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Former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull reacts as he speaks during an interview in Sydney Thursday. Australia ditching the British monarchy is “more important than ever” and voters would likely back a head of state elected by its parliament, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull told AFP Thursday.Turnbull — who served as prime minister from 2015 to 2018 — led the country’s Republic Movement’s unsuccessful 1999 referendum bid to replace the British monarchy with an Australian head of state.Almost three decades on from that poll and as the British monarchy reels from the arrest of ex-prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — the first of a royal in the modern era — Turnbull told AFP an elected head of state could heal Australia’s “tribal” politics.”I think a republic is more important than ever,” he said. “The monarchy remains this anachronism.”Australia was a British colony for more than 100 years and gained de facto independence in 1901, but has never become a fully fledged republic.Current Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has issued a full-throated call for Andrew to be removed from the royal line of succession.Albanese is an avowed republican but has ruled out another referendum on the issue during his tenure.But Turnbull told AFP he believed Australians would “absolutely” back a system in which the head of state was instead elected by the parliament in Canberra.”The virtue of having a republic in Australia is that it emphasises the thing we have in common as Australians.”In addition to being one of Australia’s most prominent republicans, Turnbull is also an outspoken opponent of the AUKUS, a multi-decade defence pact with Britain and the US.The pact aims to arm Australia with a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines and would provide for co-operation in developing an array of warfare technologies.But Turnbull told AFP that Australia will “almost certainly” get no nuclear submarines (SSNs) out of the deal.”It’s this vast expenditure and this vast investment which will very likely result in us having no submarines at all,” he said.”The US has made it very clear — it’s set out in their legislation — that no submarines can be sold to us unless the president certifies essentially that their navy doesn’t require them,” he said.”At the moment, they are producing about half as many SSNs as the American Navy needs, let alone to cater for the American and Australian needs.”He described it as a “terrible deal” and echoed French ex-defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian’s claim that Australia “has sacrificed sovereignty for the sake of security, but will end up losing both”.Turnbull argued that Australia must ditch AUKUS and place its own interests front and centre as Canberra increasingly navigates a world order defined by American “bullying”.He described American threats to annex Denmark’s autonomous territory of Greenland “mind-boggling”. “That’s the stuff of a dystopian novel, frankly,” he said. “This is wild stuff. And I think we’re in a disrupted age.” But he places little faith in the political party he once led as being able to guide Australia through troubled times.”The Liberal Party is failing Australia,” he said.That party has endured an existential crisis since their second consecutive defeat by Albanese’s Labor last year, torn between centrists and right-wingers sceptical of climate change and urging a tougher line on immigration.Opinion polling has shown the Liberals falling behind the far-right and populist One Nation party led by Pauline Hanson, a longtime senator notorious for racist outbursts.This month, the Liberals dumped leader Sussan Ley in favour of the more right-wing Angus Taylor.Turnbull — who has described Taylor as the “best-qualified idiot” around — warned the party faced disaster if it continued down that path.He told AFP its decision last year to ditch a commitment to net zero emissions was “culture war lunacy”.”The more you go off to the populist right, the more you elevate all of these culture war issues, and, you know, divisive, often racist issues, the more you elevate Hanson — you can’t out-Hanson Hanson.””Australian politics is decided — and contested — in the centre.” Related Story Source link
Tennis – ATP 500 – Mexican Open – Arena GNP Seguros, Acapulco, Mexico – February 25, 2026 Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic celebrates after winning his round of…
A US judge Thursday declined to block President Donald Trump from proceeding with construction of a $400mn White House ballroom to replace the demolished East Wing, finding that a challenge from preservationists did not meet the high bar for a preliminary injunction that would halt the project for now. US District Judge Richard Leon's ruling came in a lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation aiming to stop construction until the White House complies with federal law and rules including congressional authorisation. The National Trust had sought a preliminary injunction to freeze the work on the ballroom, planned to be 90,000sq ft (8,360sq m), while the private nonprofit group's lawsuit proceeds.The Trump administration has argued that the project is consistent with established presidential renovation practices and serves the public interest.Leon, in his ruling, said he could not issue an injunction based on the specific arguments the National Trust made, but he said the group could amend its complaint to reassert its claims that Trump is acting beyond his authority.’Unfortunately, because both sides initially focused on the President's constitutional authority to destruct and construct the East Wing of the White House, Plaintiff didn't bring the necessary cause of action to test the statutory authority the President claims is the basis to do this construction project without the blessing of Congress and with private funds,’ Leon wrote in his ruling.Trump in a post on his Truth Social platform called the decision ‘Great news for America, and our wonderful White House!’ He said the ballroom ‘will stand long into the future as a symbol to the Greatness of America!’The National Trust did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The National Trust sued Trump and several federal agencies in December, arguing that the project moved ahead unlawfully without required approvals, environmental review or authorisation by Congress.Trump's demolition of the East Wing building, a part of the White House complex originally built in 1902 during Theodore Roosevelt's presidency and greatly expanded in 1942 during Franklin Roosevelt's presidency, was carried out in October. Construction equipment tore down the structure, which had housed the first lady's offices, a theatre and a visitors' entrance that welcomed foreign dignitaries.The ballroom project is one of several major changes Trump has made to the White House since returning to office in January 2025. Trump has added gold accents throughout the Oval Office and converted the Rose Garden lawn into a paved patio resembling one at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.The National Trust argued that federal law bars construction on federal parkland in Washington without the express authority of Congress. It also argued the National Park Service violated federal law by issuing an environmental assessment instead of a full impact statement, and by releasing it after demolition had begun. ‘No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever — not President Trump, not President Biden, and not anyone else,’ the lawsuit said.The administration has defended the legality of the project, arguing it follows in a long line of presidential renovations. It said in a court filing that the ballroom is needed for state functions, its design is still evolving and above-ground construction is not planned until April, making an injunction unnecessary. Last week, the US Commission of Fine Arts approved Trump’s ballroom proposal. The panel, whose commissioners were appointed by Trump in January, advanced the project on a unanimous 6-0 vote.Trump's swift demolition of the East Wing drew scorn from preservationists and other critics, who saw the project as an extension of the Republican president's claims of expansive presidential powers. Trump has defended the project, asserting in a post on his Truth Social platform that his use of private donations for the project means ‘ZERO taxpayer funding.’ Trump called the planned ballroom a ‘desperately needed space.’No firm completion date has been given but the White House said it will be ‘long before the end’ of Trump's term. Source link
Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said his team’s 2-1 win against Benfica on Wednesday to reach the Champions League last 16 was a victory for “everyone who is against racism”. The Frenchman was referring to the first leg of the play-off tie, which Madrid won 1-0 last week, which was marred by alleged racial abuse aimed at Vinicius Junior by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni. “We didn’t play our best match of the season, that’s for sure. But I think there are things more important than this match, and more important than football,” Tchouameni told reporters. Vinicius scored Madrid’s second goal at the Santiago Bernabeu and Tchouameni said the result was a “victory for everyone who is against racism”. Prestianni was provisionally suspended by UEFA for the game while the incident is under investigation and Benfica had an appeal against his ban rejected earlier Wednesday. “The dance continues,” wrote Vinicius on social media afterwards, along with a photo of a big banner hung at the Bernabeu reading “no to racism”. Real Madrid said they had thrown out one of their own supporters before the game for performing a Nazi salute. “This (club) member was identified by the club’s security staff moments after appearing on the (television) broadcast and was immediately expelled from the Santiago Bernabeu stadium,” said Madrid in a statement. “Real Madrid condemns this type of gesture and expression that incites violence and hatred in sports and society.” Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said he was happy when Vinicius found the net. “(I reacted) with joy obviously, for the great goal he scored, and because it was him, he deserves it,” said Arbeloa. “Without (Kylian) Mbappe I think it’s even more important and I am very happy for him.” Before the game Arbeloa said French superstar Mbappe would spent some time out as he recovers from a knee problem. “After yesterday’s session, we talked with the doctors, I spoke with him, and we felt the best thing was for him to stop, to recover 100 percent, and to come back in top shape, confident and without any discomfort for everything that’s coming, which is obviously very important,” Arbeloa told reporters after the match. Asked if it was discomfort or an injury, he added: “I think we can call it an injury, but it seems, and I hope, that it’s not a very serious injury, nothing major, and that he’ll be able to come back in a few days or weeks.” Source link
US Vice-President J D Vance speaks at Pointe Precision in Plover, Wisconsin Thursday. (Reuters) US Vice-President J D Vance took aim at Democrats in a partisan speech Thursday in a competitive Wisconsin district, as the White House tries to protect a narrow Republican majority in the House of Representatives ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. Vance visited Plover, part of Wisconsin’s third congressional district, which lies at the heart of the region that first lifted Donald Trump to the White House in 2016.Democrats are targeting this district in their quest to regain control of the lower house of Congress, leaning on voters’ dissatisfaction with the state of the economy. The district’s incumbent congressman, Derrick Van Orden, won re-election in 2024 by less than three points.Van Orden sits in one of two Republican-held seats in Wisconsin that Democrats are targeting in the midterms. The former Navy SEAL senior chief is closely aligned with the president, whose polling on the economy has worsened since he retook office last January.Vance argued Democrats deserve blame for higher prices that started rising during the Biden administration.”Hearing the Democrats talk about affordability is like hearing an arsonist complain about fire,” said Vance, speaking at a machining plant.Voters in the third district, located in the southwestern part of the state, delivered victories for a string of Democratic presidential candidates for decades, including Barack Obama, until Donald Trump carried the district in 2016. He also won the district by seven points in 2024, part of a sweep of battleground states that propelled him to victory over Democrat Kamala Harris.In Wisconsin, the vice-president visited a factory, Pointe Precision, and underscored the Republican president’s economic message from Tuesday’s State of the Union address. During that speech, Trump promoted his efforts on a sweep of kitchen-table economic issues from housing to healthcare and utility bills. But he stopped short of acknowledging that many Americans are still struggling with the high cost of food and housing. Just 36% of voters approve of how Trump is handling the economy, according to the most recent Reuters/Ipsos poll. Some Republican Party strategists have warned that without a more emphatic message on inflation, Republicans are at risk of losing control of Congress in November.”J D Vance has a tough job today,” said Mandela Barnes, a Democratic candidate in the state’s competitive gubernatorial election, also set for November. “He’s got to look Wisconsin families in the eye and tell them this economy is working for them.”The White House is set to showcase the president and top administration officials in competitive political areas to highlight Trump’s economic agenda. He is expected to visit Texas on Friday for an event focused on energy and the economy.Vance’s trip was his second in office to Wisconsin’s third congressional district after a trip to La Crosse in August.National Democrats said this week they are ramping up spending in the district, where Van Orden won re-election in 2024 by fewer than three percentage points.Trump endorsed Van Orden in the 2026 race 10 months ago. The primary election to pick his Democratic opponent will be held on August 11. Related Story Source link
Qatar will open their campaign in the second window of the Asian qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 by hosting India today at 10pm at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall. The Group D encounter is one of the standout fixtures of the window, while Lebanon face Saudi Arabia in Beirut. Saudi Arabia currently lead the standings with four points after consecutive victories over India (75-51 and 81-57). Qatar sit second on three points following a narrow 75-74 defeat to Lebanon before responding with an impressive 86-83 away win in the opening window. Lebanon are level on points with Qatar in third place, while India remain fourth with two points after losing both of their opening matches. The clash therefore presents Qatar with an important opportunity to strengthen their position ahead of Monday’s decisive meeting against Saudi. Qatar prepared for the India and Saudi fixtures with an overseas training camp in Turkey under head coach Hakan Demir. The camp focused on improving team chemistry, expanding tactical options and enhancing physical readiness ahead of the demanding qualification window. But Qatar seem to have overcome a huge psychological barrier in the previous window by beating the Lebanon in Beirut. The fact that they are hosting the next FIBA Basketball World Cup lends additional heft to the argument that they will continue to find ways to improve. The flipside though, is the risk of complacency. With a spot in the global showpiece assured, Qatar look to vital experience. The national side will again rely on key performers Brandon Goodwin and Alen Hadzibegovic, who impressed during the opening round. Hadzibegovic averaged 16.5 points and 11 rebounds, while Goodwin contributed 21 points, seven rebounds and 7.5 assists per game, forming the backbone of Qatar’s offensive and defensive approach. The Asian and Oceania qualifiers feature 16 teams divided into four groups. Group A includes Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and Guam, while Group B consists of Japan, China, South Korea and Chinese Taipei. Group C features Iran, Jordan, Syria and Iraq, with Group D comprising Qatar, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and India. The top three teams from each group will advance to the second round, where they will be reorganised into two new groups. From there, three teams from each group along with the best fourth-placed side overall will qualify for the 2027 World Cup. The qualification process will be played across six competition windows running from November 2025 to March 2027, allowing teams preparation time between official rounds. The remaining windows are scheduled for June-July 2026, August-September 2026, November-December 2026 and February-March 2027. Source link
A woman walks through Nuseirat Refugee Camp, north of Dier Al-Balah in the Gaza Strip, Thursday. (AFP) Israel’s actions in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip seem aimed at creating “permanent demographic change”, UN rights chief Volker Turk said Thursday.”Taken together, Israel’s actions appear aimed at making a permanent demographic change in Gaza and the West Bank, raising concerns about ethnic cleansing”, Turk said in a speech before the UN’s Human Rights Council in Geneva.Turk pointed in particular to an ongoing, year-long Israeli military operation in the West Bank’s north that has caused the displacement of 32,000 Palestinians.Elsewhere in the West Bank, entire Bedouin herder communities have been displaced by increasing harassment and violence from Israeli settlers, including near Mikhmas to the east of Ramallah, and Ras Ein Al-Auja, in the Jordan Valley, since the start of the year.In addition to roughly three million Palestinians, more than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements and outposts in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law.Israel has approved a series of initiatives this month backed by far-right ministers, including launching a process to register land in the West Bank as “state property” and allowing Israelis to purchase land there directly, in a move condemned by several countries.Israel’s current government has accelerated settlement expansion, approving a record 54 settlements in 2025, according to Israeli settlement watchdog NGO Peace Now.Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967.In the Gaza Strip, most of the territory’s 2.2mn inhabitants have been displaced at least once since the start of the Hamas-Israel war.”Intensified attacks, the methodical destruction of entire neighbourhoods and the denial of humanitarian assistance appeared to aim at a permanent demographic shift in Gaza”, the UN human rights office said in a report last week.”They want maximum land and minimum Arabs”, Fathi Nimer, a researcher with Palestinian think-tank Al-Shabaka, told AFP, referring to a commonly used phrase used to describe Israeli settlement tactics. Related Story Source link
Leaders Al Sadd produced a strong comeback to defeat Al Duhail 3-1 in a thrilling Qatar Stars League clash at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium last night. Duhail took the lead shortly after the break through Edmilson Junior in the 47th minute, but the momentum quickly shifted in Sadd’s favour. The visitors drew level in the 52nd minute when Yousef Ayman turned Akram Afif’s cross into his own net, before Rafa Mujica completed the turnaround just two minutes later. Giovani Henrique sealed the victory for the defending champions in the 83rd minute, finishing off a well-worked move set up by Afif to secure three valuable points for the Wolves. The win marked Sadd’s 10th consecutive league victory and strengthened their grip at the top of the standings, maintaining a four-point advantage over closest challengers Al Gharafa. In contrast, Al Duhail’s struggles continued as they extended their winless run to four matches – two draws and two defeats – leaving them eighth with 21 points and drifting further from the top-four race. Meanwhile at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium, Gharafa came from behind to claim an entertaining 3-2 victory over Al Rayyan. Rodrigo Moreno gave Rayyan an early lead in the fourth minute, finishing clinically after collecting a pass from Aleksandar Mitrovic. Gharafa responded after the break when Ferjani Sassi equalised in the 57th minute following a deflected delivery from Alvaro Djalo Fernandes. Amro Surag put the hosts ahead four minutes later, arriving to finish from close range, before Joselu extended the lead in the 84th minute with a powerful strike from outside the box after another contribution from Surag. Roger Guedes converted a stoppage-time penalty for Rayyan, while late drama saw Gharafa’s Saifeldeen Fadlalla sent off deep into added time. The victory moved Gharafa into second place on 34 points, with Al Rayyan remaining fourth on 28. Action continues today with Umm Salal facing Al Wakrah at Al Khor Stadium as both sides seek crucial points. Umm Salal aim to build on consecutive wins that have revived their survival hopes, while Al Wakrah look to recover from defeat to Al Sadd. Elsewhere, Al Ahli meet bottom side Al Shahaniy at Al Thumama Stadium in a key relegation encounter. Saturday, in-form Al Shamal take on Qatar SC seeking a third straight win, although they will be without suspended striker Baghdad Bounedjah. The round 17 concludes with Al Arabi facing Al Sailiya as both teams attempt to bounce back from recent setbacks. Remaining Fixtures(All matches kick-off at 9:30pm) Friday: Umm Salal vs Al Wakrah at Al KhorStadium; Al Ahli vs Al Shahaniya atAl Thumama Stadium Saturday: Al Shamal vs Qatar SC atAl Shamal Stadium; Al Arabi vs Al Sailiya atAl Thumama Stadium Related Story Source link
Former West Ham United striker Michail Antonio is set to resume his club career after agreeing to join Qatar Stars League side Al Sailiya on a short-term deal, according to a report by BBC.The 35-year-old is expected to sign until the end of the current season, with Al Sailiya, who are ninth in the QSL, have six matches remaining in the season. BBC reported confirmation of the move is anticipated in the coming days.Antonio has been without a club since leaving West Ham United last year and has not featured in competitive English football since surviving a near-fatal car crash in December 2024 that resulted in multiple leg fractures.The Jamaica international had recently been training with Charlton Athletic and held exploratory discussions over a potential pay-as-you-play contract. However, the striker has opted for a move to Qatar as he continues his return to full fitness.Talks were also held with Premier League clubs Brentford and Leicester City, while Portsmouth manager John Mousinho confirmed he had considered signing the experienced forward, though no agreement materialised.Antonio briefly returned to international action with Jamaica at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, marking his first competitive appearances following the accident. In an interview with BBC Sport earlier this year, Antonio revealed he felt he was “close to dying” after the crash in Essex and described his recovery as being given “another chance at life”.The powerful striker remains West Ham United’s all-time leading Premier League scorer, netting 68 top-flight goals as part of an 83-goal tally across 323 appearances during a decade-long spell with the London club.Having rebuilt his fitness over recent months, Antonio now looks set to continue his career in the QSL, League, taking the next step in a remarkable comeback following one of the most serious setbacks of his career. Source link
South Africa captain Aiden Markram led from the front with an unbeaten 82 as South Africa all but secured a T20 World Cup semi-final berth with a brutal nine-wicket thrashing of the West Indies in Ahmedabad Thursday.After the West Indies fought back from deep trouble at 83-7 to post 176-8, Markram and Quinton de Kock put on 95 for the first wicket to set the platform for a thumping victory.South Africa raced to their target with 23 balls to spare, scoring 177-1. Ryan Rickleton was not out on 45 at the end.’The wicket got really good again for batting, it was slightly tacky earlier when we bowled,’ said Markram.’Steep bounce came from the tackiness. Fortunately we ended up on the right side of the toss. The guys bowled really well up front to take wickets.’South Africa are the only unbeaten side, having also dismantled the pre-tournament favourites India by 76 runs in the Super Eights.An India win against Zimbabwe in Chennai later Thursday will guarantee South Africa's progress to the last four.It will also make India's clash against the West Indies in Kolkata on Sunday a winner-takes-all decider for the final semi-final berth.Markram reached fifty off 27 balls and hit four sixes and seven fours.De Kock scored 47 off 24 balls, with four sixes and Rickleton hit two sixes in his 28-ball knock in an utterly dominant display of batsmanship.The West Indies earlier needed a record eighth-wicket partnership by Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder to set a target of 177 after an early collapse.The pair came together with their team in deep trouble at 83-7 and put on 89, the highest eighth-wicket stand in the history of T20 internationals.Shepherd was unbeaten on 52 off 37 balls with four sixes. Holder was run out off the penultimate ball of the innings for 49 off 31 balls with three maximums.’Very important to get a big score, and losing so many wickets in the powerplay cost us,’ said West Indies captain Shai Hope.’We were 40-50 runs short. Must commend the guys in the bottom half for giving us a chance.’Both teams came into the match with a perfect five wins in the T20 World Cup so far.South Africa have played four of their five matches in Ahmedabad and captain Aiden Markram had no hesitation in opting to bowl when he won the toss.The West Indies took 17 off the first over, bowled by left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj.Kagiso Rabada's introduction halted their charge as Hope (16) edged his second ball to keeper Quinton de Kock.Shimron Hetmyer was dropped at mid-on by Corbin Bosch off the next delivery, but lasted only two more when he miscued to midwicket where Maharaj snapped up the catch.Lungi Ngidi got in the act in his first over when Brandon King on 21 edged to De Kock and two balls later Roston Chase chopped on.From 29-0 after two overs, the West Indies had slumped to 43-4 after four.Ngidi took 3-30 from his four overs, Rabada 2-2 and Bosch 2-31. BRIEF SCORES: South Africa 177 for 1 (Markram 82*, de Kock 47, Rickelton 45*) beat West Indies 176 for 8 (Shepherd 52, Holder 49, Ngidi 3-20, Rabada 2-22, Bosch 2-31) by nine wickets Source link