Good morning. The Cop27 conference has produced a global fund for “loss and damage” – financial assistance to poor nations stricken by climate disaster. The hard-won agreement, finally gavelled through after a marathon 40-hour negotiation in extra time at the gathering in Egypt, has been hailed as a potential turning point that acknowledges the vast inequities of the climate crisis. But it’s not all good nows: the pact’s language on phasing out fossil fuels was described as “weak”.
And in Australia a packed legislative agenda awaits politicians returning to Canberra today for the final sitting period of 2022, with the government seeking to progress its election commitments before year’s end as the prime minister returns from a nine-day diplomatic blitz.
Australia
Politics | The Greens will seek to amend the government’s pensioner workforce incentives bill to allow those on jobseeker payments to earn more in wages before their allowance is reduced, arguing that the bonus should be extended if Labor won’t raise the unemployment benefit.
Victoria | Daniel Andrews says Victorians deserve “better than violent extremism” and US-style politics after an upper house MP, Catherine Cumming, told a crowd of protesters yesterday that he should be turned into “red mist”.
New South Wales | Dominic Perrottet’s chief of staff will be questioned about what role he played in the appointment of the former NSW business chamber president Stephen Cartwright to a lucrative UK trade job.
Nature | Animals bred in captivity experience significant physical and behavioural changes that may disadvantage their survival chances once released into the wild, a wide-ranging research review has found.
Immigration | At least eight Bangladeshi asylum seekers have been released from immigration detention in Australia after languishing there for a decade, in a move that could signal that the Albanese government is winding back arbitrary detention.
World
Cop27 | Developing countries celebrated as crucial climate talks ended with a “historic” deal on their most cherished climate goal: a global fund for “loss and damage”. In the Guardian’s analysis, flaws in the deal mean this will be seen as the moment when the dream of keeping global heating below 1.5C died. But hope must not.
US shooting | At least five people were killed and 18 were injured in a shooting early yesterday at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs.
Ukraine | The UN nuclear energy watchdog has said the forces behind the shelling of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia power plant are “playing with fire” after a series of explosions shook the facility.
Iran | At least 58 children, some reportedly as young as eight, have been killed in Iran since anti-regime protests broke out in the country two months ago.
Space | Astronauts are on course to be living and working on the moon before the end of the decade, according to a Nasa official.
Full Story
The environmental impact of Amazon’s The Rings of Power
New Zealand’s dappled forests, rolling hills and towering ice cliffs have formed the visual signature for The Lord of the Rings franchise, including Amazon’s latest instalment, The Rings of Power. But with some of these towering trees carved out of polystyrene, workers involved in The Rings of Power and other international studio productions in New Zealand say they have serious concerns about the enormous environmental impact – including emissions and waste – of the film industry, partly underwritten by New Zealand’s government. In today’s Full Story, our NZ correspondent Tess McClure speaks to Jane Lee about some of these concerns and how the standards of the film industry compares with those in other countries.
In-depth
Outer suburban electorates with high rates of growth have some of Melbourne’s worst access to social infrastructure such as libraries, childcare and sports facilities, despite political parties closely watching the areas ahead of the Victorian state election, new analysis has shown. Based on research conducted by the Australian Urban Observatory, half of the 20 suburban electorates with the lowest liveability rankings are located in the outer north and south-west, including Labor heartland seats and some where independent candidates are attempting to harness frustration about infrastructure pressures on the region’s ballooning population.
Not the news
Need a lift? Here are 53 easy ways to add cheer to your life.
The world of sport
Football World Cup | World Cup hosts Qatar flopped on the field at the tournament’s opener, capitulating to Ecuador and becoming the first home side to lose an opening game. And there were teething problems outside the stadium too, with a dangerous and chaotic crush in the fan zone.
Rugby League World Cup | Australia’s men and women lived up to expectations with a comfortable double.
Tennis | Norwegian Casper Ruud is all that stands between Novak Djokovic and a record-equalling sixth ATP Finals title, after the Serbian former No 1 beat American Taylor Fritz 7-6(5) 7-6(6) in the Turin semi-final.
Media roundup
Australian coal exporters have been falsifying data to suggest their coal is cleaner than it is to increase its export price in a scam involving two testing laboratories, major accountancy firms and an investment bank, the federal MP Andrew Wilkie is expected to tell parliament today, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. And Sydneysiders will be urged to save water once again because floods and major weather events have heavily polluted Warragamba Dam— leaving three-quarters of its water undrinkable, according to the Daily Telegraph.
What’s happening today
Coronavirus | The Australian Science Media Centre will hold a Covid-19 new wave briefing.
Climate emergency | Climate and energy organisations are in Canberra to call for a national renewable energy storage target.
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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.
