The mining sector kicked off 2026 with a bang as Rio Tinto and Glencore confirmed early-stage talks that could create the world’s biggest mining company. In this episode, host Chris Bourke is joined by Bloomberg’s Asia-Pacific head of commodities, Clara Ferreira Marques, to unpack why the deal is back on the table, what’s changed since talks first surfaced last year, and whether the “most obvious” merger in mining can actually get done.

They dig into the race for copper at record prices, the cultural and regulatory hurdles standing in the way, and what a tie-up would mean for rivals like BHP. From coal and China to scale, strategy and leadership, the conversation explores why mining’s long-anticipated M&A wave may finally be taking shape.

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Bondi Beach has long stood as a symbol of Australia’s easygoing spirit—a multicultural meeting place of sunlight, surf and community. But the recent terror attack during a Hanukkah celebration shattered that image, leaving a nation in mourning and reflection. In this episode, host Rebecca Jones is joined by Bloomberg Opinion columnist David Fickling to explore why this attack cuts so deeply, not just for those directly affected, but for the Australian identity itself.

They unpack the cultural significance of Bondi, the global ripple effects of local violence, and how public figures and everyday Australians are responding.

You can read David’s column on the terror here: Bondi, and Australia, Get Swept Into a Violent World - Bloomberg

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Australia’s hopes for rate cuts in 2026 have dimmed after RBA Governor Michele Bullock signaled they’re no longer on the table – and that a rate hike is now a real possibility. With inflation proving stickier than expected and price pressures broadening on everything from housing to everyday essentials, markets are beginning to reprice the path for interest rates.

In this episode, Bloomberg’s Swati Pandey breaks down why the RBA is shifting toward a potential tightening bias, how upcoming inflation data could shape the next move, and what it all means for mortgages, the housing market and Australia’s economic outlook.

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