New Pope conclave LIVE updates: Candidates gather at Sistine Chapel as new pope elected
White smoke!
White smoke has been seen billowing from the chimney at the Sistine Chapel.
It means the cardinals have chosen a new leader for the Catholic Church.
The world can expect to know soon who the 267th pope is. Stay tuned.
2.30am
Crowd cheers at first puffs of white smoke
The joyous crowd in St Peter's Square cheered and applauded as the first puffs of smoke emerged from a small chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, where the cardinals have been holding their secret ballot.
'Long Live the Pope!' the crowds cheered in bright sunshine. 'We have a pope!' said one sign held aloft.
The identity of the pope and the name he has chosen as pontiff will be announced to the world shortly from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
The new pope will then step forward to deliver his first public address and blessing to the gathered crowds.
Sister Mona Lisa, a Brazilian nun, was in the square waving a Brazilian flag, in tears. 'I am so happy we have a pope,' she said.
2.25am
How we got here
By Alexander Darling
On Thursday, 133 cardinals went into the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican to elect the next leader of the worldwide Catholic Church.
Three rounds of votes came and went with black smoke coming from the world's most talked-about chimney.
But now, the moment 1.4 billion Roman Catholics have all been waiting for has arrived.
Loading
It follows the death of Pope Francis, on April 21, aged 88.
Who could it be?
No clear favourites emerged prior to the conclave. However, Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who served as the Vatican's number two under Francis was considered a front-runner.
Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, France's Jean-Marc Aveline, Hungary's Peter Erdo, American Robert Prevost and Italy's Pierbattista Pizzaballa were the other names being talked about.
With AP
2.24am
White smoke!
By Alexander Darling
White smoke has been seen billowing from the chimney at the Sistine Chapel.
It means the cardinals have chosen a new leader for the Catholic Church.
The world can expect to know soon who the 267th pope is. Stay tuned.
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Here are 4 ways Western countries can actually pressure Israel
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said recently the Israeli cabinet has "lost its reason and humanity" in Gaza, reflecting a widespread view around the world. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's staunch defiance over the Gaza war has led many Western states to recognise the state of Palestine in recent weeks. More could come before the UN General Assembly meeting in September, too. These Western leaders have used strong words to push for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said when Australia pledged to recognise Palestine: There is a risk there will be no Palestine left to recognise if the international community don't move to create that pathway to a two-state solution. Recognition of a Palestinian state sends a strong message of the world's revulsion to the Netanyahu government's actions in Gaza. However, it is unlikely to make much of a difference on the ground without Israel and the United States agreeing to move forward on a two-state solution. So, how can Western states give teeth to their recent pledges to recognise a Palestinian state? What kind of pressure would actually work? Israel is by no means self-sufficient. It is very much dependent on the US for its defence capability and economic and financial wellbeing, as well as military supplies coming directly and indirectly from other Western countries. Germany has now taken the lead in this respect by suspending military exports to Israel over its decision to expand the war. Slovenia also banned all weapons trade with Israel this month. Other Western nations should be more transparent about the exports of specific parts to a global supply chain that Israel can access, such as those for F-35 jets, and be willing to block these. In addition, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has advocated for the European Union to suspend its trade deal with Israel for breaching an article "on respect for human rights and democratic principles". Suspending the deal in full would require unanimous agreement among all 27 EU members. A partial suspension is possible, however, if just 15 EU members agree. Western states could also put pressure on US President Donald Trump to persuade Israel that its future peace and prosperity depends on a two-state solution. The US has long supported a two-state solution as a core policy. However, the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, recently suggested this might be changing. Trump has not endorsed a two-state solution nor a new US position on it. Given Netanyahu's long-held opposition to a two-state solution, this might be a tough sell. However, Trump could be compelled to take a firm stand on the issue, given American public opinion is gradually shifting against Israel. This is also reflected in assertions by some key MAGA supporters, such as the strategist Steve Bannon, Congresswoman Margorie Taylor Greene and media personality Tucker Carlson, as well as some far-right podcasters. They have questioned America's support of Israel and, in some cases, called for an end to American aid to the country. Trump is a transactional leader and could be amenable to pressure from his base and outside allies. An oil embargo on Israel and its supporters is another means of pressure. Earlier this year, Israel granted exploration licenses for natural gas deposits off its coast to a consortium of oil companies, including British Petroleum (BP) and Azerbaijan's SOCAR. Israel imports nearly three-quarters of its crude oil from three countries: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Gabon. It relies on this crude oil and refined petroleum to fuel its fighter jets, tanks and bulldozers. Gabon is a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC); Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are part of an expanded group called OPEC+. The Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (part of OPEC) implemented such an embargo against the United States and other countries in 1973 in retaliation for supporting Israel in the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and its seizure of Egyptian and Syrian land afterwards. Israel itself was cut off, too. It proved effective. The embargo prompted Henry Kissinger, then-national security advisor in the Nixon administration, to engage in "shuttle diplomacy" between Israel, Egypt and Syria. This led to force disengagement agreements in early 1974, and the lifting of the oil embargo. It also contributed to the diplomatic path that eventually resulted in the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, with US President Jimmy Carter's mediation, in 1978. Under the accords, Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula in return for a peace treaty with Egypt. A framework for Palestinian autonomy and self-government was also agreed to. However, subsequent talks on the path forward broke down for a number of reasons - among them Israel's refusal to make concessions on key issues - much to Carter's fury. Israel also refused to withdraw from Syria's Golan Heights, which it later annexed. A final option is the threat of suspending Israel from the United Nations. This has been advocated by the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francisca Albanese, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Suspending a member from the UN is not easy. It requires the consent of the General Assembly, as well as the recommendation of the Security Council, which counts Israel's steadfast ally, the US, as a member. Nonetheless, the forthcoming UN General Assembly meeting in September would be a suitable time to heighten this threat. The assembly's resolutions are not binding, but it is still a tool for the international community to apply pressure. In the 1970s, for example, the General Assembly moved to suspend South Africa's membership over its apartheid system of government. Although the Security Council blocked South Africa's expulsion, it remained suspended in the General Assembly until 1994. These measures are now needed to maximise the pressure on Netanyahu's leadership to relent on a two-state solution. Whether Western countries have the political will to go beyond mere recognition and implement them is another question. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said recently the Israeli cabinet has "lost its reason and humanity" in Gaza, reflecting a widespread view around the world. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's staunch defiance over the Gaza war has led many Western states to recognise the state of Palestine in recent weeks. More could come before the UN General Assembly meeting in September, too. These Western leaders have used strong words to push for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said when Australia pledged to recognise Palestine: There is a risk there will be no Palestine left to recognise if the international community don't move to create that pathway to a two-state solution. Recognition of a Palestinian state sends a strong message of the world's revulsion to the Netanyahu government's actions in Gaza. However, it is unlikely to make much of a difference on the ground without Israel and the United States agreeing to move forward on a two-state solution. So, how can Western states give teeth to their recent pledges to recognise a Palestinian state? What kind of pressure would actually work? Israel is by no means self-sufficient. It is very much dependent on the US for its defence capability and economic and financial wellbeing, as well as military supplies coming directly and indirectly from other Western countries. Germany has now taken the lead in this respect by suspending military exports to Israel over its decision to expand the war. Slovenia also banned all weapons trade with Israel this month. Other Western nations should be more transparent about the exports of specific parts to a global supply chain that Israel can access, such as those for F-35 jets, and be willing to block these. In addition, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has advocated for the European Union to suspend its trade deal with Israel for breaching an article "on respect for human rights and democratic principles". Suspending the deal in full would require unanimous agreement among all 27 EU members. A partial suspension is possible, however, if just 15 EU members agree. Western states could also put pressure on US President Donald Trump to persuade Israel that its future peace and prosperity depends on a two-state solution. The US has long supported a two-state solution as a core policy. However, the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, recently suggested this might be changing. Trump has not endorsed a two-state solution nor a new US position on it. Given Netanyahu's long-held opposition to a two-state solution, this might be a tough sell. However, Trump could be compelled to take a firm stand on the issue, given American public opinion is gradually shifting against Israel. This is also reflected in assertions by some key MAGA supporters, such as the strategist Steve Bannon, Congresswoman Margorie Taylor Greene and media personality Tucker Carlson, as well as some far-right podcasters. They have questioned America's support of Israel and, in some cases, called for an end to American aid to the country. Trump is a transactional leader and could be amenable to pressure from his base and outside allies. An oil embargo on Israel and its supporters is another means of pressure. Earlier this year, Israel granted exploration licenses for natural gas deposits off its coast to a consortium of oil companies, including British Petroleum (BP) and Azerbaijan's SOCAR. Israel imports nearly three-quarters of its crude oil from three countries: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Gabon. It relies on this crude oil and refined petroleum to fuel its fighter jets, tanks and bulldozers. Gabon is a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC); Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are part of an expanded group called OPEC+. The Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (part of OPEC) implemented such an embargo against the United States and other countries in 1973 in retaliation for supporting Israel in the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and its seizure of Egyptian and Syrian land afterwards. Israel itself was cut off, too. It proved effective. The embargo prompted Henry Kissinger, then-national security advisor in the Nixon administration, to engage in "shuttle diplomacy" between Israel, Egypt and Syria. This led to force disengagement agreements in early 1974, and the lifting of the oil embargo. It also contributed to the diplomatic path that eventually resulted in the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, with US President Jimmy Carter's mediation, in 1978. Under the accords, Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula in return for a peace treaty with Egypt. A framework for Palestinian autonomy and self-government was also agreed to. However, subsequent talks on the path forward broke down for a number of reasons - among them Israel's refusal to make concessions on key issues - much to Carter's fury. Israel also refused to withdraw from Syria's Golan Heights, which it later annexed. A final option is the threat of suspending Israel from the United Nations. This has been advocated by the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francisca Albanese, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Suspending a member from the UN is not easy. It requires the consent of the General Assembly, as well as the recommendation of the Security Council, which counts Israel's steadfast ally, the US, as a member. Nonetheless, the forthcoming UN General Assembly meeting in September would be a suitable time to heighten this threat. The assembly's resolutions are not binding, but it is still a tool for the international community to apply pressure. In the 1970s, for example, the General Assembly moved to suspend South Africa's membership over its apartheid system of government. Although the Security Council blocked South Africa's expulsion, it remained suspended in the General Assembly until 1994. These measures are now needed to maximise the pressure on Netanyahu's leadership to relent on a two-state solution. Whether Western countries have the political will to go beyond mere recognition and implement them is another question. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said recently the Israeli cabinet has "lost its reason and humanity" in Gaza, reflecting a widespread view around the world. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's staunch defiance over the Gaza war has led many Western states to recognise the state of Palestine in recent weeks. More could come before the UN General Assembly meeting in September, too. These Western leaders have used strong words to push for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said when Australia pledged to recognise Palestine: There is a risk there will be no Palestine left to recognise if the international community don't move to create that pathway to a two-state solution. Recognition of a Palestinian state sends a strong message of the world's revulsion to the Netanyahu government's actions in Gaza. However, it is unlikely to make much of a difference on the ground without Israel and the United States agreeing to move forward on a two-state solution. So, how can Western states give teeth to their recent pledges to recognise a Palestinian state? What kind of pressure would actually work? Israel is by no means self-sufficient. It is very much dependent on the US for its defence capability and economic and financial wellbeing, as well as military supplies coming directly and indirectly from other Western countries. Germany has now taken the lead in this respect by suspending military exports to Israel over its decision to expand the war. Slovenia also banned all weapons trade with Israel this month. Other Western nations should be more transparent about the exports of specific parts to a global supply chain that Israel can access, such as those for F-35 jets, and be willing to block these. In addition, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has advocated for the European Union to suspend its trade deal with Israel for breaching an article "on respect for human rights and democratic principles". Suspending the deal in full would require unanimous agreement among all 27 EU members. A partial suspension is possible, however, if just 15 EU members agree. Western states could also put pressure on US President Donald Trump to persuade Israel that its future peace and prosperity depends on a two-state solution. The US has long supported a two-state solution as a core policy. However, the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, recently suggested this might be changing. Trump has not endorsed a two-state solution nor a new US position on it. Given Netanyahu's long-held opposition to a two-state solution, this might be a tough sell. However, Trump could be compelled to take a firm stand on the issue, given American public opinion is gradually shifting against Israel. This is also reflected in assertions by some key MAGA supporters, such as the strategist Steve Bannon, Congresswoman Margorie Taylor Greene and media personality Tucker Carlson, as well as some far-right podcasters. They have questioned America's support of Israel and, in some cases, called for an end to American aid to the country. Trump is a transactional leader and could be amenable to pressure from his base and outside allies. An oil embargo on Israel and its supporters is another means of pressure. Earlier this year, Israel granted exploration licenses for natural gas deposits off its coast to a consortium of oil companies, including British Petroleum (BP) and Azerbaijan's SOCAR. Israel imports nearly three-quarters of its crude oil from three countries: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Gabon. It relies on this crude oil and refined petroleum to fuel its fighter jets, tanks and bulldozers. Gabon is a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC); Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are part of an expanded group called OPEC+. The Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (part of OPEC) implemented such an embargo against the United States and other countries in 1973 in retaliation for supporting Israel in the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and its seizure of Egyptian and Syrian land afterwards. Israel itself was cut off, too. It proved effective. The embargo prompted Henry Kissinger, then-national security advisor in the Nixon administration, to engage in "shuttle diplomacy" between Israel, Egypt and Syria. This led to force disengagement agreements in early 1974, and the lifting of the oil embargo. It also contributed to the diplomatic path that eventually resulted in the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, with US President Jimmy Carter's mediation, in 1978. Under the accords, Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula in return for a peace treaty with Egypt. A framework for Palestinian autonomy and self-government was also agreed to. However, subsequent talks on the path forward broke down for a number of reasons - among them Israel's refusal to make concessions on key issues - much to Carter's fury. Israel also refused to withdraw from Syria's Golan Heights, which it later annexed. A final option is the threat of suspending Israel from the United Nations. This has been advocated by the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francisca Albanese, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Suspending a member from the UN is not easy. It requires the consent of the General Assembly, as well as the recommendation of the Security Council, which counts Israel's steadfast ally, the US, as a member. Nonetheless, the forthcoming UN General Assembly meeting in September would be a suitable time to heighten this threat. The assembly's resolutions are not binding, but it is still a tool for the international community to apply pressure. In the 1970s, for example, the General Assembly moved to suspend South Africa's membership over its apartheid system of government. Although the Security Council blocked South Africa's expulsion, it remained suspended in the General Assembly until 1994. These measures are now needed to maximise the pressure on Netanyahu's leadership to relent on a two-state solution. Whether Western countries have the political will to go beyond mere recognition and implement them is another question. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said recently the Israeli cabinet has "lost its reason and humanity" in Gaza, reflecting a widespread view around the world. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's staunch defiance over the Gaza war has led many Western states to recognise the state of Palestine in recent weeks. More could come before the UN General Assembly meeting in September, too. These Western leaders have used strong words to push for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said when Australia pledged to recognise Palestine: There is a risk there will be no Palestine left to recognise if the international community don't move to create that pathway to a two-state solution. Recognition of a Palestinian state sends a strong message of the world's revulsion to the Netanyahu government's actions in Gaza. However, it is unlikely to make much of a difference on the ground without Israel and the United States agreeing to move forward on a two-state solution. So, how can Western states give teeth to their recent pledges to recognise a Palestinian state? What kind of pressure would actually work? Israel is by no means self-sufficient. It is very much dependent on the US for its defence capability and economic and financial wellbeing, as well as military supplies coming directly and indirectly from other Western countries. Germany has now taken the lead in this respect by suspending military exports to Israel over its decision to expand the war. Slovenia also banned all weapons trade with Israel this month. Other Western nations should be more transparent about the exports of specific parts to a global supply chain that Israel can access, such as those for F-35 jets, and be willing to block these. In addition, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has advocated for the European Union to suspend its trade deal with Israel for breaching an article "on respect for human rights and democratic principles". Suspending the deal in full would require unanimous agreement among all 27 EU members. A partial suspension is possible, however, if just 15 EU members agree. Western states could also put pressure on US President Donald Trump to persuade Israel that its future peace and prosperity depends on a two-state solution. The US has long supported a two-state solution as a core policy. However, the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, recently suggested this might be changing. Trump has not endorsed a two-state solution nor a new US position on it. Given Netanyahu's long-held opposition to a two-state solution, this might be a tough sell. However, Trump could be compelled to take a firm stand on the issue, given American public opinion is gradually shifting against Israel. This is also reflected in assertions by some key MAGA supporters, such as the strategist Steve Bannon, Congresswoman Margorie Taylor Greene and media personality Tucker Carlson, as well as some far-right podcasters. They have questioned America's support of Israel and, in some cases, called for an end to American aid to the country. Trump is a transactional leader and could be amenable to pressure from his base and outside allies. An oil embargo on Israel and its supporters is another means of pressure. Earlier this year, Israel granted exploration licenses for natural gas deposits off its coast to a consortium of oil companies, including British Petroleum (BP) and Azerbaijan's SOCAR. Israel imports nearly three-quarters of its crude oil from three countries: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Gabon. It relies on this crude oil and refined petroleum to fuel its fighter jets, tanks and bulldozers. Gabon is a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC); Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are part of an expanded group called OPEC+. The Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (part of OPEC) implemented such an embargo against the United States and other countries in 1973 in retaliation for supporting Israel in the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and its seizure of Egyptian and Syrian land afterwards. Israel itself was cut off, too. It proved effective. The embargo prompted Henry Kissinger, then-national security advisor in the Nixon administration, to engage in "shuttle diplomacy" between Israel, Egypt and Syria. This led to force disengagement agreements in early 1974, and the lifting of the oil embargo. It also contributed to the diplomatic path that eventually resulted in the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, with US President Jimmy Carter's mediation, in 1978. Under the accords, Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula in return for a peace treaty with Egypt. A framework for Palestinian autonomy and self-government was also agreed to. However, subsequent talks on the path forward broke down for a number of reasons - among them Israel's refusal to make concessions on key issues - much to Carter's fury. Israel also refused to withdraw from Syria's Golan Heights, which it later annexed. A final option is the threat of suspending Israel from the United Nations. This has been advocated by the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francisca Albanese, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Suspending a member from the UN is not easy. It requires the consent of the General Assembly, as well as the recommendation of the Security Council, which counts Israel's steadfast ally, the US, as a member. Nonetheless, the forthcoming UN General Assembly meeting in September would be a suitable time to heighten this threat. The assembly's resolutions are not binding, but it is still a tool for the international community to apply pressure. In the 1970s, for example, the General Assembly moved to suspend South Africa's membership over its apartheid system of government. Although the Security Council blocked South Africa's expulsion, it remained suspended in the General Assembly until 1994. These measures are now needed to maximise the pressure on Netanyahu's leadership to relent on a two-state solution. Whether Western countries have the political will to go beyond mere recognition and implement them is another question.
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Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here The United States is deploying three Aegis guided-missile destroyers to the waters off Venezuela as part of President Donald Trump's effort to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels, according to a U.S. official briefed on the planning. The USS Gravely, the USS Jason Dunham and the USS Sampson are expected to arrive soon, said the official, who was not authorised to comment and spoke yesterday on the condition of anonymity. A Defence Department official confirmed that the military assets have been assigned to the region in support of counter narcotics efforts. The official, who was not authorised to comment about military planning, said the vessels would be deployed 'over the course of several months.' The U.S.S Gravely is one of the ships the United States is sending to Venezuela. (AP) The deployment of U.S. destroyers and personnel comes as Trump has pushed for using the U.S. military to thwart cartels he blames for the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into American communities and for perpetuating violence in some U.S. cities. Trump has also pressed Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to cooperate more on security than her predecessor, specifically being more aggressive in pursuit of Mexico's cartels. But she has drawn a clear line when it comes to Mexico's sovereignty, rejecting suggestions by Trump and others of intervention by the U.S. military. Trump in February designated Venezuela's Tren de Aragua, MS-13 in El Salvador and six groups based in Mexico as foreign terrorist organisations. His Republican administration has also stepped up immigration enforcement against alleged gang members. The designation is normally reserved for groups like al-Qaida or the Islamic State group that use violence for political ends — not for money-focused crime rings such as the Latin American cartels. But the Trump administration argues the international connections and operations of the groups — including drug trafficking, migrant smuggling and violent pushes to extend their territory — warrant the designation. Donald Trump is taking a tougher stance on cartel violence and actions in Latin American countries. (AP) Earlier this month, the Trump government announced it was doubling a reward for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million ($AUD77 million), accusing him of being one of the world's largest narco-traffickers and working with cartels to flood the U.S. with fentanyl-laced cocaine. The press office of Venezuela's government did not respond to a request for comment from the AP on the deployment of the destroyers. But without mentioning the ships, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil in a statement characterised the U.S. government's drug-trafficking accusations against Venezuela. 'Washington's accusing Venezuela of drug trafficking reveals its lack of credibility and the failure of its policies in the region,' Gil said. 'While Washington threatens, Venezuela steadily advances in peace and sovereignty, demonstrating that true effectiveness against crime is achieved by respecting the independence of its peoples. The USA have offered a reward for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. (Getty) "Every aggressive statement confirms the inability of imperialism to subdue a free and sovereign people.' Maduro said the U.S. had increased its threats against Venezuela and announced the planned deployment of more than 4.5 million militia members around the country. The militias were created by then-President Hugo Chávez to incorporate volunteers who could assist the armed forces in the defense of external and domestic attacks. 'The empire has gone mad and has renewed its threats to Venezuela's peace and tranquility,' Maduro said at an event in Caracas, without mentioning any specific action. Maduro was indicted in a New York federal court in 2020, during the first Trump presidency, along with several close allies on federal charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine. Back then, the U.S. offered a $15 million reward for his arrest. World USA venezuela Donald Trump Politics military drugs drug CONTACT US
