Thermal battery an energy answer in hot heavy industry
Electrifying factories could significantly reduce carbon emissions by allowing heavy industry to store and use heat like power in a battery.
economy, business and finance
RBNZ gives ‘shock treatment’ for lagging Kiwi economy
The NZ dollar has fallen after central bank cut rates to 2.5 per cent, with hopes it will revive the Kiwi economy and the government's political fortunes.
‘Back them’: PM’s blunt message after smelter bailout
Mining giant Glencore has been urged to invest in a struggling community after a $600 million taxpayer-funded bailout to secure hundreds of jobs at a smelter.
France’s Macron pressed to end political ‘mess’
France's President Emmanuel Macron desperately needs a circuit breaker amid growing political chaos.
Olympic 2032 chiefs throw open billions for business
Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games organisers want the state's firms to hit gold with business opportunities, urging small to medium-sized operators to get involved.
Soaring rents push people further from jobs, community
Australian renters are paying on average an extra $204 per week to keep a roof over their heads compared to five years ago, a nearly 44 per cent increase.
budgets and budgeting
economy, business and finance
executive (government)
government
government debt
politics
public employees
state budget and tax
Trump uses government shutdown to dole out revenge
President Donald Trump is mulling "temporary or permanent" spending cuts that could set up a lose-lose dynamic for Democratic politicians.
Major change to IVF treatments for donors and families
Families involved in an IVF bungle will be permitted to continue their treatment after a provider was found to be exceeding a donor limit.
The things keeping Brisbane’s Olympics boss up at night
The business heavyweight overseeing the Brisbane Olympics has been quizzed on what he worries most about and what animal will be chosen as the Games mascot.
Overheated share markets may risk financial meltdown
Australia's central bank warns overpriced stock markets, cyber threats and weakness in China threatens the nation's financial stability.
breaking_news
economy, business and finance
inflation and deflation
money and monetary policy
people - social issue
retail
tobacco
Spending rebound staggers as Aussies kick booze, smokes
Strong growth in household spending earlier this year is unlikely to be matched, which could ease Reserve Bank fears of a return of inflation pressures.
business (general)
economy, business and finance
international relations
mining
politics
trade dispute
BHP cops $5b value hit on talk of China trade blockade
Reports China is halting iron ore shipments from BHP have weighed on the world's biggest miner, but experts say any stoush over prices should be short-lived.
Low rates, supply squeeze create home price rise mayhem
The great Australian dream of property ownership continues to resemble a nightmare for many buyers as prices surge and the supply of homes dwindles.
Cup Day rate cut in doubt as RBA nears final straight
The odds are lengthening on an interest rate cut on Melbourne Cup Day, as the Reserve Bank adopts a hawkish tone and inflation steps up the pace.
China to halt BHP iron ore cargoes during price talks
China's state-run iron ore buyer has told the country's steelmakers and traders to temporarily halt purchases of all new BHP cargoes.
Sad day as refinery’s closure to hit jobs and community
Hundreds of workers will lose their jobs as alumina giant Alcoa permanently shuts a 60-year-old refinery that served as a cornerstone of the community.
Rock art safeguards weakened despite gas hub’s harms
The federal environment minister thinks the North West Shelf gas project is damaging ancient rock art, despite opting for weaker emissions restrictions.
Networks join forces to create $416m media monolith
A $416 million merger between the owner of Australia's most popular TV network and the country's biggest radio broadcaster has ignited their share prices.
breaking_news
business (general)
economy, business and finance
emergency planning
politics
telecommunication service
‘Scapegoating’ Optus blames tech, staff for outages
Optus has blamed technical equipment and human error for two emergency call outages as the prime minister pans the telco for its "unacceptable" failures.
breaking_news
central bank
construction and property
economy, business and finance
housing and urban planning
interest rate
money and monetary policy
mortgages
Rate cut run may be over as inflation raises concerns
Hopes for more rate cuts are fading after the Reserve Bank of Australia took a hawkish turn as it held interest rates steady in a widely-expected move.
Trump plans 100 per cent tariff on foreign-made movies
Months after US President Donald Trump first teased plans to impose trade levies on all foreign movies, he announces the tariffs will be 100 per cent.
‘Unacceptable’: second triple-zero Optus outage slammed
A second Optus triple-zero outage in as many weeks has raised the ire of a premier as calls mount for the government to empower regulators rather than telcos.
Financial sector urged to shoot higher on climate risk
The global financial sector has been urged to prevent further backsliding on climate and to stop funnelling money into new fossil fuels in an open letter.
central bank
economy, business and finance
housing and urban planning
interest rate
money and monetary policy
mortgages
politics
Australia’s luck running out despite budget bright spot
Australia's budget deficit for last financial year ended up being narrower than expected but younger workers will still be on the hook for a decade of red ink.
Interest rate decision to dominate economic agenda
Mortgage holders are unlikely to get a leg up from the Reserve Bank this week, with markets and analysts predicting the cash rate to remain on hold on Tuesday.
breaking_news
economy, business and finance
international (foreign) trade
pharmaceutical
politics (general)
tariff
Trump slaps new tariffs on drugs, trucks and furniture
President Donald Trump's tariff spree continues with new US levies including 100 per cent on pharmaceuticals as well as duties on furniture and heavy trucks.
breaking_news
computing and information technology
economy, business and finance
espionage and intelligence
personal data collection
politics (general)
Trump declares plan to transfer TikTok to US investors
President Donald Trump has OK'd a plan to sell TikTok's US operations to American investors following China's approval, with a company price tag of $21 billion.
One in three homes in line for sunny value boost
Home buyers have seen the light and are now prepared to pay a little more for solar systems in the expectation of lower bills over time.
Danish airport reopens after further drone activity
Denmark has informed its NATO allies that drone incursions that shut two of its airports are linked to unspecified "state actors", according to Latvia.
Concerns over sovereignty, risk in satellite internet
Satellite technology has advanced rapidly as "constellations" promise better internet in remote areas, but the transformation is not without risk.
coal
conservation
economy, business and finance
environmental issue
environmental politics
labour
mining
Conservationists outraged at coal-fired future
The extended shelf life of coal-fired power has enraged conservation groups, with one state declaring it will be in use for decades.