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Vulcan Energy (ASX:VUL) commenced civil construction activities at its 30MW Lionheart geothermal power plant in Germany.

Fletcher Building (ASX:FBU) has satisfied government grant conditions, allowing its subsidiary to acquire New Zealand units.

Spark New Zealand (ASX:SPK) has initiated a strategic review of its digital services division as part of an organisational restructure.

Radiopharm Theranostics (ASX:RAD) secured $12.5 million in fresh capital through an institutional raising.

The Australian government pledged to challenge the tariffs across diplomatic channels while refusing to extend fuel tax relief.

Bloomberg's Josh Wingrove says the long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge opens after Canada and the Trump administration reach a side agreement that gives the US a share of future bridge revenue while leaving the original Canada-Michigan financing agreement intact. He says the bridge adds critical capacity for North America's busiest trade corridor, though questions remain about the future of cross-border auto manufacturing and broader US-Canada trade relations.

Bloomberg Economics' Becca Wasser says the Iran conflict is placing growing strain on US air defense interceptor stockpiles, limiting military options as Washington balances continued strikes, maritime security and the risk of a wider regional war. Bloomberg Economics' Chris Kennedy says simultaneous disruptions in the Middle East and Ukraine are tightening global energy markets, with declining inventories, constrained LNG exports and pressure on oil and diesel supplies increasing economic risks for Europe and beyond.

Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Commodities Strategist Mike McGlone says Florida's tax advantages continue to attract people and businesses from higher-tax states, helping fuel Miami's rapid growth even as housing, insurance and other living costs climb. He says affordability pressures are increasingly weighing on renters and middle-income residents, while elevated home prices and a construction boom suggest Miami's real estate market may be nearing a peak.

Political scientist Mark Lawrence Schrad says Russia's high alcohol consumption is rooted less in culture than in centuries of state policy, arguing successive governments used vodka monopolies to raise revenue, strengthen autocratic control and shape society. He says those historical patterns continue to influence modern Russia, cautioning against assuming economic hardship alone will quickly weaken President Vladimir Putin's grip on power.

Former Deputy National Security Adviser Victoria Coates says sustained economic pressure, combined with targeted military action, offers the best chance of forcing Iran back to negotiations, arguing the country's worsening economy is becoming the regime's greatest vulnerability. She also says President Donald Trump's flexible approach to foreign policy allows him to adapt quickly to changing battlefield dynamics, pointing to Ukraine's military gains as a factor reshaping US engagement with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

President Trump says tariffs will rebuild American manufacturing, shrink the deficit, and strengthen America's hand against China. But after court challenges and months of new data, have they delivered? Steven Rattner of Willett Advisors breaks down what's actually happened, and what it means for investors, businesses, and the US economy.

Midcoast Villager Deputy Editor Alex Seitz-Wald says Maine Democrats quickly coalesce behind Troy Jackson after Graham Platner's withdrawal, allowing the party to move past a chaotic primary and shift its focus to challenging Sen. Susan Collins. He says Jackson now faces the task of introducing himself to voters and donors while Republicans seek to tie him to Platner's scandals in one of the nation's most closely watched Senate races.