Former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama delivered her first public speech in Australia, addressing politics, social inequality, and personal experiences. The event took place in Melbourne and drew a notable audience despite discussions over ticket prices. Obama emphasized that wealth and possessions do not guarantee happiness, saying that many billionaires are not truly content and that success should not be measured by material gain.

She revisited her well-known phrase, “When they go low, we go high,” arguing that hostility and poor conduct have not improved society. Obama reflected on her time in the White House, recounting racial attacks and criticism she faced even for initiatives like promoting healthy eating among children. She expressed frustration with political dishonesty but acknowledged the difficulty of always remaining composed, humorously advising people to vent their anger privately.

Obama also shared memories of life with former President Barack Obama, describing their journey from modest beginnings in Chicago to the White House. Following her Melbourne appearances, she is scheduled for two more events in Sydney.

The United States Senate has advanced a proposal aimed at restricting President Donald Trump’s authority to initiate military operations against Iran without explicit congressional approval. The measure, described as a war powers resolution, marks the first time the Senate has voted in favor of such a limitation on the president’s war-making powers.

Although politically significant, the proposal has not yet become law. It must still pass several legal and constitutional stages before taking effect. The move is being viewed as a major political challenge to the Trump administration’s executive authority.

Analysts cited in the report suggest that amid rising military tensions surrounding Iran and concerns over potential U.S. involvement, Congress is seeking to reassert its constitutional role in authorizing acts of war.

The ongoing war with Iran has exposed long-standing weaknesses in the United States’ weapons production and military supply systems. Despite possessing advanced technology, the US defense industry is struggling to meet battlefield demands quickly. A New York Times report cited that producing a Patriot interceptor missile takes about 36 months and costs roughly $4 million each, while Iran produces hundreds of low-cost drones monthly at around $35,000 apiece. The US has already used more than 1,200 interceptors, raising concerns about supply shortages.

The situation has revived former Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates’s criticism of the Pentagon’s expensive and slow weapons programs. Current Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is responding with a $1.5 trillion defense budget and plans to accelerate production. However, experts argue that increasing the budget alone will not solve the problem, emphasizing the need for structural reforms in procurement and production systems.

Analysts warn that without rapid reform, the US may struggle to maintain its “unmatched military capability” in future conflicts.

Former US special envoy for Iran Rob Malley has warned that President Donald Trump may be falling into a 'Vietnam War trap' in his approach to Iran. Speaking to Al Jazeera host Steve Clemons, Malley said Trump measures success by counting the number of Iranian leaders killed or the destruction of Iranian warships and missile systems, which he described as a 'wrong metric.'

Malley argued that the only way out of the current conflict is through an agreement that respects both US and Iranian core interests. He added that assessing the likelihood of such an agreement may depend more on psychology than on expert analysis.

According to Malley, the outcome of the situation ultimately hinges on President Trump’s mindset, suggesting that his personal approach could determine whether the conflict escalates or moves toward negotiation.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a planned military strike on Iran, originally scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, has been temporarily suspended. He stated that the decision was made due to important ongoing discussions and at the request of several allied Middle Eastern leaders. Trump emphasized that the U.S. military remains ready to launch a major operation against Iran if negotiations fail to produce an acceptable agreement.

Trump expressed optimism about reaching what he described as a “very acceptable” deal ensuring Iran would not possess nuclear weapons. Speaking to reporters, he called the development a positive step and said he would prefer a diplomatic resolution over large-scale bombing. However, he cautioned that the outcome of the talks remains uncertain.

He also hinted that Iran might be offered a proposal to suspend its nuclear program for 20 years, signaling a possible softening of the U.S. stance from its previous demand for total dismantlement. Earlier this year, on February 28, Israeli and U.S. forces carried out extensive airstrikes in Iran.

A new poll conducted jointly by The New York Times and Siena University indicates that American public support for a war against Iran and for providing military assistance to Israel has significantly declined. The survey, which included 1,507 registered voters, found that only 30 percent supported a US war against Iran, while about 64 percent opposed it. Additionally, 57 percent of respondents opposed US military aid to Israel, compared to 37 percent who supported it.

The findings mark a notable shift from a November 2023 Quinnipiac University poll, conducted a month after Israel’s war in Gaza began, when more than 51 percent of American voters supported sending additional military aid to Israel. The new results suggest a substantial drop in public backing for Israel’s military assistance.

The poll results highlight changing attitudes among US voters toward Middle East conflicts and Washington’s role in them, reflecting growing reluctance to engage militarily or provide arms support abroad.

The Trump administration has been holding secret meetings in Washington over the past four months with representatives from Greenland and Denmark to discuss expanding US control over the Arctic island. The talks, revealed by a New York Times investigation, aim to revise a 1951 defense agreement to allow indefinite US military presence in Greenland, even if it becomes independent. The United States is also seeking veto power over major investment deals to block Russian and Chinese influence, and joint access to Greenland’s oil, uranium, and rare earth resources.

Greenlandic leaders have expressed deep concern that these demands threaten their sovereignty. They fear that once tensions with Iran ease, President Trump may again focus on asserting dominance over Greenland. Danish and Greenlandic officials have strongly opposed the proposed “forever clause” and veto powers, viewing them as attempts to bind the island’s autonomy for generations.

Pentagon officials argue that melting Arctic ice is opening new strategic routes, requiring expanded radar and military bases across Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. However, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen insists environmental rules will remain strict and that decisions about business and sovereignty must rest with Greenland itself.

Former US Ambassador to Algeria Henry Ensher has said that all military options available to US President Donald Trump in the event of a war with Iran are 'terrible.' He made the remarks in an interview with Al Jazeera, highlighting the difficult position Trump faces regarding potential military action against Iran.

Ensher explained that if Trump were to launch a limited strike on Iran, he would face criticism without achieving any real impact on the Iranian regime. Conversely, a large-scale attack could significantly increase the risk of American casualties and might still fail to achieve its objectives. He described Trump’s military choices as extremely unfavorable.

Ensher further noted that Trump might be hoping that Gulf countries would urge him to refrain from renewed attacks on Iran, as the president himself may prefer to avoid further escalation.

The Australian government is urgently seeking information on the safety and status of its citizens detained by Israeli forces after a Gaza-bound aid flotilla was intercepted in international waters last Monday. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) told Al Jazeera that it is working to confirm the welfare of Australians believed to be among those detained.

A DFAT spokesperson said Australia expects that the detainees will be treated humanely in accordance with international standards. The statement also reiterated Canberra’s call for Australians not to join attempts to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, warning that such actions could expose them and others to risks of injury, death, arrest, or deportation.

According to reports, eleven Australian nationals were among hundreds of volunteers aboard the flotilla, which Israeli forces allegedly detained unlawfully. The incident follows a 2024 Israeli strike in Gaza that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers, including Australian national Zomi Frankcom.

Five people, including two teenagers and a security guard, were killed in a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, California’s largest mosque, on Monday. Police said two teenage gunmen opened fire around 11:40 a.m. local time before being found dead nearby, apparently from self-inflicted gunshots. Authorities are investigating the attack as a possible hate crime, though no official motive has been confirmed.

Police Chief Scott Wahl said the mother of one suspect had called police two hours earlier, reporting her son’s suicidal tendencies and missing firearms. Officers were already patrolling nearby areas when the shooting occurred. The mosque’s imam, Taha Hassan, described the attack as unprecedented and deeply distressing. Officials credited the slain security guard’s actions with preventing further casualties.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, New York Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Senator Lindsey Graham, and New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the victims. Security has been increased around mosques and other places of worship in several states following the incident, which occurred a week before Eid al-Adha amid heightened religious tensions in the U.S.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the import of jet fuel to reinforce the country’s supply system amid a global energy crisis triggered by the ongoing war between the United States, Israel, and Iran. According to a Reuters report, Australia will procure a total of six million barrels, equivalent to about 100 million liters, of jet fuel across three shipments.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the government has also secured an additional 38,500 tons of urea fertilizer from Brunei. The three shipments of jet fuel are expected to begin arriving in Australia from China in early June, according to Albanese.

The announcement underscores Australia’s efforts to ensure energy and agricultural supply stability as international conflicts continue to disrupt global markets.

Democrats in the United States Senate have announced a forced vote this week on the War Powers Resolution aimed at curbing President Donald Trump’s authority to wage war against Iran. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer made the announcement on social media platform X, stating that this will be the eighth such vote by Senate Democrats. He urged Republican senators to support the resolution, end the conflict, and withdraw American troops from hostilities with Iran.

The War Powers Resolution seeks to ensure that only Congress, not the president, can declare war, as stipulated by the U.S. Constitution. The renewed push reflects ongoing Democratic efforts to reassert congressional control over military engagements and prevent unilateral executive action in foreign conflicts.

The outcome of the upcoming vote will determine whether bipartisan support exists to limit presidential war powers and potentially shift U.S. military policy toward Iran.

A new analysis by the Brookings Institution has found that more than 100,000 children were separated from their parents during the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement in the United States. The report estimates that around 205,000 children experienced some form of separation, with about 145,000 of them being U.S.-born citizens. Researchers said official figures understate the scale of the issue because authorities often fail to record data about detainees’ children or families conceal information out of fear.

Analysts noted that the current situation surpasses the 2018 “zero tolerance” policy, when about 5,500 children were separated at the southern border. The report includes personal accounts, such as that of a detained mother in Texas who has been separated from her two-year-old U.S.-born son since last year. The Department of Homeland Security stated that detained parents can either leave the country with their children or assign guardianship, but researchers found many children remain in uncertain care arrangements.

Child welfare experts warned that most separated children live with relatives or acquaintances lacking legal authority or financial stability. Advocacy groups reported rising requests for custody planning assistance, while experts cautioned that intensified immigration raids could further increase family separations and harm children’s mental and social well-being.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Iran will face extreme consequences if it does not agree to a deal soon. In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump stated that time is running out for Iran and that if it fails to act quickly, nothing will remain of the country. His remarks came shortly after a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a report by the Times of Israel.

The warning follows earlier threats from Trump, who had said that if Iran refused to agree to a deal to end the war, its entire civilization would be destroyed. A few days earlier, Trump also described the current ceasefire as being in a “critical condition.” The statements were reported by BBC and other media outlets.

The renewed warning highlights escalating tensions surrounding Iran’s position on negotiations and the fragile state of the ceasefire, though no details of the proposed deal were disclosed in the reports.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Greenland, Jeff Landry, arrived in the autonomous Danish territory on Sunday for a multi-day visit. According to local media, the Louisiana governor is making his first trip in this new role and will attend the “Future Greenland” economic forum in Nuuk on Tuesday and Wednesday. The event, organized by the employers’ association Grønlands Erhverv, will bring together investors, political figures, and business leaders to promote investment opportunities.

Landry’s visit comes at a time of heightened international tension following Trump’s repeated assertions about U.S. control over Greenland. These claims have drawn cautious responses from Denmark, Greenland, and several Western European countries. Local newspaper Sermitsiaq reported that Landry arrived with about ten aides and entered the city in a five-car convoy. The U.S. ambassador to Denmark is expected to join him in Greenland on Monday.

A U.S. embassy statement said the delegation aims to expand economic opportunities, strengthen relationships, and enhance mutual understanding between the United States and Greenland.