The petulant demand of tribute to the Trump empire and his transactional ethos surely now challenges the agreed balance sheet between Australia and America.

Comments last week by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on vital defence issues made clear how confused — and indeed downright misinformed — our highest political and defence force leaders are.

Albanese, asked whether ANZUS was “rock solid”, simply said “yes”. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton did not publicly object to this assessment of the treaty.

Witnessing the extraordinary cage fight this week between Volodomyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump in the Oval Office provided an eye-popping glimpse into what is normally kept behind closed doors when world leaders meet to nut out matters of great consequence.

The two presidents loudly talked over each other, eyeballs rolling, aggressively gesticulating and contradicting each other, with occasional interjections by Vice-President JD Vance – “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media!”

I do not believe that Russia, China or the United Kingdom or for that matter the United States or France should dictate Irish foreign policy or should dictate when we do or do not deploy troops.

Volodymyr Zelensky has met King Charles III at Sandringham, after attending a summit of European leaders on ending the war in Ukraine.

As the Ukrainian president arrived at the King's Norfolk residence, local residents, some holding Ukraine flags, gathered outside the estate to witness his entrance by helicopter.

Zelensky was in London over the weekend for the talks on European defence, after a fiery exchange with US President Donald Trump in the White House on Friday.

Questions about U.S. President Donald Trump's possibly shady relationship with Russia and the country's security services have long swirled, even culminating in a special counsel investigation during his first term in office.

Though that investigation found evidence of "extensive criminal activity" by Trump, his associates, and some of his family members, it found no evidence that he was working for, or had ever been recruited by, Russia's security services.

Could a partial month-long truce between Russia and Ukraine be the key to unlocking a lasting peace between the two sides?

President Emmanuel Macron of France believes so and he floated the idea during Sunday's summit of European leaders in London.

In an interview with Le Figaro newspaper, he proposed a four-week truce "in the air, at sea and on energy infrastructure". It would not cover ground fighting along the front line in the east. 

"In the event of a ceasefire, it would be very difficult to verify [a truce] along the front was being respected," Macron told the newspaper.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk laid bare deepening divisions among EU leaders in London over confiscating frozen Russian assets. While Baltic and Northern European nations push for immediate seizure to aid Ukraine, economic powerhouses like France, Germany, Italy, and Spain remain hesitant, fearing financial instability. Tusk warned that Europe’s disunity only strengthens Russia, stressing the need for transatlantic cohesion, especially amid growing uncertainty over U.S. support. His cryptic reference to “that very strange Friday” at the White House hinted at broader geopolitical tensions, as Russia watches the cracks in the EU’s front widen.

Is Putin Winning Without Lifting a Finger? EU Nations Paralyzed by Fear Over Russian Assets!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-8akISwGis

Peter Dutton deserves a little sympathy as he indignantly denies any conflict of interest or impropriety over his purchases of banking shares and real estate. Many people always believe the worst of politicians, particularly if there is any suggestion of abuse of position, making money on the side, or personal enrichment.

'We should have woken up earlier': Europe races to rearm as old alliances falter
European countries are ramping up defence spending, spurred by the war in Ukraine and uncertainty over continued US backing. After a decisive weekend meeting in London, several nations committed to significant increases in their military budgets.

Donald Trump might be a speed hump on the road to net zero, but the business and climate case for renewables leaves Australia in the box seat to capitalise.

The start of a second Trump presidency has led many to question the future outlook for energy in Australia and around the world, and what impact the new US administration will have on the move towards net zero.

Economist Ross Garnaut AC, who is Professor Emeritus at both The Australian National University and The University of Melbourne, spoke to Andrew Jaspan, editor-in-chief of 360info, about where things now stand.

"Another devastating world war, potentially bringing China and the United States into direct conflict. The spread and even the use of nuclear weapons. The wars in Ukraine and Gaza failing to ultimately produce favourable outcomes for Kyiv and Israeli-Palestinian peace. A more multipolar world without robust multilateral institutions. A democratic recession further devolving into a democratic depression."

The next federal election looms ahead menacingly. This is when the metal hits the meat and we have to make hard decisions or become just the burnt bits on the edge of the Democracy Sausage Sizzle.

The incumbent government is a bucket of time-ex bait on a hot day, with a leader odds-on for worst PM since Billy McMahon (if anyone wanted to contest that dubious honour) His panoply of Noddy dolls in ministerial positions — with too few exceptions — have turned the Light on the Hill into a penny candle on a traffic speed bump. Massively disappointing.

After hosting crisis talks on Ukraine, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer laid out important steps that the leaders discussed behind closed doors on Sunday.

"We will keep the military aid flowing and keep the economic pressure on Russia to strengthen Ukraine now," Starmer said at the press conference.

He also underlined that "any lasting peace must ensure Ukraine's sovereignty and security" with Ukraine at the table. 

In the event of a peace deal, he said "We will keep boosting Ukraine's own defensive capabilities to deter any future invasion."

Starmer also mentioned the plan to develop "a coalition of the willing" to guarantee peace in Ukraine. "Those willing will intensify planning now with real urgency."

Israel will stop the entry of essential aid into the Gaza Strip starting Sunday, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

The move is in response to what Netanyahu's office called "Hamas' refusal" to accept an outline for the resumption of truce talks presented by US President Donald Trump's envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.

The first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which included a surge in humanitarian assistance, expired on Saturday.

US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz has revealed how Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and his delegation reacted to being expelled from the White House following a heated confrontation with President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.

The altercation occurred during a meeting on Friday where the leaders had intended to finalize a minerals agreement between the United States and Ukraine. The discussion deteriorated when Zelensky dug in his heels in and insisted that Trump should be supporting Kiev more rather than staying neutral in an attempt to mediate a deal with Moscow.