Japan's finance minister Katayama said Tokyo is seeking to attract financial services firms and broader Australian investment, underscoring the importance of Australia-Japan ties amid rising geopolitical tensions.

TrendForce's latest memory-sector research says major global cloud service providers (CSPs) will accelerate AI infrastructure buildout, with capex estimated to rise 98% in 2026 and a further 50% in 2027. The firm attributes the surge partly to sharply higher memory contract prices and robust procurement demand, and projects DRAM and NAND Flash will represent 47% of CSP capex in 2026 and 68% in 2027.

Zhongkuang Resources said Zimbabwe temporarily suspended lithium concentrate export permit approvals in Feb 2026 to curb smuggling and encourage local processing. The company obtained an initial 200,000-tonne export quota in April and a further 300,000 tonnes in July, and says it has ramped logistics despite African land transport constraints and port congestion. As of the disclosure date, Bikita lithium concentrate transport has returned to normal and supply is sufficient to meet the company’s domestic refining feedstock needs.