Sydney Morning Herald Digest
Daily News • Monday, 26 January 2026
Australia news LIVE: Ley’s allies confident she will remain party leader; Melbourne to swelter in worst heatwave since Black Saturday
Follow along as we bring you the latest live news updates from Australia and beyond.
Israel recovers last hostage body, paving way for Gaza’s lifeline to reopen
The remains of police officer Ran Gvili – held in Gaza for more than 840 days – have been identified and will be returned for burial, the Israeli military said.
Kyrgios at nightclub before doubles match
Aussie tennis star Nick Kyrgios was allegedly filmed at a Melbourne nightclub just hours before his Australian Open doubles match with Leylah Fernandez.
Rupert Murdoch’s California dream a reality as newspaper launches
Rupert Murdoch’s media empire is looking to shake up the media landscape in California with a new tabloid offering.
Melbourne forecast to crack 45 degrees in worst heatwave since Black Saturday
Melbourne is forecast to swelter through a maximum 45 degrees on Tuesday, but a cool change at night will send temperatures plummeting.
Firefighters brace for heatwave peak in Victoria
Firefighters are bracing for a dangerous day on the ground, with temperatures soaring and multiple blazes raging in Victoria.
The Brisbane school catchments at the top of home buyers’ lists
More than 600 people flood into this south-east Brisbane high school’s auditorium three times a year for the chance to buy a house in its catchment.
National weather forecast for Tuesday January 27
National weather forecast for Tuesday January 27.
Man charged over alleged rape, attempted murder in Queensland
A man has been charged with three counts of rape and one count of attempted murder after an alleged attack on a woman in Rockhampton, Queensland.
Museum of Contemporary Art bets on Indigenous art to woo ticket-buying public
The MCA says it will also reintegrate the gallery into the “rhythm of the city” with a range of initiatives, including free ticket days.
An era is about to end for Australian cricket. A spectacular rebirth could follow
The end of this era should not cause concern. Australian cricket remains healthy. An exciting crop of young talent is coming through to form the core of the next great Australian teams.
Parents offered ‘coaching’ before the new school year
As a new cohort of Victorian students make the exciting leap from primary to high school, parents are being encouraged to learn how to help.
How the AFL has been left exposed by Sayers investigation
If they are not already, the AFL leadership should be asking themselves how they became embroiled in an acrimonious marriage split that originated with a grainy photograph of male genitals posted on the internet more than 12 months ago.
Caution won’t conquer Carlos, but these numbers show why de Minaur can
To the naked eye, Alex de Minaur has never played better than his past two matches at the Australian Open. He’ll need all that form and more to topple the world No.1
Trump sends his border tsar to Minneapolis, signalling shift in strategy
Tom Homan will report directly to the president, effectively sidelining Border Patrol boss Greg Bovino and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem amid the ongoing unrest in Minnesota.
ASX set to jump as Wall Street climbs; $A climbs, gold hits record
US stock indexes are ticking higher, while other markets make louder moves, including another record-breaking rush for the price of gold.
This chart shows how packed one Sydney metro station will become in peak hour
Modelling shows a new station beneath the city for the $29 billion Metro West line will be almost twice as busy as the existing Martin Place metro station.
How home buyers and sellers are being enlisted to help fight crime
Anyone who is buying a home in cash or doesn’t seem able to afford their purchase will come under focus this year.
Forget ‘me time’: This is the most important travel trend of 2026
You don’t need to become lifelong pen pals with someone you meet overseas to establish an unforgettable connection.
These four Holocaust survivors took refuge in Australia. This is their message for the nation
Three Holocaust survivors and the daughter of another, Alex Kleytman, killed in the Bondi terror attack last month, reflect on their experiences of survival as Australia faces a reckoning.