Morning everyone. There’s a cyclone roughly every two years, people are super-prepared for extreme weather and had plenty of notice as Tropical Cyclone Jasper rolled across the Pacific towards far north Queensland. But somehow no one was quite ready for what happened after it hit land and dumped more than 2 metres of rain. Our reporters look at the chaotic aftermath, we have a poll showing the impact of flight cancellations over the past 12 months, and the UN prepares for another Gaza ceasefire vote.
Australia
Flight risk | Less than half of Australians who seek a refund for a cancelled flight receive it within a month while one-fifth of those seeking a refund wait more than six months. A poll by Choice also finds that two in five respondents had a flight cancelled or delayed in the 12 months in the year to October.
‘Never seen anything like it’ | “It was just unbelievable,” says Peter McKewon, a cafe owner in Mossman in far north Queensland as he describes the flooding that has left the town inundated in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper and has required the military to assist with rescue and recovery. Our experts look at whether global heating is to blame for the extreme event, and how road closures in the region could push up the cost of bananas and mangoes.
Migrants ‘scapegoated’ | More than 40 housing and welfare groups say they are concerned migrants are being scapegoated for Australia’s housing crisis.
NDIS demand | Governments will need to invest an additional $25bn over the next five years if it is to rein in the NDIS’s growth by lifting disability services outside the scheme to a high enough level, a leading actuary has estimated.
Brown’s evidence | Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation trial will continue hearing today from former Liberal staffer Fiona Brown after she was compelled to give evidence on the proviso the court’s live stream was disabled.
World
Ceasefire vote | The UN security council will be asked to vote again today for a ceasefire in Gaza that allows the delivery of humanitarian aid by land sea and air. The former UK defence secretary has warned that the Israeli government’s “killing rage” in Gaza will fuel conflict for another 50 years.
Mone voice | The Conservative life peer and businesswoman Michelle Mone has condemned Rishi Sunak after he expressed concern at her admission she lied about involvement in a company that won lucrative deals during Covid. She says the government “knew about my involvement from the very beginning”.
Navalny ‘disappearance’ | Russian judges have halted new criminal proceedings against the jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny amid growing concerns that he has suffered a “forced disappearance”.
Serbia sweep | Serbia’s governing populists have claimed a sweeping victory in the country’s parliamentary election on Sunday, which was marred by reports of major irregularities both during a tense campaign and on voting day.
Full Story
2023 in Australian books: controversy, classics and the “hot mess millennial novel”
It’s been a huge year for Australian literature, with new work from authors including Anna Funder, Richard Flanagan and Christos Tsiolkas. Guardian Australia culture editor Steph Harmon and deputy culture editor Sian Cain discuss the best new works.
In-depth
We have a heartbreaking special report today from India where our correspondent looks at the injustices of the country’s overloaded and often heartless healthcare system. She talks to the family of Fayza Ansari, a smart, ambitious 14-year-old girl who wanted to be an engineer but instead died this month from leukaemia. They describe how Fayza shrieked in pain, pleading with doctors to treat her before one told her family: “Stop this. Pick her up and take her away.”
Not the news
How Neil Gaiman and an Australian string quartet that does Metallica and Radiohead covers became a match made in heaven seems beyond words even for the goth English novelist. Undaunted, he tries to describe to Sian Cain the sequence of events behind his slightly unlikely upcoming concerts in Sydney and Melbourne with FourPlay. “It’s like a gothy yoghurt starter,” Gaiman offers. “The gothy yoghurt starter that oozes through.”
The world of sport
AFLW | No1 draft pick Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner is staying at home in Melbourne after being chosen by the Bulldogs, but last night’s gala night showed more players are going interstate as the expands.
Sailing | The Sydney to Hobart fleet are in for a nervous week after the long-range weather forecast revealed uncertainty over conditions for the race.
Champions League | Holders Manchester City will face Copenhagen in the last 16, while Napoli play Barcelona and Arsenal have been paired with Porto.
Media roundup
Locals have told the Cairns Post about their lucky escapes from submerged homes and how “boat heroes” have rescued hundreds of stranded people. The Sydney Morning Herald hears how “reality bites for Covid tree changers” being called back to work in city offices. Victoria’s opposition tells the Age that outrage over the intervention of Mick Gatto in a building dispute could have been avoided if Labor hadn’t scrapped a construction watchdog. The West Australian pays tribute to the “Lyon King” after Nathan Lyon helped secure a thumping win against Pakistan in Perth.
What’s happening today
Sydney | Prime minister Anthony Albanese will give the Lowy Institute lecture this evening.
Economy | Reserve Bank monetary policy meeting minutes released.
New South Wales | Inquest into the deaths of two Indigenous women found dead north of Bourke in 1987 along with an uninjured, intoxicated man.
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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.
