Business
Ex-New York Times writer Bari Weiss to lead CBS after Paramount deal
Getty ImagesParamount has named former New York Times opinion writer Bari Weiss to lead CBS News, in the latest move by new owners to reshape operations of one of America’s leading news organisations.
Paramount is also buying The Free Press, the digital outlet Weiss started after her acrimonious departure from the New York Times, in a deal reported to be worth $150m (£112m).
Ms Weiss, who has criticised broadcast media for becoming too partisan, said she was excited to put her stamp on CBS, which was taken over by David Ellison earlier this year as part of a wider merger with Paramount.
The deal has drawn scrutiny on the left because Mr Ellison is the son of tech billionaire and Trump ally Larry Ellison.
Ms Weiss, who started her career working at Jewish news outlets, is known for her support of Israel and her criticism of “cancel culture”.
Since its start as a newsletter in 2021, The Free Press has attracted 1.5 million subscribers, including more than 170,000 paid subscribers.
It has drawn attention for reports such as a piece critical of NPR by one of its former business editors, Uri Berliner, as well as an investigation of some photos used by mainstream news outlets to illustrate famine in Gaza, which said many of those featured suffered other health conditions.
Big name contributors include historian Niall Ferguson and economist Tyler Cowen.
Mr Ellison said the appointment of Ms Weiss as editor-in-chief was part of a bigger effort to modernise content at Paramount and make CBS the “most-trusted name in news”.
“We believe the majority of the country longs for news that is balanced and fact-based, and we want CBS to be their home,” he said.
More change at CBS
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Paramount declined to comment on the reports that the firm had paid $150m in stock and cash.
Mr Ellison made his name as a Hollywood film producer of blockbusters such as Top Gun Maverick, True Grit and World War Z.
He has said his aim is to produce coverage that is less politically skewed, and therefore has the ability to reach all audiences.
His takeover of Paramount was approved by the Trump administration this summer, after the company agreed to pay $16m to settle a lawsuit brought by Trump over a 60 Minutes interview with his 2024 presidential rival Kamala Harris he said was deceptively edited to benefit Democrats.
To win approval of the deal, Mr Ellison agreed to install an independent ombudsman at CBS to review complaints of bias and committed to regulators that programming would reflect a diversity of view points.
He also said CBS’s long-running political show “Face the Nation” would no longer air edited interviews.
CBS News has a partnership agreement with the BBC, meaning news content including video footage can be shared. BBC News is editorially independent of CBS.
In a note announcing the deal, Ms Weiss said she believed in the Paramount boss and his leadership team.
“They are doubling down because they believe in news. Because they have courage. Because they love this country. And because they understand, as we do, that America cannot thrive without common facts, common truths, and a common reality,” she wrote.
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Gold is sold at a discount in Dubai due to Middle East conflict disrupting flights. Traders offer up to $30 per ounce less than London prices.
Dubai Gold Selling Cheaper As Iran War Grounds Flights
Gold is being sold at a discount in Dubai as the widening conflict in the Middle East disrupts flights and hampers the movement of bullion from one of the world’s key trading hubs.
According to a Bloomberg report, traders in Dubai are offering discounts of up to $30 per ounce compared to the global benchmark price in London. The unusual price cut comes as shipments remain stranded due to flight disruptions triggered by the escalating conflict involving Iran and Israel.
Dubai is a key global centre for refining and exporting gold to markets across Asia, including India. However, partial airspace restrictions and heightened security risks have slowed the movement of bullion out of the region.
Why Gold Is Being Sold Cheaper
Gold is typically transported in the cargo holds of passenger aircraft. With several flights from the UAE restricted amid regional tensions, traders are struggling to move bullion to international markets.
At the same time, insurance and freight costs have surged, making shipments more expensive and uncertain. Many buyers have therefore stepped back from placing new orders, unwilling to bear high logistics costs without assurance of timely delivery.
To avoid paying prolonged storage and financing costs while shipments remain stuck, some traders are offering gold at discounted prices.
Although transporting bullion by road to airports in neighbouring countries such as Saudi Arabia or Oman is theoretically possible, logistics firms are reluctant due to the risks and complications of moving high-value cargo across land borders during a conflict.
What It Means For India
India, one of the largest buyers of gold shipped from Dubai, could face short-term supply disruptions if the situation continues.
Renisha Chainani, head of research at Augmont Enterprises Ltd., said several cargo shipments have already been delayed, creating temporary tightness in the availability of physical bullion in India.
However, industry experts as reported by Bloomberg say the immediate impact may remain limited as domestic inventories are currently comfortable after heavy imports earlier this year.
Chirag Sheth, principal consultant for South Asia at Metals Focus, said Bloomberg that India has ample stocks for now, but warned that prolonged disruptions could eventually affect supply if the conflict continues for several months.
Meanwhile, global gold prices have surged this year amid geopolitical uncertainty, with spot gold recently trading above $5,000 per ounce.
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March 08, 2026, 10:03 IST
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Some seven in 10 British adults without a full driving licence say learning to drive is currently unaffordable, according to a survey.
The figure is even higher among younger people, with 76% of 18 to 29-year-olds without a licence saying driving lessons are financially out of reach, the poll for car insurer Prima found.
Overall, 38% said the cost of driving lessons was the biggest deterrent to learning to drive.
Some 32% were put off by the price of buying a car and 15% said the cost of car insurance was the main barrier to learning to drive.
Almost half (45%) said they would consider learning to drive if it became significantly cheaper.
Nick Ielpo, UK country manager at Prima, said: “For a growing number of people, driving is no longer a symbol of freedom – it’s a financial stretch too far.
“Between lessons, buying a car and insuring it, the upfront and ongoing costs are pricing many people out before they even start.”
Find Out Now surveyed 1,134 adults who do not hold a full driving licence between January 21 and 23.
Go Digit General Insurance on Saturday said it has received a demand notice of about Rs 170 crore for short payment of goods and services tax (GST) for nearly five years. The company has received an order copy from the Office of the Commissioner of GST & Central Excise, Chennai South Commissionerate on March 6, confirming GST demand of Rs 154.80 crore levying penalty of Rs 15.48 crore and Interest u/s 50 of CGST Act, 2017 for the period July 2017 to March 2022, the insurer said in a regulatory filing. The company is in the process of evaluating the legal advice on the implications and would file an appeal, it said.
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