ABC AU
Breaking: Ben Roberts-Smith to remain in custody on war crimes charges
Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia's most decorated living soldier, has been taken into custody on war crimes charges after his legal team made no application for bail. The case has been adjourned until June, leaving the former Victoria Cross recipient behind bars in the interim. The development marks a dramatic escalation in the legal troubles of a man whose reputation has been under sustained scrutiny for years.
Read article →Guardian AU
Australia news live: Gina Rinehart says she doesn’t understand justification to prosecute former soldiers; Ben Roberts-Smith due to face court
Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia's most decorated living soldier, is set to face court on charges relating to five alleged war crime murders committed during his service in Afghanistan. The case marks a landmark moment in Australia's reckoning with alleged misconduct by its special forces. Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart has publicly questioned the justification for prosecuting former soldiers over wartime conduct.
Read article →Guardian AU
Anthony Albanese brands Trump’s Iran threats ‘extraordinary’ in rare moment of criticism
The Australian PM also welcomes a conditional two-week ceasefire deal that will reopen the strait of Hormuz to global shipping
Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast
Anthony Albanese has welcomed a two-week ceasefire deal between the US and Iran that is set to temporarily reopen the strait of Hormuz, as he issued a rare criticism of Donald Trump for threatening a “whole civilization will die”.
The prime minister said
Read article →Guardian AU
Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila intensifies to one of season’s strongest storms ahead of Australian landfall
Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila has strengthened to a category five storm over the Solomon Sea, making it one of the most powerful systems of the season, with landfall expected along far north Queensland within days. The storm threatens to bring heavy rainfall and significant flood risks to the state from the weekend, compounding the damage inflicted by Cyclone Narelle just weeks prior. The back-to-back strikes on the same stretch of coastline raise serious concerns about the region's capacity to absorb repeated extreme weather events.
Read article →ABC AU
Wong defiant on Lebanon, rebukes Trump over Iran threats
Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong has broken with Washington, publicly rebuking Donald Trump's threats against Iran and calling on Israel to halt its military campaign in Lebanon. The stance marks a notable moment of diplomatic distance between Canberra and its closest ally. Wong's remarks signal Australia's willingness to stake out an independent foreign policy position on one of the world's most volatile flashpoints.
Read article →Get this delivered every morning
Join thousands of readers who get the world's most important stories, curated daily.
Start reading free →