Top World News
Israel announces plan to seize ‘large areas’ in Gaza – latest updates
Defence minister Israel Katz says large areas of the territory will be seized and added to the security zones of IsraelAirstrikes continued on Gaza on Wednesday morning after the Israeli defense minister announced that Israel intended to expand its war. In a statement, Israel Katz said the offensive was “expanding to crush and clean the area of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure and capture large areas that will be added to the security zones of the state of Israel.”The move has been condemned by the Hostages Families Forum, who said it appeared that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government were making the return of 59 hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas “a secondary task” that had been “pushed to the bottom of the priority list.”I wish success to the IDF soldiers who are fighting bravely and powerfully in Gaza for the return of the kidnapped and the defeat of Hamas. The goal of Operation “Strength and Sword” is first and foremost to increase pressure for the release of all the hostages in the face of Hamas’ refusal.Expanding the operation this morning will increase the pressure on the Hamas murderers and also on the population in Gaza and advance the achievement of the sacred and important goal for all of us. I call on the residents of Gaza to act now to remove Hamas and return all the hostages. This is the only way to end the war. Continue reading...
Val Kilmer, star of Top Gun, Batman Forever and The Doors, dies aged 65
Known for his roles in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Tombstone, the prolific actor’s cause of death was pneumoniaRemembering Val Kilmer: an ethereally handsome actor who evolved into droll self-awarenessA life in picturesVal Kilmer, the actor best known for his roles in Top Gun, Batman Forever and The Doors, has died at the age of 65.His daughter Mercedes told the New York Times that the cause of death was pneumonia. Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and later recovered, after treatment with chemotherapy and trachea surgery that had reduced his ability to speak and breathe. Continue reading...
Northern NSW braces for heavy rain as Queensland flooding forecast to move south
Emergency workers mobilise amid fears wild weather and swollen rivers could inundate parts of mid north coast, northern rivers and northern tablelandsGet our afternoon election email, free app or daily news podcastHundreds of emergency workers have been deployed in northern New South Wales as the impact of heavy rain and flooding in Queensland moves south.The mid north coast, northern rivers and northern tablelands regions were bracing for moderate to heavy rain, with forecasters on Wednesday warning of swollen rivers flooding. Continue reading...
Pocock says Dutton ‘punching down’ on Canberra – as it happened
Independent senator says axing the majority of Canberra’s public servants would throw ACT into recession. Follow today’s news liveLabor to consider WTO challenge if Trump targets Australia with ‘liberation day’ tariffsAnywhere but Canberra: Australian voters on what matters to themInteractive guide to electorates in the Australian electionListen to the first episode of our new narrative podcast series: GinaSee all our Australian election 2025 coverageGet our afternoon election email, free app or daily news podcastForeign minister Penny Wong has told RN Breakfast that Labor is “realistic” on what outcomes the government can achieve on tariffs with the Trump administration.We’ll keep working hard for the best outcome, but I think all of us are realistic. As the prime minister made it clear yesterday, we are not willing to trade away the things that make Australia the best country in the world, like our healthcare system. We don’t want the Americanisation of our healthcare system. We won’t be weakening our biosecurity laws and we won’t be trading away our PBS.He made a similar submission, and what happened to real wages over the last three years? Real wages have dropped in this country, and workers have seen the greatest drop in their standard of living over three years.The Fair Work Commission are an independent body. They shouldn’t be politicised. That is why they are independent. Continue reading...
Labor to consider WTO challenge if Trump targets Australia with ‘liberation day’ tariffs
Some government sources anticipate tariffs of up to 20% across all exports to the US in broad-brush regimeElection 2025 live updates: Australia federal election campaignPolls tracker; election guide; full federal election coverageAnywhere but Canberra; interactive electorates guideListen to the first episode of our new narrative podcast series: GinaGet our afternoon election email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia will consider taking its ally America to the World Trade Organization (WTO) if it is targeted in the Trump administration’s “liberation day” tariff regime, to be imposed from Thursday.The US president was expected to announce a new round of global reciprocal tariffs at 4pm on Wednesday Washington DC time (7am Thursday AEDT), but which countries and goods will be targeted remain largely unknown.Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter Continue reading...
Monster surf batters Bondi Icebergs pool and leaves trail of carnage across Sydney beaches
Wild 5.5 metre swells hammer the eastern NSW coastline, causing damage to key walkways and closing beachesElection 2025 live updates: Australia federal election campaignGet our afternoon election email, free app or daily news podcastLocals in Sydney’s east woke on Wednesday to discover some of the city’s most famous beaches and coastal walkways battered and damaged by huge overnight swells.Bondi, Bronte, Clovelly and Cronulla beaches were among the areas smashed by 5.5 metre swells. Continue reading...
Trump set to announce new round of tariffs on his so-called ‘liberation day’
President’s plans have rattled global stock markets and triggered heated rows with US’s largest trading partnersDonald Trump will announce his latest round of tariffs at the White House on Wednesday afternoon, threatening to unleash a global trade war on what he has dubbed “liberation day”.Trump has rattled global stock markets, alarmed corporate executives and economists, and triggered heated rows with the US’s largest trading partners by announcing and delaying plans to impose tariffs on foreign imports several times since taking office. Continue reading...
Royal Ballet to perform Justin Peck’s Everywhere We Go, with music by Sufjan Stevens
Director Kevin O’Hare announces staging of NYCB choreographer Peck’s 2014 piece, as well as new works by Akram Khan and Cathy MarstonA ballet by one of New York’s hottest choreographers, set to the music of Sufjan Stevens, and Akram Khan’s first work for the Royal Opera House stage are two highlights of the Royal Ballet’s 2025-26 season, announced on Wednesday. They will be seen alongside the first commission for a UK company from choreographic duo Paul Lightfoot and Sol León, premieres from Wayne McGregor and Cathy Marston and a new ballet based on Christopher Isherwood’s A Single Man, with live music by John Grant.“It’s about working with new voices, looking for what we haven’t experienced and what’s important to see,” said artistic director Kevin O’Hare about what will be his 14th season in charge of the company. Continue reading...
Myanmar earthquake: man pulled alive from rubble after five days as looming monsoon sparks urgent call for aid
A 26-year-old man was rescued from hotel in capital Naypyidaw, long after disaster that has killed thousandsA man was pulled alive from the rubble of a hotel in Myanmar on Wednesday, five days after the country’s worst earthquake in a century flattened entire neighbourhoods and tore through temples, bridges and highways.The 26-year-old was found alive in the ruins of the building in the capital, Naypyidaw, by a joint team of rescuers from Myanmar and Turkey after midnight, the fire service and the country’s ruling junta said. Continue reading...
Outrage in New Zealand after 11-year-old girl sent to psychiatric ward and drugged in identity mix-up
Report finds police mistook girl for missing woman in blunder that has appalled political leadersAn 11-year-old girl was restrained, injected with anti-psychotic drugs and placed on a mental health ward after New Zealand police mistook her for a missing woman, a report found on Wednesday.Health officials and police have scrambled to explain the mix-up, which has appalled political leaders and stoked outrage across the country. Continue reading...
Republicans win special elections for two key House seats in Florida
Randy Fine beats Josh Weil in Mike Waltz’s former district, and Jimmy Patronis wins seat vacated by Matt GaetzRepublicans on Tuesday won special elections for two US House of Representatives seats in Florida vacated by Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees, dashing Democratic hopes for an upset victory in the first federal special elections held since the president began his second term.But Democratic candidates Josh Weil and Gay Valimont are on track to lose the solidly red districts by much smaller margins than the more than 30 points that Democrats lost them by in November. Continue reading...
US bombing of Yemen compounding dire humanitarian situation – rights groups
Anti-Houthi air campaign, details of which were revealed in Signal scandal, has brought further destruction to countryA ramped-up US bombing campaign on Yemen has killed civilians and brought further destruction and uncertainty to the poorest country in the Middle East, compounding an already dire situation after Donald Trump cut aid, according to local people, humanitarian workers and rights groups.“Now the rampant bombing has started, you never know which way things will go,” said Siddiq Khan, who works as a country director in Yemen for the aid charity Islamic Relief. Continue reading...
