Good afternoon.
Anthony Albanese has softened his resistance to a royal commission into the Bondi beach alleged terror attack, opening the door to a national inquiry amid growing pressure from across the community.
The prime minister on Tuesday said he was speaking with Jewish community leaders to “examine everything else required” to respond to the 14 December attack.
The comments mark a shift in language and tone from Albanese, who insisted his priority was still on immediate steps including a review of intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
Top news
Ashes live updates: Head strikes third century of series as Australia take first-innings lead
Worst heatwave since black summer forecast for more than half of Australia
Man dies in Sydney after being pepper-sprayed by NSW police during arrest
Bruce Lehrmann makes last-ditch legal effort to appeal defamation loss
Man arrested over alleged Melbourne arson attack on car with Hanukah decorations
Large sinkhole opens in sporting oval in Melbourne’s north-east, near tunnelling works
‘It all flows’: commuters celebrate as new Sydney Harbour Bridge bike ramp opens
In video
Guardian Australia’s Mike Ticher went for a ride on the opening day of the Sydney GreenWay trail’s full route from Leichhardt to Dulwich Hill. Use the tilt tool to explore the new cycling corridor in this immersive 360-degree video capture.
What they said …
***
“I’m a kidnapped president – a prisoner of war!” – Nicolás Maduro
The deposed Venezuelan president was defiant as he left the Manhattan federal court after pleading not guilty to drugs, weapons and narco-terrorism charges. Victoria Bekiempis watched the surreal spectacle unfold.
Full Story
The Descendants episode 2: the search for Tom Wills
There have been suggestions that in the 1860s Tom Wills, a founder of Australian rules football, may have taken part in the massacres of Gayiri people in Queensland.
Indigenous affairs reporter Ella Archibald-Binge travels in search of the truth behind the allegations. She and Lorena Allam from the University of Technology Sydney’s Jumbunna Institute discuss how families on both sides of the conflict are reckoning with the truth of their ancestors’ colonial past.
Before bed read
Only just back in the office for the new year and already taking some of the stress home with you? Sam Pyrah talked to the experts on how best to switch off.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: PULA. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
Sign up
If you would like to receive this Afternoon Update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or start your day with a curated breakdown of the key stories you need to know with our Morning Mail newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland.
