Markets rally on relief over US shutdown breakthrough – business live

UK drinks giant Diageo has turned to experienced retailer Sir Dave Lewis to lead its turnaround push.Lewis, the former chief executive of Tesco, has been named this morning as Diageo’s new chief executive.He succeeds Debra Crew, who stepped down “by mutual agreement” in July after a tenure including a shock profits warning, adverse global consumer trends and abandoned sales targets.Just last week, Diageo reported that weak demand in China and the US had hurt sales and profit expectations.Lewis, who must now restore investor confidence in Diageo, says:“Diageo is a world leading business with a portfolio of very strong brands, and I am delighted to be joining the team

Growth in global demand for ‘green’ office buildings slows amid Trump policies

The growth in global demand for “green” office buildings has slowed after Donald Trump’s assault on environmental protection policies caused a slump in interest in the US, according to a survey of construction industry professionals.Building occupiers and investors across North America and South America expressed significantly lower growth in demand for green commercial buildings, a shift that “seems to be in response to a change in US policy focus”, according to a survey of members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics). Reported demand across the rest of the world also fell, albeit not as sharply.Residential and commercial buildings together accounted for 34% of global carbon emissions in 2023, according to the UN Environment Programme. The majority of those emissions came from heating, cooling and powering buildings, although about a fifth came from construction

Elon Musk makes himself far-right fixture after White House departure

The Tesla CEO once hinted he was done with politics – but he’s been leaning further into the international far rightWhen the far-right activist Tommy Robinson emerged from a London courtroom this week after a judge cleared him of a terrorism charge, he gave thanks to the man he said had bankrolled his defense.“Elon Musk, I’m forever grateful. If you didn’t step in and fund my legal fight I’d probably be in jail,” Robinson said. “Thank you, Elon.”In the period immediately after Musk’s messy departure from the White House, the Tesla CEO repeatedly suggested that he was done with politics

ChatGPT accused of acting as ‘suicide coach’ in series of US lawsuits

ChatGPT has been accused of acting as a “suicide coach” in a series of lawsuits filed this week in California alleging that interactions with the chatbot led to severe mental breakdowns and several deaths.The seven lawsuits include allegations of wrongful death, assisted suicide, involuntary manslaughter, negligence and product liability.Each of the seven plaintiffs initially used ChatGPT for “general help with schoolwork, research, writing, recipes, work, or spiritual guidance”, according to a joint statement from the Social Media Victims Law Center and Tech Justice Law Project, which filed the lawsuits in California on Thursday.Over time, however, the chatbot “evolved into a psychologically manipulative presence, positioning itself as a confidant and emotional support”, the groups said.“Rather than guiding people toward professional help when they needed it ChatGPT reinforced harmful delusions, and, in some cases, acted as a ‘suicide coach’

Erasmus’s coaching scholarship takes South Africa to a higher plain | Robert Kitson

Some wins count double in terms of the message they send. And amid the blizzard of weekend Test matches it was Saturday night’s result in Paris that will resonate the longest in both hemispheres. Not only the outcome, either, but the manner of it. To say South Africa exploded a few cosy theories would be the understatement of the rugby year.So much for the idea, for example, that France would avenge the injustice of their World Cup quarter-final defeat to the Springboks

Rewarding mediocrity or providing new hope? AFL confirms divisive finals wildcard plan

The AFL has defended its decision to expand the finals series to 10 clubs with the introduction of a divisive “wildcard round” from next season.The two additional matches will be held during the weekend that has been used for a pre-finals bye in the men’s competition while the AFLW will lose the clear air it has had for early-round fixtures over the past three seasons.The expansion of the finals series will see the clubs that finished seventh and 10th meet in a cut-throat final, while eighth will play ninth with the winner to extend their season.The top six sides at the end of the home and away season will continue to enjoy a week off.“Our fans love finals games, so we think it provides opportunities and hope for our fans,” AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said