National security
Mystery drone sightings continue to baffle the US and beyond
Countless people have reported mysterious hovering objects dotting the night skies and posted blurred images on social media. Every day, for weeks.
- by Michael Wilson, Alyce McFadden and Tracey Tully
Latest
‘Chinese spy’ who was close to Prince Andrew named as Yang Tengbo
The alleged Chinese spy who had a close business relationship with the Duke of York has been named as Yang Tengbo.
- by Charles Hymas and Connor Stringer
Revealed: Prince Andrew’s close confidant a Chinese ‘spy’ banned from UK
A former civil servant known only as H6 was so close to Andrew he was told his “guidance” had helped remove people from the royal entourage.
- by Charles Hymas
Exclusive
Russia
A secret agent, the KGB and a ‘witch-hunt’: The ASIO raid that infuriated Australia’s ex-spies
The decision by ASIO to raid a high-profile former officer is unprecedented in the agency’s recent history and has divided Australia’s intelligence community.
- by Matthew Knott and Nick McKenzie
Updated
Pacific diplomacy
Australia fires Tomahawk missile for first time, spends $140m to China-proof Nauru
Faced with challenges in the Indo-Pacific, Australia revealed it test-fired a Tomahawk missile recently as it ramps up its long-range strike capability.
- by Matthew Knott
‘The fear is palpable’: Australian women and children trapped in Syria afraid for their lives
Australia has had five years to repatriate dozens of women and children who went to Syria under Islamic State.
- by Michael Bachelard
Exclusive
Pacific diplomacy
PNG minister says $600m NRL deal ‘nothing to do with China’
PNG’s foreign minister said its government had set aside more than $38 million to begin building facilities and a deal could be announced as early as next week.
- by Chris Barrett
The Philippines VP publicly threatens to have the president assassinated
Sara Duterte says she hired an assassin in case she herself is killed, in a brazen public statement she warned was not a joke.
- by Jim Gomez
Reconsider AUKUS, say former Labor foreign ministers
The government is insisting Kevin Rudd will stay on as Australia’s ambassador to Washington despite his past criticism of Donald Trump.
- by David Crowe
‘Seditious T-shirt’ enough to send Chu to jail for up to 10 years
In Hong Kong, where almost 300 people including Australian Gordon Ng have been arrested on national security grounds since the introduction of draconian security laws in 2020, wearing the wrong T-shirt can land you in jail.
- by Lisa Visentin
Exclusive
AUKUS
White House pushes for AUKUS to move to ‘pillar two’ weapons focus
The US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, revealed in an interview that he wanted to see “two or three signature projects” before Joe Biden leaves office.
- by Peter Hartcher
Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/topic/national-security-5zy