News: News Limited in Oz aren't hackers, says CEO

1. News Limited audit reveals no hacking in Australia

A full audit of News Limited finances in its Australian newspapers and media holdings has shown no evidence of hacking, according to outgoing CEO John Hartigan who initiated the review three months ago to stem allegations here. The chatter about possible wrongdoings had started after a major phone hacking scandal erupted in Britain by News Corporation’s locally based operation. According to the SMH: “A statement released today says 26 auditors collected data on nearly 700,000 transactions over five years for its main newspapers, including The Australian, The Daily Telegraph and the Herald Sun. It said “scrutiny” was applied to all cash payments of more than $100 and all payments of more than $10,000. It identified the use of private investigation companies and interviewed staff and contractors who were questioned about the services supplied. Two judges assessed the audit’s methods and the company’s response.”

2. Did you catch the Brad Pitt interview on 60 Minutes?

Sometimes the news bites will include things that are just interesting to talk about. We’ll call them watercooler moments! And this is a case in point: did you catch the Brad Pitt interview on 60 Minutes? It seemed like a whole lot of nothing … and really awkward. He just seems over the whole thing. Show business, all the questions. He did mention he might quit the business in 3 years anyhow. Twitter went off, said he was ‘boring’. This was an interesting quote however: “I think happiness is overrated, truthfully. I do. I think sometimes you’re happy, sometimes you’re not. There’s too much pressure to be happy. I don’t know. I don’t really give a shit. I know I will be at times and I know I won’t be at times. Satisfied, at peace, those would be more goals for myself.”

Here’s the 60 Mins interview:

3. Britain’s ad standards authority bans skinny model

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in Britain has banned an ad for fashion label DropDead for featuring a model that was too thin, if not anorexic. According to CampaignLive: “The ASA called the ad “socially irresponsible” for using a size eight model in a bikini. The regulator said the model was visibly thin, with “highly visible” hip, rib and collar bones. She was photographed in heavy make-up and posed in a way that made her appear thinner.”

4. UN climate report says ‘weather on steroids’ to come

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released a draft report that says the world’s weather under a changing climate would be characterised by more severe events like droughts in Africa, fierce heatwaves in Southern Europe and storm surges so deadly they could threaten entire island nations. Subject to modification, the draft summary will be examined by governments at a six-day meeting of the panel starting today in the Ugandan capital Kampala.

5. Evelyn H Lauder, cosmetics queen and breast cancer awareness advocate, dies

She married into one of the most well know families in the beauty industry but became a major campaigner for breast cancer awareness. Evelyn H Lauder married Leonard A. Lauder (chairman emeritus of the Estee Lauder company) and founded the Pink Ribbon breast cancer awareness campaign and later the Breast Cancer Research Foundation which would go on to raise $350 million. She passed away, aged 75, from ovarian cancer.

6. Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi steps down

17-years in politics and it wasn’t the litany of sex scandals – including allegations of underage sex, paid for by him – that brought Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi undone. Instead it was the mounting debt crisis that threatened to topple Italy, previously thought of as ‘too big to fail’ from the European Union. Italy’s debt stands at 120% of Gross Domestic Product around $2.3 trillion. Italy needs fast and savage spending cuts and tax hikes to lift it from the brink. Mr Berlusconi will likely be replaced by a non-elected official, Mario Monti, a 68-year-old ‘non-politically aligned’ fiscal conservative. If you need a rundown on what all this means, together with the rest of the Eurozone debt crises, check out our cheat sheet later today.

7. Get your Botox … at the dentist

Australian dentists have taken part in a course by Australian Academy of Dento-Facial Aesthetics head Myles Holt so they can administer dermal fillers to patients while they get their dental work done. Dentists are only supposed to administer Botox where it forms part of treatment for teeth-grinding or facial pain. Dr Holt said dentists had a ‘superior’ knowledge of facial features and doctors were only complaining about the breach of rules because dentists were encroaching on their turf.

8. The 2018 Commonwealth Games will be on the Gold Coast

It was the boost in spirits the Gold Coast needed. One of the harder hit regions in Australia during the Global Financial Crisis the glitter strip can now set its sights on being Games ready after it was announced at the weekend the city won its bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games. It’ll be the fifth times the Games have been held in Australia. It’s predicted the winning bid will bring $2 billion in economic benefits and ‘30,000’ jobs over the next seven years.