1. Over 75,000 HomeBuilder grants to deliver $50 billion boost to the economy

The total number of homeowners who applied for the $25,000 HomeBuilder grant reached 75,143 at the end of 2020 according to Treasury figures seen by The Australian, which reported that the grants would "underwrite more than $50bn in broader economic activity in 2021". Treasury originally estimated that 27,000 grants would be applied for.

2. Hospitality industry calls on government to introduce 'HospoKeeper'

Restaurant and Catering Australia CEO Wes Lambert has written to Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Trade and Tourism Minister Dan Tehan with a proposal to introduce 'HospoKeeper'. According to The Australian, the plan would see employees of restaurants, cafes and hotels continue to receive payments after JobKeeper ends in March. Businesses would need to demonstrate that they were "substantially affected" by COVID-19 restrictions.

3. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says Trump 'provoked' riot

Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the US Senate, has criticised President Donald Trump during a speech on the Senate floor, and said that "the mob was fed lies" in the lead up to the Capitol riot. "They were provoked by the president and other powerful people, and they tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government which they did not like," McConnell said.

4. Australia Zoo home to world's oldest rhinoceros iguana

The Irwin Family's Australia Zoo has announced that its 40-year-old rhinoceros iguana named Rhino has received a Guinness World Record as the oldest living member of its species. "He celebrated this remarkable honour with his favourite snack, hibiscus flowers," the zoo said in a Tweet.

5. US stocks rise to start the week

After remaining closed due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday on Monday, the three major stock market indexes in the US all rose on Tuesday. The Dow Jones gained 116.26 points or 0.38% to 30,930.52, the S&P 500 lifted 30.66 points or 0.81% to 3,798.91 and the Nasdaq rose back above the 13,000 level to 13,197.18 after moving 198.68 points or 1.53% higher during the session.