RUSH HOUR: The stories you need to know today

A UKRAINIAN daredevil has taken his national pride to dizzying heights by vandalising a much-loved Russian symbol. Only problem is, Moscow isn’t happy about it. Here’s how he nearly caused an international incident.

GOOD morning, and welcome to our morning news coverage. We will be bringing you the best of what’s happening this morning, so you can get across the news quickly.

TODAY:

6:25am

The Abbott government is promising a long-awaited code of conduct with Indonesia will lead to unprecedented intelligence sharing between Indonesia and Australia.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will sign the joint understanding with her counterpart Marty Natalegawa today, almost a year after ties were strained by a spying scandal.

Indonesia suspended co-operation on people smuggling, defence and intelligence sharing with Australia after revelations Canberra spied on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his wife and inner circle.

The agreement broadly stipulates that both nations won’t use their intelligence resources to harm the other’s interests.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, left, is greeted by his Indonesian counterpart Marty Natalegawa prior to their meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2013. Picture: Tatan Syuflana

6:20am

Russian authorities are on the hunt for a Ukrainian thrill seeker after he painted the star of one of Moscow’s iconic Stalin-era skyscrapers in the colours of the Ukrainian flag in the name of Ukraine’s Independence Day.

Urban “roofer” Grigory, known online by his moniker Mustang Wanted, fessed up to the deed after he posted a selfie atop a skyscraper on the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment.

Mustang covered the flag attached to its spire and its Soviet-star pinnacle in yellow and blue paint last Wednesday.

Post by Mustang Wanted.

“I consider what I did an art performance and dedicate it to Ukraine’s Independence Day,” he wrote.

“I’m that person who in an outburst of sincere patriotic feelings climbed the roof of the high-rise Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building and repainted the star on top of it in the colours of our dear Ukrainian flag, and then also raised a flag of independent Ukraine. I have photo and video evidence of that.”

The climber said he made the confession to save four Russian climbers, who have been detained under house arrest over the incident. The group denied the claims, claiming they were base jumpers climbing separate high rises at the time.

Mustang has particularly targeted the Kotelnicheskaya skyscraper, along with a number of other Stalinist buildings in Moscow known as the “Seven Sisters” — considered the city’s top landmarks.

He’s now gained a reputation for online for his daredevil stunts, climbing high rise buildings in all conditions — with no safety equipment. Check out a compilation of his best climbs here. Just don’t look down!