Australia to deploy 100 soldiers to help Ukraine in war against Russia
At the request of NATO and Poland , Australia will deploy a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail aircraft in August along with 100 Australian Defense Force personnel. Part of Operation Kudu, the deployment is designed to protect an international gateway for humanitarian and military assistance into Ukraine and will not be direct combat roles.
The deployment is expected to conclude by November and will compliment Australia's more than $1.5billion in support to Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022 .
'Australia is proud of its longstanding operational partnership with NATO,' Mr Marles said in announcing the commitments on Wednesday.
'The deployment of an E-7A Wedgetail aircraft will again showcase our ability to operate from Europe, alongside NATO and partners, in support of Ukraine and international peace and security.'
Leaders of the defensive alliance descended on The Hague on Tuesday for two days of talks on the conflict and Washington's uncertain commitment to NATO. Representatives of the member states, including many European nations, the UK, the US and Canada, are expected to commit five per cent of their national outputs to defence and related spending.
Australia is not a NATO member but is considered one of its Indo-Pacific partners alongside Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand. During the summit, Australia also imposed a fresh wave of financial sanctions and travel bans on 37 individuals and financial sanctions on seven entities.
Mr Marles said the sanctions will target Russia's defense, energy, transport, insurance, electronic and finance sectors and proponents of disinformation and propaganda.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong welcomed the sanctions as a sign of Australia's deep ties with NATO member states. 'Our targeted sanctions reflect our close coordination with key NATO partners, including the UK, Canada and the European Union.
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Auto Car
19 minutes ago
- Auto Car
New Tesla Model Y squares up to Skoda Enyaq in family EV showdown!
Open gallery Model Y or Enyaq - which takes the family EV crown? Quick steering and a more rear-biased drive set-up make the Tesla seem agile Minimalist Tesla interior feels solidly built overall and provides good space Skoda's front end will tend to run wide of the apex if you push hard Skoda's cabin creates a slightly more upmarket ambience and is roomy Close Tesla's in a spot of bother. Its sales across Europe have dropped and profits have taken an even more vertiginous slump. Adding to its woes was the recent news that it was forced to issue its eighth (yes, you read that right) recall of its cubist Cybertruck, this time to remedy its propensity for shedding stainless steel bodywork. So what's going on? If you look at many of the headlines, the finger points directly at the company's controversialist CEO, Elon Musk. His appetite for attracting attention of the wrong kind certainly hasn't helped lure customers into showrooms – although it has created a cottage industry in 'not in my name' bumper stickers – but as ever the answer is, well, more complicated than that. For starters, there's the current tariff situation. Then there's the fact that Tesla is actually more of a tech company than a car firm, which brings its own challenges. Like a smartphone manufacturer, it's all about the software, and in this respect it's one of the best in the business, streets ahead of the legacy brands (and that also includes its understanding of battery chemistry). Yet this means it doesn't follow some of the tried and tested methods of the established practitioners, such as model cycles that include visually appealing mid-life refreshes designed to persuade people to part with their cash for cars that might otherwise be getting close to their sell-by date. By contrast, Tesla's line-up comes across visually as a bit old hat, as if the company has been peddling the same, unchanged product from day one. The recent Model 3 'Highland' is a case in point. It's a thoroughly overhauled car, but to the casual observer it could just as easily be the 2017 original. The same can be said of the Model S and Model X, which have both benefited from top to bottom technical titivation but are indistinguishable from their decade-old progenitors. However, the stakes are higher for the Model Y, which is the brand's best-seller and until very recently topped the sales charts across Europe. As a result, Tesla has taken a leaf out of rivals' books and delivered a facelift that will leave buyers in no doubt this is a box-fresh proposition. Speaking of which, the Tesla isn't the only family-sized all-electric EV to have gone under the knife. The Skoda Enyaq Coupé (and its more sensible SUV sibling) has always been one of our favourite protagonists in this corner of the market, and five years on from its debut the Czech machine has been treated to the industry-standard nip and tuck. Looks are clearly subjective but, to our eyes, Tesla's tweaks are more eye-catching. You can see the DNA of the original car between the A- and C-pillars, but at the front there's a Cybertruck-inspired nose complete with a pencil-thin LED light bar, while the rear features a neat-looking, indirectly lit, full-width tail-light. By contrast, Skoda has grafted its bold new 'Tech-Deck' nose onto the Enyaq, but the rest of the car's appearance has been left largely untouched. It's a similar story inside, where the Skoda looks and feels very much the same as the old car. There's a revised 13in infotainment screen that looks slicker and responds more swiftly but otherwise it's business as usual. This means that, unlike in the Model Y, you do get some handy physical shortcut keys and a separate display ahead of the driver for speed and range information. As ever, the Tesla's dashboard is dominated by its centrally mounted infotainment screen, which literally controls all of the car's major functions (although, unlike in the Model 3, there is an actual column stalk for the indicators. Hallelujah!). Still, the set-up is one of the best around, proving a doddle to navigate and always responding crisply to your demands. It's sufficiently good that you almost don't miss the odd button or two. With its greater mix of rich materials and more complex dashboard and door mouldings, the Skoda's cabin looks a little more upmarket than the Model Y's, but in terms of touchy-feely perceived quality, there's little to separate the two. In fact, it's the uplift in solidity that you notice most in the starkly minimalist cabin of the Tesla. There are still some areas of the car that look a little hand-finished – the cheap LED spotlight in the boot and the thin fabric covering the A-pillar-mounted tweeters – but overall the Model Y is full of appealing materials and exhibits a tight fit and finish. The Tesla also scores strongly for space and versatility, which is surely one of the biggest considerations with cars like these. There's a large load area with plenty of underfloor storage compartments, plus the trademark 117-litre frunk. (The Skoda's bonnet lifts to reveal various EV ancillaries but no space for luggage overspill from its 570-litre boot.)Rear occupants in the Model Y also have plenty of head and leg room, while a powered reclining backrest and completely flat floor add to the feeling of comfort. What's more, the addition of a small touchscreen now allows occupants to adjust the temperature and switch on their heated seats without having to issue orders to the driver. Up front, the sense of space is enhanced by the low scuttle and large windscreen, which helps deliver a more panoramic view of the road than in the Skoda. However, this Sportline-trim Enyaq hits back with heavily bolstered front seats that offer greater support. Grab the tape measure and you'll find the Enyaq pretty much matches the Model Y for accommodation. Where the Skoda edges ahead is in those thoughtful details that have become a calling card for the Czech brand, such as the umbrellas secreted in the front doors and the multitude of handy boot dividers, hooks and nets. That said, you're unlikely to run out of room for odds and ends in the Model Y, with its large, carpeted door bins, cupholders galore and a lidded cubby between the front seats that's so deep you'll need to send Lassie for help if you ever fall in. So it's even-stevens for practicality, but what about performance and poise? Once again, our two dual-motor contenders are separated by the width of a Tesla key card, but they go about their business in slightly different ways. If outright urge is your thing, though, the Model Y is a slam-dunk choice. With 375bhp and a lower, 1997kg kerb weight, the Tesla is seriously rapid and feels especially so in Sport mode, when its throttle response is even sharper. The 282bhp Enyaq, with a claimed 0-62mph of 6.7sec, is no slouch but it's left gasping in its rival's wake on a straight road. Throw some corners into the mix and there's less clear air between the two. With its quick, albeit lifeless, steering, the Tesla feels more agile – an impression exaggerated by a rear-biased power delivery that allows you to tighten your cornering line with a dose of throttle. Special mention also has to go to the new brake-by-wire set-up, which offers a firm pedal and plenty of progression. With its slower but better-weighted steering, the Skoda feels a little lazier in its reactions, its narrower-section front tyres gently squealing into safe understeer at the limit. Yet despite its heftier kerb weight, the Enyaq feels better tied down over bumpier stretches of Tarmac, containing body movements more effectively than the Tesla, which can hop and corkscrew a little when pressing on. Traction isn't a problem for either all-wheel-drive vehicle. The Skoda maintains a narrow advantage when it comes to cruising comfort. Both have firm low-speed rides – although the newly softened Tesla is much better here than its predecessor – that calm down at speed, and while each delivers decent refinement, the Enyaq does a marginally better job of isolating you from road and wind noise. You can also tailor the regen brake assistance in each – a first for Tesla – although the Model Y has a more effective one-pedal calibration. 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When it comes to claimed range, the Model Y totes a figure of 364 miles as standard, reduced to 353 miles with the optional wheels of our test car, while the Skoda stretches to 334 miles. Thanks to Tesla's mastery of battery chemistry, motor efficiency and (relatively) lightweight construction methods, the Model Y gets closer to its WLTP numbers in real-world use. Over the course of our test, it delivered an impressive efficiency return of 3.8mpkWh, whereas the Enyaq could manage only 3.4mpkWh. Then there's the thorny issue of cash. In Long Range AWD form, the Tesla's sticker price is £51,990, a scant £1330 more than the Enyaq. Yet nobody turns up to a dealer with a suitcase full of banknotes for cars like these: they plonk down a deposit and finance the rest. Put your pen to a PCP deal and over four years you'll shell out £499 a month for the Model Y and £527 for the Skoda. Again, not that much in it, but there's something significant about Tesla getting one over on a brand famed for delivering value for money. Are these cost savings enough to swing the result in favour of the Model Y? By the tightest of margins, we would say yes. Sure, Tesla has some PR issues bubbling away in the background, but as a spacious, sensible and swift family wagon that packs genuinely innovative engineering, the new Model Y makes a compelling choice. Maybe that will give Elon something to smile about. 1st. Tesla Model Y The revised Tesla Model Y fixes most of its predecessor's flaws yet retains its efficiency, performance and impressive practicality. 2nd. Skoda Enyaq Coupe It's a close-run thing for the Skoda Enyaq, which in facelifted form remains a refined, thoughtfully designed and thoroughly likeable car. Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you'll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here. Next Prev In partnership with
The Guardian
20 minutes ago
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Walter Sofronoff had no ‘corrupt, dishonest or malicious motive' in leaking Lehrmann inquiry report, lawyer argues
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Times
an hour ago
- Times
I'm downsizing into my daughter's garden, but what if my house won't sell?
Q. I am in the process of downsizing from a large house to a lodge in my daughter's garden. I have planning consent and wish to proceed but if my property is slow to sell, what advice would you give with regards to a bridging loan? Banks appear to be reluctant to offer short-term Downsizing from a big house to a lodge in your daughter's garden is a commendable plan. It could offer you greater financial freedom, fewer maintenance demands and a closer connection with your family. As with any property move, though, timing the sale of your current home to align with your plans can be difficult — especially in a slow market. A bridging loan could be helpful, but it's essential to understand exactly what it involves. It is a short-term loan designed to bridge the gap between selling your property and buying or building a new one. While it may sound straightforward, bridging finance is a specialist area with its own risks and requirements. This is because lenders assess these loans differently from standard mortgages. In doing so, they focus heavily on your exit strategy (how and when you'll repay the loan), along with the value of your property and your overall financial profile. Typically, regulated bridging loans must be repaid within 12 months. You're right that high street and mainstream banks can be reluctant to offer short-term loans. Bridging finance carries higher risks for them and often requires more bespoke underwriting. For this reason it's usually provided by specialist lenders or via mortgage brokers with access to niche markets. Lenders can be more flexible in some areas, but this comes at a cost. Bridging loan interest rates are usually higher and there are often set-up fees and legal costs to factor in. All of this can significantly increase the cost of borrowing. If your home is slow to sell and you're considering a bridging loan, it's wise to speak with a mortgage broker who specialises in this field — they have the best access to suitable lenders and can compare terms and costs. Your exit strategy will be key. Most lenders want to see a clear plan (typically the sale of your home) and a realistic timeframe for repayment. If the sale is delayed, you could face pressure to repay or incur penalties. As mentioned, bridging loans come with higher interest rates, usually charged monthly. There are often arrangement fees (typically 1–2 per cent of the loan amount), legal and valuation costs, and a high monthly interest rate compared with a standard mortgage. These can add up quickly, so make sure you understand the full cost before committing. A bridging loan may not be your only option here. You could negotiate a delayed payment with your lodge builder or draw on other financial resources such as savings, investments or family support. It's also worth speaking with local estate agents to get a realistic view of your sale timeline and price. If your property is likely to sell soon, you may be able to avoid borrowing altogether. Bridging loans can be beneficial in situations like yours, but they also carry risk. Good advice, clear planning and a realistic view of your property's sale prospects will help to ensure the financial risk fits with your comfort level and ultimate goals. Adrian Anderson is the founder and managing director of Anderson Harris and has been a mortgage broker for more than 20 years
