Haspel confirmed as next CIA director
Despite overseeing the torture of terror suspects at a black site in the early 2000s, Gina Haspel has today been confirmed as the first female head of the CIA.
May 24, 2018 4:22 pm
Business
Zuckerberg agrees to closed-door meeting with European Parliament
Mark Zuckerberg has been called out for agreeing to give evidence to the European Parliament despite repeated calls to front British MPs.
James Murdoch to stand down as CEO of the new Fox
James Murdoch will reportedly hand over the reins of 21st Century Fox to brother Lachlan after the proposed deal with Walt Disney is finalised.
World’s ‘largest and fastest’ metal 3D printer unveiled by Titomic
The Titomic Kinetic Fusion printer has the capacity to change the way products are manufactured in the fields of aviation and space, according to the Melbourne-based company.
Top 10: The best meeting hotels of Asia Pacific
Executives of Asia-Pacific companies prefer to hold their meetings at Sydney hotels, Cvent's top 10 list has revealed.
Sports betting likely to soon flood the United States
American states will now be able to legalise sports betting, ending Nevada's long-time monopoly on the lucrative market.
Anbang insurance chairman Wu Xiaohui sentenced to 18 years prison
The billionaire businessman was found to have cheated investors and embezzled huge sums as head of his insurance conglomerate.
New records for Monet and Matisse, as Rockefeller art goes under the hammer
Not only has it smashed the record for the most valuable single-owner collection ever sold, but the Rockefeller collection has seen the likes of Monet and Matisse raise their benchmarks too.
Australian CEOs condemn the budget’s move to wind back R&D incentives
The government aims to save A$2 billion by tightening its R&D Tax Incentive scheme.
Melburnians to disrobe for Tunick in the name of art
Internationally recognised photographer Spencer Tunick, whose niche is large naked crowds, has turned his attention to Melbourne after last snapping Australians in all their glory on the steps of the Sydney Opera House in 2010.
Horse racing heavyweights found guilty in ‘systematic conspiracy’
It has been described as the biggest scandal in the history of Australian horse racing, with well-known industry figures found guilty of doping-related offences.
Amazon VP Tim Stone to join Snap as CFO
Snapchat has received a timely boost with respected Amazon executive Tim Stone agreeing to come on board.
Incoming AMP chair David Murray asks investors for patience
Three board members face being ousted at Thursday's annual general meeting, and Murray has implored investors to not let emotion dictate their decision-making.
Still Processing podcast wows at Sydney Writers’ Festival
He’s a Pulitzer Prize winning film critic. She’s a New York Times technology reporter. Together, they’re Still Processing, 2018’s most essential podcast.
Surgery goes well for Sir Alex Ferguson, football world rallies behind him
It sent shockwaves through the football world but Ferguson is reportedly recovering well from his emergency surgery.
Volkswagen boss at the time of diesel dupe has been charged
Volkswagen's former CEO is squarely in the sights of the US Justice Department and German prosecutors, after being indicted on charges of conspiracy and wire fraud.
Cambridge Analytica is out of business after being ‘vilified’
The data analytics firm at the centre of Facebook's privacy scandal claims the opprobrium levelled at it by the media led to its bankruptcy.
NBL boss Jeremy Loeliger talks Simmons, Bogut and US expansion
It’s been an eventful time at the NBL lately, with the Australian league welcoming home Andrew Bogut, its most high-profile signing to date, and presiding over record crowd numbers.
Langer tasked with Aussie cricket turnaround
Former Test opener Justin Langer believes he can restore the Australian cricket team's battered reputation in the wake of the Test side's ball tampering in South Africa.
Supermarket chain CEO apologises after money gaffe
The CEO of a major British supermarket chain has been forced into an embarrassing apology after he was caught in an "unguarded moment".
Facebook to introduce dating service, Tinder takes a swipe
Tinder's stock took a hit when Mark Zuckerberg declared he wanted to help Facebook's 200 million 'single' members find love, and this has led to some brutal responses from the owners of the popular dating app.
Evidence against Pell strong enough to proceed to trial
Australia's most senior Catholic, and the third ranked figure in the Vatican behind Pope Francis, has been committed to stand trial on historical sexual offence charges.
Merger could be a huge boost to US in 5G race
T-Mobile US Inc expects its $26 billion (all stock) acquisition of Sprint Corp to be approved by no later than the first half of 2019, despite the merger being rejected by antitrust officials in Washington four years ago.
AMP cleans house, as CEO and Chair are moved on
The chairman has been sent packing and directors have had their fees slashed as AMP tries desperately to get back on the rails.
Amazon commits to NFL, as Prime price surges
Amazon.com Inc has reportedly agreed to fork out $65 million a year to renew its streaming deal with the NFL for Thursday night fixtures, while at the same time announcing a price hike to its subscription service.
Time for Apu to evolve, says Hank Azaria
The actor who voices Apu on The Simpsons is willing to step aside from the role having considered the negative impact the character has on the South Asian community.
Sydney Kings unveil Andrew Bogut, a historic coup for the NBL
In a packed press conference this morning, Andrew Bogut — the former NBA #1 draft pick — confirmed he had signed a two-year deal in the Australian domestic competition.
Lance Armstrong settles $100 million federal lawsuit
Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong has reached a $US5 million settlement with the US government and Floyd Landis before the whistleblower lawsuit could go to trial.
Low-carb beer is not the healthy alternative
If you stick to low-carb beer in an effort to avoid the beer belly, we've got some deflating news.
CBA admits to charging the dead fees for financial advice
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) was charging dead customers for financial advice, the banking royal commission heard yesterday.
Gidget Foundation Australia campaign shines spotlight on perinatal depression and anxiety
Gidget Foundation Australia launches its national ‘Start Talking’ program in Sydney to support parents experiencing perinatal depression and anxiety (PNDA).
Musk tells Tesla team not to waste time on meetings
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has reportedly sent an email to his employees telling them to walk out of meetings if they're not productive, as the company aims to double production.
Airport finds ‘intelligent windows’ improve customer spending
An American airport has found that smart glass capable of adjusting for sunlight exposure results in travellers hanging around longer and spending more.
Shark activity too dangerous, as Margaret River Pro is called off
Western Australia's Margaret River Pro has been shut down after two separate shark attacks on Monday.
Weibo backflips on gay content purge
After banning gay content on Friday, Chinese social media giant Sina Weibo has reversed its decision amid swift and overwhelming opposition from the public.
Facebook investors want Zuckerberg replaced as chairman
Mark Zuckerberg is under growing pressure to stand down as chairman, with Facebook investors calling for him to be replaced by an independent executive.
Niche dating app accused of promoting ‘social apartheid’
A highly exclusive dating app is being accused of promoting class segregation, but the founder insists it's just about bringing people with similar interests together.
Winx: The world’s best racehorse
There's nothing left to prove for the champion mare, but a win tomorrow will see her equal Black Caviar's record of 25-straight victories.
Big Bash matches to move to pay-TV under new cricket deal
Foxtel and Seven West Media have reportedly won the partnership rights to broadcast the cricket, which will result in a swag of blockbuster Big Bash matches being shown exclusively on pay-TV.
Bank boss is confident global trade won’t break down over US-China tensions
CEO of ANZ, Shayne Elliott, says the need for trade will ensure the bubbling tensions between the world's two biggest economies won't result in the collapse of the global trading system.
Facebook plans to charge users for their privacy
If you don't want targeted ads on your news feed then you'll have to pay for it, says Mark Zuckerberg.
Lindsey Buckingham and Fleetwood Mac split ahead of global tour
Sources close to the band say musical differences regarding the tour were behind Fleetwood Mac's decision to replace Buckingham with Neil Finn and Mike Campbell.
Brazil’s corrupt former President told to turn himself in
Having been denied his plea to avoid incarceration while he exhausts all appeal avenues, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva must now surrender to police by Friday afternoon.
Apple strengthens its AI team with top Google executive
With competitors Amazon and Alphabet making significant strides in the machine learning and AI sector, Apple has headhunted one of Google's key players to ensure it keeps pace.
Thunder Snow storms the Dubai World Cup to take home $10m
There were winners on and off the track at the 2018 Dubai World Cup – with world-class thoroughbreds, stunning fashion and outstanding entertainment.
Spotify has gone public with a bang, despite unconventional path
The Swedish music streaming company listed on the New York Stock Exchange without a safety net, and the result was one of the largest ever first-day valuations for a tech company.
Real-time technology for terror response
The public will soon have an app with an emergency button that will enable their videos and photos of public incidents to be turned into real-time intelligence for first responders.
Tens of billions wiped from Amazon market cap, as Trump attack continues
The US President says he's standing up for the postal service and brick-and-mortar retailers, others believe Amazon shareholders are paying the price for his long-standing grudge with CEO Jeff Bezos.
China makes its move in trade war with the States
US goods have been hit with tariffs totalling $3 billion, as China shows intent to counter any Washington trade move.
Channel 9 ends Seven Network’s long association with the Australian Open
Australia's summer of tennis is heading to Channel 9, with the network outbidding long-time broadcaster Seven in a whopping $300 million deal.
Sponsors deserting Australian cricket in droves
Brand partners are quickly distancing themselves from Cricket Australia, and players Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, as the commercial toll of the ball-tampering scandal becomes clearer.
Tim Cook says Facebook needs to be regulated
The Silicon Valley power broker says the social media giant has spun out of control because of its business model and needs reining in.
Lottoland to be banned in Australia under new legislation
State governments cracked down on Lottoland betting on domestic lotteries last year, and now the federal government is looking to stop synthetic lotteries from even operating in the country.
Former captains aren’t buying three-man brain trust
Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland says the investigation has cleared everyone but Smith, Warner and Bancroft of any involvement in the ball-tampering scandal, but a host of big-name former stars have rejected the outcome.
Roosters CEO Joe Kelly suspended for a year, as Manly rort revealed
The Roosters will lose CEO Joe Kelly for at least nine months, and Manly COO Neil Bare has also been suspended, as the NRL hands down its punishments for the Sea Eagles' salary cap rorting.
OPINION: Forget Bancroft, make an example of Smith, Warner, and the rest of the so-called leadership group
The cheating by the Australian cricket team has left a proud sporting nation shell-shocked. But Cameron Bancroft should not be the poster boy for this ball-tampering plot.
Tariff exemptions only temporary
America's partners are on the clock. They have to come up with trade deals that are acceptable to Trump or they'll be slapped with the metal levies too.
Billions coming Musk’s way, as shareholders vote to shore up future
Elon Musk could be worth up to $50 billion more in 2028, as Tesla's shareholders agree to an eye-watering incentive package that will vest only if he hits a number of ambitious financial targets.
Zuckerberg issues statement, but there are still important unanswered questions
The Facebook CEO has admitted to 'mistakes' over the Cambridge Analytica scandal, but with lawmakers breathing down his neck has failed to explain why it took a media probe for the company to finally investigate the Big Data firm.
‘Dishonest assault’ on Robert Mueller final straw for veteran Fox News analyst
Ralph Peters was 'long proud' of his association with Fox News, now the colourful commentator is just 'ashamed'.
Packer quits Crown Resorts over mental health issues
The troubled billionaire businessman has stepped down from the board in the wake of relationship breakdowns, ill-fated business decisions, and his implication in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption scandal.
Plattsburgh becomes first town to ban commercial crypto-miners
Residents of an upstate New York town are concerned about the energy consumption of cryptocurrency miners, and council has responded with a moratorium on new applications.
US and Europe lawmakers pressure Zuckerberg to testify
Facebook's inaction over the illegal harvesting of data from 50 million unsuspecting users has caused uproar, and authorities want answers from CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
New visa to attract tech talent to Australia
The likes of Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes and leading entrepreneur Steve Baxter have been warning the Australian government about the tech skills shortage for years, and now at last it is taking steps to correct the situation.
Celebrities turn against Snapchat, sending its shares tumbling
Rihanna is the latest A-list celebrity to damage the reputation of Snapchat, after she shamed the under-fire social media app for an ad which seems to mock domestic violence.
Once bright star of Silicon Valley, sinks into black hole
Elizabeth Holmes was America's youngest billionaire, the inventor whose technology would change the landscape of medicine globally, but the SEC has confirmed it was all built on lies.
White farmers have ‘no need to fear’, says SA government
The South African government has blasted its Australian counterpart for suggesting white farmers are being persecuted and need help.
Blockchain ecosystem could revolutionise cybersecurity
GlobalGuard combines AI and blockchain technology to help businesses fend off cyber attacks.
Female spymaster set to lead the CIA
Gina Haspel has overseen the torture of terror suspects on black sites and headed a number of CIA outposts. Now she is set to make history as the first female director of the agency.
Trump stops biggest ever tech takeover, citing national security concerns
On the advice of the US foreign investment watchdog, the President has closed the door on Broadcom's takeover of Qualcomm.
White farmers fear for their lives in South Africa
Party leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Julius Malema's aggressive rhetoric has the potential to incite more violence against white farmers in South Africa.
Musk: ‘First Mars flight will be early next year’
Space X has accelerated its push towards Mars colonisation, with Elon Musk revealing that the super rocket currently in construction could be ready to launch early in 2019.
NAFTA partners exempt, as import tariffs are ratified
President Donald Trump has left the door ajar for other allies, after granting Mexico and Canada exemptions from the steel and aluminium tariffs.
Gun buyers must be 21 and teachers will have the right to be armed, under new legislation in Florida
A controversial gun control bill, which permits trained teachers to carry firearms, just awaits Governor Rick Scott's signature.
Inspirational women immortalised as Barbie dolls
The list of Mattel's "shero" dolls lengthens as a host of wonder women are honoured with miniature models of themselves.
France to crack down on gender pay gaps
The government is ramping up its fight against gender discrimination, announcing plans to roll out software that can monitor unfair pay discrepancies.
New technology set to end self-serve scamming
An Australian company has integrated machine learning and artificial intelligence to develop technology that will put an end to supermarket checkout cheating.
NBA superstar Kobe Bryant is now an Oscar-winner
The former Los Angeles Laker’s Dear Basketball won an Academy Award for best animated short film, continuing a trend towards sports stars taking charge of their own media narratives.
Foxtel-Fox Sports merger on the cusp of completion
News Corp and Telstra are inching closer to the public listing of the combined Foxtel entity, after the two parties indicated the merger will be finalised within the next four months.
Trump urged to dump steel tariffs, as trade war looms
With the European Union vowing to return fire, and a host of trade partners slamming the move to impose the tariffs, Republican lawmakers have turned on the President too.
US regulator begins sweeping probe of crypto-companies
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is cracking down on cryptocurrency companies operating outside of its laws.
Spotify is going public without a safety net
Spotify has filed for a direct public offering, a risky listing strategy that could see its ordinary shares dive "significantly and rapidly".
Major US gun retailer takes kids safety into its own hands
Dick's Sporting Goods Inc has taken the extraordinary steps of removing assault-style rifles from all its stores, and raising the gun-buyer age limit to 21.
The ‘new Instagram’ is on a wild rollercoaster
In a week, Vero has gone from obscurity to the hottest app in social media. But its rise in popularity has been matched by the shady business dealings of its founder.
Sydney’s lockout laws relaxed for Mardi Gras
Revellers in Oxford Street on Saturday night for Mardi Gras will be free to roam between venues in the wee hours, thanks to the government's goodwill gift to the LGBTIQ community.
Barclays reveals ‘shocking’ pay gap, as big UK companies begin disclosing their figures
The UK banking group has revealed its female investment bankers are being paid almost half that of their male colleagues.
Ford president leaves after probe into misconduct
Raj Nair has accepted he breached the automaker's behavioural standards, issuing an apology over undisclosed "incidents".
Qantas posts highest ever first-half profit
Qantas has exceeded its own financial forecasts for the first half of the year, improving its underlying before tax profit by more than $100 million.
What do Facebook and Google actually know about us?
An inquiry has begun to ascertain what personal information the tech giants are gathering on their Australian consumers.
Oxfam report reveals witness intimidation
Three men used the threat of physical harm to try and keep a key witness from pointing the finger at them.
Want to quit? Great, here’s your $5000!
Why is Amazon incentivising its employees to walk away from the company?
Get your motor running: Malaysian firm implements unique vehicle for staff retention
A medical device facility is taking a fresh approach to staff retention.
Unlockd CEO steps aside as he battles mental illness
Unbeknown to Matt Berriman, he was battling bipolar disorder while leading his tech start-up to dizzying heights. Now he's made the brave decision to open up about the mental illness as he relieves himself of the day-to-day responsibilities as CEO.
Myer CEO sacked: Board is tired of waiting game
Myer needs an urgent turnaround and Richard Umbers isn't the man for the job, according to the retail group.
Airport pop up for Valentine’s Day marriages
Couples looking to get hitched in Sin City this Valentine's Day can get their licences at the baggage collection area next to a 24-hour flower vending machine and bottle shop.
Judgment day looms for Oxfam
The UK-based charity is expected to hand over all the details of its internal investigation into sexual exploitation, as the British government threatens to withdraw its millions in state aid.
Rare perfection: white diamond to smash records
The current world record holding colourless diamond demanded $260,000 per carat, but this rare 'flawless' stone found in Botswana is expected to push north of $320,000 per carat when it is sold privately.
Chinese largest retailer moves into Australia, following the lead of rival Alibaba
Beijing behemoth JD.com will open an Australian base this month in response to the ever-increasing international demand for top-quality Australian and New Zealand products.
Casino mogul Steve Wynn stands down as CEO over sexual assault claims
The Las Vegas and Macau heavyweight continues to deny allegations made against him by former workers but has opted to stand down in the best interest of Wynn Resorts.