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Malcolm Turnbull has dismissed growing praise for Russian president Vladimir Putin from Donald Trump and Pauline Hanson, saying the strongman leader is no role model for the world.
The new US President has turned American foreign policy on its head by expressing admiration for the former KGB agent, even downplaying his role in extra-judicial killings this week, while Senator Hanson said voters respected strong leaders like Mr Putin who stand up for their nations.
Speaker Paul Ryan says President Donald Trump made the 'right decision' to ask for the resignation of Michael Flynn, who is out as national security adviser.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer says President Donald Trump asked for national security adviser Michael Flynn's resignation after his level of trust in Flynn eroded to the point that he felt he needed to make a change.
Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has died after a possible poison attack in Malaysia, according to South Korean government sources.
The Byron Bay mother accused of murdering a Bali policeman has been given a chance to give her version of events that took place in August last year. Courtesy: ABC News24
President Trump's national security adviser Michael Flynn resigns after reports he misled Trump administration officials about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the US.
Dramatic vision has emerged of the rescue of an 81-year-old man from nearly two metres of turbulent water in Plumas County, California on Friday afternoon.
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Sweden's female politicians called out for wearing hijab
Sweden's female politicians called out for wearing hijab
Sweden's "first feminist government" has been called hypocritical for wearing the hijab in Tehran, with human rights advocates saying they should be making a statement against the compulsory law.
Despite some MPs heaping praise on Vladimir Putin, Malcolm Turnbull says the Russian President is not someone to be admired. Courtesy 3AW.
Mr Trump held his first call with Mr Putin overnight Australian time, criticising a treaty signed by the Obama administration to cap US and Russian deployment of nuclear warheads as bad for the United States.
Asked on radio 3AW what he thought of the Russian leader Mr Turnbull sounded more like his predecessor Tony Abbott, citing Russia's role in the death of 38 Australians on Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 and the invasion of Ukraine.
"No, I don't admire Vladimir Putin," he said on Friday.
"Vladimir Putin has invaded, or taken over, the Crimea from the Ukraine. His forces, backed by him or his government, downed MH17 and Australians were killed in that act of terrorism.
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"The reality is Russia is a major power, we deal with Russia. There are sanctions against Russia because of their unlawful conduct in terms of the Ukraine.
"Russia is a reality and we have to deal with all the great powers but I would not regard Vladimir Putin as a role model at all."
"I am not saying I support him for what he has done there, but overall, as a person, who is strong and stands up for his country [I do support him]," she said on Thursday.
Vladimir Putin has won praise from Donald Trump and Pauline Hanson Photo: Bloomberg
Queensland LNP MP George Christensen this week walked back comments disputing Russia's role in the July 2014 downing of the passenger jet, killing 283 passengers and 15 crew en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.
Tony Abbott and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Brisbane. Photo: Getty
Asked in a Fox News interview on Sunday if Mr Putin was "a killer", Mr Trump responded "there are a lot of killers … what, do you think our country's so innocent?"
He reportedly paused the call with Mr Putin to ask aides what the New START treaty was, before saying it was one of several bad deals negotiated during Mr Obama presidency.