Yahoo News Morning Mail: Gaza deal tension, Woolworths takes action against strikers, David Lynch dies
Morning, everyone. The Middle East is still gripped by tension after the Israeli government delayed the ratification of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas amid last-minute wrangles. In the meantime, Israel continued its deadly airstrikes on Gaza.
Plus: Woolworths is playing hardball with warehouse workers who went on strike before Christmas, America’s Danielle Collins thanked “super drunk” fans for jeering her to victory at Melbourne Park, and the film world mourns the legendary director David Lynch.
Australia
‘Super drunk’ | The American player Danielle Collins taunted members of the crowd at Melbourne Park who had booed and jeered her during her win over her Australian opponent Destanee Aiava, later saying fans had been “super drunk”. Alex de Minaur breezed through to the third round but the real drama of the day was saved until last when the American world No 121, Learner Tien, beat Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev 6-3 7-6(4) (8)6-7 1-6 7-6(7) in an epic that didn’t finish until 3am.
Strike investigation | Two workers have been dismissed and Woolworths has told dozens of warehouse employees it is investigating their alleged conduct during a 17-day strike that cost it more than $100m in sales.
‘Troubling’ process | A tribunal has questioned whether it is lawful for the National Disability Insurance Agency to require that participants provide renewed evidence of their eligibility before revoking their access, describing the approach as “troubling”.
Rights ‘failure’ | Australia’s “diabolical” treatment of asylum seekers and youth crime has worsened, a global human rights advocacy body has warned, urging voters to push back on leaders politicising the issue for gain. Overall, the report blasted the west for an “absolute failure” to protect rights.
‘Wet and chilly’ | Persistent rain and strong winds will sweep across NSW into the weekend, the Bureau of Meteorology predicts. The weather system will also affect eastern Victoria and south-east Queensland where storms caused widespread damage yesterday.
World
David Lynch dies | The maverick US director behind Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart and the TV series Twin Peaks has died aged 78. “There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us,” his family said.
Deal or no deal? | The Israeli cabinet will meet on Friday to vote on the ceasefire and hostage release deal to pause the war in Gaza after a day of high-stakes diplomacy, when Benjamin Netanyahu initially appeared to stall on the plan. Our analysis argues that his delicate political position at home has pushed the Israeli prime minister into declaring a manufactured crisis over the deal. Follow the story live. And we also hear from Palestinians exiled in Australia.
Porn blocker | Users accessing online pornography in the UK could soon be required to have their face scanned under measures announced overnight which could help shape similar settings change in Australia.
Boat tragedy | As many as 50 people are thought to have died after a boat bound for the Canary Islands got into difficulties after a 13-day voyage along the Atlantic migration route from west Africa.
Favourite child | Daughters, older children and those who are more conscientious or agreeable are likely to receive preferential treatment from their parents, a new study has found.
Full Story
Labor’s attempt to reboot the NBN – Full Story podcast
Reged Ahmad talks to reporter Josh Taylor about why the national broadband network remains expensive and slow.
In-depth
The decision by the Blue Mountains council to ban G-strings from its pools has prompted a backlash. But, as Tory Shepherd explains, the bikini wars are nothing new. Daylight bathing was once banned and “beach inspectors” used to police Bondi to make sure women were not wearing anything too revealing.
Not the news
Rebecca Shaw knew that one day we might have to watch powerful men burn down the world. But what she didn’t expect, she writes, “is how incredibly cringe it would all be.” From Elon Musk’s tweeting endlessly as if he has no friends, to Mark Zuckerberg sucking up to Donald Trump, they make her “nauseous at how uncool and pathetic they are”.
Sport
Australian Open | Alex de Minaur will meet the 31st seed, Francisco Cerundolo, in the third round of the Australian Open after he was largely untroubled in dispatching the American qualifier Tristan Boyer 6-2, 6-4, 6-3. The Australian’s fiancee, Katie Boulter, didn’t fare so well, losing in three sets to Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova. The Australian wildcard Tristan Schoolkate shocked the world No 1, Jannik Sinner, by taking the first set of their match but succumbed 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3.
Cricket | What are the greatest away Test victories of all time? We rank them, including a slightly controversial England win in Australia.
Football | You can follow this morning’s three Premier League matches here.
Media roundup
The Courier-Mail says 20,000 people are without power after a “tornado” ripped through Brisbane. Sydneysiders have breathed a “sigh of relief”, the Herald reports, after a Fair Work Commission order ended the rail dispute – for now. Police in Melbourne say they are looking for two murderers after a housesitter died in a fire, the Age reports.
What’s happening today
NSW | The state government responds to an inquiry that found dog pounds are over capacity and severely underfunded.
Society | Human Rights Watch’s world report will be released at 11.30am.
Sydney | Findings into the death of MJ, a five-week-old boy, from suspected dog bites, will be announced.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
