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Top UBER exec outs himself as UBER Files whistleblower

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The man who led UBER’s controversial lobbying efforts in Europe has identified himself as the whistleblower behind the UBER Files investigation

Lobbyist Mark MacGann has come out as the whistleblower who leaked thousands of compromising documents on the US ride-hailing firm.

MacGann led Uber’s lobbying efforts in Europe, Africa and the Middle East between 2014 and 2016. 

The one-time cheerleader-in-chief for Uber in Europe, MacGann now looks set to become one of its sharpest critics.

Lobbyist Mark MacGann with the French President

He’s told The Guardian newspaper he wanted to speak out because he believed Uber broke the law in dozens of countries.

He also claims Uber misled people about the company’s business model.

In his wide-ranging interview, MacGann detailed the personal journey that led him to leak the data years after leaving Uber.

“I regret being part of a group of people which massaged the facts to earn the trust of drivers, of consumers and of political elites,” he said.

“I should have shown more common sense and pushed harder to stop the craziness. It is my duty to [now] speak up and help governments and parliamentarians right some fundamental wrongs. Morally, I had no choice in the matter.”

UBER Files investigation

Journalists have accused the company of having “broken the law” in its war against local taxi companies as it entered new markets.

The Guardian has shared more than 100,000 documents, dating from 2013 to 2017.

The Uber files consists of confidential company data that MacGann had access to at Uber.

But many experts are now warning that all entrepreneurs can learn lessons from Uber’s failings.

It includes company presentations, briefing notes, security reports and tens of thousands of emails and WhatsApp, iMessage and chat exchanges between the company’s most senior staff at the time.

They include Travis Kalanick, Uber’s combative co-founder and then chief executive, David Plouffe, a former Barack Obama campaign aide who became a senior vice-president at Uber, and Rachel Whetstone, a British PR executive who has also held senior roles at Google, Facebook and now Netflix.

When MacGann departed Uber in 2016, Whetstone described him as “a wonderful leader”. Plouffe called him a “talented public policy professional” and “terrific advocate for Uber”.

In response, Uber has tried to distance itself from the investigation and the practices of former management.

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Stocks rebound after Trump eases China trade tensions

Stocks rebound 600 points as Trump eases China trade tensions, signalling optimism in markets following Friday’s sell-off

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Stocks rebound 600 points as Trump eases China trade tensions, signalling optimism in markets following Friday’s sell-off

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In Short:
– Stocks rose on Monday after Trump expressed optimism about trade relations with China.
– The Dow Jones gained 621 points, with significant increases in tech stocks and broad market recovery.
Stocks gained ground on Monday, recovering from Friday’s decline after President Donald Trump expressed optimism regarding trade relations with China, stating they “will all be fine.”The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 621 points, approximately 70% of its previous loss. The S&P 500 experienced a 1.6% increase, nearing a 60% recovery of its earlier drop. The Nasdaq Composite increased by 2.3%, bolstered by rebounds in technology stocks.

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Oracle’s stock surged over 5%, with AMD and Nvidia seeing 1% and 3% increases, respectively. Broadcom’s stock jumped 10% following the announcement of a partnership with OpenAI.

Trump’s comments hinted that he might not impose a significant increase in tariffs on China, which had previously caused market turmoil. Vice President JD Vance similarly indicated a willingness to negotiate with China, while also asserting that the U.S. holds advantages in potential trade discussions.

Broader Recovery

Monday’s trading saw a positive shift with four out of five S&P 500 stocks rising, indicating widespread recovery. Small-cap stocks also made gains, with the Russell 2000 rising over 2.5%.

Market concerns persist, however, with a government shutdown continuing and a major payroll deadline approaching on October 15. Earnings reports from major financial institutions, including Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase, are expected this week, potentially impacting market sentiment.


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Australia revises superannuation tax plans for fairness

Australia revamps retirement tax with new thresholds and increased support for low-income earners amid political pressure

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Australia revamps retirement tax with new thresholds and increased support for low-income earners amid political pressure

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In Short:
– Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced a 40% tax on retirement balances over $10 million, aiding low-income earners.
– The reform improves the Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset, helping 1.3 million Australians with higher annual payments.
Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced a significant overhaul of the government’s superannuation tax proposal.The new plan introduces a 40 percent tax rate on retirement balances exceeding $10 million while increasing support for low-income earners.

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The announcement comes after months of political and industry pressure and represents a major shift from the original policy.

It addresses prior criticisms related to indexation and taxation of unrealised capital gains.

Under the revised policy, balances between $3 million and $10 million will face a 30 percent concessional tax rate.

Both thresholds will now be indexed to inflation to prevent bracket creep affecting middle-income Australians.

The government has also removed taxes on unrealised capital gains, with changes applying solely to realised earnings from 2026.

“This has been a contentious policy,” Chalmers stated, indicating that it affects less than 0.5 percent of Australians, with about 80,000 anticipated to have over $3 million in superannuation next year.

Key Benefits

The reform package significantly improves the Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset (LISTO).

Annual payments will rise from $500 to $810, with an increased eligibility threshold from $37,000 to $45,000 by 2027.

This adjustment will assist approximately 1.3 million Australians, mainly benefiting women.

Eligible workers could gain around $15,000 in retirement, increasing LISTO eligibility to 3.1 million Australians.

The changes could generate about $1.6 billion in net revenue by 2028-29, a decrease from the original $2.5 billion projection due to enhanced LISTO benefits and extended implementation.


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Bitcoin declines to $104,782 amid trade tensions

Bitcoin drops to $104,782 as Trump intensifies US-China trade tensions, impacting global markets

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Bitcoin drops to $104,782 as Trump intensifies US-China trade tensions, impacting global markets

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In Short:
– Bitcoin dropped to $104,782 due to heightened US-China trade tensions.
– The S&P 500 Index fell over 2% amid escalating market uncertainty.
Bitcoin fell to $104,782 amid escalating US-China trade tensions.On October 10, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a significant increase in tariffs on Chinese goods, raising them to 100%.

The decision follows China’s recent restrictions on rare earth mineral exports, which are crucial for various technologies and manufacturing sectors.

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The trade dispute affected global markets, resulting in a more than 2% decline in the benchmark S&P 500 Index.

Bitcoin experienced an 8.4% drop at $104,782 by 17:20 ET, while Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, fell by 5.8% to $3,637 at 17:21 ET.


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