Today
China warns Trump of countermeasures after new tariff threat
Beijing accused Washington of “shifting the blame” on the fentanyl crisis after Donald Trump said he would impose additional tariffs over deadly drug flows.
Trump softens tone on Zelensky after Starmer charm offensive
The UK PM used flattery and frank talk in his meeting with the US president, preparing the ground for Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky’s arrival.
Pills found as police probe deaths of Gene Hackman and wife
An investigation is underway into the deaths of the 95-year-old actor and his pianist wife who were found dead alongside their dog in their New Mexico home.
10 of Gene Hackman’s best movies
Most people have at least one favourite Gene Hackman performance. The actor, a chameleonic everyman with a movie star’s charisma, was found dead with his wife.
What does that mean? Trump asks reporter what AUKUS is
Donald Trump seemed to be unaware of Australia’s military pact with the United States and Britain during a White House meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
US jobless claims rise to highest level in three months
Some analysts say they expect lay-offs ordered by the Department of Government Efficiency to have an effect on unemployment in the next few weeks or months.
Yesterday
Texas firm hitches ride with SpaceX to send drone to the moon
Intuitive Machines’ lander, named Athena, is taking a fast track to the moon while hoping to avoid the fate of its predecessor, which tipped over at touchdown.
‘Is anyone unhappy with Elon?’ Trump defends Musk at cabinet meet
The president seemed happy to turn the hour-plus meeting over to Elon Musk and warned his cabinet against criticising the billionaire.
Bezos orders Washington Post to limit opinions, sparking outrage
The billionaire owner said the newspaper would now only advocate “personal liberties and free markets” in opinions as he moves closer to Donald Trump.
Trump threatens EU with 25pc tariffs on all goods
The president took aim at the European Union, saying it “was formed to screw the United States” as he held his first Cabinet meeting that Elon Musk also joined.
Is protest dead? The Left has discovered sound and fury can go nowhere
Protest movements can shake things up, but unless they are well-structured and pursue long-term strategies for change, the vacuum they create will be filled by the better organised.
This Month
Tech titans kill off Silicon Valley’s once-proud activism
Fearful employees have done little to protest against the dramatic rightward shift of leaders such as Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg in favour of Donald Trump.
Trump unveils $7.9m ‘gold card’ visa for ‘sophisticated’ people
The president said the cards would have “a higher level of sophistication” than green cards and cost applicants about $US5 million ($7.9 million).
I once said Trump was no fascist. I may have been wrong
The first thing aspiring totalitarians do is conduct a purge of the military, so that loyalists can be installed. This is exactly what the US president is doing.
Top Trump aide pushes to axe Canada from Five Eyes intelligence group
But Peter Navarro denies that he wants to expel the northern neighbour from the information-sharing team, which also includes the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
Trump says tariffs on Canada, Mexico ‘going forward’
The president reiterated his view that the United States had been mistreated by its neighbours and allies.
‘Lifting’ becomes ‘levelling’: Companies reframe DEI amid Trump upheaval
The president’s campaign to stamp out diversity policies is spurring businesses to recalibrate how to ensure equal opportunity within their ranks.
Trump cabinet chiefs ignore Musk’s email ultimatum in split
Some US agencies, along with cabinet secretaries, have told their workers to ignore the billionaire’s demand to justify their jobs, as tensions rise.
Australia should embrace a fully cashless economy
Readers’ letters on the march of electronic payments, choice in super withdrawals, government spending, high energy costs, public ownership of nuclear plants, and WA’s battery subsidy.
Trump revels in mass firings before adoring crowd
The US president clicked easily back into campaign mode during his hour-plus speech at CPAC, predicting the GOP will continue to win and defy history.
US says revenue from minerals deal will fuel Ukraine’s postwar growth
Scott Bessent says the country’s revenue from “natural resources, infrastructure and other assets” would be “allocated to a fund focused on the long-term reconstruction”.
Trump’s actions raise doubts about Australia-US alliance
Readers’ letters on Donald Trump dismantling democratic principles, US betrayal of Ukraine, regulating retirement savings, Larry Fink’s fixed-rate mortgage idea, and Peter Dutton spreading disinformation.
‘What did you achieve last week?’ Musk ups pressure on federal workers
It is unclear what legal basis the head of DOGE has to terminate federal workers if they fail to respond to his email request about what they did last week.
Why Musk’s cost-cutting drive won’t stop this Aussie buying gold
First Eagle Investments portfolio manager Matthew McLennan is not convinced DOGE’s efforts will be enough to slash the fiscal deficit and keep a lid on inflation.
Buffett, ever so quietly, takes aim at Trump (and dividends)
The billionaire’s annual letter to shareholders praised saving and attacked dividends as usual, but it also contained plenty of advice for the US president.