Good morning, this is Richard Parkin bringing you the main stories and must-reads on Thursday 25 June.
Top stories
Up to 11,000 renewable energy workers are expected to lose their jobs over the next two years, with a first wholesale survey of the sector identifying losses equivalent to the closure of the entire domestic-focused coal industry. Researchers from University of Technology Sydney offered a rosier picture longer-term, on the proviso that 2015 Paris agreement goals were adhered to, with up to 45,000 people expected to find employment in the sector. A failure by the Morrison government to replace the national renewable energy target remains the largest concern in the short term, with a lead author saying government policy could determine “a difference of 30,000 jobs”.
The death toll from the coronavirus in Latin America has passed 100,000, with European nations including Bulgaria, Croatia and Portugal moving swiftly to address second waves of outbreaks. India remains the country where the virus appears to be spreading the most rapidly, with a record 15,968 new infections on Wednesday, including more than 4,000 in the capital, New Delhi. Germany is facing public anger for returning 360,000 people to lockdown after more than 1,700 abattoir workers tested positive for the virus. Hundreds of thousands of Germans are preparing for summer holidays to Spain, Greece and Portugal, prompting concerns of continent-wide reinfections.
The Morrison government will unveil a $250m support package for Australia’s arts and cultural sectors, with the prime minister expected to use Friday’s national cabinet meeting to reach agreement over a timetable for reopening theatres and local productions. The announcement comes as the IMF warns that the abrupt withdrawal of fiscal support by governments could deepen an expected global recession, saying that governments need to “cushion household income losses”. Meanwhile, travellers from Victoria have been left in limbo after the NSW premier advised tourism businesses not to accept customers from Victorian Covid-19 hotspots.
Australia
Peter Dutton’s proposed law to ban mobile phones in onshore immigration detention centres may be unconstitutional, a Senate committee has been told, with the UN, the Australian Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International all expressing their opposition to the home minister’s bill.
Two new Australian research projects are set to address key Covid-19 questions: why does the virus appear to kill more men than women, and how is it impacting frontline health workers. Critical to both studies will be addressing sex or gender biases inherent historically in major medical studies.
The health minister, Greg Hunt, faces a backbench revolt, after unilaterally announcing a ban on the personal importation of liquid nicotine for vaping from 1 July. The LNP MP George Christensen and the Liberal senator James Paterson have expressed their opposition, with Matt Canavan calling the move “overkill”.
The world
The German pharmaceutical giant Bayer has agreed a $10.9bn lawsuit settlement over its subsidiary Monsanto’s weedkiller Roundup, which has been accused of causing cancer. The company faces about 125,000 claims and calls the move “the right action at the right time”.
Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaçi has been indicted for crimes against humanity and war crimes, with a statement by prosecutors investigating Kosovo’s 1998-99 independence war with Serbia alleging that the president and nine other former Kosovan commanders were criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders.
Melting Antarctic sea ice could spell good news for Adélie penguin populations, with researchers suggesting that less-packed ice floes could help the birds forage more effectively, with reduced ice coverage also helping phytoplankton density.
Recommended reads
It’s far too little and it’s probably too late. On the day that new data from the ABS revealed just how massively the arts and recreation industry has been damaged by Covid-19, the government finally announced a rescue package for the arts sector, writes Greg Jericho. “Even once trading and travel restrictions lessen, social-distancing measures will likely be in place indefinitely (or perhaps until a vaccine is found). The arts and recreation industry is the one set to be the most affected by these ongoing restrictions.”
The “climate wars” have dominated Australian politics for the worst part of a decade, but has Anthony Albanese offered Scott Morrison an olive branch? Frank Jotzo thinks so: “Australia’s energy and industrial system is crying out for modernisation. The zero emissions options are right there, and they are affordable.”
In the wake of the Black Lives Matter and Aboriginal Lives Matter movements the genuine desire to learn, to listen and to self-educate is welcome. But it’s also been exhausting, writes Anita Hess. “Passion is needed, it is inspiring, it is helpful, and it gives hope. But it doesn’t come without a lot of extra work on the part of Indigenous people, and an enormous amount of handholding.” So if you want to be an ally, here are a few good places you could start.
The funniest things on the internet has been a Guardian Australia series that keeps on giving. And this time it’s the comedian Becky Lucas compiling the funnies. No matter what kind of week you’re having don’t pretend this Turkish man accidentally talking into a mushroom won’t improve it.
Listen
As a dozen or more new cases pop up each day around Melbourne many have wondered: is a second wave about to break out? On this episode of Full Story, Melissa Davey explains what’s causing this spike and what can be done to contain the spread of the virus.
Full Story is Guardian Australia’s news podcast. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcasting app.
Sport
An Anthony Martial hat-trick has fired Manchester United to the cusp of the Premier League’s top four, with the Frenchmen leading the Red Devil’s 3-0 rout of Sheffield United – stretching the side’s unbeaten run to 13 matches.
Australia and New Zealand’s bid to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup has received a blow after Uefa members of the Fifa council were encouraged to back Colombia instead.
A world champion Paralympic athlete and LGBTI activist, Angela Madsen, has died attempting a solo rowing journey from California to Hawaii. Madsen rebuilt her life after a freak back injury playing basketball and a period of homelessness to win gold, circumnavigate Great Britain, and campaign tirelessly for disabled athletes.
Media roundup
The tech giant Atlassian has revealed plans for the world’s tallest hybrid timber building, claiming its new Sydney headquarters will generate 2,500 jobs and nearly $1bn for the local economy, the Australian reports. Malcolm Turnbull says China expects Australia to be “compliant” with its aggressive foreign policy moves, writes the Sydney Morning Herald. And a proposed shakeup of Adelaide’s public transport could see more than 100 suburbs lose bus stops, the Adelaide Advertiser has revealed.
Coming up
Greg Hunt will announce $21.8m in funding for vital research that could lead to major breakthroughs in treating a range of neurological disorders.
The trial resumes for three Russians and a Ukrainian accused of shooting down of flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine.
And if you’ve read this far …
It’s the genre of art news you never knew you hungered for: “art restoration goes awry”. If you loved Fresco Jesus then a private collector’s outlay of €1,200 to a furniture restorer to give baroque painter Bartolomé Esteban Murillo’s Immaculate Conception of Los Venerables a do-over could be your new catnip. And there’s not one, but two alternative attempts to choose from.
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