Good morning. Donald Trump says he has held talks with Vladimir Putin on how to end the brutal Russia-Ukraine war – but declined to go into any detail.
Back home, the Greens’ want the national broadband network chief executive’s salary to be slashed as Australian consumers continue to grapple with the cost-of-living crisis. It’s one of their proposed amendments to Labor’s bill seeking to block the privatisation of publicly owned communications services.
And five years ago Australians’ hearts were broken by the photos of 19-month-old Charlotte O’Dwyer at the funeral of her father, Rural Fire Service volunteer Andrew O’Dwyer, who was killed fighting the black summer fires. Today we speak to the now six-year-old and her mother, Mel, about keeping Andrew’s memory alive.
Australia
Retirement | Two-thirds of Australia’s retirees in private rentals live in poverty, a new Grattan report has found – and the problem will get worse, with more than half reporting net worth of less than $25,000.
Exclusive | The Greens say Labor must drastically cut the pay of the national broadband network’s chief executive in exchange for their support on a bill to block any future privatisation of the publicly owned network.
AI, your honour | The full extent of the use of artificial intelligence in the legal profession is unknown but Australia’s courts are increasingly worried about its use to write affidavits and witness statements, and for case citations.
Perth festival | The East Perth power station is prime real estate and a historical landmark that has been off-limits to the public – but eyed by developers – for decades. Finally, it will erupt with a new kind of energy.
Analysis | With the federal election looming, the weekend byelection results in Victoria were close to Labor and the Greens’ worst-case scenario, writes Benita Kolovos – but it’s not all good news for the Liberals.
World
Russia-Ukraine war | Donald Trump has said he held talks with Vladimir Putin over a negotiated end of the Russia-Ukraine war, and indicated that Russian negotiators want to meet with US counterparts.
Middle East crisis | Israeli forces have withdrawn from the strategic Netzarim corridor that divides northern and southern Gaza, as part of the ceasefire that has brought a fragile pause to the 16-month war; Thai hostages return home after being released by Hamas.
US politics | There is relief for immigrants as legal services are restored after Trump-induced chaos. Thousands protested against Trump’s war on immigrants after raids. Plus, Trump’s claim that Mexican cartels and the government are allied is not reality, Thomas Graham writes; and how long will the Trump-Musk relationship survive?
‘It will be even worse’ | Kurdish officials have warned of an Islamic State resurgence if US foreign aid cuts take effect, which would cripple essential services for people detained in tented camps in north-east Syria.
Ecuador votes | Amid a rise in drug-related gang violence, Ecuadorian voters who have become victims of a crime wave linked to cocaine trade will determine the outcome of their presidential election.
Full Story
How did sexual assault become so easy to get away with?
Very few victims of sexual assault will report the crime to police and even fewer alleged perpetrators are found guilty. A special series by Guardian Australia looks at why victim-survivors are instead put on trial and further retraumatised by Australia’s criminal courts. Lucy Clark and Benita Kolovos speak with Reged Ahmad about what needs to be done to save a failing justice system.
In-depth
On this day five years ago an exhausted NSW Rural Fire Service announced that 30 bushfires across the state had finally been extinguished by a weekend of flooding rains. It was a dramatic end to a brutal, acrid summer.
But Australians barely had time to breathe before the next crisis was upon us. Weeks later, the first national Covid lockdown was ordered.
Charlotte O’Dwyer became the face of black summer’s terrible toll as an innocent toddler at the funeral of her father, RFS volunteer, Andrew O’Dwyer. Today, the six-year-old and her mother Mel speak to Guardian Australia as we take a moment to pause and examine the wounds of that summer.
Not the news
Some reality TV contestants stay in luxury island villas while filming but Gina Chick had to endure 67 days – completely solo – in the Tasmanian bush to be crowned the 2023 winner of Alone Australia. In the latest of our Away with interviews about travel, the survivalist reveals why she likes to bring out her guitar in airports, what she needs to do to get over jet lag – and what roadkill squirrel tastes like.
Sport
Football | Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham side went behind in the first minute of their FA Cup match against Aston Villa; a stunned Liverpool have been sent crashing out of the FA Cup in a major upset at Plymouth.
Cricket | Australia have crushed Sri Lanka in the second Test to complete a rare clean sweep of a subcontinent series; Rohit Sharma hits a century as India surge to an ODI series victory over England.
Surfing | Australia’s Tyler Wright makes surfing history becoming the first woman to win Hawaii’s Pipe Pro event twice.
Super Bowl LIX | All our predictions for Kansas City Chiefs v Philadelphia Eagles, including the MVP, score and winners.
Media roundup
Long queues are forming at Australia’s airports thanks to a digital processing system that is riddled with faults, the Age reports. Members of the LGBTQ+ community in NSW are being targeted by an escalating campaign of intimidation and threats of violence, including neo-Nazi demonstrations, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. More than a third of Australians are still working from home, defying a renewed push to get people back into the office post-pandemic, ABC News reports.
What’s happening today
ABS | The latest monthly business turnover figures are due to be released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
NSW | A hearing is scheduled in Sydney in a First Nations legal challenge over Murray-Darling consultation failures.
WA | Sentencing is due in Perth for four climate activists over an incident at the home of the Woodside chief executive.
Sign up
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
