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Exclusive: Farley discussed preferences and suggested platform before Voices group endorsed his rival Michelle Milthorpe as its candidateGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOne Nation’s Farrer candidate, David Farley, sought to cooperate with the community independent “Voices” movement before the last election, including discussing preferences and suggesting a platform for a House and Senate campaign, before the group endorsed Michelle Milthorpe as their candidate.Documents seen by Guardian Australia show Farley – who is expected to win the Farrer byelection ahead of Milthorpe on Saturday – had been keen to meet with the independent Voices campaign in 2023 and 2024, including buying a ticket to their event, sharing ideas, and even discussing election preferences. Continue reading...

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni to ease tensions over the war with Iran

This blog is now closedUS-Iran ceasefire under threat after exchange of strikes in strait of HormuzThe European Union is set to tell airlines the impact from the Iran war on tourism is not yet severe enough to justify emergency measures for the sector, draft EU guidelines seen by Reuters showed.“The current situation does not point to the need for dedicated measures for the tourism sector, unlike during the COVID-19 crisis,” said the draft EU guidelines, which the European Commission is due to publish on Friday. Continue reading...

Water minister Rose Jackson calls drying in Gwydir region ‘devastating’ as bill passes upper house Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereWater flows to parched New South Wales wetlands where an urgent rescue mission to save dying wildlife unfolded are a step closer to resuming after legislation passed the state parliament’s upper house.The water minister, Rose Jackson, told the parliament on Thursday night the impact of a halt to environmental flows in the internationally significant Gwydir region had been “devastating” as she introduced legislative amendments she said would allow flows to resume.Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as a free newsletter Continue reading...

Trump described U.S. military strikes against Iran on Thursday as a "love tap," prompting scathing ridicule and skepticism that the attack didn't violate a delicate ceasefire. "President Trump tells me in a phone call the retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets are just a 'love tap,'" ABC senior political correspondent Rachel Scott posted on X. "When I asked if it means the ceasefire is over, 'No, no, the ceasefire is going. It's in effect.'" U.S. and Iranian naval forces briefly exchanged fire on Thursday. While Trump touted U.S. success in sinking Iranian ships like "a butterfly" in a Truth Social post, he downplayed the intensity to reporters to uphold the ceasefire deal. "I've also never heard someone use the term 'love tap' who wasn't also the kinda jack-- that would hit their wife," journalist and political consultant Adam Cochran responded. "Just sayin'""President Trump says the U.S. strikes that just occurred in Iran were a 'love tap' and that the ceasefire remains in place," journalist Yashar Ali wrote. "The Islamic Republic of Iran, however, says the strikes were a violation of the ceasefire and that it will respond.""The ceasefire is apparently still in effect, just with light physical affection," joked White House correspondent Nandita Bose. "At what point do exchanges of fire during a ceasefire constitute an end or violation of said ceasefire?" Foreign Policy writer John Haltiwanger demanded. "What is the threshold?""An idiot runs this country," Daily Kos reporter Emily Singer wrote. "He's insane," agreed former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger.

Jeremiah Manele toppled after months of political upheaval in the nation seen as one of China’s closest partners in the Pacific Solomon Islands prime minister Jeremiah Manele lost power in a no-confidence vote in the South Pacific country’s parliament, ending months of political uncertainty.Parliament was adjourned to allow the governor general to make arrangements for the election of a new prime minister. Continue reading...

Donald Trump says ceasefire remains in place despite strikes, with Iranian TV saying situation is ‘back to normal’The US and Iran exchanged fire late on Thursday in the most serious test yet of their month-long ceasefire.Iran accused the US of violating the ceasefire by targeting two ships at the strait of Hormuz and attacking civilian areas, as the US insisted it struck in retaliation. Continue reading...

Trump's reasoning for carrying on the war in Iran while facing upcoming midterms and trying to open the Strait of Hormuz for shipping doesn't make sense, said New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman."I see it as very confusing," Haberman told CNN's Jake Tapper on Thursday. "It is very hard to know what is happening. Frankly, from either government."Haberman pointed out that Iranians "are facing economic difficulties. There's no question about that," but "gauging exactly what that means is quite hard," she said."The economic issues that are being created by the energy crisis from this war are pretty measurable in terms of the cost of gas at the pump," at home in the U.S., though, Haberman added. But Haberman is perplexed that Trump's strategy with the war doesn't factor in voters' discontent with the bump at the pump."We'll see if President Trump gets more engaged in the midterms and feels as if there's some personal interest in it for him," Haberman said. "Maybe he will decide he wants to travel, but as long as gas prices remain where they are, it's not a great climate for his party."Iran and U.S. Naval forces exchanged fire on Thursday. Trump boasted U.S. military action in a Truth Social post shortly after the skirmish, writing that Iranian ships "dropped ever so beautifully down to the Ocean, very much like a butterfly dropping to its grave!