Singer Chappell Roan has parted ways with a talent agency led by Casey Wasserman, citing a "duty to protect her team" as the reason for her departure, according to a statement released on Instagram. This decision comes amidst the fallout from the release of the Epstein files, which included emails from Wasserman. In other news, Apple and Google have agreed to make changes to their app stores in the UK following intervention from the UK markets regulator, and the maker of Wegovy, Novo Nordisk, is suing a rival firm over alleged "knock-off" weight-loss drugs. Additionally, a landmark trial in California has begun, accusing Instagram and YouTube of creating "addiction machines."
Roan's decision to leave the talent agency, as reported by BBC World, reflects her belief that "meaningful change in our industry requires accountability." While the singer did not directly mention the Epstein files or the controversy surrounding Wasserman, her statement emphasized her commitment to her team's well-being.
In the UK, Apple and Google's agreement to alter their app stores follows a determination by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) that the tech giants held an "effective duopoly" in the sector, as reported by BBC Technology and BBC Business. The CMA stated that the companies have committed to not giving preferential treatment to their own apps and will be transparent about the approval process for others. Sarah Cardell, the CMA's head, said the proposed commitments "will boost the UK's app economy."
Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, has initiated legal action against a rival firm for selling what it claims are "unsafe, knock-off" versions of its weight-loss drugs in the US, according to BBC Business. The Danish company is seeking to ban Hims & Hers' range of weight-loss pills and injections, alleging they are not approved by US authorities and infringe on its patent. The lawsuit followed Hims & Hers' launch of a new weight-loss pill, leading to an initial threat from Novo Nordisk. Hims & Hers has since said it would stop selling the pill, and its share price slumped after Novo Nordisk pressed ahead with the lawsuit.
Meanwhile, a trial in California has commenced, with the world's largest social media companies facing accusations of creating "addiction machines," as reported by BBC Business. Mark Lanier, representing the plaintiff "K.G.M.," argued that his client suffered from mental health issues due to social media addiction. "These companies built machines designed to addict the brains of children, and they did it on purpose," Lanier said. Lawyers for Meta and YouTube countered that K.G.M.'s addiction stemmed from other issues.
Discussion
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment