Transport

Here’s some of what I’ve been reading from outside Australia recently, along with a few short thoughts on each.

Just like that, and the tariff scare is over—or is it? Global markets rallied 5-10% yesterday because Trump, in the face of a near-certain recession and equity and bond market carnage, backed off and hit pause.

This update has become something of a weekly policy analysis wrap, given the flurry of announcements we’re getting ahead of a federal election that now looks like it’ll be held on or before 12 April (today is the deadline for a 29 March election to be called).

The Albanese government dropped a policy bomb on Sunday: a complete ban on foreign investors and temporary residents purchasing established homes for two years. I would write something about it, but I already did when Dutton proposed the same policy a couple of weeks ago.

Western Australia's upcoming election promises bigger subsidies for roads and rail, but unchecked spending fuels congestion, rewards sprawl, and leaves taxpayers with the bill.

Despite the allure of Japan's Shinkansen, Australia is just too different to make high-speed rail viable down under any time soon.

Rex Airlines' owners should take a haircut; the limits to synthetic AI data; California versus AI; how a cybersecurity firm took out the world's computers; and Paris is showing that it's time to dial back the Olympics.

Here are a few short takes for you to chew over on the weekend, from the week’s happenings that probably didn’t need a full post._