Australia will create an A$1.2 billion strategic reserve focused on antimony, gallium and rare earths, and Treasurer Jim Chalmers promoted the plan to G7-plus finance ministers in Washington.
Lord Blunkett criticised recent government U-turns, particularly the decision to drop mandatory digital ID for work by 2029, and urged ministers to set out clearer strategy and stick to decisions.
Silver surpassed $90 per ounce for the first time as gold reached record highs, while oil prices rose amid concerns over Iranian supply and expectations of US rate cuts.
An ex-Met officer says refusing to join the Freemasons damaged his promotion prospects, and the Metropolitan Police has begun requiring staff to declare membership while the United Grand Lodge of England has launched legal action.
The Canadian series Heated Rivalry, adapted from Rachel Reid’s novels, became a breakout hit after premiering on Crave and later reaching HBO Max, raising the profiles of its lead actors. The show has prompted public discussion about inclusion in hockey and drawn attention from fans and commentators worldwide.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said the company cannot support a draft U.S. bill that seeks to set a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and assign policing of spot crypto markets to the CFTC. The bill's markup in the Senate Banking Committee was scheduled for Thursday, and Reuters said it is unclear if the process can proceed without Coinbase's backing.
King Charles III has awarded the Elizabeth Emblem to the parents of Alice Clark, a 21-year-old paramedic who died in an ambulance crash in January 2022. The emblem recognises next of kin of public servants who died in the line of duty.
McKinsey reports the UK was the third-largest destination for newly announced FDI projects in 2022–25, driven largely by large AI and clean energy investments, with inflation-adjusted inflows averaging about $85 billion a year.
A federal judge has barred the U.S. Department of Agriculture from withholding about $80 million in administrative funds for Minnesota's SNAP program while the state's lawsuit proceeds, saying the agency's 30‑day review deadline was likely unlawful.
An analysis found donations from recently deceased donors fell last year for the first time in more than a decade and tied the decline to public mistrust after reports of planned retrievals; overall transplants were slightly higher due to an increase in living-donor kidney procedures.
