The release of the Jeffrey Epstein files continues to send ripples through the corporate world, prompting difficult questions for business leaders and sparking controversy in unexpected places, including the photography industry. Meanwhile, Valentine's Day traditions and international relations also captured headlines.
Two weeks after the U.S. Justice Department released another batch of three million Jeffrey Epstein files, the business elite, from Hollywood to New York to Dubai, were still sifting through the murky paper trail, according to Fortune. Boards and business leaders faced tough questions about how to handle executives who were close confidantes of Epstein, even after his 2008 conviction for sex crimes. "Who knew what, when? Did an executive commit a crime or just exhibit bad judgement?" Fortune reported, highlighting the complex issues at hand.
The fallout from the Epstein files extended to unexpected areas. Some school districts in the U.S. dropped plans for class pictures after social media posts linked a billionaire with ties to Epstein to the photography giant Lifetouch, Fortune reported. The online posts connected Lifetouch, which photographs millions of students annually, to Apollo Global Management. Apollo's former CEO, billionaire investor Leon Black, regularly met with Epstein and was advised by him on financial matters. Black led the company in 2019 when funds managed by Apollo bought Lifetouch's parent company, Shutterfly, in a $2.7 billion deal that closed in September 2019, a month after Epstein's death. Lifetouch called the claims completely false.
In other news, White Castle continued its 35-year tradition of offering Valentine's Day dinners. The fast-food chain invited lovers to enjoy an intimate meal at its restaurants. This year, 325 White Castles with dining rooms in the U.S. participated in the promotion, according to Jamie Richardson, chief. Krystal Gray planned to bring a photo of her late mother to her Valentine's Day dinner at White Castle, continuing a tradition they shared. "I wanted something to make me feel better about her not physically being able to come," Gray said.
Valentine's Day also brought attention to a less romantic tradition: Victorian-era "vinegar valentines." These cruel and mocking cards, meant to shock and offend, predate social media and the internet, Fortune reported. Often anonymous, these cards offered a harsh contrast to the traditional expressions of love.
Finally, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a reassuring message to America's allies at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, according to NPR Politics. Rubio struck a less aggressive but still firm tone about the Trump administration's intent to reshape the trans-Atlantic alliance.
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