Breaking News, Business, Financial and Economic News, World News from EconoTimes

Become a contributor

Bookmark Econotimes

Wed, Jun 03, 2026 03:42 AM All times are UTC

Follow Series

©Econometrics LLC . All Rights Reserved.

Kate Macdonald

Associate Professor, Political Science, The University of Melbourne
I joined the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne in January 2009. Before coming to Melbourne, I did my DPhil in the Department of International Development at Oxford (jointly supervised in the Department of Politics and International Relations), and I worked as a Fellow of Government (Global Politics) at the London School of Economics and Political Science, a Research Fellow at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics at the Australian National University and a Research Officer at the Department of Politics and International Relations at Oxford University.

My research focuses on transnational governance and accountability systems, especially in relation to transnational business regulation, and accountability in the international development sector. I have conducted research and consultancy work on these topics for a range of Australian and international organisations including the Forest Stewardship Council, Amnesty International, ActionAid Australia, Oxfam Australia and the UK’s Corporate Responsibility Coalition, and I am currently on the advisory board of the Jubilee Australia Research Foundation.

Economy

Putin’s ‘Russian Davos’ Draws U.S. Influencers, Officials, and Global Business Figures Amid Economic Struggles

Russias flagship investment gathering, often referred to as the Russian Davos, opened in St. Petersburg on Wednesday as President Vladimir Putin seeks to attract international business interest while facing slowing...

Australia GDP Growth Misses Forecasts in Q1 2026 as Inflation and Iran War Impact Spending

Australias economy expanded at a slower-than-expected pace in the first quarter of 2026, highlighting the growing impact of persistent inflation, elevated fuel costs, and disruptions in the mining sector. According to data...

China Services PMI Hits Three-Month High in May as Domestic Demand Strengthens

Chinas services sector recorded its strongest expansion in three months during May, driven by improving domestic demand, increased client acquisitions, and a rise in new business activity, according to a closely watched...

Yen Nears 160 Per Dollar as Japan Signals Readiness for Currency Intervention

The Japanese yen remained under pressure on Wednesday, hovering close to the critical 160-per-dollar level, a threshold closely watched by global currency markets and Japanese policymakers. The USD/JPY exchange rate traded...

US Stock Futures Steady as Iran Tensions and AI Rally Shape Market Sentiment

U.S. stock index futures traded with little movement on Tuesday evening as investors closely monitored escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. Market participants remained cautious after reports indicated...

Politics

Canada Weighs Restoring Diplomatic Relations With Venezuela After Official Visit

Canada is taking steps to reassess its relationship with Venezuela as government officials recently traveled to Caracas to evaluate the possibility of restoring formal diplomatic ties. The visit comes as Prime Minister...

Rubio Says U.S. Seeking New Homes for Stranded Afghan Refugees in Qatar

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Tuesday that the Trump administration is actively working to find solutions for more than 1,100 Afghan refugees stranded in Qatar and does not intend to force them back...

US Expands Iran Sanctions, Targets Major Crypto Exchanges and Individuals

The United States has imposed a new round of Iran-related sanctions, targeting several Iranian individuals and cryptocurrency exchanges as part of its ongoing efforts to increase economic pressure on Tehran. According to a...

Iowa's 1st Congressional District Set for High-Stakes 2026 Election Battle

Republican U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks secured her partys nomination in Iowas 1st Congressional District, setting up a closely watched rematch against Democrat Christina Bohannan in the 2026 midterm...

U.S. Supreme Court Allows Alabama’s Republican-Backed Congressional Map for 2026 Elections

The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for Alabama to implement a Republican-backed congressional map for the 2026 midterm elections, a decision that could strengthen GOP efforts to maintain control of Congress. The...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

Palo Alto Networks Q3 FY2026 Earnings Surge on Strong AI Security Demand, Raises Full-Year Outlook

Palo Alto Networks delivered stronger-than-expected fiscal third-quarter 2026 results, fueled by growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) security solutions and contributions from its recent acquisitions. Following...

SpaceX Targets Record-Breaking $75 Billion IPO at $135 Per Share in Historic Market Debut

SpaceX is preparing for what could become the largest initial public offering (IPO) in history, with plans to price its shares at $135 each and raise approximately $75 billion, according to a source familiar with the...

HPE Raises 2026 Outlook After Record Q2 Revenue Fueled by AI Server Demand

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE) delivered record-breaking second-quarter results, driven by surging demand for AI infrastructure, enterprise servers, and networking solutions. The strong performance prompted the...

Alphabet Unveils $80 Billion Capital Raise to Accelerate AI Expansion, Secures $10 Billion Backing from Berkshire Hathaway

Alphabet Inc. has announced an ambitious $80 billion equity fundraising plan aimed at supporting the rapidly growing costs of artificial intelligence infrastructure and expanding its computing capacity. The move highlights...

Anthropic Files for IPO, Signaling a New Era for Public AI Investments in 2026

Anthropic, the public benefit corporation behind the widely used Claude family of artificial intelligence models, has officially taken a significant step toward becoming a publicly traded company. The AI startup announced...