Netanyahu prepares to meet with Trump as future of Middle East remains uncertain
The visit comes as Israel will send a ceasefire negotiating team to Qatar.
The talks will likely surround a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza and the future of relations with Iran.
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SBS Australia
44 minutes ago
- SBS Australia
Ambitious Agenda, Urgent Answers: BRICS Leaders Meet at Critical Juncture
As leaders of the BRICS group of nations gather in Rio de Janeiro, some 17,000 soldiers and police officers have been deployed throughout the city. With ample security in place, Leaders and officials from the growing bloc are meeting in Brazil for their annual summit. President of this year's BRICS Committee, Pedro Vormittag, says the 2025 summit may be the most crucial to date. "It is hard to think of a time in history over the past decades in which the agenda was so ambitious, and the answers were so urgent. No matter what the outcome is going to be, it is going to be a historic meeting." Looming US tariffs and conflicts abroad are expected to dominate the forum agenda this year, alongside global health policy, climate change and artificial intelligence. Leaders at the summit have already taken aim at United States President Donald Trump's tariffs as well as the recent Israeli-U-S attacks on Iran. Taking place just days before the US tariffs are set to come into effect, Mr Vormittag says trade will be central. "There is a very big concern about trade. In other words, how is it that the countries that are part of BRICS are going to improve and actually increase the level of trade and the level of business at large that they can have with each other. So now that the global context is actually making these questions more urgent, I think BRICS has been prepared to address these issues for a while now." The BRICS group, which originally consisted of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, held their first summit in 2009. The acronym BRIC was first used by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill to describe the four economies he thought, if growth were maintained, could dominate the global economy by 2050. The first BRICS summit affirmed the group's commitment to a multi-polar world order, challenging U-S hegemony and calling for an alternative to the U-S dollar as the global reserve currency. President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, says recent global events show why the grouping is so necessary. PORTUGUESE THEN ENGLISH VO:"Faced with the resurgence of protectionism, it is up to emerging nations to defend the multilateral trade model, and reform the international financial architecture. BRICS remains the guarantor of a promising future." In 2011, South Africa joined and the acronym was changed to BRICS. Their addition symbolised the group's shift away from a specific economic designation, instead focusing on the creation of a more inclusive group of emerging leaders. Then, at the 2023 summit in South Africa, the group announced the admission of Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Argentina. However, Saudi Arabia is yet to join formally, and the election of Argentina's president Javier Milei saw Argentina turn down membership. Combined, the BRICS nations make up for nearly 40 per cent of the global economy, representing almost half the world's population. Speaking ahead of the 2025 summit, UAE Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs Saeed Al-Hajeri says the BRICS bloc is still growing in power. "If you look at GDP growth over the next 10 years, those economies (of BRICS countries) are growing above the GDP of global economies. Economically they are a large group and they represent a very diverse group of different economies, and another way of looking at diverse strategies, where you can look at Global South as the future of growth. It's a very powerful group." With an International Criminal Court warrant out for his arrest, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been forced to stay home or else risks arrest from I-C-C member states such as South Africa. Attending the summit via video call, Mr Putin says the period of U-S dominance in international relations is coming to an end. 'We all see that the world is undergoing fundamental changes. The unipolar system of international relations, serving the interests of the so-called 'golden billion', is becoming a thing of the past. It is being replaced by a more just, multi-polar world. The process of changing the global economic order continues to gain momentum. Everything indicates that the liberal globalization model is becoming outdated. The centre of business activity is shifting towards emerging markets, which is triggering a powerful wave of growth, including in the BRICS countries.' Another notable absence from this year's summit was Chinese President Xi Jinping, who for the first time in over a decade skipped the summit, instead sending his prime minister. Over the past two decades, BRICS has come to be seen as a Chinese-driven counterbalance to US and western European power. However, the recent expansion has led to increased division among members. Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva says prosperity cannot be achieved amid so much global conflict. 'There will be no prosperity in a conflicted world. The end of wars and conflicts that are accumulating is one of the responsibilities of heads of state and government. It is clear that the lack of leadership exacerbates the multiple crises our society is facing. I'm sure that this forum and the BRICS summit, which starts tomorrow, will point to solutions rather than barriers, promoting integration." So far, major achievements of the group include the formation of the New Development Bank, creating an alternative to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. By financing infrastructure and sustainable development projects in the global south, the NDB also works to reduce dependence on the United States. 2025 will be the first year Indonesia joins the group. Mari Elka Pangestu is the Indonesian President's Special Envoy for International Trade and Multilateral Cooperation. She says the more countries that join BRICS, the more beneficial the New Development Bank can become. "If you look at the economic benefits of joining BRICS is the New Development Bank, which is still quite small, but, you know, potentially it can become also a regional or maybe a multilateral bank, which is really based and founded by developing countries. So participating in that and having the financing, the access to the financing for projects are benefiting the BRICS countries."
Sky News AU
3 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Labor's worst anti-Trump attacks exposed as US alliance in jeopardy
has uncovered the worst posts made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his most senior ministers about US President Donald Trump, which experts warn have 'sabotaged' relationships and plunged Australia into diplomatic crisis. has uncovered the worst posts made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his most senior ministers about US President Donald Trump, which experts warn have 'sabotaged' relationships and plunged Australia into diplomatic crisis. At least a dozen senior ministers have publicly attacked Donald Trump on social media, with some politicians describing him as a threat to democracy and a liar. In posts from 2021, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called on the former Morrison government to publicly condemn Trump and accused him of inciting violence. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, whose role involves dealing with the Trump administration, alleged that he had 'incited violence', and that he was 'bad for allies'. Attacks ranged from allegations Trump was stoking 'fear and rage' to engaging in 'anti-democratic actions', while in one childish criticism, a senior minister mocked Trump as a liar who wore a "toupee". The Labor politicians made the comments on social media at a time when it appeared unlikely that the US President would return for a second term. But experts have since said the White House would be acutely aware of the social media rhetoric and warned it has destabilised relations. Read the social media posts that could undermine the alliance Labor figures holding some of the most senior roles in government, including Mr Albanese, used their time in opposition to launch scathing attacks on President Trump. The ministers often accused the US President of anti-democratic behaviour and aligned him with the 'far right' of politics, likening Coalition leaders to him as an insult. Mr Albanese, while opposition leader in 2021, accused President Trump of 'anti-democratic' actions, peddling 'nonsense' and encouraging 'violent insurrection'. Foreign Minister Penny Wong was similarly critical, saying, 'Donald Trump undermined American democracy'. She was filmed in 2021 saying the US President was 'prepared to trash alliances and partnerships for personal political interest'. — Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) January 12, 2021 Treasurer Jim Chalmers endorsed the view that 'Trumpism puts Australia in danger' and shared with his followers that President Trump was brought to power by 'fear and rage'. Education Minister Jason Clare at the time described former prime minister Scott Morrison's political style as 'Trump without the toupee'. He said the 'Trump playbook' involved 'lying, denying, never taking responsibility' and 'pandering to the extreme right'. Resources Minister Madeleine King admitted, 'Oh I hate the idea of following Trump on Twitter… but I think I might have to'. Communications Minister Anika Wells questioned what kind of world her daughter would grow up in after President Trump was elected. Industry Minister Tim Ayres described Trump's politics as 'far-right' and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke warned against introducing 'the politics of Trump to Australia.' Environment Minister Murray Watt, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman and Assistant Minister for Women Rebecca White all made similarly unflattering remarks. Trump administration aware of attacks Former Trump campaign insider Brent Buchanan told Sky News that the US administration would be aware of the verbal attacks, and they won't be forgotten. The revelations come as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remains unable to secure a meeting with President Trump and the US alliance is called into question. Founder of the polling firm Cygnal, Mr Buchanan confirmed the Trump administration would be aware of the numerous anti-Trump comments made by the ministers. "I don't expect Trump himself pays much attention to what ministers say, but I can tell you his team does,' Mr Buchanan said. 'When it comes time to interact with the Australian government, they'll give him an update because he wants to know what motivates people. 'And if the Left in Australia suffers from some form of international Trump Derangement Syndrome, that'll frame his thinking and dealings.' Mr Buchanan also warned there is a difference between 'trading political barbs during a campaign' and 'personal attacks on the world stage'. He warned that the government's tone may risk undermining diplomatic relations 'at a time when the US-Australian alliance is so important amid several security challenges.' Labor's 'deep-seated anti-American sentiment' Senior fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs and former Washington correspondent Adam Creighton told Sky News the long-standing US-Australia relationship was at a 'low ebb'. 'There is a deep-seated anti-American sentiment that is shared by numerous senior members of the federal government,' he said. 'This disdain for our most important ally leaves us vulnerable and demonstrates we are poor partners in trade and security. 'The last thing Australia needs is a federal government that is deliberately sabotaging our long-term relationships with trusted partners, particularly our number one ally, the United States.' Mr Creighton also pointed to Mr Albanese's decision to stick with Kevin Rudd as ambassador to the US despite the fact the Trump administration has little time for him. Mr Rudd was recently deemed the 'biggest issue' blocking any future meeting between Mr Albanese and President Trump. 'Many have said for a long time that Kevin Rudd will be persona non grata in the Trump administration — and this has proven to be true,' he said. 'The Prime Minister is delusional if he thinks Kevin Rudd is the best person to represent Australia in Washington DC. 'Why is the Prime Minister undermining our national security by sticking with Rudd when he has proven to have absolutely no ability to work with President Trump?' Albanese 'not worried' While the Albanese government has claimed the alliance with the US remains solid, Mr Albanese has been incapable of organising a meeting with President Trump. Their previously scheduled meeting at the G7 was abruptly cancelled and President Trump did not contact Mr Albanese afterwards, despite contacting other world leaders. Speaking at Sky News' Australia's Economic Outlook forum on Friday, he insisted that a meeting with President Trump would take place before the end of the year. 'Well, of course we will have meetings, there will be a range of meetings between now and the end of the year with President Trump,' he said.
ABC News
4 hours ago
- ABC News
Pressure mounts on the International Seabed Authority to deliver deep-sea mining regulations that are still 'two to three years' away
Delegates from around the world, including those on both sides of the deep-sea mining divide in the Pacific, have arrived in Jamaica for the 30th session of the International Seabed Authority Assembly and Council. The gathering comes hot on the heels of the delivery of new research into the potential environmental impacts of mining the seabed, and a matter of months after US President Donald Trump signed off on an executive order designed to open up US and international waters to mining companies. So now, with pressure mounting on the ISA, the hope is they will move closer to finalising regulations for deep-sea mining in international waters at last.
