Insights

Qantas budget offshoot Jetstar will further reduce flights to the Northern Territory and close its aircraft base in Darwin, blaming intense competition from foreign airlines.

QBE Group has shocked investors by revealing that its bottom line will plunge into the red this financial year and profits will remain under pressure throughout 2014, as the insurer reels from its aggressive expansion in the United States.

Something is missing from the great Qantas survival debate - the company's main shareholders.

The Victorian government has announced a $500,000 fund to promote technology collaboration between the state and Israel. Local businesses or research organisations that have secured partners in Israel can apply for feasibility and proof-of-concept grants of up to $50,000 each. Applications remain open until all funds are committed. business.vic.gov.au/visits

IT recruitment group Talent International has acquired West Australian IT consultancy Agile Logic. The group plans to transform itself into a leading IT consultancy firm in the Asia-Pacific region within five years. Agile Logic has 14 technology consultants and specialises primarily in Java Enterprise and business intelligence consulting. It will continue to operate under its own brand and management, Talent International managing director Richard Earl said.

The federal government has dished out more than $6 million to technology start-ups in regional Australia, allowing towns such as Bli Bli, Burringbar, and Kurrajong to start to enjoy the entrepreneurial dividend so far monopolised by the major cities.

Cisco plans to train the 400,000 networking professionals that research company IDC says the Asia-Pacific region will need to compete in a knowledge-based economy. The company will provide free online webinars on the Internet of Everything as part of its Networking Academy. IDC found networking professionals represent one-fifth of the additional 2 million technology professionals needed in the region in the next 10 years.

TPG Telecom has provided its strongest indication yet that it is preparing to take on Australia's dominant internet players, finalising a $450 million deal to buy AAPT's business and wholesale divisions from Telecom New Zealand.

Withholding tax on overseas investments, moving interstate, and more.

Your death can be costly for your children. Here's how to relieve some tax pain.

One of the biggest surprises from a US taper could be that our dollar actually rises.

Diamonds, zinc and tin are hot commodities … here's how to buy in.

Local market falls as QBE plummets after flagging a $US250 million full-year loss, Chinese inflation misses expectations.

TPG's acquisition of AAPT will give it critical fibre access as part of the NBN rollout.

The use of tenancy databases creates an unnecessary intrusion into the private lives of renters. Such gross violations of privacy highlight the weak state of tenancy rights in Australia.

Fears that the Chinese government will manipulate its trade and investment to undermine Australian autonomy or security are overblown.