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| 14/12/2023 Thousands lose millions in crypto schemes, Queensland cyclone aftermath, Bowen hails end of fossil fuels |
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| Martin Farrer |  |
| | | Good morning. Thousands of people have lost millions of dollars to crypto investment schemes that were flagged by the New Zealand regulator as a possible “scam” and by another overseas regulator as a “suspected pyramid scheme”, while escaping such scrutiny in Australia, a Guardian Australia investigation has found. Tropical Cyclone Jasper has been downgraded to a tropical low but still carries the threat of life-threatening flooding in north Queensland as the storm moves across the peninsula to the gulf. Chris Bowen says the “age of fossil fuels will end” and scientists might be close to a cure for morning sickness. |
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| Australia | | Storm warning | Far north Queenslanders continue to face damaging winds and life-threatening flooding after Cyclone Jasper made landfall and moved inland before being downgraded to a tropical low overnight. | PPE ‘cost recovery’ | Australia’s peak doctors’ group says the government should recover taxpayer funds from PPE suppliers who provided defective equipment at the height of the pandemic. | Drug ‘concern’ | Doctors are increasingly prescribing antipsychotic drugs to children and adolescents, according to a study by the University of Adelaide, with one parent describing how her four-year-old was prescribed risperidone, a drug usually used to treat schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. | Greenwashing allegation | Greenpeace has launched a legal action against Woodside Energy, alleging the gas producer lied to the public by “greenwashing” its gas and oil projects. | How much? | More than 520 taxi drivers in New South Wales have been disciplined for refusing to use their meters or overcharging, with one Sydney passenger alleging a driver wanted $117 upfront to take them to the airport from the inner city. |
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| World | | ‘End of fossil fuels’ | After an eleventh-hour deal at Cop28 agreeing countries should “transition away” from fossil fuels, Australia’s climate change minister Chris Bowen says the text sent a clear message that “our future is in clean energy and the age of fossil fuels will end”. Find out what was good Cop and what was bad Cop and read our analysis of the deal. | Sickness breakthrough | Scientists have uncovered why many women experience morning sickness during pregnancy, raising the prospects of a cure for the condition. | Hamas ambush | Two senior Israeli commanders and seven other soldiers have been killed by Hamas in a complex ambush in the Gaza City suburb of Shejaiya, an area that has seen intense urban fighting in recent days. | Abortion hearing | The US supreme court has agreed to hear oral arguments in a case that could determine the future of a pill – mifepristone – used in most abortions in the US, in the first major rights case since the justices overturned Roe v Wade in 2022. It will also hear an appeal that could upend hundreds of charges from the Capitol riot, including against Donald Trump. | Half measure | The new Argentinian government of Javier Milei has devalued the peso by more than 50% to address the country’s economic crisis. | Plea bargain | A pair of thieves from Colorado have made a bold plea for leniency by arguing for a lesser charge because the items they stole were on sale. |
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| | | Lenore Taylor | | Editor, Guardian Australia |
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| | Thanks for subscribing to this newsletter. Before you move on, I wonder if you would consider making a contribution to our end-of-year fundraiser. As we look ahead to the challenges of 2024, we’re aiming to raise $300,000 to power more rigorous, independent reporting.
This year, our journalism held the powerful to account and gave a voice to the marginalised. It cut through misinformation to arm Australians with facts about the referendum and exposed corporate greed amid the cost-of-living crunch. It sparked government inquiries and investigations, and continued to treat the climate crisis with the urgency it deserves.
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| Full Story | | Jewish Australians on grief, fear and hope Daisy Dumas sits down with four Jewish Australians to discuss how Hamas’s October 7 attacks and Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza has sent shockwaves through Australia’s Jewish community. | |
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| In-depth | | “It’s just so wrong. They can penalise someone … for going over the speed limit, but someone can profit by marketing something like this without consequences or penalty, and just keep going and going?” The anger felt by Geelong woman Vera Gazzard, who lost more than $30,000 through a series of crypto schemes, is clear. And she is not alone. A Guardian Australia investigation published today has found that thousands of investors have lost millions of dollars to the schemes set up by Australian blockchain entrepreneur Sam Lee and his business partner Ryan Xu, who were the founders of the collapsed Australian bitcoin company Blockchain Global. There is also anger at Australian authorities who have made no mention of the schemes that were flagged by the New Zealand regulator as a possible “scam” and by another overseas regulator as a “suspected pyramid scheme”, among many other overseas warnings. |
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| Not the news | | The comic Calum Newton (AKA Candy Moore) has been down a fair few internet rabbit holes and he shares with us the 10 funniest things he’s ever seen online, from Tony Abbott eating an onion to a reporter being attacked by a giant rooster. |
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| The world of sport | | Netball | The relationship between Australia’s netball players and the governing body has been rocky for some time, writes Megan Maurice, as the current upheaval over pay shows the darkness at the heart of the sport. | Rugby union | Japan have named Eddie Jones as their new head coach, ending weeks of speculation. | Football | Paris St Germain could drop out of the Champions League if they fail to win in Dortmund this morning and there’s a winner in the Newcastle United-Milan game at St James’ Park. Follow both games live. |
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| What’s happening today | Perth | A special hearing is listed for Andrew Forrest’s case against Facebook over alleged clickbait advertising scams. | Tasmania | Dozens of former detainees are suing the state for alleged abuse, neglect and sexual assaults suffered while at Ashley youth detention centre. |
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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. | |
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| Contact us | If you have a story tip or technical issue viewing this newsletter, please reply to this email. If you are a Guardian supporter and need assistance with regards to contributions and/or digital subscriptions, please email customer.help@guardian.co.uk |
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| | | Power high-impact journalism into 2024 | | In 2023, Guardian Australia journalism exposed misinformation, held the powerful to account and gave a voice to the marginalised. Our work armed Australians with facts about the referendum, exposed corporate greed amid the cost-of-living crisis, and helped spark numerous investigations and inquiries.
Now, as we look to the momentous challenges ahead, we are aiming to raise an additional $300k to support more independent, rigorous journalism.
Here are three good reasons to make the choice to support us today. | | 1 | Our quality, investigative journalism is a scrutinising force at a time when the rich and powerful are getting away with more and more. |
| | 2 | We are independent and have no billionaire owner controlling what we do, so your money directly powers our reporting. |
| | 3 | It doesn’t cost much, and takes less time than it took to read this message. |
| | If you can, make the choice to support us with a year-end contribution from $1. Whether you choose to give a little or a lot, your funding will power our journalism in 2024 and the years to come. Thank you. | | |
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