Latest news with #US400
7NEWS
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Blake Lively drops ‘emotional distress' claim in lawsuit against Justin Baldoni
Celebrity lawyer Christopher Melcher has said Blake Lively has 'gutted,' her lawsuit against It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, after she dropped the 'emotional distress' component of the legal action. Lively claims she was sexually harassed by Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath on the set of the film before being subjected to a smear campaign. Baldoni has always denied these claims. Baldoni launched a defamation lawsuit for $US400 million ($619 million) against Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds, claiming she attempted to extort him and defame him. Lively withdrew her claims against Justin Baldoni after his lawyers requested the actress sign a HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) release, forcing her to disclose therapy notes on her mental health. On Wednesday, Melcher said the claims were central to Lively's overall claim. 'Blake has withdrawn her emotional distress claims because Justin wanted access to her therapy records to see if she was really that distraught, as she claimed in her lawsuit,' Melcher told Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington on Sunrise. 'So, she clearly placed that at issue, made it fair game, he wanted to see the records. In response, she dropped the claim.' Melcher was pressed on what it would do to her claim. 'It's really gutting it because that was one of the hallmarks to it,' Melcher replied. 'She was saying that all these things that allegedly happened to her made her extremely distraught, and, sure, she wants to keep that stuff private, but she can't also sue for damages in court while doing so. 'So, she had to make that difficult choice. Now, that it's dropped, there's other parts of her claim, but really the centrepiece of it was the embarrassment and humiliation and distress that she claims she suffered.' Melcher explained Lively was probably advised this would happen by her lawyers. 'This is something us as lawyers talk to the client about (before the case),' she said. 'Any kind of litigation, (we ask) do you really want to go through this? This is very difficult for anyone to do. You put yourself out there in public court. So, it is surprising that she's just realising this now.' Despite the controversy, the 2024 domestic violence drama, which became a box-office hit, earned $351 million at the box office worldwide from a budget of $25 million. According to Variety, Lively is attempting to withdraw without prejudice, which Baldoni's lawyers have argued against. A withdrawal without prejudice would mean Lively could refile the claims at a later date. Melcher gave his legal opinion. 'I think that it's very easy to type up a complaint and file it in court, but it is difficult to establish it,' he said. 'She came out as the victim and a lot of people supported her at the beginning, but then the information that we're seeing is that she might have actually been the bully in this story. '(But) of course, only a jury will tell.' Stream free on
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Four-day work week trend blasted by multi-millionaire businessman Kevin O'Leary: ‘Stupidest idea'
A multi-millionaire businessman has ripped into the growing trend of four-day work weeks, calling them the 'stupidest idea' he has ever heard. Shorter working weeks are becoming increasingly popular around the world, with big names like Medibank and Bunnings in Australia among those trialling the change. Kevin O'Leary, best known as one of the investors on Shark Tank, criticised the push for a reduced work week. The outspoken businessman, who is worth an estimated $US400 million, was asked about his thoughts on the push during a recent appearance on Fox News, following the popularity of the four-day week in France. 'That's the stupidest idea I have ever heard,' he said. 'I think we should let the French go to a two-day work week and then kick their ass internationally.' RELATED Four-day week 'wave' coming to Australia: '80 per cent hours for 100 per cent pay' Centrelink cash boost over 400,000 Aussies have weeks left to confirm: 'Get what's yours' Right to disconnect warning as worker sues former employer for $800,000: 'People are nervous' France announced plans to trial four-day working weeks for parents sharing custody of kids last year. The country introduced a 35-hour work week in 2000. Roughly 10,000 workers are already thought to be working four-day weeks. O'Leary, who has also been critical of Australia's right to disconnect laws, was against following in the country's footsteps. 'There is no such thing as a work week anymore anyways in a digital economy post-pandemic,' he said. 'I look at my staff, 40 per cent of them work remotely, all around the world. It's project-based. 'Can you get it done by the 15th of June? Yes, I can. I don't care when you do it, four-day, three-day, five-day.' His comments have divided people online, with some agreeing with him that results rather than work time was the most important thing. 'It's not about days or weeks anymore. It probably never was. It's about productivity in whatever period of time the business decides,' one said. 'Very true. Norms surrounding work are slowly going away between remote work and everything being digital,' another wrote. Others said they supported four-day work weeks and had experienced the benefits themselves. 'I have a four-day work week. I can't express the difference in how much better my work week is given one extra day to decompress,' one said. 'I have been running my company on a four-day work week for a few years now. I can't imagine going back to a five-day week,' another added. The four-day work week has been gaining traction in Australia, with major companies like Medibank and Bunnings testing out the working model. One common approach is the 100:80:100 model, where workers retain 100 per cent of their salary while reducing their hours to 80 per cent and committing to 100 per cent productivity. Medibank announced it would be moving another 250 employees to the trial in October, bringing the total number of participants to 500. Medibank head of people and sustainability Kylie Bishop said it had helped cut down on unnecessary meetings and workloads as staff were committed to getting everything done in the new timeframe. 'We've seen significant and sustained improvements in employee engagement, job satisfaction and the health and wellbeing of participants, while maintaining business performance and customer outcomes,' she said. A Robert Half poll of 1,000 workers and 500 hiring managers last year found 65 per cent of employees wanted a four-day work week with retention of their full salary. The Senate Inquiry into Work and Care recommended the government undertake a four-day work week trial back in in to access your portfolio
Sydney Morning Herald
28-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Which conflicts of interest? Trump doubles down on crypto
Donald Trump has pledged to make America the 'crypto capital of the world.' He's certainly making crypto the centre of his personal financial world. The latest of his proliferating crypto ventures was announced on Tuesday, when his social media company, Trump Media & Technology Group, announced it was raising $US2.5 billion ($3.9 billion) to buy bitcoin. The move is a dramatic shift in strategy for the struggling social media group, which lost $US32 million on a paltry $US820,000 of sales in the first quarter. Trump Media chair David Nunes, who described bitcoin as 'an apex instrument of financial freedom,' said the investment was 'a big step forward to evolve into a holding company by acquiring additional profit-generating, crown jewel assets consistent with America First principles.' The company's move is just the latest in a string on cryptocurrency ventures Trump and his family have launched since he won last year's presidential election. Just before the election in November, the Trumps launched a decentralised finance company, World Liberty Financial. The family controls most of the entity and, according to Reuters, is entitled to abut $US400 million in fees and 75 per cent of the revenues from its token sales. In March, World Liberty issued its own stablecoin, USD1. Donald Trump has pledged to make America the 'crypto capital of the world'. He's certainly making crypto the centre of his personal financial world. Days before taking office in January, Trump launched a meme coin, $TRUMP. His wife, Melania, followed up with her own meme coin shortly after. And sons Eric and Donald Jr are involved in other crypto businesses. Now, Trump Media is going to be a major investor in bitcoin, which Nunes said would help defend it against 'harassment and discrimination by financial institutions, which plague many American and US firms, and create synergies for subscription payments, a utility token and other planned transactions across Truth Social and Truth+.'
The Advertiser
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
US accepts jet from Qatar for use as Air Force One
The United States has accepted a 747 jetliner as a gift from Qatar and the air force has been asked to find a way to rapidly upgrade it for use as a new Air Force One, the Pentagon says. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth accepted the $US400 million ($A621 million) Boeing-made jet for use as US President Donald Trump's official plane, the Pentagon said. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the Defense Department "will work to ensure proper security measures and functional-mission requirements are considered". He added that the plane was accepted "in accordance with all federal rules and regulations". Legal experts have questioned the scope of laws relating to gifts from foreign governments that aim to thwart corruption and improper influence. Democrats have also sought to block the handover. Qatar has dismissed concerns about the aircraft deal. Trump has also shrugged off ethical concerns, saying it would be "stupid" not to accept the jet. He has defended it as a way to save tax dollars. "Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of dollars when they can get it for FREE," Trump posted on his social media site. Retrofitting the luxury plane offered by Qatar's royal family will require significant security upgrades, communications improvements to prevent spies from listening in and the ability to fend off incoming missiles, experts say. That could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The precise costs were not known but could be significant given the cost for Boeing's current effort to build two new Air Force One planes is more than $US5 billion. The Air Force One program has faced chronic delays over the last decade, with the delivery of two new 747-8s slated for 2027, three years behind the previous schedule. Boeing in 2018 received a $US3.9 billion contract to build the two planes for use as Air Force One although costs have since risen. Boeing has also posted $US2.4 billion in charges from the project. with AP The United States has accepted a 747 jetliner as a gift from Qatar and the air force has been asked to find a way to rapidly upgrade it for use as a new Air Force One, the Pentagon says. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth accepted the $US400 million ($A621 million) Boeing-made jet for use as US President Donald Trump's official plane, the Pentagon said. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the Defense Department "will work to ensure proper security measures and functional-mission requirements are considered". He added that the plane was accepted "in accordance with all federal rules and regulations". Legal experts have questioned the scope of laws relating to gifts from foreign governments that aim to thwart corruption and improper influence. Democrats have also sought to block the handover. Qatar has dismissed concerns about the aircraft deal. Trump has also shrugged off ethical concerns, saying it would be "stupid" not to accept the jet. He has defended it as a way to save tax dollars. "Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of dollars when they can get it for FREE," Trump posted on his social media site. Retrofitting the luxury plane offered by Qatar's royal family will require significant security upgrades, communications improvements to prevent spies from listening in and the ability to fend off incoming missiles, experts say. That could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The precise costs were not known but could be significant given the cost for Boeing's current effort to build two new Air Force One planes is more than $US5 billion. The Air Force One program has faced chronic delays over the last decade, with the delivery of two new 747-8s slated for 2027, three years behind the previous schedule. Boeing in 2018 received a $US3.9 billion contract to build the two planes for use as Air Force One although costs have since risen. Boeing has also posted $US2.4 billion in charges from the project. with AP The United States has accepted a 747 jetliner as a gift from Qatar and the air force has been asked to find a way to rapidly upgrade it for use as a new Air Force One, the Pentagon says. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth accepted the $US400 million ($A621 million) Boeing-made jet for use as US President Donald Trump's official plane, the Pentagon said. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the Defense Department "will work to ensure proper security measures and functional-mission requirements are considered". He added that the plane was accepted "in accordance with all federal rules and regulations". Legal experts have questioned the scope of laws relating to gifts from foreign governments that aim to thwart corruption and improper influence. Democrats have also sought to block the handover. Qatar has dismissed concerns about the aircraft deal. Trump has also shrugged off ethical concerns, saying it would be "stupid" not to accept the jet. He has defended it as a way to save tax dollars. "Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of dollars when they can get it for FREE," Trump posted on his social media site. Retrofitting the luxury plane offered by Qatar's royal family will require significant security upgrades, communications improvements to prevent spies from listening in and the ability to fend off incoming missiles, experts say. That could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The precise costs were not known but could be significant given the cost for Boeing's current effort to build two new Air Force One planes is more than $US5 billion. The Air Force One program has faced chronic delays over the last decade, with the delivery of two new 747-8s slated for 2027, three years behind the previous schedule. Boeing in 2018 received a $US3.9 billion contract to build the two planes for use as Air Force One although costs have since risen. Boeing has also posted $US2.4 billion in charges from the project. with AP The United States has accepted a 747 jetliner as a gift from Qatar and the air force has been asked to find a way to rapidly upgrade it for use as a new Air Force One, the Pentagon says. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth accepted the $US400 million ($A621 million) Boeing-made jet for use as US President Donald Trump's official plane, the Pentagon said. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the Defense Department "will work to ensure proper security measures and functional-mission requirements are considered". He added that the plane was accepted "in accordance with all federal rules and regulations". Legal experts have questioned the scope of laws relating to gifts from foreign governments that aim to thwart corruption and improper influence. Democrats have also sought to block the handover. Qatar has dismissed concerns about the aircraft deal. Trump has also shrugged off ethical concerns, saying it would be "stupid" not to accept the jet. He has defended it as a way to save tax dollars. "Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of dollars when they can get it for FREE," Trump posted on his social media site. Retrofitting the luxury plane offered by Qatar's royal family will require significant security upgrades, communications improvements to prevent spies from listening in and the ability to fend off incoming missiles, experts say. That could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The precise costs were not known but could be significant given the cost for Boeing's current effort to build two new Air Force One planes is more than $US5 billion. The Air Force One program has faced chronic delays over the last decade, with the delivery of two new 747-8s slated for 2027, three years behind the previous schedule. Boeing in 2018 received a $US3.9 billion contract to build the two planes for use as Air Force One although costs have since risen. Boeing has also posted $US2.4 billion in charges from the project. with AP
West Australian
21-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
US accepts jet from Qatar for use as Air Force One
The United States has accepted a 747 jetliner as a gift from Qatar and the air force has been asked to find a way to rapidly upgrade it for use as a new Air Force One, the Pentagon says. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth accepted the $US400 million ($A621 million) Boeing-made jet for use as US President Donald Trump's official plane, the Pentagon said. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the Defense Department "will work to ensure proper security measures and functional-mission requirements are considered". He added that the plane was accepted "in accordance with all federal rules and regulations". Legal experts have questioned the scope of laws relating to gifts from foreign governments that aim to thwart corruption and improper influence. Democrats have also sought to block the handover. Qatar has dismissed concerns about the aircraft deal. Trump has also shrugged off ethical concerns, saying it would be "stupid" not to accept the jet. He has defended it as a way to save tax dollars. "Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of dollars when they can get it for FREE," Trump posted on his social media site. Retrofitting the luxury plane offered by Qatar's royal family will require significant security upgrades, communications improvements to prevent spies from listening in and the ability to fend off incoming missiles, experts say. That could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The precise costs were not known but could be significant given the cost for Boeing's current effort to build two new Air Force One planes is more than $US5 billion. The Air Force One program has faced chronic delays over the last decade, with the delivery of two new 747-8s slated for 2027, three years behind the previous schedule. Boeing in 2018 received a $US3.9 billion contract to build the two planes for use as Air Force One although costs have since risen. Boeing has also posted $US2.4 billion in charges from the project. with AP
