Morning, everyone. Last night’s Australian of the Year award has revealed a truly heroic story with the cancer researcher who jointly won the main prize explaining how he selflessly used his own terminal diagnosis to pioneer treatment that could save more lives in the future. But in a heartbreaking speech he said: “I don’t want to die.”
We also have the latest on Tropical Cyclone Kirrily after it made landfall last night, along with news and opinion about our national day, an exciting night at the tennis and proper recognition for Pat Cummins’ epic 12 months of cricket.
Australia
Kirrily crashes in | Tropical Cyclone Kirrily crossed the coast of Queensland at Townsville last night, bringing heavy rain and high winds. But it weakened as it passed inland and was this morning downgraded to a tropical low. We have a live blog this morning on the fallout, with early reports of damage and power outages.
‘‘I don’t want to die’ | Australians of the Year Prof Richard Scolyer and his research partner Prof Georgina Long are credited with saving the lives of thousands of Australians with skin cancer. Scolyer used his moment in the national spotlight to talk about his own diagnosis with stage-four brain cancer and how it had been a “no brainer” last year for the pair to use his condition to develop experimental treatments. In the Australia Day honours revealed last night, there were also awards for the paralympian Ellie Cole, the author Pamela Allen and the broadcaster David Koch.
‘More need than ever’ | A key adviser on the voice referendum says a treaty and truth-telling processes with Indigenous Australians is needed “more than ever” after the defeat of the October vote and the government should press on with the process.
Tax test | Peter Dutton has demanded a general election over Labor’s tax changes but the first test of the policy will come in the Dunkley byelection. Our reporter went to the electorate to ask locals what they thought – and found a majority of voters were in favour of the new policy, although some said they had lost trust in the prime minister.
‘Self-censoring’ | Peter George, the ABC’s first Middle East correspondent, says the broadcaster’s journalists are not as well protected as they were and warned ABC management to back their staff during the current conflict.
World
Netanyahu accused | Qatar has harshly criticised Israel’s prime minister, accusing Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately obstructing ceasefire and hostage-release negotiations with Hamas for personal political gain.
Trump on trial | E Jean Carroll’s defamation trial against Donald Trump has continued after a Covid scare delayed proceedings. Trump entered the courtroom while Carroll’s last witness – her former Elle editor Roberta Myers – was on the stand.
Brighter Horizon | A former UK post office branch operator who suffered in silence and endured humiliation after being convicted of fraud based on evidence from the faulty Horizon IT system has had her conviction quashed as the scandal continues to unfold.
Viagra verdict | A British woman has been cleared of poisoning colleagues with instant coffee spiked with ground-up Viagra tablets.
Naked pursuit | A nude artist is suing New York’s Museum of Modern Art for allegedly failing to prevent visitors from groping him during a Marina Abramović exhibition in 2010.
Full Story
The terrifying, far-right ‘masterplan’ sparking protests across Germany
Germany’s far-right party AfD has met neo-Nazi activists to discuss mass deportations. Why is the party still so popular? Our Berlin correspondent Kate Connolly reports.
In-depth
Another Australia Day has arrived with yet more proof that it’s becoming harder to justify the date of 26 January. As an example, Paul Daley points to conservative Cricket Australia distancing of itself from the celebrations and writes that “no matter how indignantly the woke-as-a-pejorative crowd screech … about the politically correct trying to steal their day, the cultural tide is ebbing fast”. Find out here which Invasion Day events are taking place near you.
Not the news
Today is the perfect day to read about the TikToker from western Sydney whose video interviews with people from the area have won fame for his accent, along with millions of views. Mahmoud Ismail, an Australian of Lebanese heritage, thinks his way of speaking – what linguists call an ethnolect – is relatable to many people outside the Anglocentric sphere. As one expert puts it, the western Sydney accent “is more than just a way of speaking, it is an expression of identity”.
The world of sport
Cricket | The West Indies recovered from a Mitchell Starc blitz that left them on 64-5 on the first day of the second Test in Brisbane to reach 266-8 at the close. And Pat Cummins has been crowned ICC cricketer of the year after leading his team to the World Cup and retaining the Ashes.
Tennis | Aryna Sabalenka will be a big favourite to win her second successive Australian Open title on Saturday after she cruised into the final with a straight sets win over Coco Gauff. She will play Qinwen Zheng, who beat Dayana Yastremska 6-4 6-4.
Cricket | India are in control after the first day of the first Test against England in Hyderabad, reaching 119-1 at the close after dismissing the tourists for 246.
Media roundup
Five young people tell the Sydney Morning Herald why they are not comfortable celebrating Australia Day. The Age reports on the Indian-Australian family from Melbourne’s south-east mourning the loss of four loved ones in the Phillip Iland tragedy. Economists tell the Financial Review that the decision to change the Coalition-era tax cuts could delay the first rate cut by the Reserve Bank.
What’s happening today
Australia Day/Invasion Day | Events all over the country will mark the public holiday.
Perth | The Greens senator Dorinda Cox will hold a press conference on “Survival Day: Day of Mourning”.
Music | The Golden Guitar awards are announced at the Tamworth country music festival.
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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.
