Jes Staley tells court that City regulator ‘seeks to destroy’ his reputation over Epstein ties

The former Barclays chief executive Jes Staley has accused the UK’s financial regulator of seeking to “destroy” his reputation built up over a 43-year career in banking and making “no attempt” to understand his relationship with child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Staley took the witness box for the first time on a Monday at the start of the second week of a high-profile legal challenge in London. It marked the first time the former UK banking boss has given any detailed public account of his experience with Epstein or the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) investigation.The 68-year-old is trying to overturn the FCA’s decision to issue him with a lifetime ban from the City, alleging he lied about the depth of his ties with Epstein, who died in August 2019 while awaiting trial over charges on trafficking underage girls for sex. The FCA had been investigating claims in a letter sent by the Barclays chair to the regulator in October 2019 stating: “Jes has confirmed to us that he did not have a close relationship with Mr Epstein

Wall Street suffers ‘ugly’ sell-off amid US recession fears, as Musk’s Tesla falls 50% from all–time high – as it happened

A late update, just to catch the close of the New York stock market.And there’s oceans of red across Wall Street tonight, where the Dow Jones industrial average has shed 890 points, or just over 2%, to close at 41,911 points tonight.The S&P 500 index had a grim day too, ending 2.7% lower, or -155 points, at 5,614 points, as growth fears hammered US stocks.The tech-focused Nasdaq slumped by 4%, its biggest daily drop since September 2022

Skype shutdown surfaces sweet memories: ‘I proposed marriage’

Microsoft announced on the last day of February that it would sunset Skype. By the time the death knell tolled, the video chatting software that once revolutionized communications had become a ghost of its former self. Experts chimed in with half-hearted eulogies for the platform that Microsoft spent years neglecting, yet few were surprised, and even fewer shed tears.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link

Who bought this smoked salmon? How ‘AI agents’ will change the internet (and shopping lists)

Autonomous digital assistants are being developed that can carry out tasks on behalf of the user – including ordering the groceries. But if you don’t keep an eye on them, dinner might not be quite what you expect …I’m watching artificial intelligence order my groceries. Armed with my shopping list, it types each item into the search bar of a supermarket website, then uses its cursor to click. Watching what appears to be a digital ghost do this usually mundane task is strangely transfixing. “Are you sure it’s not just a person in India?” my husband asks, peering over my shoulder

$13m man Dylan Brown to swap Eels for Knights in richest deal in NRL history

New Zealand five-eighth Dylan Brown has signed what has been described as the biggest contract in NRL history to leave Parramatta and join the Newcastle Knights from next season.The playmaker has reportedly signed a $13m, 10-year deal which would contract him in top grade rugby league until his mid-30s.The 24-year-old posted a message to Eels fans amid increasing speculation on social media on Monday night.“I have decided to take an opportunity that is best for me and my family. To the Blue and Gold family

Fin Smith reveals tough love from Wales coach Sherratt that drove him to success

Listen to Fin Smith wax lyrical about the Wales head coach Matt Sherratt, the influence he had during their days together at Worcester and the debt of gratitude he feels is obvious. Accordingly, Smith sent Sherratt a message of congratulations when he was handed the Welsh reins on a temporary basis after Warren Gatland’s departure. “I texted him saying all the best,” said Smith, “and he said: ‘Eff off, I’ll see you in a few weeks.’”Sherratt’s reply was entirely in jest – “it was nice to know he’s not changed since he got the big job” – and Smith is only too aware of the threat Wales pose to England’s outside chance of clinching the Six Nations title in Cardiff on Saturday. Defeat by Scotland was a 16th in a row but Sherratt has Wales playing a far more eye-catching brand of rugby