DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Australia's Energy One says no proof of malicious activity after cyber incident
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 29 (Reuters) - Australian software supplier Energy One (EOL.AX) said on Friday it had not uncovered any evidence of malicious activity on their customer systems after a cyber incident was first identified last month. The company had previously said some personal information of its current and former employees had been compromised, for which the notification process is underway. "Our investigations have not revealed any evidence that customer systems have been impacted and the company continues to securely trade," Energy One said in a statement on Friday. Australian firms have suffered many cyber attacks since September 2022, putting the spotlight on the country's understaffed cybersecurity industry. Recently, Shell Plc (SHEL.L) identified a cybersecurity incident involving some employees at BG Group in Australia, the latest company to be hit by the MOVEit hack.

Persons: Clare O'Neil, Ayushman Ojha, Rashmi Aich, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: Energy, Shell Plc, BG Group, Home Affairs, Thomson Locations: Australian, Australia

☆ Exclusive: Timor president says China military cooperation 'never discussed'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The agreement also provided scope for funding from China including government and commercial loans to East Timor, he said. Some Australian politicians expressed concern after China's state media reported on Saturday that Beijing's agreement with East Timor, around 700km (450 miles) north-west of Australia, also covered military exchanges. "It was never discussed in terms of military cooperation, never discussed, and the Chinese side also never raised this issue," Ramos-Horta said. East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, aims to join the Southeast Asian regional bloc ASEAN by 2025 as it seeks to reduce high poverty rates. Australia has appointed an envoy to speed up negotiations between East Timor and Woodside; Gusmao's government wants gas to be piped to East Timor and not Australia.

Persons: Jose Ramos, Caitlin Ochs, Horta, Xanana Gusmao, Xi Jinping, heightening, Ramos, Kirsty Needham, Lincoln, 私 Organizations: Sustainable, United Nations, REUTERS, Rights, East, Reuters, Southeast, ASEAN, Canberra, Woodside Energy, Greater Sunrise, Greater, Australia, UN's, Fund for Agricultural Development, Global Citizen, Pacific Locations: Horta, Timor, New York City , New York, U.S, East Timor, China, Australia, Indonesia, Canberra, Solomon Islands, 2,000km, Timor Leste, ASEAN, Singapore, Malaysia, East Timor's, Dili, Greater Sunrise, Southeast Asia, Woodside, United States, New York

☆ Exclusive: East Timor president says China military cooperation was 'never discussed'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The agreement also provided scope for funding from China including government and commercial loans to East Timor, he said. "It was never discussed in terms of military cooperation, never discussed, and the Chinese side also never raised this issue," Ramos-Horta said. East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, aims to join the Southeast Asian regional bloc ASEAN by 2025 as it seeks to reduce high poverty rates. Australia has appointed an envoy to speed up negotiations between East Timor and Woodside; Gusmao's government wants gas to be piped to East Timor and not Australia. Australia's relationship with East Timor is "stronger than at any time in the last decade", Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Persons: Jose Ramos, Caitlin Ochs, Horta, Xanana Gusmao, Xi Jinping, heightening, Ramos, Kirsty Needham, Lincoln Organizations: Sustainable, United Nations, REUTERS, Rights, East, Reuters, Southeast, ASEAN, Canberra, Woodside Energy, Greater Sunrise, Greater, Australia, UN's, Fund for Agricultural Development, Global Citizen, Pacific, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs, Thomson Locations: Horta, Timor, New York City , New York, U.S, East Timor, China, Australia, Indonesia, Canberra, Solomon Islands, 2,000km, Timor Leste, ASEAN, Singapore, Malaysia, East Timor's, Dili, Greater Sunrise, Southeast Asia, Woodside, New York

☆ California minimum wage for fast food workers raised to $20 an hour
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 28 (Reuters) - Fast food workers in California will earn a minimum of $20 an hour starting in April under a new bill signed into law on Thursday by Governor Gavin Newsom. "The future happens here first," Newsom said at an event in Los Angeles, with labor officials and fast food workers flanking him. Labor unions, meanwhile, dropped their push to hold fast food corporations liable for violations committed by their franchisees. There are more than 550,000 fast food workers at 30,000 locations statewide, Newsom said. The overall minimum wage in California is $15.50 an hour, among the highest of any state.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Mike Blake, Newsom, We're, Joseph Ax, Josie Kao Organizations: Milken, Global Conference, REUTERS, Labor, U.S, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Thomson Locations: State, California, Beverly Hills , California, U.S, Los Angeles

Republican presidential candidates talk over each other during the second Republican candidates' debate of the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, September 27, 2023. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a frequent Trump critic, chimed in, saying Trump was "afraid" and mocking him as "Donald Duck" for skipping the debate. Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for the November 2024 election, was also a frequent target for the Republican candidates, who castigated his handling of the economy and the southern border with Mexico. "They're all job candidates," Trump said dismissively of the seven Republicans at the debate. Haley, meanwhile, was hoping a second consecutive strong debate performance will convince some Republican donors she has the best odds of unseating Trump.

Persons: Ronald Reagan, Mike Blake, Donald Trump's, Joe Biden, Trump, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Chris Christie, chimed, Donald Duck, Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, Biden, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy, Dana Perino, Iowa's, Haley, Doug Burgum, autoworkers, Tim Scott, Scott, Vladimir Putin, Tim Reid, Rami Ayyub, Kanishka Singh, Jasper Ward, Eric Beech, Gram Slattery, Joseph Ax, Ross Colvin, Howard Goller Organizations: Republican, Ronald Reagan Presidential, REUTERS, Democratic, Trump, Reuters, Former New Jersey, United, United Nations, TikTok, U.S, Trump . North, Thomson Locations: Simi Valley , California, SIMI VALLEY , California, China, Wisconsin, Florida, United Nations, Mexico, Michigan, New York, COVID, Trump . North Dakota, Ukraine, Russia, Jasper, Princeton , New Jersey

☆ Australia's Qantas chairman says shareholders want him despite turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Loren Elliott/File Photo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The chairman of Australia's Qantas Airways (QAN.AX) on Wednesday vowed to stay in his role despite a host of scandals engulfing the airline, saying its biggest shareholders wanted leadership continuity even as its shares track a one-year low. "I've had meetings with our major shareholders two weeks ago, and they are very strongly supportive of me staying," Goyder told the hearing. "While I retain the confidence of shareholders and the board, I will continue to serve. But she and Goyder, the Qantas chairman since 2018, denied having any discussions about the Qatari request with any member of the federal government. Qatar Airways' senior vice-president of global sales, Matt Raos, told the hearing the company was "surprised and shocked" its application was denied without a reason given.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Richard Goyder, I've, Goyder, we've, isn't, Vanessa Hudson, Jayne Hrdlicka, Hrdlicka, Matt Raos, Byron Kaye, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Qantas, Sydney Airport, REUTERS, Rights, Qantas Airways, Stock, Qatar Airways, Virgin, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Virgin Australia, Qatar

☆ Peru seeks mining investment revival with pledge to end 'chaos, disorder'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Marco Aquino | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Trucks remain stuck during a roadblock caused due to a demonstration by anti-government protestors demanding the resignation of Peru's President Dina Boluarte, in Condoroma in Cusco region, Peru February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Peru mining investment expected to drop 18% this yearMiners push to use contractorsGovernment aims to streamline environmental permittingLIMA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Peru is looking to put the "chaos" of months-long protests earlier this year behind it to revitalize flagging mining investment in the world's no. As a mining conference in the southern Andean region of Arequipa got started this week, Prime Minister Alberto Otarola addressed concerns about political instability and protests that have led to an expected 18% drop in mining investment this year. The last major investment in Peru was Anglo American (AAL.L)'s $5 billion Quellaveco project, which came online last year and has helped buffer production figures. Reuters GraphicsReporting by Marco Aquino; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dina Boluarte, Pilar Olivares, Alberto Otarola, Otarola, Raúl Jacob, Pedro Castillo, Boluarte, Mines Oscar Vera, Victor Gobitz, Gobitz, Marco Aquino, Adam Jourdan, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Companies, Miners, Reuters, Mining, Grupo Mexico's, Reuters Graphics, of Energy, Mines, BHP, Mitsubishi, Thomson Locations: Condoroma, Cusco region, Peru, Companies Peru, LIMA, Arequipa, American, Teck

☆ Australia fines lender ANZ $9.6 mln for misleading customers over funds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO: A pedestrian is reflected in the window of a branch of ANZ in central Sydney, Australia, October 25, 2017. The Australian lender falsely indicated to customers that they could avail cash advance from funds stated to be their 'Available Funds' without incurring fees and interest, according to the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC). The error resulted in customers being charged with thousands of dollars in fees while the average remediation paid was around $45 per affected account. "Many ANZ customers relied on the account information displayed by the bank and were charged fees that were inconsistent with that information," said ASIC Deputy Chair Sarah Court. "ANZ accepts responsibility for what has occurred and apologises to its customers, and has addressed the issues that gave rise to the contraventions," the lender said.

Persons: Steven Saphore, Sarah, Himanshi Akhand, Aishwarya Nair, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: ANZ, REUTERS, ANZ Group Holdings, Australian Securities & Investments Commission, National Consumer Credit, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Pilots at Australia's Qantas demand chair quit over scandals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Qantas Airways QF100 flight, which marks the airline's 100th birthday, departs from Sydney Airport to fly over Sydney Harbour in Australia, November 16, 2020. "We have totally lost confidence in Goyder and his board," AIPA President Captain Tony Lucas said in a statement. "Qantas desperately needs a culture reset but how can this happen with Richard Goyder as chairman?" Qantas declined to comment, referring Reuters to previous public comments from Goyder where he refused to quit. Goyder, who has been the airline's chairman since 2018, is not up for reelection at its annual meeting in November.

Persons: Gregg Porteous, Vanessa Hudson, Richard Goyder, Captain Tony Lucas, Goyder, Alan Joyce, Albanese, Byron Kaye, Jamie Freed Organizations: Qantas Airways QF100, Sydney Airport, Sydney Harbour, Handout, REUTERS, Rights, Australia's Qantas Airways, Australian, International Pilots Association, Qantas, Reuters, Qatar Airways, Thomson Locations: Australia, Goyder

☆ European shares slide as firmer yields, China woes weigh
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, September 25, 2023. REUTERS/Staff/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies STOXX 600 down 0.7%Sept 26 (Reuters) - European shares extended losses on Tuesday as elevated bond yields pressured the rate-sensitive technology sector, while weakness in China-exposed stocks persisted on slowdown jitters in the world's second-largest economy. The pan-European STOXX 600 (.STOXX) shed 0.7% by 0710 GMT, as the benchmark 10-year Bund yield hit its highest level since 2011. Technology stocks (.SX8P), whose valuations come under pressure as yields rise, slid nearly 2% to lead sectoral losses. China-exposed luxury stocks such as LVMH (LVMH.PA) and Richemont (CFR.S) weakened 1.5% and 2.5%, respectively, amid lingering concerns over the crisis-hit Chinese property sector.

Persons: Bansari Mayur, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: REUTERS, Staff, Technology, Rio Tinto, Energy Resources of Australia, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, China, Northern Territory, Bengaluru

☆ Qantas charter unit's pilots vote in favour of protected industrial action
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Three pilot groups, including pilots from aircraft charter company Network Aviation, have been negotiating with Qantas management over wage policy revisions. A spokesperson for QantasLink, an airline brand of Qantas, termed the step towards industrial action by the AFAP as "disappointing". "We have already reached in-principle agreement with the two other unions representing Network Aviation pilots, and we're continuing to negotiate in good faith to secure new agreements with our turboprop pilots." There are contingency plans in place to minimise disruptions to customers if the union proceeds with the industrial action, the spokesperson told Reuters. The AFAP also flagged the potential industrial action might impact certain charter flight operations to large mines and oil gas projects in Western Australia.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Rishav Chatterjee, Lewis Jackson, Aishwarya Nair, Rashmi Organizations: Qantas, Sydney Airport, REUTERS, Pilots, Network Aviation, Qantas Airways, Australian Federation of Air Pilots, Reuters, Network Aviation's, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Western Australia

The logo of accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is seen on the top of a Brussels' office of the company, in Diegem, Belgium September 21, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Sept 27 (Reuters) - PwC Australia will appoint outsiders to its board and publish audited financial statements as part of a governance overhaul to bring the partnership closer to public company standards following a scandal over the leak of confidential tax documents. PwC Australia will announce plans on Wednesday to apply some Australian Stock Exchange governance principles including appointing two non-executive directors and a non-executive chair to its board, according to excerpts of plans provided by PwC. The changes form part of PwC Australia's response to a months-long independent review into its governance and culture, which will be published in full on Wednesday. Australia said last month it would drastically toughen penalties against those who promote dodgy tax schemes and strengthen regulators in response to the scandal.

Persons: Yves Herman Acquire, Kevin Burrowes, Ziggy Switkowski, Lewis Jackson, Kim Coghill Organizations: PricewaterhouseCoopers, REUTERS, Rights, Facebook, Australian Stock Exchange, PwC, “, Telstra, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Diegem, Belgium, Australia

☆ Bosses are trying to get their employees engaged by hosting events like 'drag bingo,' but many Gen Z and millennial workers just want to be left alone
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Some Gen Z and millennial employees told Insider these efforts were out of touch. While not every office is hosting drag bingo, even simple gestures like a Friday team lunch could rub employees the wrong way. She said bosses have been successful when there are frequent check-ins between bosses and employees to discuss shared goals surrounding team building. AdvertisementAdvertisementBecause Gen Z workers tend to make career moves more frequently than their predecessors, bosses are adjusting their management styles, Maxwell said. "I've noticed that Gen Z wants even a higher level of connection than what I've seen previously as far as personally being able to connect, share their opinions," Maxwell said.

Persons: —, Emma, Emma couldn't, I'm, Mephy, Zer, Tim Cozier, Gen X, Kelly Maxwell, Maxwell, I've, Z, She's, Gen Organizations: Service, Gen

She cited unpublished information from Vietnam's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, which did not respond to requests for comment. In recent years, Japanese investors Toyota Tsusho and Sojitz abandoned projects at Dong Pao after China ramped up supply, pummelling prices. Reuters GraphicsStill, rare earths at Dong Pao are relatively easy to access and are mostly concentrated in bastnaesite ores, according to the Hanoi University of Mining and Geology. The plant has capacity to process 5,000 tons of REO a year but the company plans to treble that to accommodate input from Dong Pao, Tuan said. The metallization process is controlled by China, which produces 90% of rare-earth metals, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Persons: Dong Pao, Blackstone, VTRE, Tessa Kutscher, Anh Tuan, Joe Biden, Kutscher, Sojitz, Dylan Kelly, Vingroup, Rivian, Dong, Tuan, David Merriman, John Rockhold, Dudley Kingsnorth, Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio, Khanh, Melanie Burton, Trevor Hunnicutt, Mai Nguyen, Phuong, David Crawshaw Organizations: REUTERS, Australia's Blackstone Minerals Ltd, Vietnam's Ministry of Natural Resources, Earth JSC, U.S, . Geological Survey, Reuters, Toyota, Terra Capital, Blackstone, Hanoi University of Mining, REO, White House, Department of Commerce, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, Strategic, ASM, Reuters Graphics Reuters, U.S . Department of Energy, Western Australian School of Mines, Curtin University, Thomson Locations: Nam, Lai Chau, Vietnam, Pao, HANOI, Dong, Beijing, China, Hanoi, U.S, Dong Pao, VTRE, South, Khanh Vu, Melbourne, Seoul, Washington, Phuong Nguyen

Adding to its woes, last month the antitrust regulator sued Qantas accusing it of selling fares on thousands of already-cancelled flights in 2022. The so-called "flying kangaroo" said it would now spend A$80 million ($52 million) on "customer improvements" on top of the A$150 million previously flagged. "The group will continue to absorb these higher costs, but will monitor fuel prices in the weeks ahead and, if current levels are sustained, will look to adjust its settings," Qantas said. "Any changes would look to balance the recovery of higher costs with the importance of affordable travel in an environment where fares are already elevated." RBC Capital Markets analyst Owen Birrell said the company would likely absorb the higher fuel costs "until its target margins come under pressure and then would seek to claw back those costs through capacity cuts and higher fares.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Owen Birrell, Byron Kaye, Himanshi, Kim Coghill, Subhranshu Organizations: Qantas, Sydney Airport, REUTERS, Australia's, Qantas Airways, RBC Capital, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, SYDNEY, Bengaluru

☆ Inside Point72's boot camp for developing all-star portfolio managers, where Steve Cohen is known to grill up-and-comers who think they're ready for the big time
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Michelle Abrego | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Point72 is a pioneer in developing investor talent; the multi-manager has been running LaunchPoint, previously known as Nines, since 2012. More than 70 long/short managers have launched through LaunchPoint since it started in 2012, and 75% of those are still at Point72. They make up 50% of the firm's 100 long/short managers. For Point72, LaunchPoint was created with the idea that it can take two to three years to figure out how to be a PM. Point72"We saw that preparation really influenced the long-term success of new PMs," Weiner said.

Persons: Steve Cohen, Cohen, Harry Schwefel, Point72, Schwefel, Steve, haven't, It's, John Weiner, it's, John Pierson, Weiner, LaunchPoint, they've, Nick Shivers, Ariel Herman, Jon Weiner, Point72 LaunchPoint, Griffin Newman, Newman, Point72 Newman, Ryan Wilder, " Weiner Organizations: SAC Capital, Point72 Academy, P2 Investments, New York Mets, Point72, Brigade Capital Management, SAC Advisors, Bloomberg Locations: LaunchPoint, Point72

☆ Australia's Qantas flags hit from higher fuel prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Loren Elliott/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 25 (Reuters) - Australia's Qantas Airways (QAN.AX) said on Monday higher fuel prices were expected to drive its fuel bill higher by about A$200 million ($128.80 million) in the first half of financial year 2024. "Fuel prices have increased by around 30% since May 2023, including a 10% spike since August. This is driven by a combination of higher oil prices, higher refiner margins and a lower Australian dollar," the carrier said in a statement. The company expects a further A$50 million impact due to non-fuel-related foreign exchange changes in the first half of the current fiscal year. Qantas said the customer-improvement initiative would be funded from its profit.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Himanshi, Kim Coghill, Subhranshu Organizations: Qantas, Sydney Airport, REUTERS, Australia's Qantas Airways, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Not much exciting about Aussie banks as high costs pressure earnings - Macquarie
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Australia's "Big Four" banks - among the top seven listed companies in the country - control 75% of the country's A$2 trillion mortgage market. That euphoria is now largely over as high living costs impact borrowers' capacity to repay loans. Macquarie, an investment bank with a small retail banking operation, said banks' cost bases are likely to remain under pressure as more than 70% of their expenses related to personnel. Macquarie added that it expects banks' expenses to grow by around 1% to 7% in fiscal 2023 through to fiscal 2025, with third-biggest lender Westpac Banking Corp (WBC.AX) seen being impacted more than its peers. The regional banks will remain disadvantaged in the current environment as they will have to continue to invest to keep up, Macquarie said, estimating up to 4% higher expenses than consensus.

Persons: Macquarie, Sameer Manekar, Janane Organizations: Macquarie, Westpac Banking Corp, ANZ Group Holdings, CBA, NAB, Adelaide Bank, Bank of Queensland, Thomson Locations: Bendigo, Bengaluru

☆ Australia fines lender NAB $1.4 mln for wrongfully charging fees
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The National Australia Bank Logo is seen on a branch in central Sydney, Australia, February 8, 2018. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies National Australia Bank Ltd FollowSept 22 (Reuters) - The Australian Federal Court has fined the country's second-biggest lender National Australia Bank (NAB) <NAB.AX> a penalty of A$2.1 million ($1.4 million) for wrongfully charging customers periodic payment fees, the securities regulator said on Friday. Between January 2017 and July 2018, National Australia Bank continued to charge its customers periodic payment fees for transferring money despite knowing it had no contractual entitlement to do so, the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) said. The bank wrongfully charged 2,888 personal banking customers and 513 business clients payment fees totalling A$139,845 on 74,593 occasions, the regulator added. Shares of NAB were trading 0.7% lower as of 0221 GMT after declining as much as 1.3% earlier in the day.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Sarah Court, Sameer Manekar, Ayushman, Janane Venkatraman, Dhanya Ann Thoppil Organizations: National, REUTERS, National Australia Bank, Australian Federal Court, Australia Bank, Australian Securities & Investments Commission, NAB, Reuters, Royal Commission, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Australia fines lender NAB $1.4 million for wrongfully charging fees
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The National Australia Bank Logo is seen on a branch in central Sydney, Australia, February 8, 2018. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies National Australia Bank Ltd FollowSept 22 (Reuters) - The Australian Federal Court has fined the country's second-biggest lender National Australia Bank (NAB) <NAB.AX> a penalty of A$2.1 million ($1.4 million) for wrongfully charging customers periodic payment fees, the securities regulator said on Friday. Between January 2017 and July 2018, National Australia Bank continued to charge its customers periodic payment fees for transferring money despite knowing it had no contractual entitlement to do so, the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) said. The bank wrongfully charged 2,888 personal banking customers and 513 business clients payment fees totalling A$139,845 on 74,593 occasions, the regulator added. NAB in an email to Reuters acknowledged "some customers were incorrectly charged for periodical payment fees several years ago," adding that it had completed a remediation program and repaid more than A$8.3 million to affected customers.

☆ Not much exciting about Aussie banks as high costs pressure earnings, Macquarie says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Persons: Loren Elliott, Macquarie, Sameer Manekar, Janane Organizations: Central Business, REUTERS, Macquarie, Westpac Banking Corp, ANZ Group Holdings, CBA, NAB, Adelaide Bank, Bank of Queensland, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Bendigo, Bengaluru

☆ Anti-affirmative action group, emboldened by US Supreme Court, targets scholarships
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Joseph Ax | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The challenges are part of a growing campaign against diversity initiatives after a U.S. Supreme Court landmark ruling in June outlawed use of race in college admissions, commonly known as affirmative action. A departmental spokesperson said the office for civil rights does not discuss details of its cases. But you can't do it through racial discrimination, and the Supreme Court has been very clear about that." On Tuesday, the organization that won the Supreme Court case, Students for Fair Admissions, filed a new lawsuit challenging affirmative action admission practices at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The Supreme Court had exempted military academies from its June decision, saying in a footnote that these schools might have "distinct" interests.

Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, William Jacobson, Jacobson, Evan Caminker, Joseph Ax, Colleen Jenkins, David Gregorio Our Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Harvard University, University of North, REUTERS, Conservative, Cornell University, U.S . Department, Western Kentucky University, Kansas State University, University of Nebraska, Education Trust, Democratic, Belmont University, The University of Missouri, Republican, University of Michigan, The, Harvard, Fair, U.S . Military Academy, West, Thomson Locations: University of North Carolina, Washington , U.S, Lincoln, American, Missouri

☆ Qantas chairman refuses to quit amid investor pressure - ABC News
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Qantas aircraft are seen on the tarmac at Melbourne International Airport in Melbourne, Australia, November 6, 2018. But any suggestion that we took fees for no service is just wrong," Goyder said. The ABC report did not mention the names of investors and consumers who have called for Goyder's resignation. Goyder was appointed to the board in November 2017 and named chairman in October 2018. Goyder said Qantas has accepted the ruling and new CEO Vanessa Hudson will work towards settling the case, according to ABC News.

Persons: Phil Noble, Alan Joyce, Richard Goyder, Goyder, Vanessa Hudson, Roushni Nair, Sonia Cheema Organizations: Qantas, Melbourne International Airport, REUTERS, Rights Companies Qantas Airways, Australia's Qantas Airways, ABC, ABC News, Thomson Locations: Melbourne, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Chevron accepts Australian labour tribunal's terms to end strike at LNG plants
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A 3D printed natural gas pipeline is placed in front of displayed Chevron logo in this illustration taken February 8, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 21 (Reuters) - Chevron (CVX.N) said on Thursday it has the accepted recommendations from Australia's labor regulator to end its dispute with unions at its liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in Western Australia. The Fair Work Commission of Australia, which has the power to impose a settlement, "strongly recommended" parties accept its proposals to end work stoppages that began on Sept. 8 at the Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG operations. The workers at the facilities, which account for nearly 7% of global LNG supply, are backed by the Offshore Alliance - that combines the Maritime Union of Australia and Australian Workers' Union. Chevron had been negotiating with the workers for weeks alongside Australia's Woodside Energy (WDS.AX), which managed to avert the strikes last month after reaching a deal.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Sourasis Bose, Maju Samuel, Shinjini Ganguli, Eileen Soreng Organizations: Chevron, REUTERS, Offshore Alliance, Maritime Union of Australia, Australian Workers ' Union, Australia's, Energy, Thomson Locations: Western Australia, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Qantas ex-CEO takes 900% pay rise, but bonus cut amid scandals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Alan Joyce, Chief Executive Officer of Qantas, speaks with members of the media at an event celebrating Qantas' 100th birthday at Sydney Airport in Sydney, Australia, November 16, 2020. Most of the amount was share-based incentives that Joyce was allowed to cash in after they vested, according to the report. It could also "claw back" unvested stock bonuses for Joyce, currently worth A$6 million, it said. Joyce's final pay packet encapsulates his decade and a half of running the company, which dominates Australian air travel. Qantas must return to the Federal Court to determine what it must pay in penalties and compensation to affected workers.

Persons: Alan Joyce, Loren Elliott, Joyce, Richard Goyder, disquiet, Alan, Goyder, Byron Kaye, Sameer Manekar, Rashmi Aich, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Qantas, Sydney Airport, REUTERS, Rights Companies Qantas Airways Ltd, Australia's Qantas Airways, Consumer Commission, High Court, Federal, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Bengaluru

Search resuls for: "Ax"

25 mentions found