Apple Inc. set a fresh all-time high on Monday ahead of its most significant product launch event in nearly a decade, after benefiting from a broader rotation back into technology stocks.

Cupertino

Apple shares hit all-time high

joining us now. Bloomberg Technology co-host Ed Ludlow who's in Cupertino California for Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference and Apple is now at a record. Is this really about a 3K virtual reality headset thing. It's all about a mixed reality headset and it's so interesting this product. It probably marks the most significant event in foray into a new product category going back to 2014 in the Apple Watch. Right. Mixed reality is really important. Emphasis on mix. You look at the third party data from IDC and in 2022 fewer than eight million virtual reality headsets shipped globally fewer than 300000 augmented reality headsets shipped globally. This is a combination of both. And as Marks German of Bloomberg News has reported Apple's hope is to sell 900000 units in year one. So we want to know about the timeline. When is it going to cost 3000. And what does that mean for Apple's broader strategy from a software perspective as well. And any other announcements you kind of keeping an eye out for that there in Cupertino for Apple and how are they thinking about AI. Yeah I mean those are two big and important questions. WWDC Worldwide Developers Conference the first ones back in 1983 in a hotel in San Mateo. Right. It's principally and historically been targeted at those developers who are building apps across operating systems across Apple's hardware offering. Right. So we do expect significant OS updates across watch for example and also to find out about the OS for the mixed reality headset. Beyond that Mark German reporting that we expect a 15 inch MacBook Pro and you know on the A.I. question go back to earnings and look at what Tim Cook had to say from a machine learning perspective in an A.I. perspective from neural networks. Apple has integrated that technology throughout its existing offerings. What we don't really see is Apple doing a knee jerk response and moving into the domain of generative A.I. either from a text or or image perspective. I think some some idea on how it boosts the services offering is something that the streets looking at. So is this about when you go back to the headset for a second. Is this going to be about monetizing existing iPhone sales even more. Is it about the app store. Is it about sort of bringing developers back in. Like what's what's their goal with these with these headsets. Yeah look the mixed reality headset. What we know from Bloomberg's reporting is that it will support the existing core apps that are already on IOS for iPhone and iPad. Think about the apps that you use in each and every day. The principal concern at least from the sales side is like great. An amazing cutting edge piece of hardware. Apple probably won't make margin on it because it doesn't want to lose market position or price itself out of the market. What does the content slate look like. What are we going to learn during the presentation about how we watch video how we game what games are already in the works. What other functionality. Mark Gurman reporting that a fitness plus developing app is is in the works to support workouts using a RV. Can you imagine Alex doing a workout in a RV. But these are big picture questions because you don't have the content slate. It could be cool but you're unlikely to see the consumer enthusiasm if there's nothing you actually can do with your shiny new carbon fiber and aluminum hand headset. Yeah. It was about it's about the hardware isn't it. Making sure it's comfortable that fits but the software that combines with that and that proposition in terms of the competition is this a is this a short Oculus or is this a very different play. You know it's interesting. Go back to that third party data IBC 2022. So of the almost 8 million units of VR headsets that shipped matter account is for 82 percent of those with quest. Really interesting to note last week matter kind of front running this event and bringing Quest 3 out earlier than expected at a 4 9 9 price point. It's a competitive area that matter already dominates. But again think about the niches and markets that Apple operates in at the higher end of the market when it comes to the handset. And increasingly when you think about Mac from from a laptop perspective or Mac desktop the higher end of the market for developers.

Mexican authorities say three bodies have been found in an area where two Australian brothers and their American travel companion are missing. It follows the arrest of three people in relation to their disappearance.

Baja California

Bodies found in search for missing Perth brothers

China has launched an uncrewed spacecraft on a nearly two-month mission to retrieve rocks and soil from the far side of the moon, the first country to make such an ambitious attempt.

Wenchang

China launches mission to far side of the moon

Britain's opposition Labour Party won a parliamentary seat in northern England on Friday (May 3) and control of several councils, inflicting heavy losses on the governing Conservatives to pile more pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

London

U.K.'s Labour claims big early win over Conservatives

Turkey has announced that it is halting trade with Israel, worth $7 billion a year, until a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian aid are secured in Gaza. Israel denounced the decision as breaking trade agreements.

Ankara

Turkey to stop trade with Israel until Gaza ceasefire

Media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders warned of declining government support for press freedom as it unveiled its annual world rankings on Friday, highlighting Argentina among the countries where the situation has deteriorated.

Paris

States doing less to support press freedom, says watchdog

Arizona's Democratic governor signed a bill overturning an 1864 law banning abortion, a month after the state's supreme court said the Civil War-era rule was valid.

Arizona

Arizona governor signs bill repealing 1864 abortion ban

U.S. President Joe Biden said that both freedom of speech and the rule of law must be respected in protests at college campuses over Israel's war in Gaza. In response to a reporter's question, Biden said that the campus protests had not forced him to reconsider his policies in the Middle East.

Washington

Biden breaks silence on protests at University Campuses

From suspensions to expulsions to criminal charges, college students across the U.S. involved in these pro-Palestinian protests could face life-changing consequences. Some are demanding amnesty for these protesters.

New York

More than 1,000 student protesters arrested across U.S.

English voters are heading to polling stations to pick mayors, councilors and a new lawmaker in the last electoral test for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before a national vote later this year.

Voters head to polls in last test for U.K.'s Sunak

The US State Department accused Russia of having used a chemical weapon against Ukrainian forces in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, while also announcing fresh sanctions against Moscow. In addition to the chemical agent chloropicrin, Russia also used "riot control agents (tear gas) as a method of warfare in Ukraine, also in violation of the CWC," the department said in a factsheet.

Zaporizhzhia

Ukraine Invasion

U.S. accuses Russia of using chemical weapons in Ukraine

There are grave concerns for Perth brothers Jake and Callum Robinson who are missing on a surf trip in Mexico's Baja region. The pair have failed to arrive at their accommodation and are not responding to contact from their families.

Council of the City of Sydney

Grave fears for brothers missing on Mexico surf trip

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has kept open the prospect of tax incentives in the budget as business warned that changes to foreign investment laws. It comes amid criticism that budget spending could prompt further inflation and prompt rate rises.

Government hints at further tax incentives in Budget

Colombian President Gustavo Petro says his country will break diplomatic relations with Israel. He's criticised Israel's conduct since the start of the war on Gaza. Petro requested to join South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide.

Bogotá

Israel-Gaza War

Colombia ends diplomatic relations with Israel

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, pushing to get more aid into Gaza, while urging Hamas to accept a deal that would halt fighting and bring some hostages home from the enclave.

Jerusalem

Blinken pushes for sustained aid into Gaza during Israel trip

Police in Georgia fired teargas and rubber bullets at protesters demonstrating against a bill that would require organizations – including media and NGOs – that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as agents "pursuing the interests of a foreign power." The bill has been dubbed the "Russian law" by its detractors.

Tbilisi

Thousands protest against Georgia's 'foreign influence' bill

A diplomatic push is underway to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, with the U.S. exerting pressure on Hamas to agree to Israel's terms. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to attack Rafah in southern Gaza, whether there's a ceasefire or not.

Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah 'with or without' ceasefire deal

Qantas has apologised to customers after its app exposed personal passenger data. The airline blames a technical disruption and says the data breach was not a cyber security incident.

Qantas app data breach exposes customer data

The International Court of Justice has ruled against issuing emergency measures over German arms sales to Israel as requested by Nicaragua, which had argued that there was a serious risk of genocide in Gaza amid Israel’s assault on the Palestinian territory.

The Hague

ICJ rejects measures over German arms exports to Israel

New York police have entered Columbia University and arrested protesters barricaded inside a building who have been calling on the New York school to divest itself from companies associated with Israel.

Police enter Columbia University, arrest protesters

A smiling and healthy-looking King Charles returned to public duties on Tuesday (April 30) for the first time since he was diagnosed in February with cancer, paying a visit to a treatment center for the disease in London.

King Charles returns to public duties, visits cancer center

A 14-year-old boy is dead and multiple people injured after a daylight sword attack in Hainault, in east London. The alleged attacker tasered and arrested by Police shortly afterwards.

Hainault

Teenage boy killed in London sword attack

Brittany Higgins has failed in a bid to delay a defamation trial brought against her by Senator Linda Reynolds over social media posts made in July last year. Fiancé David Sharaz, also named in the case, calling for the Senator to drop the case.

Canberra

Brittany Higgins fails in bid to delay defamation trial

Since taking office four months ago, Argentina's new president Javier Milei has slashed public employment in an effort to cut the country's deficit. So far, 24,000 people have been let go, and Milei has said he wants that figure to hit 70,000, about 10 percent of overall government employees.

Buenos Aires

Argentina's Milei slashes 24,000 government jobs

A Russian missile attack on an educational institution in a popular seafront park in the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa killed at least five people and injured 32, local officials said. Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian missile and drone attacks, particular port infrastructure.

Odesa

Russian missile attack kills five in Ukraine's Odesa

Scotland's leader Humza Yousaf resigned, further opening the door to the UK opposition Labour Party regaining ground in its former Scottish heartlands during a national election expected to be held later this year.

Edinburgh

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf quits

A 17-year-old girl charged with the stabbing murder of her 10-year-old sister in a suburb of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales will remain in custody.

Lake Macquarie

Teenager faces court over murder of 10-year-old sister

Columbia University began suspending pro-Palestinian activists who refused to dismantle a tent encampment on its New York City campus after the Ivy League school declared a stalemate in talks seeking to end the polarizing protest.

Columbia University suspends pro-Palestinian protesters

The debris from a missile that landed in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Jan. 2 was from a North Korean Hwasong-11 series ballistic missile, United Nations sanctions monitors told a Security Council committee in a report seen by Reuters on Monday (April 29).

Kharkiv

U.N. experts say North Korea missile landed in Kharkiv

Columbia University's president said that talks with pro-Palestinian activists over a protest encampment on the Ivy League campus in New York City had reached an impasse and urged demonstrators to voluntarily disperse or face suspension.