Good morning. World leaders – minus Anthony Albanese – are gathering in Egypt for the Cop27 climate summit amid apocalyptic warnings about the need for action. Addressing the opening ceremony overnight, the UN chief, António Guterres, said we are on the “highway to climate hell” with our foot on the accelerator, while Al Gore warned about the “culture of death” spawned by our reliance on fossil fuels. When the speeches are all done, negotiators will try to thrash out a deal over the next two weeks with compensation for developing countries hit by natural disasters likely to be one of the main sticking points.
The cost of living crisis affecting many countries will also complicate the talks, and in Australia that means more people are getting into debt, relying on enticing forms of credit to pay bills. We report on the impact of buy now, pay later schemes, as well as the emotional letter home written by an Australian man who fears he could die behind bars in Iraq.
Australia
Gaetjens verdict | A report by the former Coalition government into the sports rorts scandal has criticised the decision-making process by former sports minister Bridget McKenzie, pictured, and its “lack of transparency”. The formerly secret findings by former top public servant Phil Gaetjens were revealed by a freedom of information request.
Sewage threat | “Blackwater” in northern Victoria, the result of recent floods, is causing “massive fish kills” along parts of the Murray River system, according to locals, as officials warn people to stay out of the water.
Exclusive | Robert Pether, an Australian who has spent 19 months in an Iraqi prison over a business dispute, has written to his family warning them that his prognosis is “bleak” and he is facing a potential “death sentence” due to health fears.
Funding gap | A federal government decision to defund a not-for-profit organisation that has been educating consumers about safe healthcare and medicines for more than two decades will leave people susceptible to harm, experts say.
Out of gas | People in Lithgow in New South Wales have been forced to use kettles to prepare water for baths and rely on restaurants with bottled gas for hot meals for five days after a pipeline sprang a leak in wild weather.
World
Cop27 | The UN secretary-general’s dire warning at the Cop27 talks was underlined when a major new study was released saying Arctic sea ice is certain to vanish in summers. Australia is one of several wealthy nations that have fallen short of their “fair share” of climate funding for poorer countries.
Russia | The influential businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, pictured above, an ally of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has admitted Russia interfered in US elections.
Trump run? | With Republicans likely to win the day in the US midterms, Donald Trump is expected to announce a presidential run in 2024 later this month.
Twitter ban | Twitter has banned American comedian Kathy Griffin after she started up an account impersonating the platform’s new owner, Elon Musk.
UK La Niña | Severe flooding caused by La Niña is predicted for February despite England remaining in drought, according to forecasters.
Full Story
Is it time to get rid of the BMI?
Guardian Australia science writer Donna Lu explores whether the body mass index has ceased to be useful as a measure of someone’s health, and the “panic about body weight” in public health messaging.
In-depth
More and more Australians like Brooke Haebich, pictured, are turning to buy now, pay later schemes in order to keep up with rising bills. There are nearly 6m such accounts in Australia and one in seven of them had more than 20 loans last year. Experts fear it will plunge more people into a vicious cycle of debt.
Not the news
Italian ultra-cyclist Omar di Felice has dreamed of Antarctica since he was child. Now he is about to embark on an adventure which he hopes will end with him becoming the first person ever to ride a bike the whole 2,000km across the frozen continent.
The world of sport
Football | Liverpool face Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League in a repeat of last season’s final, while PSG take on Bayern, and Manchester City draw RB Leipzig.
Rugby league | The NRL is bracing for fractious negotiations on multiple fronts as the league faces reports of a breakaway competition amid stalling collective bargaining agreement talks.
T20 World Cup | It looks like it is back to the drawing board for Australia’s men’s T20 team after they failed to make it out of the group stage at the World Cup.
Media roundup
The Sydney Morning Herald boasts an exclusive about the “hidden toll” of delirium for hip fracture patients. The Age reports that Daniel Andrews is dodging Ibac questions and “sparred with reporters” as the issue heats up ahead of the Victorian elections. The Herald Sun is also having a go at the Victorian premier over his former lawyer’s use of emails. The Australian thinks federal Labor will have to make concessions on its industrial relations bill. The Adelaide Advertiser asks what’s behind a “shocking rise” in violence in public schools.
What’s happening today
Budget focus | The treasury boss, Steven Kennedy, will be grilled on economic forecasts and the October budget.
Blood moon | A total lunar eclipse will be visible in Australia after sunset today, and this explainer tells you how you can view it.
Up for the cup | Socceroos boss Graham Arnold will name his 26-man squad for the World Cup in Qatar today.
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Bored?
And finally, 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.
