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It's vital Australia attends a major European security summit as Russia and China continue to destabilise the world order, experts say.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been asked to take part in a NATO security summit for the second consecutive year.
The invitation has been extended as Finland joins the security pact, to the chagrin of Russia, which is already angry at Ukraine's attempts to attach to the alliance.
The Atlantic pact, which is underpinned by the United States, is looking to further co-operation with the Indo-Pacific amid concerns about China's military build-up and increasing aggression in the region - particularly in relation to Taiwan.
Beijing's growing relationship with Moscow has also raised tensions.
Andrew Phelan, a former diplomat who closely observes Australia-China relations, said the summit would allow liberal democracies to strengthen ties in the face of growing authoritarianism.
"This is a great opportunity for us to get together with like-minded democracies and share strategies, share intel, share technology to buttress our security against this kind of practical, unofficial arrangement between China and Russia," he told Sky News.
"The west has been reminding China if they provide any kind of weapons support to the Russian war effort that would be crossing a red line."
Malcolm Davis from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said the prime minister's attendance was crucial.
He said global tensions had heightened to a level where "the future of the planet really is being determined as to whether it's a world dominated by western liberal democracy and freedom of speech or it's an authoritarian world".
New Zealand, South Korea and Japan have also been invited along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
The summit will be held in Lithuania in July.
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Jon Rahm has dedicated his gripping Masters comeback win to his late, great countryman Seve Ballesteros after holding off LIV Golf heavyweights Brooks Koepka and ageless marvel Phil Mickelson to post a poignant and popular victory at Augusta National.
Rahm overturned a four-shot last-day deficit to reel in Koepka, then resisted an inspired charge from 52-year-old Mickelson to record a not-entirely-comfortable four-stroke triumph.
The Spanish superstar's success came, fittingly, on the 40th anniversary of Ballesteros' second Masters win in 1983 and, on what would have been his wizardly idol's 66th birthday, sent him back above Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy to world No.1.
"I'm at a loss for words," Rahm said.
"For me to get it done on the 40th anniversary of his win, his birthday, on Easter Sunday, it's incredibly meaningful."
With a final-round 69, Rahm finished with a 72-hole total of 12-under-par 276 and celebrated with fellow Spanish winners Jose Maria Olazabal (1994, 1999) and Sergio Garcia (2017).
Rahm recalled how he fell in love with golf after his mother and father told him about their trip - when he was almost three - to the 1997 Ryder Cup in Valderrama when Ballesteros captained Europe to a thrilling one-point win over the USA.
"If it wasn't for that Ryder Cup in '97 - my dad and I talk about it all the time - we don't know where I would be or where we would be for a family," the now-28-year-old said.
Sunday's win was Rahm's sixth in his past 13 worldwide starts and a victory of sorts also for the PGA Tour in its ongoing civil war with the Greg Norman-led, Saudi-backed LIV Golf breakaway league.
Mickelson and Koepka, the joint runners-up, would have given LIV its first major championship had they prevailed.
Instead, Rahm earned his second after adding the green jacket to his 2021 US Open trophy.
In a typically riveting finish to the year's first major, Mickelson closed with a rousing seven-under 65 to snatch the clubhouse lead and apply the blow-torch to the final pairing.
Mickelson reeled off eight birdies, including five in his last seven holes, to threaten to pull off one of the great steals in golf.
But the three-time champion had to settle for a second runner-up showing at Augusta - and an incredible 10th top-three finish overall.
But while Rahm held firm in the face of Mickelson's fierce challenge, Koepka was unable to respond and faded with a final-round 75.
Koepka had seemingly been on track to win after surging four shots clear before Saturday's third round was suspended because of relentless rain.
But he couldn't buy a birdie upon Sunday's resumption of play.
Koepka went 22 consecutive holes without a birdie before finally landing three in four holes from the 13th to 16th.
It was too little too late as the US player came up short in his quest for a fifth major - four years and career-saving knee surgery after his fourth.
As well as Mickelson, a host of heavyweights made final-round charges.
Jordan Spieth, the 2015 champion, got to eight under only to drop a shot on the last to miss his chance at joining Mickelson as clubhouse leader.
Augusta native Patrick Reed, the 2018 winner, finished equal fourth with Spieth and US compatriot Russell Henley (70) at seven under following a stirring Sunday 68.
After starting the final round nine shots off the pace, defending champion Scottie Scheffler moved to six under through 11 holes before a double-bogey five on the famous 12th ended his challenge. He finished tied for 10th at four under.
It was a horror day for Australian big guns Jason Day, Cameron Smith and Adam Scott.
Day had been well in the mix to secure a top-12 finish and an automatic ticket back next year before crashing from three under to five over with four double-bogeys in five holes.
The meltdown allowed Smith to climb above Day as the leading Australian in a share of 34th spot at four over with closing rounds of 75-75.
Scott finished at five over with Day in a tie for 39th after weekend rounds of 74 and 77.
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Drivers renewing licences might have their road rule knowledge tested as the Queensland government aims to strengthen safety measures across the state.
An online refresher course coinciding with licence renewal is one of several measures being considered after Transport Minister Mark Bailey met with stakeholders in January in an effort to reduce the road toll.
The open-ended test would not involve physically sitting "some kind of exam" and licence holders could try as many times as needed to pass, Mr Bailey told reporters on Monday.
"It's not whether we take your licence off you or not, it's about educating you as a driver," he said.
"If you don't get it right the first time, you will get another shot at it and another shot at it until you do get it right."
Similar to courses for learner and new drivers, Mr Bailey said there could be a pool of questions to help bring drivers up to speed on rule changes including new laws for cyclists and modifications taking into account the proliferation of e-scooters on Queensland streets.
"There's a whole lot of things people could be more up to date on and it would be user friendly, online, on your own time (and) at your own house," he said.
"That's the kind of thing we're planning for the public to give us some feedback on."
The new test was one of several topics addressed by the road safety roundtable earlier this year.
Others included drivers caught exceeding speed limits by 40km/h or more having their licences suspended immediately rather than the three weeks it can sometimes currently take.
"As far as I'm concerned, you're just as dangerous as a drunk driver and you should have your keys taken off immediately," Mr Bailey said.
The government on Monday also announced its Ride to Zero initiative to address motorcycle safety.
Motorcyclists make up five per cent of Queensland's road users but contributed a quarter of its road toll last year.
Mr Bailey said it was deeply concerning to see 74 motorcycle deaths in 12 months.
The "sad truth" of many motorcycle deaths is they often don't involve another party, the minister said.
"That clearly is a case of a rider going beyond their limits and paying a terrible, terrible price.
"We want to see that eliminated on our roads."
The campaign involves working with motorcycle clubs to increase training and skill of new riders.
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Armed, dangerous and unpredictable - that's how Queensland police have described an accused drug trafficker who has been on the run for four days.
Queensland Police allege Mitchell Wilson threatened a number of people with a semi-automatic weapon during three separate incidents on Thursday in Brisbane's north and south.
"I consider this man armed, dangerous, irrational but particularly unpredictable," Queensland Police's Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said on Sunday.
It is alleged Wilson was part of three violent altercations, the first at a business in Brendale in north Brisbane where he fired multiple shots into the ground following a verbal altercation with a man known to him.
Det Supt Massingham said CCTV of the incident was disturbing, adding the vision appeared to show two men in a "life or death" struggle for the weapon.
Soon after, police became aware Wilson's ankle monitoring bracelet had been left in Bracken Ridge, also in north Brisbane.
Det Supt said the 27-year-old was wearing the device as part of his bail conditions related to alleged drug trafficking offences.
Wilson is then alleged to have driven to a business at Mount Gravatt, south of Brisbane, where he approached two women he knew as they left the building before ordering one of them into his car.
It's alleged Wilson fired his gun as the pair fled. Neither woman was injured.
Police say Wilson then travelled to a Sunnybank home arrived with the gun and a jerry can of fuel and threatened the resident who was known to him before setting the house alight and fleeing.
The home was destroyed and a pet was killed in the blaze. No people were injured.
Extensive searches have failed to locate Wilson and police are urging him to surrender.
"I urge Mr Wilson, if he hears my message today, to make contact with police and safely negotiate his surrender," Det Supt said.
Wilson is believed to be armed and should not be approached. Anyone who sees him should call triple zero.
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