Australian, Vanuatuan regimes sign deal to block foreign military bases

Source: Al Jazeera [Qatari state media]

“Australia and Vanuatu have signed a economic and security deal that prevents foreign military bases from being built on the Pacific island. The Nakamal Agreement was signed by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Vanuatu counterpart, Jotham Napat, in Canberra on Monday. … Australia has committed to increased economic support for Vanuatu, which will bar the establishment of foreign military bases or infrastructure on the island and consult Australia on any third-party investment in critical infrastructure.” (06/29/26)

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/29/australia-and-vanuatu-sign-deal-to-block-foreign-military-bases

Thomas L. Knapp

SCOTUS blocks Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook

Source: BBC News [UK State Media]

“The US Supreme Court has blocked President Donald Trump’s attempt to fire a governor of the US central bank, in a ruling seen as affirming the Federal Reserve’s independence. In a 5-4 decision, justices from the country’s top court said the administration had not provided Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook sufficient ‘due process’ for her to contest her removal. The decision sends the matter back to lower courts, where the administration will have to prove its allegations that Cook has committed mortgage fraud if it wishes to proceed with the firing and where Cook would have a chance to challenge the accusation. Cook has denied the allegations, which Fed defenders say are a pretext to allow Trump to assert more control over the bank.” (06/29/26)

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4wwy0nkeno

Steve Trinward

How to Spend It

Source: Foundation for Economic Education
by Mark Nayler

“Every seven years, the EU approves a new budget, known as a Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The next MFF will cover the period 2028–34, and has been described by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen as ‘the most ambitious ever proposed.’ It has to be approved unanimously by the end of 2027, but with general elections due in almost a third of the bloc’s 27 countries next year (France, Italy, Poland, Spain, Greece, Estonia, Finland, and Slovakia), the pressure is on to have negotiations wrapped up by Christmas. After a two-day summit in Brussels on June 18 and 19, however, only one point of agreement had been reached: to bring new funding ideas to the next brainstorming session in October.” (06/29/26)

https://fee.org/articles/how-to-spend-it/

Thomas L. Knapp

Anti-Monopoly Bill Hits Make-or-Break Moment in California

Source: The American Prospect
by David Dayen

“A bill to update the antitrust laws in the nation’s most populous state faces a critical legislative hearing this week. At a time when California is among the states being relied upon as a substitute for proper antitrust enforcement, which is moribund at the federal level thanks to Trump administration corruption, advocates say the state must have a full suite of tools to succeed. Monied interests are working diligently to stop the bill, but it gained important momentum late last week when a key senator signed on. The office of state Sen. Ben Allen, who is running for statewide office to become California’s insurance commissioner, told the Prospect that ‘the Senator is very likely going to be supporting the bill.’ Allen was one of a handful of Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats whose position on the bill was uncertain as of last week.” (06/29/26)

https://prospect.org/2026/06/29/anti-monopoly-bill-hits-make-or-break-moment-in-california/

Steve Trinward