Nicola Smith

An unbearably sad statement from the Editorial Committee (SDJ) of the AFP news agency, please read:

"Without immediate intervention, the last reporters in Gaza will die.
AFP has been working with 1 writer, 3 photographers and 6 videographers, all freelance, in the Gaza Strip… /1

Stunning #Canberra sunset tonight

AUKUS is ‘too big to fail’, says ex-Pentagon official Former senior Pentagon official Ely Ratner believes the pact will go ahead but the review raises tough questions.

Great insights from Ely Ratner in @thenightly.bsky.social on #Aukus and the onus on Australia to invest more on deterrence and to engage in tough conversations on strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific

thenightly.com.au/politics/exc...

Go NATO: Why PM should attend regardless of Donald Trump NICOLA SMITH: The Prime Minister should not miss chance to be heard by peers, regardless of whether Donald Trump attends.

My @thenightly.bsky.social take on why Albanese should attend the NATO summit at a time of escalating global instability: The Prime Minister should not miss chance to be heard by peers, regardless of whether Donald Trump attends.

thenightly.com.au/politics/aus...

Regime change with no alternative would risk road to ruin Rushing to overthrow Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could lead to chaos instead of peace.

The @thenightly.bsky.social interviewed Middle East expert Kylie Moore-Gilbert on the prospects for regime change in Iran

thenightly.com.au/politics/aus...

What the UK and Australia can achieve when we stand together CATHERINE WEST: Our relationship with Australia will go from strength to strength to build a free and open Indo-Pacific.

“The AUKUS partnership between Australia, the UK and the US is our most strategically significant new agreement in a generation.” - UK Indo-Pacific Minister Catherine West exclusive oped in The Nightly

thenightly.com.au/opinion/cath...

No need to panic about Pentagon review of Aukus say experts. But calls still rising for Australia to up its defence spending

thenightly.com.au/politics/aus...

Education Minister on the Adolescence scene that haunts him ‘I think every dad would see themselves in that scene and hope and pray that that is never them.’

Our @thenightly.bsky.social interview with Education Minister Jason Clare on the fight against bullying & toxic social media algorithms and his second term overhaul of the education sector from early childcare to universities

thenightly.com.au/politics/aus...

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles is expected to meet US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth this weekend at Asia’s top security summit in Singapore amid regional uncertainty about Washington’s economic and military commitment to the Indo-Pacific

thenightly.com.au/politics/sha...

I was alone on shift when Newark air traffic control went dark Newark airport: An anonymous worker has been signed off with trauma leave since the power went out and she sat there, alone, unable to see the planes. It’s only a matter of time before tragedy strikes...

“If the authorities don’t fix this mess immediately, people will pay with their lives,” writes a Newark air traffic controller:

www.thetimes.com/us/news-toda...

Pacific must not become a ‘military zone’ amid rise of China, New Zealand’s deputy PM warns In an interview with the Guardian, Winston Peters says the world faces the ‘most uncertain time’ in 80 years ahead of talks with Australia's foreign minister

Pacific must not become a ‘military zone’ amid rise of China, New Zealand’s deputy PM warns

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

Australia demands Israel allow aid into Gaza, stating ‘the population faces starvation’ in joint statement ‘Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change,’ joint statement declares after Israel announces military expansion

Australia joins 22 nations to demand Israel allow aid into Gaza, stating ‘the population faces starvation’ in joint statement

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

An emotional Anthony Albanese takes to the stage at the ALP election watch party in Sydney to thank his family, team and the nation.

“Today the Australian people have voted for Australian values.”

Albo makes history with shock landslide election win Anthony Albanese has made history as the first prime minister in 21 years to clinch consecutive polls, storming home with a landslide win in Saturday’s Federal election.

Anthony Albanese has made history as the first prime minister in 21 years to clinch consecutive polls, storming home with a landslide majority win in Saturday’s Federal election.

thenightly.com.au/politics/fed...

Beautiful #Canberra

‘If I die, I want a loud death’: Gaza photojournalist killed by Israeli airstrike Fatima Hassouna, who had been documenting war in Gaza for 18 months and was subject of new documentary, killed along with 10 members of her family

‘If I die, I want a loud death’: Fatima Hassouna - Gaza photojournalist killed by Israeli airstrike

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Election campaign has deficit in honesty and surplus in spin NICOLA SMITH: Dodging tough questions has become a hallmark of this election campaign. And it’s the voters who lose out in the end.

Australian election’s deficit of honest answers, while campaign spin remains in surplus | The Nightly

thenightly.com.au/politics/fed...

Australian Signals Directorate with an advisory on malware targeting Uyghur, Taiwanese and Tibetan groups and civil society actors.
www.cyber.gov.au/about-us/vie...

PM makes Medicare, ‘Buy Australian’ pitch on QLD tour Mr Albanese made the bold move of taking his fight straight to an urgent care centre in Peter Dutton’s Brisbane seat of Dickson.

First full day of campaigning in the Australian PM’s re-election bid

thenightly.com.au/app-login?p=...

Myanmar earthquake death toll passes 1,000 as rescuers search with bare hands Race against time to find survivors, with the death toll expected to rise still further

“The earthquake could not have hit at a worse time for Myanmar, where one third of the population are already in need of humanitarian assistance after four bloody years of war”

www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...

Lovely morning on Lake Burley Griffin #Canberra

Fake pamphlet campaign targeting exile raised with China An outspoken Hong Kong exile living in Australia has been targeted by anonymous leaflets allegedly posted to mosques in Adelaide and accusing him of ‘siding with Israel’ against ‘Islamic terrorism’.

Former Hong Kong legislator Ted Hui targeted by anonymous fake leaflets allegedly posted from Macau to Adelaide mosques, using his photoshopped pic and stating he is “siding with Israel” against “Islamic terrorism”

thenightly.com.au/politics/aus...

You’re such a fabulous journalist and don’t deserve this. We’re thinking of you all just now. Let us know if we can help in any way

Australia urged to play long game amid harsh Trump universe NICOLA SMITH: Today’s America is nobody’s friend and there is no blueprint on how to mend relations or navigate this new Donald Trump world.

“Australia needs to recognise that for right now … our great and powerful friend is not a friend.” One from earlier this week..

thenightly.com.au/politics/aus...

Statement from the director of the Voice of America (who has been placed on administrative leave).

Duterte must answer not to me, but to the victims, the world – De Lima MANILA, Philippines — After standing up before the courts due to the cases filed against her, former Sen. Leila de Lima said it is now time for former President Rodrigo Duterte to face his share

Philippines former senator Leila De Lima says "Duterte now has to answer for his actions, not in the court of public opinion but before the rule of law. This is how justice should work—those in power must be held to the same standards as everyone else.” newsinfo.inquirer.net/2042783/dute...

'Crime against humanity': Former Philippine president arrested Rodrigo Duterte is arrested at Manila's International Airport after an arrest warrant was issued by the International Criminal Court.

"This is a big, long-awaited day for justice," Randy delos Santos, the uncle of a teenager killed by police during an anti-drug operation in August 2017 in the Manila metropolis said.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03...

Australia is ‘considering’ joining Starmer’s ‘coalition of the willing’, UK says Anthony Albanese discusses ‘potential peacekeeping’ as Britain and France lead group of countries to bring ‘lasting peace’ to Ukraine

“[Starmer] welcomed prime minister Albanese’s commitment to consider contributing to a coalition of the willing for Ukraine and looked forward to the Chiefs of Defence meeting in Paris on Tuesday.”

www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...

Thanks to Jennifer Parker and Ray Powell for their insights on Chinese Coast Guard ops and the conversation Australia needs to have about whether to create its own Coast Guard to boost national security

editions.thenightly.com.au/ccidist-ws/t...

Which major party is best tapping into the national mood? Labor and the Coalition have reverted to traditional policy strongholds amid unsettling fears that the long-assumed rules of the global order are rapidly being tossed on a bonfire.

As the opposition party leans into defence spending policies after alarm over Chinese warships circumnavigating Australia and new fears about the future of Ukraine’s democracy, will national security become an election issue? @thenightly.bsky.social

thenightly.com.au/politics/aus...