Good morning. Welcome to the first Morning Mail of 2024, happy new year and thanks for being with us. We lead today with Israel’s claim that fighting in Gaza could last another year as the top US diplomat returns to the Middle East as part of frantic efforts to prevent the spread of war, after an increase of fire across the Israel-Lebanon border.
The 22-time grand slam winner Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to injury. He’s headed to Spain for treatment after an MRI scan revealed he sustained a micro tear to a muscle at the Brisbane International.
And Sam Kerr is set for a long spell on the sidelines after the Matildas captain suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during her club’s training camp. It’s a major blow for the Australian side who face Uzbekistan in Olympic qualifiers next month.
Australia
One Nation’s next chapter? | Pauline Hanson’s controversial chief of staff, James Ashby, is attracting cash and clout – amid speculation he is positioning himself as the party’s heir apparent.
Stabbing charges | A man is facing more than a dozen charges after he allegedly stabbed four strangers in Melbourne in a series of what police called “completely random” attacks.
Severe weather | Hundreds of people across Victoria and South Australia have called for help after heavy rain and severe storms, amid warnings of further downpours today.
‘Distressing’ | More than 1,000 violent and extremist posts have been taken down from social media at the federal government’s request since 7 October as referrals rise, in part due to the Gaza conflict.
Housing market | The property boom has gone west, with buyers and renters tussling for a limited number of Perth homes.
World
Israel-Hamas war | Israel’s military has claimed that fighting in Gaza could continue for a least a year as the humanitarian crisis there worsens; the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, has returned to the Middle East amid urgent diplomatic efforts to prevent conflict spreading; the UK has been accused of hypocrisy in not backing claim of genocide in Gaza.
Epstein papers | Unsealed court papers show that a PR guru hired to manage the reputation of Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell accused one of Epstein’s victims of “crying rape”.
Boeing blowout | US aviation investigators are trying to work out why a door panel blew off a brand new Boeing passenger jet mid-flight but say initial findings do not suggest a widespread flaw with the Max 9 aircraft.
US politics | Donald Trump avoided a mention of the US Capitol attack in a speech on its 6 January anniversary; Trump’s surrogates have swarmed Iowa before caucuses; young voters helped Joe Biden to victory but may abandon him this year.
‘This is a big deal’ | China’s shadow looms as Taiwan braces for its presidential election – but for voters corruption and the cost of living have trumped concerns about a belligerent neighbour.
Full Story
William McInnes on his ‘perm of love’
When the actor and author William McInnes’s childhood crush turned up as his hairdresser, he felt compelled to listen to her advice. The makeover he received became McInnes’s “Everest” of 1979. The tale I dine out on is a summer series from 10 of our favourite storytellers – actors, comedians, writers and Guardian staff – in which they recount a story that never fails to entertain.
In-depth
Making the perfect espresso is almost a high art, especially for those who practise at the elite level – and Australia has plenty of those. Ranked one of the biggest in the world, the Australian coffee market is worth more than $9bn and Australia coffee fiends sip and savour about 2kg of coffee beans on average each year. Understanding the hard science of coffee can help elevate even the cheapest bean and most basic equipment into something far greater than the sum of its parts.
Not the news
As part of our series of ultimate summer reading lists, Guardian Australia’s staff and critics share with you 15 crime thrillers and mysteries that will keep you guessing. From Mick Herron’s Slow Horses and Ian Rankin’s Rebus to new books from Bret Easton Ellis and Emma Cline, these reads are guaranteed to get the heart racing with suspense – even as you try to relax.
The world of sport
Tennis | Rafael Nadal has announced he is withdrawing from the Australian Open after a scan revealed a new muscle tear; Elena Rybakina trounced Aryna Sabalenka and Grigor Dimitrov beat Holger Rune in straight sets to take Brisbane International titles.
Football | Matildas and Chelsea striker Sam Kerr has suffered an ACL injury at a club training camp and is expected to miss the Olympics this year.
Cricket | David Warner has exited the Test stage leaving a rich tapestry of chaos and artistry, taking something old-fashioned with him into retirement.
Cycling | Melissa Hoskins’ “unyielding spirit” was remembered with a minute’s silence at the Australian road cycling championships.
Media roundup
The Queensland government says it will take years to get storm-ravaged homes repaired after back-to-back natural disasters across the state, reports ABC News. The NSW government has been warned that trying to stop religious schools from hiring or firing staff because of their adherence to “Christian ethos” – including sexuality – would be a breach of religious freedoms, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. Investment in essential infrastructure is in the spotlight after Victoria’s water corporations were forced to take on more debt to prop up the state budget after hundreds of millions of dollars of funding was pulled, reports the Age.
What’s happening today
Victoria | A man charged after four stabbing attacks in Melbourne is due to make a court appearance.
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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.
