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US News

Closing Arguments Wrap Up in Trump's Hush Money Trial

What's going on: Yesterday, prosecutors and former President Trump’s lawyers delivered their final pitches to the 12-person jury. Trump’s defense team attacked the credibility of the prosecution’s star witness Michael Cohen, calling him the “GLOAT” — greatest liar of all time. The defense also said Trump believed he was paying Cohen for legal work. Meanwhile, prosecutors told jurors that Trump took part in a “conspiracy and a cover-up” to protect himself during his 2016 presidential campaign, which included hiding a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

What it means: The jury’s expected to begin deliberations today. They could convict or acquit Trump on all or some of the 34 counts of falsifying business records. In order to reach a verdict, the jury must be unanimous. Otherwise there could be a hung jury and a mistrial. A verdict could come as soon as this week, ahead of the Biden-Trump debate next month. Trump has pleaded not guilty and has denied the affair with Daniels.

Related: Robert De Niro Clashed With Pro-Trump Protesters Outside the Trial’s Courtroom (NBC)

Business

Investigation Links Luxury Perfumes to Child Labor

What's going on: A BBC investigation found that L’Oréal and Estée Lauder perfume suppliers used jasmine that had been picked by children. The BBC looked into the jasmine fields in Egypt last summer, discovering that minors helped supply the ingredient used in perfumes like Lancôme Idôle L’Intense and Ikat Jasmine. Many of the children reportedly work to help their parents on small shareholder farms, where people are paid for the weight of the jasmine they pick. It’s unclear how many children account for the 30,000 people that the BBC says pick jasmine in Egypt.

What it means: L’Oréal said it was committed to respecting human rights and Estée Lauder said it has contacted its suppliers. One expert said perfume companies’ disconnect from their supply chains is contributing to the issue. Egyptian jasmine pickers reportedly say they’ve been forced to involve their children because many luxury brands have tightened their budgets, leading to low pay.

Related: Why Perfume Has a Hefty Price Tag (The Financial Times)

Technology

OpenAI Hopes This New Committee Is the Answer to Safety Concerns

What's going on: Yesterday, OpenAI announced it formed a committee that will be responsible for making safety and security recommendations to the company’s board. The committee’s first job will be to evaluate and further develop “OpenAI’s processes and safeguards” over the next three months. Then, the board’s expected to announce which recommendations it is taking up.

What it means: OpenAI’s move could be an effort to appease critics who say the company is dismissing the dangers of AI. The formation of the new committee also comes after the company disbanded its Superalignment team, which researched the long-term risks of AI. It also follows the recent departure of one of the company’s co-founders.

Related: An OpenAI Researcher Who Left Over Safety Concerns Jumped Ship (The Verge)