Yesterday
Shield AI nabs $2.9b, underscoring demand for defence stocks
The company said it plans to use some of the proceeds to acquire Aechelon Technology, which develops tactical simulation software.
This Month
Australia-EU defence pact opens door to joint naval operations
Anthony Albanese and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to sign the agreement next week when they finalise a long-awaited free trade deal.
Austal suitor Arlington Capital Partners buys Eptec’s defence unit
The Eptec carve-out comes just months after Arlington Capital Partners’ dealmakers closed their seventh fund (ACP VII) at $US6 billion ($8.44 billion).
Petrol panic flashes red light on Australia’s short supply of navy ships
The Middle East conflict has sharpened concerns about fuel supplies. Increasing stockpiles is necessary, but does not address the lack of coherent maritime strategy.
Don’t sell ‘iconic’ Defence land: Howard
Former prime minister John Howard has joined opposition to the Albanese government’s planned sale of historic military sites to raise billions of dollars.
Hormuz crisis exposes Australia’s shrinking warship fleet
Experts warn Australia’s warship fleet will shrink before new ships arrive, leaving the navy stretched as tensions rise in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific.
Revealed: The odds and sods of NSW public land being sold for housing
An audit of government-owned land has unlocked a defunct boys’ high school, Westconnex dive sites, terraces in Rozelle and bushy residential blocs with water views
Unveiled: Defence’s new fleet of armed, solar-powered spy boats
The $126 million acquisition of 40 autonomous vessels will help the navy carry out more intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
Developers circle Defence sites as $5b mega-bid rejected
Strong commercial interest in Defence land has drawn the likes of Tim Gurner and Nigel Satterley, plus a $5 billion private equity bid to buy the portfolio.
Andrew Hastie’s recipe for beating One Nation
The Liberal MP lamented that the “emotional vibe” of Australia was rapidly being shaped by anxiety, stress and loneliness.
Australia lodges protest over Chinese navy helicopter encounter
A Chinese military helicopter deliberately came within an unsafe distance of an Australian navy helicopter, forcing it to take evasive action.
Australia deploys military planes to the Middle East
The two aircraft are part of contingency plans to evacuate Australian citizens stranded as a result of Iranian missile and drone strikes.
OpenAI defends ethics after ‘opportunistic and sloppy’ Pentagon deal
The company said the pact had been changed to say its systems “shall not be intentionally used for domestic surveillance of US persons and nationals”.
‘Pearl-clutching allies’: Starmer and Trump clash over Iran war
British PM Keir Starmer has stood up to the US president, saying the UK doesn’t believe in “regime change from the skies”, prompting a furious response.
February
Why PMs are obsessed with ‘pale pachyderm’ trains
Readers’ letters on the latest high-speed rail proposal, the NDIS, intellectual property in the age of AI, Sydney’s housing crisis, water usage at data centres and accusations of ‘gatekeeping’ at the NSW Bar Association.
Australia urges UK to buy local weapons in AUKUS quid pro quo
Taxpayers are helping boost UK industry as part of nuclear submarine deal. But very little money flows back to Australia.
Is Anthropic America’s new Oppenheimer – or is it Skynet?
The Anthropic stand-off marks a watershed moment in the escalating clash between Silicon Valley ethics and national security interests.
Anthropic urged to stand up to threats to take AI tech for US military
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has threatened to invoke wartime powers against Anthropic that would force it to hand over its technologies for military use.
Pentagon threatens to take Anthropic’s AI tech in defence stand-off
Anthropic has reservations about how its technology will be used. But Pete Hegseth has given the firm until Friday to agree to the defence department’s terms.
Why Canberra has chosen this man to take over from Kevin Rudd
After the high-profile tenure of Greg Moriarty’s predecessor, the Australian government has turned to a man who built his career in the shadows.
