Locksley Taps Columbia Uni Tech to Fast-Track US Rare Earths
Locksley Resources has teamed with Columbia University to develop faster, cleaner processing routes for bastnaesite‑rich rare‑earth ores at its Mojave project in California. The collaboration is mapping rare‑earth distribution, testing leaching and molten‑salt electrolysis methods, and refining spectroscopic detection techniques. Early field work at the El Campo prospect returned up to 12.1% total rare‑earth oxides, while drilling continues across a 900‑meter strike zone. The research aims to produce pilot‑scale pathways that could streamline future mine‑to‑market development.
Barkly Gets Green Light for 10,000m NT Rare Earths Drilling Blitz
Barkly Rare Earths secured an environmental mining licence, enabling a 10,000‑metre drilling campaign at its Northern Territory flagship project. The phase‑one resource extension will test lateral expansion of its 40 million‑tonne inferred resource, which contains 2,100 ppm TREO (about 82,000 tonnes of TREO)....
Scott Was Already Working Late on Fuel Supply when a Call Stopped Him Cold
Viva Energy chief executive Scott Wyatt stayed on a midnight call on April 15 to finalize the purchase of 100 million litres of diesel, split between two tankers from Brunei and South Korea. The deal, worth roughly $115 million USD, comes as...
‘Basically Sending Someone Unarmed Into War’: The Life-or-Death Decision Silke Faces Every Day
Captain Silke Lehmköster, fleet‑managing director at Hapag‑Lloyd, wrestles daily with whether to move five container ships stranded in the Persian Gulf through the war‑torn Strait of Hormuz. Early last week she cleared the Tema Express, which slipped through under a new...
Coles and Woolies Need to Eat some of the Food Price Rise Pain
The ongoing Iran conflict is pushing diesel and fertilizer costs higher, sparking a wave of food‑price increases at Australia’s two biggest grocery chains, Coles and Woolworths. Morgan Stanley now projects food inflation at roughly 4% annually, a full percentage point...
Mental Health Becomes a Financial Battleground as Insurance Premiums Soar
Personal‑risk insurance premiums in Australia are spiking as mental‑health claims surge, with AustralianSuper warning of up to a 40% rise in total‑and‑permanent‑disability cover. CALI reports claim costs have doubled to AU$2.4 billion (≈US$1.6 billion) and that claims from people in their 30s...
Beware of Resource-Hungry Big Tech Taking a Foothold
Microsoft announced a A$25 b (≈US$16.5 bn) AI and data‑center investment in Australia, sparking debate over its economic payoff. Critics argue the plan adds pressure to a city already grappling with a construction‑worker shortage and a housing deficit. They warn that power‑...
LinkedIn Wins News Bargaining Reprieve as Microsoft Boss Lands in Sydney
Microsoft‑owned LinkedIn is expected to be excluded from Australia’s new News Media Bargaining Incentive, a tax‑like scheme that forces large platforms to pay for the news content they surface. The carve‑out could save Microsoft roughly $111 million USD a year, based...
KIIS Turns Tables on Kyle and Jackie O, Sues Pair for Millions
Australian radio network ARN (owner of KIIS) has sued Kyle Sandilands and Jackie “O” Henderson, alleging they breached a $200 million (≈$132 million USD) ten‑year deal that cost the station millions in advertising revenue. ARN seeks to claw back 87.92% of a...
Hastings Eyes US$53M First-Year Revenue From Thai Rare Earths Plant
Hastings Technology Metals disclosed that its Kabin Buri hydromet plant in Thailand is on track to start producing mixed rare‑earth chloride (MREC) in Q4 2026, with unaudited first‑year revenue estimated at US$53.4 million (≈US$49 million). The 49% stake should generate about US$10.6 million...
Gateway Hits End-of-Hole Gold at WA Yandal Play
Gateway Mining announced a 32‑metre gold intercept averaging 1.1 g/t from an air‑core hole at its Mustang prospect within the Yandal project in Western Australia. The drill also returned an 8‑metre high‑grade segment at 2.1 g/t, extending mineralisation 500 m north and pushing...
Searches up 900%: Google Faces Influx of Illegal Peptide Ads
Google is facing a surge in advertisements for illegal synthetic peptides, with searches for terms like BPC‑157, GHK‑CU and Retatrutide jumping up to 900% over the past year. The ads violate Google’s own policies and Australian law, prompting the company...
Tim Tams and Oreos: The 12 Grocery Items Woolworths and ACCC Will Fight over in Court
Woolworths faces a Federal Court showdown with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over its “Prices Dropped” program, which the regulator alleges featured illusory discounts on staple groceries. The case zeroes in on 12 items – from Tim Tams...
They Promise Glowing Skin, a Ripped Body and Better Sex. Peptides Are Having a Moment – but Are They Safe?
Peptide injections have surged in popularity after influencers and startups like Superpower, a $300 million health‑tech firm, began touting benefits ranging from youthful skin to enhanced workouts and sexual performance. The debate intensified when Superpower founder Max Marchione faced off with...
Ultra-Cheap Ozempic Is Coming. That’s a Mixed Blessing for Australians
Ozempic, the semaglutide‑based weight‑loss drug, currently costs about AU$300 per month (≈US$200) for private patients in Australia. Two key patents protecting the drug are set to expire in late 2029 and again in 2031, paving the way for generic versions....
Dalaroo Lists on OTCQB Market to Meet US Greenland Rare Earths Demand
Dalaroo Metals secured a secondary quotation on the OTCQB market under the ticker DALMF, creating a non‑dilutive U.S. trading platform for its shares. The listing lets North American investors buy and sell in dollars during local market hours without adding...
Beetaloo Locks in $66.3M to Fast-Track to First NT Gas
Beetaloo Energy Australia secured a A$66.3 million (≈US$44 million) capital raise and expanded its A$45 million (≈US$30 million) mid‑stream facility, positioning the company to deliver its first pilot gas from the Carpentaria project by Q4 2026. A follow‑on share plan targets an additional A$5 million (≈US$3 million)...
Shareholders Expected to Claw Back Losses in Brambles Class Action Win
The Federal Court handed down a 1,233‑page judgment finding Brambles Ltd. breached continuous disclosure rules by delaying the withdrawal of FY‑2017 earnings guidance, causing a 15.8% share‑price plunge followed by a further 9.9% drop. The ruling marks the first Australian...
Qantas Plane that Can Leapfrog Middle East Rolls Off Assembly Line
Qantas’ Project Sunrise has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350‑1000 ULR, rolling off the Toulouse assembly line and entering a two‑month flight‑testing program. The ultra‑long‑range aircraft can fly up to 22 hours nonstop, thanks to an extra 20,000‑litre rear‑centre...
Australia in No Position to Ease Asian Gas Crunch, Data Shows
Australia’s LNG export terminals are operating at near‑full capacity—Queensland at 94.6% and Western Australia at 98%—leaving little room to increase shipments to Asia. A new energy‑security pact with Singapore guarantees refined fuel imports for Australia while Australia re‑affirms steady LNG...
Iran-US Ceasefire Fails to Lower Airfares – for Now at Least
A two‑week US‑Iran‑Israel cease‑fire has not eased airline ticket prices because jet fuel supplies remain constrained. Jet fuel costs have surged from about $75 to $191 per barrel, pushing Sydney‑London round‑trip fares from roughly $1,350‑$2,450 to $1,755‑$4,485. With fuel representing...
Work From Home Tax Claims Restricted After ATO Court Victory
The Australian Federal Court overturned an Administrative Review Tribunal decision that had allowed ABC presenter Ned Hall to claim $5,878 AUD (≈$3,880 USD) in rent and transport deductions for a home office during COVID lockdowns. The court ruled that rent and commuting...
Kaiser Builds $45.6M War Chest on Steady Vic,Tassie Gold Output
Kaiser Reef closed its March quarter with a cash balance of A$45.6 million (about $30 million USD) and total gold output of 5,534 ounces. Production was driven by the Henty mine in Tasmania, which delivered 5,188 ounces of gold and 4,810 ounces of silver, while...
ASX Edges Higher as Fragile Ceasefire Tests Investor Optimism
Australia’s ASX200 edged up 0.2% to 8,973 points on Thursday as oil prices recovered and energy and financial stocks provided support. The market’s modest gain came amid a fragile US‑Iran cease‑fire, with the Strait of Hormuz still partially closed, keeping...
Canberra Backs Ardea Mammoth WA Nickel Project
Ardea Resources’ Kalgoorlie Nickel Project (KNP) has been selected for Australia’s Investor Front Door pilot, giving it a dedicated federal liaison to speed regulatory approvals. The project hosts the nation’s largest nickel‑cobalt resource—about 6.1 million tonnes of nickel and 386,000 tonnes of...
Not All Exporters Will Get a Tariff Refund From the US. Here’s Why
Australian exporters can seek refunds for tariffs deemed illegal after the US Supreme Court ruled Donald Trump’s IEEPA‑based duties unlawful. The Court of International Trade ordered refunds, prompting firms such as Rio Tinto, Breville and Bondi Boost to file claims. Refunds are...
Osmond Targets First Rare Earths Production in EU
Osmond Resources is accelerating its Orión EU critical minerals project in Andalucía, Spain, aiming to become the European Union’s first producer of rare earths, titanium, zirconium and hafnium. The company has defined 2 million‑tonne‑per‑year processing modules and expanded its drilling program...
Zenith Targets High-Grade WA Gold Uplift with New Drilling Blitz
Zenith Minerals has launched a 1,350‑metre reverse‑circulation drilling campaign at its Consolidated Dulcie gold project in Western Australia, aiming to boost the recently defined inferred resource of 21.3 Mt at 1.0 g/t (675,000 oz). The eight‑hole program targets high‑grade extensions at Dulcie South...
Macarthur Lands Mining Heavyweight to Cornerstone WA Iron Ore Dreams
Macarthur Minerals announced that mining services veteran Steve Wyatt, through his Destec Holdings, has become a cornerstone shareholder after a $1.25 million capital raise. The funds will be used to keep the company’s tenements in good standing and provide working capital...
How Banks Are only ‘Partially’ Raising Rates for Savers
Australian banks have raised the bonus rates on their high‑condition savings products but left the base rates for ordinary savers largely unchanged after the Reserve Bank of Australia lifted the cash rate to 4.1%. About 40% of customers miss the...
Hastings Snaps up Bargain Rare Earths Hydromet Plant
Hastings Technology Metals has secured a 49% stake in a partially built rare‑earths hydrometallurgical plant in Kabin Buri, Thailand, for a total consideration of about US$15 million. The facility, already permitted, is slated for commissioning in the June‑September quarter and aims to...
ClearVue Awarded International Certification on Rooftop Solar Panels
ClearVue Technologies, in partnership with Helios Power, secured International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) certification for its new building‑integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) rooftop panels. The metal‑backed design offers weatherproofing, fire‑class A safety, and enhanced wind‑load performance, extending roof lifespan. With the certification in...
Businesses Warn of Price Rises From RBA’s Surcharge Ban
The Reserve Bank of Australia will prohibit most credit‑ and debit‑card surcharges from 1 October, a move projected to save consumers roughly US$1.06 billion each year. At the same time, the RBA will cap interchange fees, lowering credit‑card rates to 0.3 % and...
ABC and Unions Expected to Reach Pay Deal After Landmark Strike
ABC and its two major staff unions are poised to finalize a new pay agreement, ending the first industrial action at the broadcaster in two decades. The deal offers a 10.5% wage increase over three years, with a 4% rise...
Made by Shein: The Ultra-Fast Fashion Giant Is Pitching Itself to Aussie Clothing Labels
Shein is courting Australian fashion labels to join its Xcelerator program, a supply‑chain‑as‑a‑service platform that plugs brands into its AI‑driven manufacturing, logistics and e‑commerce network. The initiative, which already supports 20 brands worldwide and has generated more than $400 million in...
Aureka Sends Survey Drones Skyward to Unlock Victorian Gold Potential
Aureka Limited has launched a low‑altitude, high‑resolution drone magnetic survey over its Irvine gold project in Victoria’s Stawell Corridor. The survey, flying at 50 metres with 50‑metre line spacing, aims to deliver a dramatically clearer picture of subsurface structures than the...
ASX Loses Ground as Big Banks Slump; Oil Prices Rise Again
The S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.7% to 8,461 as major banks fell and Brent crude surged to $116.75 a barrel amid heightened Middle‑East tensions. Houthi missile activity in the Red Sea added shipping volatility, though analysts view it as a risk rather...
Locksley Reveals Ultra-Stable Battery Material in US Antimony Push
Locksley Resources, partnering with Rice University, has created an ultra‑stable antimony‑graphite battery material that incorporates up to 20% antimony. The collaboration uses a deep eutectic solvent (DES) process to extract high‑purity antimony without conventional flotation, accelerating a US‑focused mine‑to‑market supply...
West Wits Banks Fuel Supply as SA Gold Project Gears for Grid Power
West Wits Mining has secured 163,000 litres of diesel to cover up to four months of operation at its Qala Shallows gold project while awaiting a grid power connection slated for Q4 2026. The company is adding a 23,000‑litre mobile storage...
Webjet Executives Depart as Legal Battle and Suitors Loom
Webjet CEO Katrina Barry resigned after less than two years, amid a wrongful‑dismissal lawsuit filed by former general counsel Meaghan Simpson. The airline’s board confirmed full‑year guidance for the year ending 31 March, but shares plunged to 53¢ AUD (≈$0.35 USD) after rejecting...
Rideshare Giants Failing to Respond to Predatory Drivers, Labor Warns
Australia’s Labor Minister Amanda Rishworth is pressuring Uber and other rideshare firms to overhaul their handling of sexual‑misconduct complaints after investigations revealed drivers were often reinstated without proper evidence. The Fair Work Commission, empowered by gig‑economy unfair‑dismissal laws introduced in...
Fuelled by Subsidised Diesel, Australia Is Running Dry
Australia’s diesel consumption tops 7.7 barrels per person annually, about 80% higher than the United States and eight times China’s level, driven by generous rebates and a vast, low‑density transport network. The federal budget allocates roughly $10.8 billion to diesel tax...
ASX Runners of the Week: Killi, Amplia, NuEnergy and 4D Medical
Killi Resources surged 304% after appointing former Fortescue chief Nev Power as non‑executive chair, raising $1.4 million and winning a Queensland CEI grant for drilling at Mt Rawdon West. Amplia Therapeutics more than doubled its price, reporting a 7.8% complete‑response rate in...
My Colleagues Disappear for Hours at a Time. What Should I Do?
A small team member notices coworkers frequently disappearing for hours, sometimes without explanation, prompting concerns about hidden workplace hierarchies. The article advises a respectful, direct inquiry to clarify absences while noting the risks of breaching tacit cultural norms. It stresses...
How Tech Helps Australia’s Largest Insurer Support Customers when It Matters Most
IAG, Australia’s largest insurer, is undergoing a sweeping digital transformation to strengthen its response to climate‑driven events and improve customer experience. The initiative consolidates legacy systems, moves to cloud‑native platforms, and integrates AI‑powered claim handling. A strategic partnership with Optus...
The Estate of ‘Britain’s Bill Gates’ Ordered to Pay $1.8 Billion to US Giant Two Years After His Tragic Death
Mike Lynch’s estate has been ordered by a UK High Court to pay Hewlett Packard $1.8 bn for the disputed 2011 sale of his software firm Autonomy. The judgment, which includes $236 m in interest, follows HP’s claim that Lynch and former CFO...
H3 Energy Helium Play Adds Spark to South Australia Gas Ambitions
Australian explorer H3 Energy has initiated a targeted helium assessment across the Milford and Milford East structures of its Alinya project in South Australia’s Officer Basin. The study follows Sproule ERCE’s independent estimate of up to 209 billion cubic feet of helium...
The Sydney Suburbs that Will Cop the Biggest Uber Price Rises
Uber announced a permanent fare overhaul in Sydney, raising customer prices by an average of 5% and driver earnings by 6% nationwide. The new structure imposes higher fares on trips that start in affluent suburbs such as Mosman, Manly, Bondi...
KIIS Expected Me to Berate Henderson, Sandilands Tells Court
Controversial radio host Kyle Sandilands has filed a Federal Court claim seeking to overturn ARN's termination of his $100 million (≈$66 million) KI & S contract. The filing reveals a $7.4 million (≈$4.9 million) base salary, $120,000 (≈$79,000) flight allowance, $500,000 (≈$330,000) advertising budget and $2 million...
Iran War a Setback for Super Returns as Investors Brace for Fallout
The escalation of the US‑Israel conflict with Iran has pushed global equity markets down more than 5%, dragging Australian superannuation returns lower. Median growth‑option super funds fell about 3% in March, leaving the financial‑year return at roughly 3.3%, while balanced...