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Northern Minerals bets on non-China premium

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Original article by Peter Ker, Mark Wembridge
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 17-Sep-25

Northern Minerals has released the definitive feasibility study for its Browns Range rare earths project in Western Australia. It estimates that the project will cost about $592 million and have a mine life of 11 years. Browns Range will produce rare earths such as dysprosium, terbium, neodymium and praseodymium. The latter two are currently fetching about $US70 per kilogram, but Northern Minerals says it hopes to receive about $US107/kg for the rare earths it produces at Browns Range; it adds that prices could potentially rise to around $US138/kg if the world moves to aggressively decouple from Chinese supply chains.

CORPORATES
NORTHERN MINERALS LIMITED – ASX NTU

Siblings paid to exit Murdoch media empire

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Original article by Sam Buckingham-Jones
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 10-Sep-25

Sources have indicated that the Murdoch family has settled the long-running dispute over future control over its media empire in a deal worth $US3.3bn ($5bn). Rupert Murdoch’s eldest son Lachlan is set to assume full control of the family’s stakes in News Corp and Fox Corporation, ending the dispute with his siblings. Prudence MacLeod, Elisabeth Murdoch and James Murdoch will each receive $US1.1bn, while they have also agreed to sell all of their shares in the two companies over the next six months. The family trust that was at the centre of the legal dispute between the Murdochs will be dissolved as part of the deal.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FOX CORPORATION

Google inks first commercial AI news deal in Australia

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Original article by Sam Buckingham-Jones
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 20-Aug-25

Newswire service Australian Associated Press has secured a content deal with Google regarding the latter’s generative artificial intelligence platform. AAP’s news articles will be made available to the Gemini AI app. Nic Hopkins from Google says the deal with AAP will deliver a feed of real-time information to enhance responses in the Gemini app and will assist Australians when they look for locally relevant and up-to-date information. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS PTY LTD, GOOGLE INCORPORATED

Seven’s profit slumps but digital offers hope

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Original article by James Madden
The Australian – Page: 17 : 13-Aug-25

Seven West Media has reported a 2024-25 statutory profit of just $17m, which is 63 per cent lower than previously. Revenue was five per cent lower at $1.4bn and underlyimg earnings were down 15 per cent to $159m, although CEO Jeff Howard notes that underlying earnings rose by six per cent in the second half. Meanwhile, the group’s 7plus digital platform recorded 26 per cent growth in revenue during 2024-25. Howard says 7plus is close to offsetting the revenue decline in Seven’s traditional broadcast TV business; he adds that although viewers will continue to switch to streaming, Seven remains committed to broadcast TV.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM

Australian editor to lead Murdoch’s new US tabloid

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Original article by
The New Daily – Page: Online : 6-Aug-25

News Corporation has advised that it will launch a new Los Angeles-based masthead called the California Post in early 2026. It will be a localised version of News Corp’s popular right-wing tabloid, the New York Post. Sean Giancola, the CEO of News Corp subsidiary the New York Post Media Group, says the new masthead will offer a similar mix of "common-sense journalism", sports, celebrity and entertainment news across multiple platforms, including a daily print edition. The Herald Sun’s Sunday editor Nick Papps will be the inaugural editor-in-chief of the California Post.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NEW YORK POST MEDIA GROUP

‘Let us see the audits’: Kmart faces legal battle over alleged links to Uyghur forced labour

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Original article by Jessica Yun
The Age – Page: Online : 6-Aug-25

Discount department store chain Kmart Australia is under scrutiny amid concerns that two of its clothing suppliers may used forced labour in the Chinese autonomous region of Xinjiang. The Australian Uyghur Tangritagh Women’s Association recently filed a Federal Court application requesting information from Kmart as to whether the suppliers in question are compliant with the company’s ethical sourcing program. A Kmart spokesperson has indicated that the retailer regularly monitors its suppliers via audits, site visits and other actions,

CORPORATES
KMART AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN UYGHUR TANGRITAGH WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Rinehart a winner in rare earths move

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian – Page: 14 : 6-Aug-25

Shares in Lynas Rare Earths and Iluka Resources rose strongly on Tuesday, in response to the federal government’s plans to create a floor price for rare earths. Resources Minister Madeleine King has indicated hat the government is also open to taking equity stakes in rare earths companies, as part of its proposal to establish a critical minerals strategic reserve. Arafura Rare Earths’ CEO Darryl Cuzzubbo says an Australian floor price would disrupt China’s dominance of the rare earths sector; he adds that any strategic reserve for rare earths should be linked to a non-China controlled price index. Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has an eight per cent in Arafura and a similar stake in Lynas.

CORPORATES
LYNAS RARE EARTHS LIMITED – ASX LYC, ILUKA RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX ILU, ARAFURA RARE EARTHS LIMITED – ASX ARU, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND RESOURCES

Nine’s publishing to out-earn TV

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Original article by Sam Buckingham-Jones
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 17 : 6-Aug-25

Jarden analyst Tom Beadle recently said that the value contained within Nine Entertainment’s publishing business could potentially be the most underappreciated part of the media group. The investment bank has valued Nine’s publishing assets at $885m, ahead of streaming video platform Stan ($655m) and the broadcast division ($601m); Jarden estimates that Nine’s radio stations are worth about $25m. Looking forward, Nine’s publishing assets are forecast to generate EBITDA of $156m by 2028; this compares with expectations of $153m for the group’s television network, which is facing higher costs.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE RADIO PTY LTD, JARDEN AND COMPANY

Solstice buys high-profile travel magazine

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Original article by Sam Buckingham-Jones
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 30-Jul-25

Solstice Media has added Australian Traveller magazine to its portfolio of print and online titles. The independent media company will acquire an 80 per cent stake in the publisher of Australian Traveller, and will move to full ownership over the next two years. The deal is part of Solstice Media’s strategy to increase revenue and grow its business. Its other assets include news website The New Daily, which it bought from Industry Super Holdings in late 2024.

CORPORATES
SOLSTICE MEDIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN TRAVELLER MEDIA PTY LTD, THE NEW DAILY, INDUSTRY SUPER HOLDINGS PTY LTD

Murdoch defamation case could be impossible for Trump to win, experts say

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Original article by Georgie Hewson
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 23-Jul-25

The Wall Street Journal intends to "vigorously" defend its journalism in a defamation lawsuit that has been launched by US President Donald Trump. The newspaper, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, is facing legal action after publishing an article which alleged that Trump had sent a birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein that included a sexually suggestive drawing. Trump has denied sending any such letter to the convicted sex offender. Harry Melkonian from the US Studies Centre notes that it is very hard for public figures – and particularly the nation’s president – to win a defamation lawsuit in the US.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. UNITED STATES STUDIES CENTRE