Good afternoon.
The risk of flash flooding in the aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred has triggered warnings to thousands of people living near rivers and creeks in south-east Queensland to seek shelter or find high ground, as more than 200,000 households and businesses remain without power.
It didn’t take long for the extreme weather event to turn political, with Peter Dutton this morning attempting to quash criticism that he “sold out” his constituents when he attended a Sydney fundraising soiree as then Tropical Cyclone Alfred bore down on Queensland.
In New South Wales, the premier, Chris Minns, has told flood-affected evacuees that emergency refuge centres will be closed once the immediate threat from the ex-tropical cyclone has passed – and that the centres are not a solution for homelessness.
Follow the latest developments of the storm via our live blog.
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In pictures
An architect designed a sustainable home inside a glass box in Norway. Her family live there among a garden filled with fruit and veg that grow even in the harshest Norwegian winters – the result is pretty extraordinary.
What they said …
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“I hate to predict things like that.”
Donald Trump has not ruled out the possibility of a US recession this year amid market turbulence and uncertainty after his trade tariffs policy. The US president acknowledged the “period of transition” and said “what we’re doing is very big. We’re bringing wealth back to America. It takes a little time but I think it should be great for us.”
In numbers
Art lovers and tourists from around the world flocked to the Pompidou Centre in Paris over the weekend, before it closed its doors on Monday. The revamp, removing the museum’s 2,000-strong permanent collection, is estimated to cost €262m.
Before bed read
Queer line dancing is having a renaissance – and Guardian Australia’s Michael Sun put on his cowboy boots to test drive his moves at a Sydney event. The experience was “deeply humbling”, he writes.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: KIT. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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