Employees should work from the office by default, according to former UK health secretary Jeremy Hunt. He claimed the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a boom in home-working, has seen a reversal of the trend and that remote working can stifle creativity. Firms including Amazon and Salesforce have demanded a return to office-working amid investor concern over productivity, while employees are increasingly attracted to companies offering workplace flexibility. "My guess is that the default will be that you work in the office unless there's a good reason not to be in the office," said Mr Hunt.
Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, has dismissed claims of antisemitism, stating that he will "say what I want" even if it results in losing money. Musk was criticised after posting a tweet stating that George Soros "hated humanity". This resulted in the Israeli government claiming that he was playing into conspiracy theories regarding Soros. Musk has also drawn criticism for baseless tweets regarding a mass shooting in Texas, causing some users of Twitter's fact-checking Community Notes feature to question him.
During Tesla's annual meeting, Elon Musk announced plans for the first traditional advertising campaign for the electric vehicle manufacturer. Although Musk has previously relied on his celebrity status and social media activity, he suggested that Tesla was willing to 'try out a little advertising and see how it goes'. Musk highlighted that Tesla is not immune to the macroeconomic pressures facing the world today and demonstrated that the role of traditional advertising techniques may still prove useful in today's marketing practices to communicate to a potential and existing a customer base. Despite the popularity of Tesla products, the CEO noted that the company can no longer assume ever-increasing demand while also dealing with rising competition from other companies. Musk acknowledged that the advertising campaign for Tesla would emphasise the safety, affordability and technological features of Tesla's vehicles.
Elon Musk has repeated conspiracy theories that the gunman in a mass shooting in Allen, Texas, earlier this month was not a white supremacist, despite evidence to the contrary. Social media moderator Bellingcat, which detailed the shooter's Nazi tattoo, social media posts, and Right-Wing Death Squad patch, has stated that Musk is mistaken in his assertions. The executive's claims follow those of right-wing commentators who have attempted to blame mass shootings on left wing agitators or on government conspiracies.
Elon Musk has been accused of playing a leading role in the spread of disinformation on Twitter, as he gives priority to “playing footsies with the crazies” over working for some of his much vaunted causes such as artificial intelligence, climate change, and revolutionising transport. The allegations follow comments Musk made on the social media platform inferred to be anti-Semitic and anti-humanity. Critics accuse the businessman of exercising his freedom of speech to bully and belittle others online but of blocking media coverage that does not flatter him.
Elon Musk has described working from home as "not just a productivity thing, I think it’s morally wrong". He believes that it is an insult to people who need to show up in person, such as those building and servicing cars or fixing houses. Following the evolution of Musk's comments on remote work starting from the onset of the pandemic to his comments today, the Tesla CEO has in recent times been a severe critic of remote work. Musk has compared Jewish financier George Soros to Marvel's supervillain Magneto, which has been seen as anti-Semitic and sparked further controversy.
The Dutch government could limit cattle numbers to two cows per field the size of a football pitch as part of efforts to reduce polluting methane emissions and help the Netherlands meet EU climate targets. The limit, which the Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, has not yet approved, would toughen the existing average of 2.5 cows per hectare. Farmers have protested widely against environmental measures which they claim damage their livelihoods, with the farmer-backed Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB) becoming the largest party in all 12 Dutch provinces in regional elections earlier this year.
BT is planning to cut up to 42% of its workforce over the next seven years as it seeks to reduce costs and boost profit growth, according to CEO Philip Jansen. Total workers, including employees and contractors, will fall from around 130,000 to between 75,000 and 90,000 by 2030. The telecommunications company has aimed for annual savings of £3bn ($4.1bn) by the end of 2025. The firm has been reducing its workforce for the past five years, though more drastic cuts have been considered since 2019. Jansen’s planned reductions, which will come into effect over several years, reflect in part the shift towards automation and digitalisation in the telecoms industry, as well as the firm’s drive to improve its responsiveness to customers.
Deutsche Bank to pay $75 million to settle lawsuit by Epstein accusers
CNN
23-05-18 04:43
Deutsche Bank has agreed to pay $75m to settle a class action-related lawsuit brought by Epstein accusers, who claim the bank enabled his sex trafficking activities. Epstein died in jail in August 2019. The former Deutsche client, who had banked with the lender from 2013 to 2018, was also a client of JPMorgan Chase between 1998 and 2013. The bank, which has faced multiple suits regarding Epstein's activities, may yet face similar legal challenges from accusers; the settlement will not prevent future claims from being brought against Deutsche or JPMorgan. The banks have not commented on the settlement.
The city of San Francisco is grappling with a severe urban crisis characterized by drug addiction, homelessness, and violence. San Francisco has the second-highest rate of drug deaths in the United States and has seen twice as many fatal overdoses as COVID-19 deaths since 2020. This deadly crisis is a result of fentanyl being flooded into US cities to meet the opioid demand that was created by overprescribing. The problems in San Francisco go beyond drugs; the city has a glaring wealth gap, one of the most significant in the US, with tech companies such as Apple, Nvidia, and Alphabet producing wealth, while almost a third of the city’s commercial estate lies vacant. This economic, social, and downward sprial seems increasingly irreversible, and San Francisco seems closer to the brink than ever.
The city’s political class has been accused of failing its citizens. Wealthy neighborhoods in the city have experienced vicious attacks, including the fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee and a home burglary that left former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a fractured skull, viewed as symbols of pervasive lawlessness. Urban Alchemy, a non-profit organization in charge of the city’s streets’ revitalization, has reversed 1,300 opioid overdoses in two years while being controversial. The organization has been accused of exploiting a loophole exempting charitable organizations from security training and background checks, and some of its employees have been shot at or injured on the job.
San Francisco’s wealth inequalities have created a social problem where Black people are ten times more likely to be homeless than white people. As overpriced housing and rent become scarcer, even tech workers see fewer reasons to live in San Francisco. Matkovic, a tech entrepreneur, blames the city’s drug crisis on drug availability and what he describes as an underlying unsafe element, which has now spread out beyond a few neighborhoods.
The motives behind the purchase of football clubs by wealthy individuals are often misunderstood, according to Simon Kuper in the Financial Times. Many rich owners believe they will “run the club like a business”, using their savvy to generate profits and success. However, this oftentimes fails to materialise as clubs balance the demands of chasing trophies with the financial realities they face. Kuper said owners often end up with neither, citing the example of billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, whose football investments have yet to bear fruit. However, clubs such as Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal, which tend to disappoint fans but have large followings, have tended to thrive financially. Kuper suggested that most billionaire owners are motivated by either fun or status and wrongly believe they can make an impact on their football clubs. However, clubs often significantly appreciate in value, therefore pleasing owners once they decide to sell.
Toyota’s Chief Scientist has warned that transitioning too quickly to electric vehicles could lead drivers to hold on to old petrol cars and has called for hybrids to be extended in use ahead of the G7 leaders summit in Japan. While subsidies and restrictions help to make EVs attractive to those who can afford them, gas-electric vehicles remain more suitable for other drivers. Toyota’s approach has been criticised as it has taken too long to become fully electric, letting Tesla and China’s BYD take the lead in the EV market.
Deutsche Bank agrees to $75M US settlement with Jeffrey Epstein victims
CBC
23-05-18 14:08
Deutsche Bank has agreed to pay $75 million in a settlement over allegations that it should have seen evidence of sexual exploitation by American financier Jeffrey Epstein when he was a client. The lawsuit was launched by a woman only identified as Jane Doe and claimed the bank had profited from Epstein’s sex trafficking. Deutsche Bank was said to have chosen “profit over following the law” to earn millions of dollars from the businessman. The bank has previously acknowledged it made mistakes in taking on Epstein as a client, and has since invested over €4bn ($5.9bn) to bolster anti-financial crime processes.
China is concerned about the potential impact the SpaceX-run Starlink could have on its geopolitical ambitions. Starlink, a mega-constellation of satellites, provides off-grid high-bandwidth internet access, and has been vital to Ukraine’s war effort, allowing soldiers to communicate, identify targets and upload videos. With the system hard to jam, China fears it could put Russia at a disadvantage and make a Chinese invasion of Taiwan more difficult. However, Beijing also has ambitions of becoming a space power and is working on its own satellite internet systems. Concerns over crowded crowded skies and satellite collision have also been raised. In 2021, two of Starlink’s satellites were on a collision course with a Chinese space station, forcing it to move, while China fears the increasing number of satellites could place pressure on a limited low-Earth orbit space.
A three-part documentary, "Depp v Heard," about Amber Heard's legal battle with ex-husband Johnny Depp is set to air on Channel 4 this weekend. Depp and Heard sued each other in 2019, with Depp claiming Heard defamed him by suggesting he physically abused her. In 2020, Depp won his defamation case, with Heard being awarded $2m for a counterclaim that Depp's lawyer suggested her abuse claims against Depp were a hoax. Heard later released a statement describing herself as "heartbroken." The documentary examines the wider issues around the case. Heard is a prominent advocate for women's and children's rights, and spent time promoting human rights globally through Amnesty International and the Art of Elysium.
Deutsche Bank is to pay $75m to settle a lawsuit by women who say they were sexually abused by the late financier, Jeffrey Epstein. One of the firms representing women in the case called it the biggest sex trafficking settlement with a bank in US history. The lawsuit alleged that the bank knowingly benefited from Epstein's sex trafficking. Deutsche Bank has acknowledged that it was a mistake to take Epstein on as a client, but the bank had thitherto joined JPMorgan Chase, which is also being sued over links to Epstein, in fighting the claims brought by victims. Deutsche Bank said that from 2013 to 2018 it provided "routine banking services" to Epstein, and claimed the lawsuit did not prove it was "was part of Epstein’s criminal sex trafficking ring".
Twitter owner Elon Musk said Twitter users making false claims of stolen elections "will be corrected" on its platform. However, many such claims have thrived on Twitter in the week since former President Donald Trump spent much of a CNN town hall digging in on his lie that the 2020 election was "rigged" against him. The contrast between Musk's promise and the extent the claims are spreading on Twitter underscores a major challenge for social media companies trying to call out election conspiracies and falsehoods that Trump and his supporters continue to promote.
OpenAI has launched an app to allow wider access to its sophisticated ChatGPT chatbot, which handles inquiries and responds with an artificial intelligence-generated answer. Available from the Apple App Store, the mobile product mirrors the website, but also incorporates voice recognition tool Whisper. The groundbreaking chatbot was used by more than 100 million people in January this year and has grown in popularity since it was first launched in November, leading to concerns from AI ethicists over the technology's potential for misuse. The app is now set for release on Android devices in the coming weeks, OpenAI said.
Deutsche Bank has agreed to pay $75m to settle a lawsuit claiming the German lender failed to see evidence of sex trafficking by financier Jeffrey Epstein when he was a client. A woman only identified as Jane Doe sued the bank in federal district court in New York and sought class-action status to represent other victims of Epstein. One of the law firms representing women in the case, Edwards Pottinger, said it believed it is the largest sex trafficking settlement with a bank in US history. Deutsche Bank noted that it had invested more than $4.3bn to bolster controls against financial crime.
Tommy Tuberville, the former head coach of Auburn University’s football team and now Alabama Senator, speaks to Kevin Roberts about the lessons and strategies he brings from his time between the goalposts to Washington. Tuberville discusses why he left the world of sports for a political career, the issues he’s taking on—from keeping radical abortion policies out of the military to protecting women's sports. He also talks about how he keeps himself motivated and optimistic about America's future. Tuberville also discusses his biggest highs in coaching and the relationship he had with his players.
Tuberville says that he enjoyed the football aspect and the athletic aspect, but his childhood was fun. His father was a high school referee, along with being a manager of a soft drink company, and his mother worked for General Dynamics. Tuberville’s brother was in music, and his sister ended up being a professor at Ohio State. Tuberville has coached thousands of kids, met presidents, and had a chance to be on championship teams; he followed many of these guys through, whether they’re married or when they had kids and families, or where they went to the NFL.
Tuberville explains how he was called out by Senator Schumer four days in a row on the Senate floor. He says Schumer forgot what he had done for a living, and he’s been called many names before. Being called out didn’t bother Tuberville because he’s dealt with that before. Tuberville tells young people that the key to success is getting into something you really want to do, and enjoying what you’re doing.
