Trump takes power promising ‘golden age’, Albanese’s poll reversal, De Minaur wins again

Ashes to Ashes | Australia have retained the Women’s Ashes after winning the first T20 in Sydney by 57 runs, taking an unassailable 8-0 lead on points after Beth Mooney slammed 75 off 51 balls and England were bowled out for 141.

Exclusive | Australians are feeling more optimistic in 2025 about the fortunes of the economy and their families, our latest Essential poll shows, delivering Anthony Albanese a welcome boost. The prime minister’s approval was strongest among young voters, compared to only 36% of those over 55.

Campus crackdown | University of Sydney staff and students would be banned from holding banners on campus without prior permission and staff would be unable to send political emails unless recipients had expressed prior interest under a string of draft policies introduced before the academic year.

Import question | Australia’s new anti-slavery commissioner has called on the government to urgently address the “inadequacy” of its forced labour laws after revelations that it had allowed thousands of imports from Chinese companies blacklisted for their alleged links to Uyghur workers.

Habitat destruction | Almost 26,000 hectares of threatened species habitat was greenlit for destruction in 2024 – more than double the previous year – a study shows.

‘America first’ | Donald Trump vowed to “put America first” as his second term as president began in the US Capitol Rotunda overnight, striking an alternately positive and threatening tone in his inauguration address. In a string of policy pronouncements, Trump said he would declare an emergency at the Mexican border, withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, revoke the electrical vehicle mandate, set up an agency to collect tariffs on imported goods, and reclaim the Panama Canal “from China”. You can fact checks some of Trump’s claims here, and follow developments and live reaction here. The ceremony was packed with rightwing luminaries, attended by a slew of far-right leaders – and Rupert Murdoch.

Gaza return | Palestinians have begun returning to destroyed homes and searching for missing loved ones in Gaza as the ceasefire in the 15-month conflict with Israel continued to hold.

‘Ticking timebomb’ | Axel Rudakubana has pleaded guilty to murdering three young girls and attempting to murder 10 others at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport. Rudakubana, whose actions sparked disorder across England, was described as a “ticking timebomb” and “obsessed” with genocides.

Weight-loss win | People with diabetes taking medications found in weight loss jabs have a reduced risk of 42 conditions, a comprehensive study has found, paving the way for such drugs being used to treat a host of health problems.

Bear hunt | Alaska is set to resume the aerial hunting of bears and wolves as a population control measure aimed at boosting caribou and moose herd numbers.

Tennis | Australian tennis fans have reason to dream after Alex de Minaur delivered a largely dominant victory over the American Alex Michelsen to reach the quarter-finals at the Australian Open where he will play world No 1 Jannik Sinner.

Australian Open | Novak Djokovic says he is ready to produce his “best” level in his quarter-final duel with Carlos Alcaraz later today as he seeks to put his spat with Channel Nine