Good Day, Bad Day

Automatic bill pay, clearing the air

GOOD DAY FOR: Automatic bill pay, after phone companies have repeatedly shut off FBI wiretap operations due to unpaid phone bills, according to a Justice Department audit. The department’s inspector general, Glenn Fine, said that almost half the 1,000 FBI phone bills reviewed were paid late. (The Washington Post, free registration)

BAD DAY FOR: Clearing the air, after the owner of a 10-person German IT firm fired three non-smoking employees after they requested that the office go smoke-free. A new German law bans smoking in bars and restaurants, but not small offices. “I can’t be bothered with trouble-makers,” said the owner. “Everyone picks on smokers these days. It’s time for revenge.” (Reuters)

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up