Royce Kurmelovs

Chris Minns’ own security expert warned that tougher police powers after Bondi could ‘increase radicalisation’ Alexandra Caples suggested expanded NSW laws could ‘damage trust between police and communities, undermining broader efforts to counter extremism’

Speaking of Minns, turns out his own security expert, Alexandra Caples warned that expanding police powers and restricting protest rights could “increase radicalisation”. She was promptly ignored

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Iranian journalist reports in front of the flames of a burning Oil depot.

1/ Oil hit $111 today. The Strait of Hormuz — through which 20% of world oil flows — has never been closed like this. Ever. If you're surprised, you weren't paying attention. Thread on winners, losers, and what "diversified investor" actually means right now.

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If we are thinking about the worst case, think: shortages in fertilizer, gasoline, jet fuel, plastics, chemical feedstocks, and much more. A ground war could choke off the oil and gas that are the LIFEBLOOD of the modern economy. Effects would ripple around the world. 🛢️🌎

Toxic Wastewater From Oil Fields Keeps Pouring Out of the Ground. Oklahoma Regulators Failed to Stop It. Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from old wells. Experts warn of a pollution crisis spreading underground and threatening Oklahoma’s drin...

Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, keeps shooting out of the ground in Oklahoma.

Experts say it means even more wastewater is spreading underground, poisoning the state’s water supply.

(Published Oct. 2025 with @readfrontier.bsky.social)

Sources Briefed on Iran War Say U.S. Has No Plans for What Comes Next “The administration doesn’t have a clue. They do not have an actual, real rationale, endgame, or plan for the aftermath of this.”

'“You and I will be gone,” the U.S. official said, also referring to this reporter, “and Trump, too, but this attack on Iran is going to have a super long half-life. Generations long.”'

Excerpt from article in The Saturday Paper discussing the domestic considerations of Labor's stance on the Iran war.

There is a fatwa, or religious order, that prohibits the Iranian government from acquiring and developing nuclear weapons. People have argued aspects of this, but it was signed by Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated by Israel in the opening hours of the US-Israeli attack on Iran.

Scoop: U.S. dismayed by Israel's Iran fuel strikes, sources say The U.S. message to Israel was "WTF."

Axios reports Israeli strikes on Iranian oil storage over and above what US expected.

‘Dark, like our future’: Iranians describe scenes of catastrophe after Tehran’s oil depots bombed Residents report terror of smoke-filled city, from potentially toxic rain, air and water to food scarcity and difficulty of escape

‘Dark, like our future’: Iranians describe scenes of catastrophe after Tehran’s oil depots bombed

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

The planned phaseout of oil, gas and coal is looking less "radical" by the hour.

Australian gas producers reap windfalls as Iran war chokes global supply Angela Macdonald-Smith Angela Macdonald-Smith Senior resources writer Mar 6, 2026 – 1.38pm Save Share Gift this article Listen to this article 7 min Australia’s biggest gas producers are cashing in on the conflict in the Middle East and the suspension of Qatari LNG production, which has disrupted global supply, with deals struck at more than double recent market rates. Santos, the country’s second-biggest listed oil and gas producer, finalised a deal with a commodities trader on Wednesday for the sale of an LNG cargo at about $US25 ($35) per million British thermal units (MMBtu), according to market sources, who were not authorised to speak publicly.

Not a single soul on the planet happier about bloodshed, conflict, uncertainty, rising energy bills, fuel shortages and cost of living collapse than the CEO of a fossil fuel company

The worse the death and destruction, the happier they (and the shareholders) get

www.afr.com/companies/en...

UK faces growing calls from locals to remove Cyprus military bases Foreign minister, Constantinos Kombos, tells Guardian Iranian-made drone that hit airbase was launched from Lebanon

[UK faces growing calls from locals to remove Cyprus military bases]

“Britain is facing growing calls to withdraw its military bases from Cyprus as locals step up protests against facilities seen as threat to their security after unprecedented drone attack“

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

The Gulf states & Israel depend on water desalination to live. If Israel & US break the taboo of bombing vulnerable desal infrastructure, they risk catastrophic harm.

Percent of drinking water from desal:
Israel: 80%
Kuwait: 90%
Saudi Arabia: 70%
Oman: 86%
UAW: 42%

www.ndtv.com/world-news/i...

Look, Brisbane, I get it. You are very cool but also very wet.

Before you share that story about how troops were told the Iran War is for "Armageddon," read this The narrative is dramatic. The sourcing is thin. And skepticism matters, especially on something this serious.

I agree with a lot of this, worth reading:

www.friendlyatheist.com/p/before-you...

There have also been reports the US would target the oil terminal on Kharg Island.

North Tehran’s Aqdasiyeh oil depot is ablaze tonight after it was targeted by multiple US-Israeli airstrikes. Apocalyptic scenes filmed by Iranians driving on the nearby highway. Local reporters saying firefighters can’t put it out. This depot is critical energy infrastructure for Iran.

Not saying these are related but there's enough to know we don't know anything right now.

Screenshot from a post to social media.

Follow up responses providing more context.

Mike Prysner, Executive Director of the Center on Conscience And War, said in a post to social media on Saturday that his organisation has received calls from the mothers of US troops being sent on combat deployments to Iran. They were told they were being sent for training.

Trump threatens ‘very hard’ expanded strikes; Iran vows never to surrender The US-Israeli war against Iran has entered its second week with no signs of slowing down.

Al Jazeera English reports Iran claims it has captured US soldiers. US denies claim, calling it "lies".

How Elon Musk’s Sci-Fi Hyperloop Failed Before his misadventures in government efficiency, Musk promised to revolutionize commuting with a subway that would speed passengers between DC and Baltimore in a matter of minutes. The project was a...

A year long investigation into the Hyperloop found …

“The truth was far simpler, far dumber, and far more prescient: Musk and his lieutenants truly had no idea what they were doing.”

washingtonian.com/2026/02/12/h...

The long arc of Donald Trump’s obsession with Iran Iranians are demanding economic justice, says historian Behrooz Ghamari—but Trump is just demanding their oil.

The US and Israel "are not going to stop until they have free access to Iran’s resources and oil."

Bhakthi***

I'm an idiot.

As someone who routinely mocks permabullish clickbait oil forecasts, I want to be exceptionally clear:

Crude WILL go to $200/bbl, en route higher, unless traffic through the Strait resumes.

Not clickbait, but rather brutal physics and necessary economic incentives.

Use the Defense Production Act to produce an electric Geo Tracker and be legends

Oops. Correction as Jason points out here:

Iran has also said it will only attack Israeli and US vessels given their involvement in the war. Still, the broader point remains that this is the sort of reckless, covering-your-arse measure you do when you didn't bother to think through the consequences of your actions.

/9

I should also say the US Navy has already flagged it does not currently have the resources and logistics in place to protect shipping and there are plenty of reasons for a shipping company not to take the risk, even with these guarantees. Some of course, will be willing to risk it.

/8

A tangent to all this: the city of Dubai was after its ports were used to run salvage during the Tanker War between Iran and Iraq. What is happening now is very bad news for the city and UAE, but is a little like a return to Dubai's roots if this keeps on.

/7

If claims start getting paid out, you're looking at a transfer of wealth with US taxpayer money going to private companies. There's also the possibility that you create an incentive for companies, particularly with older tankers, to feed ships and crews to the woodchipper. It's win-win for them.

/6