Good afternoon.
Chris Minns has said it is up to New South Wales’s police commissioner when to activate controversial new powers to ban protests – although the NSW premier made it clear he would like them activated quickly in the wake of the Bondi beach terror attack.
The new laws, and some firearms restrictions, have taken effect in the state after being passed through parliament last night. The move comes as one Sydney mosque has received dozens of offensive phone calls amid a surge in threats and hate speech against Muslim Australians after the Bondi shooting.
Anthony Albanese announced the creation of a special honours list to recognise the bravery of those who helped respond to the terror attack, and his government has cancelled the visa of a British man charged with displaying prohibited Nazi symbols.
This is the last edition of the Afternoon Update for 2025. It will return along with the Morning Mail newsletter on 5 January.
Top news
Great Barrier Reef’s Hamilton Island to be bought by US private equity firm in reported $1.2bn sale
Ukraine war briefing: Pope Leo expresses ‘great sadness’ at Russian rejection of truce calls
Rare footage from trial of Chinese general who defied Tiananmen crackdown order leaked online
After more than a decade of tragedy, Christchurch emerges as New Zealand’s most ‘vibrant city’
In pictures
Today’s selection of the best photos from around the world features the climate activist Greta Thunberg being detained during a rally in support of Palestine Action protesters on hunger strike in prison.
What they said …
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“The FBI has confirmed this alleged letter from Jeffrey Epstein to Larry Nassar is FAKE.”
The US Department of Justice said a disturbing letter appearing to be from the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to convicted sex abuser and former Olympic gymnastics coach Larry Nassar is not genuine. The latest Epstein files release also included references to Donald Trump and the former prince Andrew.
Full Story
Gina: Love and money – episode 3
Gina Rinehart has been Australia’s richest person for the past six years in a row. But where does her money come from?
In the third episode of Gina, we unpack the bitter rivalries, court battles and family conflicts behind the Hancock fortune – and consider a fundamental question: is Rinehart a mining heiress or is she a self-made mining magnate?
Before bed read
Dreaming of a white Christmas? Eleanor Burnard has experienced 25 December on both sides of the equator and her verdict is unequivocal: a warm Christmas is simply superior.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: MARA. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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