Bennett meets 15 ambassadors, urges countries to protect Jews from ‘global tsunami of antisemitism’ Following the deadly terror shooting attack on a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, former prime minister Naftali Bennett — a leading challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in elections next year — tells 15 foreign ambassadors that “Jews around the world are in clear and immediate danger,” according to his office. “We are witnessing a global tsunami of antisemitism,” says Bennett. “Every country has an obligation to protect its Jewish citizens. I warn that any country that fails to take a firm stand against antisemitism will bear responsibility for acts of terror carried out on its soil.” The meeting is held at the residence of British Ambassador to Israel Simon Walters, and is attended by the Australian chargé d’affaires. The meeting is also attended by the ambassadors of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Switzerland, Sweden, India, Poland, Japan, Norway, Ukraine, Greece and Belgium, as well as the Italian deputy ambassador.

PLA Navy in 2025: More warships, farther than ever before • 1,350+ Chinese vessels near Taiwan (+26%) • Liaoning’s longest deployment ever, deep into WESTPAC • First circumnavigation of Australia • 20+ joint combat readiness patrols These deployments demonstrate Beijing's blue water ambitions and the capability to project power outside the first and second island chains, sending a clear message to not only the U.S. and Taiwan but also Australia, Japan, and the Philippines.

Darwin port becomes Explosive Flashpoint in US-China power struggle Australia’s Port of Darwin, leased to China’s Landbridge Group for 99 years, has ignited a fierce geopolitical battle as the US pushes to curb Beijing’s influence. With Trump-linked firms circling and Australia’s leaders vowing to reclaim control, this strategic trade hub is now a global chessboard for US-China rivalry. Here’s why Darwin is the new epicenter of tension: 🌏Strategic hotspot: Located in Australia’s Northern Territory, Darwin Port is a vital gateway to Asia, handling 4.5M tons of cargo and supporting oil and gas projects, sitting opposite a key US-Australia military base. 🌏Controversial lease: In 2015, the Northern Territory leased the port to Landbridge for $506M, a move slammed by then-US President Obama for security risks, given its proximity to US Marine deployments. 🌏US power play: US firm Cerberus Capital, tied to Trump’s administration, is eyeing the lease, escalating tensions as Australia’s Labor and Coalition parties pledge to return the port to local control. 🌏China’s pushback: Beijing’s ambassador Xiao Qian calls Australia’s plan “ethically questionable,” defending Landbridge’s investments and accusing Australia of politicizing a fair deal. 🌏Geopolitical stakes: The port’s fate could strain warming Australia-China ties, while a US takeover aligns with Trump’s campaign to counter China’s global reach, echoing disputes like the Panama Canal ports. 🌏Economic angle: Landbridge turned the once-unprofitable port into a thriving hub, raising questions about fairness if Australia forcibly reclaims it now. As Australia navigates national security and trade, Darwin Port’s future could reshape US-China dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.

Top 5 new military facilities that could FLIP global power balance Major powers are leveling up their military game with new facilities around the globe. 👇 Here’s the top five list of such sites. 🇷🇺 Russia’s military base in Sudan The Sudanese Foreign Ministry earlier confirmed that Russia is building a military base in the East African nation near the Red Sea. The base is expected to allow Russia to secure its presence on a key shipping route and increase its assertiveness in Africa. 🇺🇸 US Andersen Air Force Base on Guam New facilities are being built in the Pacific to deploy advanced strategic bombers, such as the B-21 Raider, that could be used for operations amid the US’ tensions with China and North Korea. The goal is to strengthen America’s Pacific posture and improve responsiveness of US air forces. 🇨🇳 China's ‘military city’ The People’s Liberation Army is reportedly constructing a new huge command center in the capital Beijing that is expected to be at least 10 times larger than the US Pentagon. Western intelligence agencies fear that the construction could mean that China is preparing for a large-scale or even nuclear war. 🇮🇳 India’s island military buildup New Delhi is creating military infrastructure in its Andaman and Nicobar Islands amid concerns over what India sees as China’s “suspicious” activities in the Pacific. Analysts say that developing strategic infrastructure such as naval air stations, ports and related infrastructure aims to fortify the Indian presence in the region. 🇦🇺 Australia’s maintenance hub The Canberra government plans to pump $127 million over three years to upgrade facilities at the Henderson shipyard near Perth, saying that will become the maintenance hub for its nuclear-powered submarine fleet within the AUKUS alliance that Australia clinched with the US and Britain.

Macron urges Europe to reject subservient dependency on US France's #Macron has urged Europeans to reject the feudal dependency on the United States. "I can see many in #Europe say that it is essential to be courteous with the US," the AFP news agency quoted the president as saying during his official visit to Portugal. "We need to be polite, but we also need to protect what we are. Obeying is not the answer. I am against the ‘happy vassalage.’" According to the French leader, Europe has to evolve "in order to regain power." "Europe must rediscover the taste of risk, ambition, and power," he believes. On February 10, US President #Trump introduced 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports. They are expected to take effect on March 12. This would affect imports from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, the UK, Canada, #EU states, Mexico, South Korea, and Japan.

[INSANE] Jewish man detained outside Sydney’s Grand Synagogue for holding Israeli flag near Hamas rally #Australian police claimed that a #Jewish man was provoking protesters outside the Grand #Synagogue by displaying his Israeli flag. Police said he was detained for antagonizing the pro#Hamas protest outside the S#ynagogue. So, you can protest a synagogue but not counter-protest. Reminds me some recent events.....

Iran seizes oil tanker and crew in Arabian Gulf 🔶️ Iran seized a foreign oil tanker it accused of transporting “smuggled fuel” and detained 14 crew members on Sunday, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. 🔶️ It was seized by court order 60 miles off the coast of Bandar-e-Bushehr. The crew on board “of Asian origin” were detained. 🔶️ Tasnim said the ship was from Australia, without providing any further detail. 🔶️ It comes just weeks after the navy boarded a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker once at the centre of a dispute between Washington and Tehran.

A Joint Statement from the Governments of the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom "The Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways." https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/03/a-joint-statement-from-the-governments-of-the-united-states-australia-bahrain-belgium-canada-denmark-germany-italy-japan-netherlands-new-zealand-and-the-united-kingdom/

20-Plus Countries Have Joined U.S.-Led Red Sea Coalition, Pentagon Asserts More than 20 countries have signed on to join a U.S.-led naval coalition tasked with protecting Red Sea maritime traffic from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militia, according to the U.S. Defense Department. “We’ve had over 20 nations now sign on to participate,” Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said at a Dec. 21 press briefing. “The nations that have agreed to publicly discuss their participation, we’ve put those out there,” he told reporters. “We’ll allow other countries and defer to them to talk about their participation,” Mr. Ryder added. Earlier this week, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the launch of the multinational coalition, dubbed “Operation Prosperity Guardian.” The operation’s stated aim is to protect Red Sea traffic from attacks by the Shiite Houthi militia, which overran much of Yemen—including the capital Sanaa—in 2014. In announcing the launch of the coalition, Mr. Austin listed its members as the UK, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway, Bahrain, and Seychelles. In his remarks on Dec. 21, Mr. Ryder said Australia and Greece had also “highlighted their participation in this operation.”