Latest news with #Insiders
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
International Insider: '28 Years Later' Arrives; Landmark Netflix-TF1 Deal; NHK At 100
Another week down, Insiders, and it was a hot one in Europe. We had journalists in France and Spain (at two separate events) to gather up the top stories from the continent, while in the UK, the zombies returned, angrier and scabbier than ever. Sign up to the newsletter here. '28 Years Later', A Threequel Arrives More from Deadline BBC Hits AI Startup Perplexity With Legal Threat Over Content Scraping Concerns BBC's BAFTA-Winning Doc Series 'Once Upon A Time In...' Turns Eye To Middle East Danny Boyle Says He Would Never Make Oscar-Winner 'Slumdog Millionaire' Now Amid "Cultural Appropriation" Concerns Worth the wait: To me, it feels like just yesterday watching Cillian Murphy wander around empty London streets in hospital scrubs in 28 Days Later. It wasn't though – it was 23 years ago and I'm just showing my age. No doubt, however, that the love for Danny Boyle's zombie horror franchise has lasted all that time, as proven by the noise around the premiere of the third instalment, and the first since 2007's 28 Weeks Later. 28 Years Later had become the second-most watched horror trailer in history well before Boyle, writer Alex Garland and producer Andrew Macdonald debuted it in this week in London at a world premiere in Leicester Square – and all the signs are that it's cutting through. Our social media guru Nada and Breaking Baz were on the red carpet to hear from the likes of Boyle, Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes, along with Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment's Motion Picture Group, Tom Rothman, who tipped us that the film will make a star of 14-year-old lead Alfie Williams. The story is set nearly three decades after the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory and brought down society, in a film that our critic Damon Wise called a 'particularly scathing' commentary about 'Brexit Britain and its little-islander mentality.' Reviews have been pretty good, with some criticisms about the tone, pacing and ending, and its Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes currently sits at 92%. You can go ever deeper by listening to Anthony D'Alessandro catch up with Boyle on our Crew Call podcast, where they discuss the long journey getting the film to screen and why the Slumdog Millionaire director won't be directing all three of the planned modern-day 28 trilogy. Anthony also noted Thursday in his box office round-up that 28 Years Later is tracking for a global start of around $56M. Netflix The Aggregator 'A new kind of partnership': Big platform news this week came out of Cannes Lions, where Netflix and French commercial network TF1 announced a potentially market-altering partnership. In part borne out of the friendship between TF1 CEO Rodolphe Belmer and Netflix's top brass, the companies unveiled a 'new kind of partnership' that sees five linear TF1 channels and 30,000 hours of on-demand content streaming on Netflix. To this point, Netflix has shown little interest in aggregating linear services – or any rival services, for that matter – but analysts have pointed out that the Netflix-TF1 relationship is a special case that has already seen them create Netflix's first daily soap in France. However, there's a sense this is the start of something bigger, as our analysis of the development showed. Truth is, global streamers need to attract older, linear-minded viewers and traditional players need the leverage and access to younger viewers of streaming services. 'Diagonal integration and co-operation' is what the big brains over at Ampere Analysis are calling it. You heard it here first. NHK At 100 Earthquakes and giant squid: Japan's NHK turned 100 this year and there has never been a better time to celebrate the role of public broadcasting. Good thing, then, that we landed an exclusive interview with President Nobuo Inaba, who detailed how the challenges facing pubcasters today may differ from a century ago, but the battles remain the same. In the 1920s, it was the Great Kantō earthquake that compelled the need for a public broadcaster, while today it has become the flood of disinformation driven by social media from which the public needs saving. Only public broadcasters can battle through the noise, Inaba argued, as he called for greater global collaboration and more shows for young people. Of course, public broadcasters enjoy nothing more than a celebration and a 100th birthday lends quite the excuse. In NHK's case, a series of special programs have been airing through the year, including a documentary titled Neo-Japonism and anime adaptation Cocoon. Pressed on his favorite NHK show of the century, Inaba went a bit curveball by opting not for critically-acclaimed drama or doc, but for a natural history series made with Discovery, which captured the world's first video images of a giant squid. Dive deeper. Big Week For BBC Phillips gets Moore responsibilities: The race to succeed Charlotte Moore at the BBC has ended – and the biggest job in British TV commissioning is staying in-house. A month after Deadline had revealed acting Chief Creative Officer Kate Phillips was the frontrunner, the BBC rubber-stamped the appointment, and into a new era we go. She called the job 'one of the best roles in the business at an incredible organization,' and it's clear she's got a vision of where she wants to take the UK's biggest public broadcaster. With a background in unscripted, those in drama and comedy are understandably watching closely, but it's worth noting they did the same when the Left Bank Pictures-bound Moore became Director of Content in 2016, thanks to her past in documentary. Fair to say her tenure went more than okay. That's one big headache for BBC Director General Tim Davie fixed, but there's migraine of a problem over at BBC News, where a PwC consultant has been drafted in to steer an internal review into bullying and misconduct allegations on flagship show Breakfast, which Jake first revealed in this shocking report in April. Out of the frying pan, into the fire. From CineEurope To Cuenca's Conecta Slate of play: The U.S. studios had their game faces on and film slates at the ready at CineEurope in Barcelona, Spain, this week. The annual event drew its regular industry crowd, and Nancy Tartaglione was on the ground gathering up the biggest and best of the news. Lionsgate returned after sitting 2024 out, sprinkling some magic dust in the form of Now You See Me: Now You Don't and confirming Nancy and Matt Grobar's scoop that Glenn Close and Billy Porter have joined the cast of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The studio was followed by Sony showing the first 28 minutes of 28 Years Later, Universal touting new Spielberg and Nolan projects, Warner Bros playing 30 minutes of July tentpole Superman, Paramount confirming Meet the Parents 4 and Disney teasing Toy Story 5 during a presentation that culminated in a James Cameron tribute to Jon Landau. Following the fun, Nancy and Anthony revealed the global box office is red hot, with Gower Street predicting a $12.4B summer. Over 300 miles away from Barcelona in the quiet city of Cuenca, I touched down for Conecta Fiction & Entertainment, the annual Spanish TV industry get-together. Nothing quite as splashy there, but reps from Max and Lupin maker Gaumont Television France gave their views on some live issues, as boiling hot temperatures gave way to biblical floods in the mountainous locale. Read the news from Cuenca here. The Essentials 🌶️ Hot One: The BBC has greenlit Twenty Twenty Six, a successor to comedy series W1A and Twenty Twelve, with Hugh Bonneville reprising his role and Chelsey Crisp, Paulo Costanzo and Stephen Kunken among a blended UK-U.S. cast. 🌶️ Another One: Martin Compston and Aimée-Ffion Edwards are leading the cast of The Revenge Club (w/t), which has Paramount+ UK and Ireland, Gaumont UK and Fremantle attached. ☘️ One for luck: Webtoon manwah Teenage Mercenary is being adapted as a TV anime series by Japan's Line Digital Frontier. ⛑️ Saved: Ireland's Playhouse Studios has acquired the assets of UK post house Lipsync, which went into administration last month. Most staff have been retained. 🔭 In focus: Filming Italy Sardegna, the annual Sardinian TV fest that kicked off yesterday. Diana also spoke to festivals specialist Tiziana Rocca in this interview. 👨🏻⚕️ Doctor, doctor: Russell T Davies has poured more fuel on the fire over the future of his BBC and Disney+ sci-fi series Doctor Who, saying, 'We don't know what's happening yet.' 5️⃣0️⃣ Fiddy: Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson has taken his 50 Cent Action Channel overseas for the first time. 🦁 Heart of a Lions: Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine launched a Gen Z label, Sunnie, at Cannes Lions. 🤝 New roles: Lookout Point co-CEOs Laura Lankester and Will Johnston hopped over to A24's UK team. 🏆 Winners: Swedish drama Vanguard, Germany's One Day in September and CW series Good Cop/Bad Cop took home Golden Nymphs from the Monte-Carlo TV Festival. Jesse Whittock wrote this week's Insider. It was edited by Jake Kanter. Best of Deadline 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More 'Stick' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The Apple TV+ Golf Series 'Stick' Release Guide: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
'Cold and indifferent': Australian human rights lawyer in Tel Aviv calls Penny Wong's response to Israel 'disappointing' amid escalations with Iran
Human rights lawyer Arsen Ostrovsky has criticised the Albanese government for urging Israel to exercise 'restraint' as tensions between the country and Iran continue to escalate. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has also called for 'de-escalation' following strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites by Israel last week, which Iran responded to by launching rockets and drones at Israel. 'Obviously this is a very perilous situation. It's a very risky situation,' Senator Wong told the ABC's Insiders program on Sunday. 'We urge de-escalation, we urge restraint, we urge dialogue and diplomacy, and that call has been reflected by like-minded partners.' Speaking from outside a damaged building in a residential area of Tel Aviv, Mr Ostrovsky told Sky News on Monday there were 'no military targets in sight' of the area hit by the strike. 'Every single person has been in a shelter, myself, my family included. So whereas Israel is acting in its' inarguable right of self defence, what Iran is doing is a gross war crime,' he said. The human rights lawyer called Senator Wong's call for restraint 'disappointing' and questioned if such restraint would be urged if Australia faced the threat that Israel currently is. 'Australia's response, and I say this as also an Australian that's been in and out of shelters, has been somewhat, perhaps, cold and indifferent,' Mr Ostrovsky said. 'I can tell you that if Australia was threatened with annihilation, if Australia had to sustain hundreds upon hundreds of ballistic missile attacks... I don't think Australia would show such restraint and nor should Israel be expected to.' Bar-llan University professor of politics Gerald Steinberg, who also spoke to Sky News from Israel, described dramatic scenes of Israelis seeking refuge in bunkers as Tehran launched strikes at the country. 'It's been four relatively sleep deprived days and mostly nights... it's a very surrealistic scenario here,' professor Steinberg told Sky News Host Chris Kenny on Monday, speaking from Jerusalem. He said locals only had around 15 minutes to retreat to bunkers after warnings were issued of incoming Iranian missiles - which could be launched in 'batches of 50, sometimes 100'. 'There are public shelters all over the city of Jerusalem, all over Israel... so you meet your neighbours, you sit there, you listen to the booms of the interceptions,' professor Steinberg said. 'Unfortunately, sometimes some of the missiles hit and you wonder if everybody's OK afterwards. It's a very stressful time. 'I think the children are having the roughest time of it because you have to explain to them why these people who are thousands of miles away from us in Iran hate us so much, they want to kill everybody.' Former deputy mayor of Jerusalem Fleur Hassan-Nahoum shed light on the cost to human life in the deadly conflict, adding the military drones do not "discriminate on who they are wanting to kill", before revealing a six day old baby was pulled from the rubble on Monday morning. "Our civilian centres are under attack in a war that we didn't start," she told Sky News host Andrew Bolt. "It's not that this has come out of nowhere. We know that the Islamic Republic of Iran was going towards a point of no return with nuclear weapons. "We know they've called for the annihilation of Israel many, many, times. It is their aim." "We know that for the past 20 years all they've done is build their proxies around Israel to choke Israel with Hamas, with the Houthis, with Hezbollah, with Shia elements in Iraq." Ms Nahoum further asserted Israel's ultimate obligation is to defend its civilians and its country. "Unfortunately, we are going now through those pains of having to fight a war for Western civilisation, because the Islamic Republic of Iran only wants to start with Israel, but wants to finish with complete caliphate around the world," she said. "There are ideologues and this is what they want. "They say death to Israel, death to America.'' Sky News contributor Chris Uhlmann also shared his support for Israel in the escalating war and argued the nation had no other choice "than to do what it did". "Don't forget that Iran is dedicated to the destruction of Israel," he said. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has defended the nation's right to benefit from nuclear energy and research to serve national interests following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claim its attack on the country was essential to prevent the creation of nuclear weapons. 'We stand firm in achieving this right and fear no power in securing what is rightfully ours,' Mr Pezeshkian said. 'No one has the right to deny this right to the Islamic Republic.' In a recorded message Mr Netanyahu said Israel's deadly attacks on Iran are intended to destabilise the country's nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile factories and many of its military capabilities. As both forces in the Middle East embark on a retaliatory war, Mr Netanyahu affirmed Operation Rising Lion will continue for 'as many days as it takes to remove this threat'.
Globe and Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Volta Announces Closing of Private Placement
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2025) - Volta Metals Ltd. (CSE: VLTA) (FSE: D0W) (" Volta" or the " Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the " Offering") by issuing 13,260,700 units of the Company (the " Units") at a price of $0.05 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $663,035 on June 13, 2025. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a " Share") and one half of one common share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a " Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase an additional Share of the Company (a " Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.10 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months from the closing of the Offering. The Company will use the net proceeds from the Offering to close the acquisition of the Springer advanced Rare Earth and Gallium Project (see the February 27, 2025 and June 10, 2025 press releases), initiate exploration work on Company's mineral properties, and for general corporate and working capital purposes. As in every financing the Company has completed to date, certain directors and officers of the Company (the " Insiders") have participated in the Offering, increasing insider holdings. The issuance of the Units to the Insiders constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (" MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on an exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.5(a) and section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, on the basis that the participation in the Offering by the Insiders does not exceed 25% of the fair market value of the Company's market capitalization. The securities issued under the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period in Canada of four months and a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities laws. The closing of the Offering is subject to the receipt of all required regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). Debt Settlement The Company also announced that it has agreed to complete a debt settlement with certain directors of the Company pursuant to which the directors will convert an aggregate of $118,666.60 fees owed to them for 2,373,332 Units and a deemed price of $0.05 per Unit (the " Debt Settlement"). The Units are the same as the Units issued under the Offering, and will be comprised of one Share and one half of one Warrant, with each Warrant exercisable for one Share at a price of $0.10 per Share for a period of two years from the date of issuance. The Company has elected to settle the indebtedness through the issuance of Common Shares to preserve cash and strengthen the Company's balance sheet. The securities issued pursuant to the Debt Settlement shall be subject to a four-month plus one day hold period commencing on the day of the closing of the Debt Settlement, as applicable, under applicable Canadian securities laws. The Debt Settlement is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals including the approval of the CSE. The Debt Settlement will constitute a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (" MI 61-101"). The Company expects to rely on an exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.5(a) and section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, on the basis that the Debt Settlement does not exceed 25% of the fair market value of the Company's market capitalization. ABOUT VOLTA METALS LTD. Volta Metals Ltd. (CSE: VLTA) (FSE: D0W) is a mineral exploration company based in Toronto, Ontario, focused on rare earths, gallium, lithium, cesium, and tantalum. It owns, has optioned and is currently exploring a critical minerals portfolio of rare earths, gallium, lithium, cesium, and tantalum projects in Ontario, one of the world's most prolific, emerging hard-rock lithium districts. To learn more about Volta and its Aki Project and its recently acquired Springer Project, please visit ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD For further information, contact: Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to product development, plans, strategies, and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the anticipated use of the net proceeds from the Offerings and the receipt of all necessary approvals for the Offering. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include: the risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators; the fact that Volta's interests in its mineral properties are options only and there are no guarantee that such interest, if earned, will be certain; the future prices and demand for lithium; and delays or the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary approvals, permits and authorizations required to carry out its business plans. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, other than as required by law.
Sky News AU
5 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Penny Wong slammed for ‘naive' call for de-escalation between Israel and Iran
Sky News host James Macpherson discusses how Foreign Minister Penny Wong has been slammed for her call to de-escalate the war between Israel and Iran. 'Penny Wong's calls for de-escalation in the war between Israel and Iran have been described as naive,' Mr Macpherson said. 'Israel's ambassador to Australia slammed the foreign minister after she went on the ABC's Insiders this morning, calling for restraint on all sides.'
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Australia backs Israel 'defence' amid escalation fears
Australia has backed Israel's right to self-defence after a series of strikes on Iranian nuclear operations and military leaders that have sparked fears of a major conflict in the Middle East. Iran and Israel have targeted each other with missile and air strikes after the latter launched its biggest-ever air offensive against its long-time foe. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the situation in the region was a "very perilous, risky" situation. "Israel has a right to self defence," she told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday. "We know that (Iran's) nuclear program poses a threat to international peace and obviously to Israel." "(The question is) what do we do about it and how do we respond in a way that lessens the risk of more civilians particularly in the region being brought into this conflict?" The UK has begun moving some of its military assets to the Middle East following threats from Tehran that nations helping to defend Israel could also be targeted. The US has already used its systems to help Israel shoot down ballistic missiles fired by Iran. Senator Wong confirmed she had spoken with her Iranian counterpart and urged his country to exercise restraint while returning to dialogue. "Continuing to escalate this has consequences for all peoples of the region," she said. "That is a position that so many countries in the world are putting to not only the Iranians but also to the Israelis." Australian National University maritime security expert Jennifer Parker said the nation needed to pay close attention to Iran's nuclear capability and take it seriously. "We need to be very careful that we are supporting the avoidance of nuclear breakout and new countries in the globe getting nuclear capability," she said. "If Iran was allowed to achieve a nuclear weapon, Saudi Arabia would be next, and if that happens, there would be concern in our region about whether the US nuclear extended deterrence still stands." Iran is also considering closing the Strait of Hormuz - the only maritime entry point into the Persian Gulf - which would send oil prices skyrocketing. Ms Parker said Australia would feel the economic impact if the strait was closed as the nation heavily relied on imports for its fuel consumption. The Zionist Federation of Australia welcomed the government's "unequivocal support" for Israel's right to self-defence and recognition of the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged Australians in the region to leave amid the escalating conflict. He landed in the US on Saturday, local time, on his way to the G7 summit in Canada on Sunday. Mr Albanese is expected to meet with a range of global leaders, including US president Donald Trump, who had been working with Iran on a nuclear deal. The US was notified about the Israeli strikes in advance but Washington officials have been quick to point out it played no part in the attacks, warning Iran not to target its personnel or interests. Australia on Wednesday announced sanctions would be imposed on two Israeli government ministers over their stance on illegal West Bank settlements, a move done in conjunction with other nations including Canada and the UK. But it has widened the nation's rift with the US over Israel after Washington officials condemned the measure. Senator Wong said the decision to break away from the US and sanction the ministers wasn't taken lightly. Asked if Australia had weakened its influence with both Israel and the US on a two-state solution as a result, the foreign minister said extremist settler violence wasn't consistent with the aspiration of Palestinian statehood. "We're so far from that (two-state solution) right now, but that is why the international community is trying to work together to build this pathway," she said. Australia has backed Israel's right to self-defence after a series of strikes on Iranian nuclear operations and military leaders that have sparked fears of a major conflict in the Middle East. Iran and Israel have targeted each other with missile and air strikes after the latter launched its biggest-ever air offensive against its long-time foe. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the situation in the region was a "very perilous, risky" situation. "Israel has a right to self defence," she told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday. "We know that (Iran's) nuclear program poses a threat to international peace and obviously to Israel." "(The question is) what do we do about it and how do we respond in a way that lessens the risk of more civilians particularly in the region being brought into this conflict?" The UK has begun moving some of its military assets to the Middle East following threats from Tehran that nations helping to defend Israel could also be targeted. The US has already used its systems to help Israel shoot down ballistic missiles fired by Iran. Senator Wong confirmed she had spoken with her Iranian counterpart and urged his country to exercise restraint while returning to dialogue. "Continuing to escalate this has consequences for all peoples of the region," she said. "That is a position that so many countries in the world are putting to not only the Iranians but also to the Israelis." Australian National University maritime security expert Jennifer Parker said the nation needed to pay close attention to Iran's nuclear capability and take it seriously. "We need to be very careful that we are supporting the avoidance of nuclear breakout and new countries in the globe getting nuclear capability," she said. "If Iran was allowed to achieve a nuclear weapon, Saudi Arabia would be next, and if that happens, there would be concern in our region about whether the US nuclear extended deterrence still stands." Iran is also considering closing the Strait of Hormuz - the only maritime entry point into the Persian Gulf - which would send oil prices skyrocketing. Ms Parker said Australia would feel the economic impact if the strait was closed as the nation heavily relied on imports for its fuel consumption. The Zionist Federation of Australia welcomed the government's "unequivocal support" for Israel's right to self-defence and recognition of the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged Australians in the region to leave amid the escalating conflict. He landed in the US on Saturday, local time, on his way to the G7 summit in Canada on Sunday. Mr Albanese is expected to meet with a range of global leaders, including US president Donald Trump, who had been working with Iran on a nuclear deal. The US was notified about the Israeli strikes in advance but Washington officials have been quick to point out it played no part in the attacks, warning Iran not to target its personnel or interests. Australia on Wednesday announced sanctions would be imposed on two Israeli government ministers over their stance on illegal West Bank settlements, a move done in conjunction with other nations including Canada and the UK. But it has widened the nation's rift with the US over Israel after Washington officials condemned the measure. Senator Wong said the decision to break away from the US and sanction the ministers wasn't taken lightly. Asked if Australia had weakened its influence with both Israel and the US on a two-state solution as a result, the foreign minister said extremist settler violence wasn't consistent with the aspiration of Palestinian statehood. "We're so far from that (two-state solution) right now, but that is why the international community is trying to work together to build this pathway," she said. Australia has backed Israel's right to self-defence after a series of strikes on Iranian nuclear operations and military leaders that have sparked fears of a major conflict in the Middle East. Iran and Israel have targeted each other with missile and air strikes after the latter launched its biggest-ever air offensive against its long-time foe. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the situation in the region was a "very perilous, risky" situation. "Israel has a right to self defence," she told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday. "We know that (Iran's) nuclear program poses a threat to international peace and obviously to Israel." "(The question is) what do we do about it and how do we respond in a way that lessens the risk of more civilians particularly in the region being brought into this conflict?" The UK has begun moving some of its military assets to the Middle East following threats from Tehran that nations helping to defend Israel could also be targeted. The US has already used its systems to help Israel shoot down ballistic missiles fired by Iran. Senator Wong confirmed she had spoken with her Iranian counterpart and urged his country to exercise restraint while returning to dialogue. "Continuing to escalate this has consequences for all peoples of the region," she said. "That is a position that so many countries in the world are putting to not only the Iranians but also to the Israelis." Australian National University maritime security expert Jennifer Parker said the nation needed to pay close attention to Iran's nuclear capability and take it seriously. "We need to be very careful that we are supporting the avoidance of nuclear breakout and new countries in the globe getting nuclear capability," she said. "If Iran was allowed to achieve a nuclear weapon, Saudi Arabia would be next, and if that happens, there would be concern in our region about whether the US nuclear extended deterrence still stands." Iran is also considering closing the Strait of Hormuz - the only maritime entry point into the Persian Gulf - which would send oil prices skyrocketing. Ms Parker said Australia would feel the economic impact if the strait was closed as the nation heavily relied on imports for its fuel consumption. The Zionist Federation of Australia welcomed the government's "unequivocal support" for Israel's right to self-defence and recognition of the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged Australians in the region to leave amid the escalating conflict. He landed in the US on Saturday, local time, on his way to the G7 summit in Canada on Sunday. Mr Albanese is expected to meet with a range of global leaders, including US president Donald Trump, who had been working with Iran on a nuclear deal. The US was notified about the Israeli strikes in advance but Washington officials have been quick to point out it played no part in the attacks, warning Iran not to target its personnel or interests. Australia on Wednesday announced sanctions would be imposed on two Israeli government ministers over their stance on illegal West Bank settlements, a move done in conjunction with other nations including Canada and the UK. But it has widened the nation's rift with the US over Israel after Washington officials condemned the measure. Senator Wong said the decision to break away from the US and sanction the ministers wasn't taken lightly. Asked if Australia had weakened its influence with both Israel and the US on a two-state solution as a result, the foreign minister said extremist settler violence wasn't consistent with the aspiration of Palestinian statehood. "We're so far from that (two-state solution) right now, but that is why the international community is trying to work together to build this pathway," she said. Australia has backed Israel's right to self-defence after a series of strikes on Iranian nuclear operations and military leaders that have sparked fears of a major conflict in the Middle East. Iran and Israel have targeted each other with missile and air strikes after the latter launched its biggest-ever air offensive against its long-time foe. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the situation in the region was a "very perilous, risky" situation. "Israel has a right to self defence," she told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday. "We know that (Iran's) nuclear program poses a threat to international peace and obviously to Israel." "(The question is) what do we do about it and how do we respond in a way that lessens the risk of more civilians particularly in the region being brought into this conflict?" The UK has begun moving some of its military assets to the Middle East following threats from Tehran that nations helping to defend Israel could also be targeted. The US has already used its systems to help Israel shoot down ballistic missiles fired by Iran. Senator Wong confirmed she had spoken with her Iranian counterpart and urged his country to exercise restraint while returning to dialogue. "Continuing to escalate this has consequences for all peoples of the region," she said. "That is a position that so many countries in the world are putting to not only the Iranians but also to the Israelis." Australian National University maritime security expert Jennifer Parker said the nation needed to pay close attention to Iran's nuclear capability and take it seriously. "We need to be very careful that we are supporting the avoidance of nuclear breakout and new countries in the globe getting nuclear capability," she said. "If Iran was allowed to achieve a nuclear weapon, Saudi Arabia would be next, and if that happens, there would be concern in our region about whether the US nuclear extended deterrence still stands." Iran is also considering closing the Strait of Hormuz - the only maritime entry point into the Persian Gulf - which would send oil prices skyrocketing. Ms Parker said Australia would feel the economic impact if the strait was closed as the nation heavily relied on imports for its fuel consumption. The Zionist Federation of Australia welcomed the government's "unequivocal support" for Israel's right to self-defence and recognition of the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged Australians in the region to leave amid the escalating conflict. He landed in the US on Saturday, local time, on his way to the G7 summit in Canada on Sunday. Mr Albanese is expected to meet with a range of global leaders, including US president Donald Trump, who had been working with Iran on a nuclear deal. The US was notified about the Israeli strikes in advance but Washington officials have been quick to point out it played no part in the attacks, warning Iran not to target its personnel or interests. Australia on Wednesday announced sanctions would be imposed on two Israeli government ministers over their stance on illegal West Bank settlements, a move done in conjunction with other nations including Canada and the UK. But it has widened the nation's rift with the US over Israel after Washington officials condemned the measure. Senator Wong said the decision to break away from the US and sanction the ministers wasn't taken lightly. Asked if Australia had weakened its influence with both Israel and the US on a two-state solution as a result, the foreign minister said extremist settler violence wasn't consistent with the aspiration of Palestinian statehood. "We're so far from that (two-state solution) right now, but that is why the international community is trying to work together to build this pathway," she said.
