Morning everyone. There is growing hope this morning that a ceasefire deal will be reached in Gaza with the Biden administration and Israeli officials making positive noises about the talks.
Also this morning, the latest from the California wildfires, what to expect in Anthony Albanese’s mini reshuffle and why Nick Kyrgios thinks last night’s first-round defeat at the Australian Open could be his final singles appearance at Melbourne Park.
Australia
Final journey | The coffin plate of the explorer Matthew Flinders has completed the long journey from London to Adelaide after it was rescued from underneath Euston station during construction work on the UK’s planned HS2 train line.
Rishworth tip | Bill Shorten is tipped to hand the reins of the national disability insurance scheme to the social services minister, Amanda Rishworth, in a small reshuffle prompted by the former Labor leader’s departure before this year’s federal election.
Mystery sickness | Thousands of rainbow lorikeets and hundreds of flying foxes have been hospitalised in Queensland in the past year with a mysterious paralysis that can affect the animals’ ability to fly, swallow and even breathe.
‘Have some guts’ | The Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young is set to challenge Labor to “have some guts” and keep its promises on environmental issues such as koala habitats and pushing back against mining interests as her party gears up for the federal election campaign.
Kangaroo cull call | Wildlife advocates are calling for a halt to the commercial harvesting of kangaroos in Victoria’s Grampians region after recent bushfires.
World
Trump prosecution | A judge has ordered the release of the report by special counsel Jack Smith, pictured, into Donald Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election. It comes as Newt Gingrich says Trump’s vow to deport millions of immigrants is just bluster. Plus we have a feature on the rise of the Maha moms – Make America Healthy Again – who are celebrating the appointment of RFK Jr as health secretary.
Gaza hope | Senior Biden administration officials have said they believe a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas may still be concluded before Donald Trump’s inauguration next week as the Israeli government has also confirmed progress in the talks.
Fires warning | The California governor, Gavin Newsom, has accused the tech billionaire Elon Musk of “encouraging looting” in an escalation of a row over disinformation surrounding the Los Angeles fires, which have now killed at least 24 people. More strong winds are expected to continue to fan the fires today. Follow developments live.
Rocket fail | Blue Origin, the rocket company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has called off the debut launch of its new rocket because of technical trouble.
‘1.5 is dead’ | Just Stop Oil supporters have spray-painted “1.5 is dead” on Charles Darwin’s grave in Westminster Abbey after confirmation that last year was the first to breach the important global warming threshold.
Full Story
The world braces for Trump 2.0
Reged Ahmed talks to Washington bureau chief David Smith about the noisy lead-up to Trump’s second term, and what to expect in the first days of his rule.
In-depth
When Gabrielle Chan’s farm caught fire on New Year’s Day, it quickly raged out of the family’s control. But, in a what she sees as a sign of hope for 2025, people from miles around suddenly turned up to help, leaving her “overcome by a warm love for my community”.
Not the news
Such is the draw and power of Shakespeare that a new play is opening in Sydney this week about three actors who meet in rehab to recover not from drugs or sex, but from playing Hamlet. Brendan Cowell, Ewen Leslie and Toby Schmitz explain to Elissa Blake what it’s all about – and why it’s definitely fiction.
Sport
Tennis | Nick Kyrgios fears he may have played his final singles match at the Australian Open after his campaign ended abruptly in the first round last night when he lost to British No 3 Jacob Fearnley in straight sets. It wasn’t all gloom though as Ajla Tomljanović led an otherwise good day for local hopes by reaching the second round. She was one of four Australian wildcard winners, while the Novak Djokovic-Andy Murray partnership got off to a winning start.
Cricket | Australia has just seen one of its best Test summers for years and the women’s Ashes is under way. But a sense of doom hangs over the long format of the game.
Boxing | Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has announced he is retiring from boxing in the aftermath of a second defeat in his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk last month.
Basketball | The American women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark has been forced to change appearance in public after threats from alleged stalker.
Media roundup
New South Wales hospitals are about to lose 200 doctors, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Weak festive sales figures for two leading names are the canaries in the coalmine for the retail sector, an Age opinion piece argues. Friends and family have paid tribute to a Melbourne DJ and influencer who has died suddenly in Bali, the Herald Sun reports. Some of Queensland’s “top bureaucrats” such as energy bosses are earning more than $1m a year, according to the Courier Mail.
What’s happening today
Victoria | Hearing for commonwealth attorney general’s case against Abdul Nacer Benbrika.
Sydney | First mention for man accused of making Nazi salute at the Trans Day of Resistance rally in Newtown.
Melbourne | Australia play England in the second women’s ODI.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
