Australia's Albanese seems to recoil from anything national security, defence and foreign policy related. But like it or not, this is the trend for the past week of media appearances for both PM and his ministers. Sooner or later Cabinet is going to have to confront this

Dems Sen. Jeanne Shaheen Senator Chris Coons say AUKUS is critical to US security and declined to draw a link to the subs and Australia paying more. But the Pentagon said that demanding regional allies pay more is central to deterring China. My yarn in The Nightly latika.me/AUKUSCoonsShah…

Netanyahu to the White House on Monday. AP: latika.me/4kilzYO

This is embarrassing. Albanese is now flagging summit season as his opportunity to meet Trump.

My comment piece on the return of Average Albo, and why his stubborn complacency on foreign policy and national security is no longer tolerable but dangerous, makes tonight's splash in The Nightly. Read now: latika.me/AverageAlbo

Latika M Bourke on mediocrity. Download your 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 edition of The Nightly now: buff.ly/McbtUhD

So Zelensky did everything Trump asked him to do, signed away mineral rights, agreed to an unconditional ceasefire, and the U.S. still cut off previously funded weapons supplies, leaving Ukrainian cities defenseless against Russian missile strikes. A lesson to all here.

Devastating.

Farage nailing it.

The cost of @keir_starmer's small-target strategy is becoming clear. My analysis on Rachel Reeves tearful PMQs: latika.me/ReevesTears

Putin and Trump had a call, again. Per Russian readout, Trump called for a ceasefire, Putin said Russia first needs to achieve the goals of the “special military operation,” Trump didn’t object and then they talked about cooperation in promoting “traditional values” in movies.

This seems like an extraordinary admission for Wang Yi to have made...out loud and to Kaja Kallas of all people.

Shades of Scott Morrison from Albanese here. Whenever questions were asked about difficult international relations, he'd start accusing the media and the like of talking down Team Australia etc and questioning whose team/side they were on.

V. Positive (For as long as it lasts). "President Trump is very well informed, and I thank him for his attention to Ukraine. We spoke about opportunities in air defense and agreed that we will work together to strengthen protection of our skies. We have also agreed to a meeting

'China supports European integration, supports Europe's strategic autonomy, and supports Europe in becoming an important pole in a multipolar world.'