Morning everyone. The Ross and Rachel of Australian politics – AKA the Liberal and National parties – might be getting back together again after a week of chaotic politics. We have reports and a podcast, plus the latest on NSW’s devastating and dangerous weather system as it moves south over Sydney and the Illawarra.
Overseas, the Trump administration has stepped up its war against Harvard and we’re looking at how Australia (OK, Ange) won the Europa league.
Australia
Weather warning | A reprieve from heavy rainfall is expected to arrive on the NSW mid-north coast today after three days of flooding as authorities search for a missing man, with three people confirmed dead. However, there is now a severe weather warning for heavy rainfall in the Hunter, Central Coast, Sydney, Illawarra and other areas further south.
Together again? | Liberal MPs are prepared to accept the Nationals’ watered-down demands to preserve the Coalition, clearing the path to reunite the parties after a dramatic split that has exposed deep internal divisions, bruised both leaders and bolstered Anthony Albanese’s grip on power. Nevertheless, there is a good argument for the Nationals to go for a full makeover to create a modern country political brand.
Flu surge | Australia is being struck by a surge in respiratory illnesses, with the number of flu cases at a record high for the time of year. Our health reporter looks at what’s going on and how you can protect yourself as winter arrives.
School delays | Dozens of Victorian public schools will have to wait until after the next state election for key projects such as new assembly halls – which were promised by the then premier Daniel Andrews in 2022.
Bats-mobile | The tiny, critically endangered southern bent-wing bat can fly 150km in a night, eating about half their body weight in insects, according to new research to discover more about their foraging habits.
World
Homeward bound | A Norwegian man has spoken of the “unreal” moment he woke up to discover that a 135-metre container ship had crashed into his front garden.
Third degree | The Trump administration has said it is halting Harvard University’s ability to enrol international students in a major escalation of its war on the country’s most prestigious university.
Exclusive | Two violent Israeli settlers on whom sanctions were imposed by the UK government this week have joined a campaign to drive Palestinians from their homes in the West Bank village of Mughayyir al-Deir. Twenty-nine children and elderly people have died from starvation in Gaza in the last two days, the Palestinian Authority health minister has said, as Israeli strikes killed at least 52.
‘Marvel supervillain’ | Scott Mescudi, AKA rapper Kid Cudi, described Sean “Diddy” Combs as being like a “Marvel supervillain” and revealed his Porsche was hit with a molotov cocktail as he gave evidence at the mogul’s trial for sex-trafficking.
Boots on the ground | The German chancellor has visited Lithuania to mark Berlin’s first permanent foreign troop deployment since the second world war as he called on allies to bolster defences against Russia.
Full Story
Newsroom edition: could Coalition chaos be good for country voters?
Although a Coalition reunion is now on the cards, Bridie Jabour speaks to Guardian Australia’s head of newsroom, Mike Ticher, and former rural and regional editor Gabrielle Chan about why the breakup could be good for regional voters.
In-depth
When the dust settles on Tottenham Hotspur’s remarkable Europa League win, the club’s chair, Daniel Levy, will have a very difficult decision to make about whether he keep Ange Postecoglou as manager. Our Australia-based football podcast meastro and Spurs fan Max Rushden reflects on the agony of being 10,000 miles away and resident cartoonist David Squires looks at how “Australia won the Europa league”.
Not the news
The life of Florence Nightingale is the inspiration for Laura Elvery’s new historical novel. But the catch is this: she’s often in the background with her story refracted through the voices of others. Although the plot is “oblique”, writes Seren Heyman-Griffiths, the prose is both sensual and brutal, and what emerges is a “luminous, fragmentary exploration of what war takes from those who are not asked to fight”.
Sport
AFL | The death of former West Coast player Adam Selwood three months after the death by suicide of his twin brother Troy has prompted mental health experts to urge the AFL to do more for players – and raised the prospect of a themed round.
Tennis | Ahead of next week’s French Open the former teenage prodigy, Amanda Anisimova, talks about how stepping away from the game saved her career.
Cricket | Ollie Pope hit 169 and James Duckett and Zak Crawley helped themselves to centuries as England amassed 498-3 on the first day of the one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge.
Media roundup
A Taree family who had to be rescued from their home say they expected a flood but were not warned how bad it was going to be, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. An unusually wet summer and “near-record” ocean temperatures are to blame for the downpours, the Telegraph says. The Australian judges that David Littleproud has blinked first after one of the “biggest tantrums in federal history”. Port Phillip council is considering “last resort” measures to solve the homelessness problem in St Kilda, the Age reports.
What’s happening today
Education | The NSW supreme court’s judgment is expected at 2pm in a student’s challenge to Newington College’s decision to go co-ed.
Arts | The Stella Prize literary award will be announced at 6pm.
Sydney | The annual Vivid festival begins at 6pm.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
