Twitter is avoiding legal disputes over Elon Musk’s mass layoffs by staying away from arbitration court dates in the United States. This decision, enforced by the Twitter owner himself, gives the company advantages over the ex-employees who are accusing Twitter of labor law violations. Despite numerous lawsuits and outstanding payments for fired workers, Twitter refuses to conduct arbitration proceedings. This move has sparked controversy as the company previously pushed for the use of arbitration to resolve open claims.
Meanwhile, Netflix is revising its advertising strategy to attract new advertising partners and increase revenue. The streaming provider, facing signs of market saturation, has introduced ad-supported subscriptions and is focusing on options for brand advertising. Netflix already earns more with advertising subscribers than with standard users and hopes that these new strategies will further boost its earnings.
In space news, the Mars helicopter Ingenuity has finally reported back after 63 days of radio silence. The US space agency NASA, relying on the Perseverance rover as a relay, had to wait for contact due to the conditions on Mars. Ingenuity’s communication with Earth is dependent on the rover, which can communicate through probes in Mars’ orbit. Contact was established a few days ago, providing crucial updates on Ingenuity’s status.
In other developments, the EU Commission has proposed a draft for a European Health Data Space (EHDS) that aims to allow the reuse of information from electronic health records for various purposes. However, the EU Parliament is in dispute with the Commission over the lack of a right of objection for pharmaceutical companies accessing sensitive data. This has raised concerns about automatic access to patient data without appropriate safeguards.
Lastly, there has been speculation about the red giant star Betelgeuse and its potential to explode as a supernova. While researchers agree that Betelgeuse is approaching the end of its life, a Japanese research team has calculated that it could explode within a few decades. This would be the first supernova in the Milky Way in over 300 years. However, the study has not yet been independently reviewed and accepted for publication, leading to some contradictory viewpoints on this matter.
