Fearing Russian infiltration, the Finnish government is studying some of the hundreds of properties that have been bought near critical infrastructure and sensitive sites. Read The Big Take: bloom.bg/4rGhtON 📷️: Bloomberg

"Belgium last yr faced multiple #drone sightings that forced the temporary closure of airports & a military airbase. Drones were also spotted over the port of Antwerp, inc above the nuclear power plants, its BASF chemical site & the Europa terminal." #news #europe #security #infrastructure

Japan seeks cooperation with Pacific island nations on 'free and open' seas trib.al/bNPaRNj

The hiring and training process shouldn’t be seen as the main issue here. The problem is the contractor is Serco and their hires are being employed to run a neoliberal outsourced approach to the NDIS. Of course they’re demoralised and traumatised www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Save The Children’s Georgia Tacey has urged govt to be “more morally ambitious” & not limit aid to Gaza as it forces families to accept money from Hamas “Any family would do it” Says by investing in Defence & not aid we leave an enormous vacuum for terrorist recruitment. #auspol

🇺🇸🇨🇭Palantir is suing the Swiss magazine "Republik" following a two-part investigative report published in December 2025. The Swiss journal's articles detailed how Palantir was actively trying to influence Swiss politics, federal authorities and the Swiss army.

Russian official says Western powers seizing sanctioned vessels carrying Moscow's oil commit 'piracy-like attacks'.

Foreign governments, corporations, lobbyists and industry associations were among those to share their generosity with senior public servants in 2025.

Japan's Sojitz to expand Australian rare earth imports trib.al/HZ7GyQD

Speaking on an Australia Institute webinar, Nobel Prize-winning economist Professor Joseph Stiglitz has urged the Australian Government to “follow the money” and start imposing a “a very, very high tax rate” on the country’s natural resources. Read more on The Point: https://theaus.in/4qEs0bO

"Gov said it will enter into formal partnerships with Canadian companies (to) secure domestic ownership & control over critical IP & capacities. (T)he strategy (also) calls for deeper partnerships with trusted allies, esp EU, UK & Indo-Pacific." #news #canada #defence www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

A little-known island roughly 2,000 kilometers southeast of Tokyo is under the spotlight as Japan looks to strengthen its rare-earth supply chain. trib.al/dOr8vWn

Staff at the CSIRO have accused both the former and current leadership of the organisation of failing to “adequately plan for the predictable withdrawal” of the Covid-19 cash. They have said leadership has failed to “make the case for a permanent, real increase in funding”. satpa.pe/aknfHb3

Palantir is suing the Swiss magazine Republik who pointed out Palantir's links to ICE and the Genocide in Gaza, which caused the Swiss Government to call them a catastrophic threat and ban Palantir from Swiss Government.

"Chinese enclaves r forming in the region, complete with schools, businesses & their own culture. Locals are largely excluded (&) profits sent back to Beijing." So what happens when #China declares #Siberia a 'historical territory from ancient times'? #news #SCS newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/china-s...

"The #NACC has circulated draft findings 2 individuals referred by the #robodebt RC, signalling the investigative phase is effectively complete & final determination into whether those individuals engaged in corrupt conduct is imminent." #news #auspol www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/law-cri...

Japan seizes Chinese fishing boat, arrests captain as tensions simmer https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/international-relations/japan-china-tensions/japan-seizes-chinese-fishing-boat-arrests-captain-as-tensions-simmer

This Angus Taylor, ICYMI. We still don't know where that money went btw - bc Cayman Islands.

So Sussan Ley was indeed placed on a glass cliff. True to Liberal party form. Now they're back to a Morrison-era ex minister with a penchant for dodgy dealings and forging documents. Remember #watergate and the Clover Moore scandal? #news #auspol #libspill

🇹🇼 Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te warned that countries in the region would be China's next targets should Beijing seize the democratic island, as he insisted on the need for Taiwan to dramatically shore up its defences. ➡️ u.afp.com/S6ZG

“Aged-care reform is an absolute shitshow and a big chunk of it is just this unremitting public service love affair with multinational consultancies bleeding out every IT project they touch,” says a Canberra-based IT contractor. “And why wouldn’t they?” satpa.pe/yvkLFue

In @nytopinion.nytimes.com “Outpacing China has to begin at home, by getting our own economic house in order, a challenge that also should motivate Mr. Trump to rethink a large range of his policies,” writes Steven Rattner.

"Designing a flawed product is often better – because it means you can stay around forever billing the client while ‘trying to fix’ the problem.” Why is government awarding billions in contracts to international consultancy firms? satpa.pe/UBEq020

thank you for explaining, Captain Obvious 😐

"Journalists at ABC & SBS could have their sources put at risk by a new directive that demands staff retain all messages they send or receive that are linked to subjects under investigation by the Royal Commission on Antisemitism & Social Cohesion." #news #auspol #journalism @withmeaa.bsky.social

💎Even with its legendary image of glitz and glamour, diamond icon De Beers has struggled to attract a buyer after nearly two years on a market dulled by falling prices and the allure of lab-grown gems. Full story: u.afp.com/S2EN

The Washington Post said Saturday its CEO and publisher Will Lewis was leaving effective immediately, just days after the storied newspaper owned by billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos made drastic job cuts that angered readers. ➡️ u.afp.com/S2L6

Canada has announced it will buy up to a dozen conventionally-powered subs for around $CAD60 billion ($63 billion) – a fraction of what Australia has already begun paying for fewer nuclear subs – despite having a much longer coastline to patrol. satpa.pe/dLF8LoK

"The era of demand is here, and the age of gas is accelerating. These companies no longer frame their future narrowly (but) talk abt being 'int'l energy companies' - a deliberate shift reflecting a broader ambition: to manage molecules, systems & supply chains." #news #energy #lng #gas #resources

"Parts of the Gaza War Cemetery, a Commonwealth cemetery that serves as the final resting place of more than 250 Australian servicemen, have been bulldozed during Israeli military operations over the past two years, it emerged this week." #news #auspol #anzac www.crikey.com.au/2026/02/06/a...

After decades of serving as a reliable, authoritative public repository of basic information about countries, their economies, and their people, The World Factbook disappeared from the internet on February 4 with no advance notice. https://cnn.it/4kqanLy

In @nytopinion.nytimes.com “Journalism is a public service, and I am proud to be a public servant,” Georgia Fort, an independent journalist who was recently arrested in Minnesota, writes. “Professional reporting, observing and documenting is not a crime. But the freedom to do so is at risk.”

"A new US Congress report has contemplated not selling nuclear subs to Aus bc the US wants to retain control of them for a potential conflict with China over Taiwan (saying it) 'could weaken deterrence in connection with a US-China crisis'." #news #aukus #auspol www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...

President Mulino responds to China, insists his country upholds the rule of law and and has an independent court system.

Unfort this is paywalled for me, but seems this is either a warning re Aus #aukus commitments and capabilities or a subtle greenlight for the fed & state govts to lease land and/or facilities to the US govt. Makes you wonder abt the timing of the defence estate 'firesale'. #mytwocents #news #auspol

The Washington Post’s job cuts mark the end of some of the most respected journalism anywhere in the world — especially from its respected sports and international sections.

"The Washington Post laid off hundreds of employees on Weds, which its former executive editor said 'ranks among the darkest days' in the newspaper’s history. Approximately one-third of employees were affected." Democracy dies in darkness. #news #uspol #auspol #journalism #media

"The Trump admin & agencies like ICE... will be given direct access to Aus biometric info & ID docs by the Albanese gov in response to a US demand for tighter security for all countries with Visa Waiver Program arrangements." #news #auspol #data #cybersecurity www.crikey.com.au/2026/02/03/a...

"X has removed the network of accounts identified by US researchers as part of a pro-China disinformation operation powered by AI, inc 27 accounts stolen from Australian users." #news #auspol #china #propaganda #cybersecurity #AI

Much of the public believes violent crime is a major problem, even though it's at historic lows in the United States. This disconnect is "the product of carefully cultivated propaganda," says author @equalityalec.bsky.social. https://www.democracynow.org/2026/1/27/alec_karakatsanis

🐠 OceanXplorer: a 'one-stop shop' for marine research AFP reports from OceanXplorer, a high-tech marine research vessel , as it studies seamounts off Indonesia. The ship pairs advanced scientific research with high-end media content to make marine biology and conservation accessible.

This was the most dominant of Scorchers' 6 titles - won in different ways, road success + thrashed Sixers x2 in finals. A look into how they shaped this bolder, aggressive side starting with the recruitment of Finn Allen + fostering a successful culture www.espncricinfo.com/story/bbl-fi...

Cameron White has been named San Francisco Unicorns head coach, replacing Shane Watson. White, who is Renegades coach in the BBL, will take up a "year-round, hands-on role" at Unicorns. While Scorchers allrounder Aaron Hardie has signed with Unicorns www.espncricinfo.com/story/camero...

Matt Kuhnemann set for contract extension with Heat amid Hurricanes lure. Michael Neser likely to stay while young quick Tom Balkin has attracted interest. 'Gades/Thunder into Josh Inglis & Nick Hobson, while Adam Zampa & Todd Murphy likely on the move www.espncricinfo.com/story/matthe...

Inside Japan's long battle to 'de-Chinafy' its rare earth supply chain https://asia.nikkei.com/business/technology/tech-asia/inside-japan-s-long-battle-to-de-chinafy-its-rare-earth-supply-chain

"Sources who confirmed #ICE participation said federal ICE agents would support diplomatic security details & not run immigration enforcement operations." So they've dropped all pretence & declared themselves the Trump regime's enforcers. Very KGB of them. #mytwocents #news #uspol #winterolympics

“'Aus can see the #US under Trump isn't the US we’d grown up to know & respect... & they’ll look to their leader to explain how we deal (&) relate to that.' Turnbull claimed Trump backed down on Greenland bc Carney & #EU leaders stood up to him." #news #auspol www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...