Australia

The economy is under pressure from persistent inflation and market volatility. The IMF criticized Australia's 'drawn-out' inflation, while the ASX fell amid a global 'sell America' trade and surging gold prices. Mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP show mixed performance, with Rio Tinto producing more copper but less iron ore.

• 3Rio Tinto Produced More Copper, Slightly Less Iron Ore Last Year
• 3Live: Gold surges, ASX falls as 'sell America' trade and Trump's threats sink Wall St
• 3Live: ASX opens in the red, IMF calls out Australia's 'drawn-out' inflation
• 3Australia’s Critical Minerals Reserve to First Focus on Antimony, Gallium, Rare Earths
• 2BHP gains ground as CBA loses market share in battle of corporates

The political agenda is dominated by security legislation and diplomatic friction with China. Parliament passed stricter gun laws and anti-hate speech legislation following the Bondi attack. Simultaneously, a Chinese envoy criticized Australia over the Port of Darwin lease, signaling bilateral tension.

• 5Australia passes stricter gun laws after Bondi shopping center attack
• 2Albanese urges protesters to respect Israeli President’s ‘solemn visit’
• 2Michele Bullock joins global central bankers' support of US Fed chief facing Trump probe
• 1As it happened: Albanese slams meeting between Hastie, Taylor and Liberal colleagues to topple Ley on day of Katie Allen’s funeral
• 1Isaac Herzog announces dates to visit Australia

Security services are actively responding to a series of domestic threats and violent incidents. A PhD candidate working at CSIRO was accused of planning an Australia Day terror attack, while multiple explosive devices were found in Canberra and a Melbourne beauty salon was firebombed twice.

• 4NSW police commissioner announces decision on Sydney protest restrictions
• 3PhD candidate working at CSIRO accused of planning Australia Day terror attack
• 2Melbourne beauty salon firebombed for second time in two days
• 2Perth's Invasion Day rally 'explosives' scare hasn't been declared terrorism. Here's why
• 2Three shot dead in Australia, town in lockdown

Society is grappling with the aftermath of national tragedy and severe environmental crises. The dominant tension is between communal mourning for the Bondi attack victims and the strain of natural disasters, including major fires in Victoria, a tropical cyclone, and widespread flood warnings.

• 5Flood warnings issued for multiple rivers in Northern Australia
• 3VIDEO: Tropical Cyclone Luana is bringing wild weather to the Dampier Peninsula.
• 3‘Profoundly sorry’: PM leads tributes to Australian Jews at Bondi memorial
• 3Colonial monuments vandalised, graffitied in Melbourne gardens
• 3Australia: Two seriously injured as Sydney sees string of shark attacks