Australia news LIVE: Trump disputes Israel’s Gaza claims, slashes Putin’s Ukraine deadline; Coalition under fresh net zero scrutiny; Thailand and Cambodia reach ceasefire

3 months ago 24

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6.44am

Incoming US naval boss sounds AUKUS warning

By Michael Koziol

The incoming chief of US Navy operations has warned the US will not be able to fulfil its AUKUS obligations without doubling its submarine-building capacity, in a fresh sign of the doubts over whether the agreement can be honoured.

Meanwhile, this masthead can confirm Australia’s second $800 million payment to help the US build nuclear-powered submarines was made in June, when the Australian government was already aware of the Pentagon’s review of AUKUS.

The USS North Dakota, a Virginia-class boat of the type Australia would acquire under AUKUS.

Admiral Daryl Caudle, President Donald Trump’s nominee as chief of navy operations, told his confirmation hearing it was not yet certain the US defence industrial base was capable of producing enough Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to sell three to Australia.

6.39am

Trump disputes Israel’s starvation claim, sets new deadline for Putin

By David Crowe

US President Donald Trump has called on Israel to speed up the flow of food to families in Gaza and set a new deadline for Russia to end the war in Ukraine, urgently intensifying his demands on both global flashpoints.

Trump aired his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin by revoking his earlier deadline of 50 days to ensure a ceasefire in Ukraine, declaring in Scotland on Monday (Tuesday AEST) that the new deadline would be just 10 or 12 days.

President Donald Trump meets with Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Trump Turnberry golf course in Turnberry, Scotland.

With the war in Gaza causing widespread hunger, Trump disputed Israel’s claim there was no starvation and said he wanted to make sure food was sent urgently to civilians in the war zone.

The comments, made in a wide-ranging press conference with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, conveyed a more assertive message on the two conflicts when Britain and the European Union are hoping for an urgent White House intervention to stop the wars.

6.34am

What’s making news today

By Daniel Lo Surdo

Hello and welcome to the national news live blog. My name is Daniel Lo Surdo, and I’ll be helming our live coverage this morning.

Here’s what is making news today:

The Coalition is facing fresh scrutiny after calls to abandon its 2050 net zero emissions target were issued in both houses of parliament on Monday. Coalition MPs have largely held the line on the party’s review of the energy pledge in the face of campaigns led by maverick Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, who respectively tabled legislation and a Senate motion to call for its removal. It comes as Labor works to pass draft laws proposing a $25 cap for medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
US President Donald Trump has called on Israel to speed up the flow of food to families in Gaza and set a new deadline for Russia to end the war in Ukraine, urgently intensifying his demands on both global flashpoints in a press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Trump declared that the new deadline for Russian President Vladimir Putin to ensure a ceasefire would be just 10 or 12 days rather than 50, and disputed Israel’s claim there was no starvation in Gaza.
The leaders of Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to a ceasefire after five days of fighting that has claimed at least 35 lives, including civilians, and displaced more than 100,000 people on each side of the disputed borderlands. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Phumtham Wechayachai, Thailand’s acting prime minister, announced the “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire after almost two hours of negotiations in the residence of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Kuala Lumpur.
The Australian sharemarket is expected to retreat on Tuesday, after Wall Street drifted following the signing of a 15 per cent tariff deal between the US and European Union. It comes as the ASX gained on Monday, buoyed by rises to the financial sector and tech stocks. WiseTech Global shares were up 0.3 per cent after it appointed Zubin Appoo as its first permanent chief executive since the resignation of long-time leader Richard White, who quit last year amid a media storm.