MIL Email Publisher – Foreign Submissions

Source: Invest Moldova Agency

Invest Moldova Agency, Chișinău, June 18, 2026 – Invest Moldova Agency today launches the official digital platform of the Republic of Moldova: www.moldova.md. Designed as a modern identity card for the country, the platform provides a structured, easy-to-navigate presentation of the Republic of Moldova for international audiences and for citizens at home and abroad.

The launch responds to the need for a clear digital space that presents the Republic of Moldova in a structured and relevant manner, in a global context where rapid access to information and clarity of message are essential.

The www.moldova.md platform brings together essential information about the country in one place, from its economic landscape and development priorities to its cultural identity, traditions, and local experiences. The content is organized to provide a quick and accurate understanding of the Republic of Moldova, for both those discovering it for the first time and those wishing to rediscover it from a contemporary perspective.

The website is available in English and is specifically tailored to international audiences, including visitors and individuals interested in learning more about the Republic of Moldova, opinion leaders, and those seeking authentic experiences, providing direct access to relevant and verified information.

An important element of the official launch is the placement of a dedicated www.moldova.md banner at Chișinău International Airport, in the passport control area. With the message “You just landed in Moldova,” the banner welcomes international visitors upon arrival and provides direct access via a QR code to the Republic of Moldova's official presentation platform.

Through this initiative, www.moldova.md becomes a strategic communication and country-promotion tool, contributing to the strengthening of the Republic of Moldova's presence in the international arena and facilitating a clear and informed perception of the country.

“A strong country image is built through consistency and through an identity that is presented coherently across all international platforms. Through www.moldova.md and the Media Toolkit, we aim to provide the Republic of Moldova with a modern presentation framework, developed based on the experience and standards applied by countries that have been implementing nation branding strategies for many years. At the same time, we placed a strong emphasis on usability and accessibility, ensuring that these tools can be used easily and effectively by institutions, partners, and communities that promote Moldova,” stated Irina Tolstousov, Deputy Director, Invest Moldova Agency.

With the launch of this platform, the Republic of Moldova enhances its international visibility and presents its country profile in a unified and credible manner, offering a clearer, more up-to-date image for global audiences and a reference point for those seeking to discover it.

Learn more about the Republic of Moldova and explore the official platform by visiting www.moldova.md.

About Invest Moldova Agency

Invest Moldova Agency is the public institution established by the Government of the Republic of Moldova and operating under the authority of the Prime Minister. The Agency is mandated to attract strategic investments to the Republic of Moldova, provide post-investment support to investors, contribute to export growth, promote the country's image, and develop the economic diplomacy dimension.

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

Juba, 19 June 2026 – Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) continues to run emergency medical activities in Akobo, eastern Jonglei state, South Sudan, following months of fighting earlier this year.

On 6 March, the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) launched an offensive on Akobo. Almost all of the town’s residents fled across the border to Ethiopia, where they received no humanitarian assistance whatsoever. In mid-April, following further clashes, armed groups with the opposition retook control of the town. More than 100,000 people have now returned to find a town stripped of everything. The entire health system has collapsed: All 15 surrounding health facilities were looted and abandoned, and cold chain equipment was destroyed, bringing vaccination services to a complete halt.

“The humanitarian response in Akobo continues to fall far short of the scale of needs, despite repeated calls to action and high-level commitments,” says Jacob Granger, MSF project coordinator in Akobo. “Donors and humanitarian actors must urgently scale up across the board — water and sanitation, food assistance, the full restoration of Akobo Teaching Hospital, and protection services, including the distribution of mosquito nets — ahead of the peak malaria transmission season. MSF's return has helped restore critical, lifesaving care in Akobo, but this alone is not sufficient.”

Akobo Teaching Hospital had been completely looted and left without electricity, fuel, beds, medical equipment, or essential medicines. When MSF resumed activities at the hospital on 11 May, the team was immediately overwhelmed: In the first five days alone, teams treated over 600 patients, and by 14 June, 684 patients had been hospitalized in a facility with capacity for only 30 beds. By the same date, the hospital had provided 5,106 outpatient consultations and recorded 30 deliveries. The number of outpatient consultations in a single day is now equivalent to what the hospital  managed in an entire week before the conflict.

Akobo is currently classified as Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 5, on the brink of famine. Months without functioning health services have had a devastating impact on children: Between 11 May and 14 June, 36 per cent of children aged 6–59 months who were screened during consultations at the MSF facility were malnourished, including 15 per cent suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

“Since the start of activities, and until the beginning of June, all patients — including pregnant women — were sleeping on the floor,” says Elizabeth Nyachin Koang, MSF traditional birth attendant and midwife in Akobo. “We no longer have the equipment we once used to monitor pregnancies. We cannot properly assess how a baby is developing or whether it is doing well inside the womb. Women are giving birth under very difficult conditions. We do everything we can, but we lost much of the equipment that helped us provide better care.”

For weeks, injured people went untreated, patients with chronic diseases like HIV had their treatment interrupted, and families survived on wild leaves and fruits. While United Nations agencies have initiated food distributions, including supplementary feeding for children and pregnant and lactating women, the overall response from other actors has not yet matched the urgency of the situation. MSF is currently providing outpatient consultations, maternal healthcare, malnutrition treatment, malaria diagnosis and care, wound management, and lifesaving referrals.

The collapse of water and sanitation systems has created an extreme risk of disease outbreaks. Before the conflict, 17 water towers and 35 boreholes supplied Akobo through an underground network, all destroyed or looted in the fighting. Today, only eight hand pumps remain functional — enough to serve around 5,000 people out of a population of over 100,000. The majority of people now rely on untreated river water, and open defecation is widespread. With malaria transmission already accelerating and the rainy season intensifying, there is extreme risk of waterborne disease outbreaks, including cholera, which has been spreading in Jonglei state since February. This risk will grow rapidly without an urgent, systemic scale-up of the humanitarian response.

MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation.  MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. Every year more than 120 Australians and New Zealanders go on assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières  working as: doctors, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, human resource/finance coordinators, pharmacists, mental health specialists and logisticians. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au

Source: Andersen Global

SAN FRANCISCO – Andersen Global enters into a Collaboration Agreement with JMP Advisors in India, adding tax capabilities to its existing legal capabilities in the country.

Providing advice across tax, regulatory and transaction matters, JMP Advisors serves domestic and multinational clients operating in complex and evolving business environments. The firm provides services spanning international and Indian domestic tax, transfer pricing, cross-border structuring, foreign investment advisory, transaction support, succession planning and regulatory matters. Its clients include multinational corporations, growing enterprises, private equity and venture capital-backed businesses, and high-net-worth individuals and families.

“Our approach has always centered on delivering clear, actionable guidance that helps clients navigate complex situations and continue their business with a clear sense of direction,” said Jairaj Purandare, founder and chairman of JMP Advisors Private Limited. “Collaborating with Andersen Global allows us to extend that approach globally while continuing to provide thoughtful, well-structured advice to clients operating across jurisdictions.”

“JMP Advisors brings a strong understanding of tax and regulatory frameworks and business dynamics in India,” said Mark L. Vorsatz, global chairman and CEO of Andersen. “Their experience in advising organizations on complex tax and transaction matters strengthens our ability to support clients navigating business transformation in key markets.”

Andersen Global is an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax, legal, and valuation professionals around the world. Established in 2013 by U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has more than 50,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 1,000 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms.

Source: ONEKEY

ONEKEY, Europe's leading product cybersecurity and compliance specialist for manufacturers of connected and embedded systems, has successfully obtained the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification.

Düsseldorf, June 18, 2026 – ONEKEY has been awarded the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification, validating the effectiveness and continuous improvement of its Information Security Management System (ISMS). The certification underscores the company's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of information security, data protection, and risk management.

ISO/IEC 27001 is the globally recognized standard for information security management systems. To receive certification, companies must demonstrate that they systematically protect information assets, identify and manage risks, and have established processes for continuous improvement.

The certification covers the development, operation, and delivery of the ONEKEY platform, which automates product cybersecurity and compliance management. The platform enables automated Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs), vulnerability management, and impact analysis. It also supports compliance with key regulatory requirements and industry standards, including the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), IEC 62443, ETSI EN 303 645, UN R155, and many others.

“The security of our customers' and partners' information is our highest priority. Achieving the ISO/IEC 27001 certification confirms that we not only develop leading cybersecurity solutions for connected products but also operate our own systems and processes in accordance with internationally recognized security standards,” said Jan Wendenburg, ONEKEY's CEO.

This certification provides additional security and transparency for customers in the automotive, industrial automation, medical technology, energy, Internet of Things (IoT), and other regulated industries. It confirms that ONEKEY systematically manages information security risks and ensures the long-term confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.

This certification is especially important given the new challenges that regulatory requirements such as the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), NIS2, and other international standards present to companies. With this certification, ONEKEY demonstrates its commitment to supporting customers in securing their products and to upholding the highest standards of governance, compliance, and information security.

“Trust is the foundation of all digital value creation. For us, the ISO/IEC 27001 certification is not just proof of compliance; it's also an important part of our corporate strategy and our commitment to providing quality to customers, partners, and investors,” added Jan Wendenburg.

ONEKEY is the leading European specialist in Product Cybersecurity & Compliance Management and part of the investment portfolio of PricewaterhouseCoopers Germany (PwC). The unique combination of the automated ONEKEY Product Cybersecurity & Compliance Platform (OCP) with expert knowledge and consulting services provides fast and comprehensive analysis, support, and management to improve product cybersecurity and compliance from product purchasing, design, development, production to end-of-life.

Critical vulnerabilities and compliance violations in device firmware are automatically identified in binary code by AI-based technology in minutes – without source code, device, or network access. Proactively audit software supply chains with integrated Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs) generation. “Digital Cyber Twins” enable automated 24/7 post-release cybersecurity monitoring throughout the product lifecycle.

The integrated ONEKEY Compliance Wizard already supports compliance with requirements from IEC 62443-4-2, ETSI EN 303 645, UNECE R155, and many other standards and regulations.

As part of the EU-funded CRACoWi (Cyber Resilience Act Compliance Wizard) project, ONEKEY is collaborating with 13 European partners to develop an AI-powered assistant for the automated implementation of the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA).

The solution will guide companies through the entire compliance process—from the initial CRA scope assessment to the generation of the required Declaration of Conformity.

The Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) is effectively supported by the integrated automatic prioritization of vulnerabilities, significantly reducing the time to remediation.

Leading international companies in Asia, Europe and the Americas already benefit from the ONEKEY Product Cybersecurity & Compliance Platform (OCP) and ONEKEY Cybersecurity Experts.

Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Victoria Ledda has been appointed Group Chief Information Officer and Rodrigo Castillo has been appointed Group Chief Technology Officer, effective from 1 July 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

19 June 2026 – Commonwealth Bank of Australia Chief Executive Officer Matt Comyn today announced changes to the bank’s Executive Leadership Team.

Victoria Ledda has been appointed Group Chief Information Officer and Rodrigo Castillo has been appointed Group Chief Technology Officer, effective from 1 July 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

The appointments reflect the scale, importance and ambition of CBA’s technology agenda. As digital, data and AI capabilities become more central to customer experience, operational resilience and the future of banking, CBA is creating two executive technology roles with clear accountability for delivery.

Mr Comyn said: “Technology is central to CBA’s strategy and to the experiences we provide for our customers. The pace of change in technology and AI means we need focused, hands-on leadership across both business-aligned technology delivery and the enterprise technology foundations that support the Group.

“Victoria and Rodrigo bring complementary strengths and this model is designed to help CBA accelerate technology delivery, strengthen accountability and reflects CBA’s continued focus on delivering safe, resilient and reliable technology for customers.”

As Group Chief Information Officer, Ms Ledda will lead business-aligned technology strategy and delivery across the Group. As Group Chief Technology Officer, Mr Castillo will lead the enterprise technology foundations, engineering, security and AI capabilities that support the bank.

Victoria joined CBA in 2021 and has held senior technology leadership roles including Executive General Manager, Institutional Banking & Markets Technology and Executive General Manager, Retail Technology. Prior to joining CBA, Victoria spent 15 years at Goldman Sachs, where she held senior engineering and technology leadership roles across London, New York and Sydney.

Rodrigo has been with CBA since in 2023 as Chief Technology Officer. Prior to joining CBA, Rodrigo held senior Chief Information Officer and Managing Director roles at HSBC, where he led major digital transformation and technology modernisation programs across international markets.

Mr Comyn said: “These appointments reflect the depth of technology talent within CBA and our continued focus on delivering better, safer and more resilient technology for customers.”

Victoria and Rodrigo will report directly to the CEO and join CBA’s Executive Leadership Team.

Biography – Victoria Ledda

Victoria joined CBA in 2021 and has held senior technology leadership roles including Executive General Manager, Institutional Banking & Markets Technology and Executive General Manager, Retail Technology. She was appointed interim Co-Chief Information Officer of Business Technology in November 2025.

Prior to joining CBA, Victoria spent 15 years at Goldman Sachs across London, New York and Sydney. As a Managing Director, she led global digital platform transformations, accelerated public cloud adoption and drove operational improvements to improve client service, resilience and efficiency.

Victoria is an Executive Board Member of CommSec and sits on the Mastercard Advisory Board. She has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, First class, from the University of Kent.

Biography – Rodrigo Castillo

Rodrigo has been with CBA since in 2023 as Chief Technology Officer and was appointed interim Co-Chief Information Officer, Central Technology in November 2025.

Prior to joining CBA, Rodrigo held senior Chief Information Officer and Managing Director roles at HSBC. He led major digital transformation and technology modernisation programs and implemented modern engineering practices including agile delivery and DevSecOps to deliver secure and scalable outcomes. He also oversaw the deployment of generative and agentic AI capabilities at scale across engineering and the broader business.

Rodrigo worked extensively with international teams across Europe, Asia and the Americas, leading the development of platforms serving millions of users and digital solutions that have materially enhanced customer and client outcomes.

He holds an Executive Certificate in Strategy and Innovation from the MIT Sloan School of Management and a Bachelor of Systems Engineering from Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería.

Source: Equinor

18 JUNE 2026 – Equinor and its partners have agreed on the concept for Ringvei Vest, a large subsea development project linked to the Troll B platform in the Norwegian North Sea.

This marks an important milestone in the maturation of the project and establishes a development solution for seven discoveries and one prospect, paving the way for a potential common field development.

“We estimate that Ringvei Vest will contribute 240 million barrels of oil equivalent. A solid effort has been put in over a long period, and I am confident that together with partners and authorities, we have arrived at the best development solution, which also ensures optimal resource utilisation” says Kjetil Hove, executive vice president for exploration and production Norway in Equinor.

The discoveries included in the project are Grosbeak, Swisher, Mulder, Kveikje, Toppand, Røver Sør, and Røver Nord. In addition, the prospect Grønngylt is included. The resources are spread across eight licences with a total of seven owners.

Kjetil Hove, executive vice president for exploration and production Norway in Equinor
Photo: Ole Jørgen Bratland / ©Equinor

As the operator in all the licences, Equinor has acted as the area architect, and together with partners evaluated different solutions on which discoveries to include in the development as well as host platform. Ringvei Vest is one of the largest early-phase projects on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

“The Norwegian Continental Shelf is maturing, new discoveries are smaller and costs are increasing. To maintain a high activity level and reliable energy supplies to Europe, it is important to develop marginal discoveries near existing infrastructure and collaborate across licenses. Equinor aims to increase our equity production from the Norwegian Continental Shelf to 1.3 million barrels per day in 2035,” says Hove.

Ringvei Vest covers a large area, and the plan is to drill a total of 13 wells through six templates. The well stream will be separated on the seabed before being transported to Troll B, which also provides power for the subsea facilities.

The wells are planned to be controlled from Troll B. From the platform, the oil is transported to Mongstad and the gas to Kollsnes.

Plans also include a new compressor on Troll B to increase processing capacity at the platform. The platform is partially powered from shore, which enables oil and gas in Ringvei Vest to be produced with low emissions.

Equinor chooses to inform about this project at an early stage because it is a large and important project, but it is too early to comment on the size of the investments.

The decision on continuation (DG2) is planned for the end of the year. The timeline for the final investment decision, submission of the plan for development and operation, and production start-up is not yet decided.

Partnerships*

Grosbeak – PL 090JS: Equinor Energy AS (operator) 21%, INPEX Idemitsu Norge AS 40%, Wellesley Petroleum AS 5%, Vår Energi ASA15%, AkerBP ASA 19%
Grosbeak – PL 925: Equinor Energy AS (operator) 66%, Wellesley Petroleum AS 5%, Vår Energi ASA 10%, Aker BP ASA 19%
Grosbeak – PL248I: Equinor Energy AS (operator) 36%, Petoro AS 40%, Wellesley Petroleum AS 5%, AkerBP ASA 19%
Kveikje PL 293B/CS: Equinor Energy AS (operator)51%, DNO Norge AS 20%, INPEX Idemitsu Norge AS 10%, AkerBP ASA 19%
Swisher PL 24BC:Equinor Energy AS (operator) 26%, Petoro AS 40%, Wellesley Petroleum AS 15%, AkerBP ASA 19%
Mulder PL 090: Equinor Energy AS (operator) 45%, INPEX Idemitsu Norge AS 15%, Vår Energi ASA 40%
Toppand PL 630: Equinor Energy AS (operator) 76%, Wellesley Petroleum AS 5%, AkerBP ASA 19%
Røver Nord og Røver Sør PL 923: Equinor Energy AS (operator) 61%, Petoro AS 20%, AkerBP ASA 19%
Grønngylt PL090: Equinor Energy AS (operator) 45%, INPEX Idemitsu Norge AS 15%, Vår Energi ASA 40%

*After transactions between Equinor and AkerBP, pending government approval

Source: KOF Economic Institute

The war waged by the United States and Israel against Iran, and the resulting higher oil prices, are weighing more heavily on the economic outlook than assumed in the previous forecast. Against this backdrop, the KOF Swiss Economic Institute is lowering its economic forecast: real GDP growth adjusted for sporting events is expected to amount to 0.8% in 2026 (previously 1.0%) and 1.5% in 2027 (previously 1.7%).

As a result of the war waged by the United States and Israel against Iran, the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed to shipping in recent months. Oil prices rose to around USD 118 per barrel at the end of April before falling back to just above USD 90 by the end of May. In its baseline forecast, the KOF Swiss Economic Institute assumes that energy prices will continue to decline in line with oil price futures as the situation gradually eases, falling back below USD 80 by the end of the forecast period.

Swiss economy grows more weakly as a result of the oil price shock

Elevated energy prices and high uncertainty are weighing on consumers' willingness to spend. Private consumption stagnated in the first quarter of 2026, and consumer sentiment fell to a level comparable to the low seen during the tariff shock in April 2025. Indicators for the current quarter point to a subdued recovery, but private consumption is likely to remain dampened by persistent inflationary pressure, a higher propensity to save and weak labour market conditions.

Investment activity remains weak overall. High geopolitical uncertainty, a deteriorated earnings situation and low capacity utilisation are weighing on equipment investment. Construction investment is likely to remain on a moderate growth path, although rising construction prices as a result of higher energy costs represent a risk factor. With a gradual easing of the geopolitical situation, the propensity to invest is expected to pick up noticeably again only in 2027.

Weak foreign demand and a strong Swiss franc are putting pressure on the export industry. The business situation remains mixed: the pharmaceutical and chemical industries are developing positively, while cyclical sectors such as the watchmaking and machinery industries remain subdued. Higher energy prices and persistently weak foreign demand are likely to cloud the outlook for goods trade for the time being; a broader recovery is expected only once the geopolitical situation gradually eases and energy price pressure subsides.

Persistently high oil prices as a significant downside risk

In addition to the baseline forecast, the KOF Swiss Economic Institute analyses an alternative scenario in which the conflict persists despite recent efforts and the oil price rises to USD 180 per barrel by the end of 2026. According to estimates by the KOF Swiss Economic Institute, growth in gross domestic product (GDP) adjusted for sporting events would amount to 0.5% in 2026 and 1.0% in 2027 in this scenario – a reduction of 0.3 and 0.5 percentage points, respectively, compared with the baseline scenario. Inflation would stand at 1.3% in 2026 and 0.9% in 2027, but would thus remain within the target range of the Swiss National Bank (SNB). Employment growth would weaken significantly, corresponding to around 19,000 fewer full-time equivalent jobs being created.

Global economy under pressure

The global economy is expanding only modestly. In the euro area, the first quarter of 2026 was weaker than expected. Sentiment indicators have recently deteriorated markedly across all countries and sectors. Economic momentum in the euro area is likely to remain weak for the time being owing to higher energy prices, more restrictive financing conditions and persistently elevated uncertainty. In the United States, the economic weakness caused by the government shutdown at the end of 2025 was partly offset in the first quarter. As a net exporter, the US economy is only directly affected by the oil price shock to a limited extent. While investment is benefiting from the AI boom, private consumption is losing momentum noticeably. Despite a strong first quarter, driven by robust foreign trade figures in the wake of the AI boom, China is likely to lose growth momentum over the remainder of the year owing to weaker global demand.

Rise in inflation remains moderate – SNB leaves policy rate at zero

Inflation, as measured by the Swiss consumer price index (CPI), has risen from 0.1% in February to 0.6%. The inflation forecast for 2026 has been revised upwards from 0.3% to 0.6% compared with the previous forecast. The main drivers are higher oil prices and travel costs as a result of the Iran war. Owing to rather weak aggregate demand, second-round effects are likely to remain relatively subdued. In addition, the strong franc is expected to keep external price pressure low. The inflation forecast for 2027 remains unchanged at 0.6%. The KOF Swiss Economic Institute does not expect the SNB to make any interest-rate moves over the entire forecast period; the policy rate is likely to remain at zero.

No imminent improvement in the labour market

The Swiss labour market largely stagnated in 2025. Although the first quarter of 2026 points to slightly better momentum, leading indicators have so far shown no significant improvement. Employment in full-time equivalents is expected to grow by 0.5% in 2026 and 0.7% in 2027. The unemployment rate is likely to rise to 5.1% according to the International Labour Organization (ILO) definition and to 3.1% according to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) definition in 2026, before initially remaining at an elevated level in 2027. Real wages are expected to continue increasing over the forecast period thanks to continued positive nominal wage growth, although growth will be weaker than in previous years owing to higher inflation.

Downside risks predominate

The baseline forecast assumes a relatively timely settlement of the Iran war. A continuation and renewed escalation of the conflict represent downside risks. In addition, trade and geopolitical risks remain elevated, including possible additional US tariffs against Switzerland as well as potential shifts in investment by Swiss companies to the United States. Upside risks arise from the fiscal stimulus provided by European defence programmes and infrastructure packages, as well as from higher productivity gains through the use of artificial intelligence. A faster de-escalation of the Iran war compared with the baseline scenario would also represent an upside risk, as energy prices and uncertainty could decline earlier and more rapidly.

Source: AMES

Levels of anxiety are rising among emerging refugee and migrant communities in Australia because of the conflict in the Middle East, increasingly negative political narratives around migration and the continuing cost of living crisis, a survey of community leaders has found.

A focus group of 35 community leaders in 21 key cohort migrant and refugee groups, surveyed in April and May by migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia, reported high levels of nascent stress in their communities.

Eighty-two per cent of respondents said the conflict in the Middle East was source of anxiety, 91 per cent cited negative narratives around migration and 71 per cent cited cost of living.

Finding meaningful work was cited by 42 per cent of communities and housing by 46 per cent.

All of the respondents said stress levels in their communities were higher than six months ago and more than half said stress level in their communities were higher than in the general community.

Asked, on a scale of one to ten (with ten the worst), how significantly have members of communities had been affected by the conflict in the Middle East, the average score was 7.

Asked on a scale of one to ten (with ten the worst), how significantly have members of communities had been affected by current narratives around migration, the average score was 8.

Asked on a scale of one to ten (with ten the worst), how significantly have members of communities had been affected by the cost-of-living crisis, the average score was 7.

Iranians were most worried about the conflict in the Middle East, followed by Syrians and Iraqis. Communities from Africa, China and the Middle East were the most worried about negative narratives around migration.

Communities from Africa, Myanmar, The Philippines and Sri Lanka reported the highest anxiety levels over cost-of-living increases.

Most community leaders reported higher anxiety levels than the general community except for those from China, Tibet, India, Vietnam, Nepal and Malaysia.

But a counter narrative also emerged from the survey of community members using their resilience and community connections to support each other.

And all community leaders reported that their community members were generally happy with their lives in Australia.

 

The survey comes in the wake of the February 2026 attack on Iran and its regional allies launched by the US and Israel. Despite promises by the US that the war would last just days, it has dragged on for more than two months creating economic fallout and geopolitical uncertainty.

In the 12 months to December 2025, the Australia Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) Living Cost Indexes (LCIs) recorded rises between 2.3 per cent and 4.2 per cent. Housing, food and non-alcoholic beverages and recreation and culture saw the highest rises.

Also, in the past few months there has been an increased in political dialogue around migrants with some right-wing parties pledging to end migration.

Iranian community leader ‘Nera’ said her community was living through the conflict in the Middle East “moment by moment”.

“We are not experiencing what is happening from a distance, we are living through it – constantly checking phones, not being able to sleep and with a constant sense of dread,” she said.

“Living outside Iran does not bring us peace of mind. It brings a different kind of torment: knowing something is happening and being powerless to reach those you love.”

South Sudanese community leader ‘Elizabeth’ said hearing negative political narratives about migrants was “scary”.

“When we hear politicians talking about migrants in negative ways, we worry that we will not be welcome here in Australia,” she said.

“The rising cost-of-living is also a big issue in my community. And the rise in fuel prices have made this worse,” she said.

Ukrainian community member ‘Yevheniia’ said the cost-of-living crisis had meant that some Ukrainians, who came to Australia as a result of the Russian invasion of their homeland, have returned home.

“We see a mixture of impacts. If people have found accommodation and a job, they are generally doing well and can cope. But we have seen some people, especially women who came with their children, leaving their husbands behind, have gone home because it’s been hard for them in many ways,” she said.

AMES CEO Melinda Collinson said the survey results were more evidence of the need to protect social cohesion and build relationships between communities.

“It’s clear there is stress building in some of our newest communities because of these factors. We all need to recognise this and do all we can to make sure everyone in Australia feels welcome and supported,” Ms Collinson said.

Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CommBank)

The latest HSI Index shows May spending got a boost from travel and events, but CBA economists expect spending slowdown to continue.

17 June 2026 – Key points:

• The Household Spending Insights (HSI) Index rose 0.2% in May, following a fall in April.
• The strongest spending categories were Recreation (2.3%) and Hospitality (1.0%), boosted by sporting events like the State of Origin and a recovery in travel.
• Annual spending growth printed at 4.5%, but CBA economists expect spending to slow through the second half of 2026 under the weight of weaker household income growth. 

Household spending edged higher in May, returning to modest growth after a dip in April, as Australians lifted spending on discretionary items despite ongoing cost of living pressures.

The latest CommBank Household Spending Insights (HSI) Index showed gains across seven of the 12 categories, led by recreation and hospitality, with travel demand seeing some recovery and major events like State of Origin football games series supporting activity.

“Household spending is continuing to grow, despite a more uneven pattern in recent months,” CommBank’s Head of Australian Economics, Belinda Allen said.

“While higher interest rates and inflation are weighing on households, consumers were willing to spend on experiences like travel, dining and events during the month of May.”

Not all categories strengthened in the month. Utilities recorded the largest decline, falling 3.9 per cent due to seasonal volatility, while Education and Transport spending also eased, partly reflecting the timing of the bill payment cycle and lower petrol prices.

Softness emerging for Australians with a mortgage

Those with a mortgage are beginning to show signs of slowing down their spending, after outperforming other households over the past year, likely reflecting higher interest rate costs.

By contrast, renters have taken the lead, recording the fastest pace of annual spending growth in May amongst other households.

Renters stand out for their stronger spending on discretionary categories, especially hospitality, highlighting a continued preference for experiences.

Spending expected to slow in 2026

Household spending is expected to soften further in the second half of 2026 as higher borrowing costs and inflation continue to take a toll on household budgets.

“The RBA held the cash rate steady in June but remains willing to hike again if inflation proves more persistent than expected,” said Allen.

“The RBA acknowledged that consumer spending was slowing. We continue to expect the RBA to remain on hold for the remainder of 2026 and expect two rate cuts in 2027 based on our economic outlook.”

Read the full report here: https://www.commbankresearch.com.au/apex/researcharticleviewv2?id=a0NOa00000L0JHt

Anders Opedal, president and CEO of Equinor ASA: “Demand continues to grow and Equinor is uniquely positioned to provide reliable energy. We will deliver more energy, growing cash flow and superior returns towards 2030.”

“Our strategy is to maximise value on the Norwegian continental shelf, deliver focused growth in international oil and gas, build a competitive integrated power business and create more value uplift through trading and market optimisation.”

“Equinor has delivered industry-leading returns over 25 years as a listed company, with a total shareholder return of almost 1,800%. We have confidence in our plans and are committed to continue creating strong value for shareholders. Equinor aims to double share buy-back for 2026 to USD 3 billion and introduces a more predictable framework for share buy-backs from 2027. We aim to continue growing the cash dividend per share by more than 5% annually.”

Key ambitions and strategic priorities:

More energy

Production growth of 150,000 barrels of oil equivalent (boe) per day to 2.3 million boe per day by 2030
Production outlook for the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) increased by 100,000 boe, to 1.35 million boe per day in 2030, and 1.3 million boe per day in 2035
International oil and gas production growth of 30%, to 950,000 boe per day by 2030
Power production growth to more than 20 TWh in 2030, mainly from projects in execution

Growing cash flow

30% growth in cash flow from operations (CFFO) after tax from 2025-2030
USD 1 billion in increased investments in 2027 to high return oil and gas projects. Expected organic investments (capex) at around USD 12 billion, or around USD 10 billion including Empire wind tax credits.
Annual capex of USD 11–13 billion expected for 2028-2030, with around 60% to the NCS, 30% to international oil and gas, and 10% to power
Free cash flow, after capex and lease payments, of more than USD 40 billion for the period 2026-2030

Superior returns

Return on average capital employed (ROACE) above 15% annually from 2026-2030
Intend to double share buy-back for 2026 to USD 3 billion
Annual share buy-back of USD 2-4 billion from 2027, based on oil prices of USD 60-80 per bbl and European gas prices USD 7-11 per MMBtu, balance sheet strength, and macro-outlook
Above 5% annual growth in quarterly cash dividend per share

A strategy for growing energy markets

Oil and gas demand is expected to be higher for longer. Together with stronger political focus on energy security and affordability, this increases the need for reliable supply. Electrification and the AI build-out are driving power demand, while increasing intermittency creates a greater need for flexible power generation.

Equinor’s access to high-quality infrastructure, broad energy offering and strong market positions provide attractive opportunities for growth and value creation.

Develop NCS to maximise value

The NCS is the backbone of Equinor’s business and a key driver of long-term cash flow and value creation. Equinor is the largest energy provider to Europe, delivering oil, piped gas and LNG with low cost and low emissions.

Around 60% of capex will be allocated to further develop the NCS. Equinor expects production at 1.35 million boe per day in 2030 and 1.3 million boe per day in 2035. This represents an increase in production outlook of 100,000 boe per day.

To accelerate resource maturation, cut costs and industrialise subsea field developments, Equinor is redefining its operating model. The company has a large portfolio of attractive investment opportunities including sub-sea field developments and increased recovery (IOR), with break-even prices below USD 35 per barrel and payback time of less than 2,5 years. Equinor plans to develop 6 to 8 new tie-back projects annually, towards 2035.

Increased recovery and high exploration activity will continue to add new recoverable resources to extend longevity.

Focused growth in international oil and gas

Equinor has systematically improved the competitiveness of the international oil and gas portfolio and holds positions in several world-class basins, as the US, Brazil, Angola, the UK and Canada.

Equinor expects to allocate around 30% of capex to international exploration and production. Production is anticipated to increase by around 30% to approximately 950,000 boe/d, growing cash flow from operations (CFFO) by around 80% to approximately USD 9 billion in 2030. The portfolio is expected to deliver around USD 20 billion in free cash flow after capex and lease payments from 2026 to 2030.

Longevity for the international oil and gas portfolio will be extended beyond 2030 by progressing non-sanctioned projects and focused exploration.

Building a competitive power business

Equinor is concentrating its power growth in selected markets and segments, where integration with a broader energy offering is achievable.

Equinor expects to allocate around 10% of capex to developing an integrated power business. A fourfold increase in production is anticipated, reaching more than 20 TWh by 2030, mainly from projects in execution.

Cash flow from operations is expected to fund organic investments, after tax credits, from 2027-2030. Projects are expected to deliver nominal equity returns above 10%, with additional potential for portfolio uplift.

Value uplift from marketing and trading

Equinor has a strong position as a global asset-backed energy trader with direct market access.

Equinor will expand its marketing and trading capabilities in selected markets. The company aims to capture additional value from its flexible portfolio, long-term position-taking and cross-commodity trading, and advancing digital tools and AI.

Adjusted operating income from trading and market optimisation is expected to increase by 25% to around USD 500 million per quarter by 2030.

Growing production while reducing emissions

Equinor is an industry leading operator with low CO2 and methane intensity from operations.

While oil and gas production will increase, Equinor maintains the ambition to reduce operated emissions by 50% towards 2030. Electrification on the NCS and improved energy efficiency across the portfolio are key enablers.

Equinor expects to reduce its net carbon intensity in the range of 15-30% by 2035 (1).

Competitive and predictable capital distribution

Equinor announces an intention to increase the 2026 share buy-back programme by USD 1.5 billion, bringing the total expected programme for 2026 to up to USD 3 billion, including shares to be redeemed from the Norwegian State. The increase will be distributed equally to the third and fourth tranche of the 2026 share buy-back programme.

Equinor expects to launch the third and fourth tranches following the announcement of the company’s second and third quarter 2026 results, respectively. The increased share buy-back for 2026 is subject to separate board approvals prior to commencement of the third and fourth tranches.

For 2027 and beyond, Equinor announces a range-based guidance for share buy-backs of USD 2–4 billion per year, based on an oil price range of USD 60–80/bbl, a European gas price range of USD 7–11/mmbtu, balance sheet strength, and macro-outlook.

The level and commencement of future share buy-back tranches will be decided by the board on a quarterly basis, in line with the company’s dividend policy, and will be subject to existing and future board authorisations for share buy-back granted by the company’s General meeting, as well as agreements with the Norwegian State regarding share buy-backs.

All share buy-back amounts include shares to be redeemed from the Norwegian State.

Equinor aims to continue growing the quarterly cash dividend per share by more than 5% annually.

(1) This includes scope 1, 2, and 3.

The information on capital distribution is considered to be inside information for Equinor ASA pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

This stock market announcement and press release contains Forward Looking Statements. Please see the Forward-Looking Statement disclaimer published on Equinors web site.

All forward looking financials are based on reference case unless otherwise specified. See appendix in CMD presentation material for key assumptions and definitions.