Morning everyone. As the foreign minister, Penny Wong, begins her diplomatic mission to the Middle East, there are continued fears that conflict sparked by the Israel-Hamas war could escalate even further. In the latest tensions, western leaders are considering further strikes after an American-owned cargo ship was hit by a missile fired by Houthi rebels off the coast of Yemen.
Meanwhile, we have an exclusive report on the claims of a court liaison service psychologist who says the conditions at the Cairns police watch house are “horrendous” and “inhumane”. She alleges that the government is failing to meet the basic needs of young people in the Queensland lockup.
Plus: a 10km fence could be key to saving native species on Victoria’s Wilsons Promontory, and home favourite Alex de Minaur survived first-night nerves to progress in the Australian Open.
Australia
Australian Open | Alex de Minaur secured his place in the second round despite a scare last night after his opponent Milos Raonic retired hurt with the match evenly poised at one-set all.
Exclusive | A senior psychologist treating children in the Cairns police watch house sent a “cry for help” letter detailing “horrendous” conditions and alleged human rights abuses in the lockup.
Domestic violence | More than half of people trying to access emergency financial support for domestic and family violence are having their claims rejected, new data has revealed.
Immigration detention | A stateless Kurdish man is seeking damages for alleged false imprisonment – the first such case sparked by the high court’s ruling that indefinite detention is unlawful.
Fenced in | A 10km-long partially electrified fence could be installed across the Wilsons Promontory national park in Victoria to slow the southward march of invasive species.
World
Donald Trump | The former US president looks likely to win by a record margin in Iowa’s vote in the Republican presidential nomination race, with the Iowa caucuses taking place amid deep snow and wind chills of -40C.
Middle East crisis | The US military says an American-owned cargo ship near Yemen has been hit by a missile fired by Houthi forces; a woman was killed and 17 injured in a suspected car-ramming attack near Tel Aviv; Anthony Albanese says Australia won’t participate in ICJ proceedings against Israel.
‘This town might be over’ | Residents of Grindavík in Iceland fear they may never return to their homes after volcanic lava destroyed several houses in the second eruption in less than a month.
German protests | Thousands of farmers have used tractors to block the streets of Berlin in protest against fuel subsidy cuts, while new data shows the country is facing a two-year recession.
Sunak sinking | As a poll shows he’d face a landslide defeat in an election, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak faces a crunch week as he tries to get a controversial migrant plan through parliament.
Full Story
What’s behind Australia’s love affair with SUVs?
Elias Visontay and Josh Nicholas join Patrick Keneally to discuss Australians’ obsession with SUVs – and how damaging that love affair could be to fighting climate change.
In-depth
Simon Hill thought his famous commentary on John Aloisi’s penalty that took Australia to their first World Cup for 32 years was so partisan he would be criticised for being unprofessional. But he needn’t have worried as it remains one of the nation’s favourite ever sporting calls. As part of our poll to find Australia’s greatest sporting moment, he recalls his fear about the shootout maths and how Craig Foster was so emotional that his “yelps and pleading were like random splodges of paint”.
Not the news
At 2,450 days, the Snapchat streak accumulated by Amy Remeikis and her American friend Sarah is one of the longest in the world. Our politics blogger par excellence explains why it’s meant so much for her to keep up her posts across the Pacific.
The world of sport
Tennis | Caroline Garcia held firm to shock Naomi Osaka in straight sets; Ben Shelton has refused to comment on Novak Djokovic’s apparent mockery of him as he set up a repeat of the pair’s US Open semi-final; Andy Murray could have played his last game at Melbourne Park.
Cricket | The mystery surrounding the whereabouts of David Warner’s “missing” baggy greens has been solved – or has it?
Football | Saudi Arabia is planning a “futuristic” stadium atop a 200m-high cliff for 2034 World Cup; Nottingham Forest and Everton could face a Premier League points deduction over alleged financial breaches.
Media roundup
Former Socceroo Stephen Laybutt is remembered in the Sydney Morning Herald as a hero who saved the life of a stranger. There are fears for the safety of dance fans after a teenager was left fighting for his life following an overdose on a new party drug, the Herald Sun says. A fresh cyclone alert is on the cards for Queensland weeks after being lashed by Jasper, the Courier Mail reports. The wharfies union has backed down in its dispute with ports operator DP World, according to the Fin Review.
What’s happening today
Victoria | Mention for man charged over alleged Nazi salute in Melbourne.
Sport | Stage one of the Tour Down Under begins this morning in South Australia.
Culture | The 2024 Emmys take place from midday with Australian stars such as Sarah Snook in contention.
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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.
