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Good morning and welcome to the national news live blog for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald for Wednesday, January 28. My name is Emily Kaine, and I’ll be helming your coverage this morning. Here’s what is making headlines today.
- Alex de Minaur’s Australian Open campaign came to an end last night in the quarterfinal against World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz came away with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 win over de Minaur that sets up a semifinal clash with Alexander Zverev to be played on Friday.
Health authorities are warning the most dangerous impacts of Victoria’s heatwave may be still to come, with the cumulative impact of consecutive prolonged temperatures building through another four days with forecasts of 40 degrees or more in parts of the state. Victoria’s all-time hottest temperature was recorded in the Mallee towns of Walpeup and Hopetoun yesterday, which hit 48.9 degrees on a day of scorching highs in many areas of the state.
- At least 30 deaths have been reported in a colossal winter storm that has blanketed a 2100-kilometre stretch of the US’ South, from Arkansas to New England, in deep snow. The snowstorm has halted traffic, cancelled flights and triggered wide school closures.
- Allies of Opposition Leader Sussan Ley maintain she will stay in the job as her conservative critics remain split. Speculation of a leadership spill has intensified after an Australia Day email Andrew Hastie sent to his electorate has surfaced, in which he appeared to suggest he is considering a challenge for the top job.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison has called on Australia’s Muslim leaders to license preachers, translate all sermons into English and set up a board to police radicals, in a wide-ranging speech at an antisemitism conference in Jerusalem. The address comes as this masthead revealed that Attorney-General Michelle Rowland advised the Australian National Imams Council, the leading body representing Muslim religious leaders, that new hate laws will not prevent criticism of foreign countries or political ideologies despite concerns the laws could silence debate.
- Two Nationals senators stand to lose their jobs at the next federal election if their party’s split with the Liberals continues. If the two parties do not reconcile before the next election, Bridget McKenzie and Ross Cadell would struggle to claim a quota, which is just over one-seventh of the statewide vote.
- The ABS is set to release the latest inflation data today, which will influence the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision on whether to cut rates next week.
Stay with us as we continue to bring you the latest rolling updates from Australia and beyond.
