Morning everyone. The US Coast Guard has boarded and seized a Russian-flagged “shadow fleet” tanker in the north Atlantic. We have reports, analysis and live updates.
Closer to home, a highly-transmissible strain of the flu spreading across Australia coincides with a big fall in the number of people getting vaccinated, and more Australians are feeling the pain of the “crazy” cost of living. Also: breakout Ashes star Beau Webster will be hoping to finish England off at the SCG later today.
Australia
Missing painting | Australia Post has apologised to an Aboriginal artist after a painting worth $4,000 went missing after she sent it over express post with tracking.
Flu fright | More than 2,500 Australians have begun the new year with a highly transmissible new strain of influenza known colloquially as Super-K, placing health authorities on alert.
Herzog anger | A group of rank-and-file Labor party members has urged the Albanese government to rescind its invitation for the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, to visit Australia amid outrage over his country’s bombardment of Gaza.
Car crime | An international-based crime syndicate allegedly stole dozens of Toyotas – including LandCruisers and Prados – from Brisbane with the intention of sending them to the United Arab Emirates in shipping containers.
‘Designed to intimidate’ | A New South Wales MP has asked the federal minister for home affairs to investigate whether Israel breached Australia’s foreign influence laws by authoring a dossier naming him and other politicians as allegedly promoting antisemitic and anti-Zionist content.
World
Venezuela warning | Trump officials have reportedly put Venezuela’s hardline interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, on notice that he could be next to fall if he does not support the acting president, Delcy Rodríguez. Keep up to date on events in Washington here.
Shadow game | The US has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean in a high-stakes crackdown on sanctioned vessels, warning that crew could be prosecuted. The ship, part of a shadow fleet used to dodge sanctions, was not carrying oil but there is speculation it was carrying weapons. The operation to seize the ageing Marinera was assisted by the UK military. Oil prices fell after Donald Trump said Venezuela would hand over 30m to 50m barrels of the country’s blockaded crude oil to the US. The US president is claiming the move as a possible oil boom, but history suggests it will be more complicated. Follow developments here.
Exclusive | Climate-heating emissions from aviation could be slashed in half by getting rid of premium seats, ensuring flights are near full and using the most efficient aircraft, according to analysis.
Greenland talks | The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, says he plans to meet Danish officials next week to discuss Greenland as France said it was working with allies, including Germany and Poland, on how to react if the US were to invade the Arctic territory.
Farage denial | Reform UK’s leader, Nigel Farage, has called allegations of racist and antisemitic bullying during his time at Dulwich college “completely made-up fantasy”, saying his accusers are “people with very obvious political motivation”.
Full Story
The Birth Keepers: Journey Moon – episode three
In the third episode of a year-long investigation by Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne, they tell the story of how Lorren Holliday’s interest in the Free Birth Society podcasts led to tragedy.
In-depth
Research from The Smith Family released today finds that nine in 10 families are worried about affording back-to-school essentials such as shoes as inflation continues to bite. Caitlin Cassidy talks to Laura, a single mother of four from Brisbane, who says the cost of living is “crazy, and it’s getting crazier”. Greg Jericho says yesterday’s dip in inflation was good news but is unlikely to be enough for the Reserve Bank to cut rates.
Not the news
Elvis fever took hold of Sydney’s central station yesterday as hundreds of fans of the King of Rock’n’Roll headed west to their annual jamboree in Parkes. Check out our choice of pictures capturing the joyous gyrations.
Sport
Cricket | England captain Ben Stokes has picked up an injury and will watch the final day’s play in this Ashes series from the pavilion in a fitting end to an inglorious tour. For Australia, Beau Webster was the big star as they set up a likely routine win today after reducing England to 8-302 at the close.
Tennis | Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis are out of the Brisbane International after losing to No 6 seeds Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul, but the thrilling contest bodes well for Kyrgios’s hopes of an Open wild card.
Football | There are eight Premier League matches this morning with Manchester United and Chelsea both under new management and away to Burnley and Fulham respectively. As they head to Arsenal tomorrow, Liverpool boss Arne Slot doesn’t deny his team have become a bit dull. In sad news, English football legend Kevin Keegan has been diagnosed with cancer.
Media roundup
Sydney train passengers are being treated with “utter contempt” after the closure of Central Station’s main pedestrian tunnel, the Telegraph reports. Shoppers are heading to CostCo over discount rival Aldi, the Age reports. Beachgoers on the Mornington Peninsula have reignited the “cabana wars”, the Herald Sun reports.
What’s happening today
Melbourne | A filing hearing for a man charged with arson after allegedly setting fire to a rabbi’s car in St Kilda’s east.
Melbourne | The NSW Ambulance chief will hold a media conference on extreme heat.
Economy | Monthly statistics about international trade in goods and services are due in from the ABS.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
Quick crossword
Cryptic crossword
