Good afternoon.
A large-scale manhunt is under way in central New South Wales after three people were shot dead, including a pregnant woman, and a fourth was seriously injured in the town of Lake Cargelligo.
The alleged perpetrator, Julian “Hoolio” Ingram, was described as “armed and dangerous” with the community urged to stay indoors. More than 100 police were scouring the area.
Court documents show that Sophie Quinn, the pregnant woman who Ingram is accused of killing, had an apprehended domestic violence order taken out against him in December. Police granted Ingram bail on 30 November for domestic violence-related charges.
Top news
Trump withdraws invitation for Canada to join his global ‘board of peace’
US, Ukraine and Russia delegations head to Abu Dhabi for their first trilateral talks of the war
Intense heat across south-east Australia could shatter temperature records in coming days
Two dead and six missing after landslides hit house and campground in New Zealand
Australia unveil Winter Olympics team with 15-year-old Indra Brown leading medal charge
In pictures
The White House posted a digitally altered image of a woman who was arrested after an ICE protest to make it seem as if she was dramatically crying, a Guardian analysis of the image has found.
What they said …
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“My first reaction can be summed up in three letters: wow! It has not been a typical day.”
Stefano Fulchir, the president of iVision Tech, was excited to see Emmanuel Macron wearing a pair of his company’s sunglasses at Davos. The curious fashion choice that became the talk of the conference had a logical explanation: the French president was stylishly disguising a burst blood vessel in his right eye.
Full Story
Allegra Spender on fear and rushed laws after the Bondi attack
In an eventful start to parliament for 2026, MPs came together with condolences for the victims of the Bondi terror attack and passed hurried reforms on guns and hate speech.
Guardian Australia’s political editor, Tom McIlroy, speaks to the independent MP for Wentworth, Allegra Spender, whose electorate includes Bondi, about why she thinks politics can often stand in the way of community safety.
Before bed read
Liliya Bachinskaya’s twins, Micaela and Abigail, were born conjoined at the head. At 10 months old they were able to be separated, in a daunting 24-hour procedure involving 30 medics. She describes the “imagination and instinct” needed to raise them until that day – and the “miracle” moment when they were able to look each other in the eye for the first time.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: LUDE. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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