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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Martin Farrer

Morning Mail: Greens’ voice dilemma, seaweed hunger solution, anger at Trump return

Greens senator Lidia Thorpe at the Melbourne Invasion day rally yesterday.
Greens senator Lidia Thorpe at the Melbourne Invasion day rally yesterday. Photograph: Lisa Favazzo/The Guardian

Morning everyone. With many Invasion Day rallies marked by strong calls for a no vote in the voice referendum, our top story looks at the complex position of the Greens Indigenous spokesperson, Lidia Thorpe, who may join the no camp despite her party favouring yes.

We look at all the fallout from yesterday’s events – including a plea for responsible media coverage from our editor – and how El Niño could be back soon.

Australia

Mediterranean seaweeds(Asparagopsis armata)A mediterranean seaweeds colony grows up close to the surface to receive the sunlight that it needs.
Can seaweed feed and fuel the planet? Photograph: smovic/Getty Images/iStockphoto

World

A local resident looks at a crater left by a Russian rocket that ruined his house in a Russian night rocket attack in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Andriy Andriyenko)
A crater left by a Russian rocket that destroyed a house in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine. Photograph: Andriy Andriyenko/AP

Full Story

AUSTRALIA-WEATHER-FIRESResidents defend a property from a bushfire at Hillsville near Taree, 350km north of Sydney on November 12, 2019. - A state of emergency was declared on November 11 and residents in the Sydney area were warned of “catastrophic” fire danger as Australia prepared for a fresh wave of deadly bushfires that have ravaged the drought-stricken east of the country. (Photo by PETER PARKS / AFP) (Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images)
A bushfire near Taree, NSW, in 2019. Photograph: Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images

The return of El Niño

After three years of rain and floods, we could be in for a hotter, drier phase with the return of El Niño. Graham Readfearn explains why that could also mean more bushfires, coral-bleaching and exceeding 1.5C warming for the first time.

In-depth

Australians Observe Australia Day HolidayCANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 26: Local Indigenous Ngunnawal residents, Tahlen and his grandmother from Yass in NSW celebrate at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy on January 26, 2023 in Canberra, Australia. Australia Day, formerly known as Foundation Day, is the official national day of Australia and is celebrated annually on January 26 to commemorate the arrival of the First Fleet to Sydney in 1788. Many indigenous Australians refer to the day as ‘Invasion Day’ and there is a growing movement to change the date to one which can be celebrated by all Australians. (Photo by Martin Ollman/Getty Images)
Invasion Day event at the Aboriginal tent embassy in Canberra yesterday. Photograph: Martin Ollman/Getty Images

The swirling debate about the voice to parliament has been given extra charge this month amid alcohol bans in Alice Springs and yesterday’s Invasion Day rallies. But there’s a danger that the complexity of the issue could be lost in the noise, writes our editor, Lenore Taylor, who argues that the media has a particular responsibility to help readers understand the facts and the historical, political and legal context, to call out falsehoods and to avoid fuelling an ideological outrage cycle.

Not the news

Roman Delo, Henrietta Enyonam Avemor and Ryan Panizza in Sydney Theatre Company’s Hubris & Humiliation, 2023. Photo: Prudence Upton ©
Roman Delo, Henrietta Enyonam Avemor and Ryan Panizza in the Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Hubris & Humiliation. Photograph: Prudence Upton

Lewis Treston’s witty and polished play, Hubris & Humiliation, a modern take on Jane Austen, is the perfect way to start off Sydney World Pride, according to our critic, Cassie Tongue. The play, which is now at the city’s Wharf 1 theatre, blends Regency language and Australian slang to deliver jokes and sizzling romantic tension.

The world of sport

Tennis Australian Open 2023 Women Singles Semifinals, Melbourne, Australia - 26 Jan 2023Mandatory Credit: Photo by REX/Shutterstock (13742246b) Aryna Sabalenka (WTA 5) pictured during a tennis match between Belarusian Sabalenka and Polish Linette, in the Women’s Singles Semifinals at the ‘Australian Open’ tennis Grand Slam, Thursday 26 January 2023 in Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia. Tennis Australian Open 2023 Women Singles Semifinals, Melbourne, Australia - 26 Jan 2023
Aryna Sabalenka. Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock
  • Australian Open | Aryna Sabalenka reached her first grand slam final after swatting aside Magda Linette and will play Elena Rybakina in Saturday’s showdown. Australian pair Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler have reached the men’s doubles final after beating the experienced duo of Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos.

  • Cycling | After her new team collapsed, Chloe Hosking, one of Australia’s most successful cyclists, will be forced to retire unless a contract arises soon.

  • Cricket | Australia wrapped up a Twenty20 series victory over Pakistan in Hobart last night on the back of a clinical bowling effort and clean strikes from Beth Mooney.

Media roundup

The Sydney Morning Herald looks at Australia’s connection to the Indian conglomerate Adani and the alleged “largest con in corporate history”. The Australian Financial Review argues that despite optimism about inflation peaking out, the pain for mortgage borrowers is only just getting started. NT News claims an exclusive with a Labor MP’s warning to the Northern Territory government that Canberra will step in if it can’t fix the social unrest in Alice Springs. Lindsay Fox’s attempt to claim a beach at Portsea for his private use appears to have thwarted by three senior judges, the Herald Sun reports.

What’s happening today

  • Sexual abuse hearing | Readiness hearing in Sydney for retrial of MasterChef finalist and swim coach Paul Douglas Frost on sexual abuse charges.

  • Road safety | With the school year about to begin, the NRMA will reveal data on the record number of drivers caught speeding in school zones.

  • Coronavirus | Weekly update of Covid cases and deaths in Australia.

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Brain teaser

And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords and free Wordiply game 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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