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Perth Now
a day ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
‘Daunting, grim': Warning on Chinese nukes
Beijing's nuclear ambitions and Chinese military build up create daunting and grim challenges across the Asia-Pacific, Australia's Deputy Prime Minister has warned. Defence Minister Richard Marles used a speech at a summit in Singapore to reiterate alarm bells over Chinese and Russian nuclear weapons. 'China's decision to pursue rapid nuclear modernisation and expansion, which aims in part to reach parity with or surpass the United States, is another reason the future of strategic arms control must be revitalised,' Mr Marles said in a speech on Saturday. Richard Marles says Cold War era arms controls are now inadequate. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia 'And that is a difficult and daunting project. 'We also have to counter the grim, potentially imminent, possibility of another wave of global nuclear proliferation as states seek security in a new age of imperial ambition.' Mr Marles made the speech at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Shangri-La Dialogue conference in Singapore on Saturday. The annual conference attracts defence ministers, senior military and security officials and diplomats from across the Asia Pacific; it is the pre-eminent regional security forum. Beijing has not sent its National Defence Minister Dong Jun, instead sending a lower-level academic delegation. Last year's forum resulted in a meeting between Mr Dong and then-US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. In his speech on Saturday, while acknowledging the US as a nuclear superpower, Mr Marles said arms controls needed to be strengthened. 'Russia suspended its participation in the last remaining binding bilateral arms control treaty between the United States and Russia in 2023,' he said. 'This leaves no legally binding limits on the strategic nuclear arsenals of the two largest nuclear powers for the first time since 1972. 'New technologies like cyber, the weaponisation of space, and the ability to integrate nuclear weapons with autonomous systems means traditional arms control frameworks are being surpassed without any established method of control to supplement them.'
West Australian
a day ago
- Politics
- West Australian
‘Daunting, grim': Deputy PM's warning on China's nuclear goals
Beijing's nuclear ambitions and Chinese military build up create daunting and grim challenges across the Asia-Pacific, Australia's Deputy Prime Minister has warned. Defence Minister Richard Marles used a speech at a summit in Singapore to reiterate alarm bells over Chinese and Russian nuclear weapons. 'China's decision to pursue rapid nuclear modernisation and expansion, which aims in part to reach parity with or surpass the United States, is another reason the future of strategic arms control must be revitalised,' Mr Marles said in a speech on Saturday. 'And that is a difficult and daunting project. 'We also have to counter the grim, potentially imminent, possibility of another wave of global nuclear proliferation as states seek security in a new age of imperial ambition.' Mr Marles made the speech at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Shangri-La Dialogue conference in Singapore on Saturday. The annual conference attracts defence ministers, senior military and security officials and diplomats from across the Asia Pacific; it is the pre-eminent regional security forum. Beijing has not sent its National Defence Minister Dong Jun, instead sending a lower-level academic delegation. Last year's forum resulted in a meeting between Mr Dong and then-US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. In his speech on Saturday, while acknowledging the US as a nuclear superpower, Mr Marles said arms controls needed to be strengthened. 'Russia suspended its participation in the last remaining binding bilateral arms control treaty between the United States and Russia in 2023,' he said. 'This leaves no legally binding limits on the strategic nuclear arsenals of the two largest nuclear powers for the first time since 1972. 'New technologies like cyber, the weaponisation of space, and the ability to integrate nuclear weapons with autonomous systems means traditional arms control frameworks are being surpassed without any established method of control to supplement them.'
Business Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Times
China's defence minister Dong Jun to skip major Asian security summit
[BEIJING] China's defence minister Dong Jun will skip a major Asian security forum this weekend at which US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will make his debut, instead sending a lower-level academic delegation, the ministry said on Thursday (May 29). A delegation from the People's Liberation Army National Defence University will attend the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore from May 29 to June 2, spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang said at a press conference. Zhang did not elaborate on the decision. In previous years, China has sent its defence minister to the high-profile summit, which is normally attended by defence ministers, senior military and security officials and diplomats from around the world. Last year's event resulted in a bilateral meeting between Dong and then-US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. Dong later declined a meeting with the Pentagon chief when they were in Laos last November. When asked about the possibility of meeting the American delegation this year, Zhang did not confirm. US-China military ties have worsened in recent months, with many working-level military dialogue channels established during the Biden administration suspended since Trump took office. 'China places great importance on US-China military ties, and is open to communication at different levels,' Zhang said. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up 'We hope the US will earnestly respect our core interests and major concerns, work with us in the same direction, and promote the steady and sound development of military-to-military relations.' Hegseth will make his first extended remarks in Singapore on Saturday on how he envisions US defence policy in the Indo-Pacific. His speech will be closely watched by Asian allies for how the Trump administration views the threat of China's military modernisation and ongoing tensions in disputed waters across East and Southeast Asia. US officials previously told Reuters that Hegseth will attempt to persuade Asian allies that Washington is a better partner than Beijing. Since taking office, Hegseth has promised to 'take back' the Panama Canal from Chinese influence and described Japan as 'indispensable' for tackling Chinese military aggression in the region. China has ongoing maritime disputes with the Philippines in the South China Sea, which is also claimed by several other countries in the region. In recent months, Korea and Japan have expressed concern publicly about China-built structures and its military presence in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. REUTERS
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Did FBI have 'sources' on ground during Jan 6 riots? Kash Patel says 'definitive' answer is coming, would 'shock' people
FBI director Kash Patel (File) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director Kash Patel on Wednesday (local time) vowed that a "definitive" answer is coming over whether or not there were FBI "sources" on the ground during the January 6, 2021 riots at the US Capitol Building. "People have had questions whether or not there were FBI sources – not agents, sources – on the ground during January 6. And I told you I would get you the definitive answer to that. And we have, and we are in the process again of working with our partners to divulge that information, and it is coming," Fox News quoted Patel as saying on its "Special Report" exclusive interview. The findings, Patel added, may "surprise and shock people because of what past FBI leaders have said about it." He also told Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier that the information from the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) on the Capitol Hill violence is "definitely a piece of the truth." "Why it took a ton of time and questioning in Congress for the director (then-FBI boss Christopher Wray) to get that point is what I'm trying to eliminate from the FBI. If Congress asks you a question under oath, whether or not there were sources in [or] around January 6th at the Capitol, you as the director of the FBI need to know that and not deflect. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo You have to be prepared for that," Patel stated. Last year, inspector general Michael Horowitz of the DoJ released his highly anticipated report on the FBI's Handling of the domestic intelligence agency's own Confidential Human Sources and Intelligence Collection Efforts in the lead up to the January 6, 2021 electoral certification of Joe Biden's victory over then-US President Donald Trump. Trump refused to accepted the result of the November 2020 election, resulting in his supporters storming the US Capitol in January the following year. However, he is now back at the helm, having defeated Kamala Harris last November. According to the DoJ report, there were a total of 26 confidential "human sources" in the crowd outside the Capitol on that day, of whom only three were assigned by the FBI to be there. The report stressed that none of the sources were authorized or directed by the bureau to "break the law" or "encourage others to commit illegal acts." As per the report, one of the three confidential human sources tasked by the FBI to attend the rally entered the Capitol building, while the other two entered the restricted area around the Capitol. If a confidential human source is directed to be at a certain event, they are paid by the bureau for their time
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
USMNT greats Donovan, Howard criticize absence of top players from Gold Cup
Former US men's national team greats Landon Donovan and Tim Howard criticized some of the stars who asked to be left off the team's Gold Cup roster this summer, with Donovan saying he believes that the national team is 'not a priority' for them. The Gold Cup is the last international tournament the US men's national team will compete in before playing co-host for the 2026 World Cup next summer. Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson and Yunus Musah all asked to be left off of the team for various reasons, with Pulisic citing the workload of two straight 50-game campaigns with Milan, while Robinson was ruled out with a case of knee tendinopathy (an overuse injury that he had been managing for much of the second half of the Premier League season). Fulham announced on Wednesday that Robinson would undergo a surgical procedure on his knee and would use the summer to recover. Musah, according to head coach Mauricio Pochettino, asked out of the team due to 'personal reasons'. In Wednesday's episode of Unfiltered Soccer, the podcast co-hosted by Donovan and Howard, Donovan decried the absences despite his own experience with experiencing burnout over the course of his playing career. Related: Pulisic's surge to Balogun's plunge: how USMNT stars fared in Europe this season 'I understand very clearly what it's like to need a break,' said Donovan, who took time away from soccer in 2013 – a decision that then-US head coach Jürgen Klinsmann said contributed to the decision to cut Donovan from the 2014 World Cup team. 'If there's something serious going on in your life, in your family, mentally, whatever, I get it. I'm going to assume for the sake of this conversation that's not going on. If they would actually come out and give reasons, it would help us, but none of them want to say anything publicly. I think it would help them publicly to say 'this is why.'' In the episode, which was likely recorded before the announcement of Robinson's surgery, Donovan said that reasons related to fatigue and burnout fall flat when set against the players' performances for their club teams to end the season. Milan, home to Pulisic and Musah, was a focus given that the last game of their season was largely meaningless, with the team already mathematically out of European competition next season. 'The problem I have with Christian in the last few weeks is he's still playing for Milan,' Donovan said. So, if you're if you're tired and you're burned out and whatever [and] you guys are still playing for a Champions League spot, fine. I get it. They had nothing to play for this weekend. Zero.' In the case of Robinson, Donovan pointed out that the left-back withdrew from national team consideration ahead of this year's Nations League finals due to injury concerns, yet started for Fulham in games immediately before and after the international break. Related: Pochettino turns to an unlikely savior for USMNT's struggles: MLS 'He doesn't want to go to the Gold Cup. Fine. You've had a long season. You've performed great,' Donovan said. 'Why are you starting and playing 90 minutes the last two games for Fulham if your knee's so messed up?' What are you doing? What kind of message is that sending? If you are really injured and that's no problem, you're totally fine. We respect that. Everyone has to make the decision that's best for them. 'My biggest thing with these guys right now is the national team is not a priority for them. I'm not going to say they don't care. There's levels of caring. It's just not a priority. Howard, along with Donovan, expressed dismay that Pochettino would not have a chance to have the full team together in a tournament setting before the World Cup, but that 'I'm putting a ton of this on US Soccer.' 'There needed to be people on planes in restaurants in Milan, at restaurants in London, buying bottles of red wine for sporting directors saying, 'Listen, I understand you have priorities. Let me tell you about my priorities,' Howard said, referring to the federation's relationship with the clubs where US players ply their trade. This relationship between clubs and international federations is typically at least somewhat collaborative, with Fifa enforcing laws governing the availability of players to national teams. 'I don't necessarily know that dialogue has been had with sporting directors. And by the way, if it has, then it just shows that US Soccer has no gravitas and no power. [In that case] those sporting directors basically said, 'Who is this? I don't have time for this call. I'll speak to you never.' And hung up the phone.' US Soccer has been approached for comment.
