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Chemist Warehouse’s deal to list via Sigma Healthcare is part way through an ACCC merger review.

Why Di Pilla’s fund sold down ahead of Chemist Warehouse ruling

It is usually worth following the money in merger deals, which makes trading in Sigma Healthcare interesting.

Sam Mostyn will be sworn in as the new governor-general on July 1.

Mostyn named next governor-general

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese named the businesswoman and former AFL commissioner as King Charles’ next representative in Australia.

The ASX 200 is set to fall.

ASX slumps over 1pc as property sells off; WiseTech down

Shares extend decline; gold resets record high; WiseTech’s Engelhard to retire from board; Westgold plunges over 10 per cent after latest quarterly production update. Follow updates here.

Taiwan reports one dead, more than 50 injured after quake

One person has died in Taiwan after the strongest earthquake in 25 years rocked the island; the peak small business body has warned about growing numbers of insolvencies. Follow updates here.

Seven allegedly paid thousands for drugs, prostitutes for Lehrmann

In three explosive affidavits, a former Seven producer claims the network paid for housing, meals and drugs to score a tell-all interview with Bruce Lehrmann.

Albanese expresses ‘outrage’ to Netanyahu over aid worker’s death

Anthony Albanese has expressed Australian anger over the death of aid worker Zomi Frankcom in a telephone call with Benjamin Netanyahu.

Population decline will destroy the West as we know it

By 2100, the number of people worldwide will have peaked. The value of assets will drop and the incomes they generate will fall.

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legal affairs

The last known photo of Bruce Lehrmann, on April 1 in the Sydney suburb of Balgowlah.

Ten flips the Higgins narrative against Seven

Judge Michael Lee must decide if a man who may have lied to his lawyers, judges and the public has a reputation worthy of being protected.

Taylor Auerbach and Bruce Lehrmann.

Lehrmann judge to test ‘lipstick on a pig’

Justice Lee knows that if he leaves anything out there – even a late affidavit by an ex-staffer at Spotlight – that could be an asterisk over his judgment.

Fortnite billionaire admits he loved, deceived Apple

When you get one of the world’s richest and most popular computer nerds into the witness stand for sworn testimony, what’s the first question you want to ask them?

Ten wins bid to reopen Lehrmann case

Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann allegedly leaked thousands of pages of confidential documents to Seven, then lied about it under oath, a court has heard.

Oil Search investigation found executives ‘felt belittled’ by MD

Part of the report was read out in court, with former chief financial officer-designate Ayten Saridas suing the company for alleged bullying and harassment.

Features include the ability to save articles, dark mode and real time notifications.

Get the latest business news on the go with the AFR’s new iOS app.

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Companies

Hanwha acquired control of Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering this year.

Christopher Pyne emerges as Hanwha’s man in Canberra

The Korean conglomerate has lobbed a $1 billion bid for ASX-listed Austal. The local shipbuilder has rejected the offer, saying it won’t be approved.

The NSW government of Premier Chris Minn is negotiating with Origin Energy to keep its giant Eraring coal power station open after August 2025.

First coal power increase in seven years spotlights Eraring talks

A surge in coal generation in NSW during the March quarter has thrown a spotlight on negotiations between Origin Energy and the state government to postpone closing the nation’s largest power station. 

Robin Khuda founded AirTrunk in 2015.

Macquarie ready to part with 88pc of AirTrunk

Street Talk has obtained as much detail as any of the carefully vetted bidders currently signing the non-disclosure agreements.

Before and After - Trish Miller is a patient of Eucalyptus, which is a company that offers compounded Ozempic.

Trish lost 25kg on replica Ozempic. She fears for patients like her

Patients like Trish Miller are afraid their weight loss will come to a halt as the regulator mulls a ban on replica anti-obesity drugs made by pharmacists.

South Korea’s Hanwha a ‘credible buyer’ for shipbuilder Austal

The ASX-listed group has rejected a bid from the defence and aerospace conglomerate after warning it would probably fail to gain required government approvals.

Cettire shares slide 16pc on Bell Potter downgrade

The company’s house broker said the luxury marketplace would continue to outperform peers, but it would be harder for it to generate high growth.

Banks ramp up plans for cash disruption after Armaguard deal fails

One option being considered is for smaller cash couriers to step in if the monopoly money transport business owned by Lindsay Fox collapsed.

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Markets

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The era of big mining dividend paydays is coming to an end – for now

Morgan Stanley’s analysts have told clients that BHP will be particularly affected amid an iron ore price slump. Lithium miners will similar cut their payouts.

The Australian dollar took a leg lower after rate cut bets were dialled back.

$A hit as strong US data dents rate cut hopes

The local currency is back below US65¢ after traders pushed back the likely timing of the first rate cut by the Federal Reserve and the Reserve Bank of Australia this year.

Tesla’s Model Y vehicle.

Tesla shares drop after sales fall short of estimates

The electric car maker handed over 386,810 vehicles in the first three months of 2024 for its first year-over-year sales drop since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What happened overnight? S&P 500 briefly trades below 5200 mark, yields rise again

The Dow ended down near 400 points. Tesla dropped amid concerns about EV demand. Oil rose on rising Mid East tensions. Gold reset its record high.

Investors fear Fed will abandon three rate cuts this year

The sell-off in US bond markets suggests investors are anxious that stubborn US inflation will force the Fed to opt for “one and done”.

Opinion

The PM has made a silly billion-dollar bet on solar panels

The price of solar panels has plunged and overseas makers are going broke, making it even more puzzling why the government is making a $1 billion taxpayer bet.

John Kehoe

Economics editor

John Kehoe

As NATO turns 75, Ukraine war remains a test of wills with a tyrant

Supporters of Ukraine must act quickly, lest the 75th anniversary of the key Western alliance instead marks a collapse of will and capacity in Ukraine.

The AFR View

Editorial

The AFR View

We should be glad banks are speaking up

Australia’s big banks are at the coalface of the economy. Governments should be listening when they highlight the need for change.

Nick Hossack

Columnist

Nick Hossack

Reserve Bank ponders the market plumbing

The Reserve Bank board is repurposing the financial system as its cheap pandemic funding is flushed out. It’s doing it as financial markets are only too happy to splash the cash.

Jonathan Shapiro

Senior reporter

Jonathan Shapiro

Why boards need their strategy captured on one page

Good governance is about strategy and judgment, not compliance and process. How do boards get those things to the fore?

Catherine Livingstone

Corporate leader

Catherine Livingstone

Investors fear Fed will abandon three rate cuts this year

The sell-off in US bond markets suggests investors are anxious that stubborn US inflation will force the Fed to opt for “one and done”.

Karen Maley

Columnist

Karen Maley

Reports

AI’s brave new world

Artificial intelligence is being used by hackers to create ever more convincing fakes, but the technology is also giving our leading companies an edge.

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Politics

Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom, 43, was killed in an Israeli air strike in central Gaza while helping to deliver food. 

Albanese expresses ‘outrage’ to Netanyahu over aid worker’s death

Anthony Albanese has expressed Australian anger over the death of aid worker Zomi Frankcom in a telephone call with Benjamin Netanyahu.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is preparing the May 14 budget.

Budget to fast-track investment approvals

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is close to finalising a package to get capital flowing for the stuttering energy transition and other Labor priority projects.

The resilience of the housing market recovery could make the RBA reluctant to deliver cuts to the cash rate later this year, according to economists.

Population surge and smaller households fuelling home prices: RBA

The resilience of the housing market recovery could make the RBA reluctant to deliver cuts to the cash rate later this year, according to economists.

‘We’ll stay off your backs’ Dutton tells business leaders

Peter Dutton has promised business leaders cheaper energy prices and less government interference under the Coalition.

Bet ‘significant’ public money on renewables stakes: Combet

The incoming chair of the nation’s sprawling $212 billion Future Fund says it’s time to return to public investment in green energy.

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World

Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden at the Filoli Estate in Woodside, California, in November.

Biden warns Xi on Pacific partners, trade and Middle East

Joe Biden and Xi Jinping spoke by phone for nearly two hours, and discussed in part China’s treatment of US partners in the Pacific, including Australia.  

JJens Stoltenberg has been Secretary-General of NATO for almost 10 years, and will be replaced in the coming months.

NATO mulls $165b ‘Trump-proof’ military fund for Ukraine

The proposals would give the Western alliance a more direct role in co-ordinating the supply of arms, ammunition and equipment.

A photo that Zomi Frankcom sent her family just before her death this week.

Biden vents ‘outrage’ over deadly Israeli strike on aid workers

The incident drew widespread condemnation and ratcheted up pressure on Israel to ease the disastrous humanitarian situation in Gaza after six months of war. 

Four reasons why Joe Biden can’t force a truce on Israel, or won’t

The United States has intervened in past Middle East wars, but for the current president, this one is different.

Why women don’t stick with economics

Economic models of anything are founded on the assumption of Homo economicus. No sensible woman looks at this model and recognises herself.

Property

The four Perth suburbs delivering 25pc-plus returns for investors

While eight of the top 10 performing suburbs for house price growth in Perth lie across the city’s south, four have climbed more than 25 per cent in a year.

Finding an affordable place to buy or rent has never been harder.

Rents rise 11pc in Victoria as investors flee: NAB

Victorian property investment declined last year while advertised rents increased by 11 per cent, according to new data from NAB.

Jennifer Keesmaat, who visited Melbourne in 2019, said replicating Canada’s approach to the housing crisis could end the NIMBY wars in Australia.

How do you fix a massive lack of housing? Canada knows a few things

Toronto’s former chief planner says it took “cold hard cash” to get some cities to accept they would have to clear away restrictions to more development.

Record-breaking house prices make early rate cuts ‘less likely’

Home values nationwide hit new peaks in March, boosted by strong gains in the more affordable markets, but rising prices could also delay rate cuts.

‘It’s OK to rent’, developer tells Canadians priced out of homes

With high rates of homeownership, renting in Canada has traditionally been a transitory state. As home prices and borrowing costs have jumped, that is changing.

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Wealth

Sam Altman has joined Forbes’ rich list.

A new class system is emerging even within the world’s 1pc

The Forbes’ rich list has gained $US2 trillion as Taylor Swift and Sam Altman have become billionaires, but 14 people at the top belong in a new category.

Population decline will destroy the West as we know it

By 2100, the number of people worldwide will have peaked. The value of assets will drop and the incomes they generate will fall.

The right apartment still a good stepping stone to wealth

The price difference between houses and apartments has reached record levels, but units are still an important stepping stone on the property ownership journey.

Technology

Even BYD has seen price cuts dent its profitability, while on Tuesday it announced that sales in the first quarter fell 42 per cent.

The big worry for car makers: what if the EV slowdown is not a blip?

If politicians cannot persuade consumers to buy EVs, will they tear up their net-zero pledges, or turn to other measures to drive sales?

Fortnite billionaire admits he loved, deceived Apple

When you get one of the world’s richest and most popular computer nerds into the witness stand for sworn testimony, what’s the first question you want to ask them?

Uber admits to illegal activity at launch in Australia

A Melbourne trial to judge if Uber unfairly scuttled a rival’s business has begun with the ridesharing giant admitting it operated illegally in Australia a decade ago.

Work & Careers

Shaunte Mears-Watkins loves eggs on toast - the perfect meal after an hour of early morning rowing.

The CEO who loves breakfast so much, she had a brunch wedding

The boss of Advanced Cosmeceuticals Skin Group, Shaunte Mears-Watkins, is up by 5.30am at the latest, and has a well-honed routine to set her up for the day.

Visa rejections hit record as overseas students top 700,000

There were 713,000 international students living in Australia in February, but a corner has been turned as visa rejections pile up.

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Life & Luxury

The secret to streamlined packing

What to take? What to leave out? Packing for an overseas holiday can be fraught. So, from lists to laundry bags, these are the hacks we swear by.

Emily Ratajkowski and her divorce rings, designed by jeweller Alison Chemla.

Why ‘divorce rings’ are going viral

The trend of such jewellery, embraced primarily by women, is about breathing life into one’s marriage bands after a split.

Junior Suite at Zel, Mallorca.

From Branson to Nadal – big names are investing millions in Mallorca

Forget the parties and tacky tourism around Magaluf. Celebrities and luxury hotel chains are putting up brass plates across one of Spain’s favourite Balearic Islands.

Amandine Chaignot outside restaurant Pouliche.

Going to France for the Games? Here’s your restaurant guide

Three of France’s top chefs are designing the menus for the Athletes Village at the Olympics. But spectators can also win by visiting their buzzy, innovative restaurants.

Is Ferrari’s new supercar better as a convertible?

This droptop twin with a plug-in hybrid system follows hot on the tail of the “fun-to-drive” 296 GTB coupe.

From the gallery