Morning Mail: Trump says Russia election influence "ridiculous", $120m for windfarm in Joyce electorate, Isis retakes Palmyra, Qantas confirm non-stop Perth-London flight

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Guardian Australia's Morning Mail Monday 12 December 2016 g Intelligence figures fear Trump reprisals over Russia findings Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Mail. Sign up here for our Guardian Today email, sent every day at noon, and you can sign up to our new Guardian Australia sport email here. Among the most read stories on our website this morning, fears of retaliation rose within US intelligence agencies over a tense weekend that saw Trump publicly dismiss not only the assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to ensure Trump's victory, but the basic competence of the CIA and other intelligence agencies. In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Trump said the CIA's conclusion that Russia interfered with the 2016 presidential election was "ridiculous", "I don't believe it". Former intelligence officers told the Guardian they considered retaliation by Trump to be all but a certainty, with one describing Trump as "about the juiciest intelligence target an intelligence office could imagine. He groans with vulnerabilities". Keep reading for the rest of the top stories this morning, with more news from around Australia and the world.

Headlines Donald Trump says CIA charge Russia influenced election is 'ridiculous' President-elect tells Fox News Sunday Russia should be only country facing suspicion as pressure mounts over possible secretary of state pick Windfarm in Barnaby Joyce's NSW electorate gets $120m CEFC loan Clean Energy Finance Corporation loan comes three months after minister slammed SA's over-reliance on wind power Gillian Triggs is still holding on, and her reward is continuing torment Malcolm Turnbull should be actively defending independent statutory officers, not standing by and allowing them to be torn down for doing their job Badgery's Creek: Malcolm Turnbull to sign off on second Sydney airport The first stage of the airport, including a 3.7km east-west runway, is expected to handle about 10 million passengers a year from the mid-2020s Australian children in pre-1990s care suffered lifelong disadvantage, study finds Of 700 children in study in homes or foster care between 1930 and 1989, 41% were subjected to abuse leading to poor mental and physical health in later life Australian news and politics Labor attacks Coalition for saying domestic violence leave an impost on economy Terri Butler says Mathias Cormann 'confused' and domestic violence itself is what harms the economy Mathias Cormann refuses to express confidence in Alan Finkel after climate criticism Minister says Direct Action review just 'housekeeping' after chief scientist casts doubt on ability to meet emissions target Melbourne raids: nine arrested as police target alleged gun and drug syndicate Victoria police raided 13 homes and arrested seven men and two women aged between 23 and 48 in the operation Forklift frenzy: Western Australian man charged after allegedly causing $150,000 in damage Thevenard Island worker allegedly went on rampage, flipping a tourist bus and ute and smashing a solar panel station Melbourne Islamic centre fire: arson specialist to investigate whether blaze deliberately lit Fifty firefighters fight Fawkner blaze for nearly an hour before managing to bring it under control 'This costs money': why school funding is the Rorschach test of Australian politics As Australia's international rankings fall, the Coalition and Labor argue over funding reform and states face deals that could leave them worse off Dreamworld nightmare overshadows theme park reopening The politicians dutifully turned up but the crowds did not – the car park was less than half-full and queues were short for most rides Around the world Intelligence figures fear Trump reprisals over assessment of Russia election role Senator Ron Wyden tells Guardian CIA, agencies and Congress must 'guard against political pressure' as president-elect rejects reports Russia aided his victory Egypt: three days of mourning declared after 25 people killed in Cairo bomb No one has claimed responsibility for attack on cathedral chapel, which used 12 kilos of TNT, according to state media Romania's left takes big lead in parliamentary election – exit polls Social Democrats thought to have about 45% of vote, with leader Liviu Dragnea serving suspended sentence for voter fraud Islamic State retakes historic city of Palmyra Isis-affiliated news channel claims victory for jihadi fighters after intense fighting prompts Syrian military to withdraw Turkey vows vengeance after bombing kills 38 and wounds 166 Officials say bomb attacks outside stadium in Istanbul are likely to be the work of Kurdish separatists

One last thing Qantas confirms non-stop Perth to London flights from March 2018 The 14,498 km flight on 787-9 Dreamliners will be the first regular passenger service to directly link Australia and Europe Have an excellent day and if you spot something I've missed, let me know on Twitter at @earleyedition.

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