Morning everyone. The long tail of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic rears its head again today with the news that almost all of Australia’s leading universities have dropped down the world rankings, thanks to the loss of international brainpower during the years of isolation.
We have an exclusive revealing that Australian officials have agreed to meet their Qatari counterparts to explain their controversial airline routes decision, and a fascinating insight into the Murdoch empire.
Plus, do read our investigation into vanished businessman John Margerison and his connection to an NDIS charity.
Australia
Qatar meeting | Australian bureaucrats have agreed to hold to clear-the-air talks with Qatar over Canberra’s “unfair” decision to deny the Gulf state’s airline extra flights.
Ranking slip | Almost all of Australia’s top 10 universities dropped places in this year’s global ranking, with only the University of Melbourne remaining in the top 50. It’s a “red-light warning” according to the list’s compilers at Times Higher Education, with more money needed for research especially.
Exclusive | John Margerison, the vanished businessman with links to former Coalition minister Stuart Robert, stands to pocket up to $40m over 10 years in payments from an NDIS charity that he controlled through one of his health services companies.
Privacy reforms | Australians will gain a right to sue for “serious” breaches of privacy under reforms that would also require small businesses to comply with privacy laws for the first time.
Exclusive | Anthony Albanese will do more to accelerate the transition to low emissions after the voice referendum has concluded, declaring the “right decisions” are needed to ensure Australia emerges a winner in the global race to renewable energy.
World
Armenia ‘genocide’| Armenian Americans are calling for the US to stop the “genocide” in Nagorno-Karabakh, the enclave disputed between Armenia and neighbouring Azerbaijan. An estimated 40% of the region’s population – 50,000 people – has fled into Armenia in the face of Azeri attacks.
Private returns | Travis King, the American soldier who fled across the border into North Korea in July, is back in US custody after Sweden helped broker a deal to send him home.
German raids | Police have carried out raids across Germany as ministers announced a ban on a far-right group described as a “cult-like, deeply racist and antisemitic association” that sought to indoctrinate children with Nazi ideology.
‘Oh Laurence!’ | GB News – run by Australian Angelos Frangopoulos – has suspended the presenter Dan Wootton after misogynistic comments made on his show by the actor and culture warrior Laurence Fox. Wootton apologised but then drew a hostile response from Fox as the fallout for the channel worsened.
Vintage auction | A 1959 Château Lafite Rothschild and a 1961 Château Latour are among the highlights of a wine collection going up for auction that is expected to fetch £41m ($78m).
Full Story
The voice AMA: Rachel Perkins on the final weeks of the campaign
Yes23 co-chair and film-maker Rachel Perkins breaks down the “lies” promoted by some no supporters, while Treaty Before Voice convener Boe Spearim explains why he’s voting no.
In-depth
As media watchers grapple with the meaning of Rupert Murdoch’s decision to step down from day-to-day control of his media empire, we have a must-read interview with Michael Wolff who has just published a new book on the mogul – The Fall: The End of the Murdoch Empire. Wolff shares his insight into the empire (Rupert hates Fox News but can’t sell it because it makes too much money), why Lachlan is “Hamlet figure” and whether Donald Trump is a moron, a genius, or both.
Not the news
Luke Buckmaster has been to see Delta Goodrem’s new Netflix film, a romcom called Love is in the Air. It’s fair to say that he didn’t enjoy it very much. He warns: “Most audiences will emerge from this formulaic and hammily acted production feeling like they’ve inhaled a block of cheese the size of a car battery.”
The world of sport
Cricket | The returning Glenn Maxwell helped Australia beat India by 66 runs in the third and final one-day international in Rajkot overnight, with the allrounder taking a career-best 4-40 with his spinners.
NRL | Newcastle skipper Kalyn Ponga has claimed a shock Dally M medal, pipping heavy favourite Shaun Johnson, while the Knights doubled up when Tamika Upton won the women’s award.
Grand finals | As the grand final buildup goes on, we hear from a Penrith fan who “loves the Panthers too much”, and a family of Brisbane Lions fans who are carrying the flame of the club’s VFL antecedents – Fitzroy.
Media roundup
Law firms are losing large numbers of young lawyers who are quitting rather than put up with the profession’s traditional long hours, the Australian reports. Tasmania’s chief children’s advocate has welcomed recommendations that her office will be replaced by a new body after the royal commission into abuse, the Mercury says. The tenth anniversary of a bikie brawl that “changed the Gold Coast foorever” is the subject of a special feature in the Bulletin.
What’s happening today
Euthanasia | The inaugural Voluntary Assisted Dying National Conference in Sydney to help build the future of end-of-life care.
Sydney | Verdict in trial of Sri Lankan international cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka on sexual assault charge.
Economy | The ABS releases date on ABS releases job vacancies, national accounts, regional population and retail trade.
Sign up
If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here. And finish your day with a three-minute snapshot of the day’s main news. Sign up for our Afternoon Update newsletter here.
Prefer notifications? If you’re reading this in our app, just click here and tap “Get notifications” on the next screen for an instant alert when we publish every morning.
Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day – with plenty more on the Guardian’s Puzzles app for iOS and Android. Until tomorrow.
