Alinta Energy has struck its second domestic gas supply deal in a week, agreeing to buy 46 petajoules from Chevron over five years from 2027 as it plots a Cataby power station.

Chevron will supply Alinta with the gas from its Gorgon and Wheatstone facilities in the North West, and it will be used to supply WA homes, businesses and industry. 

Chevron Australia president Balaji Krishnamurthy said the deal extended a relationship spanning back four decades and was an endorsement of WA’s domestic gas reservation policy. 

“The agreement is another demonstration of the way LNG developments, under WA’s long-standing domestic gas policy, have enabled a well-supplied domestic gas market, benefitting homes, businesses and vital industries,” he said.

“Natural gas underpins our everyday lives, from powering electricity generation to supporting the state’s world class mining sector, and we remain committed to delivering the affordable, reliable energy that Western Australians depend on.

“Enduring partnerships, like the one we have with Alinta Energy, are how that energy reaches homes and businesses right across the state.”

The deal means Alinta has secured 76 petajoules of gas supply in a matter of days, after it struck a deal to buy 30 petajoules of gas from a Japanese consortium which owns a stake in the Woodside-operated Scarborough LNG project earlier this week.

That deal, with LNG Japan Corporation – jointly owned by Sumitomo and Sojitz Corporation – will run into the ‘early 2030s’ but an exact term has not been specified.

Alinta managing director and chief executive Jeff Dimery said the Chevron deal gave his company greater certainty over its position in the market into the 2030s.

“Securing long-term supply from established projects like Gorgon, Wheatstone and the North West Shelf is critical to meeting the needs of our customers and supporting the state’s energy security,” he said. 

“This agreement gives us greater certainty in our portfolio and ensures we can continue to provide dependable energy for households, businesses and industry as the energy system evolves.”

The deals have been announced against a backdrop of heightened political uncertainty over the future of domestic gas reservation in WA.

The state’s long-standing 15 per cent domestic gas reservation policy is still in effect, but it remains to be seen whether a mooted 20 per cent federal reservation policy will usurp the policy in WA.

The state government initially sought assurances that the WA policy would not be impacted by the federal measure but appeared to soften its position in a conversation with the Australian Financial Review this week.

Alinta is in the process of planning a new gas power station at Cataby in the Mid West, which would be gas powered and supply up to 400MW of energy to the state’s electricity grid over 20 years. 

The project was announced in March and referred to the EPA this week. 

Managing people effectively is one of the biggest responsibilities any employer faces.

From recruitment and onboarding to handling employee relations and ensuring compliance with employment law, businesses must navigate a wide range of HR challenges while remaining focused on growth. For organisations operating in London’s competitive business environment, having access to expert HR advice can make a significant difference.

Whether you run a start-up, a growing SME, or an established company, professional HR consultancy provides the guidance needed to manage employees confidently and minimise legal risks.

The Challenges of Modern HR Management

Employment legislation in the UK is continually evolving, requiring employers to keep policies and procedures up to date. Issues such as disciplinary matters, grievance handling, absence management, flexible working requests, and workplace investigations all require careful handling to ensure fairness and legal compliance.

Many business owners simply do not have the time or specialist knowledge to deal with these matters internally. As a result, they often seek external HR expertise that offers practical advice tailored to their organisation.

The Benefits of Working with Local HR Experts

Every business has unique requirements, and local HR consultants are well placed to understand the specific challenges faced by organisations in their region. They can provide personalised support while responding quickly to changing business needs.

Businesses looking for professional HR guidance can benefit from Avensure’s local HR consultancy in London, which offers tailored support across a wide range of employment matters. Access to experienced consultants enables employers to make informed decisions while remaining compliant with current employment legislation.

Supporting Employers Through Every Stage

Professional HR consultancy extends far beyond solving workplace disputes. Experienced consultants can assist with many aspects of employee management, including:

• Drafting employment contracts
• Creating employee handbooks
• Developing workplace policies
• Performance management
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• Managing sickness absence
• Recruitment support
• Redundancy planning

Having structured HR processes in place helps businesses operate more efficiently while improving consistency across the organisation.

Reducing Employment Risks

One of the primary reasons businesses invest in HR consultancy is to reduce the likelihood of employment disputes. Incorrect procedures or poorly documented decisions can lead to expensive claims, reputational damage, and unnecessary disruption.

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As businesses expand, managing people often becomes more complex. New employees bring additional responsibilities, while larger teams require more structured management processes.

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Building Strong Workplace Relationships

Effective HR is about more than compliance. It also plays an important role in fostering positive workplace culture and improving employee engagement.

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Staying Ahead of Legislative Changes

Employment law is rarely static. New regulations, updated guidance, and evolving workplace expectations require businesses to regularly review their HR practices.

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Strong HR management is essential for businesses that want to grow sustainably while protecting both their employees and their organisation. Professional consultancy provides valuable expertise, practical guidance, and ongoing support that helps employers navigate complex workplace issues with confidence.

By partnering with experienced HR specialists, businesses can improve compliance, strengthen employee relations, reduce legal risks, and create a more productive working environment that supports long-term success.

Gold steadied early on Friday as markets assessed risks of inflation stemming from the recent U.S.-Iran military escalation in the Middle East, with renewed rate-hike expectations putting the non-yielding metal on course for a weekly decline.

FUNDAMENTALS

Spot gold held its ground at $4,122.09 per ounce, as of 0047 GMT, and was headed for an over 1% weekly fall. U.S. gold futures for August ‌delivery were ⁠down 0.2% ⁠at $4,131.50.

Iranian armed forces launched attacks on U.S. military infrastructure in Gulf states on Thursday following U.S. strikes on Iran’s southern coastal and eastern provinces, further eroding a three-week-old ceasefire.

The latest round of strikes has fuelled inflation concerns and reinforced the probability of the U.S. Federal Reserve raising interest rates this year. Markets are pricing in a 64% chance of a September rake hike from around 54% a ⁠week before, according ‌to CME’s FedWatch tool.

Minutes from the Fed’s June meeting, released earlier this week, showed growing concerns among policymakers about elevated inflation, with ⁠a few participants seeing a case for raising interest rates.

New York Fed President John Williams said on Thursday he did not expect energy prices to rise persistently for the rest of the year despite renewed hostilities in the Middle East.
The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, suggesting the labor market remained stable despite a slowdown in job growth in June.
HSBC cut its average gold ‌price forecasts for 2026 and 2027 on Thursday, citing a hawkish shift in U.S. monetary policy expectations and a stronger dollar.
The National Bank of Poland (NBP) has 632.4 tons ⁠of gold reserves worth about 308 billion zlotys ($81.68 billion), NBP Governor Adam Glapinski said on Thursday.

Fortuna Mining expects to receive the final permit for its Diamba Sud gold project in Senegal within weeks, its chief executive told Reuters.

Elsewhere, spot silver eased 0.1% to $59.94 per ounce, platinum gained 0.2% to $1,614.22 and palladium added 0.4% to $1,252.75. All three metals were on track for a weekly loss.

DATA/EVENTS (GMT)

0300 China Overall Comprehensive Risk Q3

0300 Japan Overall Comprehensive Risk Q3

0600 Germany HICP Final YY June

0645 France CPI (EU Norm) Final MM, YY June

0645 France CPI YY, MM NSA June

0800 China Total Social Financing June

0800 China M2 Money Supply YY June

Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs has barred employees from trading on prediction-market contracts linked to financial markets and political events, ‌a ⁠source familiar with ⁠the matter said on Thursday.

A memo was issued some time back in which the policy prohibits staff from participating in event-based ⁠contracts that could ‌create real or perceived conflicts of interest ⁠with the bank, its clients or the broader financial industry.

Bloomberg News, which first reported the policy, said repeated violations could result in disciplinary action, including termination, and ‌that employees may be required to forfeit gains from prohibited ⁠trades.

The restrictions do not apply to prediction-market contracts related to sports and entertainment, the source said.

Asian stocks gained as investors piled back into semiconductor stocks on renewed optimism over AI-driven demand. Oil fell.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed 0.5%, led by a 2.6% rally in South Korea’s Kospi, though the regional benchmark remained on track for a weekly loss. SK Hynix Inc. swung between gains and losses in Seoul trading after raising $26.5 billion in its American depositary share offering.

Futures for the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 Index slipped 0.4%, signaling a more cautious tone.

Brent crude dropped 0.3% to about $76 a barrel, extending Thursday’s decline as traders judged the US-Iran conflict was unlikely to escalate into a broader disruption to energy supplies. That helped Treasuries hold gains from Thursday, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year at 4.55%. Government bonds of similar tenor in Japan and Australia edged higher.

Optimism toward technology shares resurfaced as investors focused on signs that the AI investment boom remains intact after a sharp bout of selling in chip stocks earlier this week.

Amid ongoing debate about inflation, interest rates and geopolitics, the market’s direction over the next month may come down to earnings, according to Anthony Saglimbene, a strategist at Ameriprise.
“Companies will need to do more than just beat estimates,” he said. “They will need to show that margins are holding at high levels, that guidance remains firm and probably even better than analysts currently project, and that tech-led profit growth still has enough breadth to support the market’s valuation.”Spending by chip companies is at the center of that debate. In the latest capital expenditure announcement, Micron Technology Inc. said it plans to increase spending on new plants in the US to $250 billion to help meet demand fueled by the artificial-intelligence boom.

SK Hynix’s ADR sale is expected to help fund growing spending plans amid soaring demand for equipment used in AI computing. The company and Samsung Electronics Co. are poised to ramp up investment in South Korea as part of a government-led initiative worth $880 billion. The ADRs are set to begin trading Friday on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol SKHYV, which will change to SKHY when they begin regular trading July 13.

AI is likely to remain a key driver of markets during the second half of 2026, but the narrative is evolving, and this transition may create a more selective environment, according to Jeff Buchbinder at LPL Financial. Investors should focus less on who is spending the most and more on who is generating measurable returns from those investments, he said.

Costco has been hit with a class action lawsuit alleging that one of the products it sells contains “dangerous” levels of heavy metals, including lead, arsenic and cadmium.

The lawsuit centers on Orgain protein powders, including the Vanilla Bean and Creamy Chocolate Fudge varieties, which are marketed in stores and online as providing “good, clean nutrition.”

Seven plaintiffs from across the U.S. allege Costco failed to properly screen the products for toxic heavy metals or disclose their presence to consumers, according to the lawsuit filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington state.

The plaintiffs are seeking to hold the warehouse retailer accountable for marketing the protein powders as safe and healthy despite the alleged presence of the contaminants.

COSTCO QUIETLY DISCONTINUES AWARD-WINNING KIRKLAND ITEM FANS CALL ‘ONE OF THE BEST’ IN THE MARKET

“Many consumers who buy and use protein powder do so routinely as part of a continuing focus on their fitness and health,” Steve Berman, managing partner and co-founder of law firm Hagens Berman, said. 

“These same health-conscious consumers have unknowingly ingested alarming levels of toxic heavy metals — lead, cadmium and arsenic — again and again, trusting that Costco’s quality assurance would not allow something like this to happen.”

Orgain pushed back on the allegations, saying its products are safe to consume.

“Orgain products are safe to consume,” the company said in a July 9 statement provided to USA Today. “While trace amounts of substances that occur in the environment can be present in plant-based ingredients, our products comply with applicable food safety standards and guidance. We stand behind the safety and quality of our products.”

Costco sells at least four Orgain product lines on its website. The retailer’s protein powder listings include a disclaimer stating, “Product details have been supplied by the manufacturer and are hosted by a third party.”

SURPRISE RIVAL KNOCKS COSTCO’S FAMOUS ROTISSERIE CHICKEN OFF ITS PERCH AS BEST BIRD

According to the complaint, independent testing commissioned by the plaintiffs found that Orgain’s Vanilla Bean flavor contained lead levels exceeding California’s Proposition 65 limits by more than 600%.

The allegations also cite separate 2025 reports from nonprofit organization Clean Label Project and Consumer Reports that identified elevated levels of heavy metals in certain protein powders.

Consumer Reports flagged Orgain’s Vanilla Bean flavor for containing lead at 143% of its level of concern. The publication classified the product as “okay to eat occasionally” but recommended limiting consumption to roughly four servings per week.

The complaint further cited findings that plant-based protein powders, particularly organic varieties, contained higher levels of heavy metals compared with nonorganic and whey or beef-based counterparts.

COSTCO MAKES PAYMENT CHANGE THAT COULD SPEED UP CHECKOUT FOR MEMBERS

In response to the findings, California lawmakers introduced a bill im February requiring mandatory testing and public disclosure of heavy metals in protein products.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also announced in early June that the state had launched an industry-wide investigation into the manufacturers over related concerns. 

“Consumer Reports tested 23 products and found that lead levels in plant-based protein powders were, on average, nine times higher than those made with dairy proteins such as whey and twice as high as beef-based products,” Paxton’s office said in a June 8 statement. 

Ticker	Security	Last	Change	Change %
COST	COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP.	912.97	-40.16	-4.21%

According to the Food and Drug Administration, there is no known safe level of lead exposure. 

Studies suggest that the metal can accumulate in the body faster than it can be eliminated, meaning repeated exposure may increase health risks. 

Chronic lead exposure has been linked to immune suppression, reproductive problems, kidney damage and elevated blood pressure.

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Children, pregnant women and older adults are particularly vulnerable to heavy metal exposure.

Orgain and Costco did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.

President Trump gave three brilliant speeches over July 4th weekend. First at the freedom and faith convention, then at Mount Rushmore, and then on July 4th on the National Mall at Washington D.C.

He emphasized two large-scale thoughts. First, America’s greatness both past, present and future. And second, godless communism is a mortal threat that must be extinguished without delay. And he hammered these points again and again. Essentially giving GOP officials and candidates their talking points for the midterm elections.

Meanwhile, the superb Democratic pollster, Mark Penn, writes that Democrats are unwisely choosing candidates who are completely unqualified for the Senate or House. Graham Platner is a perfect example. And Mr. Penn writes that “antisemitism is anti-Americanism and no tent of any party should be big enough to make room for it.”

Republican strategist Karl Rove writes that socialists spell trouble for Democrats. They can win in deep blue districts, but they’ll weigh down the party elsewhere. And he talks about some of the platforms of these socialist–communist Democrats “all cops are bastards” and “no more police at all ever” from Darializa Avila Chevalier at New York City or another socialist communist, Manny Rutinel in Colorado, who wants to shift money away from the military, policing, and prisons.

All this will be banner headline ads by Republicans who already hold a vast fundraising advantage over Democrats, due in large part from the recent Supreme Court decision that will allow, say, the Republican National Committee pulling money in with the Senate and House campaign committees, and thereby helping federal races state-by-state. It’s a tremendous thing.

Jim McLaughlin writes that President Trump has a 50 percent approval rating among likely voters, with 60 percent approval among Hispanics and 32 percent with blacks. Senator Chuck Schumer is a dead man walking with a 29 percent favorable rating.

For sure the Mamdani-Sanders-AOC socialist communist tail is wagging the Democratic party dog. Yet that dog is not going to hunt come November.