Sydney Morning Herald Digest
Daily News • Monday, 26 January 2026
Australian Open 2026 LIVE updates: Demon in Alcaraz showdown; US teen challenges Sabalenka; Gates open early on sweltering day
Alex De Minaur plays world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz as the quarter-finals begin. Follow live.
Plane crash-lands, two people trapped in cockpit as field burns
Emergency services rushed to the scene south of Brisbane shortly before 6am, with two people pulled from the aircraft.
Superstar sisters sign new rugby deal
Gold Coast sisters Maddison and Teagan Levi have signed new deals with Rugby Australia with an eye on the 2028 LA Olympics.
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.
Olympic dreams trump NRLW offers for talented Levi sisters
Winning a medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics remains the priority for Maddison and Teagan Levi.
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.
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.
Prince Harry and Meghan at Sundance Film Festival
Prince Harry joined his wife Meghan at Sundance Film Festival to promote their new documentary Cookie Queens.
Kiwi poaching raid confirmed as Kiss successor revealed
Les Kiss’ replacement has been revealed, with a two-time championship-winning coach from two different competitions named at the helm.
Emergency services called to Queensland light plane crash
A light plane has crashed south of Brisbane, emergency services have been called.
Victoria heatwave LIVE: State swelters under worst conditions since Black Saturday; fire threatens Great Ocean Road
Stay up to date with Victoria’s unfolding heatwave and bushfire threats with our live blog.
Are we going to be a country which still makes things?
The government has staked billions on its Future Made in Australia policy, but our heavy industries are struggling.
Inside Yiaga, one of Melbourne’s most ambitious restaurants
Yiaga head chef Hugh Allen has made Good Food history the first to be awarded three hats across two venues.
Brisbane swelters through hottest Australia Day in 27 years, as storm hits nearby region
Heatwave conditions were expected further inland for the rest of the week.
Ye apologises for antisemitic remarks, blames bipolar disorder in full-page advert
The hip-hop personality formerly known as Kanye West said he was in a severe car accident 25 years ago and damage to his brain wasn’t properly diagnosed until 2023.
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.
‘It could be entertaining’: A look at the first edition of Rupert Murdoch’s new newspaper
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.