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Sky News AU
5 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Australia to become 'aircraft carrier' for the US with bases and possible nuclear weapons, retired Lieutenant General says
A former Chief of Australia's Army has questioned whether the US has, or is planning to store nuclear weapons in Australia – while also questioning how long it would be until American 'places' become official US 'bases' around the country. Retired Lieutenant General Peter Leahy – who joined the service in 1971 and rose to become Chief between 2002 until 2008 - has told Sky News that he foresees Australia becoming an 'operational base' for the US under AUKUS. 'Many would remember that during World War II we were the aircraft carrier for the Pacific, I see that happening again. The build-up of American places and let me say … I wonder how much longer we are going to say places rather than bases and I think we need to recognise that,' he said. 'We are seeing fuel farms all over the place, we are seeing a concentration of forces down in Western Australia. There is going to be much more of their air force up around Katherine and Darwin. 'I think a large part of what Australia has got to offer the United States is geography … and a debate yet to be had, are they bases or places?' His thoughts follow sobering comments from Australia's Chief of Defence, Admiral David Johnson who recently revealed the Commonwealth's national security strategy was being recalibrated with the 'security blanket' of ten-year's warning time having now evaporated. 'We are having to reconsider Australia as a homeland from which we will conduct combat operations. And that again is a very different way - almost since the second world war - about how we think of national resilience and preparedness,' Admiral Johnson told the Australian Strategic Policy Institute's annual defence conference. 'We may need to operate and conduct combat operations from this country.' The assessment is broadly interpreted as how Australia would respond to a conflict between America and China. It also takes into account Washington's efforts to reposition strike forces in the region, while keeping them out of immediate danger. 'We are going to become a very important part of that strategic depth for the United States in the Indo-pacific,' Mr Leahy said. 'But I'm yet to figure out as we become more of a base, and we see the positioning of their submarine forces and their bomber forces and perhaps some of their missile forces in Australia, who is going to ask the question, are any of those nuclear armed?' 'Would Australia become a place where we would store nuclear weapons? Because it would seem a bit silly if you've got the capabilities here without the weapons (then) why are you even bothering? 'I think a discussion yet to be had … where are the nuclear weapons?' A spokesperson from the Department of Defence told Sky News, 'The United States does not store or station nuclear weapons in Australia. 'Stationing of nuclear weapons in Australia is prohibited by the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty … to which Australia remains committed.' They said Australia would continue to comply with its international obligations. 'The United States understands and respects our obligations regarding nuclear weapons,' the spokesperson said. It's a case of political incongruity. Under our alliance relationship, Australia benefits from America's strategic nuclear umbrella. Concerned Defence Analyst, Peter Jennings believed Admiral Johnson's remarks showed the Department of Defence now needed 'a rethink' with regard to how the homeland would be protected. 'I thought it was a remarkable statement from our Chief of Defence … and one which says to me, that somehow, they have lost sight of what our key military strategies should be, which is about range and long-distance operations,' he said. 'Our military thinking has always been that we will move our forces as forward into a potential military theatre as we can, in order to avoid the conflict coming to our shores. ' 'We now need a rethink about just what exactly (are) the foundations of our defence policy.' He believes Defence Minister, Richard Marles and Defence Industry Minister, Pat Conroy wanted more money but had been refused by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, saying it 'locked (them) into a policy of non-delivery'. When it came to the Trump administration, Mr Leahy believed looming discussions over budgets would involve an element of 'bluff and bluster' though in part he supported the Prime Minister's position. 'We need to be careful about what we want. How we acquire it. And how we introduce it into services,' he said. 'I don't think we will get pushed that hard (by America) because of the geographic nature of Australia and our importance,' he said. 'I think the US is still keen to have us as a flag on the table. 'But I also think that they recognise there's only so much in terms of what we can offer in terms of capability, in terms of the scale … but eventually we will need to spend more on defence … because the security situation I don't think is going to get any better.' When asked by Sky News if Australian governments had wasted years or money, the former Army Chief declared: 'Both. Without a doubt.' 'We should have been doing this (increasing capability) ten-years ago. And we've wasted money. Some of it is opportunity cost. But the thing that concerns me the most is the immediate readiness and preparedness,' he said. 'We are going to spend a shedload of money out there in the future but right now I see our ability to deploy, to be able to look after our own defence - and surely that's the first thing of a responsibly for a government (to) look after ourselves immediately - we are lacking on that. We need to spend more money for capabilities now and those capabilities are needed now.' he said.
New York Post
11-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Anti-ICE protester roasted for homemade tactical suit, including leaf blower: ‘Bad cosplay of a minion'
An animated anti-ICE protester is being mocked online for wearing an eye-catching homemade tactical suit to Los Angeles riots — including a bicycle helmet, goggles and a leaf blower. The unidentified woman was impossible to miss as she was filmed yelling into a megaphone in a bright yellow helmet and clutching the large Ryobi leaf blower. 'This is our city and this was Mexico,' yelled the woman, who said she was 45 years old. 'You can't kick us out of the land that was ours,' she yelled. Asked why she was carrying a leaf blower, she said it was to protect herself from tear gas used by law enforcement — and 'to blow back at those motherf–kers.' The woman arrived at the protest in a helmet, goggles and chest protector. YouTube/Nick Shirley She also brought a leaf blower, which she was said was to blow away tear gas. YouTube/Nick Shirley The woman's makeshift protective fit quickly sparked ridicule online. 'Why is she doing a bad cosplay of a minion from Despicable Me?' a teacher, David Johnson, jabbed in an X post in response to the clip. 'Omg this has to be a satire,' another commented, while someone else asked: 'Is she ready to take on armed forces with a leaf blower?' Another X user joked that if she knows that California was briefly part of Mexico in the 19th century, 'she understands the concept of nations and borders then.' California and Los Angeles were part of Spain before Mexico gained its independence in 1821. Mexico was forced to surrender the land decades later after the US's victory in the Mexican-American War in 1848. Dozens of people in Los Angeles have been arrested since protests erupted on Friday in response to ICE raids. Mayor Karen Bass issued a curfew in the city's downtown area on Tuesday night in an attempt to curb the demonstrations, which have seen several cars — including police vehicles — torched by protesters.
CBS News
10-06-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Severe night storms hit North Texas with 80 mph winds, causing widespread damage
Clean up, repairs begin after night of storms in North Texas Clean up, repairs begin after night of storms in North Texas Clean up, repairs begin after night of storms in North Texas Sunday night's storm had winds around 80 mph, dangerous conditions that caused massive amounts of damage across the entire metroplex. One of the hardest-hit places was Bonham, where wind and rain caused trees to hit homes and power lines all over town. Sunday night's storm was downright scary, just ask Preston Curry. "I was about to cry because, like, I don't, I'm scared of the dark," said Curry. He slept on the floor in his parents' room. He wasn't the only one feeling that way. "All around me. The house right across the street has had a tree. So tall, big old tree. And it's uprooted," said Philip Blander. Blander said he woke up to debris covering his street after the storm subsided. "I had an appointment in Sherman today at 10:30 a.m., and I couldn't hardly get out," he said. Nothing hit his house, but his friend David Johnson wasn't as lucky. "This morning, we went out there. Look, half of it split, and it fell in the yard. The other half fell all over there toward my kitchen, on top of the roof," said Johnson. A metal roof was completely ripped off a building downtown near the post office. While it took out a power line, somehow no one was hurt. That's something everyone we spoke to said they were thankful for. "I'm just glad that I survived this," said Blander. "Not lucky. I'm blessed. I'm blessed. Yeah. I'm blessed ... And I'm just glad nobody was hurt," said Johnson.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Afterpay, Klarna, Zip warning for Aussie users as major BNPL overhaul hits today: 'You should reconsider'
Australians who use buy now, pay later (BNPL) services have been warned that new regulations coming into force from June 10 could have huge implications on their future. While these platforms have been game-changers for people running a little low on cash, they're now operating under the same rules as credit cards and personal loans. That means services like Afterpay, Klarna, and Zip will conduct stricter checks before giving you the money, along with more oversight and big consequences if you don't stay on top of repayments. David Johnson, CEO of credit reporting firm Talefin, told Yahoo Finance these new laws could push many away from using BNPL services. "If you have any doubt about your ability to make repayments, you should reconsider using BNPL," he said. Dire five-year impact of popular app for Aussie homebuyers Rare $1 coin worth 10 times more due to 'unfortunate' detailMajor Coles move to take on Chemist Warehouse, Bunnings, Amazon His warning stems from how missed payments will now impact your credit score. Up until today, BNPL platforms weren't forced to report your payment history to big credit score firms like Equifax or illion. Lenders can use your credit score to determine whether you're a suitable candidate for a mortgage, personal loan, or credit can already be a red flag for some lenders, whether you've kept up with all your payments or not. However, this update will mean lenders will have even more information about how you handle cash advances. These platforms will now have to report every misstep, stumble, or rough month., "If possible, try to make sure you have more capacity than you need to repay debts, because you never know when unexpected bills might arise," Johnson told Yahoo Finance. "The biggest potential impact on your creditworthiness will be your failure to your repayment obligations. "If you do run into trouble making repayments, over-communicate with your credit provider. "If you are getting into a hardship scenario, more often than not, they will work with you to remedy the situation." Applying for a BNPL service will also be harder from today. For some of the platforms, you only had to fill out a few details and tick a few boxes before you had the money in your account. But now these providers will have to assess your ability to repay before approving your request. They will follow the same rules as credit card companies and lenders by looking at your income, expenses, and existing debts. This is designed to stop people from falling into debt traps that they can't crawl out of. Finder research released last year found 41 per cent of Australians had used BNPL in a six-month period. Gen Z and Millennials were the most likely to use these services compared to older generations. Shockingly, one in three had missed another bill in order to afford their BNPL repayments, while 12 per cent had gone as far as skipping a meal. The University of Sydney found that approximately 40 per cent of BNPL users operated more than one BNPL account, which can increase the risk of overextension and financial stress. Afterpay also reported that more than 10 per cent of surveyed users were advised to close their BNPL accounts and subsequently qualified for a mortgage or were offered a credit card. The government wanted to bring these BNPL services in line with other credit providers. Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones said it gives these platforms "clear obligations" to ensure "vulnerable consumers" don't get credit when they shouldn't. He added that it will also result in enhanced requirements for transparency in fees and charges to help Aussies understand the full cost of these services. It's also aimed at creating a level playing field across the credit industry. Johnson told Yahoo Finance that you should check your BNPL platform's privacy policy to see whether they report to Equifax or illion. They are two of the most popular credit reporting firms and are used by a raft of lenders and credit card companies. "If you find you are struggling to access credit for a more substantial purchase (such as a home loan), make sure you understand why," he said. "For example, do you have a good credit history? Are you asking for an amount that you can service? "If you are not having success with a mortgage broker, try working directly with a credit provider or lender. "Most credit providers will use a score to filter consumers through their broker network, but they will often apply different criteria to direct customers."
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Central Florida property values continue to skyrocket
Property values across Central Florida are soaring this year, fueled by billions of dollars of new construction, according to the region's property appraisers. The booming values will help boost tax rolls as local governments begin preparing budgets for the next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1. And it may add fuel to a GOP-boosted argument that Florida homeowners are paying too much property tax. 'Interest rates are relatively high, and we've certainly seen a slow down in residential sales,' said David Johnson, Seminole County's property appraiser. 'But what we have not seen is a decline in the values, or what people are selling their houses for.' At this time every year, property appraisers are required to provide local governments, school districts and other taxing authorities with their 'Best Estimates of Taxable Values' reports. The reports released last week show that every local government in the region is seeing jumps in taxable values this year, with several cities looking at double digit increases. In Orange County, Windermere leads the list with taxable values rising to just over $1.2 billion in total. That's up slightly more than 19% compared to last year. Helping to fuel that rise, Windermere voters last February agreed in a special election to annex the gated Chaine du Lac community that abuts the town's western side, adding hundreds of new properties. Windermere's increase was followed by Apopka — the county's second-largest city — which is estimated to see a nearly 14% jump from last year to nearly $8.2 billion worth of total taxable value in 2025. In Seminole, Sanford is forecast to have nearly $6.7 billion in taxable property values this year, a 10.85% jump from 2024. Sanford — the second largest city in Central Florida's three-county region behind Orlando — is the only Seminole government to have a double-digit percentage increase. A large part of that surge in Sanford is the result of recent construction of homes and apartments within the city, Johnson said. 'They've built thousands of single-family homes by Celery Avenue [near the Orlando Sanford International Airport],' he said. In Osceola County, St. Cloud is forecast to see taxable values rise to nearly $6 billion in 2025, a whopping nearly 15% increase from 2024, according to that county's Property Appraiser's Office. 'There's a lot of new construction,' Osceola's Property Appraiser Katrina Scarborough said regarding St. Cloud. 'And we're one of the fastest growing counties in the country.' Kissimmee's taxable values are expected to rise to $6.9 billion in 2025, a 10.5% increase from last year. Lake's smallest cities saw the largest increases in the county, in large part because of an explosion of new home construction. Montverde led the list with a 24.6% jump from 2024 to a total estimated taxable value of nearly $212 million. That was closely followed by Mascotte, which is forecast to have a 21.8% increase from last year to nearly $602 million. Several straight years of rising taxable values across the region have pumped billions more dollars into the coffers of local governments. For example, Orange County's budget has grown by $1.7 billion in the last five years. That's spurred Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republicans to recently push for either cutting or completely eliminating property taxes. DeSantis claims that Florida counties and cities are taking advantage of that largesse in tax revenues by expanding, while struggling property owners pay for it. He is advocating a $1000 property tax rebate to every Florida homeowner this December, followed by structural changes to the tax later. But the state House and Senate, at loggerheads over the budget they need to pass by June 30, have yet to take up any property tax changes this year. The taxable value of a property is the amount used by local governments to calculate and set property tax rates. Market value, on the other hand, is the price a property would likely sell for in the current real estate market. Market value is influenced by the condition of the property, its location and surroundings. Florida law caps the taxable value of a homeowner's primary residence, limiting the rise in taxes. In Orange County, the estimated total market value for 2025 is $345.8 billion, an increase of 4.6% from 2024. In Seminole, the 2025 market value is just over $87 billion, which is a nearly 4.2% increase from 2024. In Osceola, the market value is nearly $70 billion, a surge of nearly 4.3% from 2024, while in Lake, the market value is $68.4 billion, a 6.3% jump from last year. According to the Orlando Regional Realtor Association, there were more than 12,000 homes on the market across Central Florida in May. It takes on average about 76 days for a home to sit on the market before it is purchased. As of Thursday, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was about 6.87%, and 5.95% for a 15-year fixed rate, according to
