PM says synagogue fire ‘fulfils definition of terrorism’

Thanks very much for reading our Need to Know blog, this Sunday, December 8. Here are the biggest developments of the day so far.

• PM says synagogue fire ‘fulfils definition of terrorism’: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labelled the attack on the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne on Friday morning as an act of terrorism, ahead of a discussion on Monday between the Victorian and federal police to assess the incident.
• Jewish community to come together after arson attack: More than a thousand Jewish community members are set to gather in solidarity in the wake of Friday’s arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue.
• Coalition’s nuclear energy plan backed by ‘credible’ costings, says Dutton: Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has brushed aside criticism of the estimated cost of the Coalition’s signature nuclear energy policy, saying an independent economic advisory firm had completed the modelling.
• Trump welcomed by Macron, joined by Zelensky for talks: French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Donald Trump to Paris on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) with a full dose of presidential pomp as the two held a hastily arranged meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky before celebrating the grand reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
• Syrian rebels say they have begun entering the capital Damascus: Syrian rebels said on Sunday they have begun entering the capital Damascus without any sign of army deployments.