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

Become a contributor

Bookmark Econotimes

Tue, Mar 03, 2026 06:58 AM All times are UTC

Follow Series

©Econometrics LLC . All Rights Reserved.

Michelle Grattan

Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Michelle Grattan AO is one of Australia's most respected and awarded political journalists. She has been a member of the Canberra parliamentary press gallery for more than 40 years, during which time she has covered all the most significant stories in Australian politics.

As a former editor of The Canberra Times, Michelle Grattan was also the first female editor of an Australian daily newspaper. She has been with the Australian Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald and Political Editor of The Age since 2004.

Michelle currently has a dual role with an academic position at the University of Canberra and as Associate Editor (Politics) and Chief Political Correspondent at The Conversation.

In her role at the University of Canberra, Michelle will be teaching, working on research projects in politics and political communication, as well as providing public commentary and strategic advice.

She is the author, co-author and editor of several books and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2004 for her long and distinguished service to Australian journalism.

US under Trump Series

Grattan on Friday: Trump, tariffs and the Middle East are looming challenges for Albanese

May 30, 2025 12:07 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Australia these days receives invitations to big-league international conferences. And so Anthony Albanese will be off soon to the G7 meeting in Alberta, Canada, on June 15-17. For the prime minister, whats most important...

Turnbull government shrinks Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme register

Jun 08, 2018 05:34 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Attorney-General Christian Porter has put forward compromise amendments to the governments proposed register of foreign agents that will limit its reach. The changes are designed to meet criticisms from charities,...

Australia pitches tax ‘relief’ in election-focused budget

May 08, 2018 15:04 pm UTC| Insights & Views Governance

Treasurer Scott Morrison has unveiled an income tax plan that will cost $140 billion over a decade and initially deliver tax relief up to $530 a year for 4.4 million people earning between $48,000 and $90,000. The...

High Court strikes again – knocking out Government Senate replacement

Nov 15, 2017 09:07 am UTC| Insights & Views Law

The High Court has ruled out Liberal Hollie Hughes as a replacement for former Nationals senator Fiona Nash, on the grounds that she had an office of profit under the crown during the election period. Once again, the...

Big gas shortage looming, but government stays hand on export controls

Sep 25, 2017 07:11 am UTC| Insights & Views

The government has issued another warning to gas producers but held off pulling its export control trigger, despite two new reports warning of potential severe local supply shortages. The Australian Energy Market...

High Court sets dual citizenship hearings for October

Aug 24, 2017 04:55 am UTC| Insights & Views Law

The High Court has rejected the governments request to have MPs dual citizenship cases heard in mid-September, instead setting hearing dates of October 10, 11 and 12. This prolongs the uncertainty for the government,...

Sorting out what happened in UNHCR and government talks on refugees important for credibility of both sides

Jul 25, 2017 14:36 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

The fracas between the United Nations high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) and the government over whether Australia agreed to settle a handful of the Manus/Nauru boat people with family here goes to questions of fact...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Economy

Gold Prices Surge for Fourth Day as Middle East Tensions and Strong U.S. Dollar Shape Market

Gold prices extended gains in Asian trading on Tuesday, marking a fourth consecutive session of advances as investors reacted to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Safe-haven demand remained strong,...

S&P Global Warns of Potential Downgrade for Berkshire’s PacifiCorp Over Oregon Wildfire Liabilities

SP Global has warned that it may downgrade PacifiCorp, the Berkshire Hathaway-owned utility, to junk status as mounting liabilities from Oregon wildfire lawsuits threaten its financial stability. The credit rating agency...

South Korea Manufacturing PMI Rises for Third Month on Strong Semiconductor Demand

South Koreas manufacturing sector continued its upward momentum in February, marking a third consecutive month of expansion as semiconductor demand fueled faster factory output. According to the latest SP Global survey,...

RBA Signals Possible March Rate Hike as Energy Risks Threaten Inflation Outlook

Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Michele Bullock has signaled that the central bank could raise interest rates again as soon as its March 1718 meeting, even without waiting for first-quarter inflation data....

U.S.-Israel War on Iran Escalates as Gulf Conflict Disrupts Oil, Air Travel and Regional Security

The U.S.-Israel war against Iran intensified Monday, expanding across the Middle East with no immediate end in sight. Israel launched strikes on Lebanon after Hezbollah fired missiles and drones, while Iran continued...

Politics

Trump’s Iran Strikes Spark War Powers Clash in Congress

U.S. President Donald Trumps decision to authorize military strikes on Iran has ignited a heated debate in Congress over presidential war powers and constitutional authority. Republican lawmakers argue that the attack was...

Rubio Says U.S. Would Not Target School After Deadly Iran Strike Reports

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States would not deliberately target a school after Iranian state media reported that more than 160 people were killed in an alleged airstrike on a girls elementary school in...

Iran Detains U.S. Citizens Amid Escalating Conflict With the United States and Israel

Iran is currently detaining at least six U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, according to detainee advocacy groups, sparking renewed concerns that Americans in Iran could be used as bargaining chips as tensions...

Pentagon Downplays ‘Endless War’ Fears After U.S. Strikes on Iran Escalate Conflict

The Pentagon on Monday sought to ease concerns that the recent U.S. attack on Iran could spiral into a prolonged Middle East conflict, even as officials declined to provide a clear timeline and acknowledged more American...

Melania Trump Chairs Historic U.N. Security Council Meeting on Children Amid Iran Conflict

U.S. First Lady Melania Trump chaired a United Nations Security Council meeting on children and education in conflict on Monday, marking a historic first for the 15-member body responsible for maintaining international...

Science

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates

Elon Musks SpaceX is shifting its near-term space exploration strategy, choosing to prioritize a return to the Moon before pursuing missions to Mars, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report citing sources familiar...

NASA and SpaceX Target Crew-11 Undocking From ISS Amid Medical Concern

NASA has confirmed that the agency, in coordination with SpaceX, is targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, January 14, for the undocking of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission from the International...

Neuralink Plans High-Volume Brain Implant Production and Fully Automated Surgery by 2026

Elon Musks brain-computer interface company Neuralink is preparing for a major expansion, announcing plans to begin high-volume production of its brain implant devices and transition to a fully automated surgical procedure...

Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency

The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator, making him the 15th leader in the agencys history. The confirmation, which took place on Wednesday, marks...

Technology

OpenAI and U.S. Defense Department Update Agreement to Clarify AI Usage Terms

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that the company is working with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to update their existing agreement, reinforcing clear boundaries around how OpenAIs technology, including ChatGPT, can...

OpenAI Secures $110 Billion Funding Round at $840 Billion Valuation Ahead of IPO

OpenAI has raised a record-breaking $110 billion in fresh funding, pushing the ChatGPT makers valuation to an impressive $840 billion. The massive investment round, backed by SoftBank, Nvidia, and Amazon, highlights the...

U.S. Deploys Tomahawks, B-2 Bombers, F-35 Jets and AI Tools in Operation Epic Fury Against Iran

The United States launched a sweeping military operation against Iranian targets under Operation Epic Fury, deploying advanced weaponry that included Tomahawk cruise missiles, B-2 stealth bombers, F-35 and F/A-18 fighter...

Australia Targets AI Platforms With Strict Age Verification Rules

Australias internet regulator has warned that search engines and app stores could be required to block artificial intelligence services that fail to implement age verification systems by an upcoming compliance deadline....

AWS Data Center in UAE Hit by Fire After Objects Strike Facility Amid Regional Tensions

Amazon Web Services (AWS) confirmed that one of its data centers in the United Arab Emirates experienced a temporary power shutdown after objects struck the facility, causing sparks and a fire. The incident occurred at...