Elon Musk Says X Will Open-Source Its Algorithm Amid EU Scrutiny 
Rio Tinto–Glencore Talks Spark Pressure on BHP as Copper Fuels Mining Mega Deals 
Chevron Sees Path to Boost Venezuela Oil Output by 50% After Trump Administration Talks 
Anthropic Launches HIPAA-Compliant Healthcare Tools for Claude AI Amid Growing Competition 
Trump Pushes $100 Billion U.S. Oil Investment Plan for Venezuela After Maduro Seizure 
BESI Reports Strong Q4-25 Orders Surge Driven by Data Center and Hybrid Bonding Demand 
UBS Upgrades L’Oréal to Buy, Sees Strong Sales Momentum and 20% Upside 
SK Hynix to Invest $13 Billion in Advanced Chip Packaging Plant as AI Memory Demand Surges 
Allegiant to Acquire Sun Country Airlines in $1.5 Billion Deal to Expand U.S. Leisure Travel Network 
NYC Nurses Strike Shuts Down 10 Private Hospitals as 15,000 Demand Safer Staffing and Benefits 
BlackRock to Cut Around 250 Jobs as CEO Larry Fink Pushes Strategic Shift 
China’s AI Sector Pushes to Close U.S. Tech Gap Amid Chipmaking Challenges 
Supreme Court to Hear Cisco Appeal on Alien Tort Statute and Human Rights Liability 
Viking Therapeutics Sees Growing Strategic Interest in $150 Billion Weight-Loss Drug Market 
Stellantis to End Plug-In Hybrid Sales in the U.S. as Demand Shifts Toward Traditional Hybrids 
FTC Blocks Edwards Lifesciences’ JenaValve Acquisition in Major Antitrust Ruling 
Boeing 737 MAX 10 Advances in FAA Testing as Certification Delays Continue 
Crown Resorts chief executive officer Ken Barton stepped down from his office after the Australian government declared the establishment as not fit to have a license to operate a casino.
The controversies that led to Barton’s resignation
The New South Wales (NSW) state’s gambling overseers said that Crown Resorts, Sydney’s flagship casino, could not be issued a gaming license. This declaration came after the gambling watchdogs stated the hotel is not fit to run a casino after a probe unveiled widespread money laundering anomalies, and there are issues with governance as well.
The gambling regulators were said to have notified Crown Resorts about its newly-built casino in Sydney’s violations. It was said that there had been a breach of terms in the VIP Gaming Management Agreement. With the violation, BBC News reported that the gaming watchdogs are now doubting other Crown Resort casinos in Australia.
The NSW gambling regulators probed the Crown’s board and business culture and discovered that criminal activities and conduct took place at some of Crown's casinos, such as in Melbourne. In the wake of the controversies and reports, Ken Barton submitted his resignation as the CEO.
As per Reuters, as the establishment’s chief left his post, three other directors have resigned too. Another executive was also said to have severed ties with James Packer, a major shareholder of the company who was also heavily criticized for his influence on the business.
Packer, an Australian billionaire, was said to have been peppered with allegations of illegal activities in the casinos for years. However, he managed to avoid any formal legal charges since the authorities need proof if this is really true.
The hunt for the new chief
Now, as Ken Barton vacates his office, Crown’s chairman Helen Coonan will take over. She will temporarily take the chief role while the company looks for someone who will replace Barton.
“The board is determined to maintain the momentum as Crown takes significant steps to improve our governance, compliance and culture,” Coonan said in a statement. “Working closely with the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority and regulators in Victoria and Western Australia, I will continue to lead on the implementation of Crown’s ambitious reform program.”
Meanwhile, The Guardian reported that Ken Barton is still eligible for a big payout after resigning. He can go home with at least a $3 million payout from Crown Resorts.
