Good morning. As the nation continues comes to terms with the weight of its loss, Australians gathered in sorrow and paused for a minute’s silence yesterday evening to honour the victims of the Bondi beach terror attack.
Donald Trump has launched his “board of peace” initiative even as Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accused Europe’s leaders of waiting for direction from Trump rather than taking action to defend themselves.
And a study suggests that an effort to remove sulphur from shipping fuels caused “a lot of extra sunlight” to get through atmosphere and hit the Great Barrier Reef – making recent coral bleaching worse.
Australia
Coral bleaching | Efforts to clean up the shipping industry by removing sulphur from fuels intensified a coral bleaching event on Great Barrier Reef by allowing more sunlight to hit the reef, a study says.
Bondi beach terror attack | As part of the national day of mourning, survivors joined the families of victims on stage of Sydney Opera House as Anthony Albanese apologised that the nation “could not protect your loved ones”.
‘Medicalisation of masculinity’ | Young men are being aggressively targeted by online influencers promoting hormone tests and testosterone treatments as essential to being a “real man”.
‘The heat is getting worse’ | Australia’s worst heatwave since black summer was made five times more likely by human-caused climate change, analysis suggests, as Victoria anticipates further searing heat.
Analysis | Sussan Ley just outlasted the Liberal’s shortest serving leader. But with many in her party believing she is on borrowed time after the Coalition split, will Ley survive another milestone?
‘Avoid the area’ | A gunman is on the run after two women and a man were shot dead and another man was hospitalised after an shooting at Lake Cargelligo, three hours south-west of Dubbo.
A skip in their step? | After fossil analysis, researchers say that giant 250kg kangaroos that once roamed Australia would probably have been able to hop, despite their enormous size.
World
Europe lambasted | Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, says Europe is in “Greenland mode” and needs to know how to defend itself rather than waiting for the US to act; EU leaders are meeting in Brussels to discuss “new reality” of US relations; the world is entering a time of “great power politics”, warns the German chancellor.
‘Board of peace’ | Donald Trump has claimed the world is “richer, safer and much more peaceful than it was just one year ago” as he hosted a launch event for his “board of peace” initiative – and his son-in-law revealed plans for Gaza’s redevelopment.
Exclusive | Before the US military snatched Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, Delcy Rodríguez had pledged to cooperate with the Trump administration once the strongman was gone.
‘Open the gates’ | Amid riots, fires and escape attempts, there have been chaotic scenes at al-Hawl camp – housing thousands of Islamic State members – after Kurdish fighters fled and Syria’s army arrived.
‘Industrial scale’ | According to researchers, Elon Musk’s Grok AI chatbot generated about 3m sexualised images earlier this month – including 23,000 that appear to depict children.
Shadow fleet targeted | The French navy has intercepted a Russian tanker in the Mediterranean suspected to be part of the “shadow fleet” that enables Russia to export oil despite sanctions.
Full Story
The Coalition has collapsed – will Ley’s leadership?
It was the bill that the prime minister hoped would bring people together, but instead, Labor’s hate speech legislation – and the Liberal party’s decision to endorse it – has torn the Coalition apart. The entire Nationals front bench quit Sussan Ley’s shadow cabinet, leaving the Coalition to come to terms with its second split in less than a year. Tom McIlroy speaks with Reged Ahmad about how this happened and whether Sussan Ley can hold on to the leadership.
In-depth
Anti-protest restrictions have been narrowed in Sydney to allow a planned Invasion Day protest to go ahead on Monday. It is one of dozens of events and rallies being held around Australia on 26 January by First Nations communities, families and allies to commemorate Invasion Day. Here’s a look at what’s happening in every state and territory.
Not the news
On Wednesday evenings as the sun slips below factory roofs in Eastern Creek, a rumble grows at the Sydney Dragway and the scent of ethanol fills the air. The weekly drag racing street meet is a mecca for drivers who arrive to test their mettle on the quarter-mile strip. And as Blake Sharp-Wiggins discovers, the cacophony as the cars are let loose on the tarmac offers a change of pace for all walks of life.
Sport
Tennis | Naomi Osaka battled past Sorana Cirstea in Australian Open but emotions boiled over in a “fair play” row; Stan Wawrinka won a marathon against Arthur Gea to make grand slam history; Special Ks burned brightly but briefly as Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios exit doubles. And: a players’ group’s breakaway tour plan is pushing tennis to the brink of civil war.
Motorsport | Oscar Piastri’s McLaren team to continue fairness approach in F1 despite a nervy end to last season.
Football | A World Cup boycott over Trump? Football’s hypotheticals cannot be dismissed any more, Nick Ames writes; Casemiro will leave Manchester United in the summer after four seasons; follow all of today’s Europa League action.
Cricket | England fall short as Harry Brook fails to fire in opening ODI defeat by Sri Lanka.
Media roundup
Commonly thought of as an older person’s condition, health experts are grappling with a perplexing rise in shingles among younger Australians, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. A damning report has found that inappropriate behaviour at the City of Perth – mostly directed at women – has created a work environment that poses psychological risks, ABC News reports. Jacob Elordi and Rose Byrne are leading Australia’s Oscars charge as nominations are revealed, reports the Age.
What’s happening today
Sport | Australia’s Winter Olympics team is being announced today.
Sport | The action in the Australian Open tennis grand slam continues in Melbourne.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
