Good Morning. And today's edition is packed with information on the recent splits in Australia's two main opposition parties, the Nationals and the Liberals, and the RBA's interest rate cut announcement.

Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.

We'd love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.

Today's reading time is 7 minutes. - Miko Santos

Stay ahead of the curve with breaking news and insights, and tap into freelance marketplace opportunities tailored for podcast producers like you.

👉️ Subscribe now for free

➡️ Telstra Shares Surge 15% in 2025: Why Analysts Call It a Top ASX Defensive Pick. Telstra shares have risen 15% in 2025 (compared to just 1.7% for the ASX 200) as investors are attracted to its defensive earnings, superior mobile network coverage, ongoing share buyback program, and strategic AI investments aimed at reducing costs and improving customer experience.

➡️ Melbourne Ranks Fifth Globally for Business Event Delegate Attendance, Surpassing London and New York. Melbourne has established itself as Australia's premier business events destination, attracting more international delegates than any other Australian city in 2024, according to new data from the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).

➡️ Qantas and Virgin Australia Record Strong Profits Amid Limited Domestic Airline Competition, ACCC Reports. The ACCC's latest Domestic Airline Competition report reveals that Qantas Group earned $1.5 billion in the first half of 2024-25 while Virgin Australia achieved record profits, highlighting how reduced competition following Bonza's collapse and Rex's withdrawal has strengthened Australia's airline duopoly.

➡️ 23 Nations demand Israel resume aid to Gaza amid Humanitarian crisis. Australia and 22 other nations have issued a joint statement calling for Israel to immediately allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, where the population faces starvation after a two-month blockade of essential supplies.

➡️ UK Halts Israel Trade Talks as EU Reviews Relations Amid Gaza Humanitarian Crisis. The United Kingdom has paused trade negotiations with Israel and the European Union is reviewing its relationship with the country as international pressure intensifies over Israel's military operations in Gaza, where a humanitarian crisis has left thousands facing starvation despite recent limited aid deliveries.

➡️ Albanese to Make Second China Visit as Xi Jinping Seeks "Mature" Australia Relations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will make his second official visit to China later this year for high-level meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, marking a significant diplomatic development as Beijing seeks to build "more mature, stable and productive" relations with Australia amid evolving regional trade dynamics and US-China tensions.

➡️ Google I/O 2025 Event Launches with Focus on AI and Developer Tools. Google has officially launched its annual I/O developer conference, showcasing the company's latest technological advancements across multiple platforms with a significant emphasis on artificial intelligence and developer productivity tools.

➡️ Google Launches NotebookLM Mobile Apps Ahead of I/O 2025 Conference. Google has officially released dedicated NotebookLM applications for Android and iOS mobile platforms, expanding access to its AI-powered note-taking and research assistant beyond desktop environments. The launch comes one day ahead of the company's annual Google I/O developer conference, where further details about the application may be revealed.

➡️ TikTok Expands Mental Health Initiatives with Meditation Features and $2.3M Fund TikTok has announced significant expansions to its mental health support framework, introducing in-app meditation features for all users and committing substantial financial resources to support mental health organizations globally through its Mental Health Education Fund.

📖 I appreciate you taking the time to read! See you in the next issue. Got a question or criticism? Just click on Reply. We can talk while we are here.

🎧 Check out our podcasts. This podcast seeks the truth to answer the most pressing questions using the highest journalistic standards

✍️ Give us a press release and a good-sized landscape photo. Make sure it's newsworthy. Send press releases to [email protected] or click here. Editorially, we may rewrite headlines and descriptions.

🚀 Got a news tip ? Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.