Australia's Treasurer Jim Chalmers has taken landmark legal action against a Chinese-linked investor in ASX-linked rare earth miner Northern Minerals (ASX: NTU) for allegedly ignoring a Commonwealth order requiring it to divest its holdings in the stock due to national interest concerns. In an unprecedented move taken by an Australian treasurer, Chalmers has taken action in the Federal Court of
The clean energy transition is creating an unprecedented demand surge for critical minerals, however the traditional "take-make-dispose" model is hitting buffers. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation's latest analysis suggests it's time to employ what's called a ‘circular economy’ strategy. Azzet’s Mission Critical is a weekly column that lays out the ebbs and flows around critical minerals supply ch
While cryptocurrency assets are still on the nose with many institutional lenders/investors, would-be homebuyers in the United States may end up being able to use them to help get their mortgage application over the line. This eventuality may result from a U.S. government cryptocurrency policy turnaround. Contrary to a ruling [on crypto] made under the former Biden Administration, director of t
The woman who served as inspiration for the main character in the film The Devil Wears Prada is handing her pen over, with the decision to step down as editor of Vogue magazine and move to a new more senior role. Anna Wintour, 75, is seeking a new head of editorial content at the American magazine she helmed for 37 years. But the British-born woman is not leaving parent company Conde Nast an
Nike has reported an extended sales slump in its Q4 results. Fourth quarter revenues for the sneaker and sportswear giant were down 12% on a reported basis to US$11.1 billion, with sales for the 2025 fiscal year falling 10% to $46.3 billion. The company’s reported net income also fell from $1.5 billion, or 99 cents per share in Q4 2024 to $211 million, or 14 cents per share in the fourth qua
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H&M’s net sales and gross profit slumped last quarter as retail locations closed, though shares rose as June sales showed signs of recovery. Net sales were SE56.71 billion kr (US$5.96 billion), below estimates of 56.96 billion kr, with a 1% net sales increase in local currencies. Gross profit dropped to SE31.43 billion kr, down from 33.57 billion kr one year ago. “The quarter’s result was ne
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Friday as easing tariff concerns from Washington buoyed risk sentiment, while investors assessed fresh economic data from Japan. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt downplayed the importance of the upcoming tariff deadline, which weighed on market sentiment. “The deadline is not critical,” she said. “Perhaps it could be extended, but that’s a decision
With Medicare Levy Surcharge thresholds changing on 1 July, Compare the Market warns those who don’t have private hospital insurance. The Medicare Levy Surcharge, a tax for high-income earners without the appropriate level of hospital cover, currently sees singles earning A$97,000 or $194,00 a family or a couple incurring a surcharge if they don’t hold an eligible private hospital insurance pol
A new report finds gambling harm in Victoria has doubled to $14 billion over the last eight years. The findings come from the Alliance for Gambling Reform and based the figures on the 2022–2023 financial year, an update from the previous report which covered 2014-2015. For problem gamblers, pokies were the main offender, accounting for two-thirds of financial losses. The Social Costs of G
North Korea is set to open a new coastal resort to attract international tourism. The nation's leader, Kim Jong Un, opened the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area in a tape-cutting ceremony on Thursday, local time, which will open for domestic tourists on 1 July. While there was no mention of a date for foreign tourists, tourism remains one of the few sectors in North Korea that is not under i
