KPMG Chief Economist Dr Brendan Rynne says the “expectation” is the RBA will keep the cash rate on hold despite rate cuts in the US. The US Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time in four years, prompting speculation about what the decision means for Australia. “The expectation though is that the Reserve Bank will still need to keep our current cash rate at 4.35 per cent,” Dr Rynne told Sky News Australia. “Until we start to see inflation rates drop to levels that enable the Reserve Bank to start to pull our cash rate back down.”

Global Nuclear Security Partners Managing Director Jasmin Diab discusses the new modelling that claims power bills would increase under the Coalition’s nuclear plan. “I think it’s really difficult to do that kind of modelling off a plan that doesn’t have a lot of substance to it yet,” Ms Diab told Sky News Australia. “If we want to talk about the cost of nuclear to power bills, we should look at some of our neighbouring countries … like France, Finland, Canada.”

Global Nuclear Security Partners Managing Director Jasmin Diab says “step one” for Australia is to “lift the moratorium” on nuclear energy. New modelling claims power bills would increase under the Coalition’s nuclear plan. “Step one for Australia is lift the moratorium,” Ms Diab told Sky News Australia. “Allow the right people in the energy sector to find what the right balance is and where these plants need to be.”

Global Nuclear Security Partners Managing Director Jasmin Diab says AI requires “significant amounts of power”. New modelling claims power bills would increase under the Coalition’s nuclear plan. “The thing with AI data centres is that these are centres that produce a lot of heat because of the computing power … [and] require energy that is stable,” Ms Diab told Sky News Australia. “This is why in the US, you’re seeing companies like Microsoft and Amazon having relationships with nuclear power providers.”

Global Nuclear Security Partners Managing Director Jasmin Diab says nuclear energy is most suitable for high energy demand industries such as manufacturing and the IT sector. New modelling claims power bills would increase under the Coalition’s nuclear plan. “What is being taken into consideration, but I think not being taken seriously is the significant increase in energy demand we will see across Australia,” Ms Diab told Sky News Australia. “Not so much domestically, but a lot from our manufacturing and our IT sector which are high energy demand industries.”

Curtin University Global Futures Professor Joe Siracusa says Republican nominee Donald Trump has a “little easier road” to the United States Electoral College. “I think Trump has a little easier road to the Electoral College, and it’s for this reason I think we don’t know much about Kamala Harris,” Professor Siracusa told Sky News Australia. “I think maybe [it’s] too close to call, but in terms of the quickest road to the electoral victory ... I think Donald Trump has a little lead on Kamala Harris.”

The US Secret Service is releasing an initial report on the agency’s failures leading to the first assassination attempt against former US president Donald Trump in July. A communication breakdown between Secret Service agents and local law enforcement is largely being blamed. Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe admitted to the “failure” on the part of the agency. “The Secret Service did not give clear guidance or direction to our local law enforcement partners,” Mr Rowe said. The agency has released a summary of its initial investigation assessing failures ahead of and during the Pennsylvania rally with a clear theme: a breakdown in communication.

Public servants in Victoria will receive an annual bonus this week as compensation for being moved between departments in times of crisis. Under the mobility payment, workers will get up to $3,100 depending on their pay grade. The bonus was first introduced in a 2020 agreement but was officially included in the latest pay deal.

Virgin is preparing to trial pets on planes, but it doesn’t come cheap. The airline will trial the concept with cats and small dogs on flights between Melbourne and Sydney next year. Pet owners will be expected to fork out an additional $100-150 on top of their airfare for the privilege.

Coles has unveiled its Australian-first automated customer fulfilment centre in Victoria. The high-tech facility uses more than 700 robots to enhance online shopping for customers. However, the supermarket giant has promised it will also create jobs. “The opening of this Australian-first online grocery shopping facility is a really important milestone for us as we reinvent the Coles online shopping experience for the greater Melbourne area,” Coles CEO Leah Weckert said.

The Prime Minister has had a reflective and intimate meeting with US President Joe Biden at his personal residence in Delaware. This could be the last official meeting between the pair as the President is in the final stages of his presidency, with an election in November. “It was an opportunity for me to express my support and congratulations for the role that President Biden has played,” Anthony Albanese said. “He’s been a good friend of Australia, but he’s also been an advocate for the rule of law.”

Stay up to date with the latest racing news both on and off the track with hosts Julie Snook and Tim Gilbert.

Racing Dreams tipping competition has reconvened for a competitive week five of the spring season. Racing NSW’s Mark Brassel and The Daily Telegraph’s Shayne O’Cass joined Racing Dreams hosts Julie Snook and Tim Gilbert to discuss this week’s tips. The two provided some analysis along with their tips for this week’s competitive races. The tips for this week were placed on races in Randwick and Newcastle. In partnership with Racing NSW.

Chris Waller-trained Kolding was a multiple Group 1 winner, winning the Epsom, the George Main Stakes and the inaugural Golden Eagle. Today, life is a little slower for the 7-year-old thoroughbred racehorse who has now retired into the care of Sydney’s Clare Oxley. Racing Dreams host Julie Snook caught up with Ms Oxley and Kolding at Centennial Park Equestrian Centre ahead of a dressage competition just last week. Ms Oxley gave some insight into life after racing for Kolding and heaped praise for the thoroughbred. In partnership with Racing NSW.

Hezbollah has confirmed its top commander was killed in a strike launched by Israel. Ibrahim Aqil was killed during an attack on a building in the southern suburbs of Lebanon’s capital Beirut. Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah vowed retaliation this week against Israel for the detonations of electronic devices that killed at least 37 people.

Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli is poised to ­become the next premier. The latest Newspoll shows the LNP leading Labor by ten points on a two-party-preferred basis. The LNP leads Labor on primaries 42 to 30. The emphatic poll result also indicates the LNP would be able to form a majority government. The Greens and independents were the only other movements both moving a point respectively. David Crisafulli is also leading Steven Miles as the better premier by seven points. More than 50 per cent of voters believe it’s time for a change of government, while only 29 per cent of those surveyed believed Labor deserved to be re-elected.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is defending his stance on nuclear energy despite critical modelling. Earlier this week, the government outlined new data forecasting supply gaps and blackouts under a nuclear energy plan. The modelling released by the Climate Change and Energy Department predicted two scenarios with demand-supply gaps of 49 and 18 per cent by 2035. The Opposition Leader claims the energy minister has no credibility and believes Labor's renewables policy will deliver higher prices and supply uncertainty.

Commuters in New South Wales will benefit from free travel on the state's rail network this weekend. It's after a breakthrough in negotiations between the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) and the state government. The RTBU had threatened to walk off the job - in protest over the conversion of existing rail lines to the state's Metro project. The Minns Government agreed late on Friday to put extra staff on the driverless services.

Housing affordability in Australia has reached a record low as mortgage rates and high home prices drive buyers out of the market. The latest Housing Affordability Report indicates that the median income household earning $112,000 can afford only 14 per cent of the available homes. The figure has declined from 43 per cent three years ago. New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania top the list for the worst affordability rates. According to the data, only 10 per cent of median-income residents in New South Wales can enter the property market.

The Greens could flip their position on the Albanese government's signature housing bill. Adam Bandt has expressed openness to supporting the government's bill - if it made capital gains tax changes. The Greens support would open the door for the proposed bill which would allow first-home buyers to gain easier access to the market. The opposition remains firmly opposed to the legislation.