There’s a new wave of job cuts at the Commonwealth Bank, just as some of the world’s largest tech companies move to slash positions as part of a broader shift toward artificial intelligence. While Australia’s biggest lender is eliminating about 120 roles, Meta is looking to cut 10% of its entire workforce, according to an internal memo. Meanwhile at Microsoft, about 7% of the US workforce will be ...
There’s a new wave of job cuts at the Commonwealth Bank, just as some of the world’s largest tech companies move to slash positions as part of a broader shift toward artificial intelligence. While Australia’s biggest lender is eliminating about 120 roles, Meta is looking to cut 10% of its entire workforce, according to an internal memo. Meanwhile at Microsoft, about 7% of the US workforce will be offered voluntary buyouts. None of the moves are likely to soothe growing fears among white collar workers worldwide that their jobs are less safe than they’ve been in a long time. As you get your morning coffee, don’t forget to check out our exclusive reporting on IFM Investors from my colleague Amy Bainbridge , or the latest on Anglo American from Paul-Alain Hunt . - Ben Westcott, Asia Agriculture Reporter What’s happening now The Commonwealth Bank of Australia will eliminate around 120 roles amid a broader push to harness artificial intelligence at the nation’s largest lender, the Finance Sector Union said in a statement Thursday. The reductions come two months after a separate round of cuts that will claim around 300 roles, as part of efforts to further embrace AI. Infrastructure investor IFM Investors, mainly owned by the country’s biggest pension funds, is eyeing defense investments in Europe as it seeks to tap the region’s historic shift to military expansion, according to chair Cath Bowtell. Meanwhile nearly 90% of Australian funds plan to increase hedging ratios across asset classes over the next three months, with a particular focus on hedge funds, private credit and private equity, according to a new survey. Anglo American has at least three potential buyers for its Australian steelmaking coal business after a sale to Peabody Energy was derailed last year following a fire at one of the mines. A suitor and deal could be announced in coming months, according to people familiar with the matter. Australia’s Future Fund has named Richard Brandweiner as chief investmen...
Officials have begun a detailed review of the government’s HK$20,000 (US$2,600) baby bonus scheme six months before the end of its three-year term, and for good reason. With its low take-up rate, the scheme has failed to make the hoped-for impact on a falling birth rate. At the end of February, more than 40 per cent of the HK$2.8 billion set aside to encourage couples to have babies remained unspe...
Officials have begun a detailed review of the government’s HK$20,000 (US$2,600) baby bonus scheme six months before the end of its three-year term, and for good reason. With its low take-up rate, the scheme has failed to make the hoped-for impact on a falling birth rate. At the end of February, more than 40 per cent of the HK$2.8 billion set aside to encourage couples to have babies remained unspent, according to the Labour and Welfare Bureau. This suggests financial incentives alone cannot...
Former Tesla executive Chris Lister is retiring, and at least three other VPs have left Redwood around the recent restructuring, TechCrunch has learned.
Former Tesla executive Chris Lister is retiring, and at least three other VPs have left Redwood around the recent restructuring, TechCrunch has learned.
Former Tesla executive Chris Lister is retiring, and at least three other VPs have left Redwood around the recent restructuring, TechCrunch has learned.
Former Tesla executive Chris Lister is retiring, and at least three other VPs have left Redwood around the recent restructuring, TechCrunch has learned.
Earnings Call Insights: Medpace (MEDP) Q1 2026 Management view “Quarter 1 of 2026 saw cancellations rise again with backlog cancels reaching their highest point in over a year,” said (Chairman & CEO August Troendle), adding, “Net bookings were below the level of -- seen in Q4… with a net book-to-bill ratio of 0.88.” Troendle also flagged demand indicators and commercial execution priorities: “RFPs...
Earnings Call Insights: Medpace (MEDP) Q1 2026 Management view “Quarter 1 of 2026 saw cancellations rise again with backlog cancels reaching their highest point in over a year,” said (Chairman & CEO August Troendle), adding, “Net bookings were below the level of -- seen in Q4… with a net book-to-bill ratio of 0.88.” Troendle also flagged demand indicators and commercial execution priorities: “RFPs were down in the quarter sequentially and year-over-year. Initial award notifications and win rate were strong… we are focused on expanding our pipeline of opportunities and have implemented a number of initiatives to improve our win rate.” (President Jesse Geiger) reported, “Revenue for the first quarter of 2026 was $706.6 million,” “Net new business awards entering backlog… increased… to $618.4 million,” and “Ending backlog… was approximately $2.9 billion,” while projecting, “approximately $1.94 billion of backlog will convert to revenue in the next 12 months.” (CFO & Treasurer Kevin Brady) said, “EBITDA of $149.4 million… EBITDA margin for the first quarter was 21.1%,” and “In the first quarter, we generated $151.8 million in cash flow from operating activities,” while emphasizing, “Our 2026 guidance ranges for revenue, EBITDA, net income and EPS are unchanged from our prior quarter… There are no additional share repurchases in our guidance.” Troendle announced a leadership change: “this will be our last earnings call with Jesse Geiger, our President,” and later said, “I will retake duties as President as I had in the past.” Outlook Brady reiterated 2026 framework changes were not made: “Our 2026 guidance ranges for revenue, EBITDA, net income and EPS are unchanged from our prior quarter based on an effective tax rate of 19% to 20% and interest income of $27.5 million. There are no additional share repurchases in our guidance.” On durability despite cancellations, (Chairman & CEO Troendle) said, “our current modeling is we’re going to be within our guidance range on rev...
State Street SPDR MSCI ACWI Climate Paris Aligned ETF ( NASDAQ:NZAC ) stands out for its tech-heavy, climate-focused portfolio and slightly higher 1-year return, while iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF ( NYSEMKT:IEFA ) offers much higher yield, massive scale, and the broadest liquidity in the comparison. NZAC and IEFA are both global equity exchange-traded funds, but their exposures and strategies differ...
State Street SPDR MSCI ACWI Climate Paris Aligned ETF ( NASDAQ:NZAC ) stands out for its tech-heavy, climate-focused portfolio and slightly higher 1-year return, while iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF ( NYSEMKT:IEFA ) offers much higher yield, massive scale, and the broadest liquidity in the comparison. NZAC and IEFA are both global equity exchange-traded funds, but their exposures and strategies differ. NZAC tracks an index with a climate and ESG overlay, capturing large- and mid-cap stocks worldwide, including the U.S. and emerging markets. IEFA, in contrast, focuses on developed markets outside the U.S. and Canada, aiming for comprehensive international coverage. This comparison explores how their cost, yield, performance, risk, and underlying holdings stack up. Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Continue reading
CIA-Backed AQ-Linked Syrian Leader Watching Dance Performance To Missy Elliott Song Goes Viral Via Middle East Eye A video of interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa (previously, Abu Mohammad al-Julani) watching a dance performance to Missy Elliott's Work It has gone viral , sparking a mix of amusement and confusion on social media. The performance took place on Monday at the recently reopened al...
CIA-Backed AQ-Linked Syrian Leader Watching Dance Performance To Missy Elliott Song Goes Viral Via Middle East Eye A video of interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa (previously, Abu Mohammad al-Julani) watching a dance performance to Missy Elliott's Work It has gone viral , sparking a mix of amusement and confusion on social media. The performance took place on Monday at the recently reopened al-Feyhaa Sports Hall in Damascus, which Sharaa had inaugurated earlier that day before a Syria-Lebanon basketball match later that evening. The game marks the first time Syria and Lebanon have played against each other since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Ahead of the game, a group of dancers took to the stage, performing a dance routine to Work It, a song containing sexually explicit lyrics, by US rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott . Other performances reportedly included Rihanna's Rudeboy and Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl . The Syrian leader is seen sitting in the audience with a deadpan expression on his face . In light of Sharaa's background as a former militant and member of al-Qaeda , his attendance at a performance of a western song, featuring sexually explicit lyrics, stunned many social media users. "The ISIS president of Syria Al-Sharaa vibing to @MissyElliott is not something I was ready to see this year" , one person commented on X. After Sharaa’s Islamist group, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, seized Damascus on December 8, 2024, ousting longtime ruler Assad, Sharaa became Syria's interim president and rapidly transformed from a militant into a statesman. The concept of a former terrorist Leader publicly jamming to "Work It" by Missy Elliott pic.twitter.com/i7Y7nXvVl3 — Moh (@Daimohnds) April 21, 2026 "Never thought I'd mention al-Sharaa and Missy Elliot in the same sentence, but then here we are. Not touching the lyrics (I doubt Sharaa knows what Missy E is singing about)... but damn, what a “flip it and reverse it” moment!", another person posted on X, i...