Sydney Morning Herald Digest
Daily News • Wednesday, 28 January 2026
What to know about the deadly Nipah virus as outbreak hits India
Airports in South-East Asia are on alert after an outbreak of the disease, which has a 40 to 70 per cent fatality rate.
I thought I was in control of the algorithm. Then came the dreams of blood-soaked streets
Social media has the power to draw us into dark places. That same force sucked me into a doomscroll of violence.
Minnesota politician sprayed with mystery substance during a public event
A man sprays unknown substance on congresswoman Ilhan Omar and is tackled at Minneapolis town hall.
How the shooting of Alex Pretti unfolded
Video footage shared on social media captured the moments around the killing of 37-year-old Minneapolis man Alex Pretti by federal immigration officers.
Minneapolis politician attacked as White House changes tune on shooting
The incident came as Donald Trump’s hardline homeland security adviser Stephen Miller conceded Border Patrol agents may have broken protocol during the operation in which Alex Pretti was shot and killed.
China displays its military strength in a parade on the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII
China has been increasing its military capability. Does it have a Taiwan invasion in mind? And if so, by when?
Man tackled to ground after spraying unknown substance on Rep. Ilhan Omar at town hall in Minneapolis
Man tackled to ground after spraying unknown substance on Rep. Ilhan Omar at town hall in Minneapolis
Alexander brothers’ sex trial hears how a night of celebration turned to horror
A witness said she woke up after a party naked with Alon Alexander standing over her. She repeatedly told him she did not want to have sex with him, to which he replied: “Haha, you already did”, she told the court.
‘Nobody is safe’: What Xi’s purges say about his control over China’s military
The purging of China’s top general Zhang Youxia has cranked up the rumour mill, but experts say his downfall may be the case of a military leader who became too powerful.
Former French senator guilty of drugging MP with MDMA
The case followed the landmark drugging-and-rape case that turned Gisèle Pelicot into a global icon in the fight against sexual violence.
‘Melania’ trailer
The trailer for the upcoming documentary ‘Melania’, about First Lady Melania Trump.
ICE at the Winter Olympics: Agents to support US security, stirring anger in Italy
ICE and Border Patrol agents have come under heavy criticism in the United States after two citizens were shot dead in separate incidents in Minnesota.
US to send ICE agents to Italy for Olympics
The US has revealed it would be sending Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to the Winter Olympics in Italy.
Investigators reveal new details in Washington DC air crash
Multiple errors behind Washington DC air crash that killed 67 people, US investigators reveal.
Death toll rises in US winter storm
Three brothers aged under 10 years have become the latest fatalaties in the giant US snowstorm.
Minneapolis shootings: Trump’s America lapses into authoritarianism
Videos of the shooting mean Americans can see what happened with their own eyes, but that has not stopped Trump officials from trying to cast Alex Pretti as a villain.
Trump could see this crisis turning rapidly. His response was inevitable
The US president’s political instincts have proven themselves pretty reliable over the years, and it is clear he could see the politics of this crisis changing rapidly.
Why Trump just proved Mark Carney’s point
Canada’s prime minister stood up to the US president. Trump’s response tells us that Carney’s remarks struck a nerve.
The ultimate Labor insider stepping into London’s hot seat
The Australian government’s man in the UK is trying to bring two governments closer together even as one of them tears itself apart.
Millions shiver as big freeze grips United States
At least 30 people have died as the country endures what has been called the worst winter storm to hit the country in a decade.