. She didn’t go public with it, however wished, apparently, that the media had expressed extra outrage on her behalf.

“We are able to see why she may need anticipated the media to fulfill her greater than midway on the disconnect between her views and actions, given the desperation to credit score her for views that she hadn’t really expressed, such on marriage equality or the remedy of ladies within the Liberal Occasion.”

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Russia, Kazakhstan evacuate 110,000 individuals as file floods set to worsen (Al Jazeera)

EU approves main overhaul of migration guidelines (BBC)

Canada prone to one other devastating wildfire season, federal authorities warns (CBC)

Trump says he wouldn’t signal federal abortion ban (CNN)

China and Taiwan are destined for ‘reunification’, Xi tells former president (The Guardian)

Three sons of Hamas chief Haniyeh killed in Israeli airstrike (Reuters)

Spain to finish golden visas for international actual property buyers (euronews)

How a case towards Fox Information tore aside a media-fighting legislation agency (The New York Occasions) ($)

THE COMMENTARIAT

Anthony Albanese places interventionist business coverage on the centre of his price range agenda — Michelle Grattan (The Dialog): “Albanese factors to the US Inflation Discount Act which is able to direct almost US$400 billion (A$605 billion) in federal funding to assist clear vitality and the US CHIPS Act which is able to direct $280 billion (A$422 billion) in new funding to spice up analysis and manufacturing of semiconductors. The prime minister says the European Union has launched an Financial Safety Technique, Japan has launched an Financial Safety Promotion Act, the Republic of Korea is re-framing its financial coverage round nationwide safety, and Canada has tightened international direct funding in crucial minerals …

Final month two-thirds of the main economists surveyed by the Financial Society of Australia and The Dialog backed ‘extra grants to progressive corporations throughout the complete financial system’ as a response to the Inflation Discount Act. One other quarter backed assist particularly tied to renewable vitality tasks. Solely 4 of the 42 surveyed counselled towards further assist for business. Albanese is delivering the speech in Queensland, which he talks up as having ‘a pivotal function’ in realising and constructing a future made in Australia. Queensland, through which federal seats are overwhelmingly in Coalition arms, is the place Labor must make some inroads at subsequent yr’s election. At a state stage, the Labor authorities is on the again foot forward of this yr’s election.”

Media commentators have misplaced their minds in early overreaction to Sam Mostyn’s governor-general appointment — Samantha Maiden (The Herald Solar): “… she’s a woman and to show we’re not being sucked into gender politics you’ve merely acquired to nominate one other man? She has not risen by way of the ranks to grow to be an Anglican priest, or the pinnacle of the army, or a choose like William Deane. Many commentators had been in such a froth about her touchdown the gig you’ll suppose that Anthony Albanese had appointed Che Guevara, or Vladimir Lenin, or Valerie Solanas, that loopy woman who tried to shoot Andy Warhol. If there was a vibe, it was perversely steered the Carla Zampatti-wearing Ms Mostyn was secretly a Jane–Fonda-during-her-Hanoi-Jane-period throughout the Vietnam Warfare.

“Ought to we expect Sam Mostyn to look subsequent in a mugshot and crewcut, getting arrested for some counterculture taking place? As an apart, even William Deane’s tenure as governor-general was not with out controversy. Because the Excessive Court docket’s personal web site notes, ‘his profession was an unpredictable mixture of conservative and radical components’. For instance, he was an outspoken commentator on social points. He advocated for the rights of Indigenous peoples constant together with his judgment in Mabo, the place the dispossession of Aboriginal peoples was recognized as ‘the darkest facet of the historical past of this nation’. He defended multiculturalism, the reconciliation course of, native title … So who the hell is Samantha Mostyn? She is an Australian businesswoman and local weather change and gender fairness advocate, and the primary feminine AFL commissioner.”