Australia news live: huge cheers as ABC staff gather for first strike in decades; deputy premier says Queenslanders ‘have a human right to fuel supply’

Iran War Live Updates: Pentagon Orders 2,000 Airborne Troops to Middle East

The deployment could give President Trump more military options after a 15-point proposal, delivered via Pakistan, was sent to the Iranians, according to two officials briefed on the diplomacy.

Iran Says ‘Non-Hostile’ Ships Can Sail Through the Strait of Hormuz

Ships with no ties to Israel or the United States would be allowed to pass, the government said, but it was unclear if any vessels would try.

Markwayne Mullin sworn in as homeland security secretary; Trump suggests he won’t be happy with any DHS funding deal – live

Republican senator from Oklahoma takes over from Kristi Noem amid outcry over Trump administration’s immigration crackdownSign up for the Breaking News US emailGregory Bovino, the customs and border protection (CBP) commander who led the agency’s aggressive anti-immigration push in Minneapolis before being sidelined by the White House, has decided to go out with a bang it would seem.Having announced his forthcoming retirement from the CBP, the publicity-hungry Bovino – known for his florid statements – has given an interview to the New York Times that stresses defiance over contrition. Continue reading...

Middle East crisis live: Israeli military issues new evacuation warning for Beirut; Trump reportedly approves sending more troops

President makes latest claim in White House press briefing as Sky News and NBC News report pending deployment of more than 1,000 soldiers to Middle EastJD Vance role touted as Pakistan attempts to broker US-Iran peace talksIn Australia, the number of petrol stations running out of fuel continues to climb as the Middle East war drags on, with at least 184 dry across the country’s three most populous states.On Tuesday, 51 service stations in the state of New South Wales were out of fuel and 164 out of diesel, compared with 38 and 131 respectively the previous day, premier Chris Minns said. Continue reading...

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Democrats flip seat in Florida state house in district that includes Trump’s Mar-a-Lago

Emily Gregory defeats Republican Jon Maples in district that is home to US president’s Palm Beach estateDemocrats managed to flip a seat in the Florida state house in the district that is home to Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago.Emily Gregory, a Democrat, defeated Republican Jon Maples, who had an endorsement from the US president. The Associated Press called the race on Tuesday evening. Continue reading...

Philippines declares ‘national energy emergency’ and boosts coal power as Iran war grinds on

President’s declaration allows officials to tackle fuel hoarding or profiteering, while energy secretary says country will lean more heavily on coalMiddle East crisis – live updates Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos has declared a state of “national energy emergency” as a result of the Middle East war, which his administration said posed “an imminent danger of a critically low energy supply”.The state of emergency, which will initially last for a year, was declared just hours after the country’s energy secretary said the Philippines planned to boost the output of its coal-fired power plants to keep electricity costs down as the war wreaks havoc with gas shipments. Continue reading...

California attorney general seeks court order to stop recounting of county ballots

Riverside county sheriff had last month seized more than 650,000 ballots cast in the state’s November special electionCalifornia’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, is seeking a court order to stop the Riverside county sheriff’s department from continuing its recount of ballots from the November 2025 special election.The LA Times reports that Bonta filed a petition with the fourth appellate district on Monday, writing that “the Sheriff’s misguided investigation threatens to sow distrust and jeopardize public confidence” in upcoming elections. Continue reading...

Reacher star Alan Ritchson acted in self-defense in neighbor fight, Tennessee police say

Investigation concludes actor will not face criminal charges, with Ritchson also declining to pursue a potential charge against his neighborThe Reacher star Alan Ritchson will not face criminal charges in relation to a widely publicised violent confrontation with a neighbor, after Tennessee police found he was acting in self-defense.In a video obtained by TMZ on Sunday, the 43-year-old actor appeared to strike Ronnie Taylor several times as Taylor kneeled on the ground in a suburban neighborhood in Tennessee. Ritchson’s two children could be seen nearby sitting on motorbikes and watching the incident unfold. Continue reading...