Former Waitrose boss says Meta ‘stole' his books to train AI
Lord Price has written to Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of the social media giant, to threaten legal action after learning that four of his books, including last year's Happy Economics, were harvested in a pirated digital archive allegedly used by Meta to develop its artificial intelligence capabilities.
Price, 64, has accused the business of 'trampling on' intellectual property rights, which he warned would 'chill future innovation and effort'. Meta has denied acting illegally.
In his letter, which was also sent to Sir Keir Starmer, Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary,
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NZ Autocar
13-06-2025
- NZ Autocar
Xiaomi SU7 Ultra breaks Taycan GT's electric Nurburgring record
China's Xiaomi has shattered the Nürburgring lap record for electric production cars, as it promised to do. It has sent its hyper-powered SU7 Ultra saloon around the Green Hell almost three seconds quicker than the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. The car produced by the smartphone giant features a combined output of 1139kW from its tri-motor set-up. Equipped with an optional track package, it looped the German track in 7min 4.957sec. That eclipses the Taycan GT's 7min 7.55sec time. The road-legal version of the SU7 Ultra is only 20sec shy of the time posted by the track-only prototype that Xiaomi created last year. British engineering firm Prodrive helped with its development. With four-wheel drive, it can run 0-100 in just under 2.0sec, en route to a top of 331km/h, making it one of the fastest EVs available today. It's on sale in China and exports to the West are being considered. Special motor The SU7 Ultra uses Xiaomi's HyperEngine V8S electric motor. It takes that name because it delivers power on a level similar to a petrol V8. Evidently, it spins to 27,200rpm. Each of the rear-mounted V8S motors creates 425kW, while the front-mounted V6S motor is good for 289kW. This gives the SU7 Ultra 1139kW in total, a 644kW increase over the standard four-wheel drive SU7. In contrast, the tri-motor Taycan Turbo GT delivers a combined 814kW. The SU7 Ultra evidently gets to 200km/h in 5.86sec to the Taycan Turbo GT's 6.4sec. The latter's top speed is 275km/h and its 0-100 time is 2.3sec. CATL supplies the SU7 Ultra with a Qilin 2.0 battery which has capacity of 94kWh. That gives it a claimed range of just over 600km. Chassis updates SU7 Ultra uses Bilstein Evo T1 dampers alongside other chassis updates which include an AP Racing brake system. Rotors up front are 430mm and 410mm on the back. They are carbon ceramic units. Six-pot calipers for the leading wheels are aided by single floating rear calipers. Despite its pace, this isn't the quickest SU7 Ultra around the Nurburgring. One with a carbon fibre body holds the lap record for a four-door saloon. It completed the circuit in 6min 46.874sec with British racer David Pittard at the wheel. Xiaomi claims wet weight of under 2400kg for the SU7 Ultra.
Leader Live
12-06-2025
- Leader Live
Badenoch to call for end to oil and gas windfall tax and ban on new licences
The energy profits levy was put in place under the previous Conservative government but extended when Labour entered power. Designed to fund interventions to bring down household bills, the policy has been criticised by those in the industry. Speaking at the Scottish Conservative conference in Edinburgh on Friday, Mrs Badenoch is expected to tout the oil and gas sector, accusing the UK Government of 'killing' it, claiming 'renewing our party and our country means standing up for our oil and gas industry'. She will add: 'When the oil and gas windfall tax, the energy profits levy, was brought in, the oil price was near a historic high, at the exact time as energy bills for the British people were sky-rocketing. 'But there is no longer a windfall to tax. It has long gone. And the longer this regressive tax on one of our most successful industries remains, the more damaging it becomes. 'Labour have extended and increased this tax. They are killing this industry.' If the measure remains in place to 2030 as intended, Mrs Badenoch will say 'there will be no industry left to tax'. She will add: 'So, today, I say enough. Labour must remove the energy profits levy. Labour must speed up the process of replacing it with a system that rewards success and incentivises investment. 'Because we shouldn't have this energy profits levy at all. 'We must scrap the ban on new licences. 'We must overturn the ban on supporting oil and gas technology exports. 'And we must champion our own industry. 'We must let this great British, great Scottish industry thrive, grow and create jobs – ensuring our energy security for generations to come, driving growth and making this country richer in the process.' Mrs Badenoch will address her first Scottish party conference as leader on Friday while her counterpart north of the border Russell Findlay will deliver his inaugural address on Saturday. Responding to Mrs Badenoch, Simon Francis of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition said her comments were 'out of touch', adding: 'Even with the windfall tax in place, the energy industry made over £115 billion in profits in 2024 alone. 'Meanwhile, average household energy bills remain hundreds and hundreds of pounds higher than they were before the energy crisis started. 'While the Government is right to be consulting on reform of the windfall tax, maintaining a profits levy could help fund home upgrades and a social tariff which would bring down energy bills for the most vulnerable in society.' SNP MSP Kevin Stewart said: 'The Tories wrecked our economy, presided over soaring household bills and ripped Scotland from the EU against our will. 'And now they're lurching further to the right as they haemorrhage votes to Nigel Farage. 'This weekend will be an important reminder of how Westminster has failed Scotland. Only the SNP is offering hope and a brighter future as an independent nation.' Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: 'While the Tories and SNP let energy workers down by failing to plan for the future, Scottish Labour is committed to taking action towards reaching net zero, creating jobs and cutting energy bills. 'The Tories are on the side of oil and gas giants rather than working Scots, but Scottish Labour will work with the UK Government and use devolved powers to deliver a just transition for the industry. 'With Kemi Badenoch desperately attempting to rally the few remaining Scottish Tories, it seems like it won't be long until they can fit all of their MSPs in a single taxi.'
The Herald Scotland
12-06-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Badenoch to call for end to oil and gas windfall tax
Designed to fund interventions to bring down household bills, the policy has been criticised by those in the industry. Speaking at the Scottish Conservative conference in Edinburgh on Friday, Mrs Badenoch is expected to tout the oil and gas sector, accusing the UK Government of 'killing' it, claiming 'renewing our party and our country means standing up for our oil and gas industry'. She will add: 'When the oil and gas windfall tax, the energy profits levy, was brought in, the oil price was near a historic high, at the exact time as energy bills for the British people were sky-rocketing. 'But there is no longer a windfall to tax. It has long gone. And the longer this regressive tax on one of our most successful industries remains, the more damaging it becomes. 'Labour have extended and increased this tax. They are killing this industry.' Mrs Badenoch is expected to tout the oil and gas sector, accusing the UK Government of 'killing' it, claiming 'renewing our party and our country means standing up for our oil and gas industry'. (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire) If the measure remains in place to 2030 as intended, Mrs Badenoch will say 'there will be no industry left to tax'. She will add: 'So, today, I say enough. Labour must remove the energy profits levy. Labour must speed up the process of replacing it with a system that rewards success and incentivises investment. 'Because we shouldn't have this energy profits levy at all. 'We must scrap the ban on new licences. 'We must overturn the ban on supporting oil and gas technology exports. 'And we must champion our own industry. 'We must let this great British, great Scottish industry thrive, grow and create jobs – ensuring our energy security for generations to come, driving growth and making this country richer in the process.' Mrs Badenoch will address her first Scottish party conference as leader on Friday while her counterpart north of the border Russell Findlay will deliver his inaugural address on Saturday. Responding to Mrs Badenoch, Simon Francis of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition said her comments were 'out of touch', adding: 'Even with the windfall tax in place, the energy industry made over £115 billion in profits in 2024 alone. 'Meanwhile, average household energy bills remain hundreds and hundreds of pounds higher than they were before the energy crisis started. 'While the Government is right to be consulting on reform of the windfall tax, maintaining a profits levy could help fund home upgrades and a social tariff which would bring down energy bills for the most vulnerable in society.' READ MORE: SNP MSP Kevin Stewart said: 'The Tories wrecked our economy, presided over soaring household bills and ripped Scotland from the EU against our will. 'And now they're lurching further to the right as they haemorrhage votes to Nigel Farage. 'This weekend will be an important reminder of how Westminster has failed Scotland. Only the SNP is offering hope and a brighter future as an independent nation.' Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: 'While the Tories and SNP let energy workers down by failing to plan for the future, Scottish Labour is committed to taking action towards reaching net zero, creating jobs and cutting energy bills. 'The Tories are on the side of oil and gas giants rather than working Scots, but Scottish Labour will work with the UK Government and use devolved powers to deliver a just transition for the industry. 'With Kemi Badenoch desperately attempting to rally the few remaining Scottish Tories, it seems like it won't be long until they can fit all of their MSPs in a single taxi.'
