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Good morning!
And welcome to the second Friday of January, also colloquially known as ‘Quitters’ Day’.
This is typically when people start to give up on their New Year’s resolutions.
If this is you, don’t worry. In just 357 days, you get to make a whole new set of resolutions and give it another crack.
2027 is going to be our year!
I’ve got 10 seconds
Quote of the day
“I was supposed to do a movie at one point, and it was like right after the conscious uncoupling thing with Chris [Martin], and there was a lot of harsh stuff in the press. I think the distributor was like, ‘This might be too hot to touch.’”
Actor and businesswoman Gwyneth Paltrow revealing on Amy Poehler’s podcast, Good Hang, that she was dropped from a film due to media interest in her divorce from her then-husband, Coldplay singer Chris Martin, announced in 2014.
Stat of the day
49°C
The temperature at Onslow Airport in Western Australia on Wednesday, making it officially the hottest place on Earth that day, according to Weatherzone.
Viral moment
2007
The first iPhone was announced by then-CEO Steve Jobs.
I’ve got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
Emergency warnings remain in place for an out-of-control bushfire that is burning in Longwood, in northern Victoria, amid severe and extreme heatwaves that have hit most states and territories in Australia. Authorities have confirmed that properties have been lost in Longwood, but it’s not yet known how many. Another bushfire also continues to burn at Mount Lawson on the border of Victoria and NSW. Heatwave conditions will continue today, with temperatures forecast to reach 41ºC in Melbourne and up to 47ºC in parts of inland Victoria on Friday.
The lawyer representing the son of the late Hollywood filmmaker Rob Reiner, who is facing charges that he murdered his parents, has withdrawn from the case. The change in lawyers took place at a court hearing where Nick Reiner was expected to enter a not-guilty plea, which has now been postponed. Nick is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the fatal knife attack on his parents, who are actor-director Rob Reiner and photographer-producer Michele Reiner. Their bodies were found on the afternoon of 14 December inside their west LA home. Nick’s defence lawyer gave no immediate reason for why he was withdrawing from the case.
Recommendation of the day
Transparency: This is a sponsored section of the newsletter. It's the best way we can keep this newsletter free for you
If keeping up with culture feels like a full-time job, TDA Culture is here to help
Launched with Warner Music Australia, it filters the endless scroll into what actually matters – from celebrity feuds to viral moments, delivered straight to your inbox.
No algorithm chasing, no hours of scrolling, just the cultural clarity you need to stay in the know.
I’ve got 1 minute
A U.S. immigration agent has killed a woman during a raid in the U.S. state of Minnesota
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer has shot and killed a driver in the U.S. state of Minnesota.
It came during a widespread immigration raid across the state.
The homeland security agency has said the officer feared for his life. However, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said “that is bullshit”.
The shooting victim has been identified as 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen.
ICE raids
ICE is the federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws and deporting people who are in the U.S. without legal permission.
When Trump returned to office in January 2025, he pushed to increase arrests to 3,000 people per day by mid-2025, up from a few hundred under the Biden administration.
Videos of ICE raids have shown agents using aggressive measures, sparking frequent protests.
In 2025, ICE says it deported at least 622,000 people.
Shooting
This week, ICE said 2,000 federal agents were sent to the Minneapolis area to carry out the “largest immigration operation ever”.
On Wednesday, Homeland Security said they were conducting these operations when “rioters began blocking ICE officers”. This resulted in a federal officer shooting and killing a driver.
It was captured on video and posted to social media.
Response
The U.S. Department of Homeland defended the officer’s actions, saying he was “fearing for his life”, when a “violent rioter...weaponised her vehicle”.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described this characterisation as “garbage”, calling on the ICE agents to leave the state, saying they were causing “chaos and distrust”.
U.S. President Donald Trump blamed the incident on the “Radical Left”, who he says are “targeting ICE agents” on a daily basis.
Hundreds of anti-ICE protesters have turned out at the scene of the shooting.
Reporting by Elliot Lawry.
Sun fact of the day
Your skin won’t know if you’re at the beach or on your balcony – UV is UV.
Make sun protection your bestie, no matter where you are. Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, and Slide.
Transparency: This is a sponsored section of the newsletter. It's the best way we can keep this newsletter free for you
I’ve got 2 minutes
Anthony Albanese has announced a Royal Commission into antisemitism and social cohesion
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a Federal Royal Commission into antisemitism and social cohesion in Australia.
It comes after two gunmen killed 15 innocent people at a Jewish community event in Bondi in December.
Albanese previously rejected calls for a Commonwealth Royal Commission, initially arguing it would delay action.
Bondi
On 14 December, 15 innocent people were killed, and many more were injured, after two gunmen opened fire at a Jewish community event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
Hundreds had gathered to celebrate the start of the Jewish festival of Chanukah.
The mass shooting was declared a terrorist attack, triggering calls for a Royal Commission into antisemitism in Australia.
Royal Commission
A Royal Commission is a major investigation into something of great importance to the country.
They are called for by governments (usually the Federal Government), but are carried out independently to minimise conflict of interest.
Once called, the Royal Commission has strong powers to talk to witnesses, request information and consult with experts.
Since 14 December, calls have been made for a federal Royal Commission into antisemitism in Australia.
Some families of the victims, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, Jewish leaders, and a collection of business and sport leaders, were among those advocating for a Royal Commission.
Albanese repeatedly dismissed the requests, and said having “multiple royal commissions” (referencing one that had been announced by the NSW Government) would “simply delay action”.
Announcement
On Thursday, Albanese announced the Federal Government will hold a Commonwealth Royal Commission into antisemitism and social cohesion.
The Royal Commission will be chaired by former High Court justice Virginia Bell. Bell was a Federal High Court justice from 2009 to 2021.
He said: “We're confident that Commissioner Bell has the deep experience and expertise to conduct her inquiry in such a way that meaningfully examines the impact of antisemitism on the daily life of Jewish Australians.”
Criticism
A group of Jewish leaders, including former Liberal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, have criticised Bell’s appointment.
Before Bell was officially announced as chair, Frydenberg said on social media that she “did not have the total confidence of the Jewish community”.
Reporting by Emily Donohoe.
A message from Cricket Australia
A Women’s International Cricket series is coming — and it’s happening on home soil. Australia will take on India in the NRMA Insurance Women’s International Series, and it’s set to be huge.
This is the rivalry that once packed 80,000+ fans into the MCG, and after India’s recent World Cup triumph, the stakes are sky high. Across three T20Is, three ODIs and a four-day Test match, expect big-hitting moments mixed with the pure drama of international cricket.
It all gets underway at the SCG on Sunday 15 February. This series is where the next chapter of the rivalry unfolds. Tickets are on sale now – don’t miss out!
Give me some good news
Australia has won the fifth and final Test of the Ashes, defeating England by five wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground to seal a 4–1 series victory.
More than 200,000 people also attended the Test match in Sydney for the first time, breaking a record set in the Bradman era. Australian fast bowler Mitch Starc, who took 31 wickets across the series, was named Player of the Series.
The match was the last for Usman Khawaja, who debuted in 2011. Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith said after the match on Khawaja: “He has had a wonderful career… [He] has been great as a player and as a human being as well.”
Want more good news? Sign up to our weekly Good Newsletter here - we promise it’ll make your week better!
Reporting by George Finlayson.
TDA titbit
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced a major overhaul of America’s Dietary Guidelines to better reflect what he calls “modern nutrition science”.
Top order of business? More protein. The guidelines instruct Americans to “prioritise protein at every meal”.
It also says to “consume full-fat dairy with no added sugars”.
“My message is clear: Eat real food,” Kennedy told reporters at a briefing at the White House.
Reporting by Achol Arok.
Want more from The Daily Aus? Listen to our podcast!
The new year is often a time for reflection, goal-setting and resolutions, but January can also follow - for some of us - a period of heavy or frequent drinking.
The hangover of the festive season has seen an increasing number of young people reduce or re-evaluate their relationships with alcohol, what’s known as the curiosity movement.
The global zero-alcohol drinks industry is projected to be worth $64.7 billion AUD in 2028. So, why are people ditching the drink? We explore in today’s podcast.
TDA asks
