Tech shares tumble as trade tensions mount
Stocks dropped to their lowest value since February as investors grow wary of rising interest rates in the US and ongoing trade tensions with China.
October 19, 2018 12:15 pm
Technology
Ford planning layoffs after losing US$1 billion in trade war
Citing the impact of President Trump's tariffs, the ailing automaker is set to make cuts to its global workforce of more than 200,000.
Vote #1 AI? Politics in the new age of artificial intelligence
Alisa, SAM and Michihito are a new breed of politician, promising frustrated voters a fresh bipartisan approach built on a rational and fact-based decision-making.
ABC Chairman Justin Milne out after staff revolt
After being accused of interfering in the public broadcaster's editorial independence, Chairman Justin Milne has stepped down from his role.
Instagram founders reportedly clashed with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg before exit
Bloomberg has reported that Instagram co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger left the company due to the growing influence of Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of its parent company, Facebook.
Hayabusa2 rovers ready to begin asteroid mission
Two Japanese rovers will be launched on Friday 21 September local time and begin exploring the Ryugu asteroid.
Who is Yusaku Maezawa, the first ever space tourist?
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has named the Japanese billionaire as the first private citizen to take a recreational space flight.
Marc Benioff buys Time Magazine for US$190 million
The Salesforce co-CEO will become the latest tech titan to get into the media ownership game and is promising a hands-off approach to running the legendary magazine.
New Apple products include watch that measures heart rate
Apple has launched a new suite of products for 2018 with arguably the most innovative being the Apple Watch Series 4, which is now approved as a medical device by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Ethereum, world’s second biggest cryptocurrency, plunges in value
In the wake of (now discredited) news that Goldman Sachs is shelving its plans for a cryptocurrency trading desk, the two biggest cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin and Ethereum, dipped sharply in value.
Amazon hits US$1 trillion market cap
The e-commerce giant briefly became the second publicly traded company after Apple to hit the magic US$1 trillion milestone.
Sheryl Sandberg will give her US$200 million stake in SurveyMonkey to charity
After the thriving online survey company goes public, the Facebook COO and influential author will give away her 9.9% stake in the company to the Sheryl Sandberg and David Goldberg Family Foundation.
Amazon hits back at Bernie Sanders over working conditions
The retail giant has written a blog post in response to the Vermont Senator's criticisms of its working conditions.
Trump threatens Google, Facebook and Twitter over claims of bias
In his latest attack on 'fake news' Trump has hit out at the digital giants, claiming their search results are biased against him.
Toyota bets big on Uber self-driving car partnership
The two companies have announced they are extending their collaboration with an aim of bringing autonomous ride-sharing vehicles to market.
Elon Musk urged to stop tweeting
Last week, the iconoclast CEO raised eyebrows when he announced plans to take the electric car manufacturer private over Twitter. Now Tesla board members are reportedly concerned about his loose lips on social media.
Sorry Alexa, nobody wants voice shopping
A new report from technology journal The Information has revealed that only 2% of consumers with Alexa-enabled devices are using the voice assistant to make purchases.
Trump pushes ahead with plans for US ‘Space Force’
First announced by Trump back in June, Space Force is now closer to reality with Vice-President Mike Pence providing further detail on the new arm of the military.
3D-printed guns withdrawn from sale after Federal Court ruling
The ruling overrides a previous settlement between the US government and Texan organisation Defense Distributed that made it legal to post 3D printable gun plans on the internet.
Facebook removes fake news accounts as US mid-term elections loom
Facebook has written a blog saying it has identified and removed 32 fake accounts and pages designed to influence the mid-term US elections in November.
Facebook shares plummet US$120 billion in a day
The social media giant has suffered the biggest single-day loss in the history of the Nasdaq Stock Exchange.
North Korea appears to be dismantling its rocket launch site, Trump “very happy”
Satellite images of the Sohae station in the Northwest of the country seem to show the facility being dismantled.
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey admits the platform is no place for “nuanced discussion”
Following The New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman's criticisms of the platform, Dorsey has penned a response conceding the culture of Twitter needs change for it to remain a viable place for debate.
NASA’s Parker probe will be “humanity’s first visit to a star”
The Parker Probe will undertake the closest ever observation of the Earth's sun.
SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid steps down
The CEO Magazine's CEO of the Year 2017 has called time on a hugely successful stint at SBS, one of Australia's public broadcasters.
Cupcakes, bald heads and kangaroos: Apple unveils new emoji
On the fifth instalment of World Emoji Day, Apple has revealed a new suite of emoji that will be available later in 2018.
Larry Page funded company unveils BlackFly personal aircraft
The Alphabet CEO and Google co-founder has been unveiled as one of the strategic backers of OPENER, a Silicon Valley startup with ambitious plans for a flying car like personal aircraft.
Elon Musk promises to fund clean water for residents of Flint, Michigan
The Tesla CEO and futurist made the pledge in a Twitter exchange on 11 July.
Is this clothing store with nothing to sell the future of retail?
Nordstrom's new outlets have no merchandise but instead offer shoppers the opportunity to try on clothes and consult with stylists and tailors.
New CEO for Buffett, Bezos and Dimon’s healthcare venture starts work
Dr. Atul Gawande, a surgeon, author and public health advocate, has formally stepped into his new role leading ABC, a new venture which aims to reinvent the US healthcare system.
European parliament to vote on ‘value gap’ legislation for online sharing of music
Sir Paul McCartney is among those supporting the contentious legislation; he believes the change would safeguard the "sustainable future for music".
Amazon Go to open second automated store in Seattle
The new store will again offer Amazon account holders a 'grab and go' shopping experience.
Google moves to hose down privacy concerns about Gmail
The tech giant has been forced into action after a news report revealed many third party apps have the ability to read private messages sent in Gmail.
Uber regains licence to operate in the UK
The company has rebounded under CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and convinced the court it has changed its ways.
Mark Zuckerberg closes in on Warren Buffett on wealth list
The Facebook co-founder and CEO now has a net worth of US$81.6 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index
Elon Musk tweets support for Universal Basic Income
The Tesla co-founder answered a question on Twitter by saying “universal income will be necessary over time if AI takes over most human jobs”
Apple ordered to pay A$9 million after breaching Australian Consumer Law.
The Federal Court has made the ruling after finding that Apple misled customers regarding repair of their iPhones and iPads.
Donald Trump announces plans for US to “dominate” space
The US President aims to establish a new branch of the military to be known as ‘Space Force’.
Video game addiction classified as a disorder by World Health Organisation
For the first time, the World Health Organisation (WHO) will list gaming disorder in its International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD).
Apple continues to spend big on original content by signing Oprah Winfrey
The legendary US talk show host and CEO has signed a multi-year partnership to create content for Apple’s mysterious streaming service.
AI technology gives radio journalist his voice back
After losing the ability to speak due to a rare neurological condition, US radio journalist Jamie Dupree will return to the air by using the speech synthesis technology.
Philadephia 76ers GM falls on his sword in fake Twitter account scandal
It’s the strangest story in sports: the President of an NBA team and his alleged secret Twitter accounts.
Space breakthrough: NASA rover finds building blocks of life on Mars
NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity has uncovered carbon molecules, key materials for life to exist on the planet.
Trillion-dollar investment firm plans move into cryptocurrency
Reports say Fidelity Investments is preparing to launch its own cryptocurrency exchange.
Elon Musk lives to fight another day
Embattled Tesla co-founder Elon Musk has retained his position as chairman after an investor attempted to oust him.
Trade war looms as US and China talks fail to make progress
The talks concluded on Sunday without any new agreements and the possibility of the two economic giants placing trade restrictions on each other remains open.
Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic is a step closer to space flight
Unity, the winged space plane owned by Branson's Virgin Galactic, achieved supersonic flight in a test run over California’s Mojave Desert.
Deadly Takata airbags affect more cars than first thought
The number of vehicles in Australia affected by shrapnel-shooting Takata airbags has risen to 4 million, as the ACCC calls for car-owners to take immediate action.
Iran to be hit by ‘strongest sanctions in history’, says Pompeo
Washington announces plan to impose toughest sanctions on Tehran to date, as it aims to curb its "threatening behaviour".
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.
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.
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.
Boris Johnson visits US to urge Trump to stay in Iran pact
The British foreign secretary is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to keep the Iran accord in play.
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.
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.
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.
Iran rubbishes claims it lied about nuclear ambitions
What Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims to be evidence, is nothing more than a beat up of old issues to aid Donald Trump's move against Iran, officials say.
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.
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.
Alien and planet-hunting satellite successfully launches
The NASA satellite known as TESS is heading towards its proper orbit where it will begin its quest to find new planets and contribute to the search for alien life.
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.
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.
Cryptocurrency exchanges now being policed by AUSTRAC
Digital currency exchanges now have to comply with Australia's financial intelligence agency, as the government cracks down on money laundering and terrorism financing through cryptocurrency.
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.
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.
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.
Youtube headquarters shooter takes own life
After opening fire at YouTube's sprawling campus and injuring at least three employees, the female suspect was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Trump: ‘Space is a war-fighting domain’
Space battles have long been a main ingredient of big-screen blockbusters, but they could soon be a reality if President Trump's comments are anything to go by.
Blockchain ecosystem could revolutionise cybersecurity
GlobalGuard combines AI and blockchain technology to help businesses fend off cyber attacks.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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".
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.
Shrapnel shooting airbags in millions of Australian cars
The federal government says manufacturers have been too slow to replace the defective Takata airbags, so it has issued a compulsory recall to get them off Australian roads.
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.
Trump instructs Justice Department to ban rapid-fire rifle device
An attachment that turns semi-automatic weapons into machine guns will soon be banned under the orders of the President.
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.
Musk’s Falcon Heavy rocket has launched successfully
Space X's super rocket has taken off without hiccup, and space enthusiasts are seeing it as one giant leap towards Musk's ultimate goal of settling Mars.