Morning everyone. Our exclusive lead story this morning shows how parliamentary rules are so broad that ministers and senior politicians have “unlimited” travel entitlements for their spouse, according to guidelines governing spending.
Indigenous deaths in custody have reached their highest point for 45 years, and elsewhere we hear from relieved – and some concerned – parents after the social media ban kicked in. Plus: visiting the US could mean having the last five years of your online life scrutinised, and why did the Neighbours reboot fail?
Australia
Picture perfect | You’ve had your chance to nominate your favourite Australian children’s picture book and now we have our shortlist of 50 much-loved titles, from classics such as Possum Magic to more contemporary reads such as Be Careful, Xiao Xin! Voting begins on 27 January.
Exclusive | The prime minister has defended Anika Wells as controversy over the use of taxpayer-funded travel entitlements continues. Guardian Australia can reveal an explanatory document about the regulations says spousal travel for senior office holders is “relevantly unlimited in respect of total expenses claimable each year”.
‘Deaths after deaths’ | The widow of a Noongar man who died at a maximum security prison in Western Australia two years ago says “nothing has changed” for Aboriginal people, after a damning report revealed that more Indigenous people died in custody last year than any year since 1980.
‘A lifeline’ | Parents have welcomed the government’s social media ban that came into force yesterday. One told us it was nice to have their child “present in the house again” and another said it was a “lifeline”, but others said they are worried their children will suffer socially.
Toll boost | Toll road drivers in New South Wales will no longer have to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in extra fees under an agreement reached by the state government with private operator Transurban.
World
Border posts | All tourists to the United States would have to reveal their social media activity from the past five years under new Trump administration plans. A Michigan Democrat is trying to impeach Robert Kennedy Jr. And our correspondent in Miami says the election of a Democratic mayor is not just a backlash against Trump but a seismic shift. Follow developments live.
Rights move | The UK has joined some of Europe’s hardline governments in calling for human rights laws to be “constrained” to allow Rwanda-style migration deals with third countries and more foreign criminals to be deported.
Why Harris lost | Kamala Harris lost last year’s US presidential election because she chased the wrong voters with the wrong message, ultimately demobilising the very base that she needed to win, according to a grassroots advocacy group.
Swift attack | Taylor Swift has been the target of an online campaign trying to align her and her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, with Nazi and rightwing imagery and values, according an analysis.
Catching fire | Humans mastered the art of creating fire 400,000 years ago, almost 350,000 years earlier than previously known, according to a groundbreaking discovery in a field in Suffolk.
Full Story
The expensive expenses of Anika Wells
Political editor Tom McIlroy joins Reged Ahmad to discuss whether the latest controversy over ministerial expenses will see a change to politicians’ perks.
In-depth
Less than two months ago the financial markets were not only predicting that the cash rate would already be at 3.35% but that by May next year a further cut to 3.1% was almost certain. But Tuesday’s Reserve Bank meeting ended with a dramatic change of tone as the governor, Michele Bullock, ruled out cuts and hinted strongly that rates will rise next year. Greg Jericho tries to make sense of it all.
Not the news
After Neighbours was cancelled in 2022, an outpouring of love from fans all over the world helped convince Amazon to give it another go. So why has Amazon pulled the plug again?
Sport
Tennis | Aryna Sabalenka has weighed in on the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sport, the world No 1 saying it would be unfair for women to face “biological men” in professional tennis.
Rugby league | The never-ending crisis at Wests Tigers appears to have hit another fresh low which threatens to make the club undesirable to players, coaches and fans.
Football | Real Madrid host Manchester City this morning with coach Xabi Alonso finding his job on the line. Elsewhere, Arsenal are at Club Brugge and Newcastle are in Leverkusen.
Media roundup
The ABC is reporting that a federal plan to build a strategic marine fleet has quietly slipped behind schedule. Former Nationals power broker Ron Boswell has told the Australian of his distress at Barnaby Joyce’s switch to One Nation. And Port Stephens council will argue its case for a high-speed rail stop as part of the “nation-defining” project, according to the Newcastle Herald.
What’s happening today
Economy | Unemployment figures are released at 11.30am, and there are AGMs for Myer and Westpac.
Canberra | Examination of the National Anti-Corruption Commission annual report.
Courts | A judgment at federal court in Sydney in the appeal by retired judge Walter Sofronoff over his conduct in the Bruce Lehrmann case inquiry.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
