Journalism
White House calls out BBC over Gaza coverage clash
The White House has taken a swing at the BBC, accusing the broadcaster of uncritically echoing Hamas narratives in its reporting on alleged Israeli attacks at Gaza aid sites.
Donald Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt didn’t hold back, saying BBC reporters treat Hamas claims as “total truth”.
As Anne Barrowclough writes in The Australian, it’s the administration’s sharpest rebuke yet of the UK public broadcaster.
Ex-journalist linked to mystery hype on gold stock forum
A former Walkley winner turned Auric Mining comms man has been quietly talking up his company on share trading forum HotCopper, under not one but two pseudonyms.
According to Mark Wembridge in the Australian Financial Review, Ross Dunkley, who once made headlines for being jailed in Myanmar, has been using the aliases “GoldatWidgie” and “Lenin” to boost sentiment around the WA gold junior.
The posts, often a cheer squad for Auric and each other, included lofty predictions about the company’s prospects.
Companies
David Jones taps Qantas points in loyalty play
David Jones is linking arms with Qantas Frequent Flyer, letting shoppers earn points as part of a fresh loyalty push set to launch in September.
As Jessica Yun and Chris Zappone report in The Sydney Morning Herald, the move plugs the iconic department store into Australia’s most powerful rewards engine, right as the retail war with Myer heats up.
For DJ’s, it’s a strategic shortcut: access to Qantas’s 17-million-strong member base, with the kind of points-fuelled habit retailers dream of.
CBA cracks $300 billion as market crown gets heavier
The Commonwealth Bank has officially broken through the $300 billion ceiling, becoming the first ASX-listed company to hit the milestone.
As Nicola Blackburn and Jonathan Shapiro write in the Australian Financial Review, its share price has surged 18 percent this year, leaving other banks in the dust and setting off quiet murmurs about just how top-heavy the Aussie market is becoming.
At $181.10 a pop, CBA’s shares now make it one of the priciest bank stocks on the planet, trading well above global heavyweights like JPMorgan and Lloyds, despite similar profit profiles.
Retail
Country Road boss exits as profits slump and scrutiny lingers
Country Road Group is preparing for a leadership change, with CEO Raju Vuppalapati set to step down in August.
Officially, he’s leaving to “pursue personal interests”.
But, as Carly Douglas writes in the Herald Sun, the timing is hard to ignore, coming amid a steep 70 percent drop in operating profit and ongoing reputational bruises.
AI
Cricket Australia rolls out real-time AI stats for fans and commentators
Cricket Australia has quietly slipped a game-changer into its app, using AI to serve up real-time milestones and stats mid-match, like Ravindra Jadeja’s 10,000th delivery or Adam Zampa’s slick economy rate, without anyone needing to scramble through spreadsheets.
As Zoe Samios writes in the Australian Financial Review, the new feature, called AI Insights, was built in partnership with Insight Enterprises, Microsoft and HCLTech, and feeds commentators and fans sharp, contextual data as it happens.
There’s no delays, and no digging, just clean, live intel straight to screen.
Netflix drama dominates as Gotham TV Awards kick off Emmys season
Barely a breath since Anora nabbed Best Picture at the Oscars, awards season is already rebooting, this time, with a spotlight on the small screen.
The Gotham TV Awards, now in their second year as a standalone event, are setting the tone for what’s shaping up to be a hot Emmys race.
As Velvet Winter writes on ABC.net.au, Netflix’s limited series Adolescence swept the night, grabbing early momentum and likely catching the attention of Emmy voters in the process. It’s a strong start for a show that’s already generating serious buzz.