TRANSCRIPT:
- A federal royal commission announced into the Bondi attack...
- Elevated fire danger around the country, with a scorching day predicted...
- Steve Smith praises Australia's mentality after their dominant Ashes series
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a year-long federal royal commission into the Bondi terror attack.
Former High Court judge Virginia Bell will lead the inquiry and has been tasked with examining the nature and prevalence of antisemitism and religiously motivated extremism.
She has been empowered to make any other recommendations needed to strengthen Australia's social cohesion.
The announcement follows weeks of political pressure from Jewish groups, business leaders, sporting greats and the federal opposition - calling for a federal royal commission.
Mr Albanese says he has made his decision after further reflection, following meetings with survivors of the Bondi attack and the families of victims.
"We've engaged respectfully with people. And we have made sure that we have done this in a way which has got it right. We listened to people. And I think that is what people want. You know the nation needs to come together."
He says the final report of the royal commission will be due on the first anniversary of the Bondi attack.
The New South Wales government says it will not proceed with a state-based Royal Commission into the Bondi attack, after Anthony Albanese announced the federal level investigation.
In a statement, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns says the state government welcomes the decision and will cooperate with the federal Royal Commission.
Total fire bans are in place for large parts of Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia with authorities in other states warning that a total fire ban could be declared at any time.
Much of Australia is experiencing an extreme heatwave that is forecast to continue over the weekend.
Temperatures in some areas have soared above 40 degrees Celsius, elevating the fire risk; and prompting warnings for people to take steps to prevent heat-related deaths.
A catastrophic fire danger rating is in place for Victoria's Northern Country, North Central and Wimmera districts.
In South Australia, the state's Country Fire Service - says the fire danger risk means total fire bans are in place in 11 out of 15 fire districts.
Protesters have clashed with law enforcement in the U-S city of Minneapolis, the day after a woman was killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
The US Department of Homeland Security claims 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot dead by an agent of the agency known as ICE, in self-defence after she tried to hit officers with her car.
Local officials dispute that.
In an at-times profane response, Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey has demanded all ICE agents leave the city.
But the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security says the situation shows the entire state of Minnesota, of which Minneapolis is the capital, has deteriorated rapidly under opponents of the Trump administration.
“Minnesota's a train wreck. It is corrupt and it was under the leadership of Governor Walz and this mayor that they allowed it to happen and they let criminals and illegals and people abuse programs and steal the money. And now they're allowing violence to go forward on the streets as well.”
There have also been anti-ICE protests in Chicago and new York following the shooting.
United States Vice President J-D Vance says Denmark has not done a proper job in securing Greenland, and that President Donald Trump is willing to go as far as he has to to defend American interests in the Arctic.
Mr Vance's comments came after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration's intention is to eventually purchase Greenland, as opposed to using military force.
In an interview with Fox News, Mr Vance has repeated Mr Trump's claims about the importance of Greenland.
"Greenland is critical, not just to our national security, but to the world's national security. People don't realise this. The entire missile defence infrastructure is partially dependent on Greenland. If, God forbid, the Russians or the Chinese, not saying they're going to, but if, God-forbid, in the future, somebody launched a nuclear missile into our continent, they launched a nuclear missile at Europe, Greenland is a critical part of that missile defence."
To sport and in cricket...
Australia has achieved a 4-1 Ashes series win, beating England in the last Test by five wickets on day five at the SCG.
It is the fourth straight Ashes series in Australia where the hosts have won at least four Tests.
Travis Head was named the Player of the Match, after scoring his fourth century of the series in the first innings.
The retiring Usman Khawaja managed just six in his final Test innings, but left the stadium to a standing ovation from the home crowd.
