Day of high drama in Tasmanian politics – as it happened This blog is now closed The Guardian - AU · Jun 4, 2025
Productivity pickle a top priority for upbeat treasurer Falling interest rates and Australia's competitive advantages are reasons for optimism, says the treasurer as he sets his sights on improving productivity. AAP · Jun 4, 2025
The good news? Household living standards are on the rise. The bad news? Just about everything else Australia’s weak economic growth is not surprising when you factor in what’s going on with households, private investment, trade and government spending The Guardian - AU · Jun 4, 2025
Russia developing multiples more ammunition than NATO, says Secretary General Mark Rutte NATO allies must commit to spending 5% of GDP on defence, as Russian threat looms, says NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Within three months, Russia develops four times the amount of ammunition NATO countries produce in a year, he said. Euronews · Jun 4, 2025
Head of Nato suggests alliance should look to ‘equalise’ US defence contribution Mark Rutte said allies will find themselves ‘in great difficulty’ if the current 2% GDP spending target is maintained. The Independent UK · Jun 4, 2025
Amazon outlines job initiatives in Europe's low-employment areas Amazon has outlined to Euronews how it is planning to boost job initiatives in Europe's low-employment areas as it also releases its latest impact report. Euronews · Jun 4, 2025
Extreme weather events have slowed economic growth, adding to the case for another rate cut Australia’s economy slowed sharply in the March quarter, growing by just 0.2% as government spending slowed and extreme weather events dampened demand. That followed an increase of 0.6% in the previous quarter. The Conversation · Jun 4, 2025
Australian shares surge towards record close Australian shares have rallied as Australia's largest company hit a share price record, while weaker than expected GDP figures boosted interest rate cut hopes. AAP · Jun 4, 2025
Economy stalls as private sector fails to pick up slack More rate cuts might be needed to boost Australia's fragile economy with soft household consumption figures contributing to stalled growth. AAP · Jun 3, 2025
OPINION - The Strategic Defence Review marks a step change but raises questions more than answers Most pertinent questions are over money, people, and time, our Defence Editor Robert Fox writes Evening Standard · Jun 3, 2025
Labour ‘at war’ over Reeves’ spending review amid fears manifesto pledges will be ditched Chancellor is facing a push to consider wealth taxes instead of cuts before she publishes her spending review next week The Independent UK · Jun 3, 2025
Starmer set to spend 3.5% of GDP on defence in bid to keep Trump happy IN FULL The Independent UK · Jun 3, 2025
Best Countries To Live In 2025: What The Rankings Don’t Reveal Best Countries To Live In 2025: Beyond The Rankings. Which country offers the best quality of life? Explore top destinations like Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Bored Panda · Jun 3, 2025
Destroying our natural wealth makes us poorer in every sense of the word Partha Dasgupta’s landmark study provided way to put a value on nature – but many fear report has been sidelined The Guardian - UK · Jun 3, 2025
The Independent UK · Jun 3, 2025 Nato ‘will force Starmer to spend 3.5% of GDP on defence’ to keep Trump happy PM under pressure from nuclear alliance and US president after row over funding threatened to derail the launch of strategic defence review,
The Guardian - UK · Jun 3, 2025 Nato to force UK to lift defence spending to 3.5% of GDP to appease Trump, say sources Starmer bound to accept Mark Rutte’s higher target after announcing ‘Nato-first’ defence strategy, insiders say
The Independent UK · Jun 2, 2025 From a ‘more lethal’ army to extra AI – what’s in Starmer’s strategic defence review? The Independent looks at the outcome of the strategic defence review
Radio France Internationale · Jun 2, 2025 NATO defence spending target may come 'too late' for Ukraine crisis: Denmark Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned regional allies Monday that a NATO target to boost defence spending by 2032 would come "too late", as countries arm in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. She was speaking at a summit in Vilnius, attended by Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky.
Al Jazeera · Jun 2, 2025 US urges Australia to increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP PM Albanese says government already increasing spending and decisions will be based on defence capability needs.
The Guardian - UK · Jun 2, 2025 Keir Starmer vows to make Britain ‘battle-ready’ as he unveils defence spending plans PM promises to spend billions more on weapons factories, drones and submarines but refuses to set date for spending 3% of GDP on defence
The Guardian - AU · Jun 2, 2025 Albanese again pushes back on US demand for Australia to increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP US defense secretary Pete Hegseth calls for Australia to boost annual military spend by tens of billions ‘as soon as possible’
The National (Scotland) · Jun 1, 2025 'Read the room': SNP criticise Labour's plans to increase defence spending THE SNP have criticised Labour’s Defence Secretary John Healey’s comments, where he said there was “no doubt” that the UK Government would…
The National (Scotland) · May 31, 2025 Britain will 'without a doubt' spend £10 billion extra on defence, says Labour LABOUR’S Defence Secretary John Healey said spending 3 of GDP on defence was no longer an “ambition” but a certainty ...
The Guardian - UK · May 30, 2025 Growing geopolitical uncertainty casts shadow over UK defence review Paper is likely to run into two difficulties, people and money, as personnel numbers fall and spending rises
Evening Standard · May 30, 2025 UK on track to spend 3% of GDP on defence by 2034, says Healey The Defence Secretary has promised a ‘certain decade of rising defence spending’.