FBI agents have arrested former senior CIA official David Rush after a raid on his Virginia home uncovered 303 gold bars worth about $40 million at current prices, plus $2 million in cash and nearly three dozen luxury watches, many reportedly Rolexes. Court filings allege Rush obtained the bullion by submitting multiple requests for “work-related expenses” between November 2025 and March 2026 and also falsified academic and Navy Reserve credentials to claim tens of thousands of dollars in military leave pay. The case raises fresh scrutiny over traceability and custody controls for government-held precious metals.

The European Commission has opened a call for evidence to shape an EU-wide Action Plan on digitalisation in the water sector, responding to projections that water demand could exceed available supply by around 40%. The initiative is expected to prioritise smart metering, real-time network monitoring and digital twins for treatment plants and distribution systems to cut leakage and optimise asset operation. Civil and water engineers should anticipate future requirements for interoperable data standards, sensor-ready infrastructure and integration of hydraulic models with EU-level digital platforms.

Resources Minister Madeleine King has backed the appointment of Lynas Rare Earths chief executive Amanda Lacaze as chair of the Minerals Council of Australia, signalling closer collaboration between government and major miners on critical minerals policy. King flagged a focus on accelerating resilient critical minerals supply chains, with Lynas already operating the Mt Weld rare earths mine in Western Australia and a major processing plant in Kalgoorlie. For mining executives, the move points to stronger industry input into approvals, downstream processing incentives and export market diversification.