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    An RNZAF Hercules C-130 takes off from Whenuapai airbase near Auckland on Tuesday bound for Noumea, New Caledonia, on a mercy mission to rescue stranded New Zealand tourists.

    First Aussies home from riot-hit New Caledonia after RAAF rescue

    French authorities have given permission for evacuation flights to take off and land in Noumea.

    • Andrew Tillett
    Mourners with portraits of President Ebrahim Raisi take to the streets in Tehran.

    Iran moves to project stability after fatal air crash

    The change in leadership comes during heightened tensions in the region and discontent in Iran, where many have called for an end to decades of repressive rule.

    • Farnaz Fassihi, Vivian Yee and Leily Nikounazar

    PM’s refusal to slap down international court ‘tarnishes’ Australia

    Jewish groups and Peter Dutton say Anthony Albanese should join the US and condemn the International Criminal Court’s pursuit of Benjamin Netanyahu over war crimes.

    • Andrew Tillett

    Death of Ebrahim Raisi to test unity of Iran’s hardline factions

    An emergency presidential election next month could drive the tense political rivalry among loyalists of the theocratic system to a new level.

    • Najmeh Bozorgmehr

    Political bombshell hits Israel’s leaders over Gaza war

    The application by the ICC prosecutor for the arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu is loaded with symbolic and practical implications.

    • James Shotter

    Assange wins right to appeal extradition to US

    It could be many months until the appeal is heard, and then that decision could be taken to the UK Supreme Court.

    • Updated
    • Michael Holden and Sam Tobin

    Opinion & Analysis

    Seven theories of why Biden is losing

    The US president is running like he’s winning, which he isn’t. From his age to economic management, voters are turning off the Democrats’ nominee.

    Ezra Klein

    Contributor

    What campus protesters get wrong about divestment

    Resisting magical thinking about how financial markets work would help them better direct their efforts today.

    The Economist

    Contributor

    Arrest warrants huge blow for Israel and massive gamble by ICC

    The question of how the US president responds to this, along with Congress, now becomes critical.

    China and Russia have one bed but different dreams

    Russian weakness has enabled China to emerge as Eurasia’s dominant power. But it also limits the partnership of the two.

    Geoff Raby

    Columnist

    Geoff Raby

    From the Financial Times

    Mourners with portraits of President Ebrahim Raisi take to the streets in Tehran on Monday.

    Death of Ebrahim Raisi to test unity of Iran’s hardline factions

    An emergency presidential election next month could drive the tense political rivalry among loyalists of the theocratic system to a new level.

    • Najmeh Bozorgmehr

    Political bombshell hits Israel’s leaders over Gaza war

    The application by the ICC prosecutor for the arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu is loaded with symbolic and practical implications.

    • James Shotter

    Arrest warrants huge blow for Israel and massive gamble by ICC

    The question of how the US president responds to this, along with Congress, now becomes critical.

    • Updated
    • Gideon Rachman
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    More From Today

    Hot inflation and the fading prospect of rate cuts won’t help Joe Biden.

    Seven theories of why Biden is losing

    The US president is running like he’s winning, which he isn’t. From his age to economic management, voters are turning off the Democrats’ nominee.

    • Ezra Klein
    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Uploaded 21st May 2024
Photo: AP

    Outrage over Netanyahu war-crimes arrest warrant

    Joe Biden called the ICC prosecutor’s decision “outrageous”, adding “there is no equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas”.

    • Updated
    • Josef Federman

    What campus protesters get wrong about divestment

    Resisting magical thinking about how financial markets work would help them better direct their efforts today.

    • The Economist
    The ICC has applied for an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    Arrest warrants huge blow for Israel and massive gamble by ICC

    The question of how the US president responds to this, along with Congress, now becomes critical.

    • Updated
    • Gideon Rachman
    Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping leave a concert marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and China.

    China and Russia have one bed but different dreams

    Russian weakness has enabled China to emerge as Eurasia’s dominant power. But it also limits the partnership of the two.

    • Geoff Raby
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    AP

    ‘Are you staring me down?’: Heated Trump trial boils over

    The judge cleared the court in the former president’s trial after his tense exchange with a defence witness. The star prosecution witness also admitted stealing.

    • Matthew Cranston
    Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

    Little-known vice president named as interim Iranian president

    Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has named the first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, as caretaker, in line with the constitution.

    • Jon Gambrell
    As a convicted felon and admitted liar, Cohen is a problematic witness.

    Cohen testifies stealing from Trump was ‘self-help’

    Michael Cohen testified he was upset about his annual bonus being cut after he fronted his own money to buy the silence of porn star Stormy Daniels.

    • Jack Queen, Jody Godoy and Andy Sullivan

    Yesterday

    Forcing workers back into the office is still a struggle for many UK companies.

    ‘Coffee badging’ workers’ last stand in war on working from home

    Like “showing face” in the House of Lords, “coffee badging” refers to the practice of conspicuously clocking in before sneakily leaving shortly after.

    • Lucy Burton
    Hossein Amirabdollahian was also involved in efforts to reach a détente with regional rival Saudi Arabia in 2023.

    Foreign Minister another hardliner close to Revolutionary Guard

    Hossein Amirabdollahian represented the hardline shift in Iran after the collapse of Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers when Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew.

    • Jon Gambrell
    A Kanak flag waving next to a burning vehicle at a roadblock at La Tamoa, in the commune of Paita in New Caledonia.

    Airforce on standby to evacuate Australians as French police pour into New Caledonia

    Roads were blocked and the airport remained shut, stranding 3200 people, including 300 Australians, in the Pacific nation after a week of riots.

    • Kirsty Needham
    An LNG tanker at Cherniere’s liquefaction facility in Corpus Christi, Texas.

    Joe Biden’s pollution rules throw up barrier to US natural gas projects

    New air quality standards will require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to more closely examine the impact of LNG projects on the surrounding air quality.

    • Myles McCormick
    Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel.

    Australia considers declaring Middle East no-go zones

    ASIO and the Federal Police remain concerned about terrorism in Australia amid tensions in the Middle East.

    • Andrew Tillett
    Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Ankara in January.

    Iran’s hardline president dies in helicopter crash

    Officials have confirmed the deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter crash, state media reported.

    • Updated
    • Jon Gambrell
    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan for defeating  Hamas and for post-war Gaza is now a source of internal political division within Israel.

    Hamas’ defeat, helping Ukraine win, best for West

    The sooner Israel defeats Hamas, the better. And also the sooner the US focuses attention on helping Ukraine win the war, the better.

    • The AFR View
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    Emmanuel Macron and Xi Jinping in France earlier this month.

    China hints at retaliation in worsening trade clash with Europe

    If the two sides start imposing tariffs on each other, it would increase risks for companies around the world already dealing with the US-China trade dispute.

    • Zheping Huang
    Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visits the Azerbaijan border, just hours before a helicopter in which he was a passenger crashed.

    Raisi’s death deals blow to Iranian regime’s grand plan

    Raisi was integral to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s plans to cement the influence of regime hardliners and ensure a smooth succession to the republic’s top post.

    • Andrew England
    A Kanak flag waving next to a burning vehicle at a roadblock at La Tamoa, in the commune of Paita in New Caledonia.

    Penny Wong must speak up on New Caledonia

    It’s time for Australia’s foreign minister to act as the honest friend and tell France that they are mishandling their Pacific territory.

    • Hamish McDonald
    Taiwan’s new President Lai Ching-te, centre, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, right, and former president Tsai Ing-wen wave during Lai’s inauguration ceremonies in Taipei.

    Taiwan’s new president warns China’s threats ‘will not disappear’

    Lai Ching-te will build on his predecessor’s efforts to strengthen ties with the US, which is bound by its own laws to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

    • Updated
    • Jessica Sier
    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Galant and Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz at a news conference.

    Why wily Netanyahu will escape new crisis

    Two members of Israel’s war cabinet have warned the prime minister to change course on the war in Gaza, but he is unlikely to flinch.

    • Ethan Bronner and Galit Altstein