Iran War Live Updates: Israeli Airstrikes Shake Beirut and Drone Attacks Hit Tehran

Australia politics live: Dennis Richardson says he quit royal commission into antisemitism because he was ‘surplus to requirements’

Former spy chief resigned just a fortnight after royal commission’s opening hearing. Follow updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDennis Richardson says his decision to resign from the royal commission into antisemitism had nothing to do with the government, but says he came to the decision that he was “surplus” to the needs of the body.He spoke to RN Breakfast this morning, saying:I think probably there wasn’t enough discussion right at the beginning about the precise way things would work, and ultimately I came to the [decision] that I was surplus to requirements. Continue reading...

Middle East crisis live: Iran launches ballistic missiles in Qatar territory as Trump says US has ‘got to finish the job’

Qatar defense minister says nine missiles launched in its territory; Trump declares victory in Iran conflict but acknowledges the operation is not overHow have you been affected by the latest Middle East events?Over in Senate question time, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has confirmed embassies in Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv and the consulate in Dubai all physically closed in the last week. Wong said the government’s number one priority is to “keep Australians safe at home and abroad”. She continued: “The dangerous and destabilising attacks by Iran put civilian lives at risk, including Australian lives.” More than 3,200 Australians over 23 commercial flights have returned to Australia since the US and Israel attacked Iran, setting off a regional conflict and grounding thousands of international flights.Wong criticised Nationals senators for “winding up people and stoking fear” to panic buy fuel. The senator said:“Petrol companies are telling us that fuel stock continues to arrive as expected and on time but there has been a large change in the pattern of demand and that is having an effect on the supply, particularly in regional communities. We have seen jerry cans coming off the shelves at Bunnings and lines at the pump.”One of the two members of the Iranian women’s football teams provided with a humanitarian visa to stay in Australia has changed her mind and contacted the Iranian embassy, according to the country’s home affairs minister.In Australia, people are able to change their mind, people are able to travel. So, we respect the context in which she has made that decision.Unfortunately, in making that decision, she had been advised by her teammates and coach to contact the Iranian embassy and get collected … As a result of that, it meant that the Iranian embassy now knew the location of where everybody was. Continue reading...

Google founder backs both Republican and Democrat in California governor’s race while ex-CEO fights billionaire tax

California’s billionaires are stepping up their involvement in state politics with multimillion-dollar donationsSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxTech billionaires are adding to their already huge spending spree on California politics as campaigns for governor and a proposed wealth tax heat up. According to recently released campaign finance disclosures, big names pouring millions into state politics include current and former chief executives from Google, DoorDash, Reddit, LinkedIn and Facebook – evidence of Silicon Valley’s increasing involvement in politics.Google’s former CEO Eric Schmidt has become a major donor, contributing $1.04m to an independent committee, the California Business Roundtable, that is campaigning against the proposed Billionaire Tax Act, according to new filings released by the state government. The union-backed tax proposal, opposed by almost all of the state’s mega-rich, aims to help cover education, food assistance and healthcare programs. Continue reading...

US intelligence sees direct attacks by Iran on oil tankers as greater risk than mines

Strait of Hormuz, key transit passage for global oil trade, has been effectively shut down by Islamic Revolutionary GuardSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxUS intelligence reporting sees direct attacks by Iran as the greatest threat to oil tankers going through the strait of Hormuz, the key transit passage for the global oil trade that has been effectively shut down by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran.The Trump administration, spooked by possible preparations by Iran to mine the strait, carried out strikes against 16 mine-laying vessels near the strait on Tuesday. US Central Command posted a video showing munitions hitting nine vessels, most of which were moored as they were struck. Continue reading...

Trump puts pressure on Senate majority leader in blunt message: pass strict voter ID bill – live

President tells John Thune to force through Save America Act, which requires proof of citizenship while registering to vote and curbs mail-in votingDonald Trump said that the US-Israel war in Iran will end “soon” because there is “practically nothing left to target” in a phone interview with Axios.“Any time I want it to end, it will end,” the president told the outlet. “The war is going great. We are way ahead of the timetable. We have done more damage than we thought possible, even in the original six-week period.” Continue reading...

Here’s the latest.

Atlassian lays off 1,600 workers ahead of AI push

Australian company’s restructuring plan to push into artificial intelligence and enterprise salesAustralian software giant Atlassian has announced it is laying off around 10% of its workforce, or roughly 1,600 positions, as part of a restructuring plan to push into artificial intelligence and enterprise sales.Shares of the company rose more than 4% in extended trading on the Nasdaq. Continue reading...

Trump hits back at Republican Senate majority leader over Save America act

John Thune refusing to alter rules to force a vote as US president says he won’t sign any legislation until bill is passedSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxDonald Trump hit back at Republican Senate majority leader John Thune over the latter’s refusal to alter rules to force a vote on the Save America act, a sprawling bill that would upend elections for American voters amid the midterms.Trump delivered a blunt message for Thune to reporters outside the White House on Wednesday: “He’s got to be a leader.” Continue reading...

Will Trump TACO on Iran?

It’s a crucial election year and economic and political costs of the war are rising. It won’t be easy for the president to declare victory and walk away.