Latest news with #TheBoltReport
Sky News AU
5 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
US General warns America's military capabilities will be 'challenged' if a war breaks out, in stark warning to Anthony Albanese after he dismissed ASPI report
The United States' military and its ability to defend not only itself but its allies has been called into question, while Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been forced to address his government's attitude towards defence. General Jack Keane, who served as the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1999 to 2003, warned the US' military capabilities are not what they used to be and that it could be significantly challenged as the threat of war lingers. He also warned of the threat of war in the Indo-Pacific region and that the likes of China, North Korea, Russia and Iran have come together to form the "most significant and serious threat to the United States' interest" and its allies since the Second World War. General Keane recalled the 2022 Congressional Commission on the National Defence Strategy, which he contributed to, and how it concluded the US army and allies in the region would be "challenged" to win a war against China as its military capabilities currently stand. "After two years of examination, (we found) that based on current military capability... U.S. Military capability and allies in the region, that we would be challenged to win a war against China in the near term because of the erosion of US military capability," he told Sky News' The Bolt Report on Thursday. "Even though we're earnestly trying to repair that, we would be challenged to win and indeed, we could lose. "We have to move with a sense of urgency to create the kind of deterrence that we need. We're trying to prevent a war from happening. (Chinese) President Xi has told his military leaders, be prepared by 2027, and he has been threatening war every single year as well." In a statement of hope for the future though, General Keane said President Donald Trump's $150 billion pledge for defence would be "very significant" in solving glaring holes in America's military. "(It could) solve the fact that we don't have all the missiles we should have. We don't know all the long range weapon systems, all the air defence systems and others," he said. Earlier on Thursday, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) warned that the government risks falling behind in its military preparedness amid rising global threats. In the report, its author and former home affairs deputy secretary Mark Ablong concluded "the failure of this year's budget to meet that responsibility will make all Australians less secure". "Without urgent, coordinated and well resourced responses to those challenges, Australia risks a brittle and hollowed defence force, diminished industrial sovereignty, and compromised national security in a volatile Indo Pacific region." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded to the report but brushed off the concerns, maintaining his government had invested in the department more than adequately. "Well, that's what they do, isn't it, ASPI? I mean, seriously, they need to… have a look at themselves and the way they conduct themselves in debates," Mr Albanese told ABC Radio Brisbane. "We've had a defence strategic review. We've got considerable additional investment going into defence — $10 billion. "ASPI regularly produce these sort of reports, you know, run by people who have been in a position to make a difference in the past as part of former governments."
Sky News AU
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Former White House press secretary claims 'real seriousness' to incident where French President Emmanuel Macron shoved by wife
Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer has weighed into the viral moment involving French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, declaring it looked to have had a "real seriousness" to it. The interaction between the President and wife Brigitte Macron occurred when the couple prepared to disembark a plane in Hanoi, Vietnam on Sunday night ahead of a tour of Southeast Asia. In the footage, as Mr Macron was seen coming into frame, the arm of his wife was captured pushing him in the face before then seemingly refusing to hold her husband's arm as they walked down the steps onto the tarmac. When speaking to reporters in the Vietnamese capital shortly after, he said he "was bickering, or rather joking, with my wife", adding "it's nothing". After seeing vision of the incident, Spicer said while it was "funny" and that most people had found humour in the moment, there was a "real seriousness" to it. "There is a real seriousness to this for all of the talk that we've had over the past few years about domestic violence. And it goes both ways, and I know that there's a lot of jokes to be had at Macron's expense. But there is a serious aspect to this that I don't think should be overlooked," he told Sky News' The Bolt Report on Tuesday. "And I know even when their initial response, they tried to initially deny this, but the tape was so clear as to what was going on. So I think we've got to figure out how to balance this." Spicer said he had met the Macrons previously when he was part of President Donald Trump's first administration and visited the French ambassador's residence in Brussels on the sidelines of a NATO summit. He described them as "kind and welcoming" but joked Mr Macron's "very warm" relationship with Trump could come in handy if the relationship with his wife were as rocky as the viral footage may have indicated. "He's always had a very warm relationship with President Trump, but he might wanna come stay at Blair House here in the United States to get out of town if things continue the way that they might be," he said. Spicer said while the Trumps had previously come under the spotlight for a moment where Melania could be seen pushing her husband's hand away, this was an incident that was more dramatic, describing it as "truly a smack". "This wasn't a tap on the shoulder or a you know, a light touch this was truly a smack and I will give Macron credit for how he responded to it because the other thing that I thought to myself is that these folks have been in the public eye for quite some time," he said. "She has to know that the cameras are on them so to me it was almost like that it was so intentional. "It's one thing to do something in private, again not condoning having somebody discover some private moment that you're sharing as a husband and a wife but for her to actually know that this moment was going to be on film really kind of concerns me."
Sky News AU
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
'Quite dangerous': Keir Starmer's hard line messages on immigration slammed by British broadcaster Esther Krakue
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been accused of taking a "dangerous" approach to his policies after a series of social media posts about immigration policy that raised eyebrows. Mr Starmer came under fire earlier this month when he said the UK was at risk of becoming an "island of strangers" during a speech at Downing Street. His X page has been accused of pushing more to the right in recent days, as he shared several posts pushing his immigration policy. One of his posts read: "I know you're angry about immigration. I get it. Mark my words: I will take back control of our borders. That means cutting migration, ending the use of asylum hotels, and ramping up our efforts to stop small boat crossings. We will smash the people smuggling gangs at source." "I've already returned over 24,000 people with no right to be here. And I won't stop there," another post said. A third post said: "If you work here illegally or employ people who do, we're coming for you. Illegal working raids are up 40%. And we won't stop there." British broadcaster Esther Krakue was asked on Sky News Australia's The Bolt Report on Monday about whether she believed the Prime Minister was taking a "hard line" on immigration now but she said she would not be reading too much into his messaging. "He's not taking a hard line, that man. The only conviction that man has is the belief that he thinks he should be in charge. That's it," she said. "If he thinks it's losing him votes, he's happy to do a 180, which is quite dangerous actually, because it just means that he's only going to do what he thinks is politically expedient for him at the time, and you know... to hell with what happens to the British public in the process." The Prime Minister's series of posts have come after he promised Labour's immigration plan would see net migration fall "significantly" over the next four years, with the Home Office estimating his policies could lead to a drop of 100,000 in immigration each year by 2029. "Every area of the immigration system, including work, family and study, will be tightened up so we have more control," he said in his announcement. "Enforcement will be tougher than ever and migration numbers will fall." Mr Starmer also said his government would be raising English language requirements across every main immigration route. The qualification requirements to apply for a skilled work visa will also increase. The amount of time migrants must live in the UK before applying for settled status will also go from five to 10 years under the plan.
Sky News AU
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Tonight's episode of The Bolt Report unlocked for all users as Andrew Bolt weighs into Albanese Albanese's campaign pause after death of Pope Francis
Andrew Bolt is set weigh into Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's decision to suspended campaigning in the wake of Pope Francis' death. Tuesday night's The Bolt Report will be unlocked for all users to stream from 7pm. The Sky News Australia host will discuss the "absurd" decision on The Bolt Report on Tuesday night. Joining Bolt on the show will be Matt Canavan, Sean Spicer, Jason Smart, Danica De Giorgio and Esther Krakue. Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Albanese announced he would pause the campaign to attend mass at Melbourne's St Patrick's Cathedral, as he cancelled some campaign events. His Liberal counterpart then said he would do the same after making an appearance on the Today Show. While both leaders agreed to a pause in politicking, the Prime Minister then gathered the touring press pack at Melbourne's Commonwealth Parliament Office to deliver a tribute to the Pope, who died on Monday aged 88, and take questions. But Mr Albanese had already paid his respects in a media conference the night before, using similar lines remarking on how the late-Pontiff took the name of the "great champion of the poor, St Francis of Assisi".
