Morning Mail: Tropical cyclone Marcia, Abbott leaks and terror crackdown, more HSBC Swiss revelations

Guardian Australia's Morning Mail Friday 20 February 2015 g
Tropical Cyclone Marcia
The cleanup following severe tropical cyclone Marcia is being hampered by a complete lack of communications, with even a disaster co-ordination centre left without phone and internet services over the weekend. The Rockhampton deputy mayor says it is the worst disaster to hit the city in his lifetime. Queensland and the Northern Territory are braced for flooding amid heavy rain in the aftermath of severe tropical cyclones Marcia and Lam, after Marcia wreaked havoc all along the Queensland coast. The twin devastating storms, in pictures, and video of cyclone Marcia battering Yeppoon.
Australian news and politics
Tony Abbott will use a speech to parliament today to outline a new strategy to counter a 'long-term era of terrorism', including the appointment of a new counter-terrorism coordinator. Follow developments now and through the day in today's politics live blog with Katharine Murphy. Part of the address is expected to include acrackdown on welfare abuse by 'terrorist suspects' after Abbott said 55 of 57 Australians now suspected of fighting for Islamic State had been on welfare: "If you are fit enough to go overseas to fight for a terrorist organisation, surely you should not be abusing the welfare system back in Australia" After more damaging leaks calling his leadership capability into question – namely ideas floated about troops in Iraq and cutting pensions – senior ministers are rallying around Tony Abbott. Famed Nasa climate scientist James Hansen has joined 21 other academics to urge the NSW government to ban new coal mines in the Hunter Valley, saying mining is putting residents’ health at risk.A Productivity Commission recommendation to cut off childcare benefits to parents who refuse to vaccinate their children has been rejected by childcare and medical groups.
Around the world
HSBC’s Swiss arm is potentially open to a range of criminal charges in Britain because there is “credible evidence” that it has had a role in enabling tax evasion, according to a former director of public prosecutions, while leaked files covering 2005-2007 show bank chief executive Stuart Gulliver sheltered £5m of his own money with a Swiss HSBC account The father of one of the London schoolgirls feared to be on her way to Syria has urged her not to fall into the clutches of Isis militants. A girl thought to be as young as seven killed herself and five others in a suicide bombing in north-east Nigeria on Sunday as the country’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, conceded his government had underrated the capacity of Islamist extremist group Boko Haram. Greek government officials are racing to complete a list of reform proposals that will be scrutinised by the country’s international creditors this week as Athens seeks an extension to its €240bn ($347bn) bailout. A prosecutor has called for the arrest of the captain of the Costa Concordia following a report that the convicted skipper had been considering taking part in a celebrity reality TV programme in Honduras.
One last thing
The aurora borealis over Dunstanburgh Castle in Northumberland, England is just one of our pick ofthe best photographs from around the world last week. From the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, worldwide festivals, racist Chelsea fans and major weather events around the world, see more incredible pictures. Have an excellent day – and if you spot something I've missed, let me know on Twitter @earleyedition.