Trump razorNationAustralian ambassador to the US, former prime minister Kevin Rudd, has categorically dismissed any claim that he or a think tank he formerly led had received funding from the US foreign aid agency.
Trump 2.0WorldPresident Trump said he would be open to the world’s richest man buying the US operations of the Chinese-owned social media platform that is under threat of being banned in the country over national security concerns
AFP
doge eat doge worldWorldThe order says anyone who has accessed data from the Treasury Department’s records since Donald Trump was inaugurated must ‘immediately destroy any and all copies of material downloaded.’
AFP
power playsWorldThe move is the latest in a blizzard of new orders escalating the US President’s campaign to crack down on US foreign aid.
AFP
payouts on holdThe TimesElon Musk’s mass redundancy scheme for federal workers has been put on hold by a judge hours before a deadline to quit.
The Times
EditorialElon Musk may have a point when he claims USAID is ‘a viper’s nest of radical left Marxists who hate America’.
Editorial
‘GREAT CONCERN’Legal AffairsThe NSW Chief Justice has called for perpetrators of anti-Semitism to be punished, as he accused tech billionaire Elon Musk of ‘trivialising’ the historical mistreatment of Jews.
LAST POSTLettersPresident Trump’s style may be more suited to war than peace. Perhaps he can win a better result in the Middle East conflict before he gets into too much trouble from his tariff policies?
BanNationElon Musk’s X has suspended a raft of accounts associated with neo-Nazis from Australia’s National Socialist Network after the group boasted they had raised $13,000 to replace equipment ‘stolen’ by police.
POLITICSNewsWireAustralia has been warned about tech barons growing their influence in our politics after Donald Trump let Elon Musk into the White House.
Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer
US POLITICSWorldThe speed and scope of Elon Musk’s work has been nothing short of stunning. In the three weeks, the world’s richest man has created an alternative power structure.
CHRIS MEGERIAN
Memo to panicking Wall Street: what on earth did you expect to happen when Donald Trump took control with Elon Musk? The pair are doing exactly what they promised to do.
agency closureWorldThe closure, which comes after moves by Elon Musk’s DOGE to exert control over the foreign-aid organisation, raise questions about whether he’ll follow a similar blueprint to close other agencies.
Michael R. Gordon and Ken Thomas
EXCLUSIVENationJacinta Nampijinpa Price says she will follow the principles of Margaret Thatcher in helping the Coalition give ‘power back to the people by implementing small government’.
The Weekend Australian MagazineFor all his trillions and SpaceX toys under development, Elon cannot escape the gravitational pull of mortality or the feeling of dread that fills the soul when contemplating the cold mechanics of the universe.
RoboticsTechnologyElon Musk says ‘there is a path for Tesla to becoming the most valuable company in the world’ as it ramps up production on self-driving cars and humanoid robots.
‘as soon as possible’WorldUS President Donald Trump said Elon Musk’s company will ‘soon’ begin a mission to repatriate the two astronauts who have been stranded for months on the International Space Station.
AFP
EditorialAustralian voters want strong leadership and substance.
Editorial
Breaking NewsPeter Dutton’s second-in-command has made a curious comparison during an Australia Day speech in her electorate.
Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer
team ‘strengthened’NationOpposition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price will take on an extra role as ‘government efficiency’ spokeswoman – evoking Elon Musk’s role under the US Trump administration.
AnalysisThe TimesIt’s been a good week for Elon Musk, TikTok and rioters, less so for migrants, civil servants and Mexico.
Hugh Tomlinson
Albatross dealThe Wall Street JournalThe banks have waited – and waited – for the window to sell without huge losses as platform owner Elon Musk tells staff that X is ‘barely breaking even’.
Justin Baer and Alexander Saeedy. Alexa Corse
The Weekend Australian MagazineThey’re the bane of summer days at the beach. But who knew bluebottles were so beautiful, and so interesting?
‘tensions’The Wall Street JournalBiotech-company founder departs DOGE after his goal of trimming regulations was overtaken by Musk’s priority of cutting spending.
Ken Thomas and John McCormick
Electric vehiclesTechnologyTesla’s Cybertruck has become America’s fifth most popular electric vehicle but overall 2024 was a disappointing year for the Elon Musk-helmed company.
TECH TUSSLEWorldWorld’s richest man casts doubt on the funding for the much-heralded $US500bn Stargate project in a continuing spat with the ChatGPT chief executive.
AFP
Trump presidencyThe WorldDonald Trump says unless Moscow moves to end the war with Ukraine he’ll impose tariffs and sanctions on Russia; Elon Musk pours cold water on the Stargate AI project.
Agencies
explainerUS PoliticsAt a post-inauguration rally, Elon Musk twice made a militaristic gesture, extending his arm with his palm face down, which led to a storm of fury as onlookers compared it to the Nazi salute.
Staff writers
Power and influenceUS PoliticsThe world’s three richest people were given prime positions at the US President’s inauguration, marking a dramatic shift from Silicon Valley’s hostile response to his first term.
AFP
‘worn out his welcome’WorldAmid reports of tensions with Elon Musk, the White House confirmed Vivek Ramaswamy has left the Department of Government Efficiency to campaign to be governor of Ohio.
Staff writers