Novak Djokovic has won his appeal against a decision by border officials in Australia to refuse his visa. The world number one men’s tennis player can stay in the country to compete in the Australian Open - and defend his title - after a turbulent week saw him being held in an immigration detention hotel when he was denied entry. During the court hearing, the judge presiding over the case asked: "What more could this man have done?" Though unvaccinated from coronavirus, Djokovic was given a waiver by two medical boards following a recent infection from the virus, said the Serbian star’s lawyer Nick Wood. The court heard all the medical evidence of that was presented and Djokovic landed in Melbourne last week ready for the Grand Slam believing his documents were valid.
The hearing saw Djokovic's supporters protest outside court and was held with him watching from an undisclosed location. "He had done absolutely everything. He had engaged with everything that was required of him by Tennis Australia," Mr Wood said. Following these arguments, the government had to defend its actions, with barrister Christopher Tran insisting the 34-year-old’s recent infection didn’t qualify him for an exemption from travel rules. However, during the hearing Judge Anthony Kelly appeared to agree with Mr Wood's reasoning, telling government lawyers he felt "agitated" by what he had heard. The government subsequently withdrew its case and Judge Kelly ruled Djokovic's visa cancellation be "quashed" immediately. He can now take part in the Australian Open starting on 17 January and if he goes on to win he’ll be the most successful men’s player in history. Keep on top of developments by following our live page.

At least 19 people, including nine children, have died after a fire in a 19-storey apartment block in New York. It’s the worse death toll in the area for 30 years, according to fire department Commissioner Daniel Nigro, who said firefighters found people in every floor in stairwells after the fire broke out on Sunday morning. They were rescued while suffering from "cardiac and respiratory arrest", he says. People were waving from the windows of the building in the Bronx as the flames took hold, according to one man who lives nearby. And although the fire only spread over two floors, smoke engulfed the block when the door of the apartment where the blaze started was left open. "The impact of this fire is going to bring a level of pain and despair to our city," New York Mayor Eric Adams says. "The numbers are horrific." Sixty-three have been also injured, 32 were taken to hospital and of those 13 are in a critical condition. The fire is believed to have been started by an electric heater.

Pregnant women are already on the priority list for the Covid vaccine as they’re at increased risk from the virus. Now there’s a new drive for them to get jabbed or have a booster as soon as possible. It’s part of a government campaign which sees expectant mothers share their experiences to encourage others not to delay getting vaccinated. It comes after data from the UK Obstetric Surveillance System showed more than 96% of pregnant women admitted to hospital with symptoms between May and October last year were unvaccinated. So far about 84,000 pregnant women have received one dose of the vaccine and more than 80,000 have had the second dose. "We have extensive evidence now to show that the vaccines are safe and that the risks posed by Covid-19 are far greater," says Prof Lucy Chappell, chief scientific adviser to the Department of Health. Read more here.

Various stories about coronavirus appear on the front pages this morning. The i reports Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to announce a "living with Covid" plan by March. Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s backing calls to cut self-isolation to five days, according to the Daily Telegraph. And the Times leads with a piece about most hospitals "getting through Omicron without tipping into crisis". Other stories making the headlines include the cost of living crisis which the Daily Mail and Daily Express cover and the government’s levelling up agenda is investigated by the Daily Mirror. Read the newspaper review in full here.

Ever dreamed of being a music star or making a hit record? Well, help could be at hand. There’s a website and app where you can create songs, with artificial intelligence capable of composing one in less than 30 seconds. Take a look to see if it strikes a chord with you.
A proposal over Zoom and special dispensation to leave Australia meant one long-distance couple could finally wed after 20 months apart. Travel restrictions ended trips between Australia and the UK for Chris Quealy, 72, and Penny Steven, 69, but they’ve finally got hitched and they live-streamed their wedding so no-one missed it. Here’s the story.
And did you see the story about the baby boy who was reunited with his family after being separated during the evacuation in Afghanistan? For months his parents, who managed to flee to the US, had no idea where he was but he was found, and they've watched the reunion with extended family on a video chat. Read more here.

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