Author: Andrew Rogers

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has set clear limits on tax reform expectations before a crucial economic summit scheduled for August. He emphasized that his government will only pass laws reflecting the tax promises made during the last election, signaling that broader tax changes are unlikely until after the 2028 election. The three-day economic reform roundtable, led by Treasurer Jim Chalmers, will begin on August 19 at Parliament House. The event has sparked many suggestions for major changes, including adjustments to the Goods and Services Tax (GST), capital gains tax rules, and superannuation taxes. Albanese, speaking in Melbourne, said any…

South Korea and the United States are set to begin their annual joint military exercises this August. These large-scale drills aim to strengthen military readiness in response to rising threats from North Korea. However, the exercises are expected to provoke strong reactions from Pyongyang, potentially worsening tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The military exercise, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, will take place from August 18 to 28. It marks the second major annual drill held in South Korea this year, following a similar exercise in March. Thousands of troops typically participate in these operations, which include both computer-based command training…

Finland’s finance ministry has started initial talks on the country’s 2026 budget framework. The meeting began on Wednesday morning in Moisniemi, Espoo. This annual event brings together top government officials to shape the future financial plan. Finance Minister Riikka Purra led the meeting, as her office is in charge of creating the draft proposal. This proposal will be reviewed by all four government coalition parties in early September. Speaking before the talks, Purra shared with the media that the government must identify an extra one billion euros in savings to balance the national budget. However, she made it clear that…

AMD released its second-quarter financial report on Tuesday after the market closed, revealing a mixed performance. The chipmaker missed expectations on adjusted earnings per share (EPS) but exceeded Wall Street’s revenue estimates. At the same time, it gave a surprisingly strong forecast for the third quarter, driven by rising demand for AI-related products. In the second quarter, AMD’s adjusted EPS came in below analyst projections. However, total revenue surpassed expectations, giving investors some reassurance about the company’s current position in the competitive chip industry. The company announced guidance for Q3 revenue between $8.4 billion and $9 billion. This is higher…

Electric vehicle makers Rivian and Lucid have warned of a difficult road ahead as recent policy changes and trade issues disrupt electric car production in the United States. On Tuesday, both companies reported disappointing quarterly results and issued cautious guidance for the rest of the year. Rivian’s stock fell about 4% after hours, while Lucid’s dropped 7%. The industry faces mounting pressure from recent decisions under the current U.S. administration. These include removing consumer tax credits for electric vehicles, adding high import tariffs on auto parts, and easing fines for gasoline vehicle emissions. Together, these actions are weakening incentives and…

Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong’s flagship airline, has warned of falling airfares and an uncertain cargo market, sending its shares down more than 10%. This came shortly after the company reported a slight increase in its first-half profit. The airline posted a 1% rise in profit to HK$3.65 billion (US$465 million) for the first half of the year. The profit increase was supported by strong passenger traffic, lower fuel prices, and steady cargo activity. However, the drop in passenger yields raised concerns among investors. Airfares, measured by passenger yield, declined by 12.3% for Cathay’s main brand and 21.6% for its…

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Emmanuel Macron held talks overnight about the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Their conversation came nearly two weeks after France announced plans to recognise Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in New York this September. Following France, Canada and the United Kingdom also declared intentions to recognise Palestine. However, these countries have set conditions, including the removal of Hamas from the Gaza Strip, reform of the Palestinian Authority, and the demilitarisation of a future Palestinian state. According to an official summary of the call, both leaders focused on the urgent humanitarian situation. They reaffirmed…

A pro-Trump nationalist will become Poland’s new president on Wednesday, signaling a tense shift in politics with the country’s pro-EU government. Karol Nawrocki, a nationalist historian and political newcomer, won the June 1 election, delivering a significant setback to Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Nawrocki’s victory highlights growing political divides in Poland, a key NATO and EU member supporting Ukraine. His inauguration is expected to draw rallies in Warsaw as he begins his five-year term with a speech to parliament. Nawrocki sought support from former U.S. President Donald Trump during his campaign. He will take the oath of office around 8…

Leading political figures and media professionals are set to gather in Abuja on Wednesday for the public launch of two new books that explore Nigeria’s democratic journey. The event will be held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre and is expected to attract former governors, lawmakers, party leaders, and top journalists. The author of both books, Ike Abonyi, is a respected journalist and political strategist. He has worked with leading national newspapers and served in top editorial positions. His latest works are titled The Bubbles of Nigeria’s Democracy: The Musings of a Nigerian Journalist and Wadata Wonders: Memoirs of a…

Libya and Germany are working together to revive the Berlin Process, a diplomatic effort designed to bring peace and political stability to Libya. On Sunday, Abdullah Al-Lafi, a member of Libya’s Presidential Council, met with the German Ambassador to Libya, Ralf Tarraf, in Tripoli. Their discussion focused on restarting the stalled political talks. Ambassador Tarraf shared updates from a recent meeting of the heads of the four key working groups formed under the Berlin Process. These groups focus on security, politics, economics, and humanitarian issues. The meeting, held with support from the United Nations mission in Libya, led to a…