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Key posts
- Government wary of US Red Sea warship request
- Ukraine moves closer to EU membership, Putin vows to continue war
- This morning’s headlines at a glance
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Government wary of US Red Sea warship request
Defence Minister Richard Marles has stressed that the federal government is focused on promoting freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region as it weighs up a request from the United States to send a warship to dangerous waters in the Middle East.
The United States Navy requested that Australia send a ship to the Red Sea to respond to Iranian-backed Houthi rebels attacking ships passing through the sea lane.
The Houthis claimed responsibility this week for attacking a Norwegian-flagged oil tanker off the coast of Yemen, claiming it was heading to Israel.
Shiite Houthi soliders in Yemen, said to be backed by Iran, are at war with Arab-backed forces.Credit: AP
The US request came as the government voted in favour of an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza at the United Nations General Assembly, a move that angered Israel and pleased Palestinian advocates.
Labor MP Josh Burns said it was wishful thinking to believe the UN resolution would lead to the end of the war, as he expressed dismay that the motion did not include a condemnation of Hamas.
Catch up on the full story here.
Ukraine moves closer to EU membership, Putin vows to continue war
Overseas, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a marathon four-hour press conference that he intends to continue the invasion of Ukraine unless Kyiv capitulates.
Almost two years into the war, Putin said that he was still focused on the “denazification” and “demilitarisation” of Ukraine. He reiterated that he was open to peace talks, but offered no hint of a willingness to compromise.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual news conference in Moscow, Russia.Credit: Kremlin Pool Photo via AP
It is the first time Putin has taken questions at length since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
His stage-managed address comes as European leaders agreed to open accession talks with Ukraine at a charged summit in Brussels, after Hungary’s prime minister relented in his opposition to the historic step for the war-torn country.
The decision marked a major milestone on Kyiv’s determined path to join the union once the conflict with Russia’s war is over and represents an endorsement by Brussels of the country’s western trajectory.
Find out more here, from our European correspondent.
This morning’s headlines at a glance
Good morning, and thanks for joining our live blog this morning.
It’s Friday, December 15, and today is our final edition of the national news blog for the year. I’m Caroline Schelle, and I’ll be anchoring the blog for the first half of the day.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Unemployment has risen in Australia despite 61,500 more people in work, but the treasurer believes record high participation rate meant the economy was well-placed for next year.
- But the boss of Westpac has warned of slower economic growth amid cost-of-living pressures and higher interest rates.
- The federal government is considering a US request to send a Royal Australian Navy warship to dangerous waters in the Middle East.
- An Egyptian man previously suspected by ASIO of belonging to a terrorist group aligned with al-Qaeda is fighting to be released into the community.
- In state news, Steven Miles is expected to be sworn in as Queensland’s 40th premier today, after Annastacia Palaszczuk tenders her resignation to the state’s governor.
- And overseas, suspected Hamas members have been arrested in Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands on suspicion of planning attacks on Jewish institutions in Europe.
Let’s get into it.
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