Elon Musk on Wednesday (Jan 8) launched a scathing attack against billionaire George Soros alleging that the latter's "hatred of humanity includes Israel".&nbsp;
Musk took to his X handle and shared a news report citing Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan, who condemned Soros for giving out $15 million to non-governmental organisations that allegedly support the Palestinian group Hamas.
"George Soros's hatred of humanity includes Israel btw," Musk wrote captioning the post.
Tesla CEO's recent statements are the latest barrage in a series of attacks targeting Soros, who was just awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the US' highest civilian honour, by President Joe Biden.
This recognition flared a fierce debate, with some hailing Soros as a champion of democracy and human rights, while others, like Musk, were vocal in their criticism.&nbsp;
Musk, calling the honour "travesty", alleged that Soros &ldquo;fundamentally hates humanity.&rdquo;
He then shared a meme comparing Soros to Star Wars character Darth Sidious, the villainous Sith Lord from Star Wars, and wrote, &ldquo;George Soros looking quite good here. Must be the lighting.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5orza00-bvs402vh-hegiijco">
George Soros looking quite good here. Must be the lighting. <a href="https://t.co/gNHhKyd2GQ">pic.twitter.com/gNHhKyd2GQ</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1875722946570023123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ted-chief-chris-anderson-raises-concerns-over-musks-recent-social-media-posts-says-miss-the-old-elon-8602096" rel="dofollow">Also read: TED chief Chris Anderson raises concerns over Musk's recent social media posts, says 'miss the old Elon'</a>
<h2>Musk condemns Soros for 'interference' in European politics</h2>
Musk previously responded to a post shared by an X user who accused billionaires George Soros and Bill Gates of interference in European politics.
The post read, &ldquo;Billionaires George Soros &amp; Bill Gates interfered with European politics for decades, spending huge sums to influence elections. They were promoting open borders &amp; transfer of power from national governments to supranational organizations. Merkel &amp; Macron had no issues with it.&rdquo;
Musk shared the post calling it, "True".
Another user wrote in his post, "Leftists had NO problem with George Soros, Bill Gates and other liberal billionaires donating to European political parties and movements over the years, but suddenly call it "interference" when Elon Musk raises awareness about Muslim Grooming Gangs in Britain."
To which Musk replied, &ldquo;Why is that?&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

Tesla CEO's recent statements are the latest barrage in a series of attacks targeting Soros, who was just awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the US' highest civilian honour, by President Joe Biden.

Elon Musk on Wednesday (Jan 8) launched a scathing attack against billionaire George Soros alleging that the latter's "hatred of humanity includes Israel". Musk took to his X handle and shared a news report citing Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan, who condemned Soros for giving out $15 million to non-governmental organisations that allegedly support the Palestinian group Hamas. "George Soros's hatred of humanity includes Israel btw," Musk wrote captioning the post. Tesla CEO's recent statements are the latest barrage in a series of attacks targeting Soros, who was just awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the US' highest civilian honour, by President Joe Biden. This recognition flared a fierce debate, with some hailing Soros as a champion of democracy and human rights, while others, like Musk, were vocal in their criticism. Musk, calling the honour "travesty", alleged that Soros “fundamentally hates humanity.” He then shared a meme comparing Soros to Star Wars character Darth Sidious, the villainous Sith Lord from Star Wars, and wrote, “George Soros looking quite good here. Must be the lighting.” George Soros looking quite good here. Must be the lighting. pic.twitter.com/gNHhKyd2GQ — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 5, 2025 Also read: TED chief Chris Anderson raises concerns over Musk's recent social media posts, says 'miss the old Elon' Musk condemns Soros for 'interference' in European politics Musk previously responded to a post shared by an X user who accused billionaires George Soros and Bill Gates of interference in European politics. The post read, “Billionaires George Soros & Bill Gates interfered with European politics for decades, spending huge sums to influence elections. They were promoting open borders & transfer of power from national governments to supranational organizations. Merkel & Macron had no issues with it.” Musk shared the post calling it, "True". Another user wrote in his post, "Leftists had NO problem with George Soros, Bill Gates and other liberal billionaires donating to European political parties and movements over the years, but suddenly call it "interference" when Elon Musk raises awareness about Muslim Grooming Gangs in Britain." To which Musk replied, “Why is that?” (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk launches scathing attack on George Soros, condemns him for 'funding Hamas-supporting' NGOs

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday (Jan 8) said that billionaire Elon Musk was speaking as a private citizen and he has 'right to express his views'.
"Private citizens in our country can say what they want," Blinken, who is set to step down once Joe Biden leaves office on 20 January, told reporters in Paris.
"He, like any American, has the right to express his views," US top diplomat added.
Blinken&rsquo;s comments come amid growing criticism of Musk, particularly from European leaders, who allege that the owner of social media platform X is meddling in their political affairs. On Wednesday, France called on the European Commission to take a firm stance against what it sees as interference from Musk.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thanks-but-no-thanks-eu-nations-strike-cautious-tone-over-trumps-greenland-plan-8602823">'Thanks, but no thanks': EU nations strike cautious tone over Trump's Greenland plan</a>
French Foreign Minister Jean-No&euml;l Barrot said, "Either the European Commission applies with the greatest firmness the laws that we have given ourselves to protect our public space, or it does not do so and then it will have to agree to give back the capacity to do so to the EU member states."
<h2>Accusations of election interference</h2>
French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this week, accused Musk of directly influencing elections, including Germany&rsquo;s upcoming snap polls in February. "Ten years ago, who could have imagined it if we had been told that the owner of one of the largest social networks in the world would support a new international reactionary movement and intervene directly in elections, including in Germany," Macron said in a speech to French ambassadors.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-calls-for-european-commission-to-take-tough-stance-against-elon-musks-interfernece-8601900">France urges European Commission to take tough stance against Elon Musk&rsquo;s interference, Spanish PM says Musk 'stirs up hatred'</a>
Other European leaders have voiced similar concerns. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr St&oslash;re said, "I find it worrying that a man with considerable access to social networks and significant economic resources is so directly involved in the internal affairs of other countries." 
<h2>'Don&rsquo;t feed the troll'</h2>
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Musk&rsquo;s statements, including insults directed at him, calling Musk a &ldquo;troll.&rdquo; Speaking on Sunday (5 January), Scholz said he had no interest in engaging with Musk. "I don&rsquo;t believe in courting Mr Musk&rsquo;s favour. I&rsquo;m happy to leave that to others. The rule is: don&rsquo;t feed the troll." He also urged voters not to let social media owners influence Germany&rsquo;s February elections.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-president-macron-accuses-elon-musk-of-election-interference-in-germany-8596459">After Germany, France accuses Elon Musk of 'direct intervention' in elections; Norway PM terms it 'worrying'</a>
<h2>Musk's support for right-wing opposition</h2>
Musk has been vocal in supporting right-wing opposition parties in nations like the UK and Germany.&nbsp; Musk has openly endorsed Germany&rsquo;s far-right Alternative f&uuml;r Deutschland (AfD) party ahead of the elections. He penned an opinion piece in a German newspaper supporting AfD and plans to host a live discussion with Alice Weidel, the party&rsquo;s chancellor candidate, on X.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trudeaus-half-brother-says-canadian-pm-wasnt-one-calling-plays-while-in-power-8601963">He was handed script to read...: Trudeau's half brother says Canadian PM wasn't 'one calling plays' while in power</a>
In the UK, Musk has also stirred controversy by backing calls for a general election, despite the last one being held only six months ago. He shared a post on X urging King Charles to dissolve the government, which read, "The King must step in. We can&rsquo;t have Keir heading the country, while he was the one heading the Crown Prosecution Service [CPS] while all this was happening." 
(With inputs from agencies)

World: This comes as Elon Musk is facing constant criticism from European nations who claim that X boss' posts are interfering in their political debates.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday (Jan 8) said that billionaire Elon Musk was speaking as a private citizen and he has 'right to express his views'. "Private citizens in our country can say what they want," Blinken, who is set to step down once Joe Biden leaves office on 20 January, told reporters in Paris. "He, like any American, has the right to express his views," US top diplomat added. Blinken’s comments come amid growing criticism of Musk, particularly from European leaders, who allege that the owner of social media platform X is meddling in their political affairs. On Wednesday, France called on the European Commission to take a firm stance against what it sees as interference from Musk. Also read: 'Thanks, but no thanks': EU nations strike cautious tone over Trump's Greenland plan French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said, "Either the European Commission applies with the greatest firmness the laws that we have given ourselves to protect our public space, or it does not do so and then it will have to agree to give back the capacity to do so to the EU member states." Accusations of election interference French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this week, accused Musk of directly influencing elections, including Germany’s upcoming snap polls in February. "Ten years ago, who could have imagined it if we had been told that the owner of one of the largest social networks in the world would support a new international reactionary movement and intervene directly in elections, including in Germany," Macron said in a speech to French ambassadors. Also read: France urges European Commission to take tough stance against Elon Musk’s interference, Spanish PM says Musk 'stirs up hatred' Other European leaders have voiced similar concerns. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said, "I find it worrying that a man with considerable access to social networks and significant economic resources is so directly involved in the internal affairs of other countries." 'Don’t feed the troll' German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Musk’s statements, including insults directed at him, calling Musk a “troll.” Speaking on Sunday (5 January), Scholz said he had no interest in engaging with Musk. "I don’t believe in courting Mr Musk’s favour. I’m happy to leave that to others. The rule is: don’t feed the troll." He also urged voters not to let social media owners influence Germany’s February elections. Also read: After Germany, France accuses Elon Musk of 'direct intervention' in elections; Norway PM terms it 'worrying' Musk's support for right-wing opposition Musk has been vocal in supporting right-wing opposition parties in nations like the UK and Germany. Musk has openly endorsed Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party ahead of the elections. He penned an opinion piece in a German newspaper supporting AfD and plans to host a live discussion with Alice Weidel, the party’s chancellor candidate, on X. Also read: He was handed script to read...: Trudeau's half brother says Canadian PM wasn't 'one calling plays' while in power In the UK, Musk has also stirred controversy by backing calls for a general election, despite the last one being held only six months ago. He shared a post on X urging King Charles to dissolve the government, which read, "The King must step in. We can’t have Keir heading the country, while he was the one heading the Crown Prosecution Service [CPS] while all this was happening." (With inputs from agencies)

Blinken defends Musk, says Trump aide 'has right to express his views'

Tesla CEO Elon Musk takes a jab at Canada's outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, drawing attention to his comments on social media. The remarks add to the ongoing political discourse between the two figures.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk pokes fun at Canada's outgoing PM Justin Trudeau

TED chief Chris Anderson wrote an open letter to Elon Musk on Tuesday (Jan 7) stating that his recent posts on social media "could get someone killed" and that the Tesla CEO was forgetting the "core tenets of journalism".
"...Without them, I think your efforts to make X the respected home of citizen journalism will fail. When you tell hundreds of millions of people that someone should be hanged or jailed for outrageous crimes against humanity, just possibly you should first sound out what those who know those people really well would say about them. Some of your recent posts could literally get someone killed. Do you really want to risk that?," Anderson questioned, referring to the recent posts by the tech mogul.
Musk has been openly bashing international governments whose political views don't align with his and backs far-right figures. He's been using his platform X to express his disapproval and make accusations against various political leaders, particularly in the UK, Germany, and Canada.
"You say you want to maximize un-regretted user seconds on X. By far the simplest way you could do this, Elon, is simply to thoughtfully edit what you yourself post," Anderson said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5nu56q2-ndojbm3s-sgvq579i">
With a certain amount of trepidation, I'm posting this open letter to <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a>, someone I have admired, but who, right now, is causing me concern. I know I'm not alone in thinking these thoughts. Please like or repost if you're willing... And Elon, if you're listening, please&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/WGU9okIXJ3">pic.twitter.com/WGU9okIXJ3</a>
&mdash; Chris Anderson (@TEDchris) <a href="https://twitter.com/TEDchris/status/1876602909590192213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
Anderson criticised Musk for disregarding the "fairness doctrine", which requires seeking comments from individuals or institutions before publishing critical claims about them.
Anderson, although, acknowledged that Musk is tackling important issues but said that the way it was being presented was "playground bullying".
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/girl-youre-no-longer-governor-musk-slams-trudeau-for-rejecting-canada-us-merger-pitch-by-trump-8601912" rel="dofollow">Also read: 'Girl, you&rsquo;re no longer governor...': Musk slams Trudeau for rejecting Canada-US 'merger' pitch by Trump</a>
"It's crass and it's cruel, and it's therefore not nearly as effective as it could be. You're hearing the cheers of your most loyal followers, but missing the fact you're making yourself a laughing stock among many who you really want on your side. Long-term that's going to damage X, your other businesses, and indeed your long-term dreams for humanity. No one wants to follow a playground bully to Mars," the TED chief said.
<h2>'Miss the old Elon'</h2>
Anderson further said that Musk was someone he admired and that he misses the "old Elon" as at present his actions are causing concern.
"I miss the old Elon. You can be funny, interesting, insightful and inspiring. You've fought incredibly hard for what you've built. And you may feel you're entitled to do whatever the hell you want with it. But I also know that you understand the danger of holding too tightly to the ring of power, how it can distort someone's judgement and turn them ugly," he wrote.
"I'm hoping you can loosen that ring just a little. For the love of humanity that you profess, I really urge you to embrace the fairness doctrine and showcase a better face of X," Anderson added.
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Trending: TED chief Chris Anderson said that Musk was someone he admired and that he misses the "old Elon", as at present his actions are causing concern.

TED chief Chris Anderson wrote an open letter to Elon Musk on Tuesday (Jan 7) stating that his recent posts on social media "could get someone killed" and that the Tesla CEO was forgetting the "core tenets of journalism". "...Without them, I think your efforts to make X the respected home of citizen journalism will fail. When you tell hundreds of millions of people that someone should be hanged or jailed for outrageous crimes against humanity, just possibly you should first sound out what those who know those people really well would say about them. Some of your recent posts could literally get someone killed. Do you really want to risk that?," Anderson questioned, referring to the recent posts by the tech mogul. Musk has been openly bashing international governments whose political views don't align with his and backs far-right figures. He's been using his platform X to express his disapproval and make accusations against various political leaders, particularly in the UK, Germany, and Canada. "You say you want to maximize un-regretted user seconds on X. By far the simplest way you could do this, Elon, is simply to thoughtfully edit what you yourself post," Anderson said. With a certain amount of trepidation, I'm posting this open letter to @elonmusk, someone I have admired, but who, right now, is causing me concern. I know I'm not alone in thinking these thoughts. Please like or repost if you're willing... And Elon, if you're listening, please… pic.twitter.com/WGU9okIXJ3 — Chris Anderson (@TEDchris) January 7, 2025 Anderson criticised Musk for disregarding the "fairness doctrine", which requires seeking comments from individuals or institutions before publishing critical claims about them. Anderson, although, acknowledged that Musk is tackling important issues but said that the way it was being presented was "playground bullying". Also read: 'Girl, you’re no longer governor...': Musk slams Trudeau for rejecting Canada-US 'merger' pitch by Trump "It's crass and it's cruel, and it's therefore not nearly as effective as it could be. You're hearing the cheers of your most loyal followers, but missing the fact you're making yourself a laughing stock among many who you really want on your side. Long-term that's going to damage X, your other businesses, and indeed your long-term dreams for humanity. No one wants to follow a playground bully to Mars," the TED chief said. 'Miss the old Elon' Anderson further said that Musk was someone he admired and that he misses the "old Elon" as at present his actions are causing concern. "I miss the old Elon. You can be funny, interesting, insightful and inspiring. You've fought incredibly hard for what you've built. And you may feel you're entitled to do whatever the hell you want with it. But I also know that you understand the danger of holding too tightly to the ring of power, how it can distort someone's judgement and turn them ugly," he wrote. "I'm hoping you can loosen that ring just a little. For the love of humanity that you profess, I really urge you to embrace the fairness doctrine and showcase a better face of X," Anderson added. (With inputs from agencies)

TED chief Chris Anderson raises concerns over Musk's recent social media posts, says 'miss the old Elon'

Billionaire Elon Musk recently caused an issue for the social media personality Andrew Tate after he launched his political party Britain Restoring Underlying Values (BRUV) with a plan to run for the prime minister of the UK. Soon after his announcement on the social media platform X (owned by Musk), the party's X handle was abruptly suspended. Tate had posted the party's charter on X with the promise of stepping down from his position if he could not fulfil his promises.&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trudeaus-half-brother-says-canadian-pm-wasnt-one-calling-plays-while-in-power-8601963" aria-label="He was handed script to read...: Trudeau's half brother says Canadian PM wasn't 'one calling plays' while in power">He was handed script to read...: Trudeau's half brother says Canadian PM wasn't 'one calling plays' while in power</a>
After the suspension of the party's handle, Tate tagged Musk, asking the reason for the deactivation of the account. Soon after, the account was restored, leading Tate to thank Musk in his post on X. "We are back. Join us @votebruv. We're taking Britain back to greatness. The revolution will be televised," Tate wrote, tagging his "bruv" Musk at the end.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5nu6xo1-yr6wlkpm-c5r6x3ky">
We are back. Join us <a href="https://twitter.com/votebruv?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@votebruv</a> We&rsquo;re taking Britain back to greatness. The revolution will be televised. Thanks bruv 😎 <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a>
&mdash; Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cobratate/status/1876458961878262002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
Musk surprisingly replied, saying he had no idea about the reason for suspension. "Not sure why it was suspended, but it seems to be fixed now," Musk replied to Musk.&nbsp;
<h3>'Reclaim Britain'</h3>
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/girl-youre-no-longer-governor-musk-slams-trudeau-for-rejecting-canada-us-merger-pitch-by-trump-8601912" aria-label="'Girl, you&rsquo;re no longer governor...': Musk slams Trudeau for rejecting Canada-US 'merger' pitch by Trump">'Girl, you&rsquo;re no longer governor...': Musk slams Trudeau for rejecting Canada-US 'merger' pitch by Trump</a>
The official website of Britain Restoring Underlying Values says the party's motive is to 'reclaim Britain'. "There will be no excuses, no compromises, no second chances. We will defend our borders, crush crime, purge corruption, and restore pride to a nation under siege," the website reads.&nbsp;
"Britain will rise again stronger, unyielding, and unapologetic. If you want safety, power, and freedom, join the fight. The time for talk is over. It's action or nothing," the website adds.&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-inauguration-which-world-leaders-will-attend-is-pm-modi-invited-8601972" aria-label="Donald Trump&rsquo;s inauguration: Which world leaders will attend? Is PM Modi invited?">Donald Trump&rsquo;s inauguration: Which world leaders will attend? Is PM Modi invited?</a>
Tate's announcement of a new political party in Britain came at a time when people's trust in traditional parties was not at its best, and they were turning towards new faces who could join them in demanding change.
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/new-study-shows-ai-helps-find-more-cancer-cases-without-causing-extra-harm-8601957" aria-label="New study shows AI helps find more cancer cases without causing extra harm">New study shows AI helps find more cancer cases without causing extra harm</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Andrew Tate pledged transparency by posting the charter of his party on X, emphasising accountability and promising to step down if he fails to meet his commitments.

Billionaire Elon Musk recently caused an issue for the social media personality Andrew Tate after he launched his political party Britain Restoring Underlying Values (BRUV) with a plan to run for the prime minister of the UK. Soon after his announcement on the social media platform X (owned by Musk), the party's X handle was abruptly suspended. Tate had posted the party's charter on X with the promise of stepping down from his position if he could not fulfil his promises. Also read | He was handed script to read...: Trudeau's half brother says Canadian PM wasn't 'one calling plays' while in power After the suspension of the party's handle, Tate tagged Musk, asking the reason for the deactivation of the account. Soon after, the account was restored, leading Tate to thank Musk in his post on X. "We are back. Join us @votebruv. We're taking Britain back to greatness. The revolution will be televised," Tate wrote, tagging his "bruv" Musk at the end. We are back. Join us @votebruv We’re taking Britain back to greatness. The revolution will be televised. Thanks bruv 😎 @elonmusk — Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) January 7, 2025 Musk surprisingly replied, saying he had no idea about the reason for suspension. "Not sure why it was suspended, but it seems to be fixed now," Musk replied to Musk. 'Reclaim Britain' Also read | 'Girl, you’re no longer governor...': Musk slams Trudeau for rejecting Canada-US 'merger' pitch by Trump The official website of Britain Restoring Underlying Values says the party's motive is to 'reclaim Britain'. "There will be no excuses, no compromises, no second chances. We will defend our borders, crush crime, purge corruption, and restore pride to a nation under siege," the website reads. "Britain will rise again stronger, unyielding, and unapologetic. If you want safety, power, and freedom, join the fight. The time for talk is over. It's action or nothing," the website adds. Also read | Donald Trump’s inauguration: Which world leaders will attend? Is PM Modi invited? Tate's announcement of a new political party in Britain came at a time when people's trust in traditional parties was not at its best, and they were turning towards new faces who could join them in demanding change. Also read | New study shows AI helps find more cancer cases without causing extra harm (With inputs from agencies)

X restores account of Andrew Tate's political party, Elon Musk said THIS in reply

Billionaire Elon Musk, on Wednesday (January 8), took a dig at Canadian Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/when-justin-trudeau-played-action-hero-for-marvel-comics-8601304">Justin Trudeau</a> for his comments rejecting the Canada-US merger pitched by US President-elect Donald Trump.
Reacting to Trudeau's post on X (formerly Twitter), <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/elon-musk-interested-in-purchasing-premier-league-side-liverpool-confirms-father-errol-8600449">Elon Musk</a> wrote, "Girl, you&rsquo;re not the governor of Canada anymore, so it doesn&rsquo;t matter what you say."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bidens-heartfelt-note-for-his-friend-trudeau-says-alliance-between-us-canada-stronger-because-of-him-8600658">Biden's heartfelt note for his 'friend' Trudeau, says alliance between US-Canada stronger because of him</a>
Trudeau on Tuesday posted a strongly worded message on X saying, "There isn&rsquo;t a snowball&rsquo;s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States. Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each other&rsquo;s biggest trading and security partner."
<h2>'Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State': Trump</h2>
This development comes days after Justin Trudeau stepped down from the post of Canadian Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader. Shortly after his resignation, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, saying, "Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this and resigned. If Canada merged with the U.S., there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!"
Trump on Wednesday also shared a distorted map of the United States, which showed Canada as part of America alongside the caption "Oh Canada!&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oh-canada-trump-shares-map-of-us-which-shows-canada-as-part-of-america-8600997">'Oh Canada!' Trump shares map of US which shows Canada as part of America</a>
While delivering his first comments after the certification of his victory, Trump on Tuesday (Jan 7) said, &ldquo;Economic force, because Canada and the United States, that would really be something. You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like. And it would also be much better for national security. You don't forget, we basically protect Canada."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-calls-for-european-commission-to-take-tough-stance-against-elon-musks-interfernece-8601900">France calls for European Commission to take tough stance against Elon Musk's interfernece</a>
"We don't need anything they have. We don't need their dairy products, we have more than they have. We don't need anything, so why are we losing $200 billion a year and more to protect Canada? And I said that to, as I called him, Governor Trudeau. I said, listen, what would happen if we didn't subsidize you if we didn't? Because we give them a lot of money, we help them," he added.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Reacting to Trudeau's post on X (formerly Twitter), Elon Musk wrote, "Girl, you’re not the governor of Canada anymore, so it doesn’t matter what you say."

Billionaire Elon Musk, on Wednesday (January 8), took a dig at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his comments rejecting the Canada-US merger pitched by US President-elect Donald Trump. Reacting to Trudeau's post on X (formerly Twitter), Elon Musk wrote, "Girl, you’re not the governor of Canada anymore, so it doesn’t matter what you say." Also read: Biden's heartfelt note for his 'friend' Trudeau, says alliance between US-Canada stronger because of him Trudeau on Tuesday posted a strongly worded message on X saying, "There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States. Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each other’s biggest trading and security partner." 'Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State': Trump This development comes days after Justin Trudeau stepped down from the post of Canadian Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader. Shortly after his resignation, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, saying, "Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this and resigned. If Canada merged with the U.S., there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!" Trump on Wednesday also shared a distorted map of the United States, which showed Canada as part of America alongside the caption "Oh Canada!” Also read: 'Oh Canada!' Trump shares map of US which shows Canada as part of America While delivering his first comments after the certification of his victory, Trump on Tuesday (Jan 7) said, “Economic force, because Canada and the United States, that would really be something. You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like. And it would also be much better for national security. You don't forget, we basically protect Canada." Also read: France calls for European Commission to take tough stance against Elon Musk's interfernece "We don't need anything they have. We don't need their dairy products, we have more than they have. We don't need anything, so why are we losing $200 billion a year and more to protect Canada? And I said that to, as I called him, Governor Trudeau. I said, listen, what would happen if we didn't subsidize you if we didn't? Because we give them a lot of money, we help them," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

'Girl, you’re no longer governor...': Musk slams Trudeau for rejecting Trump's Canada-US 'merger' pitch

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday (Jan 8) that the billionaire owner of social media platform X, Elon Musk "openly attacks our institutions" and "stirs up hatred". The statement came during a speech for the start of official commemorations on the 50th anniversary of dictator Francisco Franco's death.
This came after France called on the European Commission to take a strong stance and safeguard its member states with "the greatest firmness" against interference in political debates, specifically from Musk.
"Either the European Commission applies with the greatest firmness the laws that we have given ourselves to protect our public space, or it does not do so and then it will have to agree to give back the capacity to do so to the EU member states," Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told France Inter radio.
This came after several European leaders expressed growing frustration against the tech mogul. The leaders included French President Emmanuel Macron, who said that Musk was "directly intervening in elections".
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also condemned the Tesla CEO for backing an extreme-right party.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store expressed concerns saying that it was "worrying" that someone wealthy and influential was involving themselves in European politics.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-keir-starmer-slams-elon-musk-for-spreading-lies-and-misinformation-uk-grooming-gang-scandal-8596082">Also read: UK PM Keir Starmer slams Elon Musk for spreading 'lies and misinformation'; X boss reacts</a>
<h2>Meloni defends Musk</h2>
While most European leaders were lashing out at Musk, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has come out in support of the billionaire.
Calling him a "genius", Meloni said that Musk is a "gifted man" and that he has been unfairly portrayed as a &ldquo;monster&rdquo; due to his ties with US President-elect Donald Trump.
&ldquo;Elon Musk is a gifted man and it is always very interesting to meet him,&rdquo; Meloni told Corriere Della Sera. &ldquo;He is a great figure of our times, an extraordinary innovator who has always had his gaze fixed on the future."
&ldquo;It makes me laugh a bit that there are people who used to praise him as a genius but today depict him as a monster, just because he has chosen the &lsquo;wrong' political camp, as they see it,&rdquo; she remarked.
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Trending: France called on the European Commission on Wednesday to take a strong stance with "the greatest firmness" against interference, specifically from Elon Musk.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday (Jan 8) that the billionaire owner of social media platform X, Elon Musk "openly attacks our institutions" and "stirs up hatred". The statement came during a speech for the start of official commemorations on the 50th anniversary of dictator Francisco Franco's death. This came after France called on the European Commission to take a strong stance and safeguard its member states with "the greatest firmness" against interference in political debates, specifically from Musk. "Either the European Commission applies with the greatest firmness the laws that we have given ourselves to protect our public space, or it does not do so and then it will have to agree to give back the capacity to do so to the EU member states," Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told France Inter radio. This came after several European leaders expressed growing frustration against the tech mogul. The leaders included French President Emmanuel Macron, who said that Musk was "directly intervening in elections". German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also condemned the Tesla CEO for backing an extreme-right party. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store expressed concerns saying that it was "worrying" that someone wealthy and influential was involving themselves in European politics. Also read: UK PM Keir Starmer slams Elon Musk for spreading 'lies and misinformation'; X boss reacts Meloni defends Musk While most European leaders were lashing out at Musk, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has come out in support of the billionaire. Calling him a "genius", Meloni said that Musk is a "gifted man" and that he has been unfairly portrayed as a “monster” due to his ties with US President-elect Donald Trump. “Elon Musk is a gifted man and it is always very interesting to meet him,” Meloni told Corriere Della Sera. “He is a great figure of our times, an extraordinary innovator who has always had his gaze fixed on the future." “It makes me laugh a bit that there are people who used to praise him as a genius but today depict him as a monster, just because he has chosen the ‘wrong' political camp, as they see it,” she remarked. (With inputs from agencies)

France urges European Commission to take tough stance against Elon Musk’s interference, Spanish PM says Musk 'stirs up hatred'

Tech giant Tesla CEO <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=Elon+Musk" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Elon Musk</a> could soon become part of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=Premier+League" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Premier League</a> after his father Errol talked about his son&rsquo;s desire to buy <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=Liverpool" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Liverpool</a> on Tuesday (Jan 7). Speaking to a radio channel, Errol spoke on Elon&rsquo;s connection to Liverpool as his grandmother was also born in the same city. However, the Premier League leaders are enjoying stability both on and off the field requiring Musk to splash a significant amount of cash to purchase the club.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Elon Musk to buy Liverpool?<o:p></o:p></h2>
"I can't comment on that. They'll raise the price," he told Times Radio. When pressed on whether his son would want to buy Liverpool, Musk added: "Oh, yes. But that doesn't mean he's buying it. He would like to yes, obviously. Anybody would want to - so would I."<o:p></o:p>
Adding to the interest, Errol also stated that Elon&rsquo;s grandmother was born in Liverpool and emotionally connected with the city. <o:p></o:p>
"His grandmother was born in Liverpool, and we have relatives there," he said. "We are attached to Liverpool, you know."<o:p></o:p>
ALSO READ | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/league-cup-newcastle-win-at-arsenal-to-put-one-foot-in-final-8600409" aria-label="League Cup: Newcastle win at Arsenal to put one foot in final" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">League Cup: Newcastle win at Arsenal to put one foot in final</a>
Liverpool are currently owned by another US-based giant, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), which is not keen to entertain any offer for the side. Musk&rsquo;s current wealth is estimated to be $428bn, while Liverpool&rsquo;s current valuation is estimated to be $5.3bn, meaning the valuation represents little over one percent of the South Africa-born billionaire&rsquo;s entire wealth. <o:p></o:p>
Based in the North of England, Liverpool remain one of the most successful clubs in Europe and English football. If they win the Premier League title in the current season, it will be their 20th top-flight league success, going level with Manchester United. Liverpool could also become the second-joint most successful club in Europe if they win the Champions League this campaign, going level with AC Milan&rsquo;s seven titles.<o:p></o:p>

Sports, World, Football: Tech giant Tesla CEO Elon Musk could soon be seen in the Premier League after father Errol confirmed his son’s desire to buy Liverpool on Tuesday (Jan 7). 

Tech giant Tesla CEO Elon Musk could soon become part of the Premier League after his father Errol talked about his son’s desire to buy Liverpool on Tuesday (Jan 7). Speaking to a radio channel, Errol spoke on Elon’s connection to Liverpool as his grandmother was also born in the same city. However, the Premier League leaders are enjoying stability both on and off the field requiring Musk to splash a significant amount of cash to purchase the club. Elon Musk to buy Liverpool? "I can't comment on that. They'll raise the price," he told Times Radio. When pressed on whether his son would want to buy Liverpool, Musk added: "Oh, yes. But that doesn't mean he's buying it. He would like to yes, obviously. Anybody would want to - so would I." Adding to the interest, Errol also stated that Elon’s grandmother was born in Liverpool and emotionally connected with the city. "His grandmother was born in Liverpool, and we have relatives there," he said. "We are attached to Liverpool, you know." ALSO READ | League Cup: Newcastle win at Arsenal to put one foot in final Liverpool are currently owned by another US-based giant, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), which is not keen to entertain any offer for the side. Musk’s current wealth is estimated to be $428bn, while Liverpool’s current valuation is estimated to be $5.3bn, meaning the valuation represents little over one percent of the South Africa-born billionaire’s entire wealth. Based in the North of England, Liverpool remain one of the most successful clubs in Europe and English football. If they win the Premier League title in the current season, it will be their 20th top-flight league success, going level with Manchester United. Liverpool could also become the second-joint most successful club in Europe if they win the Champions League this campaign, going level with AC Milan’s seven titles.

Elon Musk interested in purchasing Liverpool, claims father Errol

Billionaire <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/x-suspends-journalist-for-debunking-conspiracy-that-elon-musks-fan-account-is-musk-himself-heres-what-billionaire-says-8599377">Elon Musk</a> took a dig at the UK government as he shared a personal tale of his grandmother, Cora Amelia Robinson, who was British. Musk said his grandmother was a working woman and survived poverty during the Great Depression and World War II. He said that she was a great part of his childhood and was "very strict". The post became controversial when the Tesla CEO said, "My Nana was one of the poor working-class girls with no one to protect her who might have been abducted in present-day Britain."&nbsp;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5mqot09-7pw45xyd-iogne3w0">
My British grandmother, Cora Amelia Robinson, was an important part of my childhood. She was very strict, but also kind and I could always count on her. She grew up very poor in England during the Great Depression only to be bombed in WW2. To earn money for food, she cleaned&hellip;
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1876582315062858159?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
The post came after Musk slammed the present UK government's approach to handling child grooming gangs. In his post on X, Musk wrote, "She grew up&nbsp;very poor in England during the Great Depression only to be bombed in World War II. To earn money for food, she cleaned houses, leaving me with a lasting respect for those who do so."&nbsp;
Musk has talked about his grandmother multiple times before. His grandmother was born in Mossley Hill, Liverpool, in August 1923 and married Walter Musk in 1944. She later moved to South Africa.&nbsp;
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Musk has accused the Keir Starmer government of being "complicit in the mass rapes in exchange for votes".&nbsp;
The accusations by Trump revolve around child sex abuse cases, known as the Rotherham grooming scandal that shook the UK and the world in 2014 after a report was published on it. The report found that around 1,400 children were sexually exploited in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.
Musk has called out Starmer and King Charles III to dissolve the UK parliament and order fresh elections. However, Starmer denied Musk's accusations and has accused Musk of spreading "lies and misinformation".
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-jr-arrives-in-greenland-and-shares-video-featuring-mini-statue-of-donald-trump-netizens-want-him-to-close-the-deal-8599840" aria-label="Trump Jr arrives in Greenland, shares video featuring 'mini statue of Donald Trump'. Netizens react">Trump Jr arrives in Greenland, shares video featuring 'mini statue of Donald Trump'. Netizens react</a>
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

World | Trending: Musk fondly recalls his childhood, highlighting his grandmother's significant influence during those formative years, emphasising how her presence shaped his upbringing and values.

Billionaire Elon Musk took a dig at the UK government as he shared a personal tale of his grandmother, Cora Amelia Robinson, who was British. Musk said his grandmother was a working woman and survived poverty during the Great Depression and World War II. He said that she was a great part of his childhood and was "very strict". The post became controversial when the Tesla CEO said, "My Nana was one of the poor working-class girls with no one to protect her who might have been abducted in present-day Britain." Also read | South Korea's transport minister to resign over deadly plane crash incident My British grandmother, Cora Amelia Robinson, was an important part of my childhood. She was very strict, but also kind and I could always count on her. She grew up very poor in England during the Great Depression only to be bombed in WW2. To earn money for food, she cleaned… — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2025 The post came after Musk slammed the present UK government's approach to handling child grooming gangs. In his post on X, Musk wrote, "She grew up very poor in England during the Great Depression only to be bombed in World War II. To earn money for food, she cleaned houses, leaving me with a lasting respect for those who do so." Musk has talked about his grandmother multiple times before. His grandmother was born in Mossley Hill, Liverpool, in August 1923 and married Walter Musk in 1944. She later moved to South Africa. Also read | South Korean court re-issues arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Musk has accused the Keir Starmer government of being "complicit in the mass rapes in exchange for votes". The accusations by Trump revolve around child sex abuse cases, known as the Rotherham grooming scandal that shook the UK and the world in 2014 after a report was published on it. The report found that around 1,400 children were sexually exploited in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013. Musk has called out Starmer and King Charles III to dissolve the UK parliament and order fresh elections. However, Starmer denied Musk's accusations and has accused Musk of spreading "lies and misinformation". Also read | Trump Jr arrives in Greenland, shares video featuring 'mini statue of Donald Trump'. Netizens react (With inputs from agencies)

In fresh jibe at Starmer, Musk says his British grandmother might have been abducted in present UK

As Elon Musk continues to stir political tensions in the UK with his inciting social media posts, his father, Errol Musk, has a piece of advice for those frustrated by the billionaire's commentary: &ldquo;Tell him to get lost.&rdquo;
<h2>What did Elon Musk's father say?</h2>
In an interview with LBC Radio, Errol Musk downplayed his son's influence, stating, &ldquo;He&rsquo;s just a person&hellip; hundreds of thousands of people are tweeting the same things or saying the same things as he is.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/x-suspends-journalist-for-debunking-conspiracy-that-elon-musks-fan-account-is-musk-himself-heres-what-billionaire-says-8599377">X suspends journalist for debunking conspiracy that Elon Musk's fan account is Musk himself. Here's what billionaire says</a>
&ldquo;So I wouldn't just because he's a person that stands out more that they can knock him or just don't listen to him, that's all,&rdquo; he said, adding &ldquo;I'd say don't worry about it. Tell him to get lost.&rdquo;
When probed on why the SpaceX CEO was so invested in UK politics, the senior Musk said that his son has a deep connection to England.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jean-marie-le-pen-devil-of-the-republic-controversial-france-far-right-leader-dies-at-96-who-was-he-8599576">Jean-Marie Le Pen, controversial France far-right leader, dies at 96. Who was he?</a>&nbsp;
<h2>Musk and UK politics &nbsp;</h2>
The controversy began when Musk used X to criticise UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's over &ldquo;Pakistan grooming gangs scandal,&rdquo; alleging that during his tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions (2008&ndash;2013) &ldquo;Starmer was complicit in the rape of Britain when he was head of Crown Prosecution for 6 years&rdquo;.&nbsp;
Musk also voiced support for jailed far-right activist Tommy Robinson and called for King Charles to dissolve parliament.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-president-macron-accuses-elon-musk-of-election-interference-in-germany-8596459">After Germany, France accuses Elon Musk of 'direct intervention' in elections; Norway PM terms it 'worrying'</a>
Starmer, meanwhile, accused Musk of &ldquo;whipping up intimidation,&rdquo; and said that the SpaceX CEO was &ldquo;desperate for attention&rdquo;. Highlighting threats against ministers, including Labour MP Jess Phillips, the British PM stated that &ldquo;a line has been crossed.&rdquo; He also slammed Musk for &ldquo;cheerleading Tommy Robinson,&rdquo; calling it a &ldquo;playbook&rdquo; designed to incite violence and distraction.
&ldquo;Those who are cheerleading Tommy Robinson are not interested in justice. They're supporting a man who went to prison for nearly collapsing a grooming case, a gang grooming case.&rdquo;
&ldquo;These are people who are trying to get some vicarious thrill from street violence that people like Tommy Robinson promote,&rdquo; he added.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-pm-race-rock-star-central-banker-mark-carney-considering-to-run-for-top-job-8599742">Canada PM race: 'Rock star' central banker Mark Carney considering to run for top job</a>
Labour MP Paul Waugh also criticised the politicisation of child sexual exploitation cases, stating, &ldquo;The name of Rochdale has been used and abused by outsiders who treat child rape as a political game - rather than an appalling crime that needs urgent action.&rdquo; &nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The name of Rochdale has been used and abused by outsiders who treat child rape as a political game - rather than an appalling crime that needs urgent action. <a href="https://t.co/L0ZC5wBe10">pic.twitter.com/L0ZC5wBe10</a>
&mdash; Paul Waugh MP (@paulwaugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/paulwaugh/status/1876418492146327716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Reports suggest Musk is considering donating up to $100 million to Britain's Reform Party, a significant sum in the context of UK political donations. This raises concerns about how his wealth could reshape political dynamics. Critics argue Musk's financial clout makes his opinions more than just rhetoric, with the potential to influence political outcomes directly.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Trending: Elon Musk's controversial remarks on UK politics, including criticism of PM Keir Starmer and support for Tommy Robinson, have sparked significant public debate. 

As Elon Musk continues to stir political tensions in the UK with his inciting social media posts, his father, Errol Musk, has a piece of advice for those frustrated by the billionaire's commentary: “Tell him to get lost.” What did Elon Musk's father say? In an interview with LBC Radio, Errol Musk downplayed his son's influence, stating, “He’s just a person… hundreds of thousands of people are tweeting the same things or saying the same things as he is.” Also read | X suspends journalist for debunking conspiracy that Elon Musk's fan account is Musk himself. Here's what billionaire says “So I wouldn't just because he's a person that stands out more that they can knock him or just don't listen to him, that's all,” he said, adding “I'd say don't worry about it. Tell him to get lost.” When probed on why the SpaceX CEO was so invested in UK politics, the senior Musk said that his son has a deep connection to England. Also read | Jean-Marie Le Pen, controversial France far-right leader, dies at 96. Who was he? Musk and UK politics The controversy began when Musk used X to criticise UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's over “Pakistan grooming gangs scandal,” alleging that during his tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions (2008–2013) “Starmer was complicit in the rape of Britain when he was head of Crown Prosecution for 6 years”. Musk also voiced support for jailed far-right activist Tommy Robinson and called for King Charles to dissolve parliament. Also read | After Germany, France accuses Elon Musk of 'direct intervention' in elections; Norway PM terms it 'worrying' Starmer, meanwhile, accused Musk of “whipping up intimidation,” and said that the SpaceX CEO was “desperate for attention”. Highlighting threats against ministers, including Labour MP Jess Phillips, the British PM stated that “a line has been crossed.” He also slammed Musk for “cheerleading Tommy Robinson,” calling it a “playbook” designed to incite violence and distraction. “Those who are cheerleading Tommy Robinson are not interested in justice. They're supporting a man who went to prison for nearly collapsing a grooming case, a gang grooming case.” “These are people who are trying to get some vicarious thrill from street violence that people like Tommy Robinson promote,” he added. Also read | Canada PM race: 'Rock star' central banker Mark Carney considering to run for top job Labour MP Paul Waugh also criticised the politicisation of child sexual exploitation cases, stating, “The name of Rochdale has been used and abused by outsiders who treat child rape as a political game - rather than an appalling crime that needs urgent action.” The name of Rochdale has been used and abused by outsiders who treat child rape as a political game - rather than an appalling crime that needs urgent action. pic.twitter.com/L0ZC5wBe10 — Paul Waugh MP (@paulwaugh) January 7, 2025 Reports suggest Musk is considering donating up to $100 million to Britain's Reform Party, a significant sum in the context of UK political donations. This raises concerns about how his wealth could reshape political dynamics. Critics argue Musk's financial clout makes his opinions more than just rhetoric, with the potential to influence political outcomes directly. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk's father, Errol Musk, urges Brits to ‘ignore him’. Here's why

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=meta" rel="dofollow">Meta </a>CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday (Jan 7) announced that the company will be making some changes to the moderation policies and practices, citing its aim to embrace free speech.&nbsp;
The company will be altering the way posts, videos, and other content are moderated online. It will be getting rid of fact-checkers and will replace them with user-generated "Community notes", which is similar to Elon Musk's X.&nbsp;
This comes just weeks ahead of Donald Trump takes office. US President-elect Trump and other Republicans have been slamming Meta CEO for what they view as censorship of right-wing voices.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-technology/meta-denies-taking-down-its-ai-powered-chatbots-on-instagram-and-facebook-heres-why-8591383" rel="dofollow">Meta denies taking down its AI-powered chatbots from Instagram and Facebook</a>
&ldquo;Fact-checkers have been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they&rsquo;ve created,&rdquo; Zuckerberg said in a video on Tuesday.&nbsp;
&ldquo;What started as a movement to be more inclusive has increasingly been used to shut down opinions and shut out people with different ideas, and it&rsquo;s gone too far," he added.&nbsp;
However, he acknowledged a "tradeoff" in the new policy, noting more harmful content will appear on the platform as a result of the content moderation changes.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazon-to-donate-1-million-to-trumps-inaugural-fund-after-meta-783729" rel="dofollow">After Meta, Amazon to donate $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund</a>
He further pointed to the election as a major influence on the company's decision and criticised "governments and legacy media" for allegedly pushing "to censor more and more."
"The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards, once again, prioritizing speech," he said.
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Earlier today, Meta&rsquo;s newly appointed Chief of Global Affairs Joel Kaplan told Fox that the company's partnerships with third-party fact-checkers were &ldquo;well-intentioned at the outset but there&rsquo;s just been too much political bias in what they choose to fact check and how.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meta-restores-global-outages-after-whatsapp-instagram-go-down-chatgpt-goes-offline-783334" rel="dofollow">Meta restores global outages after WhatsApp, Instagram go down, ChatGPT goes offline</a>
<h2>Seeking better relations with Trump</h2>
This comes as Zuckerberg seeks to better relations with Trump before he takes office.&nbsp;
A day earlier, Meta announced Trump ally and UFC CEO Dana White to join its board, along with two other new directors.&nbsp;
Moreover, the company also said that it will donate USD 1 million to Trump&rsquo;s inaugural fund and that Zuckerberg wants to take an &ldquo;active role&rdquo; in tech policy discussions.
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;

World, science & tech: Meta will be altering the way content is moderated online and will be getting rid of fact-checkers, replacing them with "community notes".

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday (Jan 7) announced that the company will be making some changes to the moderation policies and practices, citing its aim to embrace free speech. The company will be altering the way posts, videos, and other content are moderated online. It will be getting rid of fact-checkers and will replace them with user-generated "Community notes", which is similar to Elon Musk's X. This comes just weeks ahead of Donald Trump takes office. US President-elect Trump and other Republicans have been slamming Meta CEO for what they view as censorship of right-wing voices. Also read: Meta denies taking down its AI-powered chatbots from Instagram and Facebook “Fact-checkers have been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they’ve created,” Zuckerberg said in a video on Tuesday. “What started as a movement to be more inclusive has increasingly been used to shut down opinions and shut out people with different ideas, and it’s gone too far," he added. However, he acknowledged a "tradeoff" in the new policy, noting more harmful content will appear on the platform as a result of the content moderation changes. Also read: After Meta, Amazon to donate $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund He further pointed to the election as a major influence on the company's decision and criticised "governments and legacy media" for allegedly pushing "to censor more and more." "The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards, once again, prioritizing speech," he said. Earlier today, Meta’s newly appointed Chief of Global Affairs Joel Kaplan told Fox that the company's partnerships with third-party fact-checkers were “well-intentioned at the outset but there’s just been too much political bias in what they choose to fact check and how.” Also read: Meta restores global outages after WhatsApp, Instagram go down, ChatGPT goes offline Seeking better relations with Trump This comes as Zuckerberg seeks to better relations with Trump before he takes office. A day earlier, Meta announced Trump ally and UFC CEO Dana White to join its board, along with two other new directors. Moreover, the company also said that it will donate USD 1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund and that Zuckerberg wants to take an “active role” in tech policy discussions. (With inputs from agencies)

Meta to toss out factcheckers to reduce censorship, restore 'free expression'

<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-color: black; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm; background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">French President Emmanuel Macron is the latest leader to join a growing chorus of European criticism of billionaire Elon Musk, now also a close of US President-elect Donald Trump. Accusing the world&rsquo;s richest man of intervening directly in the continent&rsquo;s democratic processes, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/frances-macron-acknowledges-that-dissolving-parliament-in-2024-brought-instability">Emmanuel Macron</a> said the SpaceX and Tesla boss was directly intervening in elections.
The French President&nbsp;on Monday (January 6) accused billionaire Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, of meddling in elections, including Germany&rsquo;s upcoming snap polls.
"Ten years ago, who could have imagined it if we had been told that the owner of one of the largest social networks in the world would support a new international reactionary movement and intervene directly in elections, including in Germany," Macron said in a speech to French ambassadors.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-keir-starmer-slams-elon-musk-for-spreading-lies-and-misinformation-uk-grooming-gang-scandal-8596082">'A line has been crossed': UK PM Keir Starmer slams Elon Musk for spreading 'lies and misinformation'</a>
Macron&rsquo;s comment comes after Musk&rsquo;s recent posts about the German elections and his comments on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
This is not the first time such accusations have been levelled against the X boss.
Last month, Macron hosted world leaders, including <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-slams-joe-biden-mourning-for-jimmy-carter-or-democrat-conspiracy-trump-criticises-biden-for-half-mast-flags-8592688">Donald Trump</a> and Elon Musk, to celebrate the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. The 860-year-old landmark had been severely damaged by fire in 2019 but has now been restored.
<h2>&lsquo;I find it worrying&rsquo;: Norwegian Prime Minister&nbsp;</h2>
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said on Monday that he was concerned by billionaire Elon Musk's recent statements on the internal affairs of European nations.
"I find it worrying that a man with considerable access to social networks and significant economic resources is so directly involved in the internal affairs of other countries," Store said. While both the French president and the Norwegian prime minister refrained from mentioning the billionaire by name, there was no doubt who they were talking about. Musk, who owns the social media platform X, is a close ally of Donald Trump and has been asked by the incoming U.S. president to cut the federal budget as a special adviser.
Earlier, Germany said, "It is indeed the case that Elon Musk is trying to influence the federal election."
<h2>Scholz responds to Musk&rsquo;s comments </h2>
On Sunday (January 5), German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Musk&rsquo;s recent statements, including insults aimed at him, referring to Musk as a &ldquo;troll.&rdquo; Speaking to the German magazine Stern, Scholz said, &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t feed the troll,&rdquo; when questioned about Musk&rsquo;s comments.
&ldquo;You have to stay cool. As Social Democrats, we have long been used to the fact that there are rich media entrepreneurs who do not appreciate social democratic politics and do not hide their opinions,&rdquo; Scholz said.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nigel-farages-hero-elon-musk-thinks-he-doesnt-have-what-it-takes-to-lead-reform-uk-8593973">Nigel Farage's 'hero' Elon Musk thinks he 'doesn&rsquo;t have what it takes' to lead Reform UK</a>
The Chancellor added he had no interest in engaging with Musk, adding, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t believe in courting Mr Musk&rsquo;s favour. I&rsquo;m happy to leave that to others. The rule is: don&rsquo;t feed the troll.&rdquo;
Scholz had condemned Musk for his erratic comments after the billionaire labelled the German leader an incompetent fool. The Chancellor also warned voters not to let the owners of social media channels decide the snap elections in February
Musk has publicly endorsed Germany&rsquo;s far-right Alternative f&uuml;r Deutschland (AfD) party ahead of the February federal elections. He also plans to host a live discussion with Alice Weidel, the AfD&rsquo;s chancellor candidate, on his platform, X.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-replies-to-starlink-appeal-from-pakistan-user-waiting-for-approval-8593658">Musk replies to Starlink appeal from Pakistan user: &lsquo;Waiting for approval&rsquo;</a>
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also slammed those "spreading lies and misinformation". 
&nbsp;
Starmer's comments followed days of incendiary posts by Musk on his X platform over historical sex offences against children in Northern England.
Musk has accused Starmer of being "deeply complicit in the mass rapes&rdquo;.
&nbsp;
According to one report, senior politicians in three of Britain&rsquo;s biggest parties&mdash;Labour, Liberal Democrats and Reform&mdash;have privately urged Donald Trump&rsquo;s allies to reconsider his relationship with Elon Musk.<o:p></o:p>
&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

World: After his comments on Elon Musk, French President Emmanuel Macron also said that US President-elect Donald Trump “knows he has a strong ally in France.”

French President Emmanuel Macron is the latest leader to join a growing chorus of European criticism of billionaire Elon Musk, now also a close of US President-elect Donald Trump. Accusing the world’s richest man of intervening directly in the continent’s democratic processes, Emmanuel Macron said the SpaceX and Tesla boss was directly intervening in elections. The French President on Monday (January 6) accused billionaire Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, of meddling in elections, including Germany’s upcoming snap polls. "Ten years ago, who could have imagined it if we had been told that the owner of one of the largest social networks in the world would support a new international reactionary movement and intervene directly in elections, including in Germany," Macron said in a speech to French ambassadors. Also read: 'A line has been crossed': UK PM Keir Starmer slams Elon Musk for spreading 'lies and misinformation' Macron’s comment comes after Musk’s recent posts about the German elections and his comments on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. This is not the first time such accusations have been levelled against the X boss. Last month, Macron hosted world leaders, including Donald Trump and Elon Musk, to celebrate the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. The 860-year-old landmark had been severely damaged by fire in 2019 but has now been restored. ‘I find it worrying’: Norwegian Prime Minister Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said on Monday that he was concerned by billionaire Elon Musk's recent statements on the internal affairs of European nations. "I find it worrying that a man with considerable access to social networks and significant economic resources is so directly involved in the internal affairs of other countries," Store said. While both the French president and the Norwegian prime minister refrained from mentioning the billionaire by name, there was no doubt who they were talking about. Musk, who owns the social media platform X, is a close ally of Donald Trump and has been asked by the incoming U.S. president to cut the federal budget as a special adviser. Earlier, Germany said, "It is indeed the case that Elon Musk is trying to influence the federal election." Scholz responds to Musk’s comments On Sunday (January 5), German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Musk’s recent statements, including insults aimed at him, referring to Musk as a “troll.” Speaking to the German magazine Stern, Scholz said, “Don’t feed the troll,” when questioned about Musk’s comments. “You have to stay cool. As Social Democrats, we have long been used to the fact that there are rich media entrepreneurs who do not appreciate social democratic politics and do not hide their opinions,” Scholz said. Also read: Nigel Farage's 'hero' Elon Musk thinks he 'doesn’t have what it takes' to lead Reform UK The Chancellor added he had no interest in engaging with Musk, adding, “I don’t believe in courting Mr Musk’s favour. I’m happy to leave that to others. The rule is: don’t feed the troll.” Scholz had condemned Musk for his erratic comments after the billionaire labelled the German leader an incompetent fool. The Chancellor also warned voters not to let the owners of social media channels decide the snap elections in February Musk has publicly endorsed Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party ahead of the February federal elections. He also plans to host a live discussion with Alice Weidel, the AfD’s chancellor candidate, on his platform, X. Also read: Musk replies to Starlink appeal from Pakistan user: ‘Waiting for approval’ British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also slammed those "spreading lies and misinformation". Starmer's comments followed days of incendiary posts by Musk on his X platform over historical sex offences against children in Northern England. Musk has accused Starmer of being "deeply complicit in the mass rapes”. According to one report, senior politicians in three of Britain’s biggest parties—Labour, Liberal Democrats and Reform—have privately urged Donald Trump’s allies to reconsider his relationship with Elon Musk. (With inputs from agencies)

After Germany, France accuses Elon Musk of 'direct intervention' in elections; Norway PM terms it 'worrying'

A strange conspiracy theory has been debunked that an account on the social media platform X claiming to be a fan of Elon Musk is actually the billionaire himself. A journalist named Jacqueline Sweet revealed in her article published in the UK magazine The Spectator that the account belongs to a man living in Fiji.&nbsp;
Just after her claim was published, Sweet said on Sunday (Jan 5) that her account on X (platform owned by Musk) had been suspended.&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bidens-offshore-drilling-ban-why-cant-trump-undo-it-read-to-know-8599327" aria-label="Biden's offshore drilling ban: Why can't Trump undo it? Read to know">Biden's offshore drilling ban: Why can't Trump undo it? Read to know</a>
It was revealed that the account under the name Adrian Dittmann belongs to a man of the same name who is a businessman in Fiji and an admirer of Musk. Dittmann regularly posts in favour of Musk and even has a similar voice to the Tesla CEO. He also has been engaged with Musk on conservations on various X "Spaces" and has said that he does not desire to reveal much about him, fearing people will come after him for posts praising Musk.&nbsp;
After Sweet posted a link to her story on X saying that Musk was not Dittmann, the billionaire replied strangely, saying, &ldquo;I am Adrian Dittmann. It&rsquo;s time the world knew." It was Musk's sarcasm or he was serious, nobody knows.&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mcdonalds-faces-fresh-allegations-of-widespread-workplace-harassment-in-uk-restaurants-discrimination-homophobia-racism-ableism-and-harassment-8599153" aria-label="McDonald's faces fresh allegations of widespread workplace harassment in UK">McDonald's faces fresh allegations of widespread workplace harassment in UK</a>
Sweet informed about the suspension of her X account on a rival social media platform called Bluesky. She claimed that her post was taken down and the account has been suspended for 30 days. She further posted some screenshots of the message she received from X that claimed the reason behind Sweet's account suspension was her post that violates X's rules. The platform said the issue is related to "Posting Private Information.&rdquo;
"I think Elon is mad I ruined his stupid game of laughing at his critics who believe Adrian Dittmann is his alt and took his toys and went home,&rdquo; Sweet said on Bluesky.&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/this-fast-food-join-in-canada-offers-burgers-at-cheap-prices-to-celebrate-trudeaus-resignation-8599054" aria-label="THIS fast food join in Canada offers burgers at cheap prices to celebrate Trudeau's resignation: Reports">THIS fast food join in Canada offers burgers at cheap prices to celebrate Trudeau's resignation: Reports</a>
Matt McDonald, US managing editor of The Spectator, wrote in an article on Monday (Jan 6) that Sweet's article did not reveal any information such as the phone number, email, or address of anyone.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not so much about who Adrian Dittmann is as about who he isn&rsquo;t: presenting the case that Dittmann is not, in fact, secretly the richest man in the world is clearly in the public interest and has news value, particularly considering Musk&rsquo;s recently developed interest in government and international affairs,&rdquo; McDonald wrote.
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-experts-calls-on-china-to-provide-key-information-on-hmpv-outbreak-as-cases-double-in-britain-8599149" aria-label="UK experts call on China to provide key information on HMPV outbreak as cases double in Britain">UK experts call on China to provide key information on HMPV outbreak as cases double in Britain</a>
Furthermore, regarding the ongoing issue, Dittmann posted saying he is not Elon Musk.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Trending: This event raises questions about the consistency and transparency of content moderation policies and how they impact public discourse and individual expression.

A strange conspiracy theory has been debunked that an account on the social media platform X claiming to be a fan of Elon Musk is actually the billionaire himself. A journalist named Jacqueline Sweet revealed in her article published in the UK magazine The Spectator that the account belongs to a man living in Fiji. Just after her claim was published, Sweet said on Sunday (Jan 5) that her account on X (platform owned by Musk) had been suspended. Also read | Biden's offshore drilling ban: Why can't Trump undo it? Read to know It was revealed that the account under the name Adrian Dittmann belongs to a man of the same name who is a businessman in Fiji and an admirer of Musk. Dittmann regularly posts in favour of Musk and even has a similar voice to the Tesla CEO. He also has been engaged with Musk on conservations on various X "Spaces" and has said that he does not desire to reveal much about him, fearing people will come after him for posts praising Musk. After Sweet posted a link to her story on X saying that Musk was not Dittmann, the billionaire replied strangely, saying, “I am Adrian Dittmann. It’s time the world knew." It was Musk's sarcasm or he was serious, nobody knows. Also read | McDonald's faces fresh allegations of widespread workplace harassment in UK Sweet informed about the suspension of her X account on a rival social media platform called Bluesky. She claimed that her post was taken down and the account has been suspended for 30 days. She further posted some screenshots of the message she received from X that claimed the reason behind Sweet's account suspension was her post that violates X's rules. The platform said the issue is related to "Posting Private Information.” "I think Elon is mad I ruined his stupid game of laughing at his critics who believe Adrian Dittmann is his alt and took his toys and went home,” Sweet said on Bluesky. Also read | THIS fast food join in Canada offers burgers at cheap prices to celebrate Trudeau's resignation: Reports Matt McDonald, US managing editor of The Spectator, wrote in an article on Monday (Jan 6) that Sweet's article did not reveal any information such as the phone number, email, or address of anyone. “It’s not so much about who Adrian Dittmann is as about who he isn’t: presenting the case that Dittmann is not, in fact, secretly the richest man in the world is clearly in the public interest and has news value, particularly considering Musk’s recently developed interest in government and international affairs,” McDonald wrote. Also read | UK experts call on China to provide key information on HMPV outbreak as cases double in Britain Furthermore, regarding the ongoing issue, Dittmann posted saying he is not Elon Musk. (With inputs from agencies)

X suspends journalist for debunking conspiracy that Elon Musk's fan account is Musk himself. Here's what billionaire says

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer responded to Elon Musk's comments regarding the UK's handling of the grooming gang cases.
US President-elect <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-slams-joe-biden-mourning-for-jimmy-carter-or-democrat-conspiracy-trump-criticises-biden-for-half-mast-flags-8592688">Donald Trump's</a> close aide Musk, in a series of posts on X, has accused Starmer of being "complicit in the rape of Britain" during his time as Director of Public Prosecutions at the Crown Prosecution Service, alleging a failure to address grooming gangs effectively.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nigel-farages-hero-elon-musk-thinks-he-doesnt-have-what-it-takes-to-lead-reform-uk-8593973">Nigel Farage's 'hero' Elon Musk thinks he 'doesn&rsquo;t have what it takes' to lead Reform UK</a>
Starmer issued one of his most direct comments to Musk's criticism yet, saying, &ldquo;Those who are spreading lies and misinformation as far and as wide as possible are not interested in victims, they&rsquo;re interested in themselves.&rdquo;
Although he did not mention Musk directly, he was responding to a question about Elon Musk's recent attacks.
After Starmer's comments, X boss posted on X, "What an insane thing to say! The real reason is that it would show how Starmer repeatedly ignored the pleas of vast numbers of little girls and their parents, in order to secure political support. Starmer is utterly despicable."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dont-feed-the-troll-german-chancellor-scholz-dismisses-elon-musks-attacks-and-afd-endorsement-8593915">&lsquo;Don&rsquo;t feed the troll&rsquo;: German Chancellor Scholz dismisses Elon Musk&rsquo;s attacks and AfD endorsement</a>
<h2>'A line has been crossed'</h2>
&ldquo;We have seen this playbook many times&mdash;whipping up of intimidation and of threats of violence, hoping that the media will amplify it...&thinsp;When the poison of the far right leads to serious threats to Jess Phillips and others, then in my book a line has been crossed,&rdquo; Starmer added.
"I enjoy the cut and thrust of politics, the robust debate that we must have, but that's got to be based on facts and truth, not on lies,"&nbsp;Starmer&nbsp;said.
Referring to the controversial activist Tommy Robinson, he said, &ldquo;People who are cheerleading Tommy Robinson are not interested in justice; they are supporting a man who went to prison for nearly collapsing a grooming case, a gang grooming case.&rdquo;
Musk previously&nbsp;shared posts criticising Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment-news/uk-king-charles-announces-names-of-uk-post-office-scandal-victims-in-new-years-honours-list-8580022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Keir Starmer</a>&nbsp;and Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips regarding their handling of child abuse scandals in towns such as Rochdale and Oldham. He reposted claims that linked these cases to systemic failings during the time Sir Keir Starmer led the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
In one of his posts, Musk wrote, &ldquo;In the UK, serious crimes such as rape require the Crown Prosecution Service&rsquo;s approval for the police to charge suspects. Who was the head of the CPS when rape gangs were allowed to exploit young girls without facing justice? Keir Starmer, 2008-2013.&rdquo;
<h2>Grooming gangs in UK</h2>
For several years, there has been systematic rape of young females in the UK by organised gangs, including those in Rotherham, Bristol, Rochdale, Cornwall, and Derbyshire. Many of these gangs were operated by mainly South Asian Muslim men.&nbsp;
According to British media, an inquiry into the Rotherham grooming gangs scandal found that 1,400 girls&nbsp;were sexually abused&nbsp;by grooming gangs from 1997 to 2013.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Starmer issued one of his most direct comments to Musk's criticism yet, saying, “Those who are spreading lies and misinformation as far and as wide as possible are not interested in victims, they’re interested in themselves.”

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer responded to Elon Musk's comments regarding the UK's handling of the grooming gang cases. US President-elect Donald Trump's close aide Musk, in a series of posts on X, has accused Starmer of being "complicit in the rape of Britain" during his time as Director of Public Prosecutions at the Crown Prosecution Service, alleging a failure to address grooming gangs effectively. Also read: Nigel Farage's 'hero' Elon Musk thinks he 'doesn’t have what it takes' to lead Reform UK Starmer issued one of his most direct comments to Musk's criticism yet, saying, “Those who are spreading lies and misinformation as far and as wide as possible are not interested in victims, they’re interested in themselves.” Although he did not mention Musk directly, he was responding to a question about Elon Musk's recent attacks. After Starmer's comments, X boss posted on X, "What an insane thing to say! The real reason is that it would show how Starmer repeatedly ignored the pleas of vast numbers of little girls and their parents, in order to secure political support. Starmer is utterly despicable." Also read: ‘Don’t feed the troll’: German Chancellor Scholz dismisses Elon Musk’s attacks and AfD endorsement 'A line has been crossed' “We have seen this playbook many times—whipping up of intimidation and of threats of violence, hoping that the media will amplify it... When the poison of the far right leads to serious threats to Jess Phillips and others, then in my book a line has been crossed,” Starmer added. "I enjoy the cut and thrust of politics, the robust debate that we must have, but that's got to be based on facts and truth, not on lies," Starmer said. Referring to the controversial activist Tommy Robinson, he said, “People who are cheerleading Tommy Robinson are not interested in justice; they are supporting a man who went to prison for nearly collapsing a grooming case, a gang grooming case.” Musk previously shared posts criticising Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips regarding their handling of child abuse scandals in towns such as Rochdale and Oldham. He reposted claims that linked these cases to systemic failings during the time Sir Keir Starmer led the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). In one of his posts, Musk wrote, “In the UK, serious crimes such as rape require the Crown Prosecution Service’s approval for the police to charge suspects. Who was the head of the CPS when rape gangs were allowed to exploit young girls without facing justice? Keir Starmer, 2008-2013.” Grooming gangs in UK For several years, there has been systematic rape of young females in the UK by organised gangs, including those in Rotherham, Bristol, Rochdale, Cornwall, and Derbyshire. Many of these gangs were operated by mainly South Asian Muslim men. According to British media, an inquiry into the Rotherham grooming gangs scandal found that 1,400 girls were sexually abused by grooming gangs from 1997 to 2013. (With inputs from agencies)

UK PM Keir Starmer slams Elon Musk for spreading 'lies and misinformation'; X boss reacts

Elon Musk has called for Nigel Farage to quit as leader of Britain's right-wing Reform UK Party in an abrupt withdrawal of support by the US billionaire for the Brexit campaigner.

Elon Musk seeks a 'new leader' for 'Reform UK', calls Nigel Farage to step down

Elon Musk says Nigel Farage should step down as Reform UK leader

Elon Musk withdraws support for Nigel Farage, says he should quit as Reform party leader

Elon Musk on Sunday aimed his trigger at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nigel-farage-ready-to-work-with-peter-mandelson-to-secure-trade-deal-with-trump-786621">Nigel Farage</a>, saying he &ldquo;doesn&rsquo;t have what it takes&rdquo; to lead Reform UK. Musk's comments came just hours after Farage refrained from condemning the X boss for controversial comments about Keir Starmer and Jess Phillips.
In his post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk wrote, &ldquo;The Reform party needs a new leader. Farage doesn&rsquo;t have what it takes.&rdquo;
Recently, the two men reportedly met at Donald Trump&rsquo;s Florida residence amid speculation that Musk might contribute $100 million (&pound;80 million) to the Reform party. It is not unclear why Musk has reversed his stance on Farage&rsquo;s leadership.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-certification-donald-trump-january-6-capitol-riot-anniversary-what-will-happen-8593934">On January 6 Capitol riot anniversary, Trump will be officially certified election winner</a>
Before Musk&rsquo;s comments, Farage appeared on BBC One&rsquo;s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, where he hailed Musk for promoting free speech on social media since acquiring X. 
Farage said, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t agree with everything he stands for, but I do believe in free speech. I think he&rsquo;s a hero.&rdquo; He added, &ldquo;Free speech is back. You may find it offensive, but it&rsquo;s a good thing, not a bad thing.&rdquo;
Musk had previously referred to Jess Phillips as a &ldquo;rape genocide apologist&rdquo; and accused UK PM <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musk-vs-starmer-x-boss-wants-king-charles-to-oust-uk-govt-amid-grooming-gangs-row-8590618">Keir Starmer</a> of being &ldquo;complicit in the rape of Britain.&rdquo;
Earlier, Farage described Musk&rsquo;s comments as &ldquo;very, very tough terms&rdquo; but argued they were only problematic if they incited violence. &ldquo;In public life, tough things get said. The left has made similar attacks on the right for decades and will continue to do so,&rdquo; Farage said.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dont-feed-the-troll-german-chancellor-scholz-dismisses-elon-musks-attacks-and-afd-endorsement-8593915">&lsquo;Don&rsquo;t feed the troll&rsquo;: German Chancellor Scholz dismisses Elon Musk&rsquo;s attacks and AfD endorsement</a>
Farage defended Musk&rsquo;s criticism of Starmer, pointing to the Labour leader&rsquo;s time as director of public prosecutions (DPP) before entering politics. &ldquo;What he&rsquo;s referring to is that in 2008, when Keir Starmer had just been appointed DPP, a case involving the alleged mass rape of young girls did not result in prosecution,&rdquo; Farage explained. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know the full details, but if you believe in free speech, people are entitled to their opinions.&rdquo;
Farage also dismissed suggestions that his reluctance to criticise Musk was linked to the possibility of Musk donating to Reform UK. While admitting that Musk &ldquo;may well&rdquo; offer financial support.
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Trending: In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), billionaire Elon Musk wrote, “The Reform party needs a new leader. Farage doesn’t have what it takes.”

Elon Musk on Sunday aimed his trigger at Nigel Farage, saying he “doesn’t have what it takes” to lead Reform UK. Musk's comments came just hours after Farage refrained from condemning the X boss for controversial comments about Keir Starmer and Jess Phillips. In his post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk wrote, “The Reform party needs a new leader. Farage doesn’t have what it takes.” Recently, the two men reportedly met at Donald Trump’s Florida residence amid speculation that Musk might contribute $100 million (£80 million) to the Reform party. It is not unclear why Musk has reversed his stance on Farage’s leadership. Also read: On January 6 Capitol riot anniversary, Trump will be officially certified election winner Before Musk’s comments, Farage appeared on BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, where he hailed Musk for promoting free speech on social media since acquiring X. Farage said, “I don’t agree with everything he stands for, but I do believe in free speech. I think he’s a hero.” He added, “Free speech is back. You may find it offensive, but it’s a good thing, not a bad thing.” Musk had previously referred to Jess Phillips as a “rape genocide apologist” and accused UK PM Keir Starmer of being “complicit in the rape of Britain.” Earlier, Farage described Musk’s comments as “very, very tough terms” but argued they were only problematic if they incited violence. “In public life, tough things get said. The left has made similar attacks on the right for decades and will continue to do so,” Farage said. Also read: ‘Don’t feed the troll’: German Chancellor Scholz dismisses Elon Musk’s attacks and AfD endorsement Farage defended Musk’s criticism of Starmer, pointing to the Labour leader’s time as director of public prosecutions (DPP) before entering politics. “What he’s referring to is that in 2008, when Keir Starmer had just been appointed DPP, a case involving the alleged mass rape of young girls did not result in prosecution,” Farage explained. “I don’t know the full details, but if you believe in free speech, people are entitled to their opinions.” Farage also dismissed suggestions that his reluctance to criticise Musk was linked to the possibility of Musk donating to Reform UK. While admitting that Musk “may well” offer financial support. (With inputs from agencies)

Nigel Farage's 'hero' Elon Musk thinks he 'doesn’t have what it takes' to lead Reform UK

German Chancellor <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-accuses-elon-musk-of-trying-to-influence-elections-with-afd-endorsements-8578786">Olaf Scholz</a> has dismissed recent insults directed at him and other German leaders by Elon Musk, calling the X boss a "troll." In an interview with the German weekly Stern, Scholz said, "Don&rsquo;t feed the troll," when asked about Musk&rsquo;s comments.
Scholz said, &ldquo;You have to stay cool. As Social Democrats, we have long been used to the fact that there are rich media entrepreneurs who do not appreciate social democratic politics &ndash; and do not hide their opinions.&rdquo;
<h2>'The rule is: don&rsquo;t feed the troll'</h2>
The chancellor also made it clear he had no intention of engaging with Musk. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t believe in courting Mr Musk&rsquo;s favour. I&rsquo;m happy to leave that to others,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;The rule is: don&rsquo;t feed the troll.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-replies-to-starlink-appeal-from-pakistan-user-waiting-for-approval-8593658">Musk replies to Starlink appeal from Pakistan user: &lsquo;Waiting for approval&rsquo;</a>
Musk has publicly endorsed the far-right Alternative f&uuml;r Deutschland (AfD) party ahead of Germany's federal elections in February and is set to host a live discussion with the party&rsquo;s chancellor candidate, Alice Weidel, on his social media platform, X.&nbsp;
&ldquo;What I find much more worrying than such insults is that Musk is supporting a party like the AfD, which is in parts right-wing extremist, which preaches rapprochement with Putin&rsquo;s Russia and wants to weaken transatlantic relations,&rdquo; Scholz said.
Musk has been vocal in his criticism of Germany&rsquo;s leadership, referring to federal president Frank-Walter Steinmeier as an &ldquo;anti-democratic tyrant&rdquo; last month.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-travesty-elon-musk-republicans-criticise-biden-for-honouring-george-soros-8593415">'A travesty': Elon Musk, Republicans criticise Biden for honouring George Soros</a>
Scholz responded to that comment during the interview, saying, &ldquo;The German president is not an anti-democratic tyrant, and Germany is a strong and stable democracy&mdash;never mind what Mr Musk says. In Germany, the will of the citizens prevails, not the erratic comments of a billionaire from the USA.&rdquo;
The billionaire has also taken aim at Scholz personally. Following the collapse of Scholz&rsquo;s centre-left coalition in November, Musk called the chancellor a &ldquo;fool&rdquo; on X. More recently, Musk said, &ldquo;Chancellor Oaf Schitz or whatever his name is will lose.&rdquo;
Musk argued that the party was unfairly labelled as extremist, pointing to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-president-dissolves-parliament-national-election-expected-on-feb-23-8570685">Alice Weidel&rsquo;s</a> personal life as evidence: &ldquo;The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party&rsquo;s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!&rdquo;
Musk&rsquo;s article caused controversy, with the newspaper&rsquo;s commentary editor resigning in protest.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Scholz said, “You have to stay cool. As Social Democrats, we have long been used to the fact that there are rich media entrepreneurs who do not appreciate social democratic politics – and do not hide their opinions.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has dismissed recent insults directed at him and other German leaders by Elon Musk, calling the X boss a "troll." In an interview with the German weekly Stern, Scholz said, "Don’t feed the troll," when asked about Musk’s comments. Scholz said, “You have to stay cool. As Social Democrats, we have long been used to the fact that there are rich media entrepreneurs who do not appreciate social democratic politics – and do not hide their opinions.” 'The rule is: don’t feed the troll' The chancellor also made it clear he had no intention of engaging with Musk. “I don’t believe in courting Mr Musk’s favour. I’m happy to leave that to others,” he added. “The rule is: don’t feed the troll.” Also read: Musk replies to Starlink appeal from Pakistan user: ‘Waiting for approval’ Musk has publicly endorsed the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party ahead of Germany's federal elections in February and is set to host a live discussion with the party’s chancellor candidate, Alice Weidel, on his social media platform, X. “What I find much more worrying than such insults is that Musk is supporting a party like the AfD, which is in parts right-wing extremist, which preaches rapprochement with Putin’s Russia and wants to weaken transatlantic relations,” Scholz said. Musk has been vocal in his criticism of Germany’s leadership, referring to federal president Frank-Walter Steinmeier as an “anti-democratic tyrant” last month. Also read: 'A travesty': Elon Musk, Republicans criticise Biden for honouring George Soros Scholz responded to that comment during the interview, saying, “The German president is not an anti-democratic tyrant, and Germany is a strong and stable democracy—never mind what Mr Musk says. In Germany, the will of the citizens prevails, not the erratic comments of a billionaire from the USA.” The billionaire has also taken aim at Scholz personally. Following the collapse of Scholz’s centre-left coalition in November, Musk called the chancellor a “fool” on X. More recently, Musk said, “Chancellor Oaf Schitz or whatever his name is will lose.” Musk argued that the party was unfairly labelled as extremist, pointing to Alice Weidel’s personal life as evidence: “The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!” Musk’s article caused controversy, with the newspaper’s commentary editor resigning in protest. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Don’t feed the troll’: German Chancellor Scholz dismisses Elon Musk’s attacks and AfD endorsement

Amid concerns in India over the alleged use of Starlink by militants, Elon Musk, who owns the satellite internet service, has revealed plans to start its operations in Pakistan.
This comes following an appeal made on the social media platform X to the tech billionaire on Saturday (Jan 4) by a user, Sanam Jamali, a citizen from Pakistan, who expressed her hope about how Starlink could transform Pakistan&rsquo;s digital landscape.&nbsp;
"Starlink could connect millions to high-speed internet and unlock new economic opportunities," the user tweeted. Musk responded directly, stating, "We are waiting for approval from the government."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5jnlcp2-lg9q90vn-j3uk2abr">
<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a>, with Starlink, Pakistan 🇵🇰 could leap into the future, where every citizen has the chance to connect and grow. Please, let Starlink be our bridge to tomorrow.
&mdash; Sanam Jamali🇵🇰 (@sana_J2) <a href="https://twitter.com/sana_J2/status/1875530465828073865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2 dir="ltr">National security concerns</h2>
The government of Pakistan has been in discussions regarding Starlink&rsquo;s entry for months, with ongoing deliberations about its regulatory and security implications. Shaza Fatima, the Minister of State for IT, informed the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom&nbsp;on December 5, 2024, that efforts were underway to facilitate Starlink's entry, but regulatory approvals were pending. During Senate meetings, officials raised concerns about potential bureaucratic delays and national security implications.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musks-starlink-devices-allegedly-smuggled-amid-manipur-internet-ban-8591662" rel="dofollow">India: Starlink devices allegedly smuggled into Manipur amid internet ban</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">Pakistan's expanding IT sector</h2>
The IT sector is growing fast in Pakistan, and with this, Starlink has the ability to connect areas with limited or no internet access. However, the Starlink timeline depends on the decision made by the government. Although it can greatly enhance internet access in rural and remote parts of the country, the government is focusing on national security and ensuring compliance with local rules.&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-set-to-investigate-starlink-to-hunt-down-drug-smugglers-781531" rel="dofollow">India set to investigate Starlink internet service to hunt down drug smugglers</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">Awaiting further updates</h2>
Pakistani users who want high-speed satellite internet must now wait for announcements from Starlink and local authorities. According to reports, the government is anticipated to take a decision soon, though there is a clear indication that both regulatory processes and security checks will continue to lengthen delays. (With inputs from agencies)

World | Science & Tech: An appeal was made on X to Musk by a Pakistani user who expressed her hope about how Starlink could transform Pakistan’s digital landscape. 

Amid concerns in India over the alleged use of Starlink by militants, Elon Musk, who owns the satellite internet service, has revealed plans to start its operations in Pakistan. This comes following an appeal made on the social media platform X to the tech billionaire on Saturday (Jan 4) by a user, Sanam Jamali, a citizen from Pakistan, who expressed her hope about how Starlink could transform Pakistan’s digital landscape. "Starlink could connect millions to high-speed internet and unlock new economic opportunities," the user tweeted. Musk responded directly, stating, "We are waiting for approval from the government." @elonmusk, with Starlink, Pakistan 🇵🇰 could leap into the future, where every citizen has the chance to connect and grow. Please, let Starlink be our bridge to tomorrow. — Sanam Jamali🇵🇰 (@sana_J2) January 4, 2025 National security concerns The government of Pakistan has been in discussions regarding Starlink’s entry for months, with ongoing deliberations about its regulatory and security implications. Shaza Fatima, the Minister of State for IT, informed the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom on December 5, 2024, that efforts were underway to facilitate Starlink's entry, but regulatory approvals were pending. During Senate meetings, officials raised concerns about potential bureaucratic delays and national security implications. Also Read: India: Starlink devices allegedly smuggled into Manipur amid internet ban Pakistan's expanding IT sector The IT sector is growing fast in Pakistan, and with this, Starlink has the ability to connect areas with limited or no internet access. However, the Starlink timeline depends on the decision made by the government. Although it can greatly enhance internet access in rural and remote parts of the country, the government is focusing on national security and ensuring compliance with local rules. Also Read: India set to investigate Starlink internet service to hunt down drug smugglers Awaiting further updates Pakistani users who want high-speed satellite internet must now wait for announcements from Starlink and local authorities. According to reports, the government is anticipated to take a decision soon, though there is a clear indication that both regulatory processes and security checks will continue to lengthen delays. (With inputs from agencies)

Musk replies to Starlink appeal from Pakistan user: ‘Waiting for approval’

Elon Musk announces that Starlink is waiting for government approval to launch its services in Pakistan, aiming to provide satellite internet access.

Elon Musk reveals Starlink awaits government approval for Pakistan launch

Elon Musk demands UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's resignation, alleging his involvement in covering up the UK's rape gang scandal.

Elon Musk calls for Keir  Starmer's resignation over rape gang scandal

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-litmus-test-for-starmers-leadership">Sir Keir Starmer</a> has been accused of being "as guilty as anyone" for not addressing grooming gangs during his time as director of public prosecutions by the whistleblower who helped expose the abuse scandal, The Telegraph reported.&nbsp;
Maggie Oliver, a former detective with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said that she had no faith in the prime minister&rsquo;s commitment to uncovering the truth.&nbsp;
In the midst of the controversy, Elon Musk, American billionaire and owner of social media platform X, levelled serious accusations against Sir Keir.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-accuses-uk-pm-starmer-of-failing-to-bringing-rape-gangs-to-justice-8587561">Elon Musk accuses UK PM Keir Starmer of failing to bring 'rape gangs' to justice</a>
In the past few days, Musk has posted a series of comments claiming that Starmer failed to prosecute child rapists during his tenure at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) between 2008 and 2013.&nbsp;
Musk also criticised safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, alleging she rejected Oldham Council's requests for an inquiry to shield Sir Keir.
Musk, in a post on X, suggested that Jess Phillips &ldquo;deserves to be in prison&rdquo; for opposing calls for a national inquiry into the Oldham abuse scandal. On Friday, Musk also backed the idea of holding a UK general election, despite the most recent one being only six months ago.
He reposted a post that urged King Charles to dissolve the government, &ldquo;The King must step in. We can&rsquo;t have Keir heading the country, while he was the one heading the Crown Prosecution Service [CPS] while all this was happening.&rdquo; Musk replied to the post with a simple &ldquo;Yes.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/free-tommy-robinson-elon-musk-demands-release-of-jailed-uk-far-right-leader-slams-pm-starmer-8586433">&lsquo;Free Tommy Robinson&rsquo;: Elon Musk demands release of jailed UK far-right leader; slams PM Starmer</a>
Musk even reposted an image of Starmer with the caption, &ldquo;I facilitate child rape.&rdquo;
The Labour Party has faced criticism for blocking a national public inquiry into the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sex-crime-uk-grooming-gang-menace-i-dark-world-594176">grooming gangs</a> scandal. These gangs, composed mainly of South Asian Muslim men, abused thousands of vulnerable girls in towns such as Rotherham, Rochdale, and Telford. Investigations have previously revealed that authorities, including police and local councils, failed to act, fearing accusations of racism or Islamophobia.
There are increasing demands for a statutory national inquiry to probe broader systemic failures. During Keir&rsquo;s term as director of public prosecutions, the CPS dropped a case against a rape suspect despite strong evidence. Sir Keir has since admitted that vulnerable girls were let down under his watch.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Elon Musk also backed the idea of holding a UK general election. He reposted a post that urged King Charles to dissolve the government. “The King must step in. We can’t have Keir heading the country..."

Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of being "as guilty as anyone" for not addressing grooming gangs during his time as director of public prosecutions by the whistleblower who helped expose the abuse scandal, The Telegraph reported. Maggie Oliver, a former detective with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said that she had no faith in the prime minister’s commitment to uncovering the truth. In the midst of the controversy, Elon Musk, American billionaire and owner of social media platform X, levelled serious accusations against Sir Keir. Also read: Elon Musk accuses UK PM Keir Starmer of failing to bring 'rape gangs' to justice In the past few days, Musk has posted a series of comments claiming that Starmer failed to prosecute child rapists during his tenure at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) between 2008 and 2013. Musk also criticised safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, alleging she rejected Oldham Council's requests for an inquiry to shield Sir Keir. Musk, in a post on X, suggested that Jess Phillips “deserves to be in prison” for opposing calls for a national inquiry into the Oldham abuse scandal. On Friday, Musk also backed the idea of holding a UK general election, despite the most recent one being only six months ago. He reposted a post that urged King Charles to dissolve the government, “The King must step in. We can’t have Keir heading the country, while he was the one heading the Crown Prosecution Service [CPS] while all this was happening.” Musk replied to the post with a simple “Yes.” Also read: ‘Free Tommy Robinson’: Elon Musk demands release of jailed UK far-right leader; slams PM Starmer Musk even reposted an image of Starmer with the caption, “I facilitate child rape.” The Labour Party has faced criticism for blocking a national public inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal. These gangs, composed mainly of South Asian Muslim men, abused thousands of vulnerable girls in towns such as Rotherham, Rochdale, and Telford. Investigations have previously revealed that authorities, including police and local councils, failed to act, fearing accusations of racism or Islamophobia. There are increasing demands for a statutory national inquiry to probe broader systemic failures. During Keir’s term as director of public prosecutions, the CPS dropped a case against a rape suspect despite strong evidence. Sir Keir has since admitted that vulnerable girls were let down under his watch. (With inputs from agencies)

Musk vs Starmer: X boss wants King Charles to oust UK govt amid grooming gangs row

American automobile major, Tesla, reported its first annual sales decline on Thursday. This is the first time the company has reported a full-year drop in its sales since it went public.&nbsp;
<h2>Sales numbers</h2>
In the fourth quarter, Tesla sold 495,570 vehicles, a two per cent increase from the previous year. However, this figure fell short of the 595,413 EVs sold by Chinese EV manufacturer BYD during the same period.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-hush-money-trial-judge-sets-sentencing-date-but-signals-no-jail-time-8589737">Trump hush money trial: Judge sets sentencing date but signals no jail time</a>
Tesla retained its position as the world&rsquo;s largest EV maker in 2024, delivering 1.8 million vehicles&mdash;24,000 more than BYD's annual total.
Despite its leading position, Tesla's annual sales dropped 1 per cent compared to 2023. This marked a significant slowdown from its earlier growth, including a 37 per cent rise in 2023. The company previously reported annual sales growth rate at nearly 50 per cent.
<h2>Rising competition</h2>
Tesla is currently facing rising competition from both Chinese automakers like BYD and traditional global players, including General Motors, Ford, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and Kia.&nbsp;
While these legacy automakers remain focused on gasoline-powered vehicles, their increasing investments in EVs are putting pressure on Tesla.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/gold-surge-pushes-rolex-watch-prices-up-by-14-in-2025-8589724">Gold surge pushes Rolex watch prices up by 14% in 2025</a>
In response to declining demand, Tesla has reduced vehicle prices in key markets such as the United States and China. However, the company remains more profitable than its competitors, who are still incurring losses on their EV offerings as they scale production.
Overall EV sales continue to grow globally but at a slower rate than previous years.
Tesla shares fell by over 4 per cent following the weak sales report but ended 2024 up 68 per cent. Much of the gain occurred post-Election Day, as investors speculated on favourable policies under the incoming Trump administration, supported by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
(With input from agencies)

Business & Economy: Tesla reported its first annual sales drop, with a 1 per cent decline in 2024. Despite rising competition, the company retained its position as the world’s largest EV maker.

American automobile major, Tesla, reported its first annual sales decline on Thursday. This is the first time the company has reported a full-year drop in its sales since it went public. Sales numbers In the fourth quarter, Tesla sold 495,570 vehicles, a two per cent increase from the previous year. However, this figure fell short of the 595,413 EVs sold by Chinese EV manufacturer BYD during the same period. Also read: Trump hush money trial: Judge sets sentencing date but signals no jail time Tesla retained its position as the world’s largest EV maker in 2024, delivering 1.8 million vehicles—24,000 more than BYD's annual total. Despite its leading position, Tesla's annual sales dropped 1 per cent compared to 2023. This marked a significant slowdown from its earlier growth, including a 37 per cent rise in 2023. The company previously reported annual sales growth rate at nearly 50 per cent. Rising competition Tesla is currently facing rising competition from both Chinese automakers like BYD and traditional global players, including General Motors, Ford, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and Kia. While these legacy automakers remain focused on gasoline-powered vehicles, their increasing investments in EVs are putting pressure on Tesla. Also read: Gold surge pushes Rolex watch prices up by 14% in 2025 In response to declining demand, Tesla has reduced vehicle prices in key markets such as the United States and China. However, the company remains more profitable than its competitors, who are still incurring losses on their EV offerings as they scale production. Overall EV sales continue to grow globally but at a slower rate than previous years. Tesla shares fell by over 4 per cent following the weak sales report but ended 2024 up 68 per cent. Much of the gain occurred post-Election Day, as investors speculated on favourable policies under the incoming Trump administration, supported by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. (With input from agencies)

Elon Musk’s Tesla experiences first-ever annual sales decline

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