Antony Blinken: Russian invasion threat ‘real’

Published

4 years ago

February 17, 2022

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the threat of a Russian invasion is “real”, dismissing claims Moscow has pulled troops back from the border.

The United States is continuing to warn Russia could invade Ukraine at any day, as tensions in the region escalate.

According to US President Joe Biden, more than 150,000 troops remain deployed at the border, with any remaining American citizens urged to leave immediately.

Blinken’s comments echo those of NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, who also sees no sign of de-escalation by Russia.

This is all despite claims made by Moscow that some of its troops are being withdrawn and military drills in Crimea being wound up.

NATO is moving to action further battlegrounds in both central and south-eastern Europe, and the Secretary-General warns the threat from Russia is now the “new normal”.

The comments by the Secretary-General paint a bleak picture of what the future holds for European security.

He says ongoing measures to bolster EU defence is part of ongoing measures.

But Russia’s foreign ministry has rejected these claims, saying it is “no longer interested” in Stoltenberg’s comments.

NATO believes Russia’s build-up of military personnel remains the biggest since the Cold War era.

Angus Taylor elected Liberal leader after decisive ballot victory

Angus Taylor wins Liberal leadership over Sussan Ley, vows to implement a back to basics conservative strategy.

Published

2 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Angus Taylor wins Liberal leadership over Sussan Ley, vows to implement a back to basics conservative strategy.

Angus Taylor has been elected leader of the federal Liberal Party, defeating Sussan Ley 34-17 in a partyroom vote in Canberra. He replaces Ms Ley, the first woman to hold the role, who was removed after just nine months. Jane Hume was chosen as deputy leader, becoming the first senator in the role since 1990.

The leadership contest saw four candidates, including Ted O’Brien, Dan Tehan, and Melissa Price. Following the eliminations, Taylor emerged victorious, backed by Senator Hume and other conservative figures. His supporters cited declining polls and the party’s recent struggles as reasons for the change, calling him the “smartest policy brain” in Liberal ranks.

#AngusTaylor #SussanLey #LiberalParty #AustralianPolitics #LeadershipSpill #JaneHume #CoalitionCrisis #PoliticalNews

News

Epstein hearing explodes over redactions and hidden names

Lawmakers accuse AG Pam Bondi of hiding Epstein-linked names amid congressional hearing, questioning redactions related to billionaire Wexner.

Published

1 day ago

February 12, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Lawmakers accuse AG Pam Bondi of hiding Epstein-linked names amid congressional hearing, questioning redactions related to billionaire Wexner.

US lawmakers have accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of withholding key names linked to Jeffrey Epstein during a fiery congressional hearing. The confrontation centred on redactions within investigative files that critics argue should have been fully disclosed under federal law.

Representative Thomas Massie pressed the Justice Department over blacked-out sections, specifically questioning references to billionaire Leslie Wexner. Bondi maintained that Wexner’s name was released promptly once flagged, defending the department’s handling of the documents.

Frustration boiled over as lawmakers challenged the extent of the redactions, leading to an extraordinary moment in the hearing as Bondi pushed back and praised President Donald Trump while standing by the department’s review process.

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#EpsteinFiles #PamBondi #USPolitics #Congress #JeffreyEpstein #BreakingNews #PoliticalDrama #TickerNews

News

Angus Taylor moves to challenge Sussan Ley for party leadership

Angus Taylor resigns from Coalition frontbench to challenge Sussan Ley amid Liberal Party divisions and declining poll support.

Published

1 day ago

February 12, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Angus Taylor resigns from Coalition frontbench to challenge Sussan Ley amid Liberal Party divisions and declining poll support.

Angus Taylor has resigned from the Coalition frontbench to launch a leadership challenge against Sussan Ley, declaring he lacks confidence in her ability to rebuild support for the Liberal Party. His move sets up a high-stakes internal contest that could reshape the party’s direction.

Supporters of Mr Taylor are expected to push for a meeting by Friday to trigger a potential leadership spill, intensifying pressure on Ms Ley. Moderate MPs are calling on her to demand clear proof of numbers before any ballot takes place.

With the Liberals trailing in the polls and facing mounting questions over strategy, both camps are outlining starkly different visions for the party’s future as tensions rise in Canberra.

#AustralianPolitics #LiberalParty #AngusTaylor #SussanLey #LeadershipSpill #Canberra #AusPol #PoliticalNews