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Reuters
27 minutes ago
- Reuters
BT to appoint Virgin Media O2's Cobian as CFO, Telegraph reports
July 23 (Reuters) - BT Group (BT.L), opens new tab, Britain's biggest broadband and mobile services provider, is set to name Virgin Media O2's chief financial officer, Patricia Cobian, as its first female finance chief, The Telegraph reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources. Cobian held the finance chief position at Telefonica's UK mobile network O2 since 2016, before transitioning to the same role at Virgin Media O2 following the completion of the 50-50 joint venture between Telefonica ( opens new tab and Liberty Global (LBTYA.O), opens new tab in 2021. BT and Virgin Media O2 declined to comment on the report. Sky News reported on Monday that BT was looking for a new finance chief to succeed Simon Lowth, who will retire within a year. He was appointed BT CFO in 2016. Cobian would join BT at a time when it is looking to cut costs through layoffs and advances in artificial intelligence. "Depending on what we learn from AI . . . there may be an opportunity for BT to be even smaller by the end of the decade," Chief Executive Allison Kirkby told Financial Times in June. The company said in 2023 that it planned to cut as many as 55,000 jobs, including contractors, by 2030.
The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
A sensible SUV gets a rally-style makeover in the Vauxhall Mokka GSE
Vauxhall's high-performance, all-electric Mokka GSE has got the green light, and it's set to be the fastest battery-electric Vauxhall ever built. The new GSE has been inspired by the Mokka GSE Rally prototype, using much of the tech and styling tweaks previewed by the concept seen earlier this year. The production Mokka GSE packs an impressive 276bhp, promising thrilling performance that Vauxhall says bridges the gap between rallying excitement and everyday usability. With an instant torque delivery of 345Nm, it rockets from standstill to 62mph in just 5.9 seconds, topping out at a lively 124mph. Under the skin, the Mokka GSE features a raft of performance-enhancing technology alongside a 54kWh battery. It uses the same high-voltage components – motor, inverter, battery, and wiring harness – as the rally-spec Mokka GSE Rally. There's a special Torsen multi-plate limited-slip differential designed to keep power delivery sharp and precise. Meanwhile, an upgraded chassis with new axles, double hydraulic shock absorbers, and a rear axle boasting a 189 per cent increase in roll stiffness over the standard Mokka Electric ensures exceptional handling. Stopping power is provided by huge 380mm front brakes sourced from specialists Alcon, gripped by striking yellow four-piston calipers, while aerodynamically optimised 20-inch alloys are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres. With a kerb weight comfortably below 1.6 tonnes – remarkably light for a battery-electric vehicle – the Mokka GSE promises not just performance, but also agility and efficiency. There's no word yet on a maximum range for the high-performance Mokka, but the latest models promise 250 miles, so expect the high-performance model to be slightly below that. The Mokka GSE offers three distinct driving modes tailored to the driver's mood and need. 'Sport' mode unlocks its full potential, delivering maximum power and responsiveness. 'Normal' mode provides balanced everyday driving up to 112mph, while 'Eco' trims performance settings to maximise range from the compact 54kWh lithium-ion battery. Visually, the Mokka GSE looks the part. Exclusive design details inspired by its rally sibling ensure it stands out. A purposeful front spoiler, bespoke rear accents, and unique yellow and black GSE badging highlight the car's motorsport DNA. Inside, Vauxhall hasn't held back either. The cabin is crafted around performance-focused details, dominated by sporty Alcantara-clad GSE seats featuring integrated headrests, stylish yellow stitching, and a distinctive white centre stripe. Matching Alcantara inserts on the doors reinforce the sporty theme. Technology hasn't been overlooked, with the driver facing a customisable 10-inch digital information display that includes specialised GSE performance metrics such as acceleration data, G-force monitoring, and battery management insights. The central colour touchscreen echoes these cues, ensuring the driver is fully informed and engaged. Revealing the new Mokka GSE, Vauxhall's managing director Steve Catlin summed it up nicely: "The new Mokka GSE brings motorsport energy to the streets. Using years of pioneering electric motorsport experience, we've poured our best engineering, power, and handling into a car designed for daily thrills." Pricing and first delivery times aren't known yet, but with the level of technology on offer, we'd expect it to be just above the £37,280 of the electric Mokka Ultimate model, probably coming in at just under £40,000 to avoid the luxury car tax. We'd expect this first GSE model to arrive in showrooms towards the end of this year.
BBC News
29 minutes ago
- BBC News
Hockey Canada sexual assault trial verdict expected: What to know
Warning: this story contains graphic details Five Canadian ice hockey players accused of sexually assaulting a woman will learn their fate on Thursday in a case that has gripped the accused men, all former players for Canada's world junior hockey team, have pleaded not guilty to assaulting the woman in a hotel room in 2018 in the city of London, Ontario, where they had been attending a Hockey Canada the heart of the trial is whether the woman, who was 20-years-old at the time, consented to every sexual act that unfolded over several hours in that hotel case also raised questions on whether a toxic culture exists within Canada's favourite Maria Carroccia, who is presiding over the case, will be handing down her ruling on Thursday morning in a London courtroom. Hockey Canada: A sex assault scandal disgraces country's pastimeFour NHL players charged in Canada over 2018 sexual assaultPrior to the trial, the case forced a reckoning within Hockey Canada - largely seen as Canada's voice for ice hockey on the international stage - after it emerged that the sports body had reached a quiet settlement with the alleged victim in 2022, and had set aside a fund to settle similar Canada lost major sponsors, faced a parliamentary probe and had its federal funding frozen in the aftermath. It later announced a plan to address "systemic issues" in the culture of ice hockey. What is the case about? The complainant, a woman known publicly as EM due to a standard publication ban, alleges that a group of hockey players engaged in sexual activity with her without her consent. The accused are Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton and Carter Hart. All were players with the National Hockey League (NHL) when the allegations surfaced, although one was playing in Europe. Over nine days of sometimes graphic testimony during the trial, EM described how a one-night stand with McLeod turned into a group sexual assault. EM said she went to McLeod's hotel room after meeting him at a local bar, and they had consensual sexual intercourse. But she alleges he invited other teammates into the room, leaving her shocked and humiliated as they engaged in sexual activity with her that she said she did not consent the course of the trial, the judge has heard that the players performed a variety of sexual acts on her, including oral sex, intercourse, and slapping the woman's buttocks. Lawyers for the players tell a different story, asserting EM consented to these acts. They argue she gave the men the impression that she wanted to have a "wild night" and that she had discussed with McLeod inviting his friends over "to have some fun".The players claim the woman asked them to have sex with her, and that she had agreed to what transpired that evening in London. How the trial unfolded There were many legal twists and turns since the trial began on 23 April, including a declaration of a mistrial early on and the dismissal of the jury mid-way through, after members accused some defence lawyers of mocking case will now be decided by the judge. In opening arguments, Crown attorney Heather Donkers warned the jury that the case would be unconventional and might challenge preconceptions about consent and would not be about whether the woman "removed herself from an unwelcome situation", but rather if she "voluntarily agreed to engage in each and every sexual act that took place", she included texts from McLeod's phone, which showed him inviting the other players to his room for a "3 way" and asking EM to make a police investigation into the night "go away". The court also viewed a group chat from June 2018 between the players in which they appeared to discuss damage control after they had been informed that there would be an internal Hockey Canada investigation into the incident. A text on the group chat from McLeod's phone read: "We all need to say the same thing if we get interviewed [by Hockey Canada], can't have different stories or make anything up.""No boys, like you don't need to make anything up. No one did anything wrong. We went to that room to eat. The girl came. She wanted to have sex with all of us," another teammate replied. The court was also shown two videos of the woman wrapped in a towel after the incident, where she can be heard saying "it was all consensual".Over days of testimony, EM said that she was "uncomfortable" and went on "auto-pilot" mode as the men demanded sex acts from her, and that they at one point discussed putting golf balls and a golf club in her woman told the court that she had adopted a "porn star persona" as a coping mechanism. A lawyer for one of the players countered by arguing that her actions made the men think she was lawyers also used text messages EM sent to her friend the following day, noting that she discussed the incident but did not say she was sexually assaulted."I'm going to suggest to you that if you had – in any way, shape or form – felt that you had been sexually violated or assaulted that night, you would have said that to your best friend," defence lawyer Lisa Carnelos one of the accused players, Carter Hart, testified in his own defence. Asked by the Crown why the woman was asked to be filmed giving consent, he responded that it was common practice for professional athletes. From jury to judge alone The case was re-opened by London police after their initial investigation in 2018 and early 2019 ended without charges. Formal charges were later laid in early five players have had to put their hockey careers on hold during the case. All had NHL contracts when they were asked to surrender to police in January 2024, forcing them to take a leave of absence from their respective teams. Their NHL contracts have since expired. Just two days after the trial began on 23 April, a mistrial was declared by Justice Carroccia after an interaction between a jury member and one of the defence lawyers. A new trial was then ordered with a brand new, 14-member on 16 May, that jury was dismissed when one member complained to Justice Carroccia that the same defence lawyer had laughed at them and mocked their the judge said she had not witnessed bad behaviour, the accusation compromised the fairness of the of restarting the trial once again, lawyers for both sides agreed the case would be decided by the judge alone. Its wider impact in Canada The case has made headlines across the Conron, a criminal lawyer from London, Ontario, told the BBC that the courtroom was crammed on the first days - especially during EM's high profile of the defendants, and the revered place that ice hockey has in the national consciousness, has captivated attention."It is quite an extraordinary case from a legal and social perspective," said Daphne Gilbert, a law professor at the University of Ottawa, citing the "winding" and "unusual" road leading up to the trial, as well as the impact the allegations have had on Hockey Canada as an institution. Legally, Prof Gilbert said there is interest in how the case could reshape how consent is interpreted in has been established under Canadian law that consent is not the absence of "no," but rather the affirmation of "yes" in words or conduct. Consent also cannot be obtained prior to or after the sexual the case raises important questions on how consent can be interpreted in a situation where the victim says they felt that they have no choice, Prof Gilbert said. There has been criticism of the proceedings from some, especially from support groups for victims of sexual Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres, which is a network of more than 30 community-based sexual assault centres in Ontario, said the trial and the conduct of the attorneys perpetuates harmful "myths" about sexual assault."Over the last few weeks and five cross-examinations in court, EM has faced almost every harmful and victim-blaming sexual assault myth in existence," they said in a statement.A big question will be if it was "ultimately good for EM to have gone through this experience," regardless of the outcome, said Prof Gilbert."There will be conversations about how we treat sexual assault complainants and what we ask for them in these cases," she said, with some likely wondering: "Is it worth it?"NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman did not say whether the players would be allowed to return to play in the league if they were acquitted."We have said continuously we are not making any comments while the judicial process is taking place. We respect that," Mr Bettman said earlier this year. "I want to be clear. What has been alleged is abhorrent and disgusting and should not be allowed," he added.
