Your daily digest of the top headlines and must-reads from Australia and around the world, along with sport, culture, lifestyle, opinion and more
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Headlines
Dutton says Russian ambassador should be ‘sent packing’ if Oscar Jenkins was killed
Australia news live  
Dutton says Russian ambassador should be ‘sent packing’ if Oscar Jenkins was killed
Follow live
New South Wales  
Two Sydney beaches still closed after mystery debris ‘grease balls’ washed ashore
Technology  
US sues Elon Musk for allegedly failing to disclose early Twitter stock purchase
Media  
Simon Townsend’s family say star children’s TV presenter died ‘surrounded by writers, actors, activists and Italians’
Live  
Australian Open 2025: Sabalenka on court, Djokovic and Alcaraz to follow on day four – live
Universities  
After costly appeal and dispute over research standards, religious institution becomes Australia’s 44th university
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The rural network
Our farm caught fire on New Year’s Day, and helpers poured out of the scrub. It’s given me fresh hope for 2025
Our farm caught fire on New Year’s Day, and helpers poured out of the scrub. It’s given me fresh hope for 2025
The global politics of division rage on but, when a crisis hit, neighbours and strangers alike converged on our burning paddocks to work in unison
Full Story podcast
Full Story  
A history-making moment at the Australian Open – Full Story podcast
A history-making moment at the Australian Open – Full Story podcast
Sport
Australian Open  
De Minaur brings main character energy in straight-sets win
De Minaur brings main character energy in straight-sets win
Premier League  
Jota rises to peg back Forest after Wood gives Liverpool early scare
Australian Open  
‘We are all obsessed with him now’: Habib thrills Lebanese diaspora
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Culture
Stage  
These three actors played Hamlet. Now they’re playing actors in Hamlet rehab
These three actors played Hamlet. Now they’re playing actors in Hamlet rehab
Film  
‘When I sense something is not right, I am going to protect myself’ – Lucy Liu on success, shame and calling out Bill Murray
Australia news  
Sydney festival refunds tickets after walkouts over pre-recorded pro-Palestinian message
Opinion
NSW’s mental health system is on its knees. Here is why psychiatrists like me have resigned
NSW’s mental health system is on its knees. Here is why psychiatrists like me have resigned
Anthony Albanese couldn’t sell a schooner to a shearer. He needs to ask ‘what would Xenophon do?’
The links between alcohol and cancer are clear, but most Australians are unaware of the risks
Lifestyle
Taste test  
Australian supermarket iced milk coffee taste test: ‘It reminds me of the time I tried breast milk’
Australian supermarket iced milk coffee taste test: ‘It reminds me of the time I tried breast milk’
Well actually  
I’m a hopeless people pleaser. I tried saying ‘no’ for a week
Technology
Google  
Google investigated by UK watchdog over search dominance
Google investigated by UK watchdog over search dominance
Science
Society  
Scientists find hundreds more genetic risk factors for depression
Scientists find hundreds more genetic risk factors for depression
Environment
Nuclear power  
Australian mining group promotes nuclear with memes about The Grinch and seasoning steak with sawdust
Australian mining group promotes nuclear with memes about The Grinch and seasoning steak with sawdust
Spiders  
Dream come true for Australian funnel-web spider enthusiast after he discovers a new species
Video
Sam Kerr appears in court charged with alleged racially aggravated harassment – video
 Sam Kerr appears in court charged with alleged racially aggravated harassment – video
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A message from Lenore Taylor editor of Guardian Australia

I hope you appreciated this newsletter. Before you move on, I wonder if you would consider contributing to our end-of-year fundraiser as we prepare for a pivotal, uncertain year ahead.

The course of world history has taken a sharp and disturbing turn in 2024. Liberalism is under threat from populist authoritarianism. Americans have voted to install a president with no respect for democratic norms, nor the facts that once formed the guardrails of public debate.

That decision means an alliance critical to Australia’s national and economic security is now a series of unpredictable transactions, with a partner no longer committed to multilateralism, nor efforts to curb global heating, the greatest threat we face. We just don’t know where this will lead.

In this uncertain time, fair, fact-based journalism is more important than ever – to record and understand events, to scrutinise the powerful, to give context, and to counter rampant misinformation and falsehoods.

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Lenore Taylor
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