Australia pushes back on U.S. request to raise defence budget, saying strategic needs must come first.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that his government will prioritize determining the country’s defence needs before adjusting defence spending, after U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Australia to boost its military budget to 3.5% of GDP. Albanese noted that Australia has already committed to increasing defence spending, with A$10 billion accelerated over the next four years and a longer-term goal of reaching 2.3% of GDP by 2033.
He emphasized that defence decisions should be sovereign and need-based, especially ahead of a likely meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Australia is currently investing heavily in defence, including a A$368 billion commitment to the AUKUS submarine program, while also enhancing its missile capabilities.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg, with discussions focused on the war in Ukraine and the prosp...
Iran has not received a response from Saudi Arabia or Yemen's Houthis to its offer to help broker talks to end...
North Korea has instructed troops stationed along its border with South Korea to take “prompt and resolute action” if their safet...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Norway for talks about the Russia-Ukraine war. He is expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who arrived in Oslo earlier. Witkoff will also meet European officials.
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for continuing to target Russia's energy infrastructure, while Russian strikes on Kyiv overnight killed at least one person and damaged a metro station.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said regional issues should be resolved through diplomacy and blamed the United States for insecurity and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, speaking at a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday.
An oil tanker caught fire after striking a naval mine in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said late Sunday.
French authorities imposed local curfews in parts of Paris, Lille and Nice on Monday after a weekend of riots and looting linked to nationwide anti-government protests, as the government faced mounting criticism over security failures.
North Korea has instructed troops stationed along its border with South Korea to take “prompt and resolute action” if their safety is threatened, state media reported on Wednesday, further raising tensions along the heavily fortified frontier.
The husband of an Australian lawmaker who was rammed by a car on Monday says her second leg has been amputated. Helen Haines was hit outside her electoral office in Melbourne. The accused appeared in court on Wednesday.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg, with discussions focused on the war in Ukraine and the prospects for progress in ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Israel's 27 October parliamentary election could reshape the country's political future, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing a serious challenge from former military chief Gadi Eisenkot and a potentially decisive battle over coalition-building.
Nigerian health authorities have confirmed a case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), prompting the activation of emergency public health measures aimed at preventing further transmission of the deadly virus.
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