BP CEO Steps Down Amid Personal Relationship Probe

Bernard Looney, who has served as the Chief Executive Officer of oil giant BP since 2020, has resigned from his position amid an ongoing review of his personal relationships with colleagues. BP announced Looney’s immediate departure and revealed that this investigation marked the second such review in two years.

The company disclosed that the investigation was initiated to examine alleged relationships between Mr. Looney and colleagues. In a statement, BP acknowledged that Mr. Looney had not been initially “fully transparent” about these relationships. A company spokesperson emphasised BP’s commitment to its values and the expectation that all employees, particularly leaders, must uphold these values and earn the trust of others.

Born in Ireland and with a farming background, Bernard Looney had a long and dedicated career at BP, joining the company as an engineer in 1991 and rising to become a member of its executive team in 2010. His tenure as CEO coincided with challenging times, including the pandemic-related decline in oil and gas demand and the start of the war in Ukraine, which impacted energy prices and led BP to exit its Russian operations.

Qantas Loses Legal Battle Over Pandemic Job Outsourcing

Australia’s highest court has unanimously rejected a bid by Qantas to overturn a ruling that the airline unlawfully outsourced 1,700 jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ruling confirmed that Qantas had violated Australia’s Fair Work Act, designed to protect employee rights.

Qantas had laid off baggage handlers and cleaners at ten airports across Australia in November 2020 as a financial measure during the pandemic, a move that drew criticism and legal challenges. While the airline apologised for the outsourcing decision, the court found that it deprived workers of their rights to engage in protected industrial action and bargaining.

The outcome was celebrated by workers and unionists as a “huge win” after what they described as a “David and Goliath” struggle against the airline.

Google Faces Monopoly Trial in Washington DC

Google is currently facing a high-stakes trial in Washington DC that could have far-reaching implications for the tech industry. Prosecutors argue that the case is about “the future of the internet” and will test the power of US regulators over tech giants.

The lawsuit focuses on the billions of dollars Google paid to companies like Apple, Samsung, Mozilla, and others to secure its position as the default search engine on their devices. Google has dismissed allegations of illegal practices and argued that users can easily switch to other search engines with just “literally four taps.”

This trial is expected to last ten weeks and will include testimony from Google CEO Sundar Pichai and executives from Apple. Judge Amit Mehta, appointed by former President Barack Obama, will decide the case, making it the most significant industry-related trial in 25 years. The outcome could potentially reshape the tech landscape and antitrust regulations.