Albanese rejects Trump ‘disgust' over Palestine call
The prime minister on Friday dismissed US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee's criticism over the Labor government's decision to side with France, Canada and the United Kingdom to recognise Palestine next month, saying Australia was a sovereign country that made its own decisions.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
29 minutes ago
- West Australian
Donald Trump says brokering a Ukraine ceasefire with Vladimir Putin is Alaska Summit's imperative
US President Donald Trump arrived in Alaska on Friday for a high-profile meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia in hopes of brokering a ceasefire in the Ukraine war and said he was 'not going to be happy' if the Russians refuse to go along. Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew to Alaska, Mr Trump said 'there's nothing set in stone' regarding a potential agreement, acknowledging that success was uncertain. 'I want to see a ceasefire rapidly,' he said. 'I don't know if it's going to be today. But I'm not going to be happy if it's not today.' In a separate airborne interview with Fox News, Mr Trump said 'I would walk' if Mr Putin baulked at a deal to end the fighting. The President landed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage at about 10.20am local time, and was expected to greet Mr Putin, who had not yet arrived, on the tarmac. The Kremlin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said meetings could last six to seven hours. The White House hopes to hold a news conference by late afternoon in Alaska, announcing some sort of progress. Mr Trump has been unclear about his negotiating positions, but said that while he was interested in resuming economic ties between the United States and Russia, it could not happen 'until we get the war settled.' He said he expected to discuss land swaps between Ukraine and Russia — which Ukraine vehemently opposes — but added that 'I've got to let Ukraine make that decision.' He also said 'there's a possibility' of security assurances for Ukraine as part of an eventual peace deal but 'not in the form of NATO' membership. Hours earlier, Mr Trump injected new uncertainty into his effort to end the war in Ukraine by calling Mr Putin's top ally, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, and then heaping praise on him. Mr Lukashenko is one of the world's longest-ruling dictators and a figure long shunned by US presidents, and he helped Russia begin its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Mr Trump wrote on social media that he 'had a wonderful talk' with Mr Lukashenko, and called him 'highly respected.' — Summit details: Mr Trump and Mr Putin are expected to give a joint news conference after the meeting, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Mr Trump was not scheduled to be on the ground in Alaska for the six - seven hours that Kremlin suggested. The White House said he would depart for Washington at 5.45pm local time. — Possible scenarios: The outcome of the meeting seems to be less predictable than most presidential summits. Among the issues that could shape the proceedings are whether Mr Putin is prepared to discuss a ceasefire and whether Mr Trump will apply pressure on Russia by threatening more sanctions or additional support to Ukraine, as European allies want. — The Trump-Putin relationship: The meeting will be at least the seventh between the two leaders, and the first of Mr Trump's second term. His first term was shadowed by questions over Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, which Mr Trump has repeatedly referred to as 'the Russia hoax.' It will be the first US visit in a decade for Mr Putin, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes in Ukraine and risks arrest if he travels to countries that are members of the court. The United States is not. — On the battlefield: Russia enters Friday's talks from a position of strength against Ukraine. Its army has driven a wedge into Ukrainian defences in the east, and Ukrainian officials have warned that Moscow has amassed forces and equipment for new offensive operations. This article originally appeared in The New York Times . © 2025 The New York Times Company
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
‘Rare move': Putin joins Trump in limo as high-stakes summit begins
CNN reporter Marybel Gonzalez discusses US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin arriving in the Alaskan city of Anchorage to discuss the Ukraine war. 'This summit is already kicking off to a peculiar start when President Putin and Trump touched down here in Anchorage, Alaska, President Putin joining Trump inside of his limo,' Ms Gonzalez said. 'This is a rare move, especially for a US adversary … this will mark a one-on-one moment between the two leaders, even if for a brief car ride.'
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Israel in talks to resettle Palestinians in South Sudan
South Sudan and Israel are discussing a deal to resettle Palestinians from war-torn Gaza in the troubled African nation - a plan quickly dismissed as unacceptable by Palestinian leaders. Three sources, who have knowledge of the matter but spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters no agreement had been reached but talks between South Sudan and Israel were ongoing. The plan, if carried further, would envisage people moving from an enclave shattered by almost two years of war with Israel to a nation in the heart of Africa riven by years of political and ethnically-driven violence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office and Israel's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the information from the three sources. A spokesperson for the US State Department said, "we do not speak to private diplomatic conversations," when asked about the plan and if the United States supported the idea. Netanyahu said this month he intends to extend military control in Gaza, and this week repeated suggestions that Palestinians should leave the territory voluntarily. Arab and world leaders have rejected the idea of moving Gaza's population to any country. Palestinians say that would be like another "Nakba" (catastrophe) when hundreds of thousands fled or were forced out during the Arab-Israeli war of 1948. The three sources said the prospect of resettling Palestinians in South Sudan was raised during meetings between Israeli officials and South Sudanese Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba when he visited the country last month. Their account appeared to contradict South Sudan's foreign ministry, which on Wednesday dismissed earlier reports on the plan as "baseless". The ministry was not immediately available to respond to the sources' assertions on Friday. News of the discussions was first reported by the Associated Press on Tuesday, citing six people with knowledge of the matter. Wasel Abu Youssef, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, said the Palestinian leadership and people "reject any plan or idea to displace any of our people to South Sudan or to any other place". His statement echoed a statement from the office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday. Hamas, which is fighting Israel in Gaza, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, who visited the South Sudanese capital Juba this week, told reporters that those discussions had not focused on relocation. "This is not what the discussions were about," she said when asked if any such plan had been discussed. "The discussions were about foreign policy, about multilateral organisations, about the humanitarian crisis, the real humanitarian crisis happening in South Sudan, and about the war," she said, referring to her talks with Juba officials. Netanyahu, who met Kumba last month, has said Israel is in touch with a few countries to find a destination for Palestinians who want to leave Gaza. He has consistently declined to provide further details.
