Australian Foreign Policy

Business

Valero Energy Caps Record Year with Soaring Q4 Profits, Eyes Policy Shifts and Venezuelan Crude

Valero Energy reported a robust fourth quarter, with net income surging to $1.1 billion, driven by strong refining margins and record operational performance. While renewable diesel faced headwinds, ethanol profits soared. The company outlined disciplined capital plans and highlighted potential tailwinds from policy clarity and increased access to discounted heavy crude.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Venezuela Opens Oil Sector to Private Investment in Major Policy Shift

In a landmark move, Venezuela's parliament has passed reforms to its hydrocarbons law, easing state control and aiming to lure back foreign capital to its struggling oil industry, coinciding with a partial easing of U.S. sanctions.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

U.S. Bets on Rare Earths Diversity with $1.6 Billion Rival Backing, MP Materials Navigates New Policy Landscape

The U.S. government's $1.6 billion commitment to USA Rare Earth signals a strategic pivot towards fostering competition in the critical minerals sector, reducing price supports and introducing new volatility. As policy shifts, industry leader MP Materials counters with record production and expanded magnet manufacturing, highlighting the intensifying race to secure a domestic supply chain for EVs and defense.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Japan's First Female PM Sanae Takaichi Poised for Landslide Victory in Snap Election

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's conservative coalition is projected to secure a commanding majority in Sunday's snap election, capitalizing on her high approval ratings and populist appeal, though her assertive foreign policy and economic measures continue to stir regional and market anxieties.

Feb 5, 2026

World

Iran and U.S. to Resume Nuclear Talks in Oman This Friday, Foreign Minister Confirms

High-stakes negotiations on Iran's nuclear program are set to restart this week in Muscat, as both sides seek to ease tensions amid regional instability.

Feb 4, 2026

Business

Appian Bolsters Board with AI Veteran as Research Reveals Widespread Australian Government Adoption

Appian appoints seasoned AI executive David Link to its board, coinciding with new research highlighting significant AI uptake within Australia's public sector, signaling a strategic push into government automation.

Feb 4, 2026

US

Speaker Johnson Cites Scripture in Defense of Border Policy, Countering Pope's Critique

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Southern Baptist, offered a detailed biblical defense of strict immigration enforcement and the concept of assimilation, directly responding to Pope Leo XIV's earlier calls for compassion towards migrants. The exchange highlights the deepening intersection of theology and U.S. immigration politics.

Feb 4, 2026

Business

U.S. Launches $12 Billion Strategic Minerals Stockpile to Counter Foreign Supply Risks

The Trump administration unveils 'Project Vault,' a major public-private initiative funded by $10 billion in government-backed loans and $2 billion in private capital, aimed at securing domestic supplies of minerals critical to defense, energy, and tech sectors.

Feb 3, 2026

Business

IG Group Finalizes Acquisition of Australian Crypto Exchange Independent Reserve, Bolstering Asia-Pacific Expansion

UK-based trading giant IG Group has completed its acquisition of Australian cryptocurrency exchange Independent Reserve, a move that significantly expands its regulated digital asset footprint across the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East.

Feb 3, 2026

World

Teen's 'Superhuman' Four-Kilometer Swim Saves Family Swept Out to Sea Off Australian Coast

A 13-year-old boy swam for hours in rough seas to alert rescuers after his mother and two younger siblings were carried away from the Western Australian coast, leading to their dramatic helicopter and boat rescue.

Feb 3, 2026

Trump's Crypto Venture Faces Scrutiny as Foreign Royalty Stake Emerges

A major investment from an Abu Dhabi royal into Trump's crypto platform raises unprecedented ethical and political questions, casting a shadow over the industry's regulatory future.

Feb 3, 2026

World

Minneapolis Hospitality Workers Remain in Hiding Despite ICE Policy Shift, Union Reports

Hundreds of unionized hospitality workers in Minneapolis are staying off the streets, unconvinced by federal assurances of a softer immigration enforcement approach. The ongoing fear is crippling local businesses and deepening community distrust.

Feb 3, 2026

World

Vietnam's Strategic Duality: Internal Military Document Reveals War Preparations Against U.S. Amid Deep-Seated 'Color Revolution' Fears

A year after Vietnam and the United States elevated bilateral ties to a 'comprehensive strategic partnership,' a leaked internal military assessment reveals Hanoi was simultaneously preparing for a potential American 'war of aggression.' The document, analyzed by rights group The 88 Project, underscores Vietnam's profound anxiety over U.S.-backed 'color revolutions' and the complex balancing act in its foreign policy.

Feb 3, 2026

Business

China's Tech Giants Secure Massive NVIDIA H200 Chip Orders Amid Shifting Semiconductor Policy

Chinese authorities have approved ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent to purchase over 400,000 of NVIDIA's flagship H200 AI chips, signaling a pragmatic shift in Beijing's approach to balancing advanced U.S. technology with domestic chip ambitions.

Feb 3, 2026

World

Behind the Handshake: Vietnam's Military Sees U.S. as 'Belligerent' Threat Despite Strategic Partnership

A year after Hanoi and Washington elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, an internal Vietnamese military document reveals deep-seated fears of U.S. aggression and 'color revolutions,' highlighting the complex duality at the heart of Vietnam's foreign policy.

Feb 3, 2026

World

Venezuela Rewrites Its Oil Playbook: A Historic Reversal Seeks to Lure Back Foreign Capital

In a landmark shift, Venezuela's interim government has enacted a sweeping reform of its oil industry, dismantling decades of state control. The move aims to revive production but faces deep-seated risks and questions over who will truly benefit.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Behind the $500 Million Deal: Abu Dhabi Royal Family Acquires Major Stake in Trump-Linked Crypto Venture

A company linked to a key UAE national security adviser, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, secured a 49% equity stake in World Liberty Financial, the Trump family's flagship crypto firm, just days before President Trump's 2025 inauguration. The investment raises fresh questions about the intersection of foreign capital, presidential family businesses, and U.S. policy.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Tragedy on the Slopes: Australian Snowboarder, 22, Killed in Rare Ski Lift Accident at Japanese Resort

Brooke Day died after her backpack became entangled in a gondola lift at Tsugaike Mountain Resort, leading to a fatal cardiac arrest, highlighting rare but critical safety concerns.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Pope Leo XIV Urges Dialogue as Tensions Rise Between U.S. and Cuba

The American-born pontiff has issued a public plea for peace amid reports of a covert U.S. plan to destabilize Cuba's government, marking his latest critique of Trump-era foreign policy.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Australia Vows to Press Ahead with Critical Minerals Strategy Despite U.S. Policy Shift

Australia reaffirms its commitment to building resilient critical mineral supply chains and a strategic reserve, undeterred by the U.S. stepping back from plans to guarantee minimum prices for such projects.

Jan 30, 2026