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The company purchasing Donald Trump 's media network, Truth Social, warned investors on Monday that there might be a bankruptcy risk given the former president's history of failed business ventures. A regulatory filing by Digital World Acquisition Corp. highlighted several examples of bankruptcy associated with Trump while noting that there is "no guarantee" Truth Social will be successful. Digital World announced a merger with Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG), which owns Truth Social, in October. The social media network was launched in February after the former president was barred from mainstream social media platforms in the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. In Monday's filing, Digital World outlined the bankruptcies of several Trump ventures, including Trump Taj Mahal, Trump Plaza and Trump Castle in Atlantic City, as well as the failures of Trump University, Trump Vodka, Trump Steaks and GoTrump.com. "A number of companies that had … [Read more...] about Truth Social buyer warns of bankruptcy risk given Trump’s past failures

Amber Heard appears to have walked back her claim that Johnny Depp broke her nose following the 2014 Met Gala after the actor's lawyers presented photos of her looking uninjured taken the next day. On Monday, the actress took to the stand where her cross-examination began after a weeklong adjournment in the defamation trial filed by her ex-husband. Heard was cross-examined by Depp's lawyer Camille Vasquez who grilled the actress about looking fresh-faced at an event after she alleged that Depp hit her in the face leading her to believe her nose was broken. The court was shown how the next night, she was photographed at an event to honor the comedian Don Rickles with Depp, with no signs of injury to her nose. Heard told the court: "For the record, I don't know that it was broken. You should see what it looked like under the makeup." More photos from the event were shown to the court but Heard urged that Depp "did whack me in the face and I did think it broke my nose." … [Read more...] about Amber Heard appears to walk back “broken nose” claim after seeing photo

Johnny Depp's past drug use has been a prominent topic in the ongoing trial for his defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife Amber Heard, who in court on Monday explained why a tampon applicator was present in a photo that had previously sparked confusion on Twitter. A photo that was presented to the court in early May that alleged to show evidence of Depp's drug use was raised in the courtroom again yesterday, with Heard testifying that the tampon applicator was something Depp allegedly used to snort the drug. Depp is suing his ex-wife for $50 million for defamation following an opinion piece that she wrote for The Washington Post in 2018, about being a victim of domestic abuse. Heard has counter-sued Depp for $100 million for nuisance. The trial is currently taking place in Fairfax, Virginia. The Aquaman actress, 36, said during her cross-examination that her sister Whitney Henriquez taught Depp how to snort cocaine using a tampon applicator. The photo was presented again … [Read more...] about Amber Heard explains why tampon applicator was present in Depp drug photo

Almost half of President Joe Biden 's current 22.2 million followers on Twitter are fake accounts, according to an audit tool provided by software company SparkToro. SparkToro's tool found that 49.3 percent of accounts following the official @POTUS Twitter account are "fake followers" based on analysis of a number of factors, including location issues, default profile images and new users. Tesla CEO Elon Musk , who is currently trying to buy Twitter , has expressed concerns about the number of fake accounts and a potential crack down could see users such as Biden lose a huge number of followers. Musk said early on Tuesday that his $44-billion deal to purchase the social media company could not go ahead until issues with fake accounts were resolved and he appeared to criticize Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal. Musk, the world's richest man, claimed that 20 percent of Twitter accounts were "fake/spam accounts" and that figure was "4 times what Twitter claims, could be *much* … [Read more...] about Half of Joe Biden’s Twitter followers are fake, audit reveals

Associate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas called out the media at a Friday conference in Dallas, Texas. “One of the things I say in response to the media is when they talk about the way I did my job. I say I will absolutely leave the Court when I do my job as poorly as you do yours,” he said, laughing along with the audience. “And that was meant as a compliment, really. It really is good to be me, it really is.” In February, the Washington Post edited a passage of an article titled “Jim Clyburn saved Biden’s candidacy — and now has the president’s ear on Supreme Court picks” that stated Thomas “resembles the political thinking of a White conservative.” The outlet changed the initial sentence to refer to him as “the Black conservative justice.” (RELATED: Journalist Groups Alarmed By Justice Thomas’ Call To Reconsider Press Ruling) “The View” co-hosts made racial attacks toward Thomas during a January segment for being conservative. Co-host Sunny Hostin said the … [Read more...] about Justice Clarence Thomas Calls Out The Media In Rare Public Appearance

Tech giants should be compelled to share more data about the impact of their content with researchers and civil society so they can be properly scrutinised and no longer “hide in the shadows”, campaigners have said. More than 40 charities, online safety campaigners and academics have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries , asking them to amend the Online Safety Bill to improve data sharing provisions. The campaigners argue that big technology firms “should not decide what evidence of the risks they are responsible for tackling gets made public” and say the Online Safety Bill, in its current form, will still leave companies in control of what data is available for independent scrutiny, and would still be able to “revoke access when they want”. Among the more than 40 signatories of the letter are Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, academics from Oxford and Cambridge, and the chief executives of children’s … [Read more...] about Tech giants must be more transparent on online harms, campaigners say

The Duke of Sussex said he hopes his children “never have to experience the online world as it exists now” as he criticised social media companies that make “unimaginable money” from people’s time, attention and information. Harry spoke at the launch of the 5Rights Foundation’s Global Child Online Safety Toolkit over video link from his home in California on Monday. The duke hailed 5Rights’ “ground-breaking work” in calling for a safer digital world for young people. He joined representatives from the United Nations, the African Union and the European Union as well as young people between the ages of 13 and 21, from countries across the world, including South Africa, the UK, Canada and Malaysia. Speaking at the opening of the event, Harry criticised the internet business model as well as social media companies that make “unimaginable money” from people’s attention and information. Recommended Coleen Rooney to resume evidence in Rebekah Vardy … [Read more...] about Harry hopes his children ‘never experience the online world as it exists now’

Elon Musk ’s deal to take over Twitter “cannot move forward” unless he receives more information about spam accounts on the platform, he has said. Mr Musk has said that the deal is “temporarily on hold” until Twitter is able to prove claims in its filings that less than 5 per cent of its active users are spam or fake accounts. On Monday, in a long thread, Twitter chief executive Parag Agarwal claimed that the company would be unable to provide such proof publicly because it relies on private and internal information. Initially, Mr Musk replied to that with a turd emoji. He then asked “how do advertisers know what they’re getting for their money?” Now, in new tweets, Mr Musk said that he thought the number could be far higher than Twitter’s claims and that he would not move forward with the deal until more proof had been provided. Recommended What are Elon Musk’s political beliefs and who has he donated to? Elon Musk praises Netflix for … [Read more...] about Elon Musk says Twitter deal ‘cannot move forward’ until CEO proves spam claims

Vladimir Putin's enemies are keeping a close eye on a bird in pointe shoes, because a broadcast of "Swan Lake" may reveal his demise. The ballet—a more-than-century-old staple of our own highbrow culture—is one of Russia's most famous contributions to the arts. It is a work that contains all the pathos and depth of the modern Russian nation, a dark story with a tragic ending. (Or a happy one, if one delves deeper in the ballet's evolution.) It's also a secret key to the state of things in the Kremlin. Swan Lake has all the elements of a modern-day binge-able series: young, scantily dressed women, a winged sorcerer, an evil stepmother, a handsome prince, a double suicide. On March 3rd, Swan Lake played a role in the Ukraine war, when State authorities in Moscow shut down Russia's youth-focused, independent and often Kremlin-critical TV Rain. The staff walked off the set and asserted their power to have the last word through Tchaikovsky's dramatic music and the disciplined dancing of … [Read more...] about Is Putin dead? Pay attention when Russia starts broadcasting “Swan Lake”

Amber Heard's legal team are getting spam reviews online during the Johnny Depp trial. Woods Rogers Attorneys At Law, who are representing Heard in the current defamation trial between her and Depp, have received negative online reviews making reference to the current trial and their decision to represent Heard. Depp is suing Heard for $50 million in loss of earnings after Heard wrote a 2018 op-ed stating that she was a survivor of domestic violence. While Heard's team are being panned and even mocked on social media, Depp's team and specifically Camille Vasquez , have been praised for the cross-examination of Heard on Monday. Woods Rogers Attorneys At Law are a successful Virginia-based law firm, founded in 1893. The company was called a "Go-To Law Firm" by Corporate Counsel magazine and their website states that "every year, our attorneys provide hours of pro bono service to nonprofits and legal aid societies." However, as TikTok user @Leilanidani points out, the … [Read more...] about Amber Heard’s legal team spammed with negative online reviews