Good morning. If you were hanging out for some good climate news this week, I’m sorry to say it’s not today. A nine-month investigation by the Guardian, the German weekly Die Zeit and SourceMaterial has raised questions over carbon credits bought by a number of internationally renowned companies. On the second day of the Davos summit (overnight our time), the head of the UN accused fossil fuel companies of models “inconsistent with human survival” – while Ukraine’s president continued to call for more aid. And in Melbourne, the Australian Open continues today.
Let’s get into the day’s news.
Australia
‘Broken spirits’ | Four in five Australians have experienced some form of natural disaster at least once since 2019 – and it’s taking a mental health toll.
Tara emergency | After a gunman fired at a car, police last night declared an “ongoing” emergency situation in the small Queensland town – about 40km south of Wieambilla, where two officers were killed in December.
European-style laws | The right to be forgotten and a right to sue for privacy breaches will be considered for the next tranche of legislation, the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, says.
A shot across the bows? | The South Australian Greens have declared their unanimous support for a voice to parliament, amid criticism of the referendum from the party’s First Nations spokesperson, Lidia Thorpe.
Plant-based meats | Alternatives in supermarkets are generally healthier than meat products but may lack important nutrients found in the real thing, new research suggests.
World
‘Phantom credits’ | More than 90% of rainforest carbon offsets approved by the world’s biggest provider are largely worthless – and could make global heating worse, a new investigation says.
Freak temperatures | Speaking of, new research is warning extreme heat – under a high emissions scenario – could put 40% of land vertebrates in peril by the end of the century.
Ukraine | After the country’s interior minister was killed in a helicopter crash, the president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has used his Davos speech to intensify the call for more tanks from allies.
Gender recognition row | As a court battle looms over Westminster’s decision to block the Scottish parliament’s bill, Labour’s UK and Scottish leadership are moving to defuse conflicts over their approach.
Two glasses a week | Canada’s new guidelines – recommending drinkers ideally cut alcohol altogether – have prompted intense debate over risk v enjoyment.
Full Story
Five years in jail and 25 seeking justice: the malicious prosecution of Terry Irving
In 1993, Irving was wrongfully arrested for robbing a Queensland bank, and ended up spending 1,671 days in jail. He was released by the high court after the state conceded he had not received a fair trial. But exoneration is just the start of his story, as he embarked on a 25-year legal battle against the state for compensation.
And read more about Terry’s quest for justice here.
In-depth
Greg Jericho thinks the Reserve Bank of Australia should hold off on raising rates again next month. “Allowing some time for the impact to flow through would be a sensible approach,” he writes, “rather than continuing to hike rates to kill inflation that is already falling but might not yet be visible in official figures.”
Not the news
Butter is no longer “playing second fiddle to bread”, and chefs have been levelling up the quality – and quantity – they serve. Lee Tran Lam finds out what’s inspiring this trend, and what happens to the leftover spread.
The world of sport
Australian Open | No 7 seed Daniil Medvedev proved too tough for Australian John Millman in last night’s strongmen battle.
Meeting his part-time mentor | No 159 Thanasi Kokkinakis will face off against Andy Murray in today’s second-round encounter at Melbourne Park.
Premier League live | Crystal Palace are looking to snap a three-game losing streak, while Manchester United are hoping to make it ten wins in a row.
Netball | The Diamonds are set for a World Cup squad shootout at the Quad Series.
Media roundup
The federal government plans to end a superannuation loophole used by convicted child abusers, the ABC reports, after Grace Tame’s long campaign for change. The Financial Review reveals that under the Aukus deal, Australia is set to become a major hub for maintaining US submarines. And the Australian has reported that every mainland state and territory is in breach of the national firearms agreement – signed in the wake of the Port Arthur massacre.
What’s happening today
Telehealth | The auditor-general will release the report of its probe into the expansion of services during and after the pandemic.
Tesla | Opening arguments are due to begin in the case of Elon Musk v his company’s shareholders.
Australian Open | The summer grand slam continues in Melbourne – find our latest coverage here.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords and free Wordiply game to keep you entertained throughout the day – with plenty more on the Guardian’s Puzzles app for iOS and Android. Until tomorrow.
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