Latest news with #USDepartmentofDefence
NZ Herald
7 hours ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
‘The enemy gets a vote' - Trump sets off uncertainties, including how Iran will hit back
US B-2 bomber aircraft were involved in the US operation attacking Iran's nuclear programme sites, the New York Times reported. Photo / US Department of Defence, AFP President Donald Trump has claimed a 'spectacular military success' in destroying three sites in Iran; we'll see if that's true. What is clear is that he has pushed America into a war with Iran that he acknowledges may escalate. Beyond doubts about the legal basis for bombing Iran, I
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Accused Bali bomber Hambali to face military trial after 22 years in detention
Minneapolis: Alleged Bali bombing mastermind Encep Nurjaman, better known as Hambali and once described as 'the Osama bin Laden of South-East Asia', will face trial in September for the first time since he was captured in 2003 and sent to the US's notorious Guantanamo Bay. The US Department of Defence announced pre-trial proceedings would take place against Nurjaman over two weeks. They will be conducted at the Expeditionary Legal Complex at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, by a military commission – a quasi-legal process established by then president George W. Bush for non-citizen terrorism suspects detained at Guantanamo. Nurjaman was captured in Thailand in 2003 along with two other terrorism suspects. The trio spent three years in the CIA's network of secret prisons known as 'black sites', commonly used for torture or 'enhanced interrogation', before being taken to Guantanamo Bay in 2006. The two other men, Mohammed Nazir Bin Lep and Mohammed Farik Bin Amin, were repatriated to Malaysia late last year after pleading guilty before the military commission to multiple offences and providing testimony against Nurjaman in a pre-trial agreement. Loading Nurjaman has been charged in connection with the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings, which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians, and the 2003 bombing at the J.W. Marriott hotel in Jakarta, which left 12 people dead. According to the US Department of Defence, those charges include 'conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, intentionally causing serious bodily injury, terrorism, attacking civilians, attacking civilian objects, destruction of property, and accessory after the fact, all in violation of the law of war'. Nurjaman is alleged to be the former military commander of the terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, which last year announced it was disbanding.
The Age
6 days ago
- The Age
Accused Bali bomber Hambali to face military trial after 22 years in detention
Minneapolis: Alleged Bali bombing mastermind Encep Nurjaman, better known as Hambali and once described as 'the Osama bin Laden of South-East Asia', will face trial in September for the first time since he was captured in 2003 and sent to the US's notorious Guantanamo Bay. The US Department of Defence announced pre-trial proceedings would take place against Nurjaman over two weeks. They will be conducted at the Expeditionary Legal Complex at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, by a military commission – a quasi-legal process established by then president George W. Bush for non-citizen terrorism suspects detained at Guantanamo. Nurjaman was captured in Thailand in 2003 along with two other terrorism suspects. The trio spent three years in the CIA's network of secret prisons known as 'black sites', commonly used for torture or 'enhanced interrogation', before being taken to Guantanamo Bay in 2006. The two other men, Mohammed Nazir Bin Lep and Mohammed Farik Bin Amin, were repatriated to Malaysia late last year after pleading guilty before the military commission to multiple offences and providing testimony against Nurjaman in a pre-trial agreement. Loading Nurjaman has been charged in connection with the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings, which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians, and the 2003 bombing at the J.W. Marriott hotel in Jakarta, which left 12 people dead. According to the US Department of Defence, those charges include 'conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, intentionally causing serious bodily injury, terrorism, attacking civilians, attacking civilian objects, destruction of property, and accessory after the fact, all in violation of the law of war'. Nurjaman is alleged to be the former military commander of the terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, which last year announced it was disbanding.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘High price': Grim warning after AUKUS move
Australia will have 'a very high price to pay if AUKUS fails', opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor says. The warning came after the US Department of Defence launched a review of the trilateral pact with Australia and the UK to ensure it aligned with Donald Trump's 'America First' agenda. The Albanese government has brushed off concerns the move signals waning US support for the alliance with Canberra, with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles saying it was 'natural that the (Trump) administration would want to examine this major undertaking'. But with AUKUS the centrepiece of Australia's defence strategy over the first half of this century, it has offered little reassurance. 'This is an incredibly important alliance,' Mr Taylor said on Friday. 'It's an incredibly important capability, both in terms of the submarine capability and the technology capability … and this must be a top priority of the government.' He said the Albanese government had 'many questions to answer'. 'What discussions has Richard Marles already had? To what extent is our lack of defence spending a driver of this review? When will the Prime Minister meet with the President to actually discuss this face-to-face?' he queried. 'These are questions we need answers to, and they're questions that go to the heart of making sure that AUKUS is a success and that we ensure that we have peace through deterrence in our region.' NewsWire understands Anthony Albanese was set to meet the US President on the sidelines of the upcoming G7. But US State Department sources said a time had not been set and the situation was 'fluid'. 'No submarines' Canberra has already spent billions laying the groundwork to acquire and build nuclear-powered submarines and train personnel to crew them under AUKUS. Washington has committed to supply up to five Virginia-class submarines starting in 2032. But sluggish submarine production has put the US on track to face a shortage early next decade. To help bolster production, Australia has agreed to inject $4.6bn into the US defence industrial base. Mr Marles said on Thursday he was 'confident' the production rate was on track. 'And we are seeing real progress – increases in both production and sustainment – associated with what we're doing with AUKUS and what the Americans themselves are doing,' Mr Marles told the ABC. 'That's what is set out in the agreement that we already have with the United States, which forms part of the treaty that we now have between the US and the UK. 'I think it's completely appropriate for this administration to have a look at all of the facts and figures around that.' Malcolm Turnbull, who was prime minister during Mr Trump's first term, took a different view. Also speaking to the ABC, he said it was 'very likely' Australia would end up 'having no submarines'. 'The latest numbers given to the congress by the navy on 11 March this year was that the rate of production is 1.1 per annum,' Mr Turnbull said. 'They need to get to two by 2028 to be able to meet their own requirements, and to 2.33 to meet their own plus Australia's. 'And they have not been able to lift production rates despite the expenditure of over $10bn over the last six or seven years.'So they've got a real problem there.' Mr Trump can renege on Washington's AUKUS commitments if they put US national security at risk.
Perth Now
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
‘High price': Grim warning after AUKUS move
Australia will have 'a very high price to pay if AUKUS fails', opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor says. The warning came after the US Department of Defence launched a review of the pact to ensure it aligned with Donald Trump's 'America First' agenda. The Albanese government has brushed off concerns the move signals waning US support for the alliance with Canberra, with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles saying it was 'natural that the (Trump) administration would want to examine this major undertaking'. But with AUKUS the centrepiece of Australia's defence strategy over the first half of this century, it has offered little reassurance. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor says Australia will have 'a very high price to pay if AUKUS fails'. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia 'This is an incredibly important alliance,' Mr Taylor said on Friday. 'It's an incredibly important capability, both in terms of the submarine capability and the technology capability … and this must be a top priority of the government.' He said the Albanese government had 'many questions to answer'. 'What discussions has Richard Marles already had? To what extent is our lack of defence spending a driver of this review? When will the Prime Minister meet with the President to actually discuss this face-to-face?' he queried. 'These are questions we need answers to, and they're questions that go to the heart of making sure that AUKUS is a success and that we ensure that we have peace through deterrence in our region.' NewsWire understands Anthony Albanese was set to meet the US President on the sidelines of the upcoming G7. But US State Department sources said a time had not been set and the situation was 'fluid'. More to come.
