Australia's treasurer said today's interest-rate rise was widely expected and had been priced into markets, but would not ease pressure on households. He said Australia cannot escape global pressures, but is in a stronger position and better prepared to respond.

Axios reports AI companies, private equity firms and unions have created a multi‑million‑dollar coalition, the American Infrastructure Alliance, to push 'responsible growth' for data centers from 2026 onward. The group intends to work with state and local officials to draft standards and regulatory guidelines for data‑center construction ahead of 2027 and to prevent bans on new projects. Initial activity will target Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Indiana and South Carolina. Backers include Blackstone, OpenAI, QTS, SoftBank and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

Politico Europe reported Sept. 27 that the EU is considering dedicated accession roadmaps for Montenegro, Ukraine, Moldova and Albania to accelerate their accession. It would be the first time the EU offers a clearer pathway to candidates regarded as closest to joining.