Afternoon Update: Trump’s flurry of executive orders; national cabinet on antisemitism; and AI takes on the Oscars​on January 21, 2025 at 5:36 am

Want to get this in your inbox every weekday? Sign up for the Afternoon Update here, and start your day with our Morning Mail newsletter.Donald Trump has officially returned to the Oval Office, signing a flurry of executive orders that included pardoning about 1,500 defendants charged in the US Capitol attack and a crackdown on immigration.The 47th president also withdrew the US from the Paris climate agreement for a second time, exited the World Health Organization, then rolled back two trans and gender-identity rights orders that Joe Biden signed on his first day in office.Anthony Albanese convenes national cabinet on antisemitism after Sydney childcare centre set alightAustralia’s pro-Palestine movement shifts focus to pressuring PM to cut ties with IsraelTeacher who told Sydney Catholic Schools she was transitioning allegedly asked to move and not given shiftsPenny Wong says Australia should be ‘realistic’ about Trump’s ‘America first’ agendaUkraine conflict ‘will not end tomorrow or day after’, says Macron as Trump takes officePaula Badosa stuns third seed Coco Gauff to reach Australian Open semi-final Continue reading…Want to get this in your inbox every weekday? Sign up for the Afternoon Update here, and start your day with our Morning Mail newsletter.Donald Trump has officially returned to the Oval Office, signing a flurry of executive orders that included pardoning about 1,500 defendants charged in the US Capitol attack and a crackdown on immigration.The 47th president also withdrew the US from the Paris climate agreement for a second time, exited the World Health Organization, then rolled back two trans and gender-identity rights orders that Joe Biden signed on his first day in office.Anthony Albanese convenes national cabinet on antisemitism after Sydney childcare centre set alightAustralia’s pro-Palestine movement shifts focus to pressuring PM to cut ties with IsraelTeacher who told Sydney Catholic Schools she was transitioning allegedly asked to move and not given shiftsPenny Wong says Australia should be ‘realistic’ about Trump’s ‘America first’ agendaUkraine conflict ‘will not end tomorrow or day after’, says Macron as Trump takes officePaula Badosa stuns third seed Coco Gauff to reach Australian Open semi-final Continue reading…   

Donald Trump has officially returned to the Oval Office, signing a flurry of executive orders that included pardoning about 1,500 defendants charged in the US Capitol attack and a crackdown on immigration.

The 47th president also withdrew the US from the Paris climate agreement for a second time, exited the World Health Organization, then rolled back two trans and gender-identity rights orders that Joe Biden signed on his first day in office.

Hugo Lowell wrote from the Guardian’s Washington bureau that Trump’s return was a carefully choreographed display of brute force. Meanwhile, social media debate centred Elon Musk’s was-it-or-wasn’t-it fascist-style salute.

Top news

• Anthony Albanese convenes national cabinet on antisemitism after Sydney childcare centre set alight

• Australia’s pro-Palestine movement shifts focus to pressuring PM to cut ties with Israel

• Teacher who told Sydney Catholic Schools she was transitioning allegedly asked to move and not given shifts

• Penny Wong says Australia should be ‘realistic’ about Trump’s ‘America first’ agenda

• Ukraine conflict ‘will not end tomorrow or day after’, says Macron as Trump takes office

• Paula Badosa stuns third seed Coco Gauff to reach Australian Open semi-final

In pictures

Fashion highlights of the Trump inauguration included Ivanka’s bag, men in black and Melania’s “dark Maga” vibe – specifically her boater hat, so wide-brimmed her triumphant husband was forced to air kiss her in celebration.

What they said …

“Donald Trump … [claimed] Americans split the atom when that honour belongs to Nelson’s most famous and favourite son Sir Ernest Rutherford.”

The Nelson mayor, Nick Smith, said he would invite the US ambassador to New Zealand “so we can keep the historic record on who split the atom first accurate”.

In numbers

Research has found people who are living with diabetes and taking medications found in weight-loss jabs have a reduced risk of developing a range of conditions from clotting disorders to chronic kidney disease.

Before bed read

Two leading contenders for Oscars this year – The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez – used artificial intelligence in the editing suite. Will it affect their chances of winning?

Daily word game

Today’s starter word is: LIPS. 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.

And check out the full list of our local and international newsletters, including The Stakes, your guide to the twists and turns of the US presidential election.