Australia's international relations are spotlighted by discussions held with the US over AUKUS, Fiji's leader spruiking security and unity to Australia, and Australia making a case for tariff reprieve in Washington; additionally, the PM talking up Australia-US ties and media bemoaning Albanese's tricky Trump relationship underscore diplomatic complexities, while Australians recruited for Israel's 'weaponised aid' project in Gaza amidst Gaza's continued destruction, and Australians escaping Iran by plane highlight global humanitarian and conflict concerns.
Key Australian internal matters include retail trade set to register a rebound alongside looming interest rate decisions, childcare worker rules in the spotlight after abuse charges, and corporate misconduct with coal giants home free while ASIC buries the TerraCom fake tests scandal; further legal and social issues cover an Islamist preacher's court loss and telco misdeeds sharpening the case for Indigenous leadership, and labor disputes involve freight pilots going on strike after Qantas freighters received a 'lowball' offer.
Within the United States, Trump's feud with Elon Musk escalated with threats to Tesla support and his eyeing of Tesla subsidies, while his war on the ICC went digital with Microsoft as an ally; legislative efforts include the US Senate passing Trump's spending bill and the **Senate struggling to pass the $5 trillion bill**.
Broader international concerns address how Australia fuels China's emissions by outsourcing the blame for its carbon footprint, and Japan's stance that rice is not on the table in trade talks with the US.