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Trump will TACO in Iran, but he has to figure out how first
In this case, he appears to have unleashed something he cannot control; a conflagration across the entire region, culminating in a global energy and economic crisis.
The $105m lawsuit trailing Macquarie’s big US data centre deal
Two days before Macquarie sold Aligned’s network of 50 data centres for $56.2 billion, a legal letter was sent that picked a fight with the City of Phoenix mayor.
Chartered Accountants ANZ blames exam issues on testing company
Problems with the online test monitoring systems operated by Janison Education Group disrupted two major accounting and NAPLAN tests over 48 hours.
Empty floors at Atlassian HQ a sign of things gone awry
The software giant signed off on a massive Sydney skyscraper five years ago, at the height of its power. Now it is trying to find tenants for all the space.
Gail Kelly says sorry over fatal Triple Zero outage
Former Westpac chief executive and now Singtel board member has apologised for September’s catastrophic incident, but insists Optus will not be sold.
The 20 minutes inside Atlassian that will reverberate across Australia
The company is uniquely exposed to AI disruption. But Mike Cannon-Brookes just explained why every business (and its workers) can be upended by this revolution.
Eight killed in Beirut car strike; container ship near UAE hit
Eight people have been killed and 31 injured after an Israeli strike hit a car in Beirut; A container ship near the UAE has been struck, causing a fire. Follow live updates.
Royal commission faces challenges after Richardson’s exit
The hope now is that the commissioner’s vast judicial powers can overcome a disorderly start to provide the forensic accountability the Bondi victims deserve.
4 factors that make you most susceptible to the white-collar ‘wipeout’
An education used to be seen as insulation from workforce disruption, now it might be the thing that proves your undoing.
Oil tankers burn from Iranian strikes as Trump says war won
Iran appeared to set ablaze two tankers in Iraqi waters as it stepped up attacks across the Middle East, and the IEA launched a record release of oil reserves.
MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT
Oil tankers burn from Iranian strikes as Trump says war won
Iran appeared to set ablaze two tankers in Iraqi waters as it stepped up attacks across the Middle East, and the IEA launched a record release of oil reserves.
Dirty fuel allowed on roads to extend reserves
Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced that Australia’s fuel quality standards would be altered to allow higher sulphur levels for the next 60 days.
Sydney Airport chief warns against reliance on imported aviation fuel
Although aviation fuel imports are mostly assured for this month, uncertainty looms for April and beyond, as the Middle East conflict threatens global shipping.
Iranians have given up hope of regime change
The scale of destruction and apparent resilience of the Islamic regime has prompted many Iranians to rethink hopes that foreign intervention might bring change.
‘Unprecedented in scale’: IEA to release 400m barrels of oil
The International Energy Agency agreed to the largest-ever release from emergency stockpiles to try to contain a price spike driven by the Middle East war.
Media reporter Sam Buckingham-Jones on Kyle and Jackie O’s public bust-up and whether ARN can use it to exit one of the worst deals in Australian media history.
Companies
Caution urged on push to relax super fund borrowing ban
Any easing of the long-standing restrictions on borrowing by the $4.5 trillion superannuation sector should come with rigid limits, market figures and politicians say.
Liontown boss says loss-making lithium miner is ready to roar
Tony Ottaviano says his company is through the hardest part of its 10-year journey to develop the Kathleen Valley lithium mine.
US private equity buys JERA stakes in Gorgon, Ichthys LNG
The sale of minority stakes in two of Australia’s biggest LNG projects to MidOcean comes as prices for the fuel have surged with the shutdown of export giant Qatar LNG due to the Iran war.
McGrathNicol axes 238 workers at Gupta’s failed Tahmoor Coal
Almost three-quarters of the workforce at the coal mine south of Sydney are being made redundant by the liquidator, appointed last Friday.
ANZ leadership overhaul reaches business banking
Clare Morgan is the latest Shayne Elliott-era executive to depart since the arrival of his successor Nuno Matos last May.
Getting ahead of super’s future liquidity challenge
Australia’s $4.5 trillion super system is unique. Our savings are locked up for our working lives but free to move around on 72 hours’ notice. Is that a good thing?
Anthropic to build power, fund grid upgrades for future data centres
Evan Frondorf, a senior executive at Anthropic, tells Senate committee the AI giant would invest heavily in new power supply to support its data centres.
SPONSORED
Markets
Hyperion to Firetrail name best stock picks for the AI age
Five Pinnacle-backed funds divulge their best stock picks in a time when fund managers are getting “paid to dance, but not complain about the music”.
US private equity buys JERA stakes in Gorgon, Ichthys LNG
The sale of minority stakes in two of Australia’s biggest LNG projects to MidOcean comes as prices for the fuel have surged with the shutdown of export giant Qatar LNG due to the Iran war.
Aussie dollar jumps on oil shock as big four banks tip two rate rises
Banks and traders are expecting a rate increase from the RBA next week, which has lit a fire under the Australian dollar just as oil jumps back above $US100 a barrel.
Talaria’s bets on healthcare and a powerful Italian dynasty
Talaria Capital’s Hugh Selby-Smith discusses the holding company controlled by the Agnelli family and the AI revolution supercharging healthcare stocks.
Hunkering down: cash funds swell on Middle East tensions
Investors are hoarding capital in cash funds, keeping their powder dry to buy the dip once the Middle East war de-escalates.
Opinion
Royal commission faces challenges after Richardson’s exit
The hope now is that the commissioner’s vast judicial powers can overcome a disorderly start to provide the forensic accountability the Bondi victims deserve.
Editorial
The 1970s oil shock lesson the RBA can’t ignore next week
Inflation expectations could become unanchored and ultimately self-fulfilling. That was true even before the spike in oil prices induced by the Middle East conflict.
Former adviser to Paul Keating
Wealth doesn’t protect elderly Australians. It makes them vulnerable
The very qualities that built a fortune – strength, acumen and an iron will – can leave wealthy older Australians dangerously exposed in their later years.
Wealth management specialist
Star casino judgment left directors off the legal hook
How will ASIC v Bekier be understood? Will it be seen as a unique set of facts and resulting outcome, or as a legal outcome that legitimates mediocre standards of governance?
Corporate governance expert
Political pet projects become a balancing act
Infrastructure Australia’s priority list promises an independent assessment of merit but contains plenty of politics with a capital P.
Columnist
Anthropic’s bet tests whether we will embrace AI or regulate it away
If too much red tape stops AI companies from setting up shop in Australia, we will end up having little to regulate.
Editorial
Politics
Government’s dirty fuel decision caused by strategic reserve failure
Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced that Australia’s fuel quality standards would be altered to allow higher sulphur levels for the next 60 days.
Bowen set to overhaul national EV charging network due to cost blowout
Only about 45 out 117 fast-charging stations have been built three years into the five-year, $40 million program, run by NRMA.
Sydney Airport chief warns against reliance on imported aviation fuel
Although aviation fuel imports are mostly assured for this month, uncertainty looms for April and beyond, as the Middle East conflict threatens global shipping.
How Albanese’s Bondi delay led to investigator’s shock exit
Dennis Richardson’s abrupt exit is the latest setback for the antisemitism royal commission, which Virginia Bell has already said is suffering delays.
Power prices improve but experts warn it’s not likely to last
Average household electricity bills are set to drop 3 per cent on July 1 under a draft ruling, but the end of the federal energy bill subsidy means spending on power will still rise.
World
Oil tankers burn from Iranian strikes as Trump says war won
Iran appeared to set ablaze two tankers in Iraqi waters as it stepped up attacks across the Middle East, and the IEA launched a record release of oil reserves.
Hegseth bans press photographers over ‘unflattering’ pictures
The defence secretary’s staff took issue with images of their boss snapped in a rare briefing last week about the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
How a ‘weirdly rushed’ decision could cost Keir Starmer his job
Labour luminary Peter Mandelson’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein continue to damage the British prime minister despite the distraction of war in the Middle East.
Iranians have given up hope of regime change
The scale of destruction and apparent resilience of the Islamic regime has prompted many Iranians to rethink hopes that foreign intervention might bring change.
Don’t mention the tariffs: US trade tsar’s warning to Aussie super funds
United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the US welcomed super’s investment, but didn’t want to hear complaints about Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Property
MA Financial supersizes marina fund with mega Gold Coast deal
The case for the $500m marina fund is the lack of berths relative to the number of boats needing space, and the squeeze is particularly acute for superyachts.
Who will buy this $5.5m passive house?
This architect built a super thermally efficient house in the shell of a run-down suburban home. He’s now about to test what the market will pay for it.
Luxe developer plots $20m penthouse on blue-chip Brisbane riverfront
After acquiring a St Lucia riverfront site for $17 million, prolific Brisbane developer Graya is planning a luxury tower with a $20 million penthouse.
Property magnate Makris’ Gold Coast marina project hits market
The iconic shopping mall will be demolished to make way for a luxury Marriott-branded resort.
Aussie hoteliers count their bookings amid turmoil in the Middle East
Hoteliers are gearing up for disrupted travel plans and cancelled bookings by international guests, but there could be a silver lining if domestic tourism picks up.
Wealth
Rich parents drive rise in prenups
Against the backdrop of what’s being described as the greatest transfer of wealth the world has ever seen, pre-marital financial agreements are no longer viewed as something for celebrities or the ultra-wealthy.
How much to invest in your 20s, 30s and 40s to hit $1m
See our table for the monthly sums needed to reach $1 million by 65. Then start as early as possible, ruthlessly review spending and keep investing disciplined and simple.
This couple built a future on property. Here’s where they went wrong
Two investment properties weren’t enough to stop Tom and Jenny Croucher from rapidly eating into their super when they retired. Here’s how they fixed it.
Technology
Atlassian slashes 1600 jobs as AI challenges its future
Mike Cannon-Brookes says the software giant will shed 1600 roles, including its CTO, amid an AI-powered disruption and a brutal sharemarket sell-off.
An AI disaster is getting ever closer
The scenarios keeping AI bosses awake at night are no longer purely hypothetical. The tech is being used in hacking, scamming, weapons and sabotage.
R18+ video games still accessible to children despite age check rules
Distributors helped draft the rules but have so far not implemented age assurance for 18+ material.
Work & Careers
This Deloitte partner turned boss, 39, is bracing for AI’s apocalypse
Xero chief Angad Soin is confident the $14 billion accounting giant has a competitive moat against the rising tide of generative artificial intelligence.
KPMG taps India’s Coforge for EA outsourcing to save $17m annually
The move marks the largest example of executive assistants roles at big four firms being sent overseas,
Life & Luxury
Can a $979 LED face mask really make you look younger?
The glow-up devices are among the latest skincare trends taking over social media, and experts are looking into whether the results claimed justify the hype.
Making the big calls: Meet the Aussies voting for the Oscars
Hundreds of Australians are members of the Academy of the LA-based Academy Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Perks include free movies and dinners with the stars.
An 8th-century drink makes a 21st-century comeback
The 1300-year-old recipe for Prince Nagaya sake was discovered beneath the streets of Osaka. Our writer gets a taste of imperial life.
A banker for 34 years, he now runs Japan’s most exclusive chalet
Mike Alexander and his partner, Kylie Gulliver, are changing the way the 1 per cent travel – one $15,000 bottle of wine at a time.
For $3000, you can hear Meghan Markle’s story. Sort of
Meghan Markle is heading to Australia for a wellness retreat. What does that actually mean?
