Morning everyone. Anthony Albanese will be hoping that his short meeting with Xi Jinping last night will help with Australia’s key diplomatic and strategic conundrum: how to rebuild vital economic ties with China without jeopardising good relations with the US. It seemed, on the surface at least, to go quite well with Xi telling the prime minister that he “attached great importance” to his opinion. Kickstarting those lost coal and wine sales might take a bit longer.
Meanwhile, there are reports Russian missiles launched in a heavy wave of strikes against Ukraine have landed on a Polish town.
In Australia, people are beginning to clean up after the worst flooding in decades in central west New South Wales, and the White Ribbon backlash against the Sydney jetski fundraising plan continues.
Australia
‘Inland tsunami’ | People in the central western NSW town of Eugowra have described an “inland tsunami” that swept away houses, cars and animals. At least two people are missing. Our science editor looks at the factors driving the wet weather.
‘Very constructive’ | The prime minister told Chinese president Xi Jinping that Australia would stick to its values as he laid down a marker in the first top-level talks between the two countries for six years. Our political editor Katharine Murphy says the meeting showed Anthony Albanese is realistic about the relationship and is prepared to negotiate a way through the diplomatic maze.
‘Beyond offensive’ | The anti-domestic violence group White Ribbon Australia has distanced itself from a controversial plan for 50 jetskis to ride on Sydney Harbour labelled “tokenistic” and “beyond offensive”.
Exclusive | A Queensland police whistleblower who leaked audio recordings of officers using racist and violent language has been called a “rat” and a “dog” in a private Facebook group for officers.
Coral hope | Corals grown for four years in an offshore “coral nursery” at Fitzroy Island on the Great Barrier Reef have spawned for the first time, offering hope of recovery from mass bleaching.
World
Out-Foxed? | Rupert Murdoch has reportedly told Donald Trump that his media empire will not back a run for the White House in 2024, which the former president is expected to announce later today. Murdoch is said to favour Florida governor Ron DeSantis, as Trump feels the Republican party backlash for a poor showing by his supporters in last week’s midterm elections.
Poland hit | Poland’s prime minister has convened an urgent national security meeting after Russian missiles reportedly hit his country, with two people killed. Russia launched a big wave of missile attacks and shelling on Ukraine overnight.
Reproductive ‘crisis’ | The decline in sperm count is accelerating and humanity faces a reproductive crisis if action is not taken to reverse the problem, according to a study carried out in 53 countries.
Covid chaos | Simmering anger at Covid lockdowns has seen people in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou crash through barriers and march in the streets. They fear rising cases mean tougher restrictions are imminent.
Crypto questions | The collapsed crypto exchange FTX expects to have more than 1 million individual creditors, the company said, as its bankruptcy exposes the sector’s complex, unregulated landscape.
Full Story
Robodebt: conspiracy or a stuff up?
As the Robodebt royal commission exposes repeated policy failings, our welfare and inequality editor Luke Henriques-Gomes talks about whether conspiracy or stuff up were at the heart of the scheme.
In-depth
Australia has rightly celebrated the diversity of the Socceroos squad now in Qatar for the World Cup, with players from Bosnian, Croatian, Turkish-Cypriot, South African and South Sudanese backgrounds. In this excellent piece, Mostafa Rachwani explains that the history of the national team is the history of Australian migration.
Not the news
Emma Watkins, formerly the Yellow Wiggle, reveals her three most precious things: her first Irish dancing dress, an infrared heat map that aided her recovery from a laparoscopy, and her great-great-grandmother’s watch – once lost but miraculously found again.
The world of sport
Football | The Matildas beat Thailand 2-0 with goals from Sam Kerr and Hayley Raso to confirm positive signs ahead of next year’s World Cup on home soil.
ODI cricket | Australia face a crucial test of their squad and tactics when they start a three-match series against world champions England in Adelaide tomorrow.
Tennis | Novak Djokovic will be given a visa to play in January’s Australian Open, overturning a three-year ban.
Media roundup
The Sydney Morning Herald reports from Eugowra on a man who says the water “lifted up” his house, while the Central Western Daily says a group of builders have cleared all jobs from their diaries to help people clear up the mess in Molong. Wild weather has also been affecting South Australia where the Adelaide Advertiser reports that power outages could last several more days. The Courier Mail reckons there’s been a exodus of public servants with more than 10,000 quitting in the past year. NT News reports that a businessman has been charged with the murder of a woman found dead in her front yard in Leanyer last week.
What’s happening today
Kumanjayi Walker | The inquest into the shooting death of the Northern Territory teenager is expected to hear from Zachary Rolfe, the policeman who pulled the trigger.
Nile valedictory | After 41 years in the NSW parliament, controversial Christian crusader Fred Nile, 88, prepares to makes his final speech today.
Press club | Employment minister Tony Burke will talk about the government’s industrial relations reforms.
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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.
