Morning everyone. Today we publish an exclusive extract from the posthumous memoir of Virginia Giuffre, which recalls the day an “apex predator” recruited her from Mar-a-Lago.
Extreme temperatures are pushing Australia’s tropical rainforests over the edge to where they are switching from a mass absorber of carbon to being an emissions source, according to alarming new research. We’re also reporting on claims Adani has sold coal under market rates, reducing royalties to the Queensland government – an analysis that the miner denies.
Plus: why aisle tickets will soon cost more at some sports venues.
Australia
Lack of interest | Westpac is tightening conditions on its savings account for younger customers as growing numbers of banks make it harder to earn advertised interest rates on their deposits.
Carbon switch | Australian tropical rainforest trees have become the first in the world to switch from being a carbon sink to an emissions source, according to research in Nature. The news comes as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere soared by a record amount in 2024 to hit another high, UN data shows.
Mining matter | Adani has consistently sold coal from its Queensland mine far below market rates, according to claims made in a new analysis, potentially reducing the royalties owed to the state government by hundreds of millions of dollars. The miner rejects the findings.
Rights warning | Labor’s moves to expand Asio’s compulsory questioning powers could lead to “fishing expeditions” against individuals not charged with any crime, civil liberties groups warn.
Diary fight | Former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann is fighting to safeguard personal diaries that were seized during a raid on his home by the anti-corruption watchdog.
World
Gaza ceasefire | One of the four bodies handed over by Hamas is not a missing hostage, Israel has said, while thousands attended the first funeral of the dead hostages. A hospital in Gaza said the 45 anonymous remains of Palestinians they had received in return arrived with cuffs on their legs and arms. Our security correspondent Jason Burke cautions that history teaches us we should be cautious about the peace deal holding.
Posthumous memoir | A disturbing and moving extract from the memoir of Virginia Roberts Giuffre tells how she was trafficked to a succession of wealthy and powerful men.
Border clashes | Dozens of soldiers and civilians have been killed after fresh clashes broke out along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and Islamabad carried out retaliatory airstrikes on the Afghan capital, Kabul, and Kandahar province.
‘Fall of freedom’ | Artists and artistic organisations around the US are set to take part in a series of protests and events to speak out against Donald Trump and his administration. Robert De Niro urged Americans to “take a stand” against Trump. Meanwhile the government shutdown festers on.
Reparo! | The film crew making the new HBO adaptation of the Harry Potter books in the Devon village of Lustleigh have delighted locals by fixing some of the area’s potholes – a perennial bugbear in rural England.
Full Story
Can a fragile ceasefire hold in Gaza?
Our Middle East writer, William Christou, speaks to Reged Ahmad from Jerusalem on the mammoth task of rebuilding Gaza and if this week’s truce can be turned into a long-lasting peace.
In-depth
Aisle seats will cost an extra $25 at the Melbourne Grand Prix as part of a move adopted at sporting events such as the MotoGP at Phillip Island and the Australian Open tennis to price tickets on the edge of bays higher than those in the middle. Jack Snape looks at what’s behind the trend.
Not the news
Standby for the big one: the winner of our Bird of the Year competition will be announced later today with the tawny frogmouth the current frontrunner, followed by Baudin’s black cockatoo, the gang-gang cockatoo, the willie wagtail, the bush stone-curlew, the southern emu-wren, the laughing kookaburra, the little penguin, the spotted pardalote and the wedge-tailed eagle.
Sport
AFL | Carlton’s two-time Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow will join Sydney in the biggest deal of the AFL trade period despite last-minute haggling before last night’s deadline. Hawthorn, however, were unable to convince Essendon to trade away captain Zach Merrett.
Commonwealth Games | India will be formally approved as hosts of the centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030 next month as the country steps up its ambitions to stage the 2036 Olympics.
Media roundup
Australia will “stare down” Donald Trump’s threats to oppose the international effort to establish a global carbon tax, the Age claims. The Fin Review claims that Australia only has 28 days of petrol left and is not keeping enough in reserve. The Greens are backing plans for a bigger ACT assembly to avert a potential constitutional crisis, the Canberra Times reports.
What’s happening today
Sydney | Investor Group on Climate Change 2025 summit titled Decoding the Transition features keynote speech by Al Gore, and also hears from Matt Kean and Penny Sharpe.
Canberra | Home affairs minister Tony Burke addresses the National Press Club.
Courts | Judgment at 10am as Palestine group sues NSW over anti-protest laws.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
