Latest news with #PennyWong
The Age
9 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Age
WA news LIVE: Oil tanker docks at Kwinana port
Latest posts Latest posts 9.31am Oil tanker docks at Kwinana port An international oil tanker, suspected of carrying Russian crude, docked at Kwinana port overnight after sitting off the coast for two days. The Seferis departed India earlier this month. The Greek-flagged vessel contains oil from Jamnagar refinery in India, which processes Russian crude. Ukrainian campaigners claim the ship is carrying oil that originated in Russia, which is against Australian sanctions imposed on the country in response to its invasion of Ukraine. These include restrictions on importing, purchasing and transporting oil that originated in Russia. A spokesperson for Foreign Minister Penny Wong said, regrettably, the mechanisms Australia would need to track and monitor all energy products via third countries are not in place in those countries. 'We are evaluating options to place further pressure on Russia's oil revenues,' they said. The oil is destined for petrol bowsers across the state. 9.31am Across the nation and around the world Here's what's making news across the nation and around the world: YouTube Kids will escape the federal government's teen social media ban that could serve as a model for other sites to keep offering their products, and ads, to children under the age of 16. US President Donald Trump has acknowledged sex offender Jeffrey Epstein 'stole' young women from the spa at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, including American-Australian victim Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide this year. Israel appears to have thought its renewed war on Hamas would bring quick results – but the campaign is now looking like a strategic, diplomatic and humanitarian failure as the UK moves to recognise Palestine unless Israel commits to peace. A gunman who shot dead four people at a Manhattan office building before killing himself was trying to target the headquarters of the National Football League but took the wrong elevator, Mayor Eric Adams said. 9.31am Today's weather 9.31am Welcome to our live blog Good morning readers, and welcome to our live news blog for Wednesday, July 30. Making headlines today, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake in WA's central Wheatbelt has woken residents across the state overnight. The quake was recorded at 2am in Wyalkatchem, 192 kilometres north-east of Perth. Meanwhile, Western Australia's year 9 students recorded some of the nation's best results in this year's NAPLAN tests, but year 3 students fell critically short. The Australian Curriculum and Standards Authority released the new data late on Tuesday evening, which showed nearly half of all year 3 students in WA did not meet proficiency standards in grammar and punctuation. And Deb Taylor is one of many West Australians guiding people through the state government-run website to register their firearms. For some, the task is too big.
Sydney Morning Herald
9 minutes ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
WA news LIVE: Oil tanker docks at Kwinana port
Latest posts Latest posts 9.31am Oil tanker docks at Kwinana port An international oil tanker, suspected of carrying Russian crude, docked at Kwinana port overnight after sitting off the coast for two days. The Seferis departed India earlier this month. The Greek-flagged vessel contains oil from Jamnagar refinery in India, which processes Russian crude. Ukrainian campaigners claim the ship is carrying oil that originated in Russia, which is against Australian sanctions imposed on the country in response to its invasion of Ukraine. These include restrictions on importing, purchasing and transporting oil that originated in Russia. A spokesperson for Foreign Minister Penny Wong said, regrettably, the mechanisms Australia would need to track and monitor all energy products via third countries are not in place in those countries. 'We are evaluating options to place further pressure on Russia's oil revenues,' they said. The oil is destined for petrol bowsers across the state. 9.31am Across the nation and around the world Here's what's making news across the nation and around the world: YouTube Kids will escape the federal government's teen social media ban that could serve as a model for other sites to keep offering their products, and ads, to children under the age of 16. US President Donald Trump has acknowledged sex offender Jeffrey Epstein 'stole' young women from the spa at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, including American-Australian victim Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide this year. Israel appears to have thought its renewed war on Hamas would bring quick results – but the campaign is now looking like a strategic, diplomatic and humanitarian failure as the UK moves to recognise Palestine unless Israel commits to peace. A gunman who shot dead four people at a Manhattan office building before killing himself was trying to target the headquarters of the National Football League but took the wrong elevator, Mayor Eric Adams said. 9.31am Today's weather 9.31am Welcome to our live blog Good morning readers, and welcome to our live news blog for Wednesday, July 30. Making headlines today, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake in WA's central Wheatbelt has woken residents across the state overnight. The quake was recorded at 2am in Wyalkatchem, 192 kilometres north-east of Perth. Meanwhile, Western Australia's year 9 students recorded some of the nation's best results in this year's NAPLAN tests, but year 3 students fell critically short. The Australian Curriculum and Standards Authority released the new data late on Tuesday evening, which showed nearly half of all year 3 students in WA did not meet proficiency standards in grammar and punctuation. And Deb Taylor is one of many West Australians guiding people through the state government-run website to register their firearms. For some, the task is too big.
New Straits Times
16 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Australia welcomes Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire deal
KUALA LUMPUR: Australia has welcomed the agreement between Cambodia and Thailand to implement an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Its Foreign Minister Penny Wong said both parties are urged to honour the commitment and pursue a lasting and peaceful resolution to the conflict. "We appreciate PM Anwar (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) and Malaysia's leadership as Asean Chair and the role played by (the United States) President (Donald) Trump," she said in a post on X. Yesterday, Cambodia and Thailand agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire amid the ongoing border conflict. This, following a special meeting involving Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, with Anwar serving as host and Asean Chair.
Sky News AU
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Shame on them': Albanese and Wong slammed for ‘refusing' to admit Hamas is the problem
Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash has slammed Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for potentially wanting to recognise a Palestinian state. 'What Penny Wong and Anthony Albanese seem to refuse to admit is that Hamas could end the war tomorrow, they could release the hostages, and they could lay down their arms,' Ms Cash told Sky News host Danica De Giorgio. 'Shame on them for even thinking about the recognition of a Palestinian state when the terrorists are in control of Gaza.'
The Diplomat
a day ago
- Politics
- The Diplomat
Australia, UK Sign Landmark Defense Deal
Last week, Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles hosted their counterparts from the United Kingdom for the AUKMIN discussions. These now annual talks have become more critical to Australia as the AUKUS initiative has developed, and particularly due to the chaotic and unreliable nature of the agreement's third party, the United States. The central outcome of the visit was the signing of the bilateral Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Treaty by Marles and the U.K.'s Secretary of State for Defense John Healey. It's informally known as the Geelong Treaty, given that it was signed in the Victorian city of Geelong, where Marles represents an electoral district. Keen to show off his electorate – and the two countries' camaraderie – Marles also took Healey for a beer at a local brewery. The Geelong Treaty commits Australia and the U.K. to the next 50 years of defense cooperation under AUKUS Pillar I. This involves the design, build, operation, and maintenance of new fleets of nuclear-powered submarines for both the United Kingdom's Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. The subs are scheduled to enter into service in the 2030s for the U.K. and the 2040s for Australia. The treaty will support the development of the personnel, infrastructure, and regulatory systems that Australia needs to be capable of running a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines – all of which it currently lacks. The two countries also agreed to port visits and a rotational presence of the U.K.'s current Astute-class submarines in Australia. In highlighting the importance of the agreement, Marles stated, 'In military terms, what it will deliver is the biggest leap in Australia's military capability, really, since the formation of the navy back in 1913.' The signing of the treaty came as the largest British navy presence in 30 years arrived in Darwin – including its flagship aircraft carrier, the HMS Prince of Wales. The vessels are in Australia for the 11th iteration of the Talisman Sabre exercise, currently being conducted across northern Australia and Papua New Guinea with 30,000 personnel from 19 countries participating. Australia's defense strategy is often depicted as simply a reliance on Washington, and a hope that the U.S. will maintain a commitment to the Indo-Pacific region. Yet, there is a broader strategy of seeking to encourage other states with resources and shared worldviews into the region. Most of Australia's 'like-minded countries' exist within Europe, and the region is suffering from its own serious security threats at present, complicating Australia's strategy. However, the U.K. has signaled with its large contingent to Talisman Sabre – over 3,000 personnel – that London sees maintaining stability in the region as critical for their own interests as well. As the world's economic center of gravity has shifted to the Indo-Pacific, it is clear that while Russia's belligerence is a European threat, any attempt by China to alter the status quo across the Taiwan Strait would be globally catastrophic. But it is not just the Taiwan Strait that both countries are concerned about. The joint statement from the AUSMIN discussions highlighted that: 'Ministers reiterated their strong opposition to coercive or destabilizing activities by China's Coast Guard, naval vessels and maritime militia in the South China Sea, including sideswiping, water cannoning and close maneuvers that have resulted in injuries, endangered lives and created risks of miscalculation and escalation. Ministers agreed to continue cooperating to support freedom of navigation and overflight in the region, including through participation in joint activities.' Approximately 12 percent of the U.K.'s annual trade passes through the South China Sea, making its stability a vital national interest. It is the economic interests of European countries within the region that provide greater assurance to Australia. While they may not have the raw power of the United States, deterrence is a psychological game as much as one of power, and the greater the number of states demonstrating their commitment to regional stability, the more Beijing will need to think twice about its actions. The other game at play is how countries like Australia and the U.K. can keep the U.S. on the same page, particularly in light of the current U.S. Defense Department review of AUKUS. The friendly and cooperative spirit of the AUSMIN discussions was also a signal to Washington about what proper allyship looks like. The signal may have been too subtle for those currently in the White House, or they may simply not care, yet managing and influencing Washington in new ways is now an essential part of how countries like Australia and the U.K. conduct their security and diplomatic relations.
