Good morning. Welcome to our live news coverage, bringing you the major overnight and developing stories from Australia and beyond. I'm Martin Farrer with the early headlines, before Nick Visser takes you through the day's main events.
BlueScope Steel Rejects $13.2bn Takeover Bid
In a major business development, BlueScope Steel has formally rejected a takeover bid worth $13.2bn from a consortium led by Australian billionaire Kerry Stokes and his US partners. The board of the steelmaker dismissed the offer as being "too low" and characterised it as an attempt to buy the company "on the cheap."
This decisive rejection means that Stokes and his international backers will now have to decide whether to walk away or return with a significantly improved financial proposal. The move underscores the volatile nature of the global steel market and the high value placed on key industrial assets.
Protests Planned for Israeli President's Melbourne Visit
Political tensions are set to surface in Melbourne this weekend as Pro-Palestine groups organise a rally to protest the upcoming state visit by Israel's president, Isaac Herzog. The groups are holding a press conference this morning at the State Library of Victoria to outline their plans for the Sunday demonstration.
The planned protest follows internal political pressure, with a Labor party group urging the Albanese government to rescind its formal invitation to President Herzog. The situation highlights the ongoing diplomatic and community sensitivities surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
NSW Police Issue Warning Over Carpark Scams
Authorities in New South Wales have issued a public safety alert concerning a series of incidents targeting elderly drivers in shopping centre carparks. Police report that older individuals are allegedly being stolen from and scammed in these locations.
While specific details of the crimes are still emerging, the warning urges the public, particularly those with elderly relatives, to remain vigilant in these settings. The alert serves as a critical reminder of the specific vulnerabilities that can be exploited in busy public areas.
Stay with us for further updates and in-depth analysis on these and all the day's breaking news stories.
