Good morning. The consultancy firm McKinsey undertook work for the federal government on climate change policy, despite its known links to fossil fuel clients. The company was paid $1.6m by the climate change department as the government lacked the “technical capacity”.
The Five Eyes countries have put out a rare joint warning about online radicalisation as Asio and the AFP reveal two Australian teenagers have been convicted under counter-terrorism laws.
Plus: you may already have read a forecast of the weather for Christmas Day. Could it be right?
Australia
Bad ads | Scammers are finding loopholes in restrictions brought in by Google and Meta to combat fake celebrity scam ads and experts warn Australia remains a lucrative target for cybercriminals.
Conflicting interests | McKinsey was paid $1.6m over 11 weeks to “inform” and “guide” Australian energy and climate policy, despite its work for the world’s biggest fossil fuel companies.
Radicalisation | A 14-year-old and a 16-year-old have been convicted under counter-terrorism laws as security agencies here and overseas warn young people are falling prey to radical, violent ideologies.
Under the sea | The defence minister has appointed a former senior defence and security bureaucrat to conduct an urgent top-to-bottom review of the Australian Submarine Agency amid serious concerns about how it is managing the $368bn Aukus submarine contract.
Christmas forecasts | While some media outlets are predicting the weather for 25 December, an expert says any forecast more than 10 days ahead is basically “rubbish”.
World
Rifle grab | A South Korean party spokesperson seen grappling with a rifle-wielding soldier in a video that went viral as a symbol of defiance against martial law has insisted that she is not especially brave.
United States | The New York police department has issued a fresh image clearly showing the face of a man they suspect of shooting and killing the UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, in Manhattan.
France | President Emmanuel Macron has addressed the country in the wake of the government’s historic collapse, insisting he will stay for his full term. Michel Barnier has resigned as prime minister but will stay in a caretaker role until a new government is appointed.
Middle East | Amnesty International’s Israel branch has distanced itself from the rights group’s allegation that Israel was committing “genocide” in Gaza but said “serious crimes” were potentially taking place that needed investigation. In Syria, Islamist rebels have seized the strategic city of Hama.
Trump | Amazon’s billionaire founder, Jeff Bezos, is the latest tech mogul to offer a support for Donald Trump’s incoming presidency, endorsing the former president’s plans to reduce government regulation and signalling a willingness to collaborate.
Full Story
Newsroom edition: News Corp’s gas splash and the mining industry’s election agenda
Bridie Jabour talks to Guardian Australia’s editor, Lenore Taylor, and deputy editor Patrick Keneally about how the mining industry – and the media – are trying to shape the election agenda.
In-depth
A social media post from an Australian embassy claimed that no one knows why streets in the South Sudanese capital of Juba were named after Queensland State of Origin players. Kieran Pender’s quest for the truth sent him down a rabbit hole of old News Corp articles and Google Earth satellite images.
Not the news
With the movie musical Wicked’s run time at two hours and 41 minutes, Rebecca Shaw speaks out against ridiculous movie runtimes. “With long beautiful movies or long boring movies about men doing stuff, you know what you are in for,” she writes. “You are ready for it, willing, prepared, organising your pee breaks. I am not ready for that with Wicked, especially when the stage version (which I looked up in a huff) is two and a half hours in its entirety.”
Sport
Cricket | With Australia to play India in Adelaide today, Geoff Lemon previews the match, including an analysis of the country’s bowlers.
Soccer | Manchester United has shelved plans to wear pride-themed rainbow jackets supporting the LGBTQ+ community after a player refused to take part, citing his religious beliefs.
Equestrian | The double individual Olympic dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin says she “fully respects” the International Federation for Equestrian Sports’ decision to suspend her for a year after a horse whipping controversy.
Media roundup
The Coalition will claim its energy grid plan, which includes nuclear energy, will cost less than Labor’s, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. From the ABC, a woman who was served hot chips contaminated with caustic soda will have her $1.1m payout halved. Australia’s most expensive street for real estate increased by more than a third in the past year, according to the Australian. The Advertiser has the details on the 2025 Adelaide Fringe program.
What’s happening today
Supermarkets | The Fair Work Commission will hear Woolworths’ bargaining order application over warehouse strikes.
Auckland | Richard Marles and Penny Wong will attend an Anzmin meeting.
Sydney | Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson will speak at Doltone House.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
