Anthony Albanese’s government has taken a blow due to Iran war but voter anxiety around cost of living and datacentres may hit harder

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The Democrats’ stunning midterm victory should broaden Australia’s alliance with the US, observers say, even as a new power base emerges in Washington, affecting Aukus, datacentre development and relations with China.

Cabinet ministers, diplomats and Australia’s defence industrial sector closely watched the results this week, with control of the US Congress flipping to the Democrats and the outlook for Donald Trump’s final two years in office badly dinted.

Donald Trump’s crushing defeat in the US midterms over cost-of-living pressures is a warning for politicians closer to home

Fascinating, isn’t it, that for all that Donald Trump has got away with, it’s arguably the cost of fuel that’s finally led to an absolute rout in the midterms.

So many Americans held their noses at so many other things, but in the end his own decision-making on Iran will haunt the rest of his presidency.

Marco Rubio pulls plug on traditional photo op at meeting of foreign ministers after about one-third of countries threaten boycott

The traditional “family photo” to open the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting has been abruptly cancelled in the US after a host of nations – including Australia and the UK – refused to appear beside the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.

The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, pulled the plug after several European officials, the UK and Australia made it known they would boycott or walk out of the snapshot that often kicks off such international gatherings.