Seems like all is not well between media mogul Rupert Murdoch and model-actor Jerry Hall. The couple is divorcing after six years of marriage, according to Variety. In 2016, the 91-year-old media mogul and the 65-year-old model married. It was Murdoch's fourth marriage. From 1999 to 2013, he was married to Wendi Deng, from 1967 to 1999, to Anna Maria Torv, and from 1956 to 1967, to Patricia Booker. Hall, who also acted in such films as Tim Burton's 'Batman' and starred as Mrs. Robinson in a Broadway production of 'The Graduate,' had been married to Mick Jagger, the rock star and lead singer of the Rolling Stones.&nbsp;

Across their marriages, Murdoch and Hall have 10 children. Murdoch, the CEO and chairman of Fox`s parent company, Newscorp, was so happy about his fourth marriage, that he took to Twitter at the time and said, "No more tweets for ten days or ever! Feel like the luckiest AND happiest man in world." During the marriage, Murdoch orchestrated the sale of most of 21st Century Fox to The Walt Disney Company in 2019 in a deal valued at $71.3 billion.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-singer-luke-combs-wife-nicole-combsblessed-with-a-baby-boy-shares-adorable-family-pic-490667">Singer Luke Combs, wife Nicole Combs&nbsp;blessed with a baby boy, see adorable family pic</a>

However, he continues to serve as chairman of Fox Corporation, a publicly-traded entity that owns Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox Television Stations, Fox News, Fox Business and Fox Sports. Murdoch and Hall have not officially announced their separation yet.&nbsp;

Seems like all is not well between media mogul Rupert Murdoch and model-actor Jerry Hall. The couple is divorcing after six years of marriage, according to Variety.

Seems like all is not well between media mogul Rupert Murdoch and model-actor Jerry Hall. The couple is divorcing after six years of marriage, according to Variety. In 2016, the 91-year-old media mogul and the 65-year-old model married. It was Murdoch's fourth marriage. From 1999 to 2013, he was married to Wendi Deng, from 1967 to 1999, to Anna Maria Torv, and from 1956 to 1967, to Patricia Booker. Hall, who also acted in such films as Tim Burton's 'Batman' and starred as Mrs. Robinson in a Broadway production of 'The Graduate,' had been married to Mick Jagger, the rock star and lead singer of the Rolling Stones. Across their marriages, Murdoch and Hall have 10 children. Murdoch, the CEO and chairman of Fox`s parent company, Newscorp, was so happy about his fourth marriage, that he took to Twitter at the time and said, "No more tweets for ten days or ever! Feel like the luckiest AND happiest man in world." During the marriage, Murdoch orchestrated the sale of most of 21st Century Fox to The Walt Disney Company in 2019 in a deal valued at $71.3 billion. Also Read: Singer Luke Combs, wife Nicole Combs blessed with a baby boy, see adorable family pic However, he continues to serve as chairman of Fox Corporation, a publicly-traded entity that owns Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox Television Stations, Fox News, Fox Business and Fox Sports. Murdoch and Hall have not officially announced their separation yet.

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch, wife Jerry Hall to end their six years of marriage

Theranos founder, Elizabeth Holmes, who has been accused of fraud, gave a surprising testimony during her trial.

Once valued at $9 billion, Theranos had attracted high-profile backers such as Rupert Murdoch and former US Pentagon chief Jim Mattis.

Testifying her own defence, Holmes said ''We worked for years with teams of scientists and engineers to miniaturise all of the technologies in the laboratory.''

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/from-visionary-to-fallen-biotech-star-the-rise-and-fall-of-theranos-founder-elizabeth-holmes-412354">Also read |&nbsp;From visionary to fallen biotech star: The rise and fall of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes</a>

''I was doing it on my own, I did then start a company. I raised the money to start a lab and hire scientists,'' she added.

Originally called the 'Real Time Cures,' Theranos claimed it had devised self-service tests that require a small amount of blood.

Touting it as a technological breakthrough, the company alleged that they could be performed rapidly.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/prosecuters-claim-theranos-founder-told-grandiose-lies-to-cheat-investors-411755">Also read |&nbsp;Prosecuters claim Theranos founder told 'grandiose' lies to cheat investors</a>

Holmes has been accused of running an analytical gamut for cheap.

She was called a visionary and the next Steve Jobs after she dropped out of Stanford University to start her own company in Silicon Valley.

The 37-year-old fallen biotech star's self-defence during trial is being a risky move by legal experts.

If found guilty on the charges of fraud with investors, Holmes could face years of imprisonment.

(With inputs from agencies)

Theranos founder, Elizabeth Holmes, who has been accused of fraud, gave a surprising testimony during her trial. Once valued at $9 billion, Theranos had attracted high-profile backers such as Rupert Murdoch and former US Pentagon chief Jim Mattis.

Theranos founder, Elizabeth Holmes, who has been accused of fraud, gave a surprising testimony during her trial. Once valued at $9 billion, Theranos had attracted high-profile backers such as Rupert Murdoch and former US Pentagon chief Jim Mattis. Testifying her own defence, Holmes said ''We worked for years with teams of scientists and engineers to miniaturise all of the technologies in the laboratory.'' Also read | From visionary to fallen biotech star: The rise and fall of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes ''I was doing it on my own, I did then start a company. I raised the money to start a lab and hire scientists,'' she added. Originally called the 'Real Time Cures,' Theranos claimed it had devised self-service tests that require a small amount of blood. Touting it as a technological breakthrough, the company alleged that they could be performed rapidly. Also read | Prosecuters claim Theranos founder told 'grandiose' lies to cheat investors Holmes has been accused of running an analytical gamut for cheap. She was called a visionary and the next Steve Jobs after she dropped out of Stanford University to start her own company in Silicon Valley. The 37-year-old fallen biotech star's self-defence during trial is being a risky move by legal experts. If found guilty on the charges of fraud with investors, Holmes could face years of imprisonment. (With inputs from agencies)

Elizabeth Holmes defends herself in surprising testimony during Theranos trial

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, portrayed by her lawyers as a hard-working, young, and naive businesswoman whose company simply failed, is in the headlines yet again.

The former Silicon Valley star's trial on federal fraud charges involving the now-defunct blood-testing startup, once valued at $9 billion, has started again after being postponed several times.

Beginning of the end

Theranos, a fallen unicorn company, was founded by Elizabeth Holmes, a Stanford University dropout in 2003 at the age of 19.

The American corporation was touted as a breakthrough health tech company. It claimed of designing devices that will draw a drop of blood from a finger prick and could run a range of tests more quickly and accurately than conventional laboratory means.

Holmes was a tech world celebrity whose multi-billion-dollar start-up looked set to revolutionise medical testing before it crashed and burned in a blaze of fraud claims.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/prosecuters-claim-theranos-founder-told-grandiose-lies-to-cheat-investors-411755">Also read |&nbsp;Prosecuters claim Theranos founder told 'grandiose' lies to cheat investors</a>

Sure-fire winner

Political grandees like Henry Kissinger and James Mattis were drawn to the company's board; media mogul Rupert Murdoch invested his cash in what seemed to be a sure-fire winner.

Holmes was hailed as a prodigy and lauded as a visionary for her extraordinary idea and was even compared to Steve Jobs.

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In picture:&nbsp;Theranos Founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes (L) speaks next to Alibaba Group Executive Chairman Jack Ma during the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York/AFP

Youngest female billionaire

She had become the world's youngest female billionaire due to the bogus claims and gamut analysis made by the company.

At one point, she had a net worth estimated at $3.6 billion, according to Forbes magazine.

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In picture:&nbsp;Elizabeth Holmes , Managing Editor, Time Magazine; Nancy Gibbs and Diane von Furstenberg attend the Time 100 Gala celebrating the Time 100 issue of the Most Influential People at The World/AFP

What went wrong?

But years of hype, and billions of dollars later, those promises unspooled; the miracle machines did not work.

Prosecutors say Holmes knew it, yet continued to lie to investors, doctors, and patients so she could raise more than $700 million.

They have alleged that Holmes and Balwani (full name and designation) defrauded investors between 2010 and 2015 and deceived patients when the company began making its tests commercially available, including via a partnership with the Walgreens drugstore chain.

The Wall Street Journal in 2015 reported that the Theranos devices were flawed and inaccurate, setting off a downward spiral for a company that had drawn investors including &nbsp;Murdoch and Oracle founder Larry Ellison.

Patients who were victims of the faulty tests received misdiagnoses of cancer, HIV, or pregnancy.

Famous topic for drama

The saga has become the subject of documentaries, podcasts, and books. A TV miniseries and a Hollywood film based on Holmes' story are in the works.

When the inaccuracies and shortcomings of the technology were exposed in a thorough investigation, Holmes was called a fallen biotech star and blamed for covering up the lies.

The company was charged by the US Securities and Exchange Commission for committing an ''elaborate and years-long fraud.''

It was a warning against the "fake it till you make it" culture. And for biotech and healthcare start-ups, it's a shadow that's difficult to escape because of the constant comparisons in the public mind.

Dueling portraits

Prosecutors and defense attorneys sketched dueling portraits of fallen Silicon Valley star Elizabeth Holmes as her trial got underway Wednesday, alternatively describing her as a greedy villain who faked her way to the top and as a passionate underdog who&nbsp;spent years trying to shake up the health care industry.

The two sides are now expected to spend the next three months trying to sway a 12-person jury impaneled to hearing the evidence in the&nbsp;case.

Holmes accused her former boyfriend Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, who was president of the blood-testing startup, of abusing her emotionally and psychologically in a relationship that spanned more than a decade.

This includes the period when the company claimed its technology could enable a wide array of medical tests with a few drops of blood.

In the court filings, Holmes' lawyers argued that the alleged "intimate partner abuse" was relevant to the question of whether she knew that financial information provided to investors and others was false.

Whatever be the result of the trial, Theranos will serve as a cautionary tale for the fast-paced world of startups and their often irrationally astronomical valuations across the world.

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, portrayed by her lawyers as a hard-working, young, and naive businesswoman whose company simply failed, is in the headlines yet again.

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, portrayed by her lawyers as a hard-working, young, and naive businesswoman whose company simply failed, is in the headlines yet again. The former Silicon Valley star's trial on federal fraud charges involving the now-defunct blood-testing startup, once valued at $9 billion, has started again after being postponed several times. Beginning of the end Theranos, a fallen unicorn company, was founded by Elizabeth Holmes, a Stanford University dropout in 2003 at the age of 19. The American corporation was touted as a breakthrough health tech company. It claimed of designing devices that will draw a drop of blood from a finger prick and could run a range of tests more quickly and accurately than conventional laboratory means. Holmes was a tech world celebrity whose multi-billion-dollar start-up looked set to revolutionise medical testing before it crashed and burned in a blaze of fraud claims. Also read | Prosecuters claim Theranos founder told 'grandiose' lies to cheat investors Sure-fire winner Political grandees like Henry Kissinger and James Mattis were drawn to the company's board; media mogul Rupert Murdoch invested his cash in what seemed to be a sure-fire winner. Holmes was hailed as a prodigy and lauded as a visionary for her extraordinary idea and was even compared to Steve Jobs. In picture: Theranos Founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes (L) speaks next to Alibaba Group Executive Chairman Jack Ma during the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York/AFP Youngest female billionaire She had become the world's youngest female billionaire due to the bogus claims and gamut analysis made by the company. At one point, she had a net worth estimated at $3.6 billion, according to Forbes magazine. In picture: Elizabeth Holmes , Managing Editor, Time Magazine; Nancy Gibbs and Diane von Furstenberg attend the Time 100 Gala celebrating the Time 100 issue of the Most Influential People at The World/AFP What went wrong? But years of hype, and billions of dollars later, those promises unspooled; the miracle machines did not work. Prosecutors say Holmes knew it, yet continued to lie to investors, doctors, and patients so she could raise more than $700 million. They have alleged that Holmes and Balwani (full name and designation) defrauded investors between 2010 and 2015 and deceived patients when the company began making its tests commercially available, including via a partnership with the Walgreens drugstore chain. The Wall Street Journal in 2015 reported that the Theranos devices were flawed and inaccurate, setting off a downward spiral for a company that had drawn investors including Murdoch and Oracle founder Larry Ellison. Patients who were victims of the faulty tests received misdiagnoses of cancer, HIV, or pregnancy. Famous topic for drama The saga has become the subject of documentaries, podcasts, and books. A TV miniseries and a Hollywood film based on Holmes' story are in the works. When the inaccuracies and shortcomings of the technology were exposed in a thorough investigation, Holmes was called a fallen biotech star and blamed for covering up the lies. The company was charged by the US Securities and Exchange Commission for committing an ''elaborate and years-long fraud.'' It was a warning against the "fake it till you make it" culture. And for biotech and healthcare start-ups, it's a shadow that's difficult to escape because of the constant comparisons in the public mind. Dueling portraits Prosecutors and defense attorneys sketched dueling portraits of fallen Silicon Valley star Elizabeth Holmes as her trial got underway Wednesday, alternatively describing her as a greedy villain who faked her way to the top and as a passionate underdog who spent years trying to shake up the health care industry. The two sides are now expected to spend the next three months trying to sway a 12-person jury impaneled to hearing the evidence in the case. Holmes accused her former boyfriend Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, who was president of the blood-testing startup, of abusing her emotionally and psychologically in a relationship that spanned more than a decade. This includes the period when the company claimed its technology could enable a wide array of medical tests with a few drops of blood. In the court filings, Holmes' lawyers argued that the alleged "intimate partner abuse" was relevant to the question of whether she knew that financial information provided to investors and others was false. Whatever be the result of the trial, Theranos will serve as a cautionary tale for the fast-paced world of startups and their often irrationally astronomical valuations across the world.

From visionary to fallen biotech star: The rise and fall of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes

Australian television and newspaper firm Seven West Media Ltd signed multi-year content deals with Facebook Inc and Google as tough new media laws enabled the industry to secure new revenue sources and adapt to the internet age.

The top-rating free-to-air broadcaster and publisher of Perth city's main metro daily said on Monday it would supply content for the Alphabet Inc unit's News Showcase platform for five years and to a similar Facebook product for three. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.

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The arrangements mean the US&nbsp;"Big Tech" platforms are now committed to paying two of&nbsp;Australia's three largest traditional news outlets for content, marking an about turn just two months after they had vowed to quit the country over laws forcing them to pay for the links that drive traffic to their websites.

"These partnerships have been made possible by the introduction of the Media Bargaining Code," said Seven CEO James Warburton in a statement, referring to the law which gives the government power to intervene if domestic media companies can't reach agreement with a large internet provider.

"They underpin our sustainability and enable us to continue to build our digital platform."

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, which owns about two-thirds of&nbsp;Australian newspapers, signed global deals with the platforms in the past two months.

Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd, which competes with Seven in free-to-air and publishes the Sydney Morning Herald and&nbsp;Australian Financial Review newspapers, has said it signed a Google deal but is yet to finalise arrangements with Facebook.

Many smaller&nbsp;Australian media outlets, including the state-owned&nbsp;Australian Broadcasting Corp, have signed deals with Google or said they are open to doing deals with Facebook, which blocked all third-party content in&nbsp;Australia&nbsp;for a week in February to protest the laws.

Separately, Google said it passed the milestone of having 100&nbsp;Australian news titles contracted to supply content for News Showcase with a deal with regional publisher Times News Group, owner of seven regional mastheads in the country's south.

(With inputs from agencies)

Australian television and newspaper firm Seven West Media Ltd signed multi-year content deals with Facebook Inc and Google as tough new media laws enabled the industry to secure new revenue sources and adapt to the internet age.

Australian television and newspaper firm Seven West Media Ltd signed multi-year content deals with Facebook Inc and Google as tough new media laws enabled the industry to secure new revenue sources and adapt to the internet age. The top-rating free-to-air broadcaster and publisher of Perth city's main metro daily said on Monday it would supply content for the Alphabet Inc unit's News Showcase platform for five years and to a similar Facebook product for three. Terms of the deals were not disclosed. The arrangements mean the US "Big Tech" platforms are now committed to paying two of Australia's three largest traditional news outlets for content, marking an about turn just two months after they had vowed to quit the country over laws forcing them to pay for the links that drive traffic to their websites. "These partnerships have been made possible by the introduction of the Media Bargaining Code," said Seven CEO James Warburton in a statement, referring to the law which gives the government power to intervene if domestic media companies can't reach agreement with a large internet provider. "They underpin our sustainability and enable us to continue to build our digital platform." Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, which owns about two-thirds of Australian newspapers, signed global deals with the platforms in the past two months. Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd, which competes with Seven in free-to-air and publishes the Sydney Morning Herald and Australian Financial Review newspapers, has said it signed a Google deal but is yet to finalise arrangements with Facebook. Many smaller Australian media outlets, including the state-owned Australian Broadcasting Corp, have signed deals with Google or said they are open to doing deals with Facebook, which blocked all third-party content in Australia for a week in February to protest the laws. Separately, Google said it passed the milestone of having 100 Australian news titles contracted to supply content for News Showcase with a deal with regional publisher Times News Group, owner of seven regional mastheads in the country's south. (With inputs from agencies)

After news law feud, Australia's Seven West Media signs Google, Facebook deals

Former 21st Century Fox chief executive James Murdoch, the son of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, has resigned from News Corp's board over certain editorial content published by the company's media outlets, the news publisher disclosed in a regulatory filing on Friday.

Former 21st Century Fox chief executive James Murdoch, the son of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, has resigned from News Corp's board over certain editorial content published by the company's media outlets, the news publisher disclosed in a regulatory filing on Friday. The 47-year-old once seen as his father's successor has been openly critical of some media coverage from publishing empire News Corp's outlets in recent months. While tendering the resignation, Murdoch also cited differences over certain strategic decisions of the company. Also read: Rupert Murdoch's son condemns Fox News and News Corp for coverage of climate change, Australian bushfire The departure of the son of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch would leave the News Corp board with 10 directors. News Corp owns the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, The Times and the Sun newspapers among others, but not Rupert Murdoch's Fox News network. Also read: Murdoch lead candidate to replace Elon Musk as Tesla chairman: Report The company in May had posted a $1 billion quarterly loss due to a writedown in the value of its Australian pay TV unit and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its businesses.

James Murdoch quits News Corp board over editorial differences

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/some-tesla-directors-proposed-james-murdoch-succeed-musk-chairman-report-169102">James Murdoch</a>, the son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch has denounced the coverage of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/climate-crisis-to-be-part-of-school-education-in-new-zealand-273868">climate crisis</a>, especially the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/smoke-plummetted-from-australian-bushfire-will-take-a-full-circuit-and-return-to-the-nation-nasa-274181">Australian bushfire</a> by his father's news outlet.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/smoke-plummetted-from-australian-bushfire-will-take-a-full-circuit-and-return-to-the-nation-nasa-274181">Satellite images reveal the extent of Australian bushfire damage</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/happy-birthday-rupert-murdoch-a-look-at-media-moguls-life-716">Rupert Murdoch</a> has stepped away from the family business last year.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/happy-birthday-rupert-murdoch-a-look-at-media-moguls-life-716">A look back at media mogul Rupert Murdoch's life</a>

James said that he is ''disappointed'' with the ''conservative bent of mind'' of his father's news outlets.

He considered them to be in ''denial'' specifically when the wildfire has had such a devastating impact on Australia.

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James and his wife Kathryn, an environmental advocate expressed their discontentment and frustration with Fox coverage and News Corp in particular.

The couple believes that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/oscar-winning-actor-geoffrey-rush-gets-record-defamation-payout-221250">News Corp</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/margot-robbie-joins-cast-of-fox-news-sex-abuse-scandal-156467">Fox News</a> tried to highlight arson as a major reason behind climate change to overshadow the obvious contradictory evidence.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://t.co/93WEswvZc0">https://t.co/93WEswvZc0</a>
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Interestingly, James is still on the board of News Corp.

However, he is not employed by his father's businesses and runs a private investment company.

The connection between fires and climate was termed as ''hysterical'' and ''silly'' by the Murdoch columnists.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/smoke-plummetted-from-australian-bushfire-will-take-a-full-circuit-and-return-to-the-nation-nasa-274181">Australian bushfire smoke will take a 'full circuit' and return to the nation: NASA</a>

Rupert Murdoch describes himself as a 'climate sceptic' and denies employing '<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/the-corrupt-pillars-of-climate-change-denial-265220">climate deniers</a>'.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/the-corrupt-pillars-of-climate-change-denial-265220">The corrupt pillars of climate change denial</a>

70 percent&nbsp;of newspaper circulation in Australia's major cities are owned by Murdoch owned titles.

James has previously criticized his father's news outlet as well but this is by far the strongest condemnation yet.

James Murdoch, the son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch has denounced the coverage of climate crisis, especially the Australian bushfire by his father's news outlet.

James Murdoch, the son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch has denounced the coverage of climate crisis, especially the Australian bushfire by his father's news outlet. Also see: Satellite images reveal the extent of Australian bushfire damage Rupert Murdoch has stepped away from the family business last year. Also see: A look back at media mogul Rupert Murdoch's life James said that he is ''disappointed'' with the ''conservative bent of mind'' of his father's news outlets. He considered them to be in ''denial'' specifically when the wildfire has had such a devastating impact on Australia. × James and his wife Kathryn, an environmental advocate expressed their discontentment and frustration with Fox coverage and News Corp in particular. The couple believes that News Corp and Fox News tried to highlight arson as a major reason behind climate change to overshadow the obvious contradictory evidence. https://t.co/93WEswvZc0 — Kathryn Murdoch (@KathrynAMurdoch) January 13, 2020 × Interestingly, James is still on the board of News Corp. However, he is not employed by his father's businesses and runs a private investment company. The connection between fires and climate was termed as ''hysterical'' and ''silly'' by the Murdoch columnists. Also read: Australian bushfire smoke will take a 'full circuit' and return to the nation: NASA Rupert Murdoch describes himself as a 'climate sceptic' and denies employing 'climate deniers'. Also read: The corrupt pillars of climate change denial 70 percent of newspaper circulation in Australia's major cities are owned by Murdoch owned titles. James has previously criticized his father's news outlet as well but this is by far the strongest condemnation yet.

Rupert Murdoch's son condemns Fox News and News Corp for coverage of climate change, Australian bushfire

Exit polls in Australia's climate-dominated election campaign pointed on Saturday to a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-voters-tipped-to-elect-labour-government-219514">win for Labor after six years of conservative rule</a>.

Between 16 and 17 million people were expected to vote across the vast island-continent in a bitterly fought election that may be the first anywhere decided by climate policy.

As the first polls closed, a Nine-Galaxy exit poll showed Bill Shorten's Labor beating the governing Liberal coalition 52-48, which would signal a clear parliamentary majority for the opposition. A second poll for Ten networks showed a similar margin of victory.

The polls are still open in the west of the country.

Casting his ballot in Melbourne, would-be prime minister Shorten was bullish about forming a majority government after a final poll before the vote showed his lead increasing.

"Today is the people's day," he said. "Be it buying a 'democracy sausage', the kids having a bit of a sugar cake or what have you, and voting," he added, referring to the tradition of serving grilled sausages on <a href="JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said on Saturday that OPEC will be responsive to the oil market's needs, but that he was not sure there is an oil shortage with data, particularly from the United States, still showing inventories building. Speaking in Jeddah ahead of a ministerial panel gathering on Sunday by top OPEC and non-OPEC producers, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, Falih told Reuters OPEC will not decide on output until late June when the group is due to meet. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia and other non-OPEC producers have agreed to reduce output by 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) from Jan. 1 for six months, a deal designed to stop inventories building up and weakening prices. &quot;We will be flexible. We are going to do the right thing as we always do,&quot; Falih said of any decision at the meeting in June on continuing the reductions. Falih said OPEC is guided by two main principles: &quot;One to keep the market in its direction towards balancing and inventories back to normal level. And two to be responsive to market needs. We will strike the right balance I am sure.&quot; OPEC's agreed share of the cuts is 800,000 bpd, but its actual reduction is far larger due to the production losses in Iran and Venezuela. Both are under U.S. sanctions and exempt from the voluntary reductions under the OPEC-led deal. U.S. President Donald Trump has called on OPEC and the group's de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, and asked them to lower oil prices. Riyadh, however, is reluctant to boost supply quickly and risk a price crash. Sunday's ministerial panel meeting, known as the JMMC, comes amid concerns of a tight market as Iran's oil exports are likely to drop further in May, and shipments from Venezuela could fall more in coming weeks due to the sanctions by Washington. [O/R] Oil contamination also forced Russia to halt flows along the Druzhba pipeline - a key conduit for crude into Eastern Europe and Germany - in April. The suspension, as yet">election day</a>.&nbsp;

"In the event that the people of Australia voted to stop the chaos and voted for action on climate change, we will be ready to hit the ground from tomorrow."

Weeks ago, Prime Minister Scott Morrison's conservative Liberals had been heading for an electoral drubbing.

But he has closed the gap with a negative campaign and backing from the country's biggest media organisation owned by Rupert Murdoch, mainly targeting older, wealthier voters who face fewer tax breaks under Labor.

After casting his vote in the Sydney suburbs, Morrison acknowledged the challenge his coalition faced, saying, "I don't take anyone's support in this country for granted."

"Australians know very well what it is we are saying in terms of keeping our economy strong, keeping our budget under control... keeping Australians safe and secure," he said, hitting the conservatives' key talking points against Labor.

But anger over his government's inaction on climate change may prove the real difference between the two parties.

Australia is one of the most vulnerable of all developed nations to climate change and a season of record floods, wildfires and droughts have brought the issue from the political fringes to front and centre of the campaign.

In traditionally more conservative rural areas, climate-hit farmers are demanding action. And in several rich suburbs, a generational shift has seen eco-minded candidates running Liberal party luminaries close.

In northern Sydney, former prime minister Tony Abbott -- who once described climate change as "crap" -- appears at risk of losing a seat he has held for more than two decades to independent challenger Zali Steggall, a lawyer and Olympic medallist in Alpine skiing.

Early rising voters in the constituency trickled into a beachside surf club to cast their ballots, as volunteers wearing bright orange "I'm a climate voter" t-shirts handed out pamphlets.

Shorten has pledged quick legislation to increase renewable energy, while the Liberals said they would not risk the coal-fuelled economy's health to make the air cleaner.

Australia is among the world's largest exporters of coal, providing thousands of jobs in the northeast of the country.

Candidates egged

The campaign has been an often ill-tempered pitched-battle. Candidates have been egged and abused, and a slew have resigned for racist, sexist and otherwise jaw-dropping social media posts.

In Abbott's battleground seat, a 62-year-old man was arrested and charged with thrusting a corkscrew into the stomach of someone putting up campaign banners on the eve of the election.

If Morrison wins, it would be a monumental comeback, having scraped for his political life in the hope of not entering the history books as one of the shortest-serving prime ministers in Australian history.

He took office last August after a party room coup by conservative hardliners that ousted moderate pro-climate leader Malcolm Turnbull -- the latest in a series of political fratricides that have made Canberra politics look like "Game of Thrones" meets "The Hunger Games".

Much of Morrison's cabinet has resigned or gone into virtual hiding during the campaign because of their unpopularity.

If Shorten is elected, he would become the sixth prime minister sworn into office in a decade.

The former union leader has struggled with low personal approval ratings but has become a more polished campaigner as the election has neared.

Still, his relative lack of charisma was underlined Thursday by the death of much-loved former prime minister Bob Hawke, an Oxford-educated lovable rogue, equally at home chugging a pint or debating Keynesian economics.

Voting in Australia is mandatory and due to a complex system where voters must rank all candidates in each electorate, officials said it could take hours after the polls close before the election outcome is known.

Exit polls in Australia's climate-dominated election campaign pointed on Saturday to a win for Labor after six years of conservative rule. Between 16 and 17 million people were expected to vote across the vast island-continent in a bitterly fought election that may be the first anywhere decided by climate policy.

Exit polls in Australia's climate-dominated election campaign pointed on Saturday to a win for Labor after six years of conservative rule. Between 16 and 17 million people were expected to vote across the vast island-continent in a bitterly fought election that may be the first anywhere decided by climate policy. As the first polls closed, a Nine-Galaxy exit poll showed Bill Shorten's Labor beating the governing Liberal coalition 52-48, which would signal a clear parliamentary majority for the opposition. A second poll for Ten networks showed a similar margin of victory. The polls are still open in the west of the country. Casting his ballot in Melbourne, would-be prime minister Shorten was bullish about forming a majority government after a final poll before the vote showed his lead increasing. "Today is the people's day," he said. "Be it buying a 'democracy sausage', the kids having a bit of a sugar cake or what have you, and voting," he added, referring to the tradition of serving grilled sausages on election day. "In the event that the people of Australia voted to stop the chaos and voted for action on climate change, we will be ready to hit the ground from tomorrow." Weeks ago, Prime Minister Scott Morrison's conservative Liberals had been heading for an electoral drubbing. But he has closed the gap with a negative campaign and backing from the country's biggest media organisation owned by Rupert Murdoch, mainly targeting older, wealthier voters who face fewer tax breaks under Labor. After casting his vote in the Sydney suburbs, Morrison acknowledged the challenge his coalition faced, saying, "I don't take anyone's support in this country for granted." "Australians know very well what it is we are saying in terms of keeping our economy strong, keeping our budget under control... keeping Australians safe and secure," he said, hitting the conservatives' key talking points against Labor. But anger over his government's inaction on climate change may prove the real difference between the two parties. Australia is one of the most vulnerable of all developed nations to climate change and a season of record floods, wildfires and droughts have brought the issue from the political fringes to front and centre of the campaign. In traditionally more conservative rural areas, climate-hit farmers are demanding action. And in several rich suburbs, a generational shift has seen eco-minded candidates running Liberal party luminaries close. In northern Sydney, former prime minister Tony Abbott -- who once described climate change as "crap" -- appears at risk of losing a seat he has held for more than two decades to independent challenger Zali Steggall, a lawyer and Olympic medallist in Alpine skiing. Early rising voters in the constituency trickled into a beachside surf club to cast their ballots, as volunteers wearing bright orange "I'm a climate voter" t-shirts handed out pamphlets. Shorten has pledged quick legislation to increase renewable energy, while the Liberals said they would not risk the coal-fuelled economy's health to make the air cleaner. Australia is among the world's largest exporters of coal, providing thousands of jobs in the northeast of the country. Candidates egged The campaign has been an often ill-tempered pitched-battle. Candidates have been egged and abused, and a slew have resigned for racist, sexist and otherwise jaw-dropping social media posts. In Abbott's battleground seat, a 62-year-old man was arrested and charged with thrusting a corkscrew into the stomach of someone putting up campaign banners on the eve of the election. If Morrison wins, it would be a monumental comeback, having scraped for his political life in the hope of not entering the history books as one of the shortest-serving prime ministers in Australian history. He took office last August after a party room coup by conservative hardliners that ousted moderate pro-climate leader Malcolm Turnbull -- the latest in a series of political fratricides that have made Canberra politics look like "Game of Thrones" meets "The Hunger Games". Much of Morrison's cabinet has resigned or gone into virtual hiding during the campaign because of their unpopularity. If Shorten is elected, he would become the sixth prime minister sworn into office in a decade. The former union leader has struggled with low personal approval ratings but has become a more polished campaigner as the election has neared. Still, his relative lack of charisma was underlined Thursday by the death of much-loved former prime minister Bob Hawke, an Oxford-educated lovable rogue, equally at home chugging a pint or debating Keynesian economics. Voting in Australia is mandatory and due to a complex system where voters must rank all candidates in each electorate, officials said it could take hours after the polls close before the election outcome is known.

Exit polls tip Labor Party to win Australia election

Disney's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/ahead-of-disneys-streaming-platform-launch-netflix-drops-marvels-daredevil-180413">video streaming service </a>will launch in the US in November, spotlighting its blockbuster-making studios as it takes on powerhouse Netflix.

Disney said that after launching in the US on November 12 at a starting price of $6.99 monthly, Disney+ will gradually expand internationally with a start in Europe.

Disney's service will offer its films and TV shows, along with the library it acquired from Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox. That includes the "Star Wars" and Marvel superhero franchises and ABC television content.

Details about Disney+ were shared by executives at an annual investor day, where chief executive Bob Iger said the streaming service would combine strengths of Disney and the assets acquired from Fox.

"The Disney+ platform is being built on that foundation; one that no other content or technology company can rival," Iger said.

"We knew the best approach to the market was to create great content and distribute it in innovative ways. It is that simple."

Disney+ will combine offerings from powerhouse brands including Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars with content from Hulu and sports network ESPN.

Disney stressed plans to use its coveted content, and original creations to come, to differentiate itself in the increasingly competitive streaming television market.

"I strongly believe Disney will not become a threat to Netflix whatsoever," said an analyst and Transpire Ventures partner John Meyer.

"Netflix now knows what people want more than anybody."

Some of the biggest names in media and tech world are gearing up to move into streaming, in what could be a major challenge to market leader Netflix.

With Hollywood stars galore, Apple last month unveiled its streaming video plans along with news and game subscription offerings as part of an effort to shift its focus to digital content and services to break free of its reliance on iPhone sales.

The Apple TV+ service, an on-demand, ad-free subscription service, will launch this year in 100 countries, the company said.

"We believe deeply in the power of creativity," Apple chief executive Tim Cook said.

"Great stories can change the world. We feel we can contribute something important to our culture and to our society through great storytelling."

This year is expected to see the launch of a streaming television service from WarnerMedia, the newly acquired media-entertainment division of AT&amp;T.

The new entrants, with more expected, could launch a formidable challenge to Netflix, which has some 140 million paid subscribers in 190 markets, and to other services such as Amazon and Hulu.

Netflix is likely to feel pain, not only from the new rivals, but also from the loss of content from the big libraries of Disney and Time Warner.

Disney's video streaming service will launch in the US in November, spotlighting its blockbuster-making studios as it takes on powerhouse Netflix. Disney said that after launching in the US on November 12 at a starting price of $6.

Disney's video streaming service will launch in the US in November, spotlighting its blockbuster-making studios as it takes on powerhouse Netflix. Disney said that after launching in the US on November 12 at a starting price of $6.99 monthly, Disney+ will gradually expand internationally with a start in Europe. Disney's service will offer its films and TV shows, along with the library it acquired from Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox. That includes the "Star Wars" and Marvel superhero franchises and ABC television content. Details about Disney+ were shared by executives at an annual investor day, where chief executive Bob Iger said the streaming service would combine strengths of Disney and the assets acquired from Fox. "The Disney+ platform is being built on that foundation; one that no other content or technology company can rival," Iger said. "We knew the best approach to the market was to create great content and distribute it in innovative ways. It is that simple." Disney+ will combine offerings from powerhouse brands including Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars with content from Hulu and sports network ESPN. Disney stressed plans to use its coveted content, and original creations to come, to differentiate itself in the increasingly competitive streaming television market. "I strongly believe Disney will not become a threat to Netflix whatsoever," said an analyst and Transpire Ventures partner John Meyer. "Netflix now knows what people want more than anybody." Some of the biggest names in media and tech world are gearing up to move into streaming, in what could be a major challenge to market leader Netflix. With Hollywood stars galore, Apple last month unveiled its streaming video plans along with news and game subscription offerings as part of an effort to shift its focus to digital content and services to break free of its reliance on iPhone sales. The Apple TV+ service, an on-demand, ad-free subscription service, will launch this year in 100 countries, the company said. "We believe deeply in the power of creativity," Apple chief executive Tim Cook said. "Great stories can change the world. We feel we can contribute something important to our culture and to our society through great storytelling." This year is expected to see the launch of a streaming television service from WarnerMedia, the newly acquired media-entertainment division of AT&T. The new entrants, with more expected, could launch a formidable challenge to Netflix, which has some 140 million paid subscribers in 190 markets, and to other services such as Amazon and Hulu. Netflix is likely to feel pain, not only from the new rivals, but also from the loss of content from the big libraries of Disney and Time Warner.

Disney+ streaming service sets November launch

British Prime Minister<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/may-leaves-brexit-summit-with-more-time-less-respect-205389"> Theresa May was under pressure </a>on Monday to give a date for leaving office as the price to bring Brexit-supporting rebel lawmakers in her party behind her twice-defeated European Union divorce treaty.

At one of the most important junctures for the country in at least a generation, British politics was at fever pitch and, nearly three years since the 2016 EU membership referendum, it was still unclear how, when or if Brexit will ever take place.

With May humiliated and weakened, ministers lined up to insist she was still in charge and to deny a reported plot to demand she name a date to leave office at a cabinet meeting at 1000 GMT on Monday.

"Time's up, Theresa," Rupert Murdoch's Sun newspaper said in a front-page editorial. It said her one chance of getting the deal approved by parliament was to name a date for her departure.

"I hope that the cabinet will tell the prime minister the game is up," Andrew Bridgen, a Conservative lawmaker who supports Brexit, told Sky News.

"The prime minister does not have the confidence of the parliamentary party. She clearly doesn't have the confidence of the cabinet and she certainly doesn't have the confidence of our members out there in the country," he said.

Ministers will discuss at 0900 GMT how to address parliament's attempts to take control of Brexit before a meeting of May's cabinet team, a government source said.

The United Kingdom, which voted 52-48 per cent to leave the EU in the referendum, remains deeply divided over Brexit.

Just 24 hours after hundreds of thousands of people marched through London on Saturday to demand another referendum, May called rebel lawmakers to her Chequers residence on Sunday in an attempt to find a way to break the deadlock.

"The meeting discussed a range of issues, including whether there is sufficient support in the Commons to bring back a meaningful vote (for her deal) this week," a spokesman for May's Downing Street office said.

Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Steve Baker attended along with ministers David Lidington and Michael Gove who had been reportedly lined up as caretaker prime ministers. They were forced on Sunday to deny they wanted May's job.

Mayday?

May was told by Brexiteers at the meeting she must set out a timetable to leave office if she wants to get her deal ratified, Buzzfeed reporter Alex Wickham said on Twitter.

May told the lawmakers she would quit if they voted for her twice-defeated European Union divorce deal, ITV news said.

The Sun's political editor, Tom Newton Dunn, said some ministers were urging May to pivot to a no-deal Brexit as the only way to survive in power.

The deal May negotiated with the EU was defeated in parliament by 149 votes on March 12 and by 230 votes on Jan. 15.

To get it passed, she must win over at least 75 MPs - dozens of rebels in her Conservative Party, some opposition Labour Party MPs and the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up her minority government.

The Sunday Times reported 11 unidentified ministers agreed May should stand down, warning she has become a toxic and erratic figure whose judgment has "gone haywire".

Brexit had been due to happen on March 29 before May secured a delay in talks with the EU. Now a departure date of May 22 will apply if parliament passes May's deal. If she fails, Britain will have until April 12 to offer a new plan or decide to leave without a treaty to smooth the transition and avoid an economic shock.

Lawmakers are due on Monday to debate the government's next steps on Brexit, including the delayed exit date. They have proposed changes, or amendments, including one which seeks to wrest control of the process from the government in order to hold votes on alternative ways forward.

Amendments are not legally binding, but do exert political pressure on May to change course.

British Prime Minister Theresa May was under pressure on Monday to give a date for leaving office as the price to bring Brexit-supporting rebel lawmakers in her party behind her twice-defeated European Union divorce treaty.

British Prime Minister Theresa May was under pressure on Monday to give a date for leaving office as the price to bring Brexit-supporting rebel lawmakers in her party behind her twice-defeated European Union divorce treaty. At one of the most important junctures for the country in at least a generation, British politics was at fever pitch and, nearly three years since the 2016 EU membership referendum, it was still unclear how, when or if Brexit will ever take place. With May humiliated and weakened, ministers lined up to insist she was still in charge and to deny a reported plot to demand she name a date to leave office at a cabinet meeting at 1000 GMT on Monday. "Time's up, Theresa," Rupert Murdoch's Sun newspaper said in a front-page editorial. It said her one chance of getting the deal approved by parliament was to name a date for her departure. "I hope that the cabinet will tell the prime minister the game is up," Andrew Bridgen, a Conservative lawmaker who supports Brexit, told Sky News. "The prime minister does not have the confidence of the parliamentary party. She clearly doesn't have the confidence of the cabinet and she certainly doesn't have the confidence of our members out there in the country," he said. Ministers will discuss at 0900 GMT how to address parliament's attempts to take control of Brexit before a meeting of May's cabinet team, a government source said. The United Kingdom, which voted 52-48 per cent to leave the EU in the referendum, remains deeply divided over Brexit. Just 24 hours after hundreds of thousands of people marched through London on Saturday to demand another referendum, May called rebel lawmakers to her Chequers residence on Sunday in an attempt to find a way to break the deadlock. "The meeting discussed a range of issues, including whether there is sufficient support in the Commons to bring back a meaningful vote (for her deal) this week," a spokesman for May's Downing Street office said. Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Steve Baker attended along with ministers David Lidington and Michael Gove who had been reportedly lined up as caretaker prime ministers. They were forced on Sunday to deny they wanted May's job. Mayday? May was told by Brexiteers at the meeting she must set out a timetable to leave office if she wants to get her deal ratified, Buzzfeed reporter Alex Wickham said on Twitter. May told the lawmakers she would quit if they voted for her twice-defeated European Union divorce deal, ITV news said. The Sun's political editor, Tom Newton Dunn, said some ministers were urging May to pivot to a no-deal Brexit as the only way to survive in power. The deal May negotiated with the EU was defeated in parliament by 149 votes on March 12 and by 230 votes on Jan. 15. To get it passed, she must win over at least 75 MPs - dozens of rebels in her Conservative Party, some opposition Labour Party MPs and the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up her minority government. The Sunday Times reported 11 unidentified ministers agreed May should stand down, warning she has become a toxic and erratic figure whose judgment has "gone haywire". Brexit had been due to happen on March 29 before May secured a delay in talks with the EU. Now a departure date of May 22 will apply if parliament passes May's deal. If she fails, Britain will have until April 12 to offer a new plan or decide to leave without a treaty to smooth the transition and avoid an economic shock. Lawmakers are due on Monday to debate the government's next steps on Brexit, including the delayed exit date. They have proposed changes, or amendments, including one which seeks to wrest control of the process from the government in order to hold votes on alternative ways forward. Amendments are not legally binding, but do exert political pressure on May to change course.

UK PM Theresa May urged to set her own exit date to get Brexit deal: Report

In pics: World's costliest divorces of all time

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, 47, in a tweet said: "This is incorrect," while replying to a report which claimed Twenty-First Century Fox Inc Chief Executive James Murdoch was inline to replace him as the company's chairman.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/murdoch-lead-candidate-to-replace-elon-musk-as-tesla-chairman-report-170790">Also Read:&nbsp;Murdoch lead candidate to replace Elon Musk as Tesla chairman</a>

Telsa has been looking for chairman after the board decided Musk was no longer capable of holding the post over his controversial tweet in which he declared that he was &nbsp;considering taking Tesla private at &nbsp;price of $420 a share which led the Tesla stocks to shoot up immediately, Musk later denied he was going to do it.

Musk's tweet had led to an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) which declared it fraudulent, allowing the Tesla chief to stay as CEO but not as chairman.

On Thursday, Musk replied to the Financial Times story on its Twitter handle denying James Murdoch was set to take over the job being the lead candidate. Rupert Murdoch, son of media mogul Ruper Mogul, had joined Tesla's board last year.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
This is incorrect
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1050164164805545984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Murdoch is currently on the boards of Twenty-First Century Fox and News Corp. He was appointed CEO of Sky, founded by his father, in 2003, becoming the youngest CEO of a FTSE 100 company. He returned to Sky's board in 2016 after stepping down over the phone-hacking scandal in 2012 after rebuilding his career at Fox.

Tesla has until November 13th to appoint an independent chairman of the board which is part of a settlement reached last month between Tesla, Musk and US regulators.

Meanwhile, shareholder T. Rowe Price Group Inc said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday that it had raised its stake to 10.2 per cent at the end of September from just under 7 per cent in June.

Under terms of the SEC settlement, Musk is not permitted to be re-elected to the chairman's post for three years. Tesla is also required to appoint two new independent directors to its board. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, 47, in a tweet said: "This is incorrect," while replying to a report which claimed Twenty-First Century Fox Inc Chief Executive James Murdoch was inline to replace him as the company's chairman.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, 47, in a tweet said: "This is incorrect," while replying to a report which claimed Twenty-First Century Fox Inc Chief Executive James Murdoch was inline to replace him as the company's chairman. Also Read: Murdoch lead candidate to replace Elon Musk as Tesla chairman Telsa has been looking for chairman after the board decided Musk was no longer capable of holding the post over his controversial tweet in which he declared that he was considering taking Tesla private at price of $420 a share which led the Tesla stocks to shoot up immediately, Musk later denied he was going to do it. Musk's tweet had led to an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) which declared it fraudulent, allowing the Tesla chief to stay as CEO but not as chairman. On Thursday, Musk replied to the Financial Times story on its Twitter handle denying James Murdoch was set to take over the job being the lead candidate. Rupert Murdoch, son of media mogul Ruper Mogul, had joined Tesla's board last year. This is incorrect — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 10, 2018 × Murdoch is currently on the boards of Twenty-First Century Fox and News Corp. He was appointed CEO of Sky, founded by his father, in 2003, becoming the youngest CEO of a FTSE 100 company. He returned to Sky's board in 2016 after stepping down over the phone-hacking scandal in 2012 after rebuilding his career at Fox. Tesla has until November 13th to appoint an independent chairman of the board which is part of a settlement reached last month between Tesla, Musk and US regulators. Meanwhile, shareholder T. Rowe Price Group Inc said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday that it had raised its stake to 10.2 per cent at the end of September from just under 7 per cent in June. Under terms of the SEC settlement, Musk is not permitted to be re-elected to the chairman's post for three years. Tesla is also required to appoint two new independent directors to its board.

This is incorrect, tweets Musk on James Murdoch as lead candidate to become Tesla chairman

&nbsp;Veteran actor Malcolm McDowell has been roped in to play News Corp Chairman Rupert Murdoch in Annapurna Pictures` upcoming Roger Ailes film.

&nbsp;According to Variety, McDowell joins a cast of A-list talent that includes Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, who will play Megyn Kelly, Gretchen Carlson and an associate producer, respectively.

The drama is based on the disgraced former Fox News chief (to be played by John Lithgow) and is about the women of the media company, who took a stand against the network`s toxic male culture and its late chairman, Roger Ailes.

The yet-untitled film, which was written by `The Big Short` scribe Charles Randolph, will be directed by Jay Roach.&nbsp;

Veteran actor Malcolm McDowell has been roped in to play News Corp Chairman Rupert Murdoch in Annapurna Pictures` upcoming Roger Ailes film. According to Variety, McDowell joins a cast of A-list talent that includes Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, who will play Megyn Kelly, Gretchen Carlson and an associate producer, respectively.

Veteran actor Malcolm McDowell has been roped in to play News Corp Chairman Rupert Murdoch in Annapurna Pictures` upcoming Roger Ailes film. According to Variety, McDowell joins a cast of A-list talent that includes Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, who will play Megyn Kelly, Gretchen Carlson and an associate producer, respectively. The drama is based on the disgraced former Fox News chief (to be played by John Lithgow) and is about the women of the media company, who took a stand against the network`s toxic male culture and its late chairman, Roger Ailes. The yet-untitled film, which was written by `The Big Short` scribe Charles Randolph, will be directed by Jay Roach.

Malcom McDowell to play Rupert Murdoch in upcoming Roger Ailes film

Twenty First Century Fox said on Wednesday Executive Chairman Lachlan Murdoch will serve as chairman and CEO of the proposed new Fox, following the sale of its film and TV assets to Walt Disney Co.

Rupert Murdoch will serve as co-chairman of the new Fox, and John Nallen, Fox's current chief financial officer, will assume the role of chief operating officer, the company said.

John Nallen, Fox's current chief financial officer, will assume the role of chief operating officer, the company said.

Twenty First Century Fox said on Wednesday Executive Chairman Lachlan Murdoch will serve as chairman and CEO of the proposed new Fox, following the sale of its film and TV assets to Walt Disney Co. Rupert Murdoch will serve as co-chairman of the new Fox, and John Nallen, Fox's current chief financial officer, will assume the role of chief operating officer, the company said.

Ruper Murdoch's son Lachlan to be CEO of new Fox

Amid efforts by the Facebook&nbsp;to fight misinformation on its platform, media mogul Rupert Murdoch recently called on the social media giant to pay &quot;trusted&quot; news publishers a carriage fee, similar to the model used by cable companies,&nbsp;

&quot;Facebook and Google have popularized scurrilous news sources through algorithms that are profitable for these platforms but inherently unreliable,&quot; Murdoch, who controls the Wall Street Journal as executive chairman of News Corp, said in a statement.

Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said on Friday his company would fight misinformation and sensationalism on its platform by using member surveys to identify &quot;trustworthy&quot; outlets.

&quot;There has been much discussion about subscription models but I have yet to see a proposal that truly recognises the investment in and the social value of professional journalism,&quot; Murdoch said.

The quality of news on Facebook has been called into question after alleged Russian operatives and spammers spread false reports on the site, including during the 2016 US&nbsp;election campaign.

Facebook and Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said on Friday his company would fight misinformation and sensationalism on its platform by using member surveys to identify "trustworthy" outlets.

Amid efforts by the Facebook to fight misinformation on its platform, media mogul Rupert Murdoch recently called on the social media giant to pay "trusted" news publishers a carriage fee, similar to the model used by cable companies, "Facebook and Google have popularized scurrilous news sources through algorithms that are profitable for these platforms but inherently unreliable," Murdoch, who controls the Wall Street Journal as executive chairman of News Corp, said in a statement. Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said on Friday his company would fight misinformation and sensationalism on its platform by using member surveys to identify "trustworthy" outlets. "There has been much discussion about subscription models but I have yet to see a proposal that truly recognises the investment in and the social value of professional journalism," Murdoch said. The quality of news on Facebook has been called into question after alleged Russian operatives and spammers spread false reports on the site, including during the 2016 US election campaign. Facebook and Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Facebook should pay 'trusted' news publishers carriage fee: Murdoch

21st Century Fox said Thursday that Sky had agreed to a takeover offer worth $14.8 billion as tycoon Rupert Murdoch bids to create a global media giant.&nbsp;

Murdoch&#39;s Fox group said in a statement &quot;that it has reached agreement with Sky plc on the terms of a recommended pre-conditional cash offer&quot; to buy the rest of the European pay broadcaster, beyond the 39 percent it already owns.&nbsp;

The deal is worth &pound;10.75 ($13.40)&nbsp;per Sky share, or $14.8 billion (14.2 billion euros ) in total for the cash purchase, the statement said.

&quot;As the founding shareholder of Sky, we are proud to have participated in its growth and development,&quot; 21st Century Fox said in its statement.

&quot;The enhanced capabilities of the combined company will be underpinned by a more geographically diverse and stable revenue base,&quot; the company said.

&quot;It will also create an improved balance between subscription, affiliate fee, advertising and content revenues. This combination creates an agile organization that is equipped to better succeed in a global market.&quot;

21st Century Fox is one of the world&#39;s largest entertainment companies, with a vast portfolio of cable, broadcast, film, pay TV and satellite assets across six continents.

Its broadcasting and cable properties include including FOX, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, National Geographic Channels, STAR India, 28 television stations in the United States and more than 300 international channels.

(AFP)

The acquisition is another step for Fox owner Rupert Murdoch in his pursuit to build a global media giant

21st Century Fox said Thursday that Sky had agreed to a takeover offer worth $14.8 billion as tycoon Rupert Murdoch bids to create a global media giant. Murdoch's Fox group said in a statement "that it has reached agreement with Sky plc on the terms of a recommended pre-conditional cash offer" to buy the rest of the European pay broadcaster, beyond the 39 percent it already owns. The deal is worth £10.75 ($13.40) per Sky share, or $14.8 billion (14.2 billion euros ) in total for the cash purchase, the statement said. "As the founding shareholder of Sky, we are proud to have participated in its growth and development," 21st Century Fox said in its statement. "The enhanced capabilities of the combined company will be underpinned by a more geographically diverse and stable revenue base," the company said. "It will also create an improved balance between subscription, affiliate fee, advertising and content revenues. This combination creates an agile organization that is equipped to better succeed in a global market." 21st Century Fox is one of the world's largest entertainment companies, with a vast portfolio of cable, broadcast, film, pay TV and satellite assets across six continents. Its broadcasting and cable properties include including FOX, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, National Geographic Channels, STAR India, 28 television stations in the United States and more than 300 international channels. (AFP)

21st Century Fox announces $14.8 bn deal to take over Sky

Rupert Murdoch&#39;s Twenty-First Century Fox Inc.&nbsp;has proposed buying the 61 per cent of British pay-TV firm Sky Plc&nbsp;it does not already own for around $14 billion, five years after a political scandal scuppered a previous bid.

The plan is conditionally backed by Sky&#39;s independent directors and would strengthen the position of James Murdoch - who is both chief executive of Fox and chairman of Sky - in his 85-year-old father&#39;s media empire.

People familiar with the matter said the Murdochs had pounced after Britain&#39;s vote to leave the European Union in June has sent the pound down about 14 per cent against the US&nbsp;dollar and Sky&#39;s share price tumbling.

Owning Sky would give Fox, whose cable networks include Fox News and FX, control of a pay-TV network spanning 22 million households in Britain, Ireland, Austria, Germany and Italy.

Marrying distribution with content is becoming increasingly important in a competitive media industry. Earlier this year, AT&amp;T announced an $85.4 billion deal to buy Time Warner.

Rupert Murdoch&#39;s previous attempt to buy Sky provoked uproar from some British politicians, who said it would give the billionaire owner of The Sun and The Times newspapers too much control of the country&#39;s media.

That bid collapsed in 2011 when Murdoch&#39;s News Corp newspaper business was engulfed in a phone hacking scandal that intensified political opposition, led to a criminal trial, and to the closure of his News of the World tabloid.

Liberum analysts said Friday&#39;s proposal was likely to have an easier ride, partly because News Corp has now separated from Fox, which means the bidding firm no longer owns UK newspapers.

They also said the British government was keen to promote investment in the wake of the country&#39;s vote to leave the European Union and could present the deal as a sign of confidence in the economy.

James tightens grip

Fox&#39;s proposal of 10.75 pounds per share in cash is a 36.2 per cent premium to Sky&#39;s closing price on Thursday. It values the company at about 18.5 billion pounds ($23.2 billion) and the stake Fox does not already own at 11.25 billion pounds, according to Reuters calculations.

Sky&#39;s shares closed up 26.7 per cent at 10.35 pounds, while Fox&#39;s were down 2.9 per cent at $27.80 at 1800 GMT.

Before Friday&#39;s surge, Sky&#39;s shares had dropped 30 per cent this year in part due to concerns of an UK economic slowdown caused by Brexit.

The deal has also been made more attractive for the Murdochs by a drop in the value of sterling, which makes it cheaper for foreign companies to buy UK assets.

Long tipped as his father&#39;s successor, James Murdoch&#39;s reappointment as chairman of Sky earlier this year reignited speculation of another bid approach by Fox.

James had previously led Sky as chief executive and then chairman, helping to build it into Europe&#39;s biggest pay-TV company, before quitting during the phone hacking scandal.

Britain&#39;s takeover watchdog has set Fox a deadline of Jan. 6 to make a firm bid or walk away.

(Reuters)

Fox has proposed buying 61% of Sky Plc, five years after a political scandal scuppered a previous bid

Rupert Murdoch's Twenty-First Century Fox Inc. has proposed buying the 61 per cent of British pay-TV firm Sky Plc it does not already own for around $14 billion, five years after a political scandal scuppered a previous bid. The plan is conditionally backed by Sky's independent directors and would strengthen the position of James Murdoch - who is both chief executive of Fox and chairman of Sky - in his 85-year-old father's media empire. People familiar with the matter said the Murdochs had pounced after Britain's vote to leave the European Union in June has sent the pound down about 14 per cent against the US dollar and Sky's share price tumbling. Owning Sky would give Fox, whose cable networks include Fox News and FX, control of a pay-TV network spanning 22 million households in Britain, Ireland, Austria, Germany and Italy. Marrying distribution with content is becoming increasingly important in a competitive media industry. Earlier this year, AT&T announced an $85.4 billion deal to buy Time Warner. Rupert Murdoch's previous attempt to buy Sky provoked uproar from some British politicians, who said it would give the billionaire owner of The Sun and The Times newspapers too much control of the country's media. That bid collapsed in 2011 when Murdoch's News Corp newspaper business was engulfed in a phone hacking scandal that intensified political opposition, led to a criminal trial, and to the closure of his News of the World tabloid. Liberum analysts said Friday's proposal was likely to have an easier ride, partly because News Corp has now separated from Fox, which means the bidding firm no longer owns UK newspapers. They also said the British government was keen to promote investment in the wake of the country's vote to leave the European Union and could present the deal as a sign of confidence in the economy. James tightens grip Fox's proposal of 10.75 pounds per share in cash is a 36.2 per cent premium to Sky's closing price on Thursday. It values the company at about 18.5 billion pounds ($23.2 billion) and the stake Fox does not already own at 11.25 billion pounds, according to Reuters calculations. Sky's shares closed up 26.7 per cent at 10.35 pounds, while Fox's were down 2.9 per cent at $27.80 at 1800 GMT. Before Friday's surge, Sky's shares had dropped 30 per cent this year in part due to concerns of an UK economic slowdown caused by Brexit. The deal has also been made more attractive for the Murdochs by a drop in the value of sterling, which makes it cheaper for foreign companies to buy UK assets. Long tipped as his father's successor, James Murdoch's reappointment as chairman of Sky earlier this year reignited speculation of another bid approach by Fox. James had previously led Sky as chief executive and then chairman, helping to build it into Europe's biggest pay-TV company, before quitting during the phone hacking scandal. Britain's takeover watchdog has set Fox a deadline of Jan. 6 to make a firm bid or walk away. (Reuters)

Rupert Murdoch's Fox bids $14 billion for UK's Sky

Roger Ailes on Thursday resigned as chairman and chief executive of Fox News Channel following allegations of sexual harassment, an abrupt end to his 20-year rein over America&#39;s most lucrative and powerful cable news channel for conservatives.&nbsp; 
 
Rupert Murdoch, 85, the executive chairman of Twenty-First Century Fox Inc, the parent of Fox News, will assume the role of CEO Fox News and Fox Business Network on an interim basis, the company said on Thursday. 
 
Ailes, who will serve as an informal adviser to Rupert Murdoch and no longer have an official role at the company, will receive a severance package of about $40 million, according to a source familiar with the situation, who asked to remain anonymous. 
 
In his resignation letter to Murdoch, Ailes did not indicate he had done anything wrong. 
 
&quot;I take particular pride in the role that I have played advancing the careers of the many women I have promoted to executive and on-air positions,&quot; Ailes wrote in the letter, which his lawyer Susan Estrich provided to Reuters. 
 
However, he added: &quot;I will not allow my presence to become a distraction from the work that must be done every day to ensure that Fox News and Fox Business continue to lead our industry.&quot; 
 
The resignation marks a swift downfall for Ailes, the 76-year-old media executive who advised several US Republican presidents, including George HW Bush, and turned Fox News into the most-watched US cable news channel. 
 
His departure comes on the final and biggest night of the Republican National Convention where Donald Trump will formally accept the Republican presidential nomination.&nbsp; 
 
Trump tweeted on Thursday, &ldquo;Roger Ailes just called. He is a great guy &amp; assures me that &#39;Trump&#39; will be treated fairly on @FoxNews. His word is always good!&rdquo; 
 
Former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson sued Ailes earlier this month claiming sexual harassment. Ailes has denied the charges. Fox hired a law firm to conduct an internal investigation.&nbsp; 
 
New York magazine followed up with reports of other women who said they had been harassed by Ailes. On Tuesday, the magazine said that popular Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly had told investigators hired by Fox that Ailes &quot;made unwanted sexual advances toward her&quot; about 10 years ago. 
 
Ailes, who founded the cable channel in 1996, did not sexually harass Kelly, according to a statement attributed to his lawyer in the New York Times on Tuesday.&nbsp; 
 
The resignation comes as Fox News, known for a line-up of politically conservative commentators, including best-selling author Bill O&#39;Reilly, is drawing record viewership. The network is the most-watched channel in all of basic cable television this year with an average of 2.2 million prime-time viewers, according to Nielsen data through June. 
 
Challenges ahead 
 
Whoever replaces Ailes faces the twin challenges of retaining Fox News&#39; established on-air stars such as O&#39;Reilly and Kelly, while making the network attractive to younger viewers, a demographic it has consistently missed. 
 
O&#39;Reilly and Kelly&#39;s contracts are up in 2017, and stars, including Greta Van Susteren and Sean Hannity, all have clauses in their contracts that allow them to leave the network if Ailes departs, according to media reports. 
 
New management will also have to win over the many Ailes loyalists left in the rank. 
 
&quot;Roger Ailes is the best boss I have ever had. I admire him professionally,&quot; Fox News anchor Chris Wallace said in an email. &quot;And I love him personally. I am heartbroken he is gone.&quot; 
 
Murdoch, who built his father&#39;s Australian newspaper business into one of the world&#39;s most powerful news and entertainment conglomerates, has always been fiercely loyal to Ailes, and cut his vacation short in the French Riviera with his wife Jerry Hall to handle the resignation. 
 
While the choice of Murdoch makes sense in terms of &ldquo;creating a holding pattern for programming and talent,&rdquo; Fox would be wise to work quickly to find a new CEO, said Merrill Brown, a former media executive who helped launch MSNBC. &ldquo;It is a good choice if its length is measured in weeks.&quot; 
 
Ailes&#39; long experience as both a television producer and a Republican strategist helped him to formulate a winning strategy: hire charismatic talent to appeal to a conservative audience. 
 
&ldquo;Roger Ailes has made a remarkable contribution to our company and our country,&quot; Murdoch said in a statement. &quot;Roger shared my vision of a great and independent television organisation and executed it brilliantly over 20 great years.&quot; 
 
Critics said Ailes pushed a Republican agenda under the oft-repeated slogan &quot;Fair and Balanced.&quot; His fans said he smartly recognised that conservative TV viewers were not seeing their viewpoints reflected on Time Warner Inc&#39;s CNN or major broadcast networks. Fox News Channel went on the air in 1996, just before Bill Clinton was elected to a second term as president, with Ailes as founding CEO. 
 
While Ailes&#39; departure may not come at an ideal time for Fox News, the momentum of record ratings amid the most sensational US presidential election in decades may give the cable network some breathing room to recover, media buyers and Wall Street analysts have told Reuters. And some of them say this could be an opportunity for Fox News, whose median age of viewers is over 65, to focus on getting younger fans. 
 
(Reuters)

Roger Ailes will serve as an informal adviser to Rupert Murdoch and will receive a severance package of about $40 million

Roger Ailes on Thursday resigned as chairman and chief executive of Fox News Channel following allegations of sexual harassment, an abrupt end to his 20-year rein over America's most lucrative and powerful cable news channel for conservatives. Rupert Murdoch, 85, the executive chairman of Twenty-First Century Fox Inc, the parent of Fox News, will assume the role of CEO Fox News and Fox Business Network on an interim basis, the company said on Thursday. Ailes, who will serve as an informal adviser to Rupert Murdoch and no longer have an official role at the company, will receive a severance package of about $40 million, according to a source familiar with the situation, who asked to remain anonymous. In his resignation letter to Murdoch, Ailes did not indicate he had done anything wrong. "I take particular pride in the role that I have played advancing the careers of the many women I have promoted to executive and on-air positions," Ailes wrote in the letter, which his lawyer Susan Estrich provided to Reuters. However, he added: "I will not allow my presence to become a distraction from the work that must be done every day to ensure that Fox News and Fox Business continue to lead our industry." The resignation marks a swift downfall for Ailes, the 76-year-old media executive who advised several US Republican presidents, including George HW Bush, and turned Fox News into the most-watched US cable news channel. His departure comes on the final and biggest night of the Republican National Convention where Donald Trump will formally accept the Republican presidential nomination. Trump tweeted on Thursday, “Roger Ailes just called. He is a great guy & assures me that 'Trump' will be treated fairly on @FoxNews. His word is always good!” Former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson sued Ailes earlier this month claiming sexual harassment. Ailes has denied the charges. Fox hired a law firm to conduct an internal investigation. New York magazine followed up with reports of other women who said they had been harassed by Ailes. On Tuesday, the magazine said that popular Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly had told investigators hired by Fox that Ailes "made unwanted sexual advances toward her" about 10 years ago. Ailes, who founded the cable channel in 1996, did not sexually harass Kelly, according to a statement attributed to his lawyer in the New York Times on Tuesday. The resignation comes as Fox News, known for a line-up of politically conservative commentators, including best-selling author Bill O'Reilly, is drawing record viewership. The network is the most-watched channel in all of basic cable television this year with an average of 2.2 million prime-time viewers, according to Nielsen data through June. Challenges ahead Whoever replaces Ailes faces the twin challenges of retaining Fox News' established on-air stars such as O'Reilly and Kelly, while making the network attractive to younger viewers, a demographic it has consistently missed. O'Reilly and Kelly's contracts are up in 2017, and stars, including Greta Van Susteren and Sean Hannity, all have clauses in their contracts that allow them to leave the network if Ailes departs, according to media reports. New management will also have to win over the many Ailes loyalists left in the rank. "Roger Ailes is the best boss I have ever had. I admire him professionally," Fox News anchor Chris Wallace said in an email. "And I love him personally. I am heartbroken he is gone." Murdoch, who built his father's Australian newspaper business into one of the world's most powerful news and entertainment conglomerates, has always been fiercely loyal to Ailes, and cut his vacation short in the French Riviera with his wife Jerry Hall to handle the resignation. While the choice of Murdoch makes sense in terms of “creating a holding pattern for programming and talent,” Fox would be wise to work quickly to find a new CEO, said Merrill Brown, a former media executive who helped launch MSNBC. “It is a good choice if its length is measured in weeks." Ailes' long experience as both a television producer and a Republican strategist helped him to formulate a winning strategy: hire charismatic talent to appeal to a conservative audience. “Roger Ailes has made a remarkable contribution to our company and our country," Murdoch said in a statement. "Roger shared my vision of a great and independent television organisation and executed it brilliantly over 20 great years." Critics said Ailes pushed a Republican agenda under the oft-repeated slogan "Fair and Balanced." His fans said he smartly recognised that conservative TV viewers were not seeing their viewpoints reflected on Time Warner Inc's CNN or major broadcast networks. Fox News Channel went on the air in 1996, just before Bill Clinton was elected to a second term as president, with Ailes as founding CEO. While Ailes' departure may not come at an ideal time for Fox News, the momentum of record ratings amid the most sensational US presidential election in decades may give the cable network some breathing room to recover, media buyers and Wall Street analysts have told Reuters. And some of them say this could be an opportunity for Fox News, whose median age of viewers is over 65, to focus on getting younger fans. (Reuters)

Fox News chief quits after sexual harassment claims

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