This was published 7 years ago
Russia's opposition leader arrested as anti-Putin protests sweep Russia
Every Monday to Friday I'll be delivering a personally-curated newsletter. Call it the double espresso of news – the morning news kickstart for busy people who want to know what they need to know before they get going.
By Latika Bourke
1. Russia
Russia's opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been arrested by police for taking part in some of the biggest protests held across Russia in five years. [Shaun Walker/The Guardian]
Note in the state-owned RT report how many times they say the demonstrations were "unsanctioned." [RT]
Police detain a man in Moscow as protests sweep Russia.Credit: ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO
More than one hundred people were arrested. "A warning over a loudspeaker urged people to 'think of the consequences' and disperse now," reports The Washington Post. [David Filipov]
So what are they protesting about? Corruption allegations levelled at Dmitry Medvedev published by Navalny's anti-corruption foundation, claiming the prime minister owns yachts, mansions and even a house for ducks, far beyond the wealth a person of his position should have. [BBC]
2. North Korea's missiles could reach Australia
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop in the demilitarised zone in South Korea.
A US General has told Foreign Minister Julie Bishop that North Korea could soon be capable of launching a nuclear strike on Australia.
"It was the first time I had heard [the warning] in such stark terms," Ms Bishop tells Cameron Stewart. [The Australian]
And a very interesting column from Tom Switzer on how the foreign minister contradicted Malcolm Turnbull in calling for China to embrace democracy or risk never reaching its full potential. My must-read for today. [Fairfax]
3. Australian politics
Fairfax's poll released on Sunday night meant a good night's sleep for Labor types. The opposition led by Bill Shorten is a whopping ten points in front of the government led by the beleaguered Malcolm Turnbull. [James Massola/Fairfax]
Peter Hartcher says this shows last week's Newspoll showing Turnbull had narrowed the gap was "more a wobble." [The Sydney Morning Herald]
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
But this part of the poll is really interesting. 44 per cent of Australians support a long-term company tax cut and 17 per cent aren't sure.
It's not majority support but its no "slam dunk" for Labor either, says The Financial Review. [Editorial]
While there is a certainly a valid and important debate to have about inequality, that debate does have to be put side-by-side with the fact that Australians are innately aspirational. Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan learnt the hard way how non-viable class warfare is in Australia.
Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard.Credit: Eddie Jim
Speaking of Gillard, the former PM says you can expect to hear a lot more from her as she takes on her new role at mental health organisation beyondblue. Her warning to journalists trying to draw her into domestic politics is typically sassy. [The Age]
Back to the economy, the proposed company tax rate cut looks doomed to fail in the Senate with South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon demanding the government fix the unrelated energy crisis first. [Ashlynne McGhee]
Turnbull has ordered the ACCC to review electricity prices. [Adam Gartrell/Fairfax]
The Northern Australia Fund could be used to help back a $5 billion coal-fired power station in Queensland. [David Crowe/The Australian]
This follows the government's suggestion that the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, which is supposed to invest in renewable energy (as its name would suggest) could be ordered to finance so-called clean coal. Clean coal is so risky not even the banks will invest. [Rob Henderson/The Australian]
Australia risks becoming a Japan, that is a country financially crippled paying for its ageing population because its failed to strike a sensible balance between what's coming in and what the population expects in terms of welfare. The comments are made by Tony Shepherd who headed former Treasurer Joe Hockey's ill-fated Commission of Audit. [Jacob Greber/Financial Review]
Liberal pollster Mark Textor of CrosbyTextor has made a set of interesting comments about the rise of Pauline Hanson, the role of business in leading and advocating for reform.
Textor, or Tex, as he known says Hanson is a "device" to show the majors that voters will opt for an alternative if one is provided.
He is scathing about the Australian business community, which has gone M.I.A, in advocating for politically unpleasant but economically required changes like the cut to some Sunday penalty rates, but it is his comments on the environment and climate change sceptism that the far-right and conservatives should heed most. [John Lyons/The Australian]
4. Row over encryption
Khalid Masood sent a WhatsApp message just moments before he launched his 82 seconds of carnage at Westminister last week.
Britain's Home Secretary Amber Rudd says it's unacceptable that investigators can't access what was in that message.
Crucially, she did not say she would legislate to enforce such behaviour (an admission such a move would be futile.) [BBC]
WhatsApp says it is cooperating with law enforcement as they investigate the London attack but it's not clear what that exactly means. [Bloomberg]
Judging by Apple's ongoing feud with the FBI, it's unlikely to work out in the government's favour.
Rudd is this week calling in tech companies urging them to work with governments in these situations and demanding removal of extremist content from the internet.
5. Trump turns his tweet-fire on his own
Investors remain hopeful that US President Donald Trump will be able to secure a quick victory on tax cuts.Credit: Olivier Douliery
Donald Trump has changed tack and begun attacking Republicans for the humiliating defeat on the US President's attempt to replace Obamacare. [Bloomberg]
The Trump administration is wondering about the GOP's overall ability to govern. [NBC]
And delivering on Trump's promise to lower taxes could be the next thing the Republicans are destined to fail to agree on. [Wall Street Journal]
6. Germany
Perhaps another sign the populist wave peaked with Trump?
Angela Merkel's conservatives have strengthened their position in a state election widely viewed as a test of her party's standing ahead of national elections later this year. [Reuters]
And that's it from me today, you can follow me on Facebook for more.
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