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Tesla is turning to things besides solar in order to comply with its employment requirements at Gigafactory Buffalo in New York as part of a deal between SolarCity and the state.

Tesla Gigafactory New York

Tesla inherited Gigafactory New York as a result of its acquisition of SolarCity, and with it comes a deal with the state to create a certain number of jobs and maintain a level of investment in the region.

In exchange, the state invested $950 million in the project.

The deal has been somewhat hard to fulfill for Tesla after several changes of plan for the factory, which was first supposed to produce solar panels.

That plan originally failed and was replaced with a deal with Panasonic to produce solar modules for Tesla at the factory, but that deal also ended last year.

Tesla has since focused on building solar roof tiles at the location and Supercharger stations at the factory.

Tesla moves to more non-solar activities

In order to ramp up hiring at the location and comply with the state requirements, Tesla has been bringing more activities to Tesla Gigafactory New York that have nothing to do with solar.

We previously reported on Tesla looking to build a team of data labelers at Gigafactory New York to feed Autopilot neural nets with images.

In a new report about the progress to meet the state employment requirements, Tesla confirmed that its efforts have been slowed down by the pandemic, but it has now hired over 250 people to work on its Autopilot and full self-driving efforts, like data labelers.

Yaron Klein, Tesla treasurer, commented in a letter to the state:

Despite these headwinds, Tesla has been steadily ramping back up GFNY and expanding and diversifying the facility’s operations. Tesla has continued to expand the portfolio of the Power Electronics and vehicle charging equipment manufactured in Buffalo, and we recently onboarded over 250 new positions at the facility to support training Tesla’s autonomous vehicle and full self-driving capabilities.

250 people is significant considering Tesla reports now employing 1,058 people at Gigafactory New York as of the end of April.

Tesla is also turning to power electronics production in order to accelerate hiring at the plant.

While Tesla has achieved its investment requirements for the project, it is still about 30% off its employment goal.

Tesla received an extension from the state to achieve the requirement by the end of the year, and the company is confident that it will achieve the goal:

In sum, Tesla remains committed to expanding our business throughout the State of New York and further building the GFNY facility in Buffalo into a world-class advanced manufacturing center. As we have already exceeded two of our obligations under the Agreement, Tesla anticipates it will continue to recover from the pandemic-related impacts and expects it will meet and exceed all of the Agreement’s Year Two requirements by the end of the 2021.

In the report, Tesla also complained about the state’s direct sale laws that are still limiting the automaker to only five stores and service centers in the state.

It’s preventing Tesla from hiring more people in the state, but a new bill is currently being proposed, and if it passes, it would enable Tesla to open more locations in New York.

Here’s the latest report:


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Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in pictures

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Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in pictures

It’s a night of glitz, glamour and high camp, in which pop, rock, disco and opera all come together in one big Eurovision cocktail.

This year’s acts incorporate a giant gold microphone, a sauna – and of course pyrotechnics and fake ice aplenty.

Here are some of the best moments on stage in Basel.

Tommy Cash, singing Espresso Macchiato for Estonia. Pic: Reuters
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Tommy Cash, singing Espresso Macchiato for Estonia. Pic: Reuters

Kyle Alessandro performs Lighter for Norway. Pic: AP
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Kyle Alessandro performs Lighter for Norway. Pic: AP

Yuval Raphael performs New Day Will Rise for Israel. Pic:AP
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Yuval Raphael performs New Day Will Rise for Israel. Pic:AP

JJ singing Wasted Love for Austria. Pic: Reuters
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JJ singing Wasted Love for Austria. Pic: Reuters

VAEB performing Roa for Iceland. Pic: AP
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VAEB performing Roa for Iceland. Pic: AP

Remember Monday perform What The Hell Just Happened for the UK. Pic: AP
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Remember Monday perform What The Hell Just Happened for the UK. Pic: AP

Ziferblat perform Bird Of Pray for Ukraine. Pic: AP
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Ziferblat perform Bird Of Pray for Ukraine. Pic: AP

Melody perform Esa Diva for Spain. Pic: AP
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Melody perform Esa Diva for Spain. Pic: AP

Lucio Corsi performing Volevo Essere Un Duro for Italy. Pic: Reuters
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Lucio Corsi performing Volevo Essere Un Duro for Italy. Pic: Reuters

Tautumeitas performing Bur Man Laimi for Latvia. Pic: Reuters
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Tautumeitas performing Bur Man Laimi for Latvia. Pic: Reuters

Erika Vikman performing Ich Komme for Finland. Pic: Reuters
Erika Vikman, representing Finland, performs "ICH KOMME", during the Grand Final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, May 17, 2025. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
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Erika Vikman performs Ich Komme for Finland. Pics: Reuters

Claude singing C'est La Vie for The Netherlands. Pic: Reuters
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Claude singing C’est La Vie for The Netherlands. Pic: Reuters

Abor & Tynna sing Baller for Germany. Pic: AP
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Abor & Tynna sing Baller for Germany. Pic: AP

KAJ perform Bara Bada Bastu for Sweden. Pic: AP
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KAJ perform Bara Bada Bastu for Sweden. Pic: AP

Shkodra Elektronike performing Zjerm for Albania. Pic: AP
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Shkodra Elektronike performing Zjerm for Albania. Pic: AP

Louane sings Maman for France. Pic: AP
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Louane sings Maman for France. Pic: AP

PARG performs Survivor for Armenia. Pic: AP
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PARG performs Survivor for Armenia. Pic: AP

Klavdia sings Asteromata for Greece. Pic: AP
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Klavdia sings Asteromata for Greece. Pic: AP

Gabry Ponte performing Tutta L'Italia for San Marino. Pic: AP
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Gabry Ponte performing Tutta L’Italia for San Marino. Pic: AP

JJ is crowned the winner of Eurovision 2025. Pic: Reuters
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JJ is crowned the winner of Eurovision 2025. Pic: Reuters

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Eurovision 2025: Austria wins Eurovision, as UK avoids dreaded ‘nul points’

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Eurovision 2025: Austria wins Eurovision, as UK avoids dreaded 'nul points'

Austria has won Eurovision 2025, with Austrian-Filipino singer-songwriter JJ taking the glass microphone.

The 24-year-old singer, who originally trained as a countertenor, represented his country with his operatic ballad Wasted Love, staged on a storm-tossed ship.

The song, which was not dissimilar to that of last year’s winner Nemo, told the story of unrequited love, with a techno breakdown near the end. Austria has won Eurovision twice before, the last time in 2014 with Conchita Wurst’s pop hit Rise Like A Phoenix.

JJ singing Wasted Love for Austria. Pic: Reuters
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JJ singing Wasted Love for Austria. Pic: Reuters

Israel’s Yuval Raphael, who survived the October 7, 2023, attacks which were the catalyst for Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, was the runner-up with piano ballad New Day Will Rise, performed in Hebrew, French and English.

The singer was left “shaken and upset,” after two pro-Palestinian protesters rushed towards her during her grand final performance.

Organisers confirmed a backstage crew member was hit with paint but was not hurt.

A spokesman for SRG SSR said: “At the end of the Israeli performance, a man and a woman tried to get over a barrier onto the stage.

More on Eurovision

“They were stopped. One of the two agitators threw paint and a crew member was hit. The crew member is fine and nobody was injured. The man and the woman were taken out of the venue and handed over to the police.”

Israel has won Eurovision four times, and last year finished in fifth place with Eden Golan’s Hurricane.

Yuval Raphael performs New Day Will Rise for Israel. Pic:AP
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Yuval Raphael performs New Day Will Rise for Israel. Pic:AP

Just as the grand final began broadcasting, Spanish broadcaster shared a message of Palestinian support which read: “When human rights are at stake, silence is not an option. Peace and justice for Palestine.”

The broadcaster had already received a warning from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) over political statements reported by Israeli broadcaster Kan.

The EBU said in response to the latter incident: “We can confirm that we have spoken to RTVE regarding this matter and made it clear that commentators are expected to maintain neutrality within the broadcasts of the Eurovision Song Contest.”

During the evening, there were also pro-Palestinian protests near the centre of Basel, as well as a small group nearby protesting with Israeli flags.

Israeli National Security Council had issued a warning to Israeli civilians in the city to keep a low profile during the competition.

In a change from last year’s contest in Malmo, Sweden, the ban on certain flags being waved by the audience was relaxed which meant Palestinian symbols could be seen in the arena.

Read more: Sex, survival and saunas – all the songs to look out for

Remember Monday perform What The Hell Just Happened for the UK. Pic: AP
Image:
Remember Monday perform What The Hell Just Happened for the UK. Pic: AP

The UK’s act – country pop trio Remember Monday – who performed in colourful Bridgerton-style outfits – avoided the dreaded “nul points”, coming in at 19th place with song What The Hell Just Happened?

However, for the second year running, the UK received no points in the public score.

The UK has had five wins at Eurovision, but in recent years have struggled to rank, with the exception being Sam Ryder with Space Man in 2022, who came second.

Last year, Olly Alexander placed 18th at Malmo, and Mae Muller was second to last the previous year in Liverpool.

The Eurovision grand final took place in the St Jakobshalle arena in Basel, Switzerland, with the winner from among the 26 performing nations decided by a mix of public voting and points from national juries.

The four-hour-long show was presented by an all-female team – stand-up comedian Hazel Brugger, TV presenter Michelle Hunziker and Eurovision veteran Sandra Studer.

There were performances by previous Eurovision runners-up Croatia’s Baby Lasagna and Finland’s Kaarija, as well as last year’s winner Nemo during the night.

KAJ perform Bara Bada Bastu for Sweden. Pic: AP
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KAJ perform Bara Bada Bastu for Sweden. Pic: AP

Sweden had been widely tipped to win with their sauna-themed entry Bara Bada Bastu (Just Sauna), but ended up coming fourth.

Ukraine, who have made a strong showing each since they first entered the competition in 2003, and who won in 2023, came ninth.

Last year protests and politics overshadowed the singing event amid the outbreak of war in Gaza, with some calling for Israel to be kicked out of the contest.

Last year also saw Dutch singer Joost Klein kicked out of the competition by the EBU over alleged verbal threats to a female production worker, which he denied.

Next year’s competition, Eurovision’s 70th, will be held in Austria.

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Rapper charged with GBH – after singer Chris Brown remanded in custody over ‘bottle attack’

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Rapper charged with GBH - after singer Chris Brown remanded in custody over 'bottle attack'

A second man has been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent after an incident at a London nightclub that allegedly involved US singer Chris Brown.

The Metropolitan Police said Omololu Akinlolu, 38, will appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.

Better known by his stage name HoodyBaby, the American rapper has been charged in connection with an alleged assault at the Tape nightclub in central London in February 2023.

Brown, 36, was charged on Thursday with grievous bodily harm with intent and was remanded in custody by judge in Manchester until 13 June.

He is accused of attacking music producer Abraham Diaw with a bottle during the incident in February.

During a hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Friday, Brown watched intently as brief details of the case against him were outlined by prosecutor Hannah Nicholls.

She accused Brown of committing “an unprovoked attack with a weapon in a nightclub full of people”.

Brown spoke to confirm his name and date of birth, but did not enter a plea.

He will appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing in London on 13 June.

Read more from Sky News:
Trump says ex-FBI director’s seashells post ‘meant assassination’
Seven men on run after ‘Shawshank’ escape from jail

Brown – known for hits such as “Loyal”, “Run It” and “Under the Influence” – was arrested at a hotel in Manchester in the early hours of Thursday by detectives from the Metropolitan Police.

The Grammy Award-winning singer was due to tour the UK in June and July, with dates in Manchester, Cardiff, London, Glasgow and Birmingham.

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