This Month
‘Things happen’: Trump defends Saudi prince over Khashoggi killing
The US president’s dismissive language offered the highest-level confirmation yet that Mohammed bin Salman will face few consequences for the killing.
Iran’s women are finally winning the battle against the veil
Defiance of hijab requirements has become widespread across the country. The government seems wary of cracking down, fearing unrest, but conservatives haven’t given up.
China builds LNG shadow fleet to ship Russia’s blacklisted supplies
China is stepping up efforts to import Russian gas in specially built ships, despite sanctions from the US and its allies over the war in Ukraine.
Russia straps jet engines to Soviet-era bombs in cost cuts
Russia’s new “dumb bombs” may be cheap substitutes for expensive cruise missiles, but they are capable of hitting Ukrainian targets up to 200 kilometres away.
October
Mossad names Iranian commander behind antisemitic attacks in Australia
Israel has named a senior Iranian official responsible for the 2024 attacks on Jewish Australians that triggered the expulsion of the Iranian ambassador from the country.
CBA confirms CEO’s future; $500m payday for tech founders; ‘Cockroaches’ alert
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Trump in Israel to tout ceasefire he says could foster lasting peace
The US president thinks there is a narrow window to reshape the region and reset long-fraught relations between Israel and its Arab neighbours.
‘The war is over’: Trump heads to Israel as hostage return nears
Hamas is due to free Israeli captives in coming hours, as the US president flew to Israel where he is expected to receive a hero’s welcome.
Hamas is back in Gaza City as truce begins
Masked men wearing caps labelled “Internal Security” and armed with Kalashnikov rifles were inspecting car boots and reasserting their authority.
Jewish massacre anniversary no occasion for pro-Palestine rally: PM
Legislation enabling Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be listed as a state sponsor of terrorism is set to go ahead, two years after the Hamas attacks.
September
Meet Netanyahu’s worst nightmare – his old spymaster
Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen wants to be Israel’s next prime minister. His autobiography shows he has the “persuasive” streak required.
Drone fired by Houthis wounds 22 in southern Israel
The blows followed a rare breach of Israel’s sophisticated missile defences, which have greatly limited casualties from such attacks.
Cybersecurity an illusion as ‘Q day’ looms
Our data is already under attack from AI, but now cyber “thugs and thieves” are relishing what advances in quantum computing might give them access to.
Qantas cuts bonuses; $500,000 brickies; Meet a fundie firecracker
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Iran downgrades ties with Australia after row over arson attacks
Relations between Tehran and Canberra have taken a further turn after the Australian government decision to expel the Iranian ambassador.
Xi to show off newest weapons in warning to US
China will mark Japan’s defeat in World War II with a parade of hypersonic missiles, soldiers and other military might, watched by autocratic leaders.
Targeting Iran’s leaders, Israel found a weak link: their bodyguards
Military intelligence was able to assassinate key Iranian figures during the 12-day war by tracking the phones carried by members of their security forces.
August
Xi, Modi vow stronger ties in rival front to US
China’s President Xi Jinping is hosting a security summit that includes Vladimir Putin, aimed at showing a reshaped global order that snubs Donald Trump.
‘Bye bye’: Banished ambassador’s message, as rabbis appeal to Albanese
Australia will also work with Indonesia to help the Palestinian Authority reform its schools, which have been criticised for teaching students to hate Israel.
Iran attacked Australia. For Jews, that was not the surprise this week
While the Jewish community suspected Iranian involvement in a spate of antisemitic attacks, they didn’t expect some of their fellow Australians to deny it.