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• Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has announced delays to a pioneering government bill that would legislate a right for employees to work from home two days a week. • The legislation, described as a "nation-first" initiative, will now be postponed and will not take effect until after the upcoming election. • This move impacts the timeline for establishing formal remote work entitlements for Victorian workers, shifting the focus toward the electoral cycle.

Two advisers have links to a venture fund co-investing in US defense companies that benefit from federal spendingPete Hegseth’s appointments to a key Pentagon advisory body include two men with ties to the venture capital fund where Donald Trump Jr is a partner, which has lucrative investments in military and space technology.Defense Policy Board appointee Marc Andreessen’s firm, Andreessen Horowitz, one of Silicon Valley’s largest venture capital firms and known by the name “a16z”, co-invests alongside the Trump partnership 1789 Capital in three defense contractors. Fellow DPB appointee Blake Masters also sits on the boards of three ventures tied to 1789 Capital. Continue reading...

Republicans, including Graham’s sister Darline, expedite campaigns to replace late senator in special primary raceIn the race to replace the late US senator Lindsey Graham, 10 candidates have been barnstorming South Carolina diners, church halls and recreation centers, compressing a normal year of campaigning into about a fortnight.The Republican party is staging a special primary election in the state on Tuesday to choose Graham’s replacement. His sister, Darline, who has been serving as interim senator following his sudden death last month, is on the ballot. Continue reading...

• Copenhagen-based startup Palette has raised €3 million in funding from Ugly Duckling Ventures. • The company is developing technology to help businesses maintain durable AI context, allowing them to switch between different AI models seamlessly. • This investment addresses the technical challenge of model lock-in, enabling companies to optimize their AI infrastructure as new models emerge.

An Amnesty International report reveals that the country is now a key part of Israel’s weapons supply chain. Plus, Assam floods, student anger spreads and a song to put in rotation• Don’t get This is India delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereHello, and welcome back to This Is India.For this week’s newsletter, I’m looking at India’s evolving relationship with Israel, and how it has deepened as conflict swept across the Middle East. Why is it that India has formed an even closer bond with a country that has faced mounting international isolation and backlash over a military campaign in Gaza that has left the territory in ruins and killed more than 70,000 Palestinians, – many of whom were children? Continue reading...

• A new poll backed by election reformers reveals that a majority of Americans are frustrated with the current two-party system and are open to significant structural changes. • Voters expressed support for transitioning to proportional representation, a system where multiple representatives are elected per district based on a party's overall share of the vote. • This shift matters as it could break the existing political duopoly and allow smaller parties to gain a foothold in the U.S. government.

• Manchester City are reportedly close to signing Ayyoub Bouaddi, while Nottingham Forest has expressed interest in City's £46m midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. • AS Roma has initiated talks with representatives for Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli, as Serie A interest grows for both him and Gabriel Jesus. • Barcelona and Tottenham have both made inquiries to Bayern Munich regarding a potential summer transfer for 33-year-old England forward Harry Kane.