Alan Vaarwerk

5 days ago | theguardian.com | Alan Vaarwerk

Good afternoon. Anthony Albanese has said his government supports the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities but would not say whether Australia received advance notice of what he called a “unilateral” attack. Speaking to reporters in Canberra, the prime minister said the government supported action to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon while underlining the need for a diplomatic end to the Israel-Iran conflict. “We don’t want escalation and a full-scale war,” Albanese said.

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Alan Vaarwerk

Good afternoon. Residents in a tiny north Queensland town say they have been ignored for two years by the RAAF after a sonic boom from a fighter jet shattered windows and damaged roofs. In June 2023, an F-35 fighter from the nearby Townsville RAAF base broke the sound barrier over Greenvale, causing what locals say was a “bloody terrifying” explosion initially mistaken for a car crash or gas bottle eruption.

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Alan Vaarwerk

Good afternoon. Anthony Albanese is considering a snap visit to Europe to meet Donald Trump, days after their first meeting at the G7 in Canada was cancelled amid the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. Albanese said he could join a gathering of Nato leaders in The Hague next week, a move that is incumbent on a face-to-face meeting with the US president being locked in. Meanwhile, the prime minister said he had of high-level negotiations on a new defence and security pact.

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Alan Vaarwerk

Good afternoon. Donald Trump has dramatically left the G7 summit in Canada a day early to rush back to Washington, skipping meetings with leaders including Anthony Albanese. Trump’s abrupt change in plans comes after a series of developments , with Trump and Israeli authorities warning residents in large parts of Tehran to evacuate before imminent bombing of “military infrastructure”.

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Alan Vaarwerk

Good afternoon. Iranian missiles have struck the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa, destroying homes and fuelling concerns among world leaders at this week’s G7 meeting that the conflict between the two regional enemies could lead to a broader Middle East war. Israel’s emergency services said on Monday that four people were pronounced dead after strikes at four sites in central Israel, with 87 injured. The dead were two women and two men, all approximately 70 years old, authorities said.