Trump claims ‘sick people’ are behind his prosecution
The former president declared that he would appeal the landmark verdict, calling the trial a “scam” and the judge a “tyrant”.
- Exclusive
- Hong Kong protests
Crosby Textor advised pro-Beijing HK officials
Australian political consultancy Crosby Textor advised pro-Beijing officials in Hong Kong on how to smooth the way for the start of national security laws that dramatically curtailed free speech.
The next Cold War is taking place in a chilled data centre
Any doubt AI is now the most significant national security issue for the US and China was laid to rest this month.
Economists read riot act to Fair Work on minimum wage
The Fair Work Commission is expected to lift the minimum wage by 3.5 per cent to 4 per cent next week, but economists warn that anything more will add to inflation.
Ticketek customers’ details ‘stolen’ in cyber incident
Ticketek assured Australian account holders that passwords and credit card information were not compromised, Minister for Cyber Security Clare O’Neil said.
Biden presents new Israel ceasefire plan
The three-phase plan would progress from an initial ceasefire to a permanent end to hostilities and the release of all hostages.
The Aussie political guru on a UK mission impossible
Tory campaign chief Isaac Levido will need every ounce of his battlefield wiles if he is to lift Rishi Sunak’s party out of the doldrums by July 4. Luckily, he has a plan.
AFR Weekend: The big stories, best reads and expert advice. In your inbox on Saturday.
Edition
Financial Review Rich List 2024
Tracking the fortunes of Australia’s richest people since 1983 | Australia’s 200 most wealthy and how they are handing over the keys to the kingdom
WEEKEND READS
Labor’s much-vaunted stability is showing signs of strain
Anthony Albanese’s ministry has not changed since it was announced two years ago. But competitive tension is rising and the Future Made in Australia Act risks more fireworks.
Nine Entertainment executives begin review that could backfire on them
An external review of Nine Entertainment’s TV business and an anonymous tip-line have the potential to reshape power atop Australia’s largest media company.
- Opinion
- University
On the front line of Australia’s foreign student surge
International students are in the sights of both a government and opposition looking to win votes. Who are these political pawns, and what is it like to teach them?
How Taiwan’s trusty ‘silicon shield’ became its achilles heel
For years the island democracy depended on its outsized semiconductor industry to protect it from China’s advances. But huge success comes at a price.
Why CBA’s AI future needs more reimagining
A US trip left CBA chief executive Matt Comyn with questions to which he doesn’t have all the answers. It’s a common theme across the Australian business world.
Get the latest business news on the go with the AFR’s new iOS app.
Companies
Lehrmann files appeal without lawyers
Bruce Lehrmann has told the Federal Court he will appeal against the finding at his defamation trial that he raped former colleague Brittany Higgins.
At Star, one man held all the cards
Chief executive Robbie Cooke was determined to lead every important project at the troubled casino group, former executives say.
Nine Entertainment executives begin review that could backfire on them
An external review of Nine Entertainment’s TV business and an anonymous tip-line have the potential to reshape power atop Australia’s largest media company.
Perth to be a Qantas hub under $3b peace deal
The agreement with Perth Airport includes a new terminal and runway, and will help establish the western city as a major port for the airline.
Anglo boss doesn’t want talks with BHP, or anyone else
Duncan Wanblad hopes for space to “crack on” with his radical simplification strategy, and says more bidders for Anglo’s Queensland coal assets are coming forward.
‘Huge milestone’: Guzman y Gomez flags $2.2b IPO
After nearly 20 years in business, the Mexican food chain will make its ASX debut in June.
Why businesses are pulling billions in deposits from NAB
It is the largest month-to-month fall in deposits at NAB in at least five years, according to new Australian Prudential Regulation Authority data.
Companies in the News
Search companies
View stories and data from an ASX listed company
Markets
Ackman to sell stake in Pershing Square ahead of planned IPO
The hedge fund manager is said to be selling a 10 per cent stake of his firm in a funding round that values it at more than $US10 billion.
Dow paces Wall St higher as early losses reversed
A morning swoon proved to be a buying opportunity after the latest inflation data renewed hopes of a 2024 pivot to rate cuts.
Commodities to set records after ‘violent price swings’
Strategists have warned that traders should expect heightened volatility on commodity markets as the powerful rally in metals divides investors.
Shares rise; Telix soars, Citi says buy BHP
Shares add 0.7pc after three-day sell-off. Guzman y Gomez targets June IPO. Telix leaps on trial results. Pro Medicus, Lovisa hit record highs. Australian bond yields push higher. Follow here.
Nuclear, data centres are in a sweet spot for investors
Analysts are scouring sharemarkets for ways to profit from the rush of money into the data centres that will support the rise of AI.
Opinion
On the front line of Australia’s foreign student surge
International students are in the sights of both a government and opposition looking to win votes. Who are these political pawns, and what is it like to teach them?
World editor
Trump, Biden to seize on verdict in bitter poll campaigns
The verdict not only stands as a bellwether for how powerful such legal actions against Donald Trump are, but will also define strategies for both sides of politics.
United States correspondent
Trump’s conviction compounds investor uncertainty
It remains to be seen whether the market’s bullishness can continue now that Donald Trump’s conviction looks set to usher in a period of divisiveness in US politics.
Columnist
Giles scandal shows we disdain bureaucracies until we need services
Slashing the capabilities of government departments means that in the real world, dodgy characters escape scrutiny and genuine needs go unanswered.
Columnist
Trump’s court is now America’s polling booths
A New York jury showed that no man is above the law. Their fellow Americans could over-rule that in November.
Columnist
‘You talking to me?’ De Niro meets the Don on the streets of Manhattan
Acclaimed actor Robert de Niro has never made a secret of his loathing for Donald Trump.
Satirist
Reports
The future of financial advice
This special report looks at options to make financial advice more accessible and affordable, including robo-advice, as well as tips for the new financial year.
Sponsored
by CommBankPolitics
‘Toxic’: Human rights watchdog at war with itself over Gaza
Race Discrimination commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman said he needed “context” before he would condemn the phrase “from the river to the sea”, in a fiery Senate committee hearing.
‘Gina effect’: Gallery got 25pc bump after Rinehart portrait gripe
The fuss about an image of Gina Rinehart being included in a National Gallery exhibition did not register in the artist’s home community of Indulkana, the Senate has been told
Albanese opens door for Giles’ exit amid NZ PM’s grave concerns’
Anthony Albanese is making no commitment to keeping the embattled immigration minister as he weighs a winter reshuffle.
Trump verdict reveals deep US divisions: Dutton
Political leaders emphasised the strength of ties between Australia and the United States in the wake of the guilty verdict in Donald Trump’s election interference case.
China will prosper if it helps stand against Russia: Marles
The defence minister will tell the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that Beijing is wrong if it thinks there is ‘indelible hostility’ towards China in the West.
SPONSORED
World
Turmoil erupts inside OpenAI over safety fears
Arguments over safety and Sam Altman’s leadership are spilling back into the public domain as the AI start-up is hit by resignations.
China’s army tests gun-toting robot dog
The new military tech was made by a start-up with funding from major venture capital firms.
No coal, but $31m energy and other aid package for Ukraine
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says giving Ukraine flexibility about how to spend an energy aid package is better than sending a shipload of coal.
Ukraine gets go ahead to strike inside Russia with US missiles
The move marks a shift by Washington after weeks of pressure from Kyiv and its allies and could mark a new chapter in the Ukraine war.
Nelson Mandela’s party set to lose majority in seismic election
South African voters have watched the economy stagnate over the past decade, while unemployment and poverty have climbed and infrastructure has crumbled.
Property
Why Lendlease is rebuilding after going big and going home
The Australian builder, developer and investor promises major change. But questions remain unanswered by the activist target.
Brett Wells waited 517 days for a DA approval. Now he’s going to court
The doctor is at war with Woollahra Council, which has a reputation as one of Sydney’s most anti-development municipalities.
- Exclusive
- Luxury property
Live where the Kardashians stay in Bellevue Hill for $15k a night
AFR Weekend takes a look inside Sydney’s secret world of prestige rentals, where A-listers and business heavyweights dig deep for temporary accommodation.
Perth’s house prices to jump 21pc by 2025: NAB
The bank upgraded its house price expectations for Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide as values there accelerate.
Sluggish rate of new home approvals is bad news for renters, buyers
The dwindling pipeline of new builds revealed by the drop in permits is another blow to efforts by governments across the country to improve housing supply.
Wealth
How to invest like a Rich Lister and beat the market
There are 37 listed stocks linked to Rich List members, and their ability to deliver above-market returns is impressive.
- Opinion
- Super Q&A
I’m a high earner about to encounter Division 293 tax. What can I do?
You may want to consider reducing your taxable income below $250,000 by claiming allowable deductions such as donations to charity.
How the rich use this tax strategy to get richer
For many people, debt is a scary word. But debt can help build wealth so long as you’re careful about it.
Technology
Why CBA’s AI future needs more reimagining
A US trip left CBA chief executive Matt Comyn with questions to which he doesn’t have all the answers. It’s a common theme across the Australian business world.
Why age restrictions on social media ‘won’t happen overnight’
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner says it is difficult to judge the correct age to ban kids from social media.
Turmoil erupts inside OpenAI over safety fears
Arguments over safety and Sam Altman’s leadership are spilling back into the public domain as the AI start-up is hit by resignations.
Work & Careers
Neil Perry, top chefs combine and take on the old guard
Heavy hitters including Luke Mangan and Merivale have joined a new association to help save the restaurant industry – and challenge a century-old lobby group.
- Exclusive
- Philanthropy
How Geoff Wilson assembled his investment dream team
Philip Lowe, Jennifer Westacott, Mike Baird, David Paradice, Andrew Forrest and Solomon Lew are among the heavy-hitters who have joined Geoff Wilson’s charitable mission to raise money for kids.
Life & Luxury
How this comedian built a career while working for PwC
His bosses thought he’d just popped out for a moment, but he was actually working at the ABC.
- Driving With Tony Davis
- Motoring
Volvo’s new EX30 Ultra takes just 3.6 seconds to reach 100 km/h
The fully electric city slicker is the brand’s fastest accelerating car ever, plus it’s roomy, quiet and friendly looking. What’s not to like?
Why Demi Moore’s gory new film is generating so much buzz
The actress’s moving and brutal Cannes sensation, ‘The Substance’, ends her retreat from stardom and reveals her vulnerability after a challenging career.
This is how much saturated fat you can ‘get away’ with eating
A study shows that processes that occur in your heart and blood are the biggest driver in how our bodies use different fats as fuel.
400 new recipes for one small ship? This is cruising for true foodies
New executive culinary director Alexis Quaretti is serving classical French cuisine, of course, but expect additional inventive menus from Oceania Cruises.