Morning everyone. The trail of the US$1.89bn HyperVerse scheme takes another twist today with our top story revealing that Australia’s corporate watchdog referred information to Victoria police over concerns about “possible fraud offences” in 2020 but no action was taken. Another exclusive story shows that Australian academics collaborated on drone research with an Iranian university now blacklisted for links to the country’s military. Overseas, former general Prabowo Subianto looks set to win power in Indonesia, and Nikki Haley has stepped up her attacks on “unhinged” Donald Trump.
Australia
‘Weatherproof’ grid | Victoria’s energy minister will push for a national approach to weatherproof the electricity grid after a deadly storm left hundreds of thousands across the state without power.
‘Ponzi’ investigation | When the corporate watchdog referred information about the alleged “Ponzi scheme” known as HyperVerse to Victoria police, Asic believed that the matter was under active consideration. However, nearly two years later, the police passed it back – by which time many Australians were out of pocket.
Exclusive | Academics in the UK, Australia and the US collaborated on research related to drone technology with an Iranian university that is under international financial sanctions and known for its close ties to the military.
‘Sleaze’ crackdown | Independent senator Lidia Thorpe says parliament has waited too long for a workplace enforcement body, and has called for “sleazy” politicians to be excluded from sitting weeks and fined for bad behaviour.
‘End the climate wars’ | Environmentalists have implored Queensland’s opposition party to “end the climate wars” by backing the government’s carbon emissions reduction target.
World
Haley attack | Donald Trump is “unhinged” and “diminished”, said Nikki Haley, the former president’s last rival for the Republican presidential nomination. Separately, Trump has written a Valentine’s Day message to his wife, Melania, which doubles as a fundraising message to his supporters.
Indonesia frontrunner | The Indonesian defence minister, Prabowo Subianto, a former general dogged by allegations of human rights abuses dating back to the Suharto dictatorship, is on course to win the country’s presidential race.
Amazon threat | A study published in the journal Nature today finds that, by the middle of the century, 10% to 47% of Amazonian forests will be threatened by a combination of impacts including global warming, changing rainfall, longer dry seasons, deforestation and fires.
Gaza talks | Negotiations involving several countries on a Gaza ceasefire deal have entered a second day in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, as mediators struggle to make progress in the face of a threatened Israeli offensive on Rafah.
Black Sea strike | Ukraine claims to have severely damaged and sunk a Russian landing ship in its latest drone attack against Moscow’s Black Sea fleet.
Full Story
Why Peter Dutton doesn’t want the right to disconnect
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, says the right to disconnect laws passed this week will damage productivity. Paul Karp explains what the legislation means for you and why it is shaping up to be an election battle.
In-depth
The New South Wales environment watchdog raised concerns about mulch manufactured last year that it could not inspect. Meanwhile, the scandal over mulch contaminated with asbestos turning up in parks around Sydney continues to grow. Our explainer reveals that there are no specific requirements to test mulch for contaminants and the Greens now want a root and branch overhaul of the regulations to prevent a repeat.
Not the news
An independent Australian theatre company from regional Victoria has been awarded the prestigious Golden Lion award for lifetime achievement in theatre by the Venice Biennale. Geelong’s Back to Back Theatre, pictured, which draws its ensemble cast from neurodivergent and disabled communities, is the first Australian company or individual that has been recognised in the Biennale’s theatrical category. Artistic director Bruce Gladwin says theatre “should challenge people and it doesn’t always suit everyone”.
The world of sport
Women’s cricket | After two historic wins by South Africa’s women’s cricket team over Australia – one each in the T20 and ODI series – the two begin an eagerly anticipated Test in Perth today.
Champions League | Lazio take on Bayern Munich and Kylian Mbappe’s PSG play Real Sociedad in this morning’s last 16 ties. Follow them live.
Super Bowl | Travis Kelce says his confrontation with his Kansas City Chiefs head coach during Sunday’s match was “definitely unacceptable”, while the vanquished 49ers coach has denied his team will never be able to win the big prize.
Media roundup
Firefighters in Victoria have told the Age of the worst fire conditions since the Black Summer fires of 2019. After winning the day in court yesterday, an editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald thinks Lisa Wilkinson’s Logies speech might have been misjudged but Ten should have stuck with her. The tiny Queensland town of Toobeah, 330km south-west of Brisbane, has been split over a freehold transfer of land to the local Indigenous corporation, the Courier Mail reports. A cyclone watch is in place for parts of the Northern Territory and Queensland with coastal communities in the firing line, NT News reports.
What’s happening today
Coronavirus | Hearing at federal court in Sydney as airline workers fired for refusing Covid vaccine sue Virgin, Jetstar and Qantas.
Business | Financial results from Whitehaven Coal, Wesfarmers, Origin Energy and Telstra.
New South Wales | Public hearing into the equity and accessibility of outpatient mental health care.
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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.
