Good afternoon. The first heatwave of the summer in New South Wales has hit the state’s east coast, with warnings also in place for parts of the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia. By early Friday afternoon, Sydney’s CBD had reached 37.8C – the highest temperature since January last year – while other areas had soared above 39C.
There have been warnings for blazes in Dubbo and south of Bulahdelah on the NSW mid-north coast, and firefighters have been battling several bushfires in Tasmania.
As Graham Readfearn explains, La Niña is here – but it may not bring what Australians expect.
Top news
Second Ashes Test: Head opens for Australia after England are all out for 334
South Australian Liberal opposition leader Vincent Tarzia steps down
Skydivers go on strike in three Australian states and claim pay has plummeted
US submarines carrying nuclear weapons could dock in Australia despite ban, Senate told
Three-year-old chess prodigy becomes youngest player to earn official rating
Patient police say they have recovered Fabergé pendant from man accused of swallowing it
In pictures
Pantone has named its colour of the year for 2026, the shade the company feels most represents the zeitgeist. And it is, er … white. (Or: “cloud dancer.”) Are they serious? Is it a troll? A eugenics dogwhistle? Or just “Pantonedeaf”? Emma Joyce explains all to Nick Miller.
What they said …
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“I have a customer here that some other customers were suspicious of, that he looks like the CEO shooter from New York.” – The manager of a Pennsylvania McDonald’s
An audio recording of a 911 call that led to Luigi Mangione’s arrest has been made public after the press advocated for its release.
Podcast
Penny Wong on Trump, Putin and reshaping foreign policy
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, speaks to Guardian Australia’s political editor, Tom McIlroy, about a tumultuous year in international affairs. The senator reflects on attending the second inauguration of Donald Trump and her continued close engagement with Australia’s Pacific neighbours – in an increasingly unpredictable world order.
Before bed read
The Currumbin Ecovillage, on the border of NSW and Queensland, has banned pets – certified service animals excepted – to save wildlife. “Dogs are nice and very loyal and everything,” says Bill Smart, who’s lived there for 13 years with his wife, Susan. “We do miss having a dog but that’s the price we’re prepared to pay.”
It’s not the only thing the “intentional community” is doing to achieve a sustainable life.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: LIN. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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