SBS News in Filipino, Thursday 26 June 2025
A group of Australians landed in Sydney after finally getting out of Tel Aviv on a Royal Australian Airforce jet.
The Albanese Government has announced a deepening of Australia's ties to the NATO military alliance by applying fresh sanctions on Russia and promising to send an aircraft to Europe to support Ukraine.
Pope Leo XIV appoints ex-DepEd chief Armin Luistro to Vatican office.
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Daily Telegraph
22 minutes ago
- Daily Telegraph
Russia's unconvincing ploy to virtue signal during the Middle East crisis
Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News. As the world fixated on the sudden eruption of hostilities between Israel and Iran, a quieter, more calculating player loomed just offstage. Analysts have warned about how the Kremlin has leveraged chaos in the past for its own benefit. But Russia's elites played their same old tune as missiles flew over the Middle East this week. In the span of just a few days, what began as tit-for-tat missile exchanges between Israel and Iran escalated into what alarmists dubbed 'WWIII'. It was a solid gold opportunity for the Kremlin to divert global attention from its own misdeeds, while also posturing as a so-called peacemaker. The United States, despite initial hesitations, was eventually drawn into the fray to assist in defending Israeli airspace and then de-escalate the situation 'diplomatically' with a devastating B-2 stealth bomber assault. But in the background, Vladimir Putin quietly worked a different angle. Russia jumped at the opportunity to pose as the adult in the room and appear 'above the fray' — all while exploiting the fog of war to reduce public focus on Ukraine and test the boundaries of US restraint. This is the opinion of Dr Ivana Stradner, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, who claims Russia 'never misses an opportunity to exploit a crisis'. 'Russia benefits from the situation in the Middle East to divert [the] West's attention from Ukraine,' Dr Stradner told That strategy came into sharp focus as the Kremlin loudly condemned Israeli strikes, all while continuing its relentless three-and-a-half-year assault on sovereign Ukraine. Moscow then boldly positioned itself as a mediator in the conflict, using the UN as its springboard. The crisis was a juicy opportunity for the Kremlin to appear as the adult in the room. (Photo by Menahem Kahana / AFP) 'The Kremlin is trying to portray itself as a reasonable voice that wants to stop 'WWIII' and act as a pillar of stability in the Middle East,' Dr Stradner continued. 'Moscow is also using the UN to flex its diplomatic muscles, as Russia has a veto there. 'Ironically, Putin has also offered to mediate the conflict, but he is neither willing nor able to be an effective mediator. Putin wants to pander to President Trump to strengthen his position in negotiations on Ukraine and to portray himself as a reliable partner to Washington.' While the deception might fall flat among those keenly aware of Russia's advanced misinformation tactics, the Kremlin's propaganda train chugs on, hoping to win the hearts of those undecided on who to trust in the twisted theatre of world politics. But even more telling is what Russia didn't do. Despite its longstanding security relationship with Iran, which includes the presence of Russian technicians at Iranian nuclear sites, Moscow made no military moves to support Tehran directly. Instead, as Dr Stradner points out, 'Russia already abandoned its allies Armenia and Syria, and now Iran. The West should remind Putin's allies across the world that with friends like Putin, they do not need enemies.' 'Russia never misses an opportunity to exploit crisis'.(Photo by Vyacheslav PROKOFYEV / POOL / AFP) Trump fires up at 'N-word' Whilecertain Russian assets were virtue signalling, others were jumping on the opportunity to put a fright up the West. Former President and Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev ominously warned that Iran could just source their nuclear weapons from allies. 'A number of countries are ready to directly supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads,' Medvedev wrote on X. Those comments riled up Donald Trump, who accused Medvedev of playing with the 'N-word' a little too haphazardly. 'Did I hear Former President Medvedev, from Russia, casually throwing around the 'N word' (Nuclear!), and saying that he and other Countries would supply Nuclear Warheads to Iran?' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'The 'N word' should not be treated so casually. I guess that's why Putin's 'THE BOSS.'' But Dr Stradner says it's all hot air. Former President and Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev threw the 'N-word' around a bit last week. (Photo) 'Medvedev's words are a textbook case of reflexive control,' she explained, referring to Russia's longstanding strategy of seeding confusion and fear to paralyse decision-making. 'For Putin, nuclear weapons are cognitive weapons.' Dr Stradner stressed that the Trump administration and Western powerbrokers must avoid reacting to intentionally inflammatory tactics. 'Nobody should take Medvedev's words seriously,' she said. 'It is pure propaganda.' Russia's nuclear chest-beating has become a predictable tool to distract, distort, and deter. It may not intend to launch missiles, but it absolutely intends to shape how others behave through the threat of escalation. Alliances tested but not broken While many view the Russia-Iran relationship as purely strategic, Dr Stradner sees a deeper ideological connection forming between the two nations. 'They are like friends with benefits,' she said. 'They have different interests in Central Asia, but they have a mutual enemy: the United States, and that's their bond.' More than just co-operation on drones or ballistic missiles, the partnership reflects a shared desire to bypass Western-led institutions and promote a traditionalist, anti-liberal order. 'There is an ideological alliance defending traditionalist, religious, and anti-liberal values,' Dr Stradner noted. While put under heavy strain this week, Russia's alliances with anti-West nations are growing. While put under heavy strain this week, Russia's alliances with anti-West nations are growing. (Photo by / AFP) Russian nationalists have advocated for an 'Axis of Aggressors' that includes Iran, China, and North Korea, connected through projects like the International North-South Transport Corridor, an initiative that would provide a logistics lifeline to sidestep Western trade routes. Then there's the BRICS alliance, consisting of major superpowers like China, India and Russia. Mr Putin riled up the Mr Trump camp late last year at a BRICS summit in Moscow, calling for a 'multipolar world order' in front of 20 leaders from powerful allied nations. They had gathered in the Russian capital to discuss sweeping plans, including the development of a BRICS-led international payment system. Russia has touted the platform as an attractive alternative to Western-led international organisations like the G7. 'The process of forming a multipolar world order is underway, a dynamic and irreversible process,' Mr Putin said at the official opening of the summit. Originally published as Russia's ploy to virtue signal during the Middle East crisis is dripping with irony
ABC News
36 minutes ago
- ABC News
Queensland passes legislation to exempt venues for Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games from major planning laws
Queensland has passed legislation to ensure all venues built for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be exempt from major planning rules, with the government confident a federal funding agreement will be reached "very soon". The move will exempt Games infrastructure from major planning laws, in a bid to ensure projects are not held up by potential legal challenges. It means final planning sign-off rests with the state government, rather than local councils. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the laws were vital for Games delivery, allowing for development at sites including Brisbane's Victoria Park. "There'll be shovels being turned across the state." Andrea Lunt from Save Victoria Park, a group against building a stadium at the site, said the laws would not stop them from protecting the green space. "We were expecting it, but we're still incredibly disappointed, but we're not deterred, we'll continue to fight this no matter what gets thrown at us," Ms Lunt said. "The park is too important to lose, it's such a precious natural asset to Brisbane. "If you're thinking about showcasing Brisbane for the Olympic Games, you'd think we'd protect and enhance such a beautiful natural asset, not cover it up for stadiums." Queensland Conservation Council director Dave Copeman said the government had ignored hundreds of submissions from the community and key stakeholders. "We firmly believe that any development, for the Olympics or otherwise, should be rigorously assessed and held to a high standard on First Nations engagement, community benefits and nature protection. The planning laws also implement changes to the approval processes for renewable energy projects, with the government seeking to ensure regional community interests are prioritised. Large-scale wind and solar farms will have mandatory public consultation, with developers required to enter into binding community benefit agreements with local councils. Mr Bleijie said the move would ensure infrastructure goals are achieved. "This is about making sure that housing is delivered, the roads are upgraded, temporary accommodation for workers is put in place, schools, housing," Mr Bleijie said. "Whatever the council want in these agreements they can put, it is putting local communities at the forefront of the renewable energy project." However, Clean Energy Council National spokesperson Chris O'Keefe said the laws may prevent vital investment. "We agree that communities must benefit, but this legislation imposes up-front processes that will frustrate good projects and could delay real outcomes," he said. "Renewables investors are already expressing hesitation to continue their projects in Queensland given the time frame uncertainty, which risks stalling the rollout of clean energy to replace retiring coal and leading to higher household energy bills." The LNP government scrapped its Labor predecessors venues plan for the Games, which included a federally funded indoor arena in the Brisbane CBD. Instead, the private sector has been engaged to build an arena at Woolloongabba, leading the two jurisdictions to negotiate how the $3.4 billion in Commonwealth funds are used. Federal Minister for Sport Anika Wells assured that an agreement was imminent. "We understand people want to see work advance as quickly as possible... these aren't just venues that are relevant to a four-week period in 2032, these are venues people want to get their value out of as quickly as possible." Queensland Olympics Minister Tim Mander said negotiations had been progressing well. "I'm very confident that an agreement will be made shortly, and the discussions are very positive and very constructive," Mr Mander said.
7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
NATO members commit to spending hike sought by US President Donald Trump
NATO leaders have backed a big increase in military spending that US President Donald Trump had demanded, and restated their commitment to defend each other from attack after a brief summit in the Netherlands. While Trump got what he wanted at the annual meeting, tailor-made for him, his NATO allies will be relieved that he committed to the military alliance's fundamental principle of collective defence. Trump told a press conference that 'we had a great victory here', adding that he hoped that the additional funds would be spent on military hardware made in the United States. However, he threatened to punish Spain after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared it could meet its commitments to NATO while spending much less than the new target of five per cent of GDP. 'I think it's terrible. You know, they (Spain) are doing very well ... And that economy could be blown right out of the water when something bad happens,' Trump said, adding that Spain would get a tougher trade deal from the US than other European Union countries. In a five-point statement, NATO endorsed the higher defence spending goal - a response not only to Trump but also to Europeans' fears that Russia poses a growing threat to their security following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The 32 allies' brief communique added: 'We reaffirm our ironclad commitment to collective defence as enshrined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty - that an attack on one is an attack on all.' Asked to clarify his own stance on Article 5, Trump said: 'I stand with it. That's why I'm here. If I didn't stand with it, I wouldn't be here.' Trump had long demanded in no uncertain terms that other countries step up their spending to reduce NATO's heavy reliance on the US. Despite an appearance of general agreement, French President Emmanuel Macron raised the issue of the steep import tariffs threatened by Trump, and the damage they may do to transatlantic trade, as a barrier to increased military spending. 'We can't say we are going to spend more and then, at the heart of NATO, launch a trade war,' Macron said, calling it 'an aberration'. He said he had raised it several times with Trump. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who hosted the summit in his home city of The Hague, said NATO would emerge as a 'stronger, fairer and more lethal' alliance. The former Dutch prime minister said Trump deserved 'all the praise' for getting NATO members to agree on raising defence spending. Asked by a reporter if he had deployed excessive flattery to keep Trump onside during the summit, Rutte said the two men were friends and judgment of his approach was a matter of taste. The new spending target - to be achieved over the next 10 years - is a jump worth hundreds of billions of dollars a year from the current goal of two per cent of GDP, although it will be measured differently. Countries pledged to spend 3.5 per cent of GDP on core defence - such as troops and weapons - and 1.5 per cent on broader defence-related measures such as cybersecurity, protecting pipelines and adapting roads and bridges to handle heavy military vehicles.
