AUKUS review comes after US calls for more defence spending from Australia
Sky News host Andrew Bolt discusses how the United States' review on AUKUS comes after their call for more defence spending by the Albanese Labor government.
'The more you see of how this submarine story has unfolded, the more it seems like it is Donald Trump's team putting a squeeze on Australia,' Mr Bolt said.
'Telling us, well, you want your submarines, then you do what we say and you pay billions more for your defence.'
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News.com.au
12 minutes ago
- News.com.au
'Avoid escalation': World reacts to Israel strike on Iran
World leaders urged restraint on Friday after Israel pounded Iran, striking 100 targets including nuclear and military sites, and killing senior figures. Here is a roundup of key reactions: - 'Cannot have nuclear bomb': United States - US President Donald Trump, told Fox News he was aware Israel was going to conduct strikes on Iran before they happened and said: "Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see." Fox News also reported that "Trump noted the US is ready to defend itself and Israel if Iran retaliates." - 'Maximum restraint': UN - UN chief Antonio Guterres asked "both sides to show maximum restraint, avoiding at all costs a descent into deeper conflict, a situation that the region can hardly afford," according to a spokesperson. Guterres was "particularly concerned" by Israel's strikes on nuclear installations amid the ongoing US-Iran negotiations. - 'Unacceptable' and 'unprovoked': Russia - "Russia is concerned and condemns the sharp escalation of tensions," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state news agencies, calling the strikes "unacceptable" and "unprovoked", while the Russian embassy in Tel Aviv urged Russians in Israel to leave the country. - 'Deeply worried': China - "The Chinese side... is deeply worried about the severe consequences that such actions might bring," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, calling "on relevant parties to take actions that promote regional peace and stability and to avoid further escalation of tensions". - 'Diplomacy best path forward': EU - "The situation in the Middle East is dangerous. I urge all parties to exercise restraint and prevent further escalation. Diplomacy remains the best path forward, and I stand ready to support any diplomatic efforts toward de-escalation," said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. - Avoid 'further escalation': Germany - Germany, which for years expressed concerns about Iran's "advanced nuclear weapons programme", said it was "ready to use all diplomatic means at our disposal to influence the parties to the conflict. The goal must remain that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons". - 'Dangerous escalation': Hamas - "This aggression constitutes a dangerous escalation that threatens to destabilise the region," said the Iran-backed, Palestinian militant group, whose October 2023 attack on Israel sparked the Gaza war. - 'Threat to international peace': Iraq - Iraq strongly condemned the attacks, saying: "This act represents a blatant violation of the fundamental principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security." - No 'battleground': Jordan - "Jordan has not and will not allow any violation of its airspace, reaffirming that the Kingdom will not be a battleground for any conflict," a government spokesperson told AFP after Jordan closed its airspace. - 'Dangerous approach': Oman - Nuclear talks mediator Oman said "calls on the international community to adopt a clear and firm position to put an end to this dangerous approach, which threatens to rule out diplomatic solutions and jeopardise the security and stability of the region". - 'Strong condemnation': Qatar - Gaza mediator Qatar expressed "its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli attack," the Gulf state's foreign ministry said, adding that the "dangerous escalation threatens security and stability of the region and hinders efforts to de-escalate and reach diplomatic solutions". - 'Aggressive actions': Turkey - "Israel must put an immediate end to its aggressive actions that could lead to further conflicts," said Turkey's foreign ministry. - 'Reduce tensions urgently': UK - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "The reports of these strikes are concerning and we urge all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently. Escalation serves no one in the region." - 'Legitimate right to defend itself': Yemen's Huthis - Tehran-backed Huthi rebels said they backed "Iran's full and legitimate right to... develop its nuclear programme" and that "we strongly condemn the brutal Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran and affirm its full and legitimate right to respond by all possible means". burs-djt/yad/jm
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Planet America: Weekend Edition (Friday 13/6/2025)
Planet America NEW EPISODE Politics Talk & Interview Thought-Provoking Watch Article share options Share this on Facebook Twitter Send this by Email Copy link WhatsApp Messenger Coming to you from the Situation Room, John Barron and Chas Licciardello cut through the spin as they discuss the people, policies and politics from the week in Donald Trump's second term in the White House.
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
How Israel's pre-dawn assault on Iran unfolded, moment by moment
It was fast, targeted and deadly. In a split second, a quiet pre-dawn Tehran erupted into a furious inferno. Israel attacked several locations across Iran, including the capital, targeting nuclear sites, including its main enrichment facility, ballistic missile and other military capabilities, and commanders and nuclear scientists. Here's how it unfolded, moment by moment (note: all times in AEST). June 12 Trump withdraws US officials from the Middle East The White House ordered the departure of all non-essential personnel from its embassy in Baghdad. It also gave non-essential officials in its Bahrain and Kuwait embassies the authorisation to leave if they so wished. This came as US intelligence indicated Israel had been preparing to strike Iran while the Trump administration struggled to make progress on a nuclear deal with Iran. 'They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place, and we'll see what happens,' Trump said. June 13 US President Donald Trump warns an Israeli strike 'could very well happen' if Iran doesn't reach a deal over its nuclear weapons capabilities. 'I don't want to say imminent, but it looks like it's something that could very well happen,' Trump tells reporters at the White House. Israel attacks Iran at 3.30am local time, with explosions booming across Tehran. People in the city wake to blasts, which damage residential buildings. Smoke is seen rising from Tehran's western neighbourhood of Chitgar. 'Dozens' of nuclear and military targets hit An Israeli military official confirms 'dozens' of sites across Iran were targeted, including the country's Natanz nuclear complex, with footage on Iranian state TV showing black smoke rising from the facility. The deaths Iranian state TV reports that the chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Hossein Salami, was killed in the strikes, along with the commander-in-chief of Iran's army, General Mohammad Bagheri, and another top-ranking commander, General Gholamali Rashid. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, survived but Ali Shamkhani, a top political, military and nuclear adviser to Khamenei was reportedly 'critically injured' in the strikes. Six nuclear scientists, including Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, were also reportedly killed. Iranian TV reported children were among the dead in the affected residential areas. The Israel Defence Forces shares news of the successful 'first stage' of its offensive on X. 'Dozens of IAF [sraeli Air Force] jets completed the first stage that included strikes on dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in different areas of Iran,' it posts. 'Today, Iran is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon.' 11am: US not involved, avoids both endorsing and condemning strikes The United States declines to endorse Israel's strikes against Iran, noting in an official statement that it was aware of, but not involved in, the operation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivers the first official US response to the attack, saying Israel 'advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defence'. Later, Trump calls an emergency security meeting set for 11am Friday (1am AEST) and tells Fox News 'Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb'. 11.19am: Netanyahu speaks Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the strikes were aimed at hurting Iran's nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile factories and other military capabilities. 'This operation will take as long as is needed to complete the task of fending off the threat of annihilation against us,' he says in a recorded video message. 'As prime minister, I have made it clear time and again Israel will never allow those who call for our annihilation to develop the means to achieve their goal.' He says Israel has successfully 'struck at the heart' of Iran's nuclear weaponisation program by targeting 'their main enrichment facility'. 1.23pm 'Sworn enemies' to expect retaliation, says Tehran Israel will receive a 'harsh punishment' in response to the strikes, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei tells Iranian state TV. He says Israel has 'unleashed its wicked and bloody' hand in a crime against Iran that reveals its 'vile nature'. Iran's Revolutionary Guards later release a statement, seen by Reuters, which says Israel 'will pay a heavy price' for killing their chief, Salami. The statement claims Israel's strikes were done with the knowledge and support of the 'wicked rulers in the White House' and the 'terrorist US regime'. 'Iran's sworn enemies should expect a decisive retaliation', it says. 3.01pm: Iran launches 100-drone assault on Israel Israel's chief army spokesman, Brigadier General Effie Defrin, says: 'In the last few hours, Iran has launched more than 100 drones toward Israel, and all the defence systems are acting to intercept the threats.' A short time later, neighbouring Jordan says its air force and defence systems intercepted several missiles and drones that had entered its airspace for fear they would fall in its territory. Defrin says the strikes are continuing. How has Australia reacted? Speaking from Fiji, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the government wants the conflict solved 'through dialogue'. 'We, of course, are very conscious of the threat [that] Iran becoming a nuclear state would represent to peace and security in the region as well,' he says. Speaking to reporters minutes after the strikes were first reported, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she was 'alarmed' by the attack. 'We call on all parties to refrain from actions and rhetoric that will further exacerbate tensions,' Wong said. What becomes of the US and Iran's nuclear negotiations? A key mediator in Iran's nuclear talks with the US says Israel's attack 'threatens to eliminate diplomatic solutions and undermine security and stability of the region'. Oman was due to host the US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and other key officials for a sixth round of nuclear deal talks with Iran on Sunday. After the strikes, Trump says he's hoping to get 'back to the negotiating table', according to Fox News. When asked in the hours before the attack how any strikes would impact the nuclear talks, Trump said: 'I think it would blow it' before reconsidering and saying, it 'might help it actually, but it also could blow it'.
