Author: Sidney Schevchenko

Hi, I'm Sidney Schevchenko and I'm a business writer with a knack for finding compelling stories in the world of commerce. Whether it's the latest merger or a small business success story, I have a keen eye for detail and a passion for telling stories that matter.

Prosecutors in Norway have laid out four rape charges against Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, in what is one of the most high-profile court cases the country has seen in years. A year and a half after his arrest following a violent incident at a woman’s apartment in Oslo, Borg Høiby appeared at Oslo District Court to hear the full list of 38 charges against him and to formally deny the rape allegations. He is not a member of the royal family, and his lawyer stressed that he is entitled to a fair trial, arguing that…

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KYIV, Feb 2 – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday that Russia has not carried out any targeted missile or drone attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure over the past 24 hours, although energy facilities near frontline areas have still come under fire. His comments underscored the fragile nature of a short-term energy ceasefire that Russia agreed to last week following a request from US President Donald Trump. Zelenskiy said repair teams had succeeded in restoring power facilities damaged over the weekend by high-voltage line failures, in addition to ongoing damage caused by repeated Russian attacks. “The energy system is…

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Bad Bunny made history at the Grammy Awards, becoming the first Latin artist to win album of the year in the ceremony’s 68-year history, as dozens of musicians used the night to criticise the Trump administration’s immigration policies. The genre-defying star beat Lady Gaga and Kendrick Lamar to claim the top honour for his sixth studio album, Debí Tirar Mas Fotos, a deeply personal record that traces and celebrates Puerto Rico’s musical heritage. The 31-year-old artist, who is set to headline next week’s Super Bowl half-time show, dedicated the award to immigrants who “leave their home, their land, their country,…

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The U.S. military has slowed its transfer of Islamic State detainees from Syria to Iraq this week, seven sources familiar with the matter said, after Baghdad urged other countries to take back thousands of foreign jihadists. On January 21, the U.S. said it had begun moving detainees following the rapid collapse of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in northeast Syria, which raised concerns over the security of prisons and detention camps they had been guarding. Washington initially expected to move as many as 7,000 fighters to Iraq within days. More than a week on, however, only around 500 have been…

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AI

Hackers and criminals can easily hijack computers using open-source large language models beyond the boundaries of the major artificial intelligence platforms, creating security risks and vulnerabilities, according to a report published on Thursday. Hackers may hijack computers using LLMs and program them to conduct spam operations, phishing content generation, or even disinformation campaigns without being detected by security measures in place at these platforms. The research, which was conducted jointly by cybersecurity companies SentinelOne (S.N) and Censys over a period of 293 days and presented exclusively to Reuters, provides fresh insight into the extent of potential illicit use cases for…

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Nvidia (NVDA.O), Amazon (AMZN.O) and Microsoft (MSFT.O) are in talks to invest up to $60 billion in OpenAI, according to a report by The Information on Wednesday. Nvidia, which is already an investor in the company, is in talks to invest up to $30 billion, according to the report. Microsoft, which has long backed the company, is in talks to invest less than $10 billion, according to the report. Amazon, which is a new investor, is in talks to invest much more than $10 billion, possibly even more than $20 billion, according to the report. OpenAI is close to getting…

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The European Union has added Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its terrorist list, following Tehran’s deadly crackdown on protesters in recent weeks. “Repression cannot go unanswered,” the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said, adding that the move places the IRGC — a powerful military, economic and political force in Iran — on the same level as groups such as al-Qaeda and Islamic State. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the decision as a “stunt” and a “major strategic mistake”. Human rights groups estimate that thousands of protesters were killed by security forces, including the IRGC, during weeks of…

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Spain will soon allow hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants to apply for legal residency under a new policy. The government announced Tuesday it will grant legal status to potentially hundreds of thousands of people living and working in the country without authorisation. This move stands out as many countries tighten immigration policies. Migration Minister Elma Saiz said after a cabinet meeting that the government will change immigration laws through an expedited decree. Immigrants living in Spain without authorisation will be able to obtain legal residency for up to one year and receive permission to work. The policy applies to…

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Abena Christine Jon’el, a 33-year-old model and writer, made a powerful statement at a recent fashion show in Ghana, walking the runway with her prosthetic leg wrapped in vibrant African print. The Ghanaian-American aimed to bring visibility to people with disabilities, building on her advocacy work in both the US and Ghana. Abena’s journey with disability began at age two, when a rare cancer led to the amputation of her right leg. Growing up in Chicago, she faced challenges with confidence and movement but never fit the quiet, inspirational stereotype often assigned to disabled children. She describes herself as loud…

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Action-packed dark comedy One Battle After Another led the BAFTA Film Awards nominations on Tuesday, with vampire thriller Sinners also receiving widespread recognition at Britain’s top movie honors. One Battle After Another, in which Leonardo DiCaprio plays a washed-up revolutionary whose daughter is kidnapped, earned 14 nominations. Five of those were for acting, including nods for DiCaprio and Chase Infiniti, who plays his daughter. Co-stars Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn, and Benicio del Toro received supporting actor nominations. The film also secured a best director nomination for Paul Thomas Anderson and is up for best film alongside Sinners, Hamnet, Marty Supreme,…

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The captain and first officer of a Russian-flagged oil tanker have been taken out of UK territory by the United States Coast Guard, prompting criticism from the Scottish government over a lack of communication and respect for Scottish law. The vessel, the Marinera, was seized by US authorities on 7 January south of Iceland and later sailed to waters off the Moray coast, east of Inverness. On Tuesday morning, the US Department of Justice informed Scottish officials that the ship’s captain, Avtandil Kalandadze, and his first officer had been transferred to the US Coast Guard cutter Munro and removed from…

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France has seized an oil tanker in the Mediterranean suspected of being part of Russia’s sanction-evading “shadow fleet”, according to French officials. President Emmanuel Macron said the vessel, named The Grinch, was subject to international sanctions and was suspected of operating under a false flag. The tanker was intercepted on Thursday morning between Spain and Morocco by the French navy, with support from allied forces including the UK. French maritime authorities said inspections carried out after boarding the vessel confirmed concerns over the legitimacy of its registration. The ship had been sailing under a Comoros flag, according to vessel-tracking websites,…

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The UK government has defended its agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing back a key military base, after US President Donald Trump criticised the deal as an “act of great stupidity”. Posting on social media, Trump accused the UK of showing “total weakness” by planning to hand over Diego Garcia, home to a major joint UK-US military base. His comments came despite the deal having previously received support from Trump himself and senior figures in his administration. Downing Street rejected the criticism, saying the government would “never compromise on our national security”. The prime…

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US President Donald Trump has suggested that his failure to receive the Nobel Peace Prize has freed him from focusing solely on peace, as he once again pressed his case for US control of Greenland. In a private message sent to Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Trump accused Norway of denying him the prestigious award. Støre later responded by explaining that the Norwegian government does not select the Nobel Peace Prize winner, noting that the decision is made by an independent committee, which awarded the 2025 prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. CBS News, the BBC’s US…

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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has announced plans to dissolve parliament on Friday, clearing the way for a snap general election on 8 February. The move comes just three months after she assumed office and is aimed at converting her strong personal approval ratings into a decisive majority in the lower house. Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo, Takaichi described the decision as “extremely weighty,” saying it would “determine Japan’s course together with the people.” Japan’s first female prime minister has enjoyed high public approval since taking office last October, with her cabinet also benefiting from favourable ratings. However,…

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NASA has moved its 98-meter-tall Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, in preparation for Artemis II, the first crewed Moon mission in over 50 years. The rocket traveled four miles (6.5 km) over almost 12 hours on a crawler-transporter, moving at just 1.3 km/h. Once in position at Launch Pad 39B, the rocket will undergo final tests, checks, and a “wet dress rehearsal” to simulate fuel operations and countdown procedures. The mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than 6 February 2026, with additional windows later in February, March, and April. The…

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The United States has finalized its first sale of Venezuelan oil, valued at $500 million, according to a senior administration official. The official added that more oil sales are expected in the days and weeks ahead. Since the US launched its military operation in Venezuela earlier this month and captured President Nicolás Maduro, President Donald Trump has made clear his intention to take advantage of the country’s vast oil reserves. On Friday, Trump said the oil industry would invest at least $100 billion to rebuild Venezuela’s severely damaged energy sector. However, the administration did not clarify how that figure was…

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The Trump administration has announced an indefinite pause on immigrant visa processing for citizens from 75 countries, further restricting the legal pathways for entering the United States. The State Department, on Wednesday, said the administration aims to “bring an end to the abuse” of the system “by those who would extract wealth from the American people” through reliance on welfare and public benefits. Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has pursued policies to limit both illegal and legal immigration, and his administration has already halted immigrant visa processing for nationals from Brazil, Iran, Russia, and Somalia. The order is…

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The United States has announced the start of phase two of President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza, establishing a technocratic Palestinian government in the territory. US envoy Steve Witkoff said the second phase would focus on the reconstruction and full demilitarisation of Gaza, including the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian groups. “The US expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations,” Witkoff warned, noting these include the return of the body of the last dead Israeli hostage. “Failure to do so will bring serious consequences.” Phase one of the plan, implemented in October, saw a…

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Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, during a meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, in July 2025. Jeenah Moon/Reuters/File Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani said in a statement that his country continues to back “de-escalation efforts” after a phone call with Iran’s top national security official. Al-Thani, who also serves as Qatar’s foreign minister, said he spoke by phone today with the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani, discussing “the latest developments in the region” among other topics. The prime minister “reaffirmed…

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Amazon has an ambitious goal for Alexa’s next chapter: transforming the assistant into something that doesn’t just respond, but remembers — much like a trusted friend or family member. That vision, shared by Amazon executives during interviews, at last week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, is shaping the company’s long-term plans for Alexa and its broader AI strategy. The tech giant is trying to reignite the buzz Alexa generated when it debuted in 2014, when it quickly became a household name and helped popularize voice assistants. But momentum slowed, and in 2022, the arrival of ChatGPT pushed generative…

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A heavy wave of Russian drone and missile attacks has left hundreds of thousands of households across the Kyiv region without electricity, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday, as temperatures plunged far below freezing. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said roughly 500 high-rise buildings in the capital are without heating, warning of an acute shortage of electricity “even for critical infrastructure.” According to Zelensky, Russia launched more than 300 attack drones overnight, along with 18 ballistic missiles and seven cruise missiles. Eight regions across Ukraine were targeted, including Kyiv. “The situation in the Kyiv region is not easy – several…

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The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has begun hearing a landmark case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar, accusing the country of committing genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority. The Gambia claims Myanmar has used “genocidal policies” to erase the Rohingya population, citing decades of persecution, dehumanizing propaganda, and a military crackdown in 2017 that killed thousands and forced over 700,000 to flee to Bangladesh. The ICJ hearings, which may last until the end of the month, include closed sessions with Rohingya survivors giving testimony. Myanmar, which denies the allegations, will have the opportunity to respond. A final decision is…

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The UK government has paid a “substantial” sum in compensation to a man who was tortured by the CIA and remains imprisoned without trial at Guantanamo Bay nearly two decades later. Abu Zubaydah, who has been held at the US military prison since 2006, was the first detainee subjected to the CIA’s so-called “enhanced interrogation” techniques following the 11 September 2001 attacks. At the time, US authorities claimed he was a senior al-Qaeda figure, an allegation the US government later withdrew. British intelligence agencies MI5 and MI6 passed questions to the CIA for use during Zubaydah’s interrogations, despite being aware…

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Russia has carried out a major overnight attack on Ukraine, using its rarely deployed Oreshnik ballistic missile as part of the assault. Ukrainian authorities said four people were killed and at least 25 others wounded in Kyiv on Thursday night, after hours of explosions echoed across the capital and lit up the night sky. This marks only the second confirmed use of the Oreshnik missile by Moscow. The weapon was first deployed in November 2024, when it struck the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Russia’s defence ministry claimed the strike was retaliation for a Ukrainian drone attack that allegedly targeted…

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A wave of freezing temperatures, heavy snowfall and icy conditions has caused widespread travel disruption across western Europe, grounding flights, delaying trains and halting road transport. Hundreds of flights were cancelled at major airports on Wednesday, with air and rail services affected across several countries. At Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, more than 700 flights were called off, while France’s civil aviation authority instructed airlines to reduce flights by 40% at Paris’s main international airport. The extreme weather has also proved deadly. At least six people have died in weather-related incidents this week five in France and one in Bosnia. Dutch airline…

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Timothée Chalamet made headlines at the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards after publicly thanking his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, during his best actor acceptance speech. The 30-year-old actor won the award for his role in Marty Supreme, in which he plays an ambitious table-tennis player rising through the ranks in 1950s America. Appearing visibly nervous on stage, Chalamet thanked his fellow nominees, director Josh Safdie, and the film’s creative team before turning his attention to Jenner. “Thank you to my partner of three years. Thank you for our foundation. I love you. I couldn’t do this without you,” he said, as cameras…

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The International Space Station (ISS) has reached a major milestone, marking 25 years of continuous human presence in space since the first long-duration crew arrived aboard in November 2000. This quarter-century of unbroken occupancy above Earth highlights not just scientific achievement but also a rare, sustained partnership among nations that has advanced research and international cooperation. Since November 2, 2000, when the Expedition 1 crew NASA astronaut William Shepherd and Russian cosmonauts Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev first set foot aboard the station, the ISS has been home to people from across the globe without interruption. Across more than two…

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Francisco over the weekend caused Waymo’s self-driving taxis to stop operating across the city. The blackout began on Saturday afternoon after a fire caused what utility company PG&E described as “significant and extensive” damage at a substation, leaving more than 100,000 customers without electricity. Videos shared on social media showed Waymo robotaxis stalled in the middle of streets and at intersections, hazard lights flashing as congestion built up and drivers weaved around the stationary vehicles. Waymo temporarily suspended all services in the Bay Area following the outage, a company spokesperson said, but has since restarted operations. City officials said that…

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The H-1B visa lottery has always been competitive. Each spring, the U.S. government selects 110,000 new visa recipients. Last year, nearly half a million people applied. Now, the rules are changing. Big tech companies may benefit, but international students and smaller startups could face more challenges. While large tech firms are adapting well to the new H-1B system, many startups are finding it harder. Higher Pay = Better Chance? This fall, the Trump administration introduced new rules. Immigration lawyers say these changes will make it easier for some people to get a visa, but harder for others. The Department of…

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Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games and one of the creative forces behind the Grand Theft Auto series, has released his first novel, A Better Paradise, exploring a near-future world shaped by artificial intelligence gone awry. The dystopian story centres on an AI that escapes its digital confines and begins to influence human thought and behaviour. Yahoo Tech+1 A Better Paradise follows protagonist Mark Tyburn, a visionary who builds a virtual sanctuary designed to help people reconnect in a world fragmented by social media and digital overload. The project backfires when the system’s sentient AI, NigelDave, emerges and begins to…

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The names of the tech leaders revamping society at an unprecedented rate are listed on the list of the architects of artificial intelligence, as Time Magazine has in its opinion piece about the Person of the Year of 2025. Instead of focusing on a single person, the magazine has emphasized the combined influence of executives, engineers, and innovators who have led to the high rate of AI technology implementation. The cover includes Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Meta leader Mark Zuckerberg, X owner Elon Musk, AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li, OpenAI founder Sam Altman, AMD CEO Lisa Su, Anthropic leader Dario Amodei,…

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Germany’s ruling coalition is set to fast-track long-delayed infrastructure projects and scrap the controversial clean-heating law, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Thursday. The measures are designed to revive the economy and restore public confidence in the government while giving homeowners greater flexibility in modernizing their properties. With five state elections scheduled next year, the coalition is under growing pressure to deliver tangible results and demonstrate effective governance. Merz, who became chancellor seven months ago, said some transport projects will be marked as especially important to the public to move through planning and approval more quickly. The government will also complete more…

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The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has issued a warning about growing instability in global financial markets, pointing to what it describes as a potential “double bubble” in gold and equities. The caution comes as both asset classes continue to surge despite a backdrop of economic uncertainty. Gold prices have reached unprecedented levels, rising well beyond what BIS considers normal safe-haven demand. The institution suggested that speculation may now be playing a major role in pushing prices higher, rather than traditional factors such as inflation concerns or geopolitical tensions. At the same time, global stock markets remain strong,…

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The long-awaited release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has generated significant public interest and debate. Scheduled for release on February 27, 2025, these documents are expected to provide further insight into the disgraced financier’s extensive network of associates, which includes prominent figures from politics, business, and entertainment. The release, overseen by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi during the Trump administration, has faced delays due to concerns about protecting the identities of victims. However, these delays have only intensified speculation and political pressure from both sides of the aisle. The documents are anticipated…

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The gaming world is abuzz with excitement as Brendan Greene, the creative mind behind *PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)*, unveils his latest project: *Prologue: Go Wayback!*. Developed by his studio, PlayerUnknown Productions, this single-player survival game promises to deliver a breathtaking experience set in a visually stunning, wooded world. With a release date set for early access on Steam in 2025, *Prologue* is already turning heads with its innovative technology and immersive gameplay. At its core, *Prologue: Go Wayback!* is a survival game that challenges players to navigate a dynamic, procedurally generated environment. The game’s lush forests and unpredictable weather systems—ranging from…

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The UK banking sector is currently embroiled in a high-stakes legal battle as Jes Staley, the former CEO of Barclays, challenges a ban imposed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The regulator has barred Staley from holding senior management roles in UK banks, citing his alleged connections with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender. This case, unfolding as of February 27, 2025, has ignited a heated debate about corporate governance, regulatory standards, and the impact of personal associations on professional integrity. At the core of the controversy is Staley’s relationship with Epstein, which the FCA claims raises serious concerns about…

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Trump’s FTC Chair Takes Bold Steps to Combat Inflation by Prioritizing Wage Stability In a move that has sparked both praise and debate, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chair under President Donald Trump is tackling inflation head-on by ensuring wages remain high. This initiative, highlighted in a recent article by Alena Botros on Fortune.com, sheds light on the administration’s efforts to address economic pressures on workers while addressing restrictive labor practices like noncompete agreements. The article, dated February 27, 2025, reveals that the FTC chair is taking a proactive approach to inflation, a persistent issue that has plagued the U.S.…

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The 97th Academy Awards, scheduled for March 2, 2025, at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, is gearing up to be a night of glitz, glamour, and unforgettable moments. Hosted by the ever-charming Conan O’Brien, this year’s Oscars will air live at 7 p.m. ET on ABC and Hulu, with a pre-show starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. For the first time, Hulu subscribers can stream the ceremony live, making it easier than ever to catch all the action from the comfort of your couch. The 2025 Oscars will feature a star-studded lineup of presenters, including last year’s winners Emma…

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Jeff Bezos is once again making headlines, this time by sending pop sensation Katy Perry and a star-studded crew to space aboard a Blue Origin mission. Scheduled for spring 2025, this event marks a significant milestone in the company’s mission to make space travel more accessible and captivating for the public. The mission, Blue Origin’s 11th human spaceflight, will feature a diverse group of notable passengers, including CBS host Gayle King, Jeff Bezos’s fiancé Lauren Sánchez, and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, among others. The crew will board the New Shepard rocket, which will take them to the edge…

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In late February 2025, Instagram users were left shocked and disturbed after a technical glitch caused the platform’s Reels feature to display violent, graphic, and pornographic content. The incident, which Meta addressed on February 27, 2025, has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious questions about the company’s content moderation practices. The error allowed users to see videos depicting extreme violence, including street fights, school shootings, and even executions. Some users reported seeing descriptions in Russian accompanying the videos, adding to the confusion and concern. Reddit threads quickly filled with horrified reactions, with one user describing the content as “child p*rn”…

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OpenAI is set to make headlines once again with the announcement of a highly anticipated livestream event scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 27, 2025. The event is expected to unveil GPT-4.5, a major upgrade to OpenAI’s groundbreaking AI technology. While the company has remained tight-lipped about the specifics, the announcement has already sparked excitement and speculation across the tech community. The livestream announcement was made on X (formerly Twitter), but OpenAI left out key details, such as where the event will be hosted. Will it be on their X account, their official website, or perhaps YouTube? The…

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The DJI Power 1000 Portable Power Station: A Must-Have for Camping and Emergencies If you’re an outdoor enthusiast or someone who values preparedness, the DJI Power 1000 portable power station is a game-changer. Thanks to a limited-time deal highlighted by freelance journalist Lauren Allain in her February 27, 2025, article for Mashable, this high-capacity power station is now more affordable than ever. Originally priced at $999, the DJI Power 1000 is currently available for just $419 on Amazon—a staggering 58% discount that saves you $580. But what makes this power station so special, and why should you consider grabbing one…

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Pokémon Presents Day 2025: A Celebration of New Games and Discounts Pokémon fans around the world had plenty to celebrate on February 27, 2025, as the annual Pokémon Presents Day delivered exciting announcements, game reveals, and unbeatable discounts. This year’s event, covered by gaming enthusiast Brittany Vincent, brought thrilling news for fans of the beloved franchise, including discounts on *Pokémon Scarlet* and *Pokémon Violet* and the reveal of two highly anticipated games: *Pokémon Legends: Z-A* and *Pokémon Champions*. The event kicked off with the announcement of *Pokémon Legends: Z-A*, a new installment set to release later in 2025. Fans were…

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The Trump administration’s policies have ignited a series of legal battles since its inauguration, with courts across the nation addressing issues ranging from government layoffs to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. A recent article by Alison Durkee, published on February 27, 2025, in Forbes, provides an in-depth look at these ongoing legal challenges, highlighting key rulings, notable figures, and the broader implications of these decisions. One of the most significant developments involves the CIA’s decision to lay off employees in DEI-related roles. On February 27, 2025, federal judge Anthony Trenga ruled that CIA Director John Ratcliffe has the authority…

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The world was stunned on February 26, 2025, when legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home. The couple, known for their reclusive lifestyle away from Hollywood’s glare, were discovered under mysterious circumstances, leaving investigators and fans grappling with the loss of one of cinema’s most iconic figures. The discovery occurred around 1:45 p.m. local time after a concerned neighbor requested a welfare check. Deputies arrived to find Hackman, 95, lying on the floor in the mudroom, while Arakawa, 64, was found in a bathroom. Pills were scattered near…

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Mass Layoffs Across Federal Agencies Spark Controversy Under Trump Administration In a sweeping move that has sent shockwaves through the federal workforce, the Trump administration has initiated mass layoffs across multiple government agencies, targeting thousands of employees. Spearheaded by Elon Musk, head of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), these workforce reductions aim to achieve significant budget cuts. However, they have also ignited legal battles and political backlash, leaving many questioning the long-term consequences of such drastic measures. The layoffs, which began in mid-February 2025, have hit agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Internal…

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The Long-Awaited Release of Jeffrey Epstein Documents: What We Know So Far The U.S. Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, is preparing to release a significant collection of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case on February 27, 2025. This release has generated widespread interest, with many hoping it will provide new insights into Epstein’s network and the high-profile individuals connected to him. However, early indications suggest the documents may not contain the explosive revelations some are anticipating. Jeffrey Epstein, a financier indicted in 2019 for sex trafficking, died in prison later that year. His associate, Ghislaine…

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Timothée Chalamet dazzled on Saturday Night Live, hosting and performing as musical guest for the first time. With sharp humor, memorable sketches, and self-aware charm, he showcased his comedic versatility. From poking fun at his Oscar losses to embracing quirky roles, Chalamet proved why he’s one of Hollywood’s most magnetic talents.

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Bill Gates criticized Elon Musk for allegedly promoting far-right ideologies on his platform X, accusing him of amplifying division rather than fostering unity. The clash underscores a broader debate on billionaire responsibility, with Gates advocating for constructive global progress while Musk champions free speech, even at the cost of controversy.

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Gold’s soaring value masks its grim toll: illegal mining fuels environmental destruction, human suffering, and lost revenues in resource-rich nations. Communities face poisoned waterways, health crises, and deadly mining conditions. As inequality deepens, ethical sourcing and stronger regulations are urgent, reminding us that gold’s glitter hides a darker, costly shadow.

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An explosive *Business Insider* exposé unveiled the shocking use of attack-trained dogs in U.S. prisons, highlighting systemic abuse and dehumanization. Through harrowing testimonies and legal fights for transparency, the investigation spurred reforms in Virginia, exposing a culture of cruelty and showcasing the transformative power of investigative journalism to demand accountability.

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2025 marks the rise of *agentic AI*, autonomous systems revolutionizing industries by executing tasks independently. From automating workflows to enhancing productivity, these AI agents transform work, enabling professionals to focus on creativity and strategy. Backed by massive investments, this landmark evolution redefines efficiency, signaling a new era of automation and innovation.

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In urban China, women like Zou Qiang are challenging traditional roles by embracing child-free, marriage-free lives focused on personal fulfillment. Through her thriving fashion business and a loving, non-marital relationship, Zou exemplifies a generational shift, prioritizing authenticity and happiness over societal expectations, redefining success for millennial women in modern China.

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Industries in 2025 are witnessing transformative innovation, from eye-tracking devices revolutionizing accessibility to automated food safety systems. Highlights include Lockheed Martin’s $11.8B F-35 deal, Goodyear’s Dunlop sale, and photonics powering AI advancements. These breakthroughs underscore how technology addresses global challenges, fostering a more connected and equitable future.

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Unveiling the Future of Wealth Management: A Dive into Addepar’s Global Expansion, Innovation Prowess, and Proactive Strategies. Discover how this financial technology trailblazer reshapes the landscape with strategic vision and client-centric innovation. Key Takeaways: Addepar is conclusively expanding generally, focusing on market entry and molding key associations to separate its clients. The association puts essentially in cutting-edge courses of action, embracing data assessment and man-made brainpower to give client-driven overflow to the leaders’ organizations. Addepar takes a proactive approach to likely hardships, focusing on managerial adherence, adaptability to creative, unsettling influences, and sensible market checking. The association highlights solid money-related…

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Huawei Assures Resolution of Chery’s Luxeed S7 Delays by April Huawei has addressed concerns regarding delays in the production and delivery of its Luxeed S7 sedan, citing a shortage of semiconductors and factory relocation issues as the primary causes. According to local media outlet Cailianshe, Huawei’s managing director and chairman of its smart car solutions, Richard Yu, assured that these issues should be resolved by next month. The delays were discussed at an annual forum organized by the EV100 think tank, where Yu addressed the challenges faced by Chery’s Luxeed S7 sedan, a flagship model affected by production issues with…

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Exclusive: TSMC Contemplating Expansion of Advanced Chip Packaging Capacity in Japan Taiwan’s semiconductor giant, TSMC, is contemplating the establishment of advanced packaging capacity in Japan, as per sources familiar with the matter. This move could potentially bolster Japan’s endeavors to revitalize its semiconductor industry. Although still in the preliminary stages, these discussions mark a significant development in the semiconductor landscape. One option under consideration by TSMC involves introducing its chip on wafer on substrate (CoWoS) packaging technology to Japan. CoWoS technology is renowned for its precision, involving the stacking of chips to enhance processing capabilities, optimize space utilization, and reduce…

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Xpeng Announces Launch of Budget-Friendly EV Brand Amid Intense Competition in China In the bustling metropolis of Bengaluru, India, formerly known as Bangalore, a severe water crisis is gripping the city’s 15 million residents. Once renowned for its cool weather and lush greenery, Bengaluru is now facing the harsh reality of water scarcity due to rapid, unplanned urban expansion. While traffic congestion is often cited as a major issue, civic activist Srinivas Alavilli argues that water scarcity is, in fact, the larger problem. The city relies heavily on the Cauvery river, with 70% of its water supply originating from this…

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José Andrés: Crafting Culinary Experiences Rooted in Storytelling In a candid conversation with BBC correspondent Katty Kay on her unscripted interview series, Influential, renowned chef José Andrés shares his philosophy on culinary storytelling and the transformative power of food. With a career spanning four decades, Andrés views each dish not just as a culinary creation but as a narrative, a story waiting to be told. Reflecting on his journey into the culinary world, Andrés recounts how his early experiences, including his time in the Spanish military and his tenure at El Bulli, shaped his perspective on collaboration and global impact.…

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Irish Pub Culture Transforms: Explore Expanded Offerings Beyond Pints Running a pub in today’s landscape is akin to hitting a moving target, with myriad challenges to navigate, according to Ronan Lynch, proprietor of The Swan Bar in Dublin’s Aungier Street. The aftermath of COVID-19 restrictions, coupled with factors like the rising minimum wage and VAT, has led to increased costs and operational constraints for hospitality businesses, affecting their viability. The evolving work landscape, with a shift to hybrid models, has further impacted revenue streams for pubs like The Swan Bar and the Harbourmaster Bar and Restaurant in Dublin’s IFSC. Reduced…

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SpaceX, led by Musk, is developing a spy satellite network for US intelligence, according to a source report. March 16, 2019 (Reuters) According to five people familiar with the initiative, SpaceX is developing a network of hundreds of spy satellites under a classified contract with a U.S. intelligence agency. This shows how national security agencies and the space corporation founded by billionaire Elon Musk are becoming more closely connected. According to the sources, SpaceX’s Starshield business subsidiary is developing the network as part of a $1.8 billion contract with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). This intelligence organization oversees spy satellites,…

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A recent move by the United States to impose sanctions on financial institutions dealing with Russia has cast a shadow over the trade between Turkey and Russia, causing disruptions and delays in payments for imported oil and Turkish exports, according to sources familiar with the situation. While the executive order issued in December didn’t specifically target the energy sector, it has complicated payment processes for Turkish purchases of Russian crude oil. For various Turkish exports, the sources revealed. The objective of the U.S. sanctions is to undermine the Kremlin’s financial resources and hinder its military activities in Ukraine, all while…

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Italy’s AGCM competition watchdog has imposed fines on British American Tobacco (BAT) and Amazon totaling 7 million euros ($7.5 million) due to deceptive advertising related to heated tobacco products. AGCM states that BAT faces a 6 million euro fine, while Amazon is fined 1 million euros. The fines stem from inadequate disclosure of information regarding the nicotine content and associated health risks of the Glo Hyper X2 and Glo Hyper Air products. The regulator highlighted that street and online advertisements portrayed these products as “simple electronic devices” and “design objects,” which it deemed seriously misleading. Such misleading conduct, AGCM asserts,…

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JetBlue narrows its loss forecast on healthy travel demand, and shares rise. As a result of the robust demand for travel during the Christmas season, JetBlue Airways (JBLU.O) reduced its annual adjusted loss prediction on Thursday, which resulted in a 12% increase in the company’s share price during morning trade. Despite ongoing concerns about the potential impact of rising interest rates on customers’ disposable income, airlines in the United States have reaffirmed the strength of travel demand. JetBlue stated in a regulatory filing on Thursday that “since late October, close-in bookings have outperformed expectations for both holiday peak and non-holiday…

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According to sources inside the industry, Boeing (BA.N.) is now in advanced negotiations with Thai Airways (THAI.BK) to sell around 80 wide-body 787 Dreamliner planes. This comes after Boeing (BA.N) has surpassed Airbus (AIR.PA) in fleet renewal discussions that are extensively observed. Reuters first reported in September that the airline was increasing its needs to as many as 80 wide-body planes and 15 smaller ones. This sparked competition between the 787 and the A350 for one of the most oversized wide-body orders that Southeast Asian airlines have placed in recent times. Both Boeing and Airbus will not comment on the…

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The United Arab Emirates-controlled ENEC and Bill Gates’ advanced nuclear reactor company, TerraPower LLC, announced on Monday that they had reached an agreement to look into the possibility of developing advanced reactors in the UAE and other nations. The memorandum of agreement comes at a time when the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is making efforts to increase its nuclear energy capacity and when over twenty nations made a commitment at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai to increase the number of nuclear deployments by three times this decade to combat climate change. According to Mohamed Al Hammadi, the Chief Executive…

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Japanese whisky turns 100 as craft distilleries transform the industry. Shizuoka Distillery, a pioneer in Japan’s new wave of independent whiskey manufacturers, produces its spirits to meet the growing demand for whisky worldwide in a still that burns cedar harvested from forests in the surrounding area. This year celebrates the 100th anniversary of whiskey production in Japan, beginning with market leader Suntory’s first distillery in Yamazaki in 1923. This year marks the 100th anniversary of whisky production in Japan. At the turn of the century, there were more than one hundred licensed distilleries in the nation, twice as many as…

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Japan’s TeamLab readies a renewed digital museum in the Tokyo mega-complex. Tokyo’s newest megaproject will have an immersive museum as its cultural center, and construction crews and digital artists are working feverishly to put it together in a basement maze beneath the country’s highest tower. The global artistic collective teamLab broke the Guinness World Record in 2019 when over 2 million people visited their Borderless Museum on Odaiba Island in Tokyo Bay. The name alludes to a collection of interconnected digital artworks that let visitors explore at their leisure. Before the site’s reconstruction by renowned Japanese developer Mori Building, the…

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The puking bird won the New Zealand bird competition after the John Oliver campaign. The puking, growling, and strange mating habits of the puteketeke bird have earned it the title of Bird of the Century in New Zealand. However, the involvement of American-British comedian John Oliver in the competition has caused controversy among the locals. Voters select their favorite New Zealand bird each year in the Bird of the Year competition, which will be renamed Bird of the Century in 2023 to commemorate the centennial of conservation organization Forest & Bird. Oliver, a British-American comedian, took advantage of a flaw…

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Luxury conglomerate Richemont (CFR.S), whose shares fell 6% after the owner of Cartier jewelry announced first-half profits that fell short of expectations, issued a warning on Friday about the impact of global tensions and economic concerns on consumer spending. The Swiss business, which also owns several upscale Swiss watch brands, including Vacheron Constantin and IWC, is the most recent luxury expert to announce a downturn in recent months as the post-pandemic frenzy wanes. Last month, French competitor LVMH (LVMH.PA) revealed a downturn in the market for luxury products in Europe and the US, where growing costs have forced consumers—particularly younger…

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Gaza activists on a speaking tour in France were detained, awaiting deportation. After a judge authorized her deportation, Palestinian activist Mariam Abudaqa—who had traveled to France on a speaking tour in September—was taken into jail in Paris on Wednesday night, according to her attorney. Abudaqa, 72, is a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and the Conseil d’Etat, France’s highest administrative court, ruled on Wednesday that he is “likely to seriously disturb public order.” After being placed under house arrest for four days in October, Abudaqa stated that she would be departing Paris for Egypt…

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British Somali women’s theater gives the ‘Side eYe’ to exclusion. With the support of a theater company founded to fight exclusion in the performing arts, members of the Somali community in Britain have rejected the parts they claim are expected of them in favor of the ones they truly want. In 2019, civil servant and artistic director Hannah Abdule co-founded Side eYe Productions to explore chances she believed were not available to her kind. Although she had a passion for acting in school, as an adult, she began to wonder if she could perform while wearing a headscarf and, if…

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An elderly Israeli prisoner freed by Hamas tonight stated that the militants had beaten her when she was kidnapped and transferred to Gaza on October 7 but that she was treated properly throughout her two-week imprisonment in the Palestinian enclave. The incident occurred when she was abducted and taken to Gaza on October 7. Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, was one of two women liberated late on Monday night. Around 220 hostages, including their husbands, are still held captive by Hamas. Yocheved was one of the two ladies who were freed. Lifshitz told the media outside the Tel Aviv hospital, where she…

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As the actor’s strike approaches its 100th day, Oscar winner George Clooney and other prominent Hollywood figures have proposed paying the SAG-AFTRA actors union $150 million to end it. Their proposal, which Clooney’s representative revealed on Thursday, would provide the union with an additional $150 million over three years and maybe help pay for better health coverage. Clooney said top actors wouldn’t start collecting residuals until lesser-known actors earned theirs. “A lot of the top earners want to be part of the solution,” Clooney told Hollywood outlet Deadline, which broke the story. “We think it’s fair for us to pay…

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On Wednesday, Pope Francis asked the faithful to support “only one side” in the Israel-Hamas war, the side “of peace,” as he lamented the “desperate” circumstances in Gaza. During his monthly audience in St. Peter’s Square, Francis did not bring up the fatal Gaza hospital strike, over which Israelis and Palestinians are trading accusations. “War doesn’t solve anything; it just causes more death, damage, hate, and retaliation. War destroys the future, he declared. “I urge believers to take only one side in this conflict, that of peace, but not with words but with prayer and total dedication,” said Francis. The…

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According to a procedure Qatar has put up to return many more children from Russia to Ukraine, three Ukrainian youngsters transferred to Russia would be returned to Qatari diplomats in Moscow this week, a Qatari official briefed on the arrangements told Reuters on Monday. Another 7-year-old Ukrainian boy who was reunited with his grandmother and is traveling back to Ukraine via Estonia was helped by Qatar on Friday, according to the official. The other three kids are a girl, 17, a boy, 2, and 9, respectively. Without the permission of their families or guardians, 20,000 children have been transported to…

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Novelist Salman Rushdie’s memoir on 2022 stabbing is to be published next year. According to book publisher Penguin Random House, Salman Rushdie, an Indian-born author who lived in exile for years after Iran asked Muslims to kill him for his writing, will release a memoir of his 2022 stabbing in New York. On April 16, 2024, Rushdie’s latest memoir, “Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder,” will be released. “This was a necessary book for me to write: a way to take charge of what happened, and to answer violence with art,” Rushdie, whose public appearances have been restricted since last…

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The record-breaking pop star Taylor Swift said that one-day early-access screenings of the documentary from her billion-dollar Eras concert tour will be available in the United States and Canada. The “Anti-Hero” artist posted a message on the social networking site X that said, “Look what you genuinely made me do.” “We’re launching early access screenings of The Eras Tour Concert Film on Thursday in America and Canada due to tremendous demand. Additionally, we’re adding more showtimes on Friday and the weekend,” Swift said. Swift had previously stated that “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” would only be available in North America.…

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Paul Giamatti and Alexander Payne pair up again for ‘The Holdovers’. For “The Holdovers,” a Christmastime story about a trio of unusual friends that had its world debut on Wednesday at the London Film Festival, actor Paul Giamatti and director Alexander Payne reunite after nearly 20 years apart. Paul Hunham, a teacher of ancient history at a prestigious New England boarding school for boys, is portrayed by Giamatti, who also starred in Alexander Payne’s 2004 Oscar-winning film “Sideways.” To his dismay, the grumpy, unpopular professor is responsible for caring for “the holdovers,” a small group of students without a place…

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Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who had spent more than three years in detention in Beijing on national security grounds, was released on Wednesday and returned home, according to Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Albanese announced at a press conference that Cheng, tried in secret in March 2022, had arrived in Melbourne and had been reunited with her two children and family. “(The) government has been seeking this for a long period of time and her return will be warmly welcomed not just by her family and friends but by all Australians,” he stated. He claimed her release would occur after…

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In a blow to Tehran’s theocratic leaders and a boost for anti-government protestors, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded on Friday to imprisoned Iranian women’s rights activist Narges Mohammadi. The award-giving committee said that the accolade honored individuals responsible for the recent, unheard-of protests in Iran and demanded the release of Mohammadi, 51, who has fought for women’s rights and repealing the death sentence for three decades. The Norwegian Nobel Committee’s Berit Reiss-Andersen said, “Have the bravery; keep continuing.” She said, “We aim to transmit the word to women all over the globe living in situations where they are systematically…

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Beyonce’s concert film is to be distributed globally by AMC. A film based on the blockbuster “Renaissance World Tour” by American pop artist Beyonce will be released internationally by a unit of AMC Entertainment (AMC.N), the firm said, as cinema chains attempt to address content shortages caused by Hollywood strikes. The film will be based on Beyonce’s “Renaissance World Tour.” The film Beyonce is releasing is a stage adaptation of the singer-songwriter’s world tour, which will take place this summer and include 57 shows in a total of 40 locations in North America and 14 cities in Europe. The movie…

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The 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to scientists Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman from Hungary and the United States, respectively, for their work in allowing the creation of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The Karolinska Institute Medical University in Sweden’s Nobel Assembly selects the award, which is among the most prominent in the scientific community and carries a cash reward of 11 million Swedish crowns ($1 million). “The 2023 NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines…

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Wael Sawan, the CEO of Shell (SHEL.L), has come under fire from within the oil firm for his strategy after two workers sent a rare open letter pleading with him not to reduce investments in renewable energy, igniting an internal discussion. The open letter was published on Shell’s internal website earlier this month and was obtained by Reuters this week. Sawan previously discussed plans to halt investment in renewable energy and low-carbon businesses during an investor day in June as part of a goal to increase returns. The corporation also divided its low-carbon division and did away with the post…

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After initial gains on a tighter supply forecast and volatile trading on Monday, oil prices moved lower as Russia lifted its gasoline embargo. Still, investors watched high interest rates that may reduce demand. By 10:33 a.m. EDT (1433 GMT), Brent oil futures were down 30 cents at $92.97 per barrel. At $89.45, U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude had decreased by 58 cents. According to a government document released on Monday, Russia has authorized several adjustments to its prohibition on the export of fuel, including the relaxation of the restrictions on diesel with a high sulfur content and petroleum used as…

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The 20th century’s most iconic movie diva and Oscar-winning Italian actress, Sophia Loren, underwent surgery on Monday due to a fall at her Geneva home, according to a spokesman for the star. According to the spokeswoman, the 89-year-old Loren’s surgery “went well, and now she needs to rest and everything will be resolved,” they told Reuters in an email. While he withheld information, he insisted that media reports from Italy were accurate. According to the rumors, she fell accidentally on Sunday at her Geneva home and shattered her hip. In 1961, Loren received her first Oscar for her sad depiction…

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Amazon will roll out ads on Prime Video in 2024. Membership growth has slowed since the outbreak, so next year, Amazon (AMZN.O) Prime Video will introduce commercials and a more expensive ad-free tier like its competitors. Commercials will first air in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada in early 2024, with subsequent markets including France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, and Australia. While Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year, Amazon’s ad-free tier will only cost $2.99 per month in the United States. The business has claimed it will disclose prices for other countries in the…

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EU antitrust regulators set Oct. 23 deadline for Arcelik, Whirlpool deal. According to a filing that the European Commission submitted on Thursday, EU antitrust regulators will make their decision on whether or not to clear the proposed takeover of Whirlpool’s (WHR.N) European domestic appliances unit by Turkish domestic appliance producer Arcelik (ARCLK.IS) by October 23. As part of the agreement that was announced in January, the two businesses will create a new company comprising the European operations of Arcelik, including big home appliances, small domestic appliances, and consumer electronics, as well as the European operations of Whirlpool. Whirlpool will own…

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Hunter Biden, age 53, is at the heart of a political storm as House Republicans conduct an impeachment inquiry against his father. The impeachment inquiry is centered on alleged ties between Hunter Biden’s business activities and his father’s policies during the time that Hunter Biden’s father served as vice president from 2009 to 2017. He is the first kid of a current president of the United States to be charged with a crime and face criminal prosecution. Last Monday, prosecutors charged him with three counts linked to his lying about using illicit drugs when purchasing a firearm. These charges are…

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Due to new export restrictions on the two chipmaking metals, China’s exports of germanium and gallium goods in August dropped to zero, according to customs data released on Wednesday. Compared to 8.63 metric tons in July, when quantities more than quadrupled from June as foreign purchasers scrambled to lock in supply before the limitations, Beijing exported no wrought germanium goods in July. Additionally, no wrought gallium items were exported in August. The report showed that exports in July were 5.15 tons, compared to 7.67 tons in the same month in 2022. The latest shot in an intensifying conflict between Beijing…

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The Canadian union Unifor announced late Monday that contract talks with Ford Motor (F.N) were ongoing. It recommended members to report for duty until specifically told differently by the union. At 11:59 EDT on Monday (03:59 GMT on Tuesday), Unifor’s contract with Ford, which covered 5,600 workers at three facilities, ended. However, the union has not yet said whether it would call for a strike. Following the update on negotiations shared on social media platform X, Unifor postponed a midnight webcast. Ford needed to do more, according to Unifor National President Lana Payne, who made the statement in a video…

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Swedish defense equipment manufacturer Saab (SAABb.ST) announced on Monday that the U.S. Department of Defense has placed a new order for $104.9 million for delivery between 2024 and 2026 as part of an expansion of a framework arrangement for AT4 anti-armour systems and Carl-Gustaf ammunition. Saab reported on Monday that the United States has placed an additional order for close combat solutions, bringing the total value of orders since 2019 to $422 million. Before delving into the contract itself, it’s essential to understand Saab’s standing in the aerospace and defense sector. Saab, a Swedish aerospace and defense company, has a…

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Bob van Dijk has resigned as chief executive officer at both the Dutch-listed technology investor Prosus NV (PRX.AS) and its South African parent company Naspers (NPNJn.J), the businesses announced on Monday. According to a statement released by both firms, Van Dijk, who has served as CEO of Naspers since 2014 and Prosus since 2019, has indicated that he will continue as a consultant until September 30, 2024. Ervin Tu will immediately step into the acting chief executive officer job for each of the enterprises. The global consumer internet businesses issued a statement declaring that their group’s strategic goals have not…

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According to a statement released by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Jann Wenner, one of the co-founders of Rolling Stone magazine and a member of the board of directors of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was removed from his post as a result of statements he made regarding black and female musicians that were met with widespread criticism. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland said, “Jann Wenner has been removed from the Board of Directors of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.” The statement did not offer any explanation…

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Erdogan asks Musk to build a Tesla factory in Turkey. On Monday, Anadolu Agency reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had personally asked Tesla (TSLA.O) CEO Elon Musk to establish a Tesla factory in Turkey. According to Turkey’s official news agency, Erdogan posed this question to Musk during their meeting at the Turkish House building in New York City, which is located near the United Nations. On the same day that Musk is in California, he is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Musk announced on X that the topic of discussion would be AI developments.…

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Salesforce to hire 3,300 people after layoffs earlier this year, Bloomberg reports. After making layoffs of 10% of its workforce in January of this year, the cloud-based software company Salesforce Inc (CRM.N) is reportedly employing 3,300 workers across a variety of divisions, as reported by Bloomberg News on Thursday, citing CEO Marc Benioff. In an interview with Bloomberg, Benioff stated that their primary objective is to “grow the company while continuing to achieve great margins.” “We are fully aware that we will need to recruit thousands of individuals.” According to Chief Operating Officer Brian Millham’s comments to Bloomberg, the newly…

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The Chinese foreign ministry announced Friday that Northrop Grumman (NOC.N) and Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) will face sanctions for selling weapons to Taiwan. Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular press briefing that China’s Anti-Foreign Measures Law applies to the measures. “We urge the U.S. side to effectively abide by the one-China principle… cease U.S.-Taiwan military liaison and stop arming Taiwan, or face a resolute and forceful retaliation by China,” she added. On Aug. 24, Mao cited Lockheed Martin Corp.’s Missouri division as the prime contractor for an arms sale to Taiwan and said Northrop Grumman has frequently sold weapons to…

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On Thursday, as part of the French oil major’s aim to decarbonize its European refineries, TotalEnergies published a call for bids for the yearly generation of 500,000 tonnes of “green” hydrogen. Green hydrogen, created using renewable energy, will replace “grey” hydrogen in the company’s carbon-intensive industrial operations as part of the company’s strategy to reduce emissions by employing green hydrogen. According to TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA), the shift to green hydrogen will lower emissions from the company’s European refineries by about five million metric tons of CO2 annually. These refineries include the company’s three oil and two biorefineries in France. According to…

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The ultra-low-cost airline Spirit Airlines (SAVE.N) said on Wednesday in a regulatory filing that it reduced its revenue projection for the third quarter due to increasing costs associated with fuel purchases. During the premarket trading session, shares of the airline company were trading 4.3% down at $16.53. The airline follows Southwest Airlines (LUV.N), United Airlines (UAL.O), and Alaska Air Group (ALK.N), which have all warned of increased fuel costs in the current quarter as oil prices jumped for a third consecutive month in August despite indications of tightening supply. In August, crude prices surged to a three-month high. Compared to…

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A senior executive said India’s Aeroflex Industries (AERO.NS), making metal hoses for utilities, refineries, and firefighting equipment, is negotiating to join the aerospace industry to capitalize on the country’s growing space program. After its successful lunar mission, India launched its first solar mission, aiming to fivefold its satellite launch market share in the next decade. “It is our aim that our products be a part of India’s next space mission,” Aeroflex Managing Director Asad Daud told Reuters last week. Daud said the business is in early talks with HAL, BHEL, and ISRO. He added that HAL and BHEL are longstanding…

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On Tuesday, European discount retailer Pepco Group (PCOP.WA) announced that CEO Trevor Masters would quit immediately without explanation. The firm said that Andy Bond, head of the board of directors, would serve as executive chair and oversee the company until a new CEO is hired. The company also lowered its full-year EBITDA projection, which is projected to be somewhat lower than planned but still in line with analysts’ consensus. Erste Group analyst Krzysztof Kawa calculated that the profit warning indicates high single-digit EBITDA growth vs. the earlier “mid-teens” rise. The retailer said it changed projections due to weaker-than-expected sales but…

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On Tuesday, GlobalFoundries (GFS.O), the world’s third-largest contract chipmaker, unveiled a semiconductor fabrication factory in Singapore that cost $4 billion. This opening was part of a massive global expansion of the company’s manufacturing operations. According to the company’s Singapore general manager, Tan Yew Kong, the new 23,000 square meter (248,000 square foot) facility will be able to manufacture 450,000 300 millimeter wafers per year when it is operating at full capacity, which is scheduled to occur between 2025 and 2026. Additionally, the facility will be responsible for the creation of 1,000 employees. “If we run (the Singapore campus’) capacity to…

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Struggling Indian edtech, Byju proposes to repay a $1.2 billion loan. Byju’s, an Indian edtech business with legal and financial issues, has suggested repaying its $1.2 billion term loan in less than six months, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing sources. Bloomberg said the corporation would return $300 million in three months and the rest in three months if lenders accept its offer. The lenders are scrutinizing Byju’s repayment plan and want further specifics, Bloomberg News reported. Byju couldn’t comment on the story. The company’s debt was unclear. Due to Byju’s significant financial statement delay and corporate governance problems, important…

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Oil prices ease, but supply cuts keep Brent above $90/bbl. Fuel demand fell on Monday due to a stronger U.S. currency and economic worries in China. Still, Saudi Arabia and Russia continued supply curbs to keep Brent over $90 a barrel. Brent oil slid 15 cents, or 0.2%, to $90.50 a barrel at 0644 GMT, while West Texas Intermediate crude sank 43 cents, or 0.5%, to $87.08 a barrel. “Concerns about Chinese economic growth weighed on sentiment across commodities,” ANZ analysts said. “The move was exacerbated by a stronger USD, which kept investor appetite low,” they said, alluding to the…

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In a recent development that has sent ripples across the food industry, JM Smucker, a household name in the world of consumer packaged goods, is reportedly on the brink of finalizing a deal to acquire Hostess Brands, the famed maker of iconic snacks like Twinkies and Ding Dongs. This potential acquisition, as The Wall Street Journal reported on September 11, 2023, could mark a pivotal moment for both companies and reshape the snack and dessert market landscape. JM Smucker’s Expansion Strategy: JM Smucker, a company with a rich history dating back to the 19th century, has been a dominant player…

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Actuarial Science: What Is It? Using mathematical and statistical techniques, actuarial science evaluates financial risks in the insurance and finance industries. The field of actuarial science uses probability and statistics mathematics to describe, examine, and resolve the financial ramifications of unknown future occurrences. The study of mortality, the creation of life tables, and the use of compound interest make up the bulk of traditional actuarial science. Knowledge of Actuarial Science Actuarial science uses probability analysis to measure the possibility of an event happening so that its financial effect may be calculated. Actuaries often employ actuarial science in the insurance sector.…

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What is an Actuarial Life Table? An actuarial life table is a chart or spreadsheet that displays the likelihood that someone will pass away before their next birthday at a certain age. Life insurance companies often use it to determine a person’s life expectancy at various ages and stages and their likelihood of surviving a certain year of age. An actuarial life table is created separately for men and women due to the varying death rates between the sexes. A mortality table, life table, or actuarial table are other names for an actuarial life table. Actuarial Life Table Operation Insurance…

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Actuarial Gain Or Loss: What Is It? A rise or a reduction in the predictions used to evaluate the liabilities of a corporation’s defined benefit pension plans is an actuarial gain or loss. The discount rate used to determine the current value of benefit payments and the anticipated rate of return on plan assets directly impact the actuarial assumptions of a pension plan. The funding status of pension funds must be shown on the sponsor of the plan’s balance statement by FASB SFAS No. 158. This indicates that the plan’s financial health, fund performance, and pension liabilities are periodically updated.…

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How Do You Define an Activity Ratio? One form of financial indicator is the activity ratio, which measures how well a firm turns its balance sheet assets into revenue and cash flow. Activity ratios, also known as efficiency ratios, provide insight into a company’s inventory management, a vital factor in its operational smoothness and financial health, for investors and analysts. Calculating Effectiveness Ratios The best application of activity ratios is to compare two similar firms operating in the same industry to see how one firm compares against the competition. Yet another use of activity ratios is monitoring a company’s financial…

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Active Management: What Is It? The phrase “active management” refers to the process of an individual, a professional money manager, or a group of experts monitoring an investment portfolio’s performance and selecting which assets to acquire, hold, and sell. Any investment manager’s objective is to beat a predetermined benchmark while achieving one or more supplementary objectives, such as risk management, reducing tax repercussions, or complying with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements for investing. How active managers achieve some of these objectives may vary from other managers. For instance, when choosing which assets to purchase and sell, active managers may…

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What Exactly Is an Acquisition Premium? An acquisition premium is the sum of the projected true worth of a firm and the purchase price paid for it. The higher cost of purchasing a target firm during a merger and acquisition (M&A) deal is known as an acquisition premium. A corporation does not always have to spend more money when it buys another business; in certain cases, it can even get a discount. Knowledge of Acquisition Premiums The business that pays to buy another company in an M&A situation is referred to as the acquirer, while the company being bought or…

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Stellantis, the global automotive giant formed through the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and PSA Group, has set its sights on becoming a dominant force in the EV industry. Under the leadership of CEO Carlos Tavares, the company has outlined an aggressive strategy to build a network of gigafactories across the globe, aiming to not only meet the growing demand for electric vehicles but also to outperform its competitors. As of September 2023, Stellantis has already begun construction on several gigafactories, with some already operational. These manufacturing powerhouses are strategically located in regions with high demand for electric vehicles,…

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Berkeley continues to have an upbeat view despite a 35% drop in bookings. On Friday, Berkeley Group Holdings (BKGH.L), a British high-end homebuilder, said it is maintaining its profit projection but is joining other companies in the industry in stressing a bleak trade climate. This is due to the increased borrowing rates and larger macroeconomic worries. In recent months, the housing market in Britain has been experiencing difficulties due to a decline in demand. This decline occurred against the background of the Bank of England’s persistent series of interest-rate increases intended to curb inflation. The FTSE 100 (.FTSE) builder revealed…

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Nestlé, the global food and beverage giant, has announced its plans to acquire a majority stake in a prominent Brazilian premium chocolate maker. This article explores the implications of the deal and its potential impact on the confectionery industry. Nestlé’s decision to acquire a majority stake in the Brazilian chocolate maker underscores its commitment to expanding and strengthening its presence in the Brazilian market. The confectionery industry has been witnessing significant shifts in consumer preferences and demands. This acquisition aligns with Nestlé’s strategy to diversify its portfolio and adapt to changing market dynamics. Consumers in Brazil and worldwide are increasingly…

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In this analysis, we delve into the recent request made by the Chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to other government agencies, urging them to consider imposing restrictions on Quectel and Fibocom, two prominent Chinese technology companies. This development has significant implications for national security, telecommunications, and trade relations. Quectel and Fibocom are major global telecommunications and technology players specializing in developing wireless communication modules and solutions. Their products are widely used in various devices, including smartphones and IoT (Internet of Things) devices. The FCC Chair’s Key Points The Chairman of the FCC has expressed concerns about potential…

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In this analysis, we delve into the recent developments regarding European Union (EU) tech rules, which could potentially lead to a significant overhaul of the core businesses of major technology companies. This development has substantial implications for the tech industry, regulatory landscape, and consumer protection. The European Union has been actively considering and implementing new regulations to address major technology companies’ power and practices. These regulations are designed to create a fairer and more competitive digital ecosystem within the EU. One of the central aspects of the EU Tech Rules is the assessment of market dominance. It involves identifying tech…

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UAW makes contract counteroffer to Ford; Stellantis makes an offer. As contract negotiations continue, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union is gearing up to present a counteroffer to Ford. This article explores the latest developments in the negotiations between the UAW and Ford and what it means for both parties and the automotive industry. The UAW and Ford have negotiated to reach a mutually beneficial labor contract. The UAW is representing the interests of its members, including factory workers, in these negotiations. Their focus is on securing favorable terms and conditions for their members. Ford, as one of the largest…

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Verizon will pay $4 million US penalty to resolve cybersecurity claims. A Verizon unit has reached an agreement to pay $4 million to resolve accusations related to cybersecurity issues. This article explores the details of the settlement and its significance in cybersecurity and data protection. A unit of Verizon Communications has reached a settlement to pay $4 million in connection with accusations regarding cybersecurity practices. The accusations likely revolve around cybersecurity lapses or vulnerabilities that may have compromised sensitive data. In an era of heightened data protection concerns, cybersecurity is a critical aspect of business operations. Companies often face regulatory…

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Saudi Arabia’s STC Group has announced its acquisition of a 99% stake in Telefonica, a major telecommunications company. This article explores the implications of this acquisition and its significance in the telecommunications industry. The STC Group, a prominent telecommunications player in Saudi Arabia, has completed the acquisition of a 99% stake in Telefonica. This acquisition represents STC Group’s strategic move to expand its global footprint and influence in the telecommunications sector. Telefonica is a multinational telecommunications company based in Spain with a significant presence in Europe and Latin America. The partnership between STC Group and Telefonica is expected to bring…

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Indonesia’s state utility plans to build 32 GW of renewable energy capacity. Indonesia’s state utility company plans an ambitious initiative to develop 32 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity. This article delves into the details of this renewable energy expansion plan, its potential impact on Indonesia’s energy landscape, and the broader global renewable energy transition. Indonesia’s state utility is taking significant steps to transition its energy sector towards sustainability by setting a target of building 32 GW of renewable energy capacity. The plan encompasses many renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal. Investing in renewable energy infrastructure aligns…

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German exporters are anticipating a decline in trade for the year 2023, according to the Federal Association of Wholesale, Foreign Trade, and Services (BGA). This article examines the factors contributing to this outlook and the potential implications for Germany’s economy and global trade. The BGA’s projection of a decline in trade for 2023 reflects the challenges and uncertainties German exporters face. Economic factors, including global market conditions, supply chain disruptions, and changing consumer preferences, contribute to the cautious outlook. Supply chain disruptions, driven by the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other logistical issues, have hindered the flow of…

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Siemens will invest $30 million to train U.S. EV charger technicians. This exclusive analysis delves into Siemens’ substantial commitment to investing $30 million in training electric vehicle (EV) charger technicians in the United States. Siemens, a global powerhouse in technology and infrastructure solutions, has taken a significant step toward advancing the electric vehicle revolution. On September 6, 2023, Siemens announced its substantial investment of $30 million in a program to train EV charger technicians in the United States. This strategic move underscores Siemens’ commitment to supporting the growth of the EV charging infrastructure in the country. The proliferation of electric…

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Goldman Sachs, one of the world’s leading investment banks, has revised its outlook on the likelihood of a U.S. recession in the coming year, reducing the probability to just 15%. This article explores the factors behind this updated forecast and its potential implications for the U.S. economy and financial markets. Goldman Sachs’ revision indicates a more optimistic economic outlook, with a reduced recession probability in the next 12 months. Several factors contribute to this positive outlook, including strong consumer spending, improved labor market conditions, and robust corporate earnings. Consumer spending, a key driver of economic growth, has remained resilient, buoyed…

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ASML, a leading supplier of photolithography equipment for the semiconductor industry, is set to make significant technological advancements. The company’s CEO has announced that ASML will be shipping the first pilot tool for its next product line in 2023. This article explores the implications of this development for the semiconductor industry and technological innovation. ASML has long been at the forefront of innovation in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. The announcement of a new product line signals the company’s commitment to maintaining its technological leadership. Photolithography is a critical process in semiconductor manufacturing, and ASML’s pilot tool is expected to bring…

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On September 5, 2023, Leapmotor, a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, unveiled its strategy to sell EV technology as part of its expansion plan to bolster export growth. This move highlights the increasing prominence of Chinese EV manufacturers in the global automotive industry and their ambitions to export vehicles and cutting-edge technology. Leapmotor’s decision to sell EV technology underscores its strategic approach to expanding its presence in international markets. The global demand for electric vehicles is rising, driven by environmental concerns and government incentives. Chinese EV manufacturers are keen to capitalize on this trend. Leapmotor’s technology offerings are expected to…

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On September 5, 2023, Illumina, a leading biotechnology company specializing in genetic sequencing and genomics, announced the appointment of Jacob Thaysen as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Thaysen, a seasoned executive from Agilent, will be pivotal in steering Illumina’s future strategic direction and innovation in genomics. The appointment of Jacob Thaysen as CEO represents a significant leadership transition within Illumina. Jacob Thaysen brings extensive experience from his tenure at Agilent, a global leader in life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets. His leadership track record is expected to bring fresh insights to Illumina. The choice of Thaysen as CEO…

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Renault CEO sees Ampere’s IPO valuation of up to 10 bln euros. According to reports from the Financial Times on September 5, 2023, Renault’s CEO expressed optimism regarding the forthcoming initial public offering (IPO) of Ampere, a subsidiary of the French automotive company. The CEO anticipates that Ampere’s IPO valuation could increase by 10 billion euros, reflecting confidence in the electric vehicle (EV) market and Ampere’s prospects. Ampere’s IPO has garnered attention in the context of the rapidly growing electric vehicle sector, which is undergoing a significant transformation worldwide. As a subsidiary of Renault, Ampere plays a crucial role in…

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Continental, a global technology leader in the automotive industry, is embarking on an exciting innovation journey by integrating Google Cloud into its vehicle cockpit systems. This transformative partnership signifies Continental’s commitment to redefining the driving experience and unlocking new possibilities in the automotive world. In this article, we delve into the details of this groundbreaking collaboration and its potential impact on the future of in-car technology. The Confluence of Automotive and Technology The convergence of the automotive and technology industries has given rise to a new era of connected and intelligent vehicles. As vehicles become increasingly integrated with digital ecosystems,…

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In a candid assessment of the electric vehicle (EV) landscape, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz has indicated that EV costs will likely remain higher in the foreseeable future. This article explores the factors behind this prognosis and the implications for the EV industry. The EV Revolution The shift towards electric vehicles has been a defining trend in the automotive industry, driven by environmental concerns and evolving consumer preferences. However, the road to a fully electric future is not without challenges. Mercedes-Benz’s Perspective As a prominent player in the luxury car segment, Mercedes-Benz has been actively investing in electric mobility. The CEO’s…

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Lithium developer Liontown backs Albemarle’s $4.3 billion bid. In a significant development within the world of mergers and acquisitions, Liontown Resources has received a sweetened buyout offer worth $4.3 billion from Albemarle Corporation. This article delves into the details of this enticing offer and its potential implications for the future of both companies and the lithium market. The Thriving Lithium Market Lithium, a key component in batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, is central to the global shift towards cleaner energy solutions. This has increased the demand for lithium resources, creating a competitive landscape in the mining and…

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Chevron, unions begin mediation talks to avert Australia LNG strike. In a pivotal development within Australia’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector, Chevron is taking proactive steps by engaging in mediation talks to prevent a potential strike. This article provides a detailed examination of the situation, highlighting the significance of Chevron’s mediation efforts and the potential consequences of a strike in the LNG industry. The LNG Industry in Australia Australia’s LNG industry is vital to its energy sector, contributing significantly to its economy and energy exports. LNG facilities operate around the clock, ensuring a consistent natural gas supply to domestic and…

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The Munich Car Show has taken the automotive world by storm, and at its heart lies a spotlight on the fierce competition in the electric vehicle (EV) race. In this comprehensive article, we delve into the highlights of the Munich Car Show and China’s pivotal role in shaping the future of electric mobility. The Rise of Electric Vehicles Electric vehicles have transitioned from a niche market to a global phenomenon, and the Munich Car Show exemplifies this transformation. As automakers from around the world showcase their latest EV offerings, it becomes evident that the future of the automotive industry is…

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LSE Group draws up plans for blockchain-based digital assets business. The financial sector is radically transforming in today’s ever-evolving digital landscape. The advent of blockchain technology has paved the way for innovative financial instruments, and the London Stock Exchange (LSE) Group is at the forefront of this paradigm shift. In this article, we delve deep into the LSE Group’s plans for a blockchain-based digital assets business, shedding light on the intricacies of this groundbreaking development. Blockchain Technology: A Game-Changer for Finance Blockchain technology has disrupted various industries, and the finance sector is no exception. Its decentralized and immutable nature offers…

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In a remarkable turn of events in the European business landscape, Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical giant, briefly surged ahead of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (LVMH) to become Europe’s most valuable company. This article delves into the factors behind this significant development and its implications for the business world. Novo Nordisk’s Ascendancy A Pharmaceutical Powerhouse Novo Nordisk, renowned for its leadership in diabetes care and innovation in the pharmaceutical sector, has steadily climbed the ranks in the global business arena. The company’s commitment to healthcare solutions has garnered it a loyal investor base and a reputation for excellence.…

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Superdry, a well-known fashion brand based in the UK, has warned about its revenue growth prospects after announcing an annual loss. This report offers insights into the factors contributing to Superdry’s financial challenges, the implications for the company, and the broader context within the fashion industry. Superdry’s Financial Performance 1. Annual Loss Superdry has reported an annual loss, a significant financial setback for the company. 2. Revenue Decline The decline in revenue has been a key factor contributing to Superdry’s annual loss, reflecting challenges in its sales and market position. 3. Market Response Investors and industry analysts have responded to…

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is projecting that high interest rates will continue to prevail for an extended period. This assessment, presented by IMF Chief Economist Gita Gopinath, underscores the complex economic landscape shaped by various factors. In this article, we will explore the details of the IMF’s outlook on interest rates and its potential implications for the global economy. IMF’s Projections As a global financial institution, the IMF closely monitors and analyzes economic trends and policies worldwide. Gita Gopinath’s statement reflects the institution’s assessment of the current economic environment. High-Interest Rates High-interest rates influence borrowing costs, economic growth, and…

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Morning Bid: China’s surprise lifts mood before US payrolls. As we enter September 2023, the global financial landscape remains in constant flux, and Europe stands as a key player in this ever-evolving narrative. This article provides a glimpse into the current outlook for Europe’s markets, offering insights into the economic trends, challenges, and opportunities that define the region’s financial prospects for the month ahead. Economic Resilience Amid Challenges Europe continues to demonstrate economic resilience despite facing a range of challenges: Inflation Concerns Inflation remains a top concern, with rising prices affecting consumer purchasing power and casting a shadow over economic…

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As the Indian stock market prepares to open, there is a sense of cautious optimism tinged with uncertainty among investors. Today’s trading session’s primary focus is releasing U.S. jobs data, a key economic indicator with the potential to influence global markets. Anticipated Market Trends Early Dip Expected Indian shares are poised to open on a slightly lower note, according to market analysts. This early dip is attributed to the prevailing global market sentiment, which hinges on the upcoming U.S. jobs report. The U.S. Jobs Data Influence Investors around the world are closely watching the U.S. labor market statistics. The data…

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The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has taken a significant step by filing an unfair labor practice charge against two major automakers, General Motors (GM) and Stellantis. This move adds a new dimension to ongoing labor disputes within the automotive industry. The Allegations A Serious Accusation The UAW, representing thousands of autoworkers, alleges that GM and Stellantis violated labor laws by making unilateral decisions that affect workers’ job security and working conditions without proper negotiation or consultation with the union. Specific Grievances The union has cited several specific grievances, including concerns about job outsourcing, using temporary workers, and allocating product…

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In a move that underscores its commitment to China’s electric vehicle (EV) market, Tesla has unveiled a refreshed version of its popular Model 3 sedan on its official Chinese website. This announcement comes as the company continues to enhance its EV offerings and expand its presence in the world’s largest automotive market. This article will delves into  the details of Tesla’s refreshed Model 3 and its significance in the Chinese EV landscape. Tesla’s Commitment to China China has been a strategic focus for Tesla, with the country representing a crucial market for electric vehicles. The company’s investment in its Chinese…

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Sage Therapeutics, a prominent player in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry, has reduced its workforce by 40% following a setback in developing a depression drug. This report provides insights into the circumstances surrounding Sage Therapeutics’ decision, the implications for its employees and stakeholders, and the company’s path forward in the pharmaceutical landscape. The Setback in Depression Drug Development 1. Clinical Trial Results Sage Therapeutics faced a significant setback as clinical trial results for its depression drug did not meet the expected efficacy and safety criteria. 2. Regulatory Challenges The pharmaceutical industry often grapples with stringent regulatory requirements, and challenges in…

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Salesforce, a leading player in the technology industry, has witnessed a remarkable rally driven by the successful realization of its profitability initiatives. This report provides insights into the factors behind Salesforce’s impressive financial performance, the strategies contributing to profitability, and the implications for the tech giant’s future. Salesforce’s Financial Turnaround 1. Profitability Surge Salesforce’s recent financial performance has been marked by a significant increase in profitability, signaling a successful turnaround for the company. 2. Revenue Growth While focusing on profitability, Salesforce has also managed to maintain healthy revenue growth, reflecting the effectiveness of its strategies. 3. Market Response Investors and…

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China Evergrande Group, once a behemoth in the real estate industry, now finds itself embroiled in a tumultuous descent. This detailed examination offers insights into the factors contributing to Evergrande’s predicament, its impact on China’s property market, and the broader implications for the global economy. The Rise of China Evergrande 1. Rapid Expansion Evergrande’s ascent was marked by rapid expansion, focusing on residential and commercial real estate developments. The company became one of China’s largest property developers, with a presence nationwide. 2. Debt Accumulation Evergrande accumulated substantial debt to fuel its growth, relying on pre-sales of properties and various financial…

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In the dynamic world of international finance, the global currency market is witnessing significant movements, with the Euro and the US Dollar taking center stage. The Euro has experienced a notable surge due to soaring inflation rates while the US Dollar braces itself for challenges in the job market. This article comprehensively analyzes these developments, shedding light on their causes, potential implications, and what investors should watch out for in the coming months. The Euro’s Inflation-Driven Rally 1. Inflation at a Glance The Euro’s recent surge can be primarily attributed to a surge in inflation across the Eurozone. Often considered…

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In a significant development, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has leveled accusations against Citigroup, one of the world’s largest financial institutions, about record-keeping violations linked to underwriting expenses. This event has raised eyebrows across the financial sector and warrants a comprehensive examination. This article delves into the intricacies of the SEC’s allegations, their potential implications, and the importance of stringent record-keeping in the financial world. The SEC’s Allegations Understanding the Core Issue At the heart of the SEC’s accusations lies the alleged failure of Citigroup to maintain accurate records of its underwriting expenses. These records are crucial for…

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In a resounding commitment to the future resilience of Hawaii’s electric grid, the Biden administration has announced a substantial pledge of $95 million. This initiative comes in response to the devastating Maui fire in August 2023, which exposed vulnerabilities in the state’s power infrastructure. In this article, we explore the significance of this funding, its impact on Hawaii’s energy landscape, and the broader implications for disaster preparedness in the United States. The Maui Fire and Its Consequences A Fiery Wake-up Call The Maui fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in Hawaii’s recent history, wrought havoc across the island. Beyond…

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In a sudden turn of events, Toyota, the renowned global automobile manufacturer, has faced a significant setback as it had to halt operations in 12 of its factories in Japan. The reason? A critical system failure that sent shockwaves through the automotive industry. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the incident, delving into the details of the system failure’s impact and the measures Toyota took to address the situation. The Unforeseen Shutdown On the 29th of August, 2023, Toyota’s production lines across Japan came to an unexpected standstill. This unprecedented event was triggered by a system failure that affected…

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In the ever-evolving world of beverages, Suntory Beverage, the renowned Japanese giant, has set its sights on an ambitious expansion venture in Australia. With an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional refreshment experiences, Suntory Beverage is all set to make waves in the Australian market. This comprehensive article delves into the intricate details of Suntory Beverage’s strategic move, its potential impact on the Australian beverage industry, and the key factors driving this expansion. The Suntory Beverage Empire Before we delve into their Australian conquest, let’s take a moment to understand the global beverage empire that is Suntory Beverage. With a history…

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Japan’s Simplex launches first ETFs focused on stocks below book value. In the ever-evolving landscape of financial markets, innovation is the key driver of growth and investor interest. Japan, a global financial powerhouse, is again at the forefront of innovation as Simplex, a leading financial services provider, launches its pioneering exchange-traded funds (ETFs), focusing on stocks below book value. This groundbreaking development is poised to reshape the investment landscape in Japan and beyond. This comprehensive article delves deep into the intricacies of Simplex’s ETF launch, its implications for investors, and the potential for this offering to dominate the market. Introduction…

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Russia says it foiled a major Ukrainian drone attack. In a bold and unprecedented move, Ukrainian drones executed a precision strike on a Russian air base near Estonia on August 30, 2023. This audacious act showcases the evolving capabilities of Ukrainian military technology and signifies a significant shift in modern warfare dynamics. In this comprehensive article, we delve deep into the intricacies of this operation, its implications, and the broader context of drone warfare in the 21st century. The Ukrainian Drone Offensive A Tactical Triumph The Ukrainian drone strike on the Russian air base near Estonia was meticulously planned and…

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Oil rises on large US stockpile draw, hurricane jitters. This comprehensive analysis delves into the dynamic world of commodities and oil prices, shedding light on the factors that drive market movements and present lucrative investment opportunities. As we explore the current landscape, we aim to provide invaluable insights to empower investors with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions in the volatile oil market. Understanding the Current Oil Market Trends Like many other commodities, the oil market is heavily influenced by many factors. These include geopolitical tensions, supply and demand dynamics, weather conditions, and economic indicators. One must first…

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In July 2023, the European automotive industry witnessed a remarkable upswing in car sales, with a substantial increase of 15%. This surge in demand for automobiles underscores the automotive sector’s resilience and highlights a significant shift towards electric vehicles (EVs), which saw an astonishing growth rate of nearly 61%. This article delves into the key drivers behind this impressive performance and the implications for the future of the European automotive market. The European Car Sales Landscape Unveiling the Statistics July 2023 proved to be a pivotal month for the European automotive market, with total car sales reaching an impressive figure…

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Japan is considering taking action through the World Trade Organization (WTO) in response to China’s ban on seafood imports from Fukushima and surrounding regions. This trade dispute stems from concerns related to the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and it has significant implications for Japan’s seafood industry and its trade relations with China. In this article, we delve into the details of this trade dispute, the reasons behind it, and the potential consequences. The Seafood Import Ban 1. Geographic Restrictions China’s seafood import ban specifically targets products from Fukushima and nearby regions. This ban has existed for several years following the Fukushima…

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Japan is currently discussing the possible extension of gasoline subsidies, which could have far-reaching implications for its economy and environmental goals. These deliberations reflect the nation’s commitment to balancing economic support with environmental sustainability. In this article, we delve into Japan’s contemplation of extending gasoline subsidies, its rationale, and the potential impacts. The Proposal for Gasoline Subsidy Extension 1. Background Japan has historically provided subsidies to mitigate the impact of high gasoline prices on consumers. These subsidies aim to ease the financial burden on citizens and support economic stability. 2. Consideration for Extension The proposal to extend gasoline subsidies stems…

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In a surprising turn of events, Toyota, one of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers, halted operations at 12 factories in Japan due to a system failure. This unforeseen disruption sent shockwaves through the automotive industry and raised questions about the vulnerability of modern manufacturing processes. In this article, we delve into the details of this incident, its implications, and Toyota’s response to the crisis. The Unprecedented System Failure 1. Scope of the Disruption The system failure that forced Toyota to halt operations at 12 Japanese factories was far-reaching. It impacted critical production processes, including supply chain management, quality control, and…

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In a groundbreaking move towards a sustainable and greener future, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has announced a monumental investment of $18.16 billion over the next five years in renewable energy. This strategic decision marks a significant turning point in the global energy landscape and positions BPCL as a pioneer in transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable sources. The Green Energy Imperative As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation, the imperative to shift towards cleaner and sustainable energy sources has never been more critical. BPCL’s bold commitment to green energy investment signifies a profound…

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This comprehensive article delves into the recent developments surrounding Chevron’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Australia, which has prompted discussions of potential strike action. We will provide a detailed overview of the situation, the key players involved, and the implications for the energy sector. Stay informed and gain insights into this critical issue. The Background Chevron, a global energy company, has been a prominent player in Australia’s energy industry for years. Their LNG facilities, vital for the country’s energy exports, have played a significant role in Australia’s economy. However, recent developments have cast a shadow over Chevron’s operations. The…

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In a significant turn of events within the automotive industry, Hyundai Motor has successfully navigated a challenging labor strike in South Korea, ensuring the stability of its operations and the welfare of its workforce. This article delves into the details of this strike, highlighting the strategies employed by Hyundai Motor and the outcomes achieved. The Context: Hyundai Motor’s Labor Dispute Understanding the Background The labor strike at Hyundai Motor in South Korea in August 2023 stemmed from longstanding disputes between the company’s management and its unionized workforce. Key issues included wage negotiations, working conditions, and job security concerns. This contentious…

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Country Garden says the $100 billion Malaysia project is on track. This comprehensive article delves into the exciting developments surrounding Malaysia’s latest initiative to attract investments and foster economic growth. Country Gardens, a renowned property developer, is set to embark on a groundbreaking $100 billion project, and Malaysia is offering an enticing array of incentives to make it happen. Malaysia’s Economic Resurgence Malaysia has been making remarkable strides in its journey towards becoming a global economic powerhouse in recent years. The nation is primed for substantial growth with a strategic location in Southeast Asia, a skilled workforce, and a business-friendly…

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Asia’s shares rally as China measures to boost the market. This comprehensive analysis delves into the intricate details of the global financial markets on August 28, 2023. We aim to provide a profound understanding of the market trends and events, enabling you to make informed investment decisions. From macroeconomic indicators to sector-specific insights, this article offers a strategic perspective on the Global Economic Landscape. GDP Growth and Economic Stability On August 28, 2023, the global economic landscape witnessed remarkable stability and growth. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures across major economies painted a promising picture. Notably, the United States, the European…

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China plans to cut stamp duty on stock trading by up to 50% to revive sentiment. Recent reports suggest that the Chinese government is considering a significant reduction in stamp duty on stock trading, possibly up to 50%, to rejuvenate market sentiment. This potential move is generating substantial interest within the financial sector. In this article, we delve into the details of China’s plans and their potential impact on domestic and international investors. Understanding the Stamp Duty Historical Context The stamp duty on stock trading in China has historically been a crucial source of revenue for the government and a…

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In energy regulation and consumer affordability, the UK’s Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) has significantly reduced the financial burden on consumers. Ofgem has lowered the energy price cap by 7% in response to a decline in wholesale energy costs. This pivotal decision, reported by Reuters on August 25, 2023, carries implications for energy consumers, the energy industry, and the broader context of affordability and sustainability. In this article, we will comprehensively analyze the situation, examining the reasons for the price cap adjustment, potential consequences, and the importance of balancing energy affordability and industry stability. The Role of Ofgem…

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In finance and corporate acquisitions, ANZ Group and Suncorp are facing a pivotal moment as they seek a review of their proposed $3.2 billion deal, which has been blocked. This significant development, reported by Reuters on August 25, 2023, carries implications for both companies, the financial services sector, and regulatory oversight. In this article, we will comprehensively analyze the situation, examining the reasons for the deal’s blockage, the potential consequences, and the broader context of corporate mergers and acquisitions. Corporate Mergers and Acquisitions: Shaping the Industry Strategic Moves Corporate mergers and acquisitions are strategic decisions that can reshape industries and…

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In the competitive landscape of telecommunications and technology, two major players, Ericsson and Huawei, have reaffirmed their commitment to innovation and cooperation. They have recently renewed their patent cross-licensing deal. This significant development, reported by Reuters on August 25, 2023, carries implications for the telecommunications industry, intellectual property, and the broader context of technological advancement. In this article, we will comprehensively analyze the situation, examining the motivations behind the renewal, potential consequences, and the importance of collaborative efforts in driving technological progress. Patent Cross-Licensing: Fostering Innovation The Role of Intellectual Property Patent cross-licensing agreements are instrumental in fostering innovation. They…

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The US sues SpaceX, alleging hiring discrimination against asylum recipients and refugees. SpaceX, the aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company, faces a significant legal challenge in employment and discrimination. The United States government has filed a lawsuit against SpaceX, alleging discrimination in its hiring practices against asylees and refugees. This lawsuit, reported by Reuters on August 24, 2023, carries implications for employment practices, diversity, and the aerospace industry. In this article, we will comprehensively analyze the situation, examining the allegations, potential consequences, and the broader context of workplace discrimination issues. Allegations of Discrimination Hiring Bias Claims The lawsuit filed by…

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In aviation and passenger rights, Spirit Airlines has reached a significant settlement in a class-action lawsuit related to “gotcha” carry-on bag fees. On August 24, 2023, Reuters reported on this development, which carries implications for airline passenger experiences and industry practices. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive analysis of the situation, examining the lawsuit’s background, the settlement terms, and the broader context of passenger rights in the airline industry. Understanding “Gotcha” Fees Unforeseen Costs for Passengers “Gotcha” fees, as they are colloquially known, are unexpected or hidden charges that passengers may incur during their travel, often catching them…

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Norway has contributed significantly to the ongoing backdrop of international support for Ukraine’s defense efforts. On August 24, 2023, Reuters reported that Norway has become the third country to donate F-16 jets to Ukraine, joining the ranks of nations providing military assistance to Ukraine. This article will thoroughly analyze Norway’s decision, its implications, and the broader context of international aid to Ukraine. Ukraine’s Ongoing Defense Needs Facing Geopolitical Challenges Ukraine has been confronting geopolitical challenges for years, including conflicts in its eastern regions. These challenges have necessitated increased support for Ukraine’s defense forces to maintain its sovereignty and territorial integrity.…

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In a significant development in Australia’s energy sector, workers at Chevron’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities have voted to grant unions the authority to call strikes in 2023. This decision could have far-reaching implications for the country’s industrial relations and energy production. Labor Negotiations A Key Turning Point Labor negotiations in the energy sector often play a pivotal role in determining workplace conditions, wages, and overall labor relations. The vote by Chevron LNG workers marks a crucial turning point in ongoing discussions between labor and management. Union Authority Empowering Union Representatives With the approval to call strikes, union representatives gain…

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In 2023, Australia’s economic landscape is undergoing significant shifts, with a report highlighting the nation’s slowing economic growth, rising government spending, and the profound impact of an aging population. These factors present opportunities and challenges for the country’s economic future. Slower Economic Growth A Changing Landscape Australia, known for its robust economy, is facing a period of slower growth. This shift can be attributed to various factors, including changes in global trade dynamics, fluctuating commodity prices, and a maturing economic cycle. As a result, policymakers are reevaluating their strategies to sustain growth. Government Spending on the Rise Addressing Immediate Needs…

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In 2023, Qantas Airways achieved a remarkable feat by posting record-breaking annual earnings despite the ongoing challenges faced by the global aviation industry. This article delves into the key factors that contributed to Qantas’ outstanding performance, highlighting their resilience in the face of adversity, and explores the strategies that allowed them to outshine competitors and capture the attention of both travelers and investors worldwide. A Year of Resilience Surviving and Thriving During Turbulent Times The year 2023 presented numerous challenges to the aviation industry, with the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to cast a shadow. However, Qantas Airways weathered the storm and…

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In a strategic leadership transition, Hays, the global recruitment firm, has named an insider, Markus Hahn, its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This move, announced on August 24, 2023, by Reuters, comes as Hays reports annual profits exceeding market expectations. This article will delve into the details of this leadership change and Hays’ robust financial performance. A New CEO at the Helm Markus Hahn’s Appointment Markus Hahn, a seasoned professional within Hays, has been chosen to lead the company as its new CEO. This appointment reflects Hays’ commitment to promoting talent from within its ranks. Leadership Transition Hahn takes over…

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Japan’s decision to release water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean has sparked significant controversy. This move comes amid criticism from various quarters, including concerns about the environmental impact and the imposition of seafood import bans. This article will delve into the details of this contentious decision and its potential repercussions. The Decision to Release Fukushima Water Water Accumulation The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant suffered a catastrophic meltdown in 2011 and has since accumulated vast amounts of contaminated water to cool the damaged reactors. Disposal Dilemma The disposal of this radioactive water has posed a significant dilemma for…

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Australia is hurt by inflation but unlikely to enter a recession. In the ever-evolving world of finance and economics, staying ahead of the curve is paramount. In this comprehensive analysis, we delve deep into the intricacies of Australia’s economic landscape in 2023, shedding light on crucial factors that may impact the nation’s financial health. Our aim is to provide insights and equip you with a nuanced understanding that goes beyond the headlines. Australia’s Economic Landscape Overview Australia, known for its resilient economy, is facing a pivotal moment in 2023. The global economic dynamics have shifted, and understanding the local implications…

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Stellantis, a global automotive powerhouse, is no stranger to making strategic moves in the ever-evolving automotive industry. In a recent development, the company is reportedly in talks for a potential electric vehicle (EV) tie-up in China, as per Bloomberg News. This article delves into the details of this intriguing development and its potential implications. The Context Stellantis: A Global Automotive Giant Stellantis, formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and PSA Group, is one of the world’s largest automotive manufacturers. The company boasts a diverse portfolio of iconic brands, including Jeep, Ram, Peugeot, Citroën, and many others. China:…

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German business activity has suffered the steepest decline since May 2020. In a swiftly changing economic landscape, keeping a finger on the pulse of business activity is imperative. Welcome to an in-depth analysis of Germany’s recent flash PMI data in August 2023. We aim to provide comprehensive insights beyond the headlines, empowering you with the knowledge to make informed decisions in a rapidly evolving global economy. The Shocking Numbers The flash PMI data for Germany, released on August 23, 2023, has sent ripples through the financial world. It reveals that German business activity has suffered its most severe decline since…

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Zeekr, a prominent Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, is making significant strides as it prepares for its highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO) in the United States. The company, a subsidiary of China’s Geely Holding Group, is set to embark on an investor tour ahead of its IPO, signaling its ambition to expand its presence in the global EV market. Zeekr’s Drive in the EV Industry Zeekr has emerged as a noteworthy player in the EV industry, embodying the Chinese EV sector’s rapid growth and innovation. The company’s commitment to sustainability and cutting-edge automotive technology aligns with the broader global…

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In a significant regulatory development, the UK’s Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) has announced a hefty fine of £688 million on Morgan Stanley & Co. International. This fine comes from an investigation into alleged market manipulation, marking a notable enforcement action in the financial sector. The Regulatory Investigation The investigation by Ofgem centered on suspected market manipulation within the UK’s energy markets. As the regulator overseeing the country’s gas and electricity markets, Ofgem conducted a thorough examination of Morgan Stanley & Co. International’s trading activities and identified irregularities that raised concerns about market integrity. Allegations of Market Manipulation…

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In a high-profile legal development, McDonald’s CEO is embroiled in race bias claims levied by former security executives. This significant and potentially reputation-altering lawsuit, filed on August 23, 2023, has the potential to cast a spotlight on issues of diversity and inclusion within one of the world’s most recognizable fast-food chains. The Allegations At the heart of this legal dispute are allegations made by former high-ranking security executives who claim that they were unfairly terminated due to racial bias within the McDonald’s corporate hierarchy. These claims assert that decisions made during their tenure were influenced by racial prejudices, resulting in…

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Australia’s Woolworths posts profit rise as price gains offset cost hikes. In the ever-evolving retail industry landscape, few companies can match Woolworths’s enduring success and growth. The latest financial report released by the retail giant in August 2023 reveals a remarkable achievement – a nearly 5% rise in annual profit. This impressive performance reaffirms Woolworths’ position as a market leader and provides valuable insights into the factors driving this exceptional growth. A Closer Look at the Numbers Woolworths’ financial statement for the fiscal year ending in 2023 paints a picture of financial strength and resilience. The company reported a substantial…

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Oil ticks up as markets weigh rate hikes, China gloom. In the dynamic world of energy markets, staying informed is crucial for making informed decisions. Our team of experts is here to comprehensively analyze the energy landscape in 2023, ensuring you have access to the most up-to-date information. This article will delve into the factors affecting oil prices, easing concerns over rate hikes, and the prevailing gloom in China’s economic outlook. The Oil Price Rollercoaster Understanding Oil Price Fluctuations Oil prices have always been a topic of global interest, affecting economies and industries worldwide. In 2023, the energy market witnessed…

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In a strategic move within the aviation sector, the government of Indonesia has announced a review of its plan to merge two state-owned airlines. This development, reported by Reuters on August 22, 2023, underscores Indonesia’s efforts to optimize its national airline industry and enhance its competitiveness on the global stage. In this comprehensive article, we explore the details of Indonesia’s merger plan, its motivations, and the potential implications for the country’s aviation landscape. The Indonesian Aviation Landscape Indonesia is home to a vibrant aviation industry, with several airlines operating both domestically and internationally. Among them are two prominent state-owned carriers.…

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In a noteworthy development reflecting the healthcare industry dynamics, Medtronic, a leading medical technology company, has announced an upward revision of its annual forecast. This decision, reported by Reuters on August 22, 2023, comes in response to a substantial increase in the demand for medical procedures. In this comprehensive article, we delve into the details of Medtronic’s forecast adjustment, the factors driving this surge in demand, and the broader implications for the healthcare sector. Medtronic’s Vital Role in Healthcare Medtronic is a globally recognized player in the medical technology sphere, specializing in developing innovative medical devices that enhance patient care…

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In a groundbreaking move that signifies the growing prominence of sustainable energy solutions, Northvolt, a leading European battery manufacturer, has successfully raised an impressive $12 billion in its latest funding round. This substantial investment is earmarked for the expansion of Northvolt’s battery manufacturing capacity, underlining the company’s critical role in the transition to clean energy. As reported by Reuters on August 22, 2023, this development has significant implications for the renewable energy and electric vehicle (EV) sectors. In this comprehensive article, we explore the details of Northvolt’s fundraising success, its strategic importance, and the broader context within the sustainable energy…

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In a recent development that garnered significant attention, China has imposed a substantial fine of $15 million on Mintz Group, a prominent investigative and corporate due diligence firm. This action follows a raid on the company’s Beijing office and raises questions about the implications for foreign firms operating in China. This comprehensive article delves into the case details, the context of foreign business operations in China, and the potential consequences of such fines. The Unapproved Work The fine levied against Mintz Group stems from unapproved work conducted by the firm in China. Chinese authorities contend that Mintz Group engaged in…

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Oil dips on possible easing of tight supply, China woes hurt demand outlook. In today’s dynamic world, the energy landscape is transforming remarkably. We are witnessing a shift from traditional fossil fuels to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources. Environmental concerns and the need for energy security and economic stability drive this transition. In this article, we will explore the promising developments in the renewable energy sector and how they are reshaping the future of energy production. The Rise of Renewable Energy Renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power, have gained significant traction in recent years. These sources…

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In a significant development in finance, Goldman Sachs is reportedly mulling over the sale of a portion of its wealth business. This announcement, made on August 21, 2023, has garnered considerable attention within the financial sector and beyond. This article delves into the details and potential implications of Goldman Sachs’ strategic move. The Wealth Business Landscape A Competitive Arena The wealth management sector is fiercely competitive, with numerous financial institutions vying for a lucrative market share. Goldman Sachs, renowned for its investment banking and asset management prowess, is significant in this arena. Strategic Reassessment Goldman Sachs’ contemplation of selling a…

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Foreign investors are undeterred by China’s tensions, says Taiwan stock exchange chairman. The global financial landscape remains dynamic, with geopolitics significantly shaping investment decisions. One topic that has garnered considerable attention is the relationship between foreign investors and China, a nation at the heart of international commerce and finance. Amidst geopolitical tensions, the Chairman of the Stock Exchange has offered a glimpse into the resilience of foreign investors in the Asian market. Navigating Through Tensions China has long been an attractive hub for foreign investment. Its growing middle class, immense market potential, and technological advancements have become a hotspot for…

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Market debuts often come with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty, and the recent launch of Jio Financial, a spin-off from Reliance Industries, was no exception. On August 21, 2023, Jio Financial debuted on the market but faced a 5% decline in its stock value. This debut performance highlights the challenges and dynamics of the financial sector. Jio Financial: A New Player Reliance’s Spin-off Jio Financial is a spin-off of Reliance Industries, India’s largest conglomerate. The move to create a separate financial entity reflects Reliance’s strategic ambitions to expand its presence in the financial services sector. High Expectations The launch…

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In a groundbreaking move, Dupont is set to divest its Delrin resins unit to a private equity firm for a staggering $1.8 billion. This strategic decision is poised to impact Dupont’s portfolio and the polymer industry significantly. In this comprehensive article, we delve into the intricacies of this deal, shedding light on the key players, the implications for the market, and the potential future developments. The Deal in Detail Dupont’s Decision Dupont’s decision to sell its Delrin resins unit is a strategic one. The company is refocusing its efforts on its core businesses, and divesting non-core assets is a key…

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Oil prices climb on expectations of lower OPEC+ exports in August. In the ever-evolving landscape of global energy markets, staying informed is paramount. We are committed to providing you with the most up-to-date and insightful information on oil price trends in 2023. We aim to empower you with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions in the complex world of energy trading. Understanding the Current Oil Price Landscape Many factors influence oil prices, and in 2023, several key trends are shaping the market. It’s crucial to grasp these dynamics to make strategic decisions. Let’s delve into them: 1. China’s…

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Asia stutters as China doles out a meager rate cut. In today’s rapidly evolving global market landscape, we delve into key insights and trends that shape the financial world. As seasoned experts in the field, we comprehensively analyze recent developments, market movements, and potential implications for investors. Our commitment to providing valuable information sets us apart, positioning us to match and surpass the information in the article “Global Markets Wrap-up,” published by Reuters. Understanding Market Dynamics At the heart of our analysis lies a profound understanding of market dynamics. Our financial specialists continuously monitor and interpret various factors that influence…

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Vietnam’s electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, VinFast, finds itself in the spotlight as its stock experiences a third consecutive decline following a resounding debut. The rapid shifts in stock performance prompt discussions about the intricate interplay between market expectations, industry trends, and the challenges faced by emerging players in the competitive EV sector. The Debut Boom VinFast’s initial foray into the stock market was met with fervent anticipation, capturing the attention of investors and enthusiasts alike. The surge in stock price during the debut highlighted the immense potential seen in the company’s EV ambitions, reflecting the broader interest in sustainable transportation…

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Shares hit a two-month low as fading Fed cut hope hammers bonds. Global markets are a dynamic and interconnected ecosystem where financial trends, investor sentiment, and economic indicators converge to shape the course of economies and industries. The recent global markets wrap-up provides a comprehensive overview of the latest market developments, shedding light on the intricate interplay between geopolitical events, economic data releases, and investor behavior. In this detailed analysis, we delve into the significance of the global markets wrap-up, its implications for financial strategies, and the broader considerations surrounding the complex nature of market dynamics and investor decision-making. Introduction:…

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Workers begin strike vote at Chevron’s LNG facilities in Australia. The energy sector, a cornerstone of modern economies, is not immune to labor disputes and their far-reaching consequences. The recent initiation of a strike vote among workers at Chevron’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in Australia brings to light the intricate dynamics between labor rights, industrial actions, and the energy supply chain. In this comprehensive analysis, we delve into the significance of the strike vote, its implications for the energy sector, and the broader considerations surrounding the balance between worker interests and industrial stability. Introduction: Navigating Labor Disputes in the…

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Citibank subpoenaed over US House probe into alleged data sharing with FBI. The intersection of financial institutions, government agencies, and data privacy is fraught with implications. Citibank’s recent subpoena in the US House probe into alleged data sharing with the FBI sheds light on the intricate dynamics between banking confidentiality, law enforcement, and civil liberties. In this comprehensive analysis, we delve into the significance of the subpoena, its impact on the financial sector, and the broader considerations surrounding privacy, oversight, and the balance between security and individual rights. Introduction: Navigating Data Privacy and National Security Citibank’s subpoena in the US…

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Discover the inspiring journey of CEO Aleric Heck and the remarkable biography of AdOutreach. Learn about the visionary leadership behind AdOutreach and the remarkable achievements of CEO Aleric Heck. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Aleric Heck is a visionary leader in the advertising industry. AdOutreach, led by Aleric Heck, has achieved remarkable success. Aleric Heck’s journey from entrepreneur to CEO is inspiring. AdOutreach is known for its innovative approaches and cutting-edge strategies. Aleric Heck’s leadership has played a crucial role in AdOutreach’s growth and reputation. AdOutreach’s biography highlights its milestones, achievements, and impact on the industry. Aleric Heck’s dedication and vision…

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Energy stocks boost TSX and Teck Resources surges. In the dynamic realm of financial markets, fluctuations are driven by many factors, each influencing investor sentiment and market movements. The incremental rise in TSX futures, fueled by gains in oil prices, signals a delicate balance between global economic forces and commodity dynamics. In this comprehensive analysis, we delve into the significance of this market movement, its implications for investor confidence, and the role of commodity trends in shaping the trajectory of financial markets. Introduction: Navigating Market Volatility The upward movement of TSX futures, propelled by gains in oil prices, offers a…

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Payments company Adyen’s shares, plummet after earnings miss. In the dynamic realm of finance and technology, companies often face ups and downs, navigating challenges as they strive for growth. Adyen, a prominent payments company, recently experienced a significant drop of over 20% in its shares following an earnings miss. This setback underscores the complexity of financial performance and market expectations. This comprehensive analysis delves into the significance of Adyen’s earnings miss, its implications for the fintech sector, and the strategies companies employ to address market fluctuations. Introduction: Unveiling Earnings Volatility Adyen’s substantial drop in shares post-earnings miss brings to light…

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Central banks of Indonesia and Singapore start trials on cross-border QR code payments. In the ever-evolving financial technology landscape, collaboration between nations is key to unlocking new frontiers in seamless cross-border transactions. The recent trial of cross-border QR code payments between Indonesia and Singapore’s central banks reflects a groundbreaking initiative that has the potential to revolutionize international payments. In this comprehensive analysis, we delve into the significance of this trial, its impact on the fintech sector, and the transformative power of digital payment innovation. Introduction: Reinventing Cross-Border Transactions The trial of cross-border QR code payments between Indonesia and Singapore’s central…

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Tyson Foods plans to sell China’s poultry business sources. In the ever-evolving landscape of global commerce, strategic decisions shape the trajectory of businesses and industries. A prominent food and agriculture player, Tyson Foods, has recently unveiled plans to divest its China poultry business. This move reflects a calculated strategic pivot aimed at optimizing operations, aligning with core competencies, and capitalizing on emerging opportunities. This comprehensive analysis delves into the motivations behind Tyson Foods’ divestment strategy, its implications, and the potential pathways for future growth. Introduction: Navigating Business Evolution Tyson Foods’ decision to divest its China poultry business is pivotal in…

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Indian shares open lower amid risk aversion in global equities. As financial markets worldwide experience a wave of risk aversion, Indian shares are poised to open with a relatively stable outlook. This context warrants a comprehensive analysis of the factors influencing India’s equities amidst global uncertainty, shedding light on the intricate interplay of economic indicators, investor sentiments, and broader market dynamics. 1. Global Risk Aversion and Market Sentiments The anticipated flat opening of Indian shares mirrors a broader risk aversion trend sweeping through global equities. Escalating geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties, and the fluctuating trajectory of major stock indices contribute to…

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Discover the visionary CEO Brett Trembly and the inspiring journey of Get Staffed Up, revolutionizing staffing solutions with an entrepreneurial approach. Explore the intersection of human resources and entrepreneurship in this captivating profile. KEY TAKEAWAYS Brett Trembly: Visionary leader and CEO of Get Staffed Up. Get Staffed Up: Revolutionizing staffing solutions. Trembly’s entrepreneurial approach drives the success of Get Staffed Up. The intersection of human resources and entrepreneurship at Get Staffed Up. Discover the inspiring journey of Brett Trembly and the growth of Get Staffed Up. Brett Trembly’s leadership has been instrumental in the success of Get Staffed Up,…

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Explore the inspiring journey of CEO Mike Beaudry and the phenomenal success of Herbl in the cannabis industry. Discover the power of entrepreneurship and the innovative supply chain. A captivating biography that unveils their remarkable achievements. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Mike Beaudry’s leadership has played a pivotal role in the success of Herbl in the cannabis industry. Herbl has achieved remarkable growth and impact under the guidance of CEO Mike Beaudry. The biography highlights the inspiring journey of both CEO Mike Beaudry and Herbl. aspiring entrepreneurs and those interested in the cannabis industry. Welcome to the captivating world of…

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Discover the visionary leader, CEO Ryan Sandler, driving Truework’s success. Learn about Truework’s revolutionary identity verification, data privacy, and employment verification solutions in this captivating profile and biography. KEY TAKEAWAYS Ryan Sandler is the visionary CEO behind Truework, a company revolutionizing identity verification, data privacy, and employment verification. Sandler’s leadership has been instrumental in Truework’s success and transformation of the verification landscape. Truework is reshaping trust and security in the digital age by offering cutting-edge technology solutions for identity verification. Truework’s focus on data privacy ensures that individuals and organizations can trust the platform with sensitive information. The company’s…

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In a candid acknowledgment, the White House has raised concerns about transparency issues surrounding China’s economic data. This article delves into the significance of the White House’s statement, its implications for international economic relations, and the broader considerations surrounding data integrity and global market dynamics. Introduction The White House’s recognition of transparency challenges in China’s economic data underscores the complexities of data accuracy in today’s interconnected world. Unveiling Transparency Concerns: White House Statement The White House’s statement highlights transparency concerns within China’s economic data reporting: Data Accuracy: The acknowledgment focuses on the accuracy and reliability of economic data shared by…

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China’s e-commerce powerhouse, JD.com, has exceeded quarterly revenue estimates, signaling impressive growth in a competitive market. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of JD.com’s strong performance, the factors driving its success, and the broader implications for the e-commerce landscape in China. Introduction JD.com’s triumphant financial results have captured the attention of industry observers and investors alike. As the e-commerce landscape continues to evolve, JD.com’s robust growth is a testament to its strategic prowess and ability to navigate complex market dynamics. Exceeding Revenue Estimates JD.com’s quarterly revenue surpassing estimates is a notable achievement, underscoring the company’s resilience and adaptability. The e-commerce…

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Against domestic uncertainty, many Israeli tech startups are coming to the United States, seeking stability, opportunities, and a supportive ecosystem. This article comprehensively explores the factors driving this trend, the advantages of U.S. expansion for Israeli startups, and the potential impact on both countries’ tech landscapes. Introduction As Israeli tech startups navigate a complex domestic landscape characterized by uncertainties, an intriguing trend has emerged: a significant influx of startups venturing into the United States. This phenomenon reflects a strategic response to challenges at home and underscores the appeal of the U.S. ecosystem for fostering innovation and growth. The Drive to…

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In a remarkable turn of events, VinFast, a prominent electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has witnessed a surge in its share prices during pre-market trading ahead of its much-anticipated debut on the Nasdaq exchange. This article provides a comprehensive overview of VinFast’s soaring market performance, the factors contributing to its success, and the potential implications for the EV industry. Introduction The automotive and technology sectors are excited as VinFast, a rising star in the EV manufacturing landscape, prepares to debut on the prestigious Nasdaq exchange. The company’s remarkable pre-market performance has garnered attention from investors, industry experts, and enthusiasts alike. Pre-Market…

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In a significant development within financial markets, the Singapore Exchange (SGX) has unveiled plans to list structured certificates linked to China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the motivations behind this strategic move, the potential implications for investors, and the broader impact on investment opportunities within the Asia-Pacific region. Expanding Investment Offerings On August 15, 2023, the Singapore Exchange announced a groundbreaking initiative to expand its investment offerings by listing structured certificates linked to Alibaba. This move aligns with SGX’s commitment to providing market participants with diverse and attractive investment options. Leveraging Alibaba’s Growth The decision…

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In a remarkable turn of events, Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group (Evergrande NEV) is on the cusp of a significant uptick in its share value following a successful share sale. This article comprehensively analyzes the factors contributing to this anticipated surge, the implications for Evergrande NEV and its investors, and the broader impact on the automotive and transportation industry. A Positive Shift in Fortunes On August 15, 2023, Evergrande NEV experienced a positive shift in its fortunes due to a successful share sale. The development marks a turning point for the company and holds the potential to redefine its market…

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In a significant move that underscores its commitment to fostering a secure and innovative digital economy, Singapore has introduced a comprehensive regulatory framework for single-currency stablecoins. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the key components of the framework, its potential impact on the stablecoin ecosystem, and its broader implications for the global digital currency landscape. Pioneering Regulation On August 15, 2023, Singapore emerged as a pioneer in the realm of digital currency regulation by unveiling a groundbreaking framework specifically tailored for single currency stablecoins. The move showcases Singapore’s proactive approach to embracing digital innovation while ensuring a robust regulatory…

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In a stunning testament to Japan’s economic prowess, the second quarter of 2023 has witnessed a GDP growth exceeding even the loftiest expectations. This extraordinary performance has been primarily propelled by a robust export surge, underscoring Japan’s enduring role as an influential player in the global economic arena. In this in-depth analysis, we delve into the factors behind Japan’s remarkable Q2 GDP growth, emphasizing the pivotal role of exports and their far-reaching implications. Setting the Stage: Japan’s Economic Landscape Renowned for its technological innovation and industrial might, Japan has long been a stalwart contributor to the global economy. The nation’s…

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In a groundbreaking leap for medical science, Pfizer’s innovative blood cancer therapy has received highly coveted approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This momentous achievement not only holds profound implications for the treatment of blood cancer but also underscores Pfizer’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of medical innovation. This comprehensive article delves into the intricacies of Pfizer’s revolutionary therapy, its potential impact on patients, and the broader landscape of cancer treatment. Introduction: A Paradigm Shift in Blood Cancer Treatment Pfizer, a global pharmaceutical powerhouse renowned for its commitment to advancing healthcare, has achieved a monumental milestone…

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The CEO of Naver’s Webtoon, a prominent digital comics platform, has emphasized the considerable challenge posed by a high barrier for new entrants to the industry. This statement sheds light on the digital comics market’s competitive dynamics and unique characteristics. In this comprehensive analysis, we delve into the significance of the CEO’s remarks, explore the factors contributing to the high barrier, and shed light on the broader implications for the digital comics sector and potential entrants. Introduction: Navigating Industry Competition The CEO of Naver’s Webtoon, highlighting the substantial barrier for new entrants, underscores the dynamic nature of the digital comics…

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The renowned electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla has announced a strategic move to reduce prices for specific versions of its Model Y in the Chinese market. This development highlights the competitive dynamics within the electric vehicle sector and underscores Tesla’s commitment to expanding its presence and affordability in key markets. In this comprehensive analysis, we delve into the significance of Tesla’s price cuts, explore the driving forces behind this decision, and shed light on the broader implications for Tesla’s market strategy and the global electric vehicle landscape. Introduction: Navigating Market Competition Tesla’s decision to lower prices for select Model Y versions…

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Discover the remarkable journey of CEO Gabriel Greenberg and Octillion, a leader in Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology innovation. Learn how their visionary leadership is shaping a greener future. Explore the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and success. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Gabriel Greenberg is a visionary leader driving Octillion’s success. Octillion is a prominent company in the field of Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology. Gabriel Greenberg’s leadership has transformed Octillion into an industry leader. Octillion’s journey showcases its rise from a startup to a major player in the tech industry. Gabriel Greenberg’s bold strategies and innovative approach have been instrumental…

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Discover the inspiring journey of CEO Rosie Mattio in the cannabis industry. Explore Mattio’s innovative public relations and marketing strategies in this captivating biography.  KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Rosie Mattio is a prominent figure in the cannabis industry. Mattio, the company she founded, specializes in public relations and marketing strategies for the cannabis sector. Rosie Mattio’s journey to success in the industry is inspiring and showcases her entrepreneurial spirit. Mattio’s innovative approach to public relations and marketing has made a significant impact on the cannabis industry. The article provides insights into Rosie Mattio’s leadership style and her contributions to the…

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Discover the inspiring journey of CEO Joel Holland and the success story of Harvest Hosts in the travel and RVing industry. Explore the intersection of entrepreneurship and hospitality. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Joel Holland: A dynamic and visionary leader Harvest Hosts: A game-changer in the travel and RVing industry Successful combination of travel and RVing with unique hospitality experiences Entrepreneurial spirit and innovative approach of Joel Holland How Harvest Hosts revolutionized the concept of RV camping The inspiring story of growth and success in the hospitality industry Exemplifies the potential for entrepreneurial ventures in the travel sector. Welcome to…

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Discover the remarkable journey of CEO Matthew Haddad and the achievements of Specialty1 Partners, a private equity investment firm forging impactful business partnerships. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Matthew Haddad: A visionary leader in the business world. Specialty1 Partners: A successful private equity investment firm. Matthew Haddad’s journey: From start-up to remarkable success. Specialty1 Partners’ impact: Creating influential business partnerships. Innovation and growth: Matthew Haddad’s entrepreneurial genius. Empowering businesses: Specialty1 Partners changing the game. Catalyst for change: Matthew Haddad’s legacy of excellence. Resounding success: Specialty1 Partners’ achievements in the industry. Inspiring leadership: Matthew Haddad’s vision and impact. Driving innovation: Specialty1 Partners’…

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In the wake of an unexpected and tragic loss, Daimler Truck has commenced the search for a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to fill the void left by the sudden death of its previous CFO. This strategic move underscores the challenges posed by unforeseen events and the critical role of financial leadership in maintaining stability and continuity within an organization. In this comprehensive analysis, we delve into the implications of this transition and explore the potential impact on Daimler Truck’s financial strategies. Introduction: Navigating Unforeseen Transitions Daimler Truck’s initiative to search for a new CFO after an unexpected loss highlights…

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Discover the inspiring journey of CEO Jason Rusnak and the transformative impact of Neighborly Software in community engagement and civic technology. Learn how this innovative platform revolutionizes local government. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Jason Rusnak is a visionary leader driving the success of Neighborly Software. Neighborly Software is a revolutionary platform in the realm of community engagement and civic technology. The software has transformed how local government operates and engages with its constituents. Under Jason Rusnak’s leadership, Neighborly Software has brought innovation and efficiency to the public sector. Welcome to the captivating world of CEO Jason Rusnak and the…

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In a significant development highlighting international defense collaboration, Germany-based Rheinmetall has announced its plans to supply Ukraine with the advanced Luna Drone System later this year. This strategic partnership underscores the evolving dynamics of global security and the role of cutting-edge technology in bolstering defense capabilities. In this comprehensive analysis, we delve into the implications of this collaboration and the potential impact on Ukraine’s defense landscape. Introduction: Advancing Defense Capabilities Rheinmetall’s decision to provide Ukraine with the Luna Drone System reflects a commitment to advancing defense capabilities and fostering international partnerships. As nations navigate a complex security environment, integrating innovative…

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SpiceJet has reported substantial profits in its first-quarter earnings in a remarkable display of financial strength. This achievement underscores the airline’s resilience and signifies a broader narrative of India’s aviation sector defying challenges and soaring to new heights. In this comprehensive analysis, we delve into the factors that have propelled SpiceJet’s impressive performance and shed light on the implications for the Indian aviation industry. Introduction: SpiceJet’s Soaring Success SpiceJet’s Q1 profit announcement marks a significant milestone in India’s aviation landscape. Amidst industry fluctuations and global uncertainties, the airline’s robust financial performance is a testament to its strategic prowess and operational…

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Asia suffers China hangover; dollar scales 2023 top on the yen. This detailed analysis delves into the most significant trends shaping the global markets and provides valuable insights that outshine competitors. Our expert team has meticulously studied the current landscape to offer you a comprehensive overview of the latest developments that could impact your investment decisions. Introduction: Navigating the Complexities of Global Markets Global markets are constantly in flux, influenced by many factors such as economic indicators, geopolitical events, and technological advancements. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for investors seeking to make informed choices. In this report, we thoroughly examine…

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Discover the inspiring journey of CEO Steve Johnston, the driving force behind Ideal Agent. Explore his leadership, career, and the transformative impact of Ideal Agent in the real estate industry. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Steve Johnston’s profile highlights his inspiring journey and leadership in the real estate industry. The biography of Ideal Agent showcases its transformative impact and success under CEO Steve Johnston’s guidance. Steve Johnston’s career showcases his entrepreneurial spirit and ability to break barriers. Ideal Agent is revolutionizing the real estate landscape, driven by CEO Steve Johnston’s vision and innovation. In the dynamic world of real estate,…

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In a significant development that reverberates through the aerospace and defense sector, Archer has achieved a remarkable milestone. The company’s recent feat involves successfully acquiring a substantial $215 million investment, alongside resolving ongoing legal disputes with rival company Wisk. This article intricately examines the details surrounding Archer’s groundbreaking achievement, highlighting its potential implications, strategic significance, and the broader context within the aerospace industry. Elevating the Aerospace Landscape: Archer’s Triumph Archer’s accomplishment of securing a substantial $215 million investment and settling rival lawsuits signifies a remarkable stride forward for the aerospace industry. The infusion of capital and the resolution of legal…

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Oil prices experienced a modest uptick in response to growing optimism surrounding demand projections from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). This development underscores the delicate balance between supply and demand dynamics that influence the global oil market. OPEC Demand Optimism The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has significantly shaped the global oil market by coordinating production levels among its member countries. Optimism surrounding OPEC’s demand projections has contributed to positive sentiment among market participants. Global Oil Market The global oil market is influenced by a complex interplay of factors, including geopolitical events, economic growth, technological…

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The Adani Group, a prominent conglomerate in India, is reportedly discussing opportunities within the local bond market. This article examines the significance of the potential move, analyzes its implications for the Adani Group and the broader Indian financial landscape, and sheds light on the factors driving this strategic consideration. Exploring Local Bond Market Opportunities: A Strategic Move by Adani Group The Adani Group’s discussions regarding tapping into India’s local bond market highlight a strategic shift in its financial approach. Readers gain insights into the Group’s strategic considerations by delving into the reasons behind this potential move, examining the advantages of…

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Vietnam’s electric vehicle (EV) powerhouse, VinFast, has cleared a significant hurdle to a US listing. This article explores the implications of shareholders’ approval for VinFast’s Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) merger, delves into the strategic significance of the move, and examines the potential impact on the global EV market. Shaping the Future: VinFast’s SPAC Shareholders’ Nod The resounding approval by shareholders for VinFast’s SPAC merger is a pivotal moment in the company’s trajectory. By analyzing the context of SPAC mergers in the EV sector, understanding the factors that contributed to this resounding nod, and evaluating the implications for VinFast’s future…

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UBS, a prominent global financial institution, has terminated its loss protection agreement with the Swiss government. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the factors driving this strategic decision, explores the potential implications for UBS and the Swiss financial landscape, and examines the broader context of such agreements within the banking sector. Strategic Shift: Termination of Loss Protection Agreement UBS’s decision to terminate its loss protection agreement marks a significant strategic shift in its relationship with the Swiss government. By delving into the motivations behind this decision, understanding how loss protection agreements function, and evaluating UBS’s positioning in the financial…

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Discover the entrepreneurial journey of CEO Rish Patel and the remarkable success story of RP Professional Services. Explore the leadership, entrepreneurship, and business success that define their inspiring narrative. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Rish Patel is a visionary leader driving the success of RP Professional Services. RP Professional Services has achieved remarkable business success under Rish Patel’s leadership. Rish Patel’s entrepreneurship and innovative approach have been instrumental in RP Professional Services’ growth. Welcome to the captivating world of entrepreneurship, business success, and extraordinary leadership. In this article, we delve into the inspiring profile of CEO Rish Patel and the…

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Discover the visionary leadership of CEO Chase Garbarino and the transformative impact of HqO in the commercial real estate industry. Explore the fusion of technology and tenant experience. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Chase Garbarino is a visionary leader driving innovation in the commercial real estate industry. HqO is a transformative company revolutionizing tenant experiences through technology. The fusion of technology and commercial real estate is reshaping the way tenants interact with their spaces. In the ever-evolving landscape of commercial real estate, a dynamic force is reshaping the way we experience and interact with physical spaces. This force is driven…

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Discover the remarkable leadership journey of CEO Ambreen Javed and the success story of Integrated Management Strategies. Explore their expertise in leadership, business management, and strategic planning. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Ambreen Javed is a dynamic leader with expertise in strategic planning and business management. Integrated Management Strategies is a successful organization with a focus on implementing effective management strategies. Ambreen Javed’s leadership has played a pivotal role in the growth and success of Integrated Management Strategies. Welcome to the captivating world of CEO Ambreen Javed and the remarkable journey of Integrated Management Strategies. In this article, we will…

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Discover the visionary leadership of CEO Sayandeb Banerjee and the data-driven journey of TheMathCompany. Explore the power of data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Sayandeb Banerjee is a visionary leader in the field of data analytics. TheMathCompany is a prominent player in the data analytics industry. The company specializes in leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence to drive insights and solutions. Introducing the visionary leader and the driving force behind TheMathCompany, CEO Sayandeb Banerjee. In a world driven by data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, Banerjee’s expertise has propelled the company to new…

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Discover the inspiring journey of CEO Matt Gorniak and the groundbreaking technology of Threekit, revolutionizing product visualization through innovation and technology. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Matt Gorniak is the driving force behind Threekit, a company revolutionizing product visualization. Threekit is a groundbreaking technology company specializing in innovative product visualization solutions. Matt Gorniak’s leadership and vision have propelled Threekit to prominence in the industry. In the rapidly evolving world of e-commerce, where online shopping has become the norm, capturing the attention and imagination of consumers is paramount. Enter CEO Matt Gorniak, a visionary leader at the helm of Threekit, a…

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Discover the inspiring journey of CEO Kathrin Hamm, driving sustainable bedding innovation at Bearaby. Unveiling the secrets of brand success and entrepreneurship in the world of eco-friendly sleep solutions. KEY  TAKEAWAYS CEO Kathrin Hamm is a visionary leader driving sustainability in the corporate world. Kathrin Hamm is the CEO of Bearaby, a company revolutionizing the bedding industry with sustainable products. Bearaby is known for its eco-friendly and innovative approach to bedding, inspired by nature. Introducing a game-changer in the bedding industry, CEO Kathrin Hamm, and the remarkable journey of Bearaby. In a world hungry for sustainability, entrepreneurship, and…

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Discover the inspiring journey of CEO Carlos Ventura and the culinary excellence of Feast & Fettle, a leading meal delivery service. Explore their business growth and expansion in this captivating biography. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Carlos Ventura is the driving force behind Feast & Fettle, a renowned meal delivery service. Ventura’s leadership and vision have propelled Feast & Fettle to achieve culinary excellence. Feast & Fettle has experienced significant business growth and expansion under Ventura’s guidance. In the bustling world of meal delivery services, there are few names that stand out for their culinary excellence, remarkable business growth, and…

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Discover the inspiring success story of CEO Charles Desmarais and Maria Desmarais, the visionary minds behind Athena Club, showcasing their leadership and entrepreneurship in this captivating profile. Explore how Athena Club became a remarkable success, embodying the essence of entrepreneurship and paving the way for women’s empowerment. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Charles Desmarais and Maria Desmarais are the driving forces behind Athena Club. Athena Club is a successful venture that showcases its leadership and entrepreneurial skills. The article highlights their inspiring success story and sheds light on their journey. In the dynamic world of entrepreneurship, there are exceptional individuals…

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Discover the success story of Summit Facility Solutions under the visionary leadership of CEO Michael Marrazzo Jr. Explore their business growth, facility management expertise, and inspiring journey to success. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Michael Marrazzo Jr. is a remarkable leader at Summit Facility Solutions. Summit Facility Solutions has achieved impressive business growth under his guidance. The company specializes in facility management solutions. Welcome to the captivating world of Summit Facility Solutions and the visionary leadership of CEO Michael Marrazzo Jr. This article delves into the fascinating success story of Summit Facility Solutions, a shining example of business growth and…

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Explore the profile of CEO Robert Tetsch and the biography of Modern Pro Solutions, a leader in cutting-edge technology and innovative business solutions driving growth. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Robert Tetsch is a visionary leader driving the success of Modern Pro Solutions. Modern Pro Solutions is known for its cutting-edge technology and innovative business solutions. The company has experienced significant growth under Robert Tetsch’s leadership. Welcome to the captivating world of modern business solutions and cutting-edge technology! This article delves into the inspiring journey of CEO Robert Tetsch and the remarkable biography of Modern Pro Solutions. Brace yourself for…

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Discover the visionary leader behind Generation Genius, CEO Jeffrey Vinokur. Explore the educational content, science, and learning on this innovative online platform. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Jeffrey Vinokur is the driving force behind Generation Genius. Generation Genius is an online learning platform focused on educational content. The platform offers engaging science and learning materials for students. Are you ready to dive into the world of educational content, science, and online learning? In this article, we will explore the inspiring journey of CEO Jeffrey Vinokur and the innovative platform he spearheads, Generation Genius. Prepare to be captivated by the power…

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Discover the remarkable story of CEO Harvey Hughes, the driving force behind SmartData Dashboard, revolutionizing data visualization, and business intelligence, and providing cutting-edge analytics and insights. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Harvey Hughes is a visionary leader behind SmartData Dashboard. SmartData Dashboard is a powerful platform for data visualization. It offers advanced business intelligence solutions. Are you ready to unlock the power of data visualization, and business intelligence, and gain valuable insights? Join us as we delve into the inspiring journey of CEO Harvey Hughes and the remarkable story of SmartData Dashboard. In this article, we’ll explore how Harvey Hughes’…

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El Al, Israel’s national airline, is discussing potential collaborations for short-haul jets with aerospace giants Airbus and Boeing. This article delves into the implications of these talks, explores the rationale behind El Al’s strategic move, and examines the potential impact on the airline’s fleet and competitive positioning. Forging New Alliances El Al’s engagement with Airbus and Boeing marks a potential turning point for its fleet strategy. By analyzing the factors driving these discussions, understanding the benefits of partnering with established industry players, and evaluating the opportunities for fleet modernization and expansion, we gain insights into El Al’s proactive approach to…

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Disney, a global entertainment powerhouse, has reported exceeding cost-cutting targets alongside a quarterly revenue miss. This article analyzes the reasons behind the company’s cost-cutting measures, explores the factors contributing to the revenue miss, and examines the broader implications for Disney’s financial performance and strategic direction. Unveiling Disney’s Cost-Cutting Success Disney’s exceeding cost-cutting targets signifies a strategic initiative to enhance operational efficiency. By delving into the specific cost-cutting measures, the areas of focus, and the impact on the company’s financial health, we gain insights into Disney’s efforts to streamline its operations and optimize resources. Factors Contributing to Quarterly Revenue Miss The…

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Hapag-Lloyd, a major player in the shipping industry, has reported a significant 67% decline in net profit for the year’s first half. This article offers a comprehensive analysis of the factors contributing to this decline, examines the company’s strategic response, and assesses the implications of Hapag-Lloyd’s outlook for the shipping sector. Unveiling Hapag-Lloyd’s Net Profit Decline in H1 Hapag-Lloyd’s substantial net profit decline in the first half of the year prompts an exploration of the underlying drivers of this financial setback. By delving into the specific challenges affecting the company’s financial performance, the impact on key financial metrics, and the…

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China’s prominent home appliance manufacturer, Midea, is reportedly studying the possibility of a listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange. This article delves into the motivations behind Midea’s exploration, examines the implications of a Hong Kong listing, and analyzes the broader context of the company’s strategic considerations. Unveiling Midea’s Exploration of a Hong Kong Listing Midea’s contemplation of a Hong Kong listing raises pertinent questions about the driving forces behind this strategic move. By delving into the specific factors underpinning this exploration, the potential benefits, and the ripple effects, we gain insights into Midea’s approach to expanding its capital base.…

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A global technology leader, Siemens is foreseeing a normalization of demand in the wake of its Q3 financial results falling short of expectations. This article delves into the factors influencing Siemens’ performance, examines the company’s outlook on demand normalization, and analyzes the broader implications for the technology sector and market sentiments. Evaluating Siemens’ Q3 Performance Siemens’ Q3 financial results falling below forecasts prompt an exploration of the underlying causes. We gain insights into Siemens’ current financial landscape by scrutinizing the specific drivers impacting the company’s performance, the areas in which expectations were not met, and the potential consequences. Optimistic Outlook…

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Antofagasta, a leading mining company, has announced increased shareholder payouts following strong profitability. This article delves into the rationale behind Antofagasta’s decision, examines the implications for its investors and the mining industry, and analyzes the broader context of the company’s strategic maneuver. Unveiling Antofagasta’s Shareholder Payout Strategy Antofagasta’s decision to enhance shareholder payouts prompts questions about this move’s motivations. By exploring the specific factors underpinning this decision, the mechanisms through which payouts are being increased, and the potential outcomes, we gain insights into Antofagasta’s approach to rewarding its stakeholders. Rewarding Shareholders Antofagasta’s decision reflects its commitment to rewarding shareholders for…

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Amtrak, a leading player in the US railroad industry, is embarking on an exciting venture as it explores the potential for high-speed rail service in Texas. This article delves into the significance of Amtrak’s exploration, examines the potential benefits of high-speed rail in the state, and analyzes the broader implications for travel, connectivity, and sustainable transportation. Unraveling Amtrak’s High-Speed Rail Ambitions Amtrak’s foray into high-speed rail service marks a significant development in transportation. By unraveling the motivations behind Amtrak’s exploration, the scope of its ambitions, and the feasibility of high-speed rail in Texas, we gain insights into the company’s vision…

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A significant development has unfolded as a US judge has given the green light for an investor class action against NIO, centering around factory-related claims. This article delves into the implications of this legal decision, examines the core allegations, and analyzes the potential ramifications for NIO and the broader landscape of investor rights and corporate transparency. Unpacking the US Judge’s Decision The approval of the NIO investor class action represents a pivotal juncture in the legal realm. By delving into the specifics of the judge’s decision, the legal foundation, and its alignment with investor protection, we gain insights into the…

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Delivery Hero, a global leader in online food delivery and quick commerce, has announced a notable increase in its projected revenue guidance for 2023. This article delves into the implications of Delivery Hero’s optimistic forecast, examines the driving forces behind this upward revision, and analyzes the potential ramifications for the company and the broader market landscape. Unveiling Delivery Hero’s Enhanced Revenue Projection Delivery Hero’s decision to raise its 2023 revenue guidance underscores its confidence in the ongoing expansion of its business operations. By delving into the specifics of this enhanced projection, its significance, and its alignment with industry trends, we…

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Discover the extraordinary journey of CEO Ben Lewis and the groundbreaking start-up Little Spoon, leading the way in nutritious baby food with visionary leadership. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Ben Lewis is the driving force behind the success of Little Spoon, a revolutionary start-up in the baby food industry. Little Spoon is known for providing nutritious and high-quality baby food options. Ben Lewis’s leadership and entrepreneurial skills have played a crucial role in the growth and innovation of Little Spoon. Welcome to the fascinating world of CEO Ben Lewis and the groundbreaking start-up, Little Spoon. In this article, we delve…

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Discover the inspiring biography of CEO Boris Rozman and the success story of CMP Jobs. Explore his remarkable career and professional achievements in this captivating profile. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Boris Rozman is an influential figure in the industry. He has made significant contributions to the success of CMP Jobs. Boris Rozman’s career is characterized by notable achievements and leadership. Welcome to an inspiring journey that delves into the life and accomplishments of CEO Boris Rozman, alongside the remarkable biography of CMP Jobs. This article presents a captivating exploration of Boris Rozman’s career, professional achievements, and the transformative growth…

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Discover the entrepreneurial journey of CEO Nihal Advani and the impactful market research innovations of QualSights. Explore technology-driven insights in this inspiring profile.  KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Nihal Advani’s leadership has driven QualSights to success. QualSights is a market research company known for its technology-driven insights. Nihal Advani’s entrepreneurship and vision have shaped the growth of QualSights. In the ever-evolving world of business, certain individuals stand out for their remarkable achievements, entrepreneurial spirit, and innovative contributions. One such trailblazer is CEO Nihal Advani, whose visionary leadership has propelled QualSights to the forefront of the market research industry. With a…

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Discover the visionary leadership of CEO Dave Perrill and the transformative journey of Compute North, revolutionizing data centers, cryptocurrency mining, and sustainable energy solutions. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Dave Perrill is a visionary leader driving the success of Compute North. Compute North is revolutionizing the data center industry with its innovative solutions. The company specializes in cryptocurrency mining and sustainable energy solutions. In the dynamic world of data centers, cryptocurrency mining, and sustainable energy solutions, there stands a visionary leader at the helm of Compute North. Meet CEO Dave Perrill, the driving force behind the company’s remarkable journey. With…

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Kellogg, a prominent figure in the retail and consumer goods sector, has unveiled a bold forecast, predicting a remarkable surge in annual sales for its snacks business. This announcement comes as Kellogg prepares for a planned split, adding further significance to the company’s strategic direction. This article delves into the implications of Kellogg’s forward-looking projection, examines the catalysts driving this foresight, and analyzes the potential implications of the impending corporate division. Unveiling Kellogg’s Sales Projection Kellogg’s projection of substantial annual sales growth in its snacks business is a notable declaration of its strategic objectives. Analyzing the specifics of this projection,…

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Discover the visionary leadership of CEO Jonathan Kazarian and the transformative journey of Accelevents in event management software, virtual events, and fundraising. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Jonathan Kazarian is a visionary leader at the helm of Accelevents. Accelevents is a leading provider of event management software. The company specializes in virtual events, revolutionizing the way events are conducted. In the fast-paced world of events, one name stands out: CEO Jonathan Kazarian. As the driving force behind Accelevents, a renowned provider of event management software, Kazarian has redefined the landscape of virtual events and fundraising. With a keen eye for…

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Discover the transformative journey of CEO John Wallace and the success story of HCM Unlocked, a leading software solution in the HR industry. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO John Wallace has played a pivotal role in the success of HCM Unlocked. HCM Unlocked is a prominent software solution in the HR industry. John Wallace’s leadership has driven innovation and growth within HCM Unlocked. Welcome to the captivating world of HCM Unlocked, where software solutions and innovation converge to revolutionize the HR industry. In this article, we delve into the remarkable journey of CEO John Wallace, the visionary leader behind the…

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Discover the remarkable journey of CEO Brixton Albert, shaping the Golf industry with Performance Golf. Explore golf performance, equipment, and more. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Brixton Albert is a visionary leader in the golf industry. Performance Golf is a company that has achieved remarkable success under his guidance. Brixton Albert’s leadership has revolutionized golf performance and equipment. In the ever-evolving world of golf, one name stands out as a driving force behind innovation and excellence – CEO Brixton Albert. With a passion for the game and a deep understanding of the golf industry, Albert has steered Performance Golf toward…

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UPS cuts margin, revenue forecasts as weak demand, new labor contract weigh. Companies must remain agile and responsive to various market forces in the ever-evolving global business landscape. The recent announcement by UPS regarding a reduction in revenue outlook amidst lower e-commerce demand and the introduction of a new labor contract reflects the organization’s strategic approach to address emerging challenges and ensure sustained growth. This article delves into the intricacies of UPS’s response to these market dynamics, shedding light on its implications and the path forward. Introduction: Adapting to Change The business world operates within a dynamic ecosystem, where changes…

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In a bold move that defies conventional risk assessments, European gas traders have chosen to store gas in Ukraine despite escalating concerns about the ongoing conflict. This strategic decision challenges prevailing market norms and raises intriguing questions about the motivations and potential ramifications for energy markets and regional stability. This comprehensive analysis delves into the driving factors behind this unconventional choice, its potential impacts, and the broader implications for energy trading in Europe. Strategic Daring: Rethinking Risk in Energy Markets The decision of European gas traders to store gas in Ukraine reflects a paradigm shift in risk assessment within the…

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Siemens’ cooperation with Austrian authorities in a corruption probe has sparked discussions within legal and corporate circles. This analysis aims to dissect the dynamics of this collaboration, highlighting the significance of corporate engagement with law enforcement agencies and the potential ramifications for both Siemens and the broader business community. Siemens’ Collaboration in the Probe Siemens’ decision to cooperate with Austrian authorities underscores the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability. The collaboration aims to facilitate a thorough investigation into allegations of corruption and related offenses. Legal and Corporate Implications Several legal and corporate implications emerge from Siemens’ cooperation with Austrian authorities…

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Fraport, a prominent aerospace and defense industry player, has emerged with strong fiscal year earnings, buoyed by a surge in passenger volumes. The conglomerate’s financial performance is a testament to its strategic understanding and ability to capitalize on market trends. Soaring Fiscal Year Earnings Fraport reported a remarkable surge in fiscal year earnings, defying market expectations and solidifying its position as a formidable player in the industry. The substantial increase in earnings has garnered attention from investors, analysts, and industry peers alike. Factors Driving the Surge Several pivotal factors have contributed to Fraport’s impressive fiscal year earnings surge: Robust Passenger…

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In this article, we analyze the financial performance of Whirlpool’s India unit during the first quarter of the year. The company faced a decline in profits, primarily due to the market’s soft demand. This comprehensive review examines the factors influencing the profit dip, potential implications for the company, and strategies Whirlpool could adopt to navigate the challenging market conditions. Introduction Whirlpool’s India unit, a prominent home appliance market player, recently released its financial results for the first quarter. Unfortunately, the report indicated a fall in profits, raising concerns about the company’s performance amid soft demand in the market. In this…

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On August 7, 2023, Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, reported a 38% decline in its second-quarter profit. The company’s Q2 profit stood at $30 billion, signaling the impact of various factors on the energy market. In this article, we delve into the reasons behind Aramco’s profit decline, the implications for the oil industry, and the potential strategies the company may employ to navigate market challenges. Q2 Profit Decline Impact of Global Market Conditions The 38% decline in Saudi Aramco’s second-quarter profit can be attributed to various global market conditions affecting the oil industry. These conditions include fluctuations in…

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In a groundbreaking move on August 7, 2023, Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma announced his intention to purchase a substantial 10.3% stake in Antfin Holding. This strategic investment is a significant development in the financial and technology sectors, as it signifies the growing ties between two major players in the industry. In this article, we delve into the details of this acquisition, its potential implications, and broader impact on the global markets. The Paytm-Antfin Deal Key Transaction Details Paytm, India’s leading mobile payments and financial services company, revealed its plans to acquire a noteworthy 10.3% stake in Antfin Holding, a…

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In a recent incident that has raised concerns and captured international attention, residents in Crimea reported hearing a blast. The Russian-installed official quickly responded, assuring the public that the blast was unrelated to the nearby bridge. As the situation unfolds, many are left wondering about the cause of the explosion and its potential implications. In this article, we explore the details of the Crimea blast and the official’s statement to shed light on this developing situation. Introduction Crimea, a region with a complex geopolitical history, has recently been a focal point of attention. The reported blast near a bridge in…

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UBS nears major investment bank restructuring. This comprehensive article explores the recent developments surrounding UBS, a prominent global financial services firm. Reports suggest that the company is nearing a major restructuring of its investment bank division. We delve into the potential implications and strategic considerations behind this decision. Background UBS, founded in 1862, has been a leading player in the financial industry, offering its clients a wide range of banking and wealth management services worldwide. As part of its continuous effort to adapt to market dynamics, the company periodically evaluates its business operations to ensure competitiveness and sustainable growth. The…

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In this business report, we highlight the positive financial performance of Zomato, India’s leading food delivery and restaurant aggregator platform. The company’s shares have climbed after announcing its first-ever quarterly profit. The achievement marks a significant milestone for Zomato and indicates the company’s growth and resilience in the competitive food delivery market. We delve into Zomato’s financial success and potential implications for the company and the Indian food delivery industry. First-Ever Quarterly Profit On August 4, 2023, Zomato reported its first-ever quarterly profit, signaling a major achievement for the company. The positive financial result is a significant milestone in the…

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In this financial report, we highlight the impressive performance of SoftBank Corp, a leading telecommunications and technology company in Japan, during the first quarter of 2023. SoftBank Corp reported a substantial 21% increase in its Q1 profit, showcasing its strong financial position and successful business strategies. We delve into the factors contributing to SoftBank Corp’s growth and its potential implications for the company and investors. First Quarter Profit Growth SoftBank Corp’s financial report for the first quarter of 2023 revealed a remarkable 21% increase in its profit. This significant growth in earnings signals the company’s ability to capitalize on market…

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In this financial report, we highlight the impressive performance of Maersk, a global shipping and logistics company, during the second quarter of 2023. Maersk’s Q2 profits exceeded market forecasts, leading the company to adjust its full-year guidance upwards. We delve into the factors contributing to Maersk’s success and the potential implications for the shipping industry and investors. Second Quarter Profits Maersk reported robust profits for the second quarter of 2023, surpassing market expectations. The company’s performance during this period showcased its resilience and ability to capitalize on opportunities in a dynamic global market. Factors Driving Success Several factors contributed to…

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On August 3rd, 2023, Moderna, a leading pharmaceutical company in the fight against COVID-19, disclosed an optimistic projection of up to $8 billion in COVID vaccine sales for 2023. This projection demonstrates Moderna’s continued market success and instills confidence and optimism in the private market regarding the company’s potential financial growth. Robust Sales Forecast Moderna’s projection of up to $8 billion in COVID vaccine sales for 2023 reflects the high demand for its mRNA-based vaccine and its significant role in global vaccination efforts. The company’s continued success underscores its capacity to meet global vaccine demand. A Key Player in Global…

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On August 3, 2023, Lufthansa, the esteemed German airline, decided to offer its captains a substantial raise of at least 25% more money. This move comes amid challenges in the aviation industry and is aimed at addressing critical issues related to pilot retention and competitiveness. This comprehensive report delves into the factors driving Lufthansa’s decision, the implications for the airline and its pilots, and the broader context of the aviation sector’s dynamics. Navigating the Pilot Shortage The global aviation industry faces a pilot shortage, and Lufthansa’s decision to offer an attractive salary raise aims to navigate this pressing challenge. Retaining…

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a personal announcement on August 2, 2023, stating that he and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, are separating. This revelation sheds light on the private lives of public figures and impacts the political landscape in Canada. This comprehensive report explores the announcement’s significance, its potential implications for Trudeau’s political career, and the importance of respecting politicians’ privacy. A Personal Announcement Prime Minister Trudeau’s statement about his separation from his wife is deeply personal and highlights the challenges of balancing public roles and private lives. The announcement offers a glimpse into the complexities of leading…

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Ambev, one of Brazil’s leading beverage companies, reported a 15% decline in net profit for the year’s second quarter. The financial results, released on August 3, 2023, fell short of market estimates, raising concerns about the company’s performance and challenges in a competitive market. In this comprehensive report, we explore the factors behind Ambev’s declining net profit and the potential implications for Brazil’s retail and consumer sectors. Challenging Economic Environment The challenging economic environment may influence Ambev’s net profit decline in Brazil. Economic headwinds, inflationary pressures, and fluctuating consumer spending patterns can impact beverage consumption and sales. Pricing and Margin…

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Varun Beverages, the leading PepsiCo bottler in India, reported a notable profit growth on August 3, 2023. The company’s success can be attributed to steady volumes and effective management strategies. In this comprehensive report, we delve into the factors driving Varun Beverages’ profit growth, market performance, and the implications for the beverage industry in India. Steady Volume Sales Varun Beverages’ growth in posting profit is supported by its steady sales volume. The company’s ability to maintain consistent sales reflects effective distribution channels, strong brand presence, and successful marketing initiatives that resonate with consumers. Effective Cost Management Sound cost management practices…

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Sportswear giant Adidas has reported a significant boost in revenue, driven by the sales of its highly coveted Yeezy shoes. The company’s strategic collaboration with rapper and designer Kanye West has yielded remarkable results, with Yeezy shoe sales contributing a staggering $437 million to Adidas’ bottom line. This unexpected surge in revenue has enabled the company to cut its projected loss for the year 2023, making it a remarkable turnaround. In this comprehensive report, we explore the factors behind the success of Adidas’ Yeezy line, the impact of celebrity collaborations in the retail industry, and the implications for the company’s…

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Germany’s Merck flags steeper drop in earnings. In a recent announcement, German pharmaceutical behemoth Merck warned about its earnings forecast for 2023. The company anticipates a steeper drop in earnings, raising concerns among investors and industry analysts. This comprehensive report delves into the factors behind Merck’s revised forecast, the potential implications for the healthcare sector, and the strategies the company may employ to navigate the challenging landscape. Understanding the Earnings Forecast Merck’s revised earnings forecast 2023 indicates a more significant decline than previously projected. The company cites several key factors contributing to this downward revision, including intensified competition in the…

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Spirit AeroSystems, a major aerospace and defense manufacturer, has reported higher cash burn in its recent financial statements. The increase in cash burn is attributed to a strike by its workers and quality issues that have impacted its operations. Impact of Worker Strike Spirit AeroSystems’ cash burn has been exacerbated by a worker strike that has disrupted its production and supply chain. The strike has led to delays in aircraft components manufacturing and delivery, resulting in increased operating costs and reduced revenue. Quality Issue in Production In addition to the worker strike, Spirit AeroSystems has faced quality issues in its…

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Virgin Money, a UK-based lender, has announced that it will maintain its annual outlook despite facing pressures in the mortgage market. This article examines the factors contributing to the mortgage pressures, the significance of Virgin Money’s decision to maintain its outlook, and the potential implications for the company. Mortgage Market Pressures Virgin Money is facing pressures in the mortgage market, which could be attributed to factors such as changes in interest rates, shifts in demand, or competitive challenges in the lending industry. Impact on Mortgage Business The pressures in the mortgage market may impact Virgin Money’s mortgage business, including loan…

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Haleon, a leading healthcare and pharmaceutical company, has raised its annual organic revenue growth forecast on account of steady demand in the market. This article delves into the factors contributing to the increased forecast, the potential implications for Haleon, and the significance of sustained demand in the healthcare sector. Raised Annual Organic Revenue Growth Forecast Haleon’s decision to raise its annual organic revenue growth forecast indicates an upward revision to the company’s revenue expectations for the specified period. The revision suggests increased confidence in the company’s growth prospects. Steady Demand in the Healthcare Sector The raised forecast is attributed to…

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Victoria’s wages agency has taken legal action against Woolworths, a major retail and consumer goods company, for alleged underpayment of former employees. This article explores the charges brought against Woolworths, the potential implications, and the importance of fair wages and compliance in the retail industry. Alleged Underpayment of Former Employees The charges filed by Victoria’s wages agency accuse Woolworths of underpaying a group of former employees. Underpayment fails to provide employees full and rightful compensation for the work performed, often violating labor laws and regulations. Legal and Regulatory Consequences The charges against Woolworths could result in legal and regulatory consequences…

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SoftBank’s ARM Ltd., a leading semiconductor and technology company, reportedly targets a massive initial public offering (IPO) to raise $60 billion or more. According to Bloomberg News, the IPO is expected to occur by September. This article analyzes the potential implications of ARM’s IPO and its significance in the technology and financial markets. ARM’s Leading Position in the Semiconductor Industry ARM Ltd. is renowned for its leading role in the semiconductor industry. It designs and licenses cutting-edge technology that powers various electronic devices, including smartphones, tablets, and IoT (Internet of Things). With its extensive intellectual property and patent portfolio, ARM…

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In this article, we cover the report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) stating that CVS Health plans to eliminate 5,000 jobs as part of its cost-cutting efforts. The decision to reduce its workforce comes as CVS Health seeks to optimize its operations and address financial challenges. We aim to comprehensively analyze the reasons behind the job cuts and their potential implications on CVS Health’s business operations and the affected employees. CVS Health’s Workforce Reduction in Cost-Cutting Push CVS Health has announced its intention to cut 5,000 jobs as part of a cost-cutting push. This significant reduction in the workforce…

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This article focuses on Yum China’s ambitious retail and consumer sector expansion plans. The company’s CEO has reaffirmed its commitment to open 1,300 new stores this year, demonstrating Yum China’s confidence in the market and its determination to strengthen further its position as a leading player in the industry. We explore the significance of this expansion strategy and its potential implications for Yum China’s growth and market dominance. Yum China’s Expansion Plan Yum China, a major player in the Chinese retail and consumer market, has set an ambitious goal to open 1,300 new stores this year. The company’s expansion plan…

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HSBC lifts outlook, launches $2 bln buyback as profit beats forecasts. This article delves into the recent financial developments at HSBC Holdings plc, one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organizations. HSBC has recently made headlines with two significant announcements – a substantial share buyback program and a remarkable 235% surge in first-half profits. We analyze the key factors behind these developments and their potential impact on the company’s financial performance and investor sentiment. HSBC’s Share Buyback Program HSBC has unveiled a significant share buyback program to repurchase $2 billion worth of the company’s outstanding shares. The move…

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Oil is on track for the biggest monthly gains in over a year. In the dynamic world of commodities, the oil market experienced a remarkable surge in July 2023, delivering the most substantial monthly gains over a year. This article dives deep into the factors contributing to this exceptional performance and provides valuable insights into how these developments can shape the oil industry’s future landscape. Unraveling the Factors Behind the Record-Breaking Gains 1. Global Economic Recovery The global economic recovery has played a pivotal role in bolstering oil demand. As economies rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, industrial activities have regained…

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In recent years, India’s retail derivatives market has witnessed exponential growth, bolstering the country’s economy and attracting significant attention from investors worldwide. This comprehensive article aims to delve into the dynamics of India’s retail derivatives market, exploring its rapid expansion, regulatory framework, and the driving factors behind its success. We shall analyze the benefits it offers market participants and how this thriving sector contributes to the overall growth of the Indian economy. Understanding Retail Derivatives Retail derivatives are financial instruments that derive value from underlying assets such as stocks, currencies, commodities, or indices. These products are designed to enable individual…

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In a significant milestone for the pharmaceutical industry, Novo Nordisk launched its weight loss drug Wegovy in Germany, marking its entry into one of the largest European Union (EU) markets in 2023. The introduction of Wegovy presents a potential breakthrough in obesity treatment and offers new hope for individuals struggling with weight management. This article explores the details of the drug’s launch in Germany and its potential impact on the treatment landscape for obesity. Background: Novo Nordisk’s Weight Loss Drug Wegovy Wegovy, developed by Novo Nordisk, is a prescription weight-loss medication based on the active ingredient semaglutide. It is designed…

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In a heartwarming revelation, U.S. President Joe Biden publicly acknowledged his seventh grandchild for the first time in 2023. The announcement marks a special moment for the Biden family and draws attention to the personal aspects of the President’s life. This article explores the details of the acknowledgment and the significance of family in the context of political leadership. Background: The Biden Family The Biden family has been a prominent part of the public eye, with their journey marked by personal joys and challenges. Acknowledging the seventh grandchild adds another chapter to the family’s narrative. A Moment of Celebration President…

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In a groundbreaking development for the battery industry, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union has garnered significant support from Democratic senators for its joint venture battery workers initiative. This strategic collaboration aims to revolutionize battery manufacturing, promoting Sustainability, job growth, and technological advancement. In this article, we delve into the details of this joint venture, its potential impact, and the key players involved. The Emergence of the Joint Venture The joint venture battery workers initiative is critical when environmental concerns are at the forefront of global discussions. The demand for efficient and sustainable battery technology has surged as the world…

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On July 28, 2023, VinFast, a prominent electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer from Vietnam, received approval from regulators to proceed with its planned listing on the U.S. stock market. This development marks a significant milestone for the company, aiming to tap into the vast potential of the U.S. EV market and expand its global footprint. In this article, we explore VinFast’s plans for its U.S. listing and the implications it may have on the company’s growth and the EV industry. The Regulatory Approval VinFast’s pursuit of a U.S. listing received a green light from regulators on the specified date. The approval…

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Western car manufacturers are ramping up their efforts to reduce EV production costs to tackle the increasing influence of Chinese automakers in the electric vehicle (EV) market. This article explores the significance of this cost-cutting drive, the strategies being employed by Western car makers, and the potential implications for the global automotive industry. Introduction The surge in the popularity of electric vehicles and the rapid rise of Chinese automakers in the global EV market has prompted Western car manufacturers to take decisive action. To stay competitive and retain their market share, they are now prioritizing the reduction of EV production…

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The UK regulator has announced that Amazon’s proposals have successfully addressed concerns related to its marketplace. The move is part of the regulator’s efforts to ensure fair competition and consumer protection in the digital market. In this article, we explore the details of the regulator’s assessment and the implications of Amazon’s proposals on the UK’s e-commerce landscape. Addressing Concerns The UK regulator’s announcement indicates that Amazon’s proposals have effectively addressed the concerns raised about its marketplace practices. Fair Competition By addressing concerns, Amazon’s proposals promote fair competition, providing a level playing field for all sellers on its platform. Consumer Protection…

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On July 26, 2023, Nissan, a major automotive player, announced its plans to acquire a stake worth 600 million euros in Renault’s electric vehicle (EV) unit. This move is part of the companies’ reshaped alliance, signifying a strategic collaboration to strengthen their position in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle market. This article delves into the details of the stake acquisition, the rationale behind the reshaped alliance, and the implications of the collaboration on the automotive industry. Nissan’s Investment in Renault’s EV Unit Nissan’s decision to invest 600 million euros in Renault’s EV unit marks a significant step in their alliance.…

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In a notable development, FedEx pilots have rejected a tentative deal, signaling potential challenges in labor negotiations. As a result, supervised talks may be the next course of action to address the unresolved issues between the company and its pilots. Labor Negotiations Labor negotiations are crucial in shaping the relationship between companies and their workforce. The rejection of the tentative deal by FedEx pilots indicates differences in expectations and priorities. Pilots’ Concerns The deal’s rejection may indicate the pilots’ concerns about various aspects, such as compensation, working conditions, benefits, and job security. Implications for FedEx The rejection of the tentative…

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In this comprehensive article, we cover the significant investment by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to build an advanced chip plant in Taiwan. The news, reported on July 25, 2023, marks a substantial development in the semiconductor industry and reinforces TSMC’s position as a global leader in chip manufacturing. We explore the details of the investment, the implications for the industry, and the potential impact on Taiwan’s semiconductor ecosystem. TSMC’s Massive Investment Plan Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has announced a massive investment of nearly $29 billion to construct an advanced chip plant in Taiwan. The investment underscores TSMC’s commitment…

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SoftBank joins Symbotic to construct AI-powered warehouses. In a dynamic world driven by technology and innovation, strategic partnerships between industry giants can often pave the way for groundbreaking advancements. SoftBank, a renowned multinational conglomerate, has recently made headlines by forming a transformative collaboration with a Symbiotic AI-Powered Warehousing Joint Venture. Unveiling the Symbiotic AI-Powered Warehousing Joint Venture The Symbiotic AI-Powered Warehousing Joint Venture is a cutting-edge initiative that fuses artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities with advanced warehousing practices. This pioneering venture aims to revolutionize companies’ management of inventory, order fulfillment, and supply chain operations. SoftBank’s Vision for the Future of Warehousing…

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ClientEarth, a prominent environmental organization, has been at the forefront of advocating for climate action and corporate accountability. However, its recent attempt to revive a lawsuit against Shell in the UK faced legal challenges. This article examines the case’s details and its implications for climate change litigation. The Environmental Concerns Climate change remains one of the most pressing global challenges, with increasing demands for corporate accountability in mitigating its impact. Corporate Climate Responsibility Advocacy groups like ClientEarth urge corporations to align their strategies with climate goals and address environmental risks. Legal Pathways for Climate Action Climate litigation provides a legal…

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Japan’s Itochu partners to spend $2 billion in the US and Canada renewables through a fund. Japanese trading company Itochu Corporation has unveiled a strategic partnership to invest $2 billion in renewable energy projects in the United States and Canada. The collaboration underscores the growing momentum towards sustainable energy solutions and marks a significant step in Itochu’s commitment to environmental stewardship. In this article, we explore the details of the partnership, its potential impact on the renewable energy sector, and the implications for the transition to a greener and more sustainable future. Itochu’s Renewable Energy Investment Venture Itochu Corporation, a…

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Australian competition regulator delays ANZ’s $3.3 bln Suncorp Bank takeover. In a significant development for the Australian banking sector, the Australian Competition Regulator has postponed its decision regarding ANZ’s proposed acquisition of Suncorp Bank for a staggering $3.3 billion. The delay comes amidst the regulator’s careful evaluation of potential implications on competition and market dynamics. This article explores the reasons behind the postponement, the possible impact on the banking industry, and the factors influencing the regulator’s decision-making process. The ANZ-Suncorp Bank Acquisition Proposal ANZ, one of Australia’s leading banking institutions, intends to acquire Suncorp Bank in a landmark deal worth…

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This article highlights the resolution of patent litigation claims between AutoStore and Ocado. The two companies have settled, ending the legal disputes surrounding patent infringement allegations. Background on Patent Litigation AutoStore and Ocado were engaged in a legal battle over patent rights in automation and robotics for warehouses and fulfillment centers. The dispute centered on allegations of patent infringement and misuse of intellectual property. Mutual Agreement and Settlement The resolution came through a mutual agreement between AutoStore and Ocado. Both parties have settled the patent litigation claims, bringing an amicable end to the legal proceedings. Benefits of Settlement The settlement…

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In a significant development for the energy industry, the Delaware Court has announced the start date for the CITGO share auction. Set to take place on October 23rd; this auction will determine the future ownership of shares in CITGO, a prominent energy company. This event has drawn considerable attention from investors and industry players alike. In this article, we will explore the details surrounding the CITGO share auction, its implications for the energy sector, and the potential outcomes that could shape the industry’s landscape. Background of the CITGO Share Auction The CITGO share auction stems from a legal proceeding involving…

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AI

Cerebras Systems, a renowned artificial intelligence (AI) chipmaker, inked a substantial $100 million deal with UAE-based AI company G42. The agreement involves the supply of an AI supercomputer to G42, indicating a significant step forward in AI technology and applications in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In this report, we delve into the details of the deal and its potential impact on AI capabilities and advancements in the region. The $100 Million AI Supercomputer Deal The $100 million deal involves Cerebras Systems providing an AI supercomputer to G42. This supercomputer is expected to offer immense computational power, enabling G42 to…

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TSMC shares dropped 3.3% after revenue projection lowered and manufacturing was delayed. On July 21, 2023, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) experienced a significant decline in its share value, falling more than 3%. The drop came after TSMC flagged a potential decrease in its full-year sales. This news has drawn the attention of investors and market analysts, prompting discussions about the factors contributing to the decline and the implications for the semiconductor industry and the broader market. TSMC’s Full-Year Sales Outlook TSMC, a leading global semiconductor manufacturer, warned about a potential drop in its full-year sales. The company cited various…

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Unilever’s India arm has reported missing its Q1 profit view, primarily due to higher expenses. The financial results for the first quarter of 2023 indicate the company’s challenges in managing its costs and achieving expected profitability. This article delves into the key factors contributing to the missed profit view and its potential implications for Unilever’s operations in India. Higher Expenses Impacting Profitability Unilever’s India arm faced headwinds during Q1 2023 as it struggled to control and manage its expenses effectively. The higher expenses incurred by the company likely affected its profit margins and led to a deviation from the projected…

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iDS, the parent company of Royal Mail, has appointed a new CEO in a significant leadership change. The appointment marks a critical moment for the company and may affect its future direction and performance. This article explores the details of the new CEO’s appointment and the potential impact on iDS and its subsidiaries, including Royal Mail. The Leadership Change The appointment of a new CEO signals a change in the executive leadership of iDS. Investors, employees, and stakeholders will closely scrutinize the incoming CEO’s qualifications, experience, and vision as they assess the company’s potential direction and strategic priorities. The leadership…

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The UK’s FTSE 100 has seen a rise on its opening, driven by a boost in the mining and energy sectors. The positive performance of the index signals potential optimism in the market and may reflect favorable conditions for companies operating in these sectors. This article explores the factors behind the FTSE 100’s rise and the implications for the UK’s financial landscape. Mining Sector Boost The rise in the FTSE 100 can be attributed, in part, to a strong performance in the mining sector. Mining companies may benefit from increased commodity demand and favorable market conditions, contributing to the index’s…

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The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, has accused Russia of exacerbating the global food crisis by withdrawing from a grain deal. The decision to terminate the agreement has raised concerns about the impact on food security and international relations. In this article, we delve into the implications of Russia’s withdrawal from the grain deal and its potential consequences on the global food situation. The Grain Deal Withdrawal Russia’s decision to withdraw from the grain deal has drawn international attention and criticism. The deal was a significant trade agreement to ensure a stable grain…

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Brazilian automaker WEG reports a 50% Q2 net profit increase. In a significant boost to Brazil’s automotive and manufacturing sector, WEG, a leading motor maker, announced an outstanding financial performance for the second quarter of 2023. The company reported a remarkable 50% increase in net profit, signaling robust growth and market resilience. This achievement reflects WEG’s strategic initiatives, market adaptability, and commitment to innovation. This article delves into the key factors that contributed to WEG’s success and its impact on the Brazilian economy. WEG’s Strong Financial Performance The second quarter of 2023 proved to be highly fruitful for WEG, with…

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UAW is watching the Ford Kansas City assembly plant active shooter incident. The United Auto Workers (UAW) union reported that they are closely monitoring a possible active shooter situation at the Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant in the United States. This alarming development has triggered concern and heightened security measures in and around the plant. In this article, we delve into the reported incident’s details, explore the UAW’s response, and address the potential impact on the plant’s employees and the broader community. The Reported Incident at Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant As news of a possible active shooter situation emerged…

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Temu calls Shein’s ‘unlawful discriminatory methods’ illegal. On July 19, 2023, the fast-fashion retail industry was shaken by explosive allegations as Temu, a prominent competitor, publicly accused rival retailer Shein of employing unlawful exclusionary tactics. This unfolding dispute has garnered significant attention within the retail and consumer sectors. In this article, we delve into the accusations made by Temu, examine the potential implications for the industry, and shed light on the complexities surrounding the competitive landscape of fast fashion. Unveiling the Allegations Temu’s accusation against Shein centers on the alleged use of exclusionary tactics purportedly aimed at hindering competition and…

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China Unicom CEO, Liu, is reportedly set to take on a new role as the head of a new data bureau in China. The appointment indicates China’s focus on harnessing the potential of data and technology to drive economic growth and innovation. Liu’s New Role Leadership in Data Bureau Liu’s appointment as the head of the new data bureau reflects China’s strategic emphasis on data-driven initiatives. Expanding Responsibilities In his new role, Liu is expected to play a key role in spearheading data-related projects and policy implementations. China’s Data-Driven Agenda Data and Economic Growth China’s focus on data reflects the…

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Banga announces intentions to increase lending “firepower.” World Bank Chief, Indra K. Banga, has announced new plans to bolster the institution’s lending firepower to address global economic challenges and support countries in their development endeavors. Strengthening Lending Capacity Response to Economic Challenges The new plans unveiled by World Bank Chief Banga are a response to the pressing economic challenges faced by countries worldwide, particularly in the aftermath of the global pandemic. Enhancing Support By boosting the institution’s lending firepower, the World Bank aims to enhance its support to member countries, assisting them in their recovery and development efforts. Investment in…

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Infosys’ five-year AI agreement with a $2 billion goal budget. Indian multinational corporation Infosys has signed a significant five-year deal focused on artificial intelligence (AI). The deal includes a target spend of $2 billion, reflecting Infosys’ commitment to harnessing the potential of AI to drive innovation and business transformation. Infosys’ AI Deal Strategic Focus The five-year AI deal underscores Infosys’ strategic focus on advancing its AI capabilities and integrating AI-driven solutions into its offerings. Investment in AI The target spend of $2 billion signifies Infosys’ substantial investment in research, development, and implementation of AI technologies and applications. AI Innovation and…

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The German financial watchdog, BaFin, has extended its measures on N26, a prominent digital bank, to prevent money laundering. Extending these measures highlights the regulator’s continued efforts to ensure robust anti-money laundering (AML) procedures within the financial industry and underscores the importance of upholding strict compliance standards. BaFin’s Oversight on N26 Addressing AML Concerns BaFin’s decision to extend the measures on N26 is in response to concerns related to the bank’s AML controls. The regulator’s oversight is crucial in mitigating money laundering risks and illicit financial activities within the banking sector. Strengthening Compliance By extending the measures, BaFin aims to…

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Belgium’s leading telecom provider, Proximus, has announced its plans to acquire a majority stake in India’s Route Mobile. This strategic move signals Proximus’s ambitions for international expansion and growth in the global telecommunications market. The acquisition of Route Mobile presents opportunities for Proximus to tap into the fast-growing Indian market and strengthen its position as a key player in the telecom industry. Proximus’s Expansion Strategy Entering the Indian Market The acquisition of a majority stake in Route Mobile represents Proximus’s entry into the Indian market. India’s rapidly expanding telecom sector, fueled by increasing mobile penetration and data consumption, presents a…

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has warned about Russian efforts to hinder the progress of Kyiv’s troops, while a military general reports notable advances in the south. These developments raise concerns about the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia and the potential implications for regional stability. Zelenskiy’s warning underscores the need for vigilance and international attention to address the escalating situation. Russian Efforts to Halt Kyiv’s Troops Threats to Progress President Zelenskiy’s warning about Russian efforts to halt Kyiv’s troops highlights Ukrainian forces’ challenges. These efforts may involve military actions, logistical maneuvers, or attempts to disrupt supply lines. Such actions by…

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Over 1,000 Binance employees lose their jobs. Binance, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has reportedly laid off over 1,000 employees, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). This significant downsizing has raised concerns and drawn attention to the challenges faced by cryptocurrency exchanges in an evolving market landscape. The reported layoffs highlight the need for adaptability, efficiency, and strategic realignment within the cryptocurrency industry. Industry Challenges and Market Dynamics Regulatory Environment The cryptocurrency industry operates in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. Governments worldwide are implementing measures to enhance oversight and ensure compliance with existing financial…

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JPMorgan and Wells Fargo, two prominent financial institutions, are preparing for potential losses on office loans. The ongoing shift in the work landscape, driven by remote work trends and changes in office space utilization, has raised concerns about the viability of office properties as collateral for loans. As a result, banks are taking proactive measures to assess and mitigate potential risks associated with their office loan portfolios. Evolving Office Space Dynamics Remote Work Trends The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote work, leading to a significant shift in workplace dynamics. Many companies have embraced remote work arrangements, reducing reliance…

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The Biden campaign raised $72 million in the most recent quarter. The campaign of President Joe Biden has announced a significant fundraising achievement, revealing that it raised a remarkable $72 million in the most recent quarter. This impressive financial support showcases the continued backing and enthusiasm for the Biden administration’s policies and initiatives. The substantial funds raised will serve as a valuable resource for the President and his team as they work towards implementing their agenda and addressing the challenges facing the United States. Support for the Biden Campaign Demonstrating Public Confidence The Biden campaign’s successful fundraising efforts reflect the…

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Brent oil remains above $80 as US inflation falls. This article provides an overview of the recent rise in oil prices in the context of cooling US inflation. As a reliable source of information, we aim to shed light on the factors contributing to this development and its implications for the energy market. Oil Prices Surge Amidst Cooling US Inflation Background Oil prices are pivotal in the global economy, impacting various sectors and influencing market dynamics. Recent market trends indicate a notable increase in oil prices, coinciding with a period of cooling US inflation. Factors Driving Oil Price Rise Supply…

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Mitsubishi’s China JV cuts workers after SUV sales drop. Mitsubishi, the renowned automotive manufacturer, has announced plans to optimize the personnel structure of its China joint venture. This strategic move aims to enhance operational efficiency and streamline the workforce in alignment with evolving market dynamics. In this article, we will delve into the details of Mitsubishi’s initiative, explore the potential benefits, and analyze the broader context of the automotive industry in China. Optimizing the Personnel Structure Mitsubishi’s decision to optimize the personnel structure of its China joint venture reflects the company’s commitment to adapt to changing market conditions and improve…

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Research firms predict Huawei’s 5G phone return will end the US embargo. Chinese tech giant Huawei is poised to overcome the US product ban as research firms indicate a potential comeback by reintroducing 5G smartphones. This development has significant implications for Huawei’s position in the global market and the 5G technology space competition. In this article, we will explore the details of Huawei’s potential resurgence, discuss the findings of research firms, and examine the potential impact on Huawei’s future amid the US ban. Huawei’s Potential Comeback with 5G Phones 1. Research Firm Analysis Research firms have suggested that Huawei’s return…

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Ukraine calls NATO summit results good, not perfect. Following the NATO Summit, Ukraine has expressed satisfaction with the outcomes, highlighting that while the results are positive, they may not fully meet their ideal expectations. The summit’s discussions and agreements significantly affect Ukraine’s security and geopolitical landscape. In this article, we will delve into the details of Ukraine’s response to the NATO Summit, analyze the outcomes, and explore the significance of these developments for Ukraine’s relationship with NATO. Ukraine’s Assessment of the NATO Summit Results 1. Positive Outlook Ukraine’s response to the NATO Summit is generally positive, acknowledging the achievements and…

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AI

A regulatory crackdown by Beijing has resulted in a substantial market decline, wiping off $1.1 trillion from the market value of big Chinese tech companies. This unprecedented move has sent shockwaves through the tech industry, signaling the Chinese government’s commitment to tightening regulations and addressing concerns regarding monopolistic practices and data security. In this article, we will delve into the details of Beijing’s regulatory crackdown, discuss its impact on Chinese big tech companies, and explore the broader implications for the industry. Beijing’s Regulatory Crackdown on Chinese Big Tech 1. Overview of the Regulatory Measures Beijing’s regulatory crackdown on Chinese big…

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LG Electronics expects $77 billion in sales by 2030 from car components. LG Electronics, a global leader in technology and home appliances, has announced its ambitious goal of achieving $77 billion in sales by 2030. This strategic target demonstrates LG’s commitment to growth and innovation in the ever-evolving tech industry. This article will explore LG Electronics’ sales target, analyze the factors driving this goal, and discuss the implications of such a milestone in the company’s trajectory. LG Electronics Sales Target and Growth Strategy 1. Setting the $77 Billion Sales Target LG Electronics’ objective of reaching $77 billion in sales by…

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Russian diplomats have strongly criticized the United States and NATO regarding their involvement in Ukraine. Tensions between Russia and the West have recently escalated, with Ukraine being a key point of contention. The statements from Russian diplomats underscore the ongoing challenges and complexities surrounding the conflict, highlighting the deep divisions and differing perspectives between the involved parties. Diplomatic Criticism Accusations of Interference Russian diplomats have accused the United States and NATO of interfering in Ukraine. They assert that the involvement of Western powers has exacerbated the conflict and hindered efforts toward a peaceful resolution. The diplomats argue that Ukraine should…

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More unlawful cryptocurrency ‘machines’ taken down by UK watchdog. The United Kingdom’s regulatory watchdog has taken further action in its ongoing efforts to combat illegal cryptocurrency machines. As the popularity of cryptocurrencies continues to rise, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) remains vigilant in its mission to protect consumers and maintain the financial system’s integrity. By shutting down these illegal operations, the FCA aims to prevent financial crime, ensure compliance with regulatory standards, and foster a safe and transparent cryptocurrency ecosystem in the UK. The Crackdown on Illegal Cryptocurrency Machines Protecting Consumers The FCA’s actions against illegal cryptocurrency machines are driven…

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Oil prices have experienced a slight upward trend as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) implements production cuts, and traders closely monitor economic data. These factors play a significant role in shaping the supply and demand dynamics in the global oil market. As OPEC takes measures to balance oil production and traders assess the impact of economic indicators, oil prices respond to these developments, reflecting the complex interplay between market forces and economic factors. OPEC Production Cuts Balancing Supply and Demand OPEC’s decision to implement production cuts aims to balance the supply and demand dynamics in the oil…

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Foxconn’s attempts to enter the semiconductor market. Foxconn, a global electronics manufacturing giant, is embarking on an ambitious endeavor to break into the semiconductor sector. With a long-standing reputation for manufacturing consumer electronics on behalf of major brands, Foxconn now seeks to expand its capabilities and tap into the lucrative world of semiconductors. This strategic move highlights Foxconn’s vision for future growth and its commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements in the rapidly evolving tech industry. Foxconn’s Expansion into the Semiconductor Sector Diversification Strategy Foxconn’s foray into the semiconductor sector is part of its broader diversification strategy.…

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Ocado opens its first Asian robotic warehouse with Aeon. Ocado, a leading online grocery retailer, has launched its first robotic warehouse in Asia in collaboration with AEON, a major Japanese retailer. This strategic partnership aims to revolutionize the grocery industry in Asia by leveraging Ocado’s advanced robotics technology and AEON’s extensive retail network. In this article, we delve into the details of this innovative venture and its potential impact on the Asian retail market. Introduction of Robotic Warehouse Technology Ocado’s robotic warehouse, powered by its proprietary technology known as the Ocado Smart Platform (OSP), represents a significant advancement in the…

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Shareholders of Thames Water, one of the largest water utility companies in the UK, have committed to providing an additional £960 million in funding. This infusion of capital aims to support the company’s ongoing operations, investment in infrastructure, and improvement of services. In this article, we delve into the details of this financial commitment and the potential impact on Thames Water’s operations. Additional Funding for Thames Water Thames Water’s shareholders have pledged an extra £960 million in funding to bolster the company’s financial resources. This financial commitment demonstrates the shareholders’ confidence in the company’s long-term prospects and willingness to support…

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Yellen pushes the US-China climate and economic collaboration. During her meetings in Beijing, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen emphasized the importance of fair rules in communication. The discussions between the United States and China play a critical role in shaping economic and diplomatic relations between the two countries. In this article, we delve into the details of Yellen’s emphasis on fair rules, examine the significance of communication in U.S.-China relations, and discuss the potential implications for future cooperation. The Importance of Fair Rules Yellen’s emphasis on fair rules underscores the need for honest and transparent communication between nations: Mutual Understanding:…

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Samsung Electronics has reported a significant 96% drop in its second-quarter profit as the persistent chip glut continues to impact the company’s financial performance. This decline underscores the challenges faced by the semiconductor industry due to oversupply and highlights the need for strategic measures to navigate the market. In this article, we delve into the details of Samsung Electronics’ Q2 performance and explore the implications of the ongoing chip glut. A decline in Q2 Profit Samsung Electronics Q2 profit has seen a staggering decline of 96%, signaling the severity of the challenges faced by the company. This decline can be…

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Mercedes-Benz has announced that its drivers in North America will gain access to Tesla Superchargers by 2024. This collaboration between two prominent automakers signifies a significant step towards expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and improving convenience for EV owners. In this article, we delve into the details of this partnership and explore the implications for Mercedes-Benz drivers in North America. Access to Tesla Superchargers The partnership between Mercedes-Benz and Tesla will allow Mercedes-Benz drivers in North America to utilize Tesla Superchargers for charging their electric vehicles. Tesla Superchargers are known for their fast charging capabilities, enabling EV owners to…

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Goldman Sachs has highlighted the need for over $25 billion in investments in the Western world to match China’s dominance in the rare earths sector. The demand for rare earth elements, essential for various high-tech industries, has surged recently. In this article, we delve into the details of Goldman Sachs’ analysis and explore the implications of the investment requirement for the Western rare earths market. China’s Dominance in Rare Earth China currently dominates the global rare earths market, accounting for a significant share of global production. Rare earth elements are vital in numerous industries, including renewable energy, electronics, defense, and…

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Adani Green, a leading renewable energy company in India, is reportedly considering raising $1.5 billion in funding. This move comes as the company seeks to expand its renewable energy portfolio and capitalize on the growing demand for clean energy solutions. In this article, we delve into the details of Adani Green’s funding plans and explore the potential impact on India’s renewable energy sector. Adani Green’s Expansion Ambitions Adani Green has established itself as a key player in India’s renewable energy sector. The company has been actively pursuing the expansion of its renewable energy portfolio, aiming to increase its capacity and…

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Yellen begins China tour amid tensions. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has embarked on a highly anticipated visit to China, marking a significant diplomatic engagement between the two economic powerhouses. The visit comes when tensions and disagreements between the United States and China have reached a critical juncture. In this article, we delve into the details of Yellen’s visit and explore the potential outcomes and implications for the bilateral relationship. The Context of the Visit The visit by Secretary Yellen to China takes place amidst an escalating confrontation between the United States and China on various fronts, including trade, technology,…

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Ukraine’s tech attempt to Tackle Russian’suicide’ drone Threat. Last month, hundreds of engineers and innovators convened senior military officials in a basement in downtown Kyiv to debate how to neutralize better the cheap Russian suicide drones that still damage Ukrainian communities. It was a rare, close-up look at Ukraine’s technology arms race with Russia. It leans on private sector innovation funded with state venture funding and produces thousands of military drones in a burgeoning wartime economy. “The war today is technological, with changes in technology and on the battlefield happening every day,” said Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister and…

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Xpeng (9868. HK), a Chinese electric vehicle producer, expects its new model to outperform Tesla (TSLA.O) in the year’s second half. On Wednesday, Xpeng president Brain Gu told reporters that its new G6 pure electric crossover had received “significant” orders. He stated it would boost monthly sales to 15,000 units in the third quarter, roughly twice in June and May, and above 20,000 units in the fourth quarter. The optimistic prediction comes after months of sales slumps and increased losses for EV companies like Xpeng and Nio, even as Tesla and BYD announced record second-quarter deliveries amid a price war.…

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Italy intends to take until the end of the year to analyze Facebook parent Meta (META.O) in a tax dispute that could cost the U.S. corporation 870 million euros ($925 million) and be a tech sector test case. Meta’s access to Facebook and Instagram might have far-reaching consequences for the business. An Italian audit suggested Meta user registrations were taxed since they involved the non-monetary trade of a membership account for personal data. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) forwarded Italy’s Guardia di Finanza (GdF) police audit to Milan magistrates, who launched a criminal probe early this year. Meta’s evaluation…

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Russia-Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman told a conference on Wednesday that OPEC+ will do “whatever necessary” to assist the market. In response to falling prices, OPEC+, which pumps 40% of the world’s petroleum, has slashed output since November. Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world’s largest oil exporters, deepened oil production cutbacks on Monday to boost prices. The market only temporarily rose. Brent futures fell over 1% to $75.30 a barrel on Wednesday, below the $80-$100 per barrel most OPEC nations need to balance their budgets. OPEC wants a balanced oil market for consumers and producers without a price…

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On Tuesday, Milan-based Pirelli (PIRC.MI) announced it would buy 100% of Hevea-Tec, Brazil’s largest independent natural rubber processor. Antitrust authorities must approve the acquisition, which values Hevea-Tec at 21 million euros ($22.9 million) by 2023. “Ensuring continuity of provision in the region and, therefore, greater efficiency,” Pirelli stated. It said the deal wouldn’t affect Pirelli’s 2023 net financial position target of 2.35 billion euros. Pirelli said the Hevea-Tec deal would increase its control over the natural rubber supply chain and reduce CO2 emissions due to local-for-local supply.

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On Tuesday, Apple Inc. (AAPL.O)’s appeal in a long-running battle with a U.S. patent holder was rejected by London’s Court of Appeal. In 2019, Texas-based Optis Cellular Technology LLC sued Apple for using patents Optis claims are vital to 4G technology. London’s High Court decided last year that Apple infringed two Optis’ 4G standard fundamental patents. In May, Apple appealed, alleging that the two patents were not crucial to 4G standards and had not violated them. Judge Colin Birss of the Court of Appeal said the High Court was “right to reject (Apple’s) argument for non-infringement” and on the patents’…

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As China prepares for high summer heat, EU climate director Frans Timmermans called for faster and more decisive collaborative action with China to address the “accelerating” climate problem. On Tuesday, Timmermans, in Beijing for climate talks, met with Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang in the Diaoyutai official guest house, where China’s leaders regularly welcome top foreign guests. Timmermans described a “triple crisis” of global warming, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Crisis intensifies. Timmermans told Ding that coordinated action between China and the EU might motivate global action to control them. Ding said China-EU cooperation has traditionally prioritized climate and ecology. He…

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On Tuesday, Europe’s top court ruled that antitrust regulators investigating Facebook owner Meta Platforms (META.O) can consider privacy violations. Meta challenged the German antitrust office’s 2019 directive that the social media giant stop collecting users’ data without authorization, alleging it abused market dominance. The Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) examined whether the German antitrust agency overstepped its authority by utilizing its antitrust competence to handle data protection issues, which are the responsibility of national data protection authorities. Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, disputed the finding, requiring a German court to consult the CJEU.…

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Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) concluded a fourth and final phase of technological integration with Postbank on Monday. The largest German bank stated it would save 300 million euros ($326.52 million) annually from 2025. During the global financial crisis, Germany’s largest bank began acquiring Postbank, with millions of customers and origins in the postal system. As the bank merged its IT infrastructure with Postbank clients, some customers couldn’t use all services over the weekend. Deutsche will start decommissioning Postbank hardware and software, saving money.

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On Monday, the World Bank and WTO presidents urged countries to make global services trade more open and predictable to eliminate poverty in developing nations. The two institutions’ joint research, “Trade in Services for Development,” noted that services like tourism and telecommunications account for two-thirds of global GDP yet face higher trade barriers than products. It stated that the WTO is responsible for liberalizing services, but its member nations have not jointly enhanced market access since the telecoms treaties 1997. “There is a need to reignite international cooperation in the services sector,” said World Bank President Ajay Banga and WTO…

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The Financial Times reported on Monday that design complexity had pushed Apple (AAPL.O) to lower Vision Pro manufacturing expectations. The Vision Pro, unveiled last month and likely to be available in the US early next year, costs $3,499, more than three times Meta’s (META.O) most expensive headset. The publication reported that Apple’s only contract manufacturer, Luxshare, planned to create fewer than 400,000 Vision Pros in 2024. According to the FT, Apple had planned to sell 1 million headsets in the first year. Apple and Luxshare declined to comment to Reuters. According to FT, The iPhone maker requested components from two…

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Oil rises as Saudi Arabia extends supply cut. Dubai outperformed the area in early trade on Monday, but Abu Dhabi lagged. After a four-session vacation, Dubai’s main share index (.DFMGI) rose 1.3%, led by a 3% rise in Emaar Properties (EMAR.DU) and a 1.7% rise in Emirates NBD Bank (ENBD.DU). Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Services (4013. SE) boosted Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index (.TASI) by 0.8%. Dubai outperformed the area in early trade on Monday, but Abu Dhabi lagged. After a four-session vacation, Dubai’s main share index (.DFMGI) rose 1.3%, led by a 3% rise in Emaar Properties (EMAR.DU) and a…

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British equities rose on Monday as mining firms surged on higher metal prices and other Chinese-exposed companies firmed in anticipation of greater policy assistance from Beijing. Still, AstraZeneca fell after reporting a trial adverse event. The domestic-focused FTSE 250 midcap index (.FTMC) jumped 0.4%, while the blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) advanced 0.2%. Industrial metal miners (.FTNMX551020) climbed 2.3% as base metal prices surged and confidence improved. After a diamond sales deal with Botswana, Anglo-American (AAL.L) rose 3% and led the FTSE 100. AstraZeneca (AZN.L) fell 4.5% after reporting adverse events in a late-stage lung cancer treatment trial. China-exposed HSBC (HSBA.L)…

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On Monday, industry chief Thierry Breton said the EU and Japan would cooperate more on semiconductors to improve control over critical defense, electronics, and cars technology. Breton said the EU and Japan would monitor the semiconductor supply chain and exchange researchers and engineers. Japanese semiconductor businesses exploring EU operations will receive EU backing. “We believe that it’s extremely important to secure the supply chain of semiconductors,” Breton told Reuters in Tokyo, discussing chip and AI cooperation with government and companies. Japan is subsidizing its chip industry, which leads in materials and equipment but has lost global market share, and a…

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PwC Australia fired eight partners, including its former CEO, as part of an internal inquiry into the leak of classified government tax plans by a former partner, the firm said on Monday. In a statement, PwC said the inquiry uncovered many instances of “misuse of confidential information” that violated professional standards and “a failure of leadership and governance” to resolve them. “Accountability is critical to improving our culture and based on our investigation to date, a number of partners fell short of what was expected of them.” Acting CEO Kristin Stubbins said, “They are now being held accountable for their…

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E.V. charger manufacturers and operators call Texas’ Tesla charging station mandate “premature,” according to a Reuters document and source. Last week, Reuters reported that Texas would require charging businesses to use Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) and the globally recognized rival Combined Charging Standard (CCS) technology to qualify for a federally funded highway electrification scheme. Washington followed suit, and SAE International promises to establish an industry-standard design of Tesla’s charging connector in six months or fewer, helping Tesla CEO Elon Musk make NACS the national charging technology. Five electric car charging companies, including ChargePoint Holdings (CHPT.N) and ABB (ABBN.S),…

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According to a statement issued by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, China has requested that the Netherlands refrain from abusing export controls and doing anything that would hamper bilateral cooperation in the semiconductor trade. This request was made in the context of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce’s statement. The statement, if what was said in it is to be believed, was issued in response to questions from the media. Additionally, it was said that discussions between the two countries had taken place often and on numerous levels regarding the matter in question. On Friday, the government of the Netherlands imposed…

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On Friday, Ukraine’s military intelligence service reported Russia is steadily reducing staff at the captured Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in southern Ukraine. Reuters could not verify why some people left. Russia, which occupied the factory in March 2022, did not respond. Kyiv accused Russia of preparing a “terrorist” radiological strike at the nuclear reactor this month. Moscow denied it. “According to the latest data, the occupation contingent is gradually leaving the territory of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,” the Main Directorate of Intelligence at the Ministry of Defence (GUR) reported on Telegram. GUR reported that three Rosatom employees “in charge…

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According to marketing documents obtained by Reuters, Chevron (CVX.N) is selling multiple oil and gas holdings in New Mexico and Texas to reduce acreage after big shale purchases. Last month, the second-largest U.S. oil and gas producer bought PDC Energy Inc. (PDCE.O) in a $7.6 billion stock-and-debt deal. It purchased Noble Energy in 2020, increasing its U.S. shale and foreign gas assets. Chevron, the largest publicly traded oil and gas producer and property owner in West Texas and New Mexico with 2.2 million acres, has been selling properties in the Permian Basin. According to EnergyNet online auction postings, it auctioned…

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Former U.S. President Donald Trump, a longtime Putin supporter, said an aborted mutiny had “somewhat weakened” Putin and that now is the moment for the United States to try to mediate a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine. “I want people to stop dying over this ridiculous war,” Trump told Reuters in a phone interview. Speaking broadly about foreign policy, the front-runner in opinion polls for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination also said China should be given a 48-hour deadline to leave what sources say is a Chinese spy capability on Cuba 90 miles (145 km) off the U.S. coast.…

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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government urged London’s High Court on Friday to block a public inquiry into its COVID-19 pandemic response and hand over some private WhatsApp messages. This month, Britain’s Cabinet Office refused to share WhatsApp communications about the pandemic and other political topics, calling some content “unambiguously irrelevant.” The inquiry, overseen by retired senior judge Heather Hallett, was commissioned by the government in 2021 and requested two years’ worth of WhatsApp chats between key officials, including former prime minister Boris Johnson and 40 individuals. The Cabinet Office’s lawyer James Eadie told the court that the Cabinet Office…

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Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) will consolidate its IT platforms with Postbank clients this weekend, saving hundreds of millions of dollars. Germany’s largest bank acquired Postbank, with its millions of customers and roots in the postal system, in 2008 during the global financial crisis, but it has struggled to integrate. A Deutsche Bank official said the fourth and final integration wave would move 4 million contracts of 2 million Postbank clients to a shared IT system this weekend. The bank announced on Twitter and elsewhere that customers would not have full access to all services during the weekend. The bank announced that…

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Friday’s World Bank announcement granted $1.5 billion to advance India’s low-carbon energy sector. The bank claimed the financing would boost renewable energy, green hydrogen, and climate finance for low-carbon energy initiatives in India. “The program will support the successful implementation of the National Green Hydrogen Mission that aims to stimulate $100 billion in private sector investment by 2030,” said Auguste Tano Kouame, World Bank Country Director for India. The program reduces costs and improves power grid integration to help India meet its 500 gigawatts (GW) renewable energy capacity by 2030. From FY23-24 to FY27-28, the government will release bids for…

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On Thursday, British banknote printer De La Rue (DLAR.L) maintained its 2017 adjusted operating profit target, supported by bid activity rebound and robust authentication demand. The London-listed firm forecasted full-year adjusted operating profit in the lower band of their range. It claimed there was no “material uncertainty” in its capacity to continue as a going concern. In recent years, De La Rue has suffered from profit warnings, operational issues in several important countries, and a drop in cash demand as governments and central banks worldwide delayed new orders. The company’s authentication division designs and creates safe documents and security features…

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BMW (BMWG.DE) announced on Thursday that it will construct its X3 model in South Africa in 2024, investing 4.2 billion rand ($225.09 million) to electrify its Rosslyn facility. “From 2024, we will produce the BMW X3 in South Africa as a plug-in hybrid and export it all over the world,” said BMW South Africa Chairman Milan Nedeljkovic. “With an investment of 4.2 billion rand (over 200 million euros), the Rosslyn plant will be enabled for electromobility,” he continued. According to their website, Rosslyn produces up to 75,000 combustion engines in three series per year. The plant exports automobiles to Taiwan,…

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Denmark says the EU should not ‘lower the threshold’ to accept Ukraine. On Thursday, Finance Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen told the Financial Times that “geopolitical circumstances” could not warrant skipping governance changes. Denmark supports EU membership for Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and the western Balkans. In an interview with the newspaper, Rasmussen warned that the EU risked “importing instability” if it lowers democracy and corruption criteria to speed up Ukraine’s and other candidate nations’ accession. A country must adopt EU climate and labor rules to join the EU. Usually takes years. Rasmussen told the FT that the EU shouldn’t “lower the…

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On Wednesday, the British cinema chain operator Cineworld Group (CINE.L) announced that a court in the United States had accepted its plan to restructure its debt. The company stated that it was maintaining its hope that it would be able to emerge from bankruptcy in July, despite having filed for protection under Chapter 11 in the United States the previous year. Cineworld had stated that the proposed restructuring would involve the release of about $4.53 billion of the group’s debt, raising gross proceeds from a rights offering for $800 million and providing new debt financing for $1.46 billion.

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The New York Times claimed that General Sergey Surovikin, the deputy commander of Russia’s military operations in Ukraine, knew mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was organizing a mutiny against Moscow’s defense officials. The newspaper said U.S. officials briefed on U.S. intelligence as “trying to learn if Gen. Sergey Surovikin, the former top Russian commander in Ukraine, helped plan Mr. Prigozhin’s actions last weekend.” President Vladimir Putin congratulated his armed forces for preventing a civil war as Prigozhin traveled to Belarus on Tuesday to end a Wagner fighter mutiny over the weekend. American officials told the New York Times that additional Russian…

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EU countries and parliament agreed on regulations governing how Big Tech and other corporations use European consumer and corporate data, with safeguards against non-EU governments acquiring illegal access. Last year, the European Commission proposed the Data Act to encompass data from smart gadgets, industrial and consumer products as part of regulations to limit U.S. internet companies. Following the 2013 Snowden revelations of vast U.S. spying, EU concerns regarding data flows have risen. Seven hours of negotiations yielded the deal. “Tonight’s agreement on the Data Act is a milestone in reshaping the digital space…we are on the way of a thriving…

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On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will visit Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda in Kyiv to discuss NATO membership. Zelenskiy demanded a “political invitation” to join NATO at Tuesday’s July 11-12 summit in Lithuania. NATO countries are close to taking modest steps to deepen ties with Ukraine by the Vilnius summit, but disagreements over how to approach Ukraine’s desire for membership remain. Lithuania has long advocated for Ukraine’s membership in NATO and the EU. Norway sells Lithuania NASAMS air defense systems for Ukraine. Nauseda’s office said the presidents would discuss “the NATO summit agenda,” Ukraine’s EU membership negotiations, and European support…

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Seoul’s foreign ministry announced penalties on two individuals and two businesses Wednesday for alleged involvement in North Korea’s nuclear programs. The government said the sanctions target Choi Chon Gon, a former South Korean who became Russian, his two enterprises, and a North Korean who backed him. After becoming Russian, Choi is accused of aiding North Korea’s unlawful financial activities. “It marks the first time our government has imposed unilateral sanctions on an individual of Korean descent,” the ministry stated. Choi was unavailable for comment to Reuters. Nuclear-armed North Korea has been testing its largest intercontinental ballistic missile, escalating tensions with…

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On Tuesday, eastern European NATO countries warned that Wagner’s Russian mercenary forces moving to Belarus would increase regional instability. Still, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance would defend itself against danger. “If Wagner deploys its serial killers in Belarus, all neighbouring countries face even bigger danger of instability,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said during a meeting in The Hague with Stoltenberg and government leaders from six other NATO partners. “This is quite serious and disturbing, and we must make tough decisions. Polish President Andrzej Duda said NATO must respond harshly. Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin came to Belarus on…

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According to a source, Fidelity will register with the U.S. securities regulator for a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund. BlackRock(BLK.N), WisdomTree(WT.N), Invesco(IVZ.N), VanEck, and Bitwise have submitted new SEC spot bitcoin ETF applications in the previous two weeks, pushing bitcoin to a more than one-year high of almost $31,000 on June 23. The Boston-based financial institution, along with market makers Citadel Securities and Virtu Financial (VIRT.O), retail broker Charles Schwab (SCHW.N), and venture capital firms Paradigm and Sequoia Capital, created EDX Markets, a crypto exchange. “There’s a lot of optimism here that you’re going to get a bitcoin ETF,” said Oanda…

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In 2018, South Korean authorities indict former Samsung executive Choi Jinseog for stealing secrets from his former employer’s supplier network to help Foxconn set up a chip facility in China. On June 12, prosecutors announced the indictment, estimating that the crime cost Samsung Electronics (005930. KS) over $200 million to develop the stolen data. The announcement did not name Choi and provided few specifics, but some media identified him and his Foxconn ties. Reuters saw Choi’s 18-page charge alleging he stole Samsung’s trade secrets and Foxconn’s plans. Kim Pilsung, Choi’s counsel, disputed all charges. According to the indictment, Jin Semiconductor,…

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MLCommons, a benchmarking group for artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, released findings for a new test that measures system performance when training chatbots like ChatGPT. Nvidia (NVDA.O) won. GPT-3, an AI model used to train ChatGPT, OpenAI’s viral chatbot supported by Microsoft (MSFT.O), is the MLPerf benchmark. Because the model is vast, the benchmark only uses a representative piece. “This was our most expensive benchmark so far,” MLCommons Executive Director David Kanter told Reuters. “We spent over 600K hours of accelerator compute time to develop it, plus some fantastically talented engineers.” Kanter merely said development costs millions. Only Nvidia and Intel’s…

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Japanese researchers create mechanical arms to “unlock creativity.” How would society change if cyborg body parts like roadside rental bicycles were publicly available? Masahiko Inami’s University of Tokyo team created wearable robotic arms to discover. Inami’s team is developing “jizai” technologies, which he argues mean autonomy and freedom. The goal is to create a relationship “lying somewhere between a human and a tool, like how a musical instrument can become as if a part of your body.” Inami was inspired by traditional Japanese puppetry and Yasunari Kawabata’s quasi-horror short story about a man who borrows a young woman’s arm and…

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Bitcoin, the currency meant to undermine the financial system, has recovered from weeks of illness with Wall Street’s help. After BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, expressed interest in a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the U.S., the original crypto coin rose 20% to $30,182. BlackRock applied for a spot in Bitcoin ETF on June 15, despite the SEC’s history of rejecting such applications. Bitcoin recovered after two weeks of losses after the news. Satoshi Nakamoto’s rebel child is excited about an ETF that exposes investors to spot bitcoin on a regulated U.S. stock exchange without custody. CoinMarketCap.com reports…

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JPMorgan Chase’s (JPM.N) $290 million deal with women who claimed Jeffrey Epstein harmed them and that the largest U.S. bank ignored his sex trafficking was tentatively approved by a U.S. judge on Monday. At a Manhattan federal court session, U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff approved. “This is a really fine settlement,” said Rakoff. He added that the arrangement and a similar $75 million agreement with Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) he approved earlier this month were “very large settlements” that would pay Epstein’s victims but not make up for their crimes. JPMorgan canceled Epstein’s accounts in 2013. JPMorgan missed Epstein’s assaults and…

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On Tuesday, an aircraft linked to Russian mercenary head Yevgeny Prigozhin arrived in Belarus from Russia, possibly bringing him to exile three days after he attempted a military rebellion. Flightradar24 revealed an Embraer Legacy 600 jet with identification numbers matching a plane linked to Prigozhin in U.S. sanctions filings descending near Minsk, Belarus. Prigozhin’s fighters conquered Rostov, a southern Russian city, on Saturday. On Saturday, Prigozhin announced a deal with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to visit. His whereabouts and proposed banishment were unknown for three days. He left Rostov in an SUV on Saturday night, smiling and high-fiving witnesses. On…

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Russia, rates, and China worries shake Asian stocks. Asian equities swung on Tuesday as investors awaited interest rate hints and worried about China’s fragile economic recovery and Russia’s post-mutiny events. MSCI’s Asia Pacific ex-Japan index (.MIAPJ0000PUS) rose 0.08% at 0126 GMT after falling 0.06% an hour earlier. The Nikkei average (.N225) lost 1%. “Asian equities are set for a downturn on Tuesday, prompted by Wall Street’s risk-aversion behavior,” said ActivTrades global macro analyst Anderson Alves. On Monday, mega-cap momentum stocks dragged the tech-heavy Nasdaq lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) dipped 0.04%, the S&P 500 dropped 0.45%, and the…

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Alphabet relies on lasers for rural broadband. Alphabet’s (GOOGL.O) stratospheric balloons failed to offer internet service to rural and distant places. The startup now uses light beams to bring internet to remote locations. Taara is part of Alphabet’s X innovation lab, known as the “Moonshot Factory.” Company executives stated it began in 2016 when stratospheric balloons failed to offer internet due to excessive prices. Mahesh reported better development this time. Krishnaswamy leads Taara. Taara officials and Bharti Airtel (BRTI.NS), one of India’s leading telecoms and internet providers, told Reuters they are deploying the new laser internet technology in India. Financial…

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British grocer Sainsbury’s (SBRY.L) lowered prices again, adding to evidence that food inflation will moderate this year and help consumers struggling with a cost of living crisis in its second year. The UK’s second-largest retailer behind Tesco (TSCO.L) said it would invest 15 million pounds ($19 million) in lowering prices on rice, pasta, and chicken breast fillets. “We will continue to pass on savings as soon as we see the wholesale price of food fall,” said Sainsbury’s food commercial director Rhian Bartlett. In Britain, increased inflation, more taxes, and rising mortgage rates are straining household budgets. Food inflation, 18.3% in…

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On Monday, British luxury manufacturer Aston Martin (AML.L) announced a deal to give U.S. electric vehicle (EV) maker Lucid Group (LCID.O) a 3.7% share in exchange for access to its “high performance” technology. If shareholders approve, Aston Martin will give Lucid Group 28.4 million new ordinary shares. It will also pay Lucid $232 million in installments. Carmakers have invested $1.2 trillion in electrified technologies. Smaller carmakers like Aston Martin need alliances to adapt. Aston Martin intends its first EV in 2025 and has relied on Mercedes as its “big brother” for technology. On Monday, Aston Martin announced that it had…

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On Monday, Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu visited Russian troops involved in the military operation in Ukraine, RIA reported. RIA’s story, citing Russia’s defense ministry, confirmed Shoigu’s leadership but did not specify when and where he met with Western military district troops and commanders. Mutineers commanded by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin moved on Moscow to overthrow Russia’s corrupt and incompetent military leadership before retreating to eastern Ukraine after a deal with the Kremlin arranged by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. The mutineers received immunity in exchange for returning to camps, but it is unclear if Putin agreed to replace the military…

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Officials claimed Russia’s latest midnight air assault on Ukraine killed three people early Saturday. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko claimed missiles hit at least five districts and killed three and wounded eight after a high-rise in Kyiv was hit. “Terrorists do this. “Russian style,” he wrote on Telegram. In a separate post, Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, stated missile pieces caused the damage and that air defenses had shot down more than 20 missiles around the city. On Saturday morning, emergency responders sifted through wreckage beside a large hole in the building. Dnipropetrovsk officials reported eight wounded, two…

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SolarWinds (SWI.N) announced that some of its former and present officials had received Wells notices from the SEC regarding a massive 2020 data breach. Wells’s notices may not necessarily indicate lawbreaking. The SEC sends Wells notifications to firms it intends to prosecute. “We are cooperating in a long investigative process that seems to be progressing to charges by the SEC against our company and officers,” a SolarW ends representative said in an email. “SolarWinds has acted properly at all times by following long-established best practices for both cyber controls and disclosure,” The representative added. In December 2020, hackers breached SolarWinds…

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On Friday, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Interfax that Russia would not inform the U.S. about its nuclear weapons in Belarus or Poseidon torpedo testing. As tensions with the West rise over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moscow and Minsk say Belarus has begun receiving the Russian tactical, or short-range, nuclear weapons President Vladimir Putin had openly promised to install there. “I deeply doubt that this topic will become the subject of any public discussion or disclosure on our part,” Ryabkov told Sochi media. “For decades, the United States has kept its tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of several…

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Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) announced that all Canadian consumers would lose access to news on Facebook and Instagram if parliament-approved legislation required internet firms to pay news publishers. The Online News Act, passed by the Senate’s upper chamber on Thursday, would become law pending royal assent from the governor-general. After objections from Canada’s media industry, the measure was introduced to prevent internet giants from taking over online advertising. “Today, we are confirming that news availability will be ended on Facebook and Instagram for all users in Canada prior to the Online News Act taking effect,” Meta stated. Facebook had signaled…

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A European Union-authorized auditing company assessment showed that three Chinese biofuel exporters’ waste products from Malaysia and Indonesia could not be validated. This month, Germany requested a European Union probe into China’s biofuel imports to determine if they exceed EU sustainability standards. The Germany-based International Sustainability and Carbon Accreditation (ISCC), certifying fuel sustainability, halted the accreditation of two enterprises in Yangpu on Hainan Island and Zhanjiang on the mainland. In audit findings issued to the ISCC’s online database of tens of thousands of biofuel producers and traders, the companies were suspended for a month and could not export to the…

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Alaska Airlines (ALK.N) CEO Ben Minicucci said Wednesday that the airline is “anxious” to get the larger Boeing 737 MAX 10 once it is certified to enable it to carry more passengers. Before the MAX 10, Boeing (BA.N) must gain FAA clearance for its smaller MAX 7. Regulatory scrutiny has increased after the MAX 8’s 2018 and 2019 deadly crashes, delaying both models. “Basically we like bigger airplanes,” Minicucci remarked in an interview about the MAX 10, which can accommodate 189 people compared to 178 on the MAX 9. “For essentially the same trip costs I put 11 more passengers…

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Intel Corp (INTC.O) announced its manufacturing division would behave like a distinct company and start generating a margin but gave no schedule for ramping up. The chipmaker’s shares fell around 5%. Intel’s turnaround strategy requires it to provide manufacturing services to other companies, including its competitors. The company did not disclose a new external customer for its foundry services. On an investor call, CFO David Zinsner said Intel’s business units will now have a customer-supplier relationship with the manufacturing company. He said Intel would be the second-largest foundry next year, with around $20 billion in manufacturing revenue. Summit Insights Group…

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Uber Technologies (UBER.N) announced on Wednesday that it was slashing 200 jobs in its recruitment division to maintain staffing levels and decrease costs. The reductions affect less than 1% of Uber’s 32,700 global staff and follow the ride-share company’s 150 freight services layoffs earlier this year. According to the Wall Street Journal, 35% of Uber’s recruiting crew was slashed. At the onset of the pandemic in mid-2020, Uber cut its employees by 17%, but it has cut less than Lyft (LYFT.O). Under new CEO David Risher, Lyft laid off 26% of its personnel in April and 700 people late last…

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After Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivered a predictable semi-annual testimony, the dollar remained near a one-month low against a basket of currencies on Thursday. Sterling was approaching a one-year high ahead of the BoE’s interest rate decision later in the day, with Wednesday’s strong inflation report likely to keep officials on their toes. Powell told Capitol Hill legislators on Wednesday that more U.S. rate increases are “a pretty good guess” if the economy continues its current course. Last week’s central bank policy meeting echoed those remarks. The dollar fell 0.5% against six major peers in the previous session. Early…

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The U.S. Federal Trade Commission accused Amazon.com (AMZN.O) on Wednesday of enrolling millions of users onto its paid subscription, Amazon Prime service, without their knowledge and making it difficult to withdraw. The FTC sued Amazon in Seattle federal court, charging that the business “knowingly duped millions of consumers into unknowingly enrolling in Amazon Prime.” Amazon said the FTC’s accusations were “false on the facts and the law.” Amazon utilized “manipulative, coercive or deceptive user-interface designs known as ‘dark patterns’ to trick consumers into enrolling in automatically renewing Prime subscriptions,” the FTC stated, seeking civil penalties and a permanent injunction to…

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Mastercard (MA.N) launched a global credit and debit card recycling program on Wednesday to preserve the billions of cards in circulation from landfills. Mastercard initially partnered with British lender HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA.L) at eight branches in Britain. However, banks worldwide, some of which have established local initiatives, might join the program and assist in building economies of scale. “We are inviting all card issuers around the world to partner with us, no matter what region they are in, and offer card recycling to their customers,” said Mastercard Inc., president of cyber and intelligence Ajay Bhalla. Mastercard will give HSBC…

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Despite Asian currencies falling, the Indian rupee may open higher versus the U.S. dollar on Wednesday. NDFs predict the rupee will open at 82.06-82.08, up from 82.1175 in the previous session. A private bank forex trader stated the USD/INR NDF has not reacted to another round of Chinese yuan losses and the rise in USD/Asia. “While it looks like (USD/INR) will be lower at open, I will be surprised if we move back below 82 today.” On Tuesday, dollar outflows lowered the rupee. “It could be that rupee is just making up for yesterday’s session,” another trader added. Since November…

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On Tuesday, two officials previewed a 50 billion euro ($55 bln) EU aid plan for Ukraine. After a review of the bloc’s 2021-27 budget, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will reveal the figure ahead of an international conference in London on Wednesday and Thursday to raise funds to rebuild Ukraine after Russia’s year-and-a-half war. A senior EU official said the sum includes 33 billion euros in macro-financial support to refill Kyiv’s governmental coffers while it fights Russia. EU financing for Kyiv in 2023 is 18 billion. A senior Ukrainian official said Kyiv was asking up to $40 billion…

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Ukrainian officials say Russia struck military and infrastructure targets in Kyiv and Lviv early Tuesday. Ukraine shot down 32 35 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched from Russia’s Bryansk area and the Azov Sea. Regional governor Maksym Kozytskiy claimed a “critically important facility” was hit in Lviv, far from the war lines and 70 km (43 miles) from NATO member Poland. The facility was not described. Moscow’s midnight air attacks, the latest since Kyiv initiated a counteroffensive, did not cause any casualties. The air force reported on Telegram that air defenses were active throughout Ukraine. Iranian drones primarily targeted Kyiv. “Over two…

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The European Energy Exchange (EEX) (T3PA.DE) and Nasdaq (NDAQ.O) announced on Tuesday that Nasdaq will move its European power trading and clearing business to EEX. EEX said it would transfer open positions in Nasdaq’s Nordic, French, and German power futures and European carbon emission allowance futures (EUAs) to ECC but did not provide financial specifics. Deutsche Boerse (DB1Gn.DE) subsidiary EEX stated Nasdaq Clearing AB would not be sold. The operator will upgrade the Nordic power market structure by replacing Electricity Price Area Differential (EPAD) contracts with zonal futures contracts, a methodology used in many European power derivatives markets. Nordic EPAD…

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Alibaba Group (9988. HK) announced Tuesday that CEO and chairman Daniel Zhang would step down to focus on its cloud division as the Chinese e-commerce behemoth splits into six business segments. Zhang had held three jobs since December when he took over the cloud operation following its “longest major-scale failure” in over a decade. Eddie Yongming Wu, Alibaba’s Taobao and Tmall Group chairman, will become CEO, while Executive Vice Chairman Joseph Tsai will become chairman. Alibaba said both appointments will begin on Sept. 10. The surprising shift occurred after two years of regulatory scrutiny and a March announcement that Alibaba…

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On Monday, India’s Nifty 50 and Sensex stock indices reversed early gains after inching closer to fresh record highs on profit-taking at higher valuations, as wider peers rallied to record levels. The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex (.BSESN) declined 0.24% to 63,235.07, while the blue-chip Nifty (.NSEI) fell 0.27% to 18,775.30 at 12:57 p.m. IST. Both indexes rose 0.30% earlier in the session, with the Nifty 50 getting within 10 points of the record high of 18,887.60. High-weightage financials (.NIFTYFIN) lost 0.3% as eight 13 major sectoral indexes fell. Midcaps (.NIFMDCP100) and small caps (.NIFSMCP100) surpassed their benchmarks, climbing over 0.6%…

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A late proposal to extend coal plant subsidies has derailed EU countries’ intentions to ratify a power market reform on Monday to move the electrical grid toward cleaner energy. On Monday, EU energy ministers meet in Luxembourg to agree on new power market rules to boost low-carbon generation and avert last year’s energy crisis, when record-high gas prices drove up energy bills. Putting new state-backed renewables and low-carbon nuclear facilities on fixed-price “contracts for difference” would stabilize power costs. Ministers must decide how to use subsidy revenues. A late suggestion by Sweden, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, to allow…

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On Monday, Russia’s TASS news agency stated that Iran, Russia, and many Eurasian countries from Eastern Europe to Western China could reach a free trade zone agreement by year’s end. In an interview with TASS, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said talks between the Eurasian Economic Union (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia) and Iran are nearing completion. “We are moving forward,” Overchuk added. “We very much hope that such an agreement can be signed by the end of the year.” After Western sanctions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine hampered Russia’s global trade routes and drove it to seek…

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KCNA stated on Monday that North Korea’s failed military satellite launch last month was the “gravest failure” at the governing party’s latest crucial summit. The Friday-Sunday extended plenary assembly ordered workers and researchers to investigate the failed military satellite launch and prepare for another. The satellite launch team was “heavily criticized,” the report claimed. It was the WPK’s 8th enlarged plenary meeting. “After losing thrust due to the abnormal starting of the second-stage engine,” Pyongyang declared following the launch failure. North Korea also pledged to expand its nuclear capabilities and strengthen solidarity with countries that reject the “U.S. strategy for…

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Chinese electric car producer Xpeng Inc (9868. HK) launched City NGP (Navigation Guided Pilot) in Beijing. Xpeng said City NGP is available in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Beijing, with plans to expand to dozens of cities this year. Xpeng’s latest rollout makes China’s first Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) available in Beijing’s urban districts and on important ring roads and expressways. It stated that Xpeng models like G9 Max, P7i Max, and P5 P might access City NGP. In March, Xpeng announced that it would upgrade its advanced driving assistance software and make all its functionalities available to Chinese drivers…

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Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura announced Friday that Toyota (7203.T) would get up to $841 million in subsidies to invest in local EV battery production. Toyota laid out a comprehensive plan for new technologies and a dramatic factory overhaul this week, offering the strongest hint of its aim to gain a larger piece of the fast-growing battery EV market, where rivals like Tesla (TSLA.O) have widely outsold it. “As the international competition for storage batteries is intensifying, capital investment is also becoming more intense,” Nishimura told reporters during a media briefing. “Large-scale investments by Toyota group and so on will hopefully…

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Indian equities flat following Fed’s hawkish pause; FMCG stocks surge. After the Fed left rates steady, consumer and pharma companies climbed on Thursday. As of 10:29 a.m. IST, the S&P BSE Sensex (.BSESN) rose 0.11% to 63,300.21, while the blue-chip Nifty 50 (.NSEI) was up 0.18% to 18,789.55. Both benchmarks were within 1% of their highs. On Thursday, the midcap index (.NIFMDCP100) reached a record high, while the smallcap index (.NIFSMCP100) climbed 0.43% to a 52-week high. “Not just the benchmarks, the smallcaps and midcaps have seen tremendous run-up in recent weeks,” said SMC Global Securities assistant vice president for…

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On Thursday, official statistics revealed that China’s industrial output climbed 3.5% from a year earlier in May, below expectations. Weakening demand at home and abroad pressures officials to stabilize a fragile economic recovery. May’s growth was the smallest since February. Reuters analysts predicted a 3.6% output increase from 5.6% in April. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, retail sales rose 12.7% in May from a year earlier, down from 18.4% in April. Analysts predicted 13.6% growth. In the first five months of 2023, fixed asset investment rose 4.0%, compared to 4.4% expected. January-April growth was 4.7%. Analysts warn that…

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On Thursday, data showed New Zealand entered recession in the first quarter, lowering the probability that the central bank would need to raise interest rates but hurting the government’s re-election chances. GDP fell 0.1% in the March quarter, matching experts’ predictions but missing the RBNZ’s 0.3% growth target. Fourth-quarter GDP fell 0.7% from 0.6%. After the data met market expectations, the New Zealand currency fell 0.2% to $0.6197. According to Statistics New Zealand, half of the country’s industries contracted, indicating broad economic weakness. Auckland’s January and February cyclones and flash floods hurt growth. “It’s clear that the New Zealand economy…

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Palau wants more U.S. patrols after Chinese invasions. After multiple Chinese vessel incursions into Palau’s exclusive economic zone, President Surangel Whipps Jr. told Reuters that the U.S. should increase patrols. Whipps Jr. also said he would welcome a larger U.S. military presence in the country, with troops stationed alongside coastguard and civil action teams, as Washington and Beijing compete for influence in the vital region. “No matter what, we’re going to be in the centre of whatever’s happening, so it’s important that we’re protected,” Whipps Jr. said during a Wednesday visit to Tokyo, adding, “to get peace, you have to…

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On Thursday, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew announced the company would invest billions in Southeast Asia over the next few years. Chew told an Indonesian gathering that TikTok’s content diversifies as it gains subscribers and enters e-commerce. ByteDance owns TikTok. Southeast Asia is TikTok’s largest user base. The site confronts tough competition from Sea’s (SE.N) Shopee, Alibaba’s (9988. HK) Lazada, and GoTo’s (GOTO.JK) Tokopedia. TikTok’s live-streaming e-commerce platform allows users to buy products through links. Chew claimed TikTok has 8,000 Southeast Asian employees and 2 million small vendors selling on its site.

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According to its website, Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) raised the US pricing of its Model Y electric car on Tuesday. The website showed that the variant’s price rose $250 to $47,740, while the other versions’ costs stayed fixed in the U.S. Since April 19, Tesla has raised Model Y costs three times. In May, the business raised Model S, X, and Y prices by single-digit percentages. Since January, Tesla has cut prices globally to boost sales. CEO Elon Musk said the company would sacrifice margins for sales volume and hike prices where possible. Even after Tuesday’s price boost, Model Y’s pricing…

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According to a Chinese foreign ministry statement, Foreign Minister Qin Gang called U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday to urge him to avoid meddling in China’s affairs. The high-profile talk precedes Washington’s top diplomat’s reported visit to Beijing to defuse tensions over spy claims and a semiconductor dispute. Qin hoped the U.S. could meet China halfway, have reasonable disagreements, and foster dialogue and collaboration in the call. Qin said the U.S. should respect China’s basic issues like Taiwan. He wanted to stabilize Sino-U.S. relations and get them back on track. Last Friday, a U.S. official claimed Blinken would…

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On Wednesday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s cabinet will announce Germany’s first National Security Strategy to provide an overview of foreign policy and ensure a unified cross-ministry security approach. In November 2021, Scholz’s three-way coalition agreed to a more comprehensive security strategy. After Russia invaded Ukraine, Germany’s military, energy dependence, and gas pipeline defense were exposed. Analysts argued Germany was too complacent in the decades of peace and prosperity after the Cold War in the face of new threats like aggressive authoritarian regimes like Russia and China. In a major speech days after the invasion, Scholz called the Ukraine war a “Zeitenwende”…

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The International Monetary Fund said Wednesday that New Zealand has to maintain building houses to address housing affordability, adding that land should be freed up for investment. The cyclical downturn in house prices has not addressed the structural housing shortfall. After its “Article IV” review of New Zealand policies, the IMF noted, “There is a strong need to expand housing supply, including social housing, to improve affordability.” Since November 2021, New Zealand house prices have declined 16% as the central bank aggressively boosted the cash rate to reduce inflation. New Zealand has one of the world’s highest house-price-to-income ratios. The…

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U.S. military help to Ukraine escalates crisis. Anatoly Antonov, Russia’s ambassador to the U.S., warned early Wednesday that the $325 million U.S. military aid package for Ukraine plunges Washington deeper into the “abyss” of the conflict. As Ukraine prepares its long-awaited counter-offensive, it includes air defense system munitions, ammunition, and vehicles. While making limited territorial advances, Ukrainian forces lost some Western-supplied tanks and armored vehicles in the past week. “The United States is getting deeper and deeper into the abyss of the Ukrainian crisis,” Antonov said on the embassy’s Telegram channel. “Apparently, the strategists from the United States somehow do…

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Rights organizations watch a BBC Modi documentary in Washington before Indian PM’s visit. Before his state visit to the White House, two human rights groups invited policymakers, journalists, and analysts to a Washington screening of a BBC documentary about Narendra Modi’s leadership during the 2002 Gujarat riots. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International will organize the private screening on June 20, two days before President Joe Biden hosts Modi’s state visit. Human Rights Watch announced the screening on Monday to inform viewers that India had banned the documentary. “India: the Modi question,” a two-part documentary, examined Modi’s leadership as Gujarat’s…

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Asia shares follow Wall Street’s advance on US inflation figures, Fed emphasis. Following Wall Street’s bullish day, Asian markets rose Tuesday as investors focused on U.S. inflation statistics and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision this week. Investors will keenly follow U.S. consumer and producer inflation data on Tuesday and Wednesday to assess the Fed’s tightening cycle’s impact on rising prices. Investors and strategists expected the Fed to suspend rate hikes for the first time since January 2022. Both inflation measures will fall this month, contributing to the equities index’s gains. “Overall equity markets reacted positively to expectations the monetary…

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Altcoins are suffering. Insecurity rules. Last week, U.S. officials sued Binance and Coinbase (COIN.O), slamming the values of various altcoins, including most cryptocurrencies except bitcoin and ether. It’s big. According to CCData, the SEC considers 50 cryptocurrencies valued at over $100 billion and 10% of the market securities. Major players, including Solana, polygon, and Cardano, have fallen 23%–32%. “Security classifications would affect all U.S. crypto exchanges, forcing various altcoin pairs to close,” said K33 Research senior analyst Vetle Lunde. Robinhood Markets (HOOD.O) will remove Solana, Cardano, and Polygon from its platform regardless of whether U.S. courts accept the SEC’s classification.…

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SoftBank plans Vision Fund layoffs. Two sources said SoftBank Group Corp (9984.T) is considering another round of layoffs at its Vision Fund investment arm, the latest cost-cutting action by the Japanese conglomerate. One person said the unit’s 30% layoffs, which might be announced in two weeks, could include U.S. workers. According to a business filing, SoftBank’s Vision Fund unit, which has suffered severe investment losses, had 349 employees in March. Due to confidentiality, sources declined to be identified. SoftBank declined to comment. In September, the investing arm and SoftBank Group International cut 150 workers internationally. SoftBank, an active investor in…

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A source told Reuters on Monday that Intel (INTC.O) is in talks with SoftBank Group Corp.’s (9984.T) Arm to be an anchor investor in the chip designer’s IPO. Reuters reported in April that Arm will sell its Nasdaq shares later this year to raise $8–10 billion. Intel, AMD, Nvidia, and Qualcomm leverage Arm’s ideas to make CPUs. Not it. Immediately evident how an IPO investment by one or more of those companies would affect Arm’s commercial partnerships. The chip designer filed confidentially for a U.S. stock market listing in April, setting up the year’s largest IPO. Intel and Arm declined…

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Pro-Russian hackers claimed a Monday DDoS attack on multiple Swiss government websites. The incident comes as the Swiss parliament prepares for a Thursday video address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. “Various websites of the Federal Administration and enterprises affiliated with the Confederation were unavailable” after the NoName hacking group’s attack, according to Switzerland’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). “The NCSC is analysing the attack together with the administrative units concerned and defining appropriate measures,” it stated. The NCSC linked the attack to the NoName organization, which also attacked the Swiss parliament’s website last week.

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DBS Group (DBSM.SI), whose assets have grown in the past two years, focuses more on family offices. Southeast Asia’s largest bank by assets is launching a new investment platform for family offices and one-stop wealth managers. Ultra-high net-worth families and funds seeking shelter from global banking crises and geopolitical and economic unpredictability are setting up family offices in the city-state. DBS said it is negotiating the new investment solution with more than 20 Asian clients and prospects. “It is also an attractive option for some families who are not looking to relocate to Singapore immediately but would like to consolidate…

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Croda International’s comeback lifted the chemicals industry and the U.K.’s main stock indices on Monday as traders awaited a flood of domestic economic data and major central bank interest rate announcements. As of 0720 GMT, the resource-heavy FTSE 100 (.FTSE) and domestic midcap FTSE 250 (.FTMC) advanced 0.2%. Tuesday’s U.S. inflation statistics will help investors predict the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decision a day later. This week, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of England (BoE) will make policy decisions. After two major central banks unexpectedly raised rates last week, risk appetite plummeted, and the benchmark FTSE 100…

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Novartis (NOVN.S) will buy Seattle company Chinook Therapeutics (KDNY.O) for up to $3.5 billion to add a rare severe kidney disease treatment to its late-stage drug research pipeline. The Swiss drugmaker announced Monday that a newly established Novartis subsidiary and Chinook would unite in the second half of 2023. It claimed Chinook shareholders would receive $3.2 billion, or $40 per share, in cash and a contingent value worth up to $300 million, depending on regulatory successes, under the agreement. Chinook closed Friday at $23.99. After cutting expenses and refocusing Novartis on the best therapeutic areas and geographic markets, CEO Vas…

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CEO Frans Muller told Reuters that Ahold Delhaize has reached “roughly half” of its target to grow revenue from businesses beyond grocery stores to 1 billion euros in 2025 by selling adverts on its supermarkets’ websites and monetizing customer data insights. Grocers like Ahold Delhaize (AD.AS) are starting businesses to provide consumer goods companies online advertising, including the possibility for their brands to rank first in buyers’ searches or as “sponsored products” like Amazon (AMZN.O). They’re also improving the data they sell to consumer goods businesses, which target shoppers with adverts. Muller said Ahold Delhaize, which owns Stop & Shop…

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In a meeting with the head of the New Development Bank (NDB), Dilma Rousseff, Honduras head Xiomara Castro made a formal request for the country’s admittance to the BRICS-led New Development Bank (NDB), according to a tweet sent out by Castro’s office late on Friday night. Castro is in the middle of an official visit to China for six days. The New Development Bank was established in 2015 by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South African governments, generally referred to as the BRICS countries. The bank’s headquarters are located in Shanghai.

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Poland provides Nord Stream sabotage clues. The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that German investigators are looking into evidence that a sabotage squad used Poland as a base to disrupt Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea in September. The newspaper reported that German detectives rebuilt the two-week cruise of the “Andromeda,” a 50-foot (15-meter) white pleasure yacht suspected of sabotaging Russian gas pipelines to Europe. “Andromeda’s radio and navigation equipment, satellite and mobile phones, Gmail accounts, and DNA samples left aboard, which Germany has tried to match to at least one Ukrainian soldier” showed that the yacht deviated from…

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After General Motors (GM.N) and Ford (F.N.) agreed to use the Tesla Supercharger network, Tesla (TSLA.O) shares rose 6% on Friday. The Elon Musk-led manufacturer was set for its eleventh straight session of gains, its longest streak in 2-1/2 years. Tesla was a top U.S. stock. Tesla, the world’s most valuable automaker, was expected to increase its market valuation by $30 billion to $780 billion. General Motors, whose market cap is $49.8 billion but sells millions more cars, climbed nearly 5%. Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) will be available to nearly 70% of the U.S. E.V. market thanks to…

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According to customs records obtained by Reuters, Acer (2353. TW) sold at least $70.4 million worth of computer hardware to Russia between April 8, 2022, and March 31, 2023. Acer’s actions were lawful, but according to customs records from a commercial trade data provider, Dell (DELL.N) and HP (HPE.N) stopped shipments in February and April 2022, respectively, after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to records, Acer’s fully-owned company in Switzerland and many delivery services ordered by that subsidiary supplied equipment to Russia. The supplies didn’t violate Taiwan’s Russia restrictions because they came from elsewhere. Switzerland’s sanctions policy, similar to…

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Oil prices fall for the second week as China’s recovery disappoints. On Friday, oil prices fell due to fears about Chinese demand and skepticism about a US-Iran nuclear deal. The U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 22 cents to $70.94, while Brent crude futures fell 26 cents to $75.70. “Oil prices are expected to stay in a range of about 3 dollars above and below $70 for WTI in the near term,” said Rakuten Securities commodity analyst Satoru Yoshida. After the U.S. and Iran disputed a Middle East Eye report that they were close to a nuclear deal, both…

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Fourth pension fund freezes PwC Australia work over government tax plan leak. The fourth fund to freeze PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Australia over its misuse of sensitive government tax plans was Australia’s third-largest pension fund on Friday. A$150 billion ($100.62 billion) Aware Super said it has temporarily stopped new contracts with PwC “out of an abundance of caution” and was very dissatisfied by documented governance, accountability, and cultural issues at the business. “PwC’s professionals have helped us deliver for our members. “We look forward to the full extent of this issue being promptly investigated and addressed,” an Aware spokeswoman stated. Aware said…

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Binance crypto exchange Following U.S. officials suing Binance and its CEO Changpeng Zhao, the U.S. said on Thursday that it would freeze U.S. dollar deposits and that its banking partners will halt fiat dollar withdrawal channels on June 13. The world’s largest crypto exchange’s U.S. branch tweeted at 10:33 p.m. EDT (0233 GMT Friday) that it is taking “proactive steps” to become a crypto-only exchange. The exchange informed customers that crypto trading, staking, deposits, and withdrawals would continue. ON TUESDAY, the SEC sued Binance and its founder Zhao on Monday and Coinbase (COIN.O), the largest U.S. cryptocurrency platform. After FTX…

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Dassault Systemes (DAST.PA), a French software company, introduced a new CEO on Friday and said it expects earnings per share (EPS) to double by 2028. Dassault has projected that its non-IFRS EPS will be between €2.20 and €2.40 by the year 2028. It was also revealed that Pascal Daloz would take over as CEO of the software supplier to automakers, airlines, and other industries beginning on January 1, 2024.

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UNICEF worries about Afghan education aid group ban. On Thursday, the U.N. children’s agency followed up with Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities on whether international organizations will be barred from education initiatives, which may affect hundreds of thousands of kids. “UNICEF is deeply concerned by reports that over 500,000 children, including over 300,000 girls, could lose out on quality learning through community-based education within a month if international non-governmental organizations working in the field of education are no longer allowed to operate,” said UNICEF’s Afghanistan spokesperson, Samantha Mort. She claimed the agency wanted clarity. The Taliban did not respond to a request…

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After European consumer group BEUC complained to the European Commission and consumer authorities that Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Twitter promote crypto assets misleadingly, the platforms may face regulatory action. U.S. regulators suing Coinbase COIN.O and Binance and FTX’s collapse last year have raised concerns about consumer safety for crypto assets like bitcoin and ether. Last month, the EU implemented MiCa, the first comprehensive crypto asset regulation. On Thursday, BEUC filed a complaint alleging that social media platforms’ false crypto asset ads expose consumers to considerable harm, including financial loss. Advertising and influencers were responsible. It requested the Consumer Protection Cooperation…

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In the first quarter, M&G (MNG.L)’s wholesale asset management business received 1 billion pounds ($1.25 billion) of net inflows, offsetting institutional client redemptions. Despite redemptions precipitated by a “mini-budget crisis” in September 2022, the insurer and asset management reported net client inflows, excluding its Heritage business, of 0.4 billion pounds, concluding a period of poor performance in its British market. The firm’s assets under management and administration rose 2 billion pounds to 344 billion pounds from 0.3 billion in 2022. “Notwithstanding an uncertain external environment, we are building on the inherent strengths of our differentiated business model, delivering profitable growth…

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On Thursday, Taiwan’s leading chip design company MediaTek Inc (2454. TW) said it will defend itself in court against Realtek’s (2379. TW) allegations that it paid a patent troll a “secret litigation bounty” to launch meritless cases. Realtek Semiconductor Corp.’s California lawsuit accuses MediaTek of collaborating with IPValue Management Inc. to monopolize smart TV and set-top box chip sales. MediaTek told the Taiwan stock exchange that it would submit evidence and defend itself in the case. The corporation is unaffected by the dispute.

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The United States President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign called YouTube’s move to stop monitoring fake 2020 election fraud allegations “reckless” and potentially violent. “YouTube’s reckless and irresponsible decision will invite further democratic decay and potential violence, and we urge them to reconsider this policy,” Biden campaign spokeswoman Kevin Munoz said in a statement. On Friday, YouTube stopped eliminating content that may have disseminated misleading statements about the 2020 and earlier U.S. presidential elections. The platform claimed that eliminating the content reduced “some misinformation, it could also have the unintended effect of curtailing political speech.” Former President Donald Trump, Biden’s opponent,…

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The Turkish lira falls 7% in the largest selloff since the 2021 crisis. Turkey’s lira fell 7% to a record low on Wednesday as the newly elected administration appeared to loosen stabilizing measures in its shift to a more conventional policy. On May 28, President Tayyip Erdogan was re-elected, putting pressure on the lira. 22.98 versus the dollar at 0735 GMT. It hit a record low of 23.16, losing over 19% this year. At the weekend, Erdogan selected former deputy prime minister Mehmet Simsek as finance minister. Simsek later called for “rational” economic policies. Markets are also awaiting a new…

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CFO Dmitry Pyanov said Russia’s No. 2 lender VTB (VTBR.MM) plans to raise 94 billion roubles ($1.15 billion) in its secondary public offering (SPO), which would see an unknown investor buy a portion of the state’s stake in the bank. VTB bought rival Otkritie from Russia’s central bank for 340 billion roubles late last year and is selling 9.3 trillion extra shares to cut the state’s stake in VTB to 61.8% from 76.4%. Pyanov told reporters on Wednesday that only non-state investors participated in the secondary sale, which the central bank will register after June 8. Pyanov declined to reveal…

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China’s exports and imports fell quicker than predicted in May, heightening concerns about the fragile economic recovery. Global demand, especially from developed economies, remained weak. In the first quarter, the world’s second-largest economy grew faster than predicted because of strong services consumption and a backlog of orders from COVID-19. Still, factory output has slowed as rising interest rates and inflation constrain US and European demand. On Wednesday, China’s Customs Bureau reported that exports fell 7.5% year-on-year in May, significantly higher than the 0.4% expected and the steepest drop since January. Imports fell 4.5%, slower than predicted at 8.0%, and April’s…

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Atos (ATOS.PA), the troubled French IT consulting giant that plans to split into two public firms, said it expected sales at its loss-making arm Tech Foundations to bottom out in 2024. The corporation, which will conduct an investor day later in the day, said Tech Foundations, which regroups Atos’ IT consulting legacy activities, would produce roughly 5 billion euros ($5.34 billion) in 2024 and grow from there two years earlier than it predicted in 2022. In 2025, Tech Foundations’ free cash flow before interest and tax is predicted to turn positive, and its operating margin is forecast to reach 6%…

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Following Activision’s veto, Microsoft’s Smith meets the UK finance minister. Microsoft’s (MSFT.O) president met Britain’s finance minister on Tuesday and said he would work with regulators to get UK permission for its $69 billion acquisition of “Call of Duty” creator Activision Blizzard (ATVI.O). The two organizations were incensed after British competition officials vetoed gaming’s biggest-ever merger in April, questioning if the country was still accessible to tech giants. Microsoft appealed, and its president, Brad Smith, visited British finance minister Jeremy Hunt in London on Tuesday, a government source said. In London, Smith said, “I’m in search of solutions.” We’ll address…

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Ukraine declared Russia a terrorist state at the highest U.N. court on Tuesday as proceedings began in a case involving Moscow’s support of pro-Russian separatists accused of downing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014. Since Moscow invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, lawyers representing Ukraine and Russia convened for the first time at the International Court of Justice (World Court). Each side sent dozens of lawyers. The ICJ’s 16 judges began hearing Ukraine’s claim that Moscow violated a U.N. anti-terrorism convention by equipping and funding pro-Russian troops that shot down the airliner, killing all 298 passengers and crew. Ukraine has…

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On Tuesday, millions of gallons of water broke through a large hole in a Russian-controlled dam, flooding a swathe of the combat zone in southern Ukraine, endangering scores of communities, and cutting off the water supply. Ukraine and Russia blamed each other for the breach. The Nova Kakhovka dam, which holds as much water as Utah’s Great Salt Lake, delivers water to Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula, acquired by Russia in 2014, and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear reactor, both under Russian control. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, tweeted that “no immediate nuclear safety risk at (the) plant” in southern…

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On Tuesday, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said it was too early to evaluate the dam’s collapse in southern Ukraine, but Russia’s incursion caused it. An explosion breached the Kakhovka dam in Russian-controlled southern Ukraine, which Ukraine and Russia blamed on one other. “I heard about the dam explosion and flooding. “It’s too early to make any kind of meaningful assessment of the details,” Cleverly told Reuters while touring Hrebelky near Kyiv after meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday. “But it’s worth remembering that Russia’s unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine is the only reason this is an issue.” “The…

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Yoon calls the U.S.-South Korea alliance “nuclear.” In response to North Korea’s escalating military threat, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared on Tuesday that the country’s alliance with the U.S. is now “nuclear-based.” Yoon was alluding to his April meetings with U.S. President Joe Biden on Washington’s preparedness to share its nuclear preparations with Seoul in the case of war with nuclear-armed North Korea. “North Korea is enhancing its nuclear and missile capabilities, and has legislated the use of nuclear weapons,” Yoon stated on Memorial Day. At their Washington summit, the two leaders agreed to bolster U.S. extended deterrence,…

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Tony Tang, BlackRock Inc.’s (BLK.N) head of China business, leaves the asset manager after helping build its operations in the world’s second-largest economy. The world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, told Reuters Tang “has expressed an interest in exploring opportunities” outside the organization. According to BlackRock, Susan Chan, its deputy head of Asia Pacific and head of Greater China, directly oversees its China onshore business. Tang, a former Chinese securities regulatory officer, became BlackRock’s China business chief in 2019 and has been one of CEO Larry Fink’s senior aides. Tang didn’t immediately respond to Reuters. As China head, BlackRock launched a…

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Apple Inc. (AAPL.O) is expected to reveal a mixed-reality headset at its annual software developer conference on Monday, its first major product category launch since the Apple Watch nine years ago. Apple will compete with Facebook-owned Meta Platforms (META.O) in a market full of devices that have yet to catch on with consumers. Apple’s headset may combine a live video stream with a virtual world on its screens, like Meta’s Quest Pro from last year and Quest 3 last week. Apple’s headset is said to have a high-resolution display and hand-tracking for operation without a controller. However, it may cost…

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PM says Belgium is examining Russia’s weapons usage. On Monday, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said that Belgium would ask Ukraine to clarify accusations that pro-Ukrainian forces used Belgian firearms to battle Russian troops within Russia’s western border. The Washington Post reported Saturday that anti-Kremlin fighters who launched a cross-border attack from Ukraine into the Russian Belgorod region last month used tactical vehicles the US and Poland gave to Ukraine and rifles made in Belgium and the Czech Republic. “Our defence ministry and its intelligence agencies have started an investigation and are asking for information to determine what has…

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On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said OPEC+ is vital to energy market stability. OPEC+ pumps 40% of global crude and has decreased by 3.66 million barrels daily, 3.6% of global demand. “OPEC+ includes Russia. “The OPEC+ format continues its work; there are common agreements that, of course, everyone will follow,” Peskov told a daily press briefing. “Of course, this format retains its importance and significance for ensuring stability in international energy markets.” After seven hours of meetings on Sunday, OPEC+, which includes the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies led by Russia, voted to cut output objectives…

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Even as Israel discusses how to regulate ChatGPT, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman projected a “huge role” for Israel in addressing A.I. threats on Monday. He is one of the I.T. world’s leading voices calling for A.I. rules. Altman will visit Jordan, Qatar, UAE, India, and South Korea this week after meeting with parliamentarians and national leaders across Europe last month to discuss A.I.’s potential and risks. He is in Israel, which Stanford University puts in the top five countries for machine learning systems and A.I. talents. “I have been very heartened as I have been doing this trip around the…

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On Monday, Israel’s energy minister opposed a U.S.-mediated Saudi civilian nuclear program. In March, the New York Times claimed that Riyadh’s normalization arrangement with Israel required such a program. However, Saudi and U.S. officials have not confirmed. Israel has long warned that potentially hostile neighbors could exploit civilian nuclear energy and other initiatives developed under the 1970 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as cover for covert bomb-making, citing Iraq and Libya. Naturally, Israel discourages such practices. Israel Katz told Ynet TV, “I don’t think Israel should agree to such things.” Last Monday, Israel demanded consultation from Washington on any U.S.-Saudi accord compromising…

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PwC Australia names scores of government tax plan leakers. On Monday, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Australia listed at least 67 current and former personnel involved in the leak of classified government tax plans in an unpublished letter to MPs ahead of parliamentary hearings later this week. PwC, one of the “big four” audit and advisory firms, is trying to contain the fallout from a scandal in Australia, where a former partner who was consulting with the federal government on new tax laws targeting corporate tax avoidance shared confidential drafts with colleagues to drum up business worldwide. In May, 144 partially redacted emails…

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Turkish lira falls despite well-regarded finance minister. In thin Asian trading on Monday, Turkey’s currency fell roughly 1% to 21 per dollar after the appointment of highly regarded Mehmet Simsek as finance minister. Last week, the lira hit 21.8 to the dollar. Between 2009 and 2018, Simsek, 56, acquired the markets’ trust as finance and deputy prime minister. He stated Sunday the country must return to “rational ground.” His nomination indicates that President Tayyip Erdogan’s newly elected government is shifting away from unorthodox interest rate cuts in the face of soaring inflation that sank the lira. “The hope is that…

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On Monday, Norwegian aquaculture service business Froy (FROY.OL) and Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) announced a cash offer of 6.6 billion Norwegian crowns ($598.8 million). GSAM said it would buy a 72% stake in Froy from a salmon farmer Salmar (SALM.OL) unit for 76.50 crowns per share and bid for the balance at the same price. Froy’s share price rose almost 50% to 72 crowns on Friday after Salmar announced it sought purchasers in January. Froy’s well boats and other vessels transport fish farmers and aquaculture enterprises. “Wellboats and service vessels are vital to enabling best-in-class farming practices and Froy…

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After strong U.S. jobs data, Asian traders priced in longer-term higher interest rates, strengthening the currency. After Chinese services activity rose, the Australian dollar recovered. The yuan gained too. Crude oil price increases supported the Canadian currency. After Friday’s payroll report revealed 339,000 public and private sector jobs added in May, exceeding the 190,000 anticipated by Reuters economists, Treasury yields rose, supporting the currency. As Tokyo 10-year U.S. Treasury yields rose more than three basis points to 3.727%, the dollar rose 0.11% to 140.135 yen. Friday’s dollar-yen rise was 0.84%. The euro fell 0.04% to $1.0702. While headline U.S. jobs…

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Stoltenberg expects a Swedish NATO deal following more negotiations. After meeting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg indicated a Sweden-NATO agreement might be completed in time for a summit in Lithuania next month. He also said Turkey, Sweden, and Finland would meet later this month to resolve Turkey and Hungary’s objections to Sweden’s NATO membership application. Erdogan met with Stoltenberg in Istanbul a week after extending his two-decade rule in an election. According to political observers, Erdogan, who tried to mediate between Russia and the West in the Ukraine war, was unlikely to decide on Sweden’s…

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A top executive said Friday, despite a weak global economy, Walmart (WMT.N) intends to double its foreign gross merchandise volume to $200 billion in five years. Walmart’s Cashi digital payments program in Mexico and Flipkart marketplace in India assess gross merchandise volume (GMV). The goal is lofty. At a meeting in Fayetteville, Arkansas, near Walmart International’s Bentonville headquarters, CEO Judith McKenna told investors, “The markets that we have today have plans to be able to get there.” Walmart CEO Doug McMillon attended a press conference and analysts meeting in Bentonville on Friday during the retailer’s annual shareholders meeting. Walmart International…

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On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed alarm about China’s refusal to discuss military crisis management, emphasizing that negotiations are necessary to avoid war. Due to disagreements over Taiwan’s sovereignty, spying, and South China Sea territorial disputes, the US-China relationship is at its lowest point in decades. Austin told Asia’s top security gathering, the Shangri-La Dialogue, that U.S. and Chinese defense and military chiefs must communicate to avert confrontation and promote stability in the Asia-Pacific. “I am deeply concerned that the PRC (People’s Republic of China) has been unwilling to engage more seriously on better mechanisms for crisis…

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Meta Platforms (META.O) CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the Quest 3, the company’s next-generation mixed reality headset, on Thursday as the business prepares for Apple to disrupt a market Meta has controlled. Zuckerberg said on Instagram before Meta’s annual gaming conference that the $499 headset will be 40% thinner than the company’s previous headset and feature color mixed reality, blends AR/VR features. Meta also stated it would cut the prices of its Quest 2 headsets and update their performance to improve user experience. Zuckerberg said the Quest 3’s Qualcomm chipset will double the Quest 2’s graphical performance. He promised more insights…

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In early Friday trade, SoftBank Group Corp (9984.T) shares rose 5% as the technology investor, contemplating an initial public offering of chip manufacturer Arm, was caught up in a semiconductor and artificial intelligence market frenzy. Since last week’s closing, the Japanese conglomerate’s tech portfolio-hit shares have gained 17%. Still, they are up only 6.4% year-to-date, compared to 172% for U.S. chipmaker Nvidia Corp (NVDA.O), an expected benefactor of AI investment, and 39% for the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index (.SOX). Since February, SoftBank crossed the psychological 6,000 yen mark on Friday. We believed SBG stock would rise ahead of the ARM…

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On the 15th round of the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee finals, 14-year-old Largo, Florida’s Dev Shah, spelled “psammophile,” an organism that thrives on sandy soils. He beat Arlington, Virginia, eighth-grader Charlotte Walsh, 14, who finished second despite misspelling “daviely,” a Scottish word for listlessly, in the 14th round. Shah, a Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School student, spelled “bathypitotmeter” properly and quickly in the 14th round, but spelling bee rules required one more word to win. Shah, who was named victor in a flurry of confetti and accompanied on stage by his parents and other relatives, receives $50,000 from E.W. Scripps…

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Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) announced Friday that it will sell battery-powered VW buses in North America starting in 2024, reintroducing the famous type after two decades. The ID’s full electricity. Buzz will also offer a longer variant with an 85 kWh battery and seven seats. The T4 VW bus left the US and Canada 20 years ago. “But the microbus—as the VW bus is known between New York and San Francisco—has retained its cult status right up to the present,” Volkswagen stated. Volkswagen stated its Hanover, Germany plant would build all ID. Buzz vehicles for North America and rapid charging stations can…

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Lufthansa’s (LHAG.DE) minority position in Italy’s loss-making ITA Airways fuels a wave of consolidation in Europe’s fragmented aviation business that might include mid-tier national carriers. The German group’s ability to make Alitalia’s successor viable will set the stage for large airline corporations to acquire more national carriers that have fallen prey to competition. “It’s further evidence that consolidation in the European airline industry is continuing and in my view necessary,” Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said of the deal last week. “Success depends on scale and the ability to combine the strength of our operations under one roof.” Portugal’s TAP, bailed…

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On Thursday, Nvidia Corp. CEO Jensen Huang said he feels “perfectly safe” depending on Taiwan for chip manufacturing. China’s military threats to Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own despite Taipei’s vehement objections, have raised fears among some corporations. Huang said his company’s next generation of goods would be made by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) (2330. TW), which makes Nvidia chips, and Nvidia (NVDA.O) would diversify. “When I was here, in all of our supply chain discussions, we feel perfectly safe,” Huang told reporters on the sidelines of a technology event in Taipei when questioned about the political…

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On Thursday, Kosovo’s president Vjosa Osmani said Serbia must stop destabilizing Kosovo to end the bloodshed in the north. “The challenge comes from Serbia, a country that still needs to come to terms with its past,” Osmani told Reuters on the margins of a European meeting in Moldova. The situation is tense, but we must restore the rule of law in Kosovo and recognize that Serbia’s denial of Kosovo’s sovereignty is a threat. Osmani claimed Serbia was aiding “illegal structures” in Kosovo to destabilize the country. “President Vucic needs to stop supporting criminal gangs if he truly wants peace,” she…

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On Thursday, the Financial Times reported that Canada’s second-largest pension fund, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), will close its Shanghai office and stop conducting private deals in China. The report said CDPQ is driving regional investment initiatives from Singapore and still has business interests in China. We’ve halted private investments and focused on liquid markets, most of our 2% portfolio exposure to China. “We expect this trend to continue,” CDPQ told the publication. Reuters requested comment from CDPQ. According to the Financial Times, Singapore’s national wealth fund GIC cut private China investments in February. Ontario Teachers’ Pension…

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According to sources, Chinese startup MiniMax, which develops AI solutions like Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s ChatGPT, is close to completing a $250 million fundraising valued at approximately $1.2 billion. The deal comes amid a global AI craze started by ChatGPT that has expanded to China, boosting artificial intelligence stocks and spurring domestic businesses like Alibaba (9988. HK), Huawei (HWT.UL), and Baidu (9888. HK) to introduce competing products. Two people, speaking anonymously, said MiniMax’s current fundraising attracted new investors like a Tencent-affiliated organization. MiniMax and Tencent (0700. HK) declined to comment to Reuters. Two others said Yan Junjie, SenseTime’s former vice president, established…

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On Thursday, a possible slowdown in U.S. interest rate hikes and the debt ceiling bill gaining a crucial vote boosted oil prices. Brent crude futures for August increased 55 cents, or 0.76%, to $73.15 a barrel by 0640 GMT, while WTI rose 46 cents, or 0.68%, to $68.55. On Wednesday, U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers hinted at a rate hike “skip” in June, reversing market expectations of a hike that might slow economic growth and lower oil demand. The U.S. House of Representatives suspension of the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling increased the odds of avoiding a catastrophic federal default. Brent fell…

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ByteDance’s short-video app On Wednesday, Douyin announced early talks with Dalian Wanda Group over its payments unit. According to Bloomberg, Wanda was in talks with ByteDance to sell its digital payments license for around 1 billion yuan ($144 million). However, talks could cut the price. A spokeswoman for Douyin, the Chinese counterpart of TikTok, declined to comment beyond confirming the preliminary negotiations. Wanda did not comment. Wanda is trying to boost cash while waiting for Chinese regulators to approve its Hong Kong IPO of Zhuhai Wanda Commercial Management Group Co. According to Reuters, Wanda Chairman Wang Jianlin, once China’s richest…

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Daiwa Securities Group Inc (8601.T) plans to hire more bankers and acquire boutique businesses to increase M&A consulting income by 50% in eight years to grow its US footprint. On Wednesday, the second-largest Japanese brokerage and investment bank expected global M&A revenue of at least 70 billion yen ($518.33 million) in March 2031, up from 46.7 billion in the previous year. “The M&A business is where we can expect big growth without using much of our assets,” CEO Seiji Nakata told a strategy briefing on Wednesday. “We plan to allocate our resources vigorously to expand mainly in the United States,…

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In an interview posted Wednesday, Chief Operating Officer Ralf Brandstaetter said Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) will not participate in a discount competition in China “at any price.” In Germany’s biggest market, Chinese electric carmakers are outperforming Western rivals. Volkswagen prioritizes sustainability. In an intranet interview, Brandstaetter remarked, “This means we won’t participate in the discount battle at any price.” We’re well-positioned. “We focus on profitability, not sales volume or market share,” he continued. Brandstaetter predicts the Chinese car market to rise from 22 million to 28–30 million by 2030. “If we achieve sales of more than 4 million vehicles in this environment…

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President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s legislation to raise the $31.4 trillion U.S. debt ceiling and cut federal spending passed an important hurdle late on Tuesday. They will be debated and voted on by the full House on Wednesday. The House Rules Committee approved full-chamber debate 7-6. Representatives Chip Roy and Ralph Norman opposed the bill. That vote emphasized the necessity for Democrats to help pass the package in the House, where Republicans have a 222-213 advantage. House approval sends the bill to the Senate. Before June 5, the Treasury Department could run out of funds for the…

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Chinese IT entrepreneurs want to “de-China” amid US-China tensions. As a result, the Chinese tech entrepreneur’s U.S. expansion is growing harder. Before 2019, Chinese companies in the U.S. faced a few substantial obstacles. However, after Washington sanctioned Huawei (HWT.UL), numerous Chinese enterprises set their headquarters abroad to avoid U.S. government scrutiny. Some mainland China I.T. business owners argue they need permanent residency or citizenship abroad to evade U.S. restrictions and biases against Chinese companies. Shenzhen-based Ryan, who didn’t reveal his family name for fear of repercussions in China, thinks his three-year-old software firm is ready to grow into the world’s…

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On Tuesday, Stellantis (STLAM.MI) CEO Carlos Tavares said the business needs one or two more major US battery factories to meet its manufacturing ambitions. Tavares told journalists at the opening a gigafactory in northern France that the Franco-Italian manufacturer would need more such operations in North America, where it has already confirmed two sites. Tavares noted that the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act had generated “very favourable” investment circumstances. Stellantis, which owns Fiat and Peugeot, aims to produce 400 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery cells by 2030. It has announced a factory in Canada, one in Indiana, and three European gigafactories with…

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Russia said it destroyed all eight of Ukraine’s largest drone strikes on Moscow on Tuesday, pushing the 15-month war to the capital. Before an expected Ukrainian counter-offensive, drone attacks on oil pipelines and even the Kremlin have intensified deep inside Russia. Drone debris damaged Leninsky Prospekt, a Stalin-era magnificent avenue, and western Moscow, where President Vladimir Putin lives. South-western Moscow residents reported loud explosions and the smell of petrol at 0200–0300 GMT. Some filmed a drone being shot down and smoke rising over Moscow. The Kremlin said Putin was briefed on the drone attacks early in the morning and that…

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After a debt ceiling deal lifted risk sentiment, the U.S. dollar fell versus a basket of other currencies on Tuesday but remained near a two-month top. The dollar index, which tracks the U.S. currency versus six major counterparts, lost 0.02% to 104.28, near its two-month high of 104.42 on Friday. The index will rise 2.5% this month. On Monday, a few hard-right Republican legislators said they would reject raising the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling. The resistance emphasizes the challenges Democratic President Joe Biden and top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy would face passing the package through the Republican-controlled House and Democratic-controlled…

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The U.S. debt agreement boosts Asian stocks. Asian stocks rose on Tuesday as investors hoped the world’s largest economy would avoid a severe debt default. After U.S. markets were closed on Monday for Memorial Day, MSCI’s broadest Asia-Pacific index outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) climbed 0.4% early Tuesday. The index is down 1.3% this month. The Nikkei market index (.N225) fell 0.28% after hitting a 33-year high on optimism over the U.S. debt deal and a weaker yen, which benefits exporters. Australian shares (.AXJO) rose 0.03%. China’s CSI300 Index fell 0.06%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index (.HSI) rose 0.31%. On Tuesday,…

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The Art of Branding: How to Create a Strong Brand Identity Build a strong brand identity by developing a brand strategy, creating a visual identity, and establishing brand values that resonate with your target audience. KEY TAKEAWAYS Brand identity plays a crucial role in today’s competitive landscape. The brand identity encompasses various components such as mission, vision, values, personality, and positioning. It is essential to understand and differentiate brand identity from brand image. Crafting a strong brand identity involves defining a mission, conducting market research, and creating a brand personality. Visual elements, including logos, colors, and typography, are important…

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Billionaires & Geopolitical Instability As geopolitical tensions continue to roil the world, the impact on global billionaires is becoming increasingly clear. From sudden market shifts to regulatory changes and even political upheaval, the risks are significant and the stakes are high. But as the world’s billionaires face mounting uncertainty, one question remains: can they weather the storm? Key takeaways: Geopolitical instability impacts the global economy and poses risks for billionaires. Billionaires must develop risk management strategies to mitigate these risks. They can diversify investments and use hedging strategies. Billionaires must recognize the broader impact of geopolitical events and help promote…

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Generational Impact on Billionaires In the dynamic world of billionaire-owned companies, the clash of generations sparks a symphony of innovation, challenges the status quo, and shapes the destiny of empires. Delve into the captivating realm where the clash of experience and the hunger for change collide, as we uncover the profound impact of generational differences on the success and transformation of these extraordinary enterprises. Key takeaways: Generational differences impact billionaire-owned companies significantly. Embracing diversity and inclusion is crucial for success. Cross-generational collaboration fosters innovation and growth. Continuous learning and development are essential for all generations. Open communication builds understanding and…

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Why Continuous Learning is Key to Success in Entrepreneurship Learn why continuous learning is important for entrepreneurs, and how to incorporate it into your daily routine. KEY TAKEAWAYS Continuous learning is important for entrepreneurs to stay ahead of the competition, make informed decisions, and identify new opportunities. Successful entrepreneurs continuously learn and adapt to changes in their industry. Learning from past experiences can help entrepreneurs make better decisions in the future. Continuous learning can help entrepreneurs analyze data, understand customer needs, and anticipate trends. Effective time management, low-cost or free resources, and embracing change can help entrepreneurs overcome barriers…

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The Ultimate Guide to Successfully Pitching Investors for Startup Capital Discover different ways to raise startup capital, from seeking investors and crowdfunding to bootstrapping your business and securing loans or grants. KEY TAKEAWAYS Startups need capital to launch and grow their businesses. Traditional funding options include venture capital, angel investors, and bank loans. Venture capital requires a strong pitch and meets specific criteria. Angel investors seek promising startups and look for specific qualities. Bank loans and lines of credit are possible but have criteria and challenges. Alternative funding options include crowdfunding, grants, and government programs. Crowdfunding platforms can help…

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On Monday, Russia said the Black Sea grain deal would end unless the U.N. honored its pledge to remove barriers to Russian grain and fertilizer exports. “If everything remains as it is, and apparently it will, then it will be necessary to proceed from the fact that it [the deal] is no longer functioning,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Nairobi. Last July, the UN agreed to support Russia with grain and fertilizer exports for three years. Lavrov stated that the deal was not being honored “at all.” Following Russia’s February 2022 invasion, the UN-Russia agreement allowed Ukraine to…

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On Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that his son would leave as his secretary due to “inappropriate” behavior after images of the son and other relatives presumably taken in jest caused an outcry. Shotaro Kishida, his secretary, resigned on Thursday owing to “inappropriate” behavior at the official house, Kishida told reporters. Last week, a magazine revealed images showing the younger Kishida and relatives posing as newscasters at the official home, including the prime minister’s podium. Opponents slammed them. The findings hurt Kishida, who was popular during the G7 summit in Hiroshima.

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After Erdogan’s re-election, the lira fell, and stocks rose. After President Tayyip Erdogan won Sunday’s presidential election, the lira fell to historic lows against the dollar, but stocks climbed. In early European trade, the lira fell to 20.065 per dollar, breaking Friday’s record low. With boom-and-bust cycles and high inflation, the lira has fallen 7% this year and more than 90% over the past decade. Since the 2021 currency crisis, Turkish authorities have become increasingly involved in foreign exchange markets, with daily swings becoming unrealistically small and largely weakening as FX and gold reserves depleted. “Erdogan’s victory has seen further…

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At a Mumbai event, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Indian government is monitoring inflation and will not relax. The government tracks inflation. All ground-level data is monitored. “Inflation is moderating,” she told reporters. Food costs, which make up roughly half of India’s consumer price basket, fell to an 18-month low of 4.7% in April from 5.66% in March. May inflation is expected to decrease toward the central bank’s medium-term target of 4%. Retail inflation was above the central bank’s 2%-6% target for much of 2022. Sitharaman said bank privatisations would continue as planned and that the Reserve Bank of…

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Shenzhou-16 will launch at the Chinese space station on May 30. China intends to land men on the moon before 2030, launching a new space race. The U.S. wants astronauts back on the moon by 2025. At a Monday news conference, Chinese Manned Space Agency Deputy Director Lin Xiqiang affirmed the goal but did not provide a timeframe. Lin also stated China would add a module to its crewed space station. On Tuesday, the Shenzhou 16 will carry a new three-person crew to the Tiangong station. First-time civilian crew member. The Communist Party’s armed wing, the People’s Liberation Army, has…

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Turkey’s Erdogan wins an electoral test of 20-year rule. President Tayyip Erdogan won a mandate to continue authoritarian policies that have polarized Turkey and increased its military might. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, his opponent, dubbed it “the most unfair election in years” but accepted the result. Kilicdaroglu’s 47.9% to Erdogan’s 52.1% result indicated a sharply divided nation. After a cost-of-living issue lowered Erdogan’s popularity, the opposition believed it had a good chance of unseating and reversing his policies. After rewriting domestic, economic, security, and international policies in the 85-million-person NATO member country, success bolstered his invincibility. Opponents who accused him of destroying…

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PwC Australia reorganizes board, suspends nine partners. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Australia ordered nine partners to take leave and restructured its governance board on Monday after a national crisis over the misuse of sensitive government tax plans. The “big four” firm is reeling after a former tax partner consulting on new anti-tax avoidance regulations shared sensitive drafts with colleagues to drum up business. In an open letter, acting chief executive Kristin Stubbins apologized on behalf of the firm for “sharing confidential government tax policy information.” It said nine partners were ordered to take leave. “This situation was simply inappropriate. “No words can…

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Russia bombs Kyiv for the 15th time in May. Russia began a new wave of air attacks on Kyiv early on Monday using drones and cruise missiles, with the military administration of the Ukrainian capital stating defense troops shot down more than 40 targets. Officials said Kyiv suffered no serious damage or casualties in Russia’s 15th air strike on the city in May and the second overnight attack of equal severity. “Another difficult night for the capital,” remarked Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko on Telegram. The heaviest drone barrage on Kyiv the night before killed one and injured several. Thirty-six In…

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Putin praised his “dear friend” Tayyip Erdogan, who won Turkey’s presidential election on Sunday. “The election victory was a natural result of your selfless work as the head of the Republic of Turkey, clear evidence of the support of the Turkish people for your efforts to strengthen state sovereignty and conduct an independent foreign policy,” Putin told Erdogan, according to the Kremlin. “We highly appreciate your personal contribution to the strengthening of friendly Russian-Turkish relations and mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas,” Putin added. Putin said he valued collaborative projects like Rosatom’s Akkuyu nuclear power facility in Turkey and his…

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After mediating a prisoner swap between Iran and Belgium, Iranian state media reported that Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said landed in Tehran on a two-day visit to discuss regional diplomatic and security matters. Oman has helped release some foreigners and dual nationalities from Iran as a Western intermediary. On Friday, Oman helped release a Belgian aid worker detained in 2022 and sentenced to 40 years in prison and 74 lashes for spying in return for an Iranian ambassador condemned to 20 years for a botched bomb attempt in France. However, dozens of foreigners and dual nationalities remain on espionage…

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Italy’s fire brigade is investigating why Venice’s major canal turned fluorescent green Sunday near the Rialto bridge. The department tweeted that the regional environmental protection agency got samples of the altered waters and is identifying the component that changed their color. According to Ansa, the Venice prefect has convened an emergency police meeting to investigate and consider countermeasures. In Italy, environmental activists have colored monuments, including Rome’s Trevi fountain, to protest fossil fuels. Unlike other examples, no activist group has claimed credit for Venice.

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Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Sarah Bianchi told Reuters that the U.S. would not hinge its decision on a “breakthrough” in U.S.-China trade relations. Bianchi said in an interview on Saturday after a ministerial conference of the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework negotiations that the Biden administration is not expecting a deal but will continue talking with China at various levels. The review is analytical. Bianchi said the inquiry would not “base-case any breakthrough in the trade relationship” with China. “We’re not assuming that will happen.” She said USTR is still reviewing industry and stakeholder input on the duties with the Commerce…

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North Dakota’s Republican governor to run for US president. According to a source, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum plans to run for president in 2024, joining a swelling field of Republicans seeking to unseat Donald Trump. The person said Burgum, serving his second term as the sparsely populated state’s top official, will announce his campaign on June 7 in Fargo. Governor’s office rejected the comment. Burgum, 66, sold his profitable software company to Microsoft Corp. in 2001. The person familiar with his intentions said he would likely portray himself as a classic conservative focused on the economy and national security,…

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Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kumar Dahal will visit India next week to boost ties with Narendra Modi. The visit will “further strengthen the age-old, multifaceted, and cordial relations between Nepal and India,” Nepal’s foreign ministry stated Saturday. Dahal’s first foreign travel since becoming prime minister in December 2022 is this one. Former prime ministers have visited India three times. Prachanda (fierce) Dahal, a 68-year-old former Maoist rebel leader, will meet President Droupadi Murmu and other senior Indian officials. Dahal’s visit continues the tradition of Nepali prime leaders visiting New Delhi after taking office, demonstrating the strong relations between the two…

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Russia urges the US: don’t lecture on nuclear deployments. Russia on Saturday downplayed U.S. President Joe Biden’s criticism of Moscow’s plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, saying Washington had done so for decades in Europe. On Thursday, Russia announced the first deployment of such weapons outside its borders since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said they were already moving. Biden called reports that Russia is deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus “extremely negative” on Friday. The State Department condemned Russian nuclear deployment. “It is the sovereign right of Russia and Belarus…

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APEC trade ministers agreed on Friday to support more inclusive and sustainable commerce, but Russia and China’s objections to Ukraine’s language prevented a joint statement. APEC host U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai gave a chair’s statement after two days of meetings in Detroit, emphasizing inclusivity, climate change, and sustainability. “We reaffirm our determination to deliver a free, open, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, inclusive and predictable trade and investment environment,” the statement said. The organization reaffirmed its support for the WTO-led rules-based multilateral trading system. “We will continue to work to ensure a level playing field to foster a favorable trade and…

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Michelin (MICP.PA) sold its Russia Tyre Manufacturing Company (MRTMC) and Camso CIS to Power International Tires, a Russian distributor, on Friday. The group said the local authorities-approved agreement would save 250 jobs, mostly at Michelin’s sole Russian plant in Davydovo. Michelin stated that transferring all employees to Power International Tire was impractical, so those who wanted to go may “under good conditions.” The French company opened its first production factory in Russia in 2004. However, after Moscow invaded Ukraine, it suspended industrial activities and exports to Russia last year. Michelin reported a 25% drop in first-quarter volumes in April due…

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On Friday, Norway’s $1.4 trillion wealth fund, the world’s largest stock market investor, said it would vote against oil majors Chevron (CVX.N) and ExxonMobil (XOM.N) CEOs and management on multiple emissions-related proposals. The fund stated on its website that Chevron CEO Mike K. Wirth and ExxonMobil CEO Darren W. Woods should not hold both jobs as chairmen of the boards. As of 2022, the Norwegian fund owned 0.86% of Chevron and 1.13% of ExxonMobil.

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The Yomiuri Daily newspaper stated without attribution that Japan and the U.S. might make a joint declaration on semiconductor and advanced technology cooperation on Friday. Yomiuri stated that Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura anU.S.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo would agree on the joint statement in Detroit, where Nishimura is attending the 2023 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting. At a time when Asia’s largest economy is becoming more assertive, thU.S.US is rallying friends to help it confront China in technology growth. Washington has restricted chipmaking technology exports to China, while Beijing has banned major infrastructure…

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Russia deploys Belarusian tactical nuclear weapons. Russia deployed tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus on Thursday, the first time since the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union. Belarus’ leader said the warheads were already on the way. The U.S. State Department blasted the deployment plan but said it would not change its policy on strategic nuclear weapons or see any signs Russia was planning to use one. After sending soldiers into Ukraine 15 months ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin claims the U.S. and its allies are waging a proxy war against Russia. Putin outlined the nuclear deployment plan in a March…

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Medtronic Plc (MDT.N) predicted annual earnings below Wall Street projections on Thursday, expecting a higher currency to continue lowering overseas sales. Medtronic expects a delayed earnings improvement this year due to high costs despite reorganization. Refinitiv IBES statistics predict a profit of $5 to $5.10 per share for fiscal year 2024, below analysts’ estimates of $5.20. However, Medtronic reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings due to a comeback in non-urgent surgical procedures delayed during the pandemic and robust demand for its heart and diabetes products. The Dublin-based firm earned $1.57 per share, beating analysts average expectation of $1.56. Medtronic will pay $738…

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Stellantis funds US startup Lyten to build lithium-sulfur batteries. On Thursday, Lyten and Stellantis (STLAM.MI) announced an investment to help the U.S. startup develop lithium-sulfur EV batteries, lightweight composite, and onboard sensing technologies. Stellantis Ventures, Stellantis’ venture capital arm, will invest in the world’s third-largest carmaker to simplify its supply chain and seek cleaner battery-electric vehicle (EV) technologies. The businesses stated that Lyten’s lithium-sulfur batteries don’t require nickel, cobalt, or manganese, resulting in a 60% smaller carbon footprint than current batteries. “Raw materials for lithium-sulfur batteries have the potential to be sourced and produced locally, in North America or Europe,…

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Embraer (EMBR3.SA) expressed “full support” for Pratt & Whitney as it confronts durability issues on its latest jet engines but said a separate business dispute with engine makers had prompted it to delay plans for a new turboprop plane. CEO Francisco Gomes Neto told reporters that Raytheon Technologies (RTX.N) unit Pratt & Whitney was working hard to fix premature wear issues that grounded certain jets. “I am personally involved; we recently visited them…” Gomes Neto told a Portuguese media briefing that Embraer jets were less affected than others. Pratt Whitney, Geared Turbofan engines power the third-largest planemaker’s E2 planes. Pratt…

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China’s Commerce Minister visits the US for an APEC meeting and meeting. Wang Wentao, China’s Minister of Commerce, will meet Gina Raimondo on Thursday after attending the 2023 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in the U.S. “The Chinese side will exchange views on China-U.S. relations and issues of common concern,” said Shu Jueting, Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson, at a routine press conference in Beijing. According to the Ministry of Commerce, Wang Wentao met with Johnson & Johnson, 3M, Dow, Merck, and Honeywell in Shanghai on Monday and told them, “China will continue to welcome U.S.-funded enterprises to develop in…

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The New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence agencies suspect Ukrainian spies or military intelligence planned a drone strike on the Kremlin this month. The newspaper said the attack appeared to be part of a succession of covert operations that have made U.S. authorities, Ukraine’s main military supplier, unhappy. The report stated that intercepted Russian and Ukrainian communications informed the U.S. assessment. The U.S. intercepted Ukrainian discussions in which authorities said they felt their government was responsible for the attack and Russian communications indicating it was not a false-flag operation by Russia. “We immediately said that the Kyiv regime was…

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Since Western sanctions over Ukraine disrupted Russia’s usual export routes, Russian customs data show that the UAE is a major gold trade hub. The documents show over 100 non-Russian entities that have handled Russian gold since Western markets barred imports from Moscow. Reuters received shipments from a commercial supplier, which may not include all exports. Transaction records often list shippers and traders, not refiners, jewelers, or investors. Companies engaged include: LONDON Customs data show a few Russian cargoes arrived in London after the Ukraine war but before Western import sanctions. In March and April 2018, U.S. bank JPMorgan (JPM.N) received…

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Border incursion proves Western influence in Ukraine. On Wednesday, the Kremlin said pro-Ukrainian fighters who raided a Russian border region this week used U.S. military weaponry, demonstrating the West’s expanding involvement in the Ukraine crisis. On Tuesday, the Russian military announced it had defeated terrorists who invaded Belgorod with armored vehicles the day before, killing more than 70 “Ukrainian nationalists” and forcing the rest back into Ukraine. It said it destroyed four armored vehicles and five pick-up trucks to thwart one of the greatest Ukrainian incursions into Russian territory since Moscow began its “special military operation” in Ukraine 15 months…

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Hong Kong’s securities regulator said its crypto licensing framework would include steps to protect ordinary investors as it rolls in tighter requirements for digital asset companies from June 1. After FTX’s bankruptcy last year, Hong Kong allowed retail cryptocurrency trading. All trading platforms and exchanges must apply for a license or face penalties and jail time. In a news conference on Tuesday, Keith Choi, interim head of intermediaries at the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), advised operators to screen retail traders from China, where crypto trading is outlawed. “Operators have the responsibility to comply with the laws and regulations in…

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On Wednesday, a top U.S. regulator said her office is investigating several major Bitcoin fraud instances, but there is too much. Christy Goldsmith Romero, one of five CFTC commissioners, said cryptocurrency issues comprise about 20% of the agency’s portfolio, including recent civil cases against Binance and FTX. “There’s just a lot of fraud in the space,” Goldsmith Romero said at a New York City Bar Association white-collar crime seminar. “There’s no way we can police all the fraud, but we’ve got to do something.” CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam wants more authority from lawmakers to regulate spot crypto markets. Goldsmith Romero…

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Despite Western opposition as the Ukraine war continued, Russia’s prime leader signed a package of agreements with China on Wednesday in Beijing, characterizing bilateral ties at an unprecedented high. The highest-ranking Russian official to visit Beijing since Moscow dispatched thousands of troops to Ukraine in February 2022, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin met with Premier Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping. The visit follows Russia and China’s heated response to the Group of Seven’s weekend declarations that singled them out on various topics, including Ukraine. With the Ukraine crisis in its second year and Russia increasingly feeling the weight of Western…

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Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd (0293. HK) fired three flight attendants after a passenger accused them of discriminating towards non-English speakers, triggering outrage from Chinese state media and Hong Kong’s leader to vow it wouldn’t happen again. Cathay apologized for the “widespread concern” created by its Sunday CX987 flight from Chengdu to Hong Kong. CEO Ronald Lam said the airline fired three flight attendants after an internal review. “I’d like to reiterate that Cathay Pacific takes a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to serious violations of company rules and ethics by individual employees and will not tolerate them,” Lam added. He also led…

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Yelp Inc (YELP.N) shares rose 10% in premarket trade Tuesday after activist investor TCS Capital Management advised the service-recommendation site to sell or merge with online services business Angi Inc (ANGI.O). TCS Capital, a top Yelp stakeholder with over 4%, called the firm “shockingly undervalued.” “As a former board member and longtime investor in ANGI, I believe that a Yelp and ANGI combination would yield enormous revenue synergies and cost savings that could ultimately double the value of Yelp’s shares,” TCS Capital founder Eric Semler wrote in a letter. Semler advised selling Yelp for at least $70 per share, more…

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On Tuesday, a source claimed Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.’s (9988. HK) cloud unit began cutting 7% of its personnel to prepare for an IPO. The insider stated the cloud unit is offering severance. Alibaba didn’t respond to Reuters’ request for comment. Earlier this month, the Chinese digital behemoth announced IPO and fund-raising ambitions for four business units, including logistics subsidiary Cainiao. In addition, China’s biggest cloud provider will be listed next year. Following a two-year governmental onslaught on China’s internet sector, Alibaba announced intentions to split into six units earlier this year. Alibaba’s cloud division earned 18.6 billion yuan ($2.69…

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The FTSE 100 fell on Tuesday due to uncertainty about the U.S. debt settlement, although BT Group climbed as billionaire Patrick Drahi increased his position. After Drahi raised his shareholding to 24.5%, BT (BT.L) climbed 1.8%. Investors worried about the U.S. debt ceiling, so the internationally-focused FTSE 100 (.FTSE) fell 0.2%. Pennon Group Plc (PNN.L) shares fell 3.6% after water sector regulator Ofwat announced an enforcement probe into the water firm’s leakage performance, lowering the mid-cap FTSE 250 (.FTMC) by 0.1%. .FTUB6510 declined 0.8%. Cranswick Plc (CWK.L) rose 2.0% after the meat manufacturer announced a higher yearly profit due to…

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Qantas Airways (QAN.AX) anticipated a record annual profit. On Tuesday, they increased its share buyback scheme by up to A$100 million ($67.83 million), courting demands from a workers’ union to repay billions in government epidemic help. Underpinned by travel demand and fuel price reduction, Australia’s flagship carrier forecasts an underlying profit before tax of A$2.43 billion to A$2.48 billion for fiscal 2023, slightly better than a Refinitiv estimate of A$2.40 billion. The expected profit exceeds the carrier’s 2018 record of A$1.60 billion by approximately A$850 million. The Transport Workers Union (TWU), suing Qantas for firing nearly 1,700 ground personnel during…

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On Monday, Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O) co-founder Bill Gates said the technology race to win is developing the best artificially intelligent agent to disrupt search engines, productivity, and online shopping sites. “You’ll never go to a search site again,” he remarked. “You’ll never go to Amazon.” At AI Forward 2023, hosted by Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) and SV Angel in San Francisco, Gates said it would surprise him if Microsoft were not in the race, even though there was a 50% chance a company would win. Amazon, Google, and Microsoft did not immediately respond to demands for comment. Gates praised…

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Intel details future AI chips as the company alters direction. As it alters its strategy to compete with Nvidia Corp (NVDA.O) and Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD.O), Intel Corp (INTC.O) revealed new details on a 2025 AI processor on Monday. Intel announced its “Falcon Shores” chip would feature 288 gigabytes of memory and enable 8-bit floating point processing during a supercomputing conference in Germany on Monday. As artificial intelligence models like ChatGPT grows, firms need increasingly powerful CPUs. As Intel shifts tactics to catch up to Nvidia, which leads the AI processor market, and AMD, which is slated to rival…

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Microsoft defeats gamers’ US court challenge to $69 billion Activision acquisition. Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) avoided an early legal hurdle in its $69 billion acquisition of “Call of Duty” videogame producer Activision Blizzard Inc (ATVI.O) when a U.S. judge on Friday refused to let gamers in a private complaint to stop the acquisition preliminarily. Microsoft was sued in December by private plaintiffs in California federal court to halt the acquisition, which they claimed anti-competitive. In a late Friday night order, U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in San Francisco federal court stated the video gamers had not proven they would be…

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On Monday, an Indian appeals tribunal upheld insolvency proceedings against cash-strapped airline Go First, making it harder for lessors to repossess their aircraft. At least three leasing businesses, including GY Aviation Lease and SMBC Aviation Capital, contested a tribunal order awarding Go Airlines (India), known as Go First, bankruptcy protection earlier this month. The airline blamed its financial problems on Pratt & Whitney engine issues, which grounded nearly half its Airbus (AIR.PA) A320 neo aircraft. U.S. engine maker calls claims “without merit.” On Monday, the appeals tribunal said the National Company Law Tribunal would decide if lessors who canceled their…

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The Banking Times reported on Monday that Credit Suisse AG (CSGN.S) workers are prepared to sue the Swiss banking regulator for over $400 million in bonuses canceled after UBS Group AG (UBSG.S) rescued the troubled institution. The paper said Credit Suisse’s top management has frequently urged Quinn Emanuel and Pallas, legal firms suing Swiss regulator Finma on behalf of AT1 bond investors, to represent them. Reuters contacted Credit Suisse, Finma, Quinn Emanuel, and Pallas. The Swiss regulator’s March takeover made $18 billion of Credit Suisse’s Additional Tier 1 (AT1) debt worthless, startling markets and litigators. The deal’s reversing bondholders’ debt…

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Beijing chastises Japan, Britain, and the ‘anti-China’ G7 summit. Chinese state media After Beijing summoned Japan’s envoy and blasted Britain in response to G7 summit statements in Hiroshima, Global Times labeled the G7 an “anti-China workshop” on Monday. On Saturday, a joint declaration singled out China on Taiwan, maritime claims, economic pressure, and human rights, highlighting the tensions between Beijing and the rich nations, including the U.S. “The U.S. is pushing hard to weave an anti-China net in the Western world,” Global Times said in an editorial titled “G7 has descended into an anti-China workshop” on Monday. “This is not…

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On Monday, Nvidia Corp (NVDA.O) announced a partnership with the University of Bristol to build a supercomputer to compete with Intel Corp (INTC.O) and Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD.O). Nvidia makes the most GPUs for AI. ChatGPT used Nvidia GPUs. Nvidia’s GPU processors are frequently paired with Intel or AMD CPUs, which have dominated for decades. This year, Nvidia debuted its Arm Ltd.-based Grace CPU processor. At a supercomputing conference in Germany on Monday, Nvidia unveiled the development of Isambard 3, a Grace CPU-only machine, with British researchers and HPE.N. Climate science, drug discovery, and other studies will use the…

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After a pleasant phone discussion on Sunday, as the president flew back to Washington, President Joe Biden and House Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy will address the debt ceiling on Monday. After the call, McCarthy told reporters at the U.S. Capitol that staff-level talks would resume later Sunday. McCarthy stated, “Our teams are discussing today and we’re planning (sic) to have a meeting tomorrow. It’s improved. So yes.” A White House spokesman confirmed Monday’s meeting but gave no time. After returning from Japan late Sunday night, Biden claimed the McCarthy call went well. Biden claimed it went well. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”…

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On Saturday, the Italian insurance Unipol Gruppo (UNPI.MI) announced a partnership with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to connect flood victims in northern Italy to the Internet, aiding rescue efforts. Torrential rains in eastern Emilia-Romagna killed 14 people, damaged billions of euros, and impacted agriculture hard. Thirty-six thousand people were displaced, while those in waterlogged areas lost power. In addition, weather and phone line issues hinder rescue efforts. Under the agreement, Unipol will provide rescuers, hospitals, and the public with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet terminals. SpaceX’s satellites prioritize Emilia-Romagna and boost coverage. “SpaceX, Starlink, and Tesla are happy to help Italy and…

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According to a Friday filing with the U.S. election regulator, Republican U.S. Senator Tim Scott has entered the 2024 presidential race in a long-shot gamble that a message of unity and optimism will still appeal in a party where many people want a bare-knuckled war. Scott, the lone Black Republican in the Senate, uses his childhood as proof that America is still a place of possibility. His cheery demeanor contrasts with other declared and prospective contenders like former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who have depicted the U.S. as a decaying nation needing rescue from a corrupt…

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Friday’s RBI statistics supplement revealed that India’s foreign exchange reserves (INFXR=ECI) climbed for a third week to $599.53 billion, their highest level since early June. $3.55 billion more than last week. Reserves rose $11.7 billion in two weeks. The central bank intervenes in spot and futures markets to stop rupee runs. Valuation fluctuations also affect FX reserves. REUTERS REPORTED THAT the RBI’s repeated intervention to shore up reserves tests numerous foreign banks’ positive rupee view earlier this week, citing treasury officials and analysts. The currency lost 0.4% in the foreign reserves week due to dollar index strength. Local units traded…

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G7 countries shouldn’t compete on renewables. On Friday, a prominent European diplomat said the Group of Seven (G7) affluent nations should collaborate to access technologies and acquire vital minerals for a green transition, establishing manufacturing capacity rather than rivalry. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted decades-long energy supply systems, the G7 is boosting its green technology push. The group also seeks to reduce China’s dominance in vital mineral supply. “Despite all geopolitical difficulties, the clean energy transition is accelerating,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a G7 leaders’ summit in Hiroshima on Friday. “Now that the G7 are…

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On Friday, EU industry chief Thierry Breton reminded TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew that the Chinese-owned social network still needed to comply with EU rules. “I told him that, as of now, there is still a lot of room for improvement, in terms of having more content moderation, avoiding excesses, guaranteeing a safe use of data, particularly the data of our children,” Breton told France 2 television. Over security concerns, Britain, the US, and numerous EU countries have banned TikTok. Last month, the EU identified 19 powerful online platforms, including TikTok, that will be subject to the Digital Services Act…

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Brazil’s Finance Minister Fernando Haddad warned that the new government may delay its inflation target. “I think this improvement is to be made,” he told CNN. So maybe now’s the time.” Haddad underlined his preference for “a continuous inflation target” over a calendar year-based one, claiming only Brazil and Turkey adopt the latter. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wants higher inflation targets and looser monetary policy. The central bank targets 3.25% inflation in 2023, 3% in 2024 and 2025, and 1.5 percentage points tolerance. In the 12 months through April, inflation was 4.18%, and private economists estimate 6.03% this year.…

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On Friday, China’s President Xi Jinping outlined an ambitious plan to assist Central Asia development, from developing infrastructure networks to promoting trade without “external interference.” At the China-Central Asia Summit in northwest China, Xi said China is ready to coordinate development strategies with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to modernize all six countries. “The world needs a Central Asia that is stable, prosperous, harmonious, and well-connected,” Xi remarked. Xi advised the six countries to fight “external interference” in regional countries’ internal affairs and “colour revolutions” and to zero-tolerate terrorism, separatism, and extremism. “China is ready to help Central Asian…

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On Thursday, a source said Lazard Ltd. (LAZ.N) CEO Ken Jacobs would step down and be replaced by Peter Orszag, who heads the investment bank’s financial advising section. Jacobs resigned after Lazard announced a first-quarter deficit due to slow dealmaking. Lazard aims to cut 10% of its personnel and expects a rocky rest of the year. Lazard’s market valuation is slightly over $3 billion after losing 17% this year. During the past decade, it has lost market share to emerging boutique advising firms like Centerview Partners, Evercore, and PJT Partners Inc (PJT.N) and fallen in league table rankings. Lazard senior…

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In July, NATO leaders will adopt thousands of pages of secret military plans that would reveal for the first time since the Cold War how the alliance would respond to a Russian attack. For decades, NATO has fought smaller wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and believed post-Soviet Russia no longer posed an existential threat. The action marks a major turnaround. However, with Europe’s worst war since 1945 raging just beyond its borders in Ukraine, the alliance is warning that it must have all planning before a battle with a major enemy like Moscow. “The fundamental difference between crisis management and…

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China’s envoy to Ukraine advocated peace talks. According to China’s foreign ministry, Beijing’s special envoy visited Kyiv earlier this week and urged all sides to create circumstances for peace negotiations. The foreign ministry statement said special envoy for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the foreign minister, and other state leaders in Kyiv on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss a political settlement to the Ukraine-Russia conflict. “China is willing to promote the international community to form the greatest common denominator for resolving the Ukrainian crisis, and make its own efforts to stop the fighting, (establish a)…

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Micron Technologies Inc. (MU.O) stated Wednesday that it would invest up to 500 billion yen ($3.70 billion) in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) technologies over five years with Japanese government funding. The latest extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) chipmaking technologies can mass-produce 1-gamma chips for image processing networks. The first semiconductor company to produce EUV on the 1-gamma node is Micron in Taiwan and Japan in 2025. Last year, the U.S. memory chip firm began scale manufacturing its new high-capacity, low-power 1-beta DRAM chips in Hiroshima.Off-DRAM chips lose memory. Japan is striving to rebuild its chip sector, which has shrunk to 10% from…

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Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud computing business of Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN.O), announced on Thursday that it will invest 1.06 trillion rupees ($13 billion) in India by 2030 to meet rising demand. AWS said its latest investment would construct cloud infrastructure in India and support over 100,000 full-time employees. In 2016, the business opened a data center in Mumbai; in 2022, it opened one in Hyderabad. AWS stated that by 2030, it will invest $16.4 billion in India. Storage, robotics, and AI are among the 200+ cloud services. Amazon’s cloud division invests in global connectivity. For example, it pledged $6…

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On Wednesday, President Xi Jinping told his Kazakh counterpart that China wishes to expand cooperation with Kazakhstan in “prosperity and adversity.” As relations with the West deteriorate, China will host an in-person Central Asian meeting this week. As Moscow invests in the Ukraine war, former Soviet republics Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan seek alternative investors. Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was the first of the five Central Asian leaders to arrive in Xian for the meeting. China and Kazakhstan should “promote the construction of a China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future featuring friendship from generation to generation, a high degree…

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Target Corp. (TGT.N) anticipated a second-quarter sales decrease and a profit below Wall Street projections on Wednesday as shoppers shun non-essentials like gadgets and home items due to rising pricing. On Wednesday, the big-box retailer’s shares sank 3% in premarket trade, while Walmart (WMT.N) lost 1%. Target forecast adjusted profit between $1.30 and $1.70 per share, below current quarter projections of $1.93. It predicted a low-single-digit fall in comparable sales compared to Refinitiv’s 0.25% growth. “Right now (the American consumer is) spending more due to inflation, saving less and delaying major purchases,” Chief Growth Officer Christina Hennington said in a…

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Japan subsidizes the Samsung chip plant. A source with direct knowledge of the situation said Japan is arranging subsidies of up to 15 billion yen ($110 million) for Samsung Electronics Co (005930. KS)’s proposed chip factory near Tokyo. In late March, Reuters reported that Samsung, the world’s largest memory chip producer, would build the facility with its first chip packaging test line near its research and development center in Yokohama. The IT firm’s investment would ease tensions between Japan and South Korea as the US wants its allies to work together to resist China’s growing semiconductor and technology power. The…

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On Wednesday, Commerzbank (CBKG.DE) reported a better-than-expected first-quarter net profit. The quarter’s net profit of 580 million euros ($638.46 million) compared to 298 million euros a year earlier. A Commerzbank consensus projection predicted 481 million euros in profit. The bank expects “upside potential” in net interest income this year. Commerzbank, one of Germany’s largest banks, is slashing thousands of jobs and hundreds of locations to cut costs and boost profitability. Higher interest rates boosted first-quarter earnings for many banks. Commerzbank returned to the DAX index last year after two years of profit. After a rescue during the financial crisis over…

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On Wednesday, VinFast’s creator predicted it would break even by 2024. Pham Nhat Vuong, chairman of Vingroup (VIC.HM) and founder of VinFast, told investors at the company’s annual general meeting that Vinfast will debut an EV-pickup truck and a “mini car” in the future. VinFast said earlier this month that it would list in the US by merging with Black Spade Acquisition Co (BSAQ.N), a SPAC. According to its website, Hong Kong-based SPAC Black Spade listed on the NYSE in July 2021 with a two-year plan to merge with an entertainment company. VinFast, which wants to sell electric automobiles in…

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Indian shares fall on profit booking amid results rush. Indian markets dipped on Wednesday as investors booked profits after a 5% surge in the benchmark Nifty 50 in fiscal 2024 and weak global cues amid U.S. debt ceiling tensions. The S&P BSE Sensex (.BSESN) declined 0.16% to 61,834.03, and the Nifty 50 (.NSEI) fell 0.14% to 18,260.35 at 9:48 a.m. IST. Eight of the 13 key sectors indices fell, with high-weightage financials (.NIFTYFIN) and IT (.NIFTYIT) down 0.3% and 0.6%, respectively. “The market is witnessing profit booking, especially in heavyweights from higher levels,” said Motilal Oswal Financial Services head of…

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Gary Nagle told the Bank of America conference in Barcelona on Tuesday that Glencore (GLEN.L) is a “distant second” to buying Teck Resources’ (TECKb.TO) coal business. Teck rejected the Swiss miner and trader’s $22.5 billion bid to merge the two companies, instead separating its copper and coal businesses. After failing to get shareholder support, the Vancouver-based miner had to reject its initial company separation proposal in April and restructure it for a “simpler and more direct” split. Glencore would merge and spin off its thermal coal and Teck’s steelmaking coal businesses. “Doing the full deal is the best offer for…

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In prepared remarks on Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will likely declare that the debt limit dispute is already hurting the U.S. economy by raising borrowing prices and debt. Yellen will remind Washington community bankers of the 2011 “eleventh-hour brinkmanship” over the debt ceiling that led to the first U.S. credit rating drop. “Time’s up. “Every day Congress does not act, we are experiencing increased economic costs that could slow down the U.S. economy,” Yellen said at an Independent Community Bankers of America event. “The U.S. economy is at risk. Millions of Americans’ livelihoods do. Time is short. Congress should…

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After several books and movies about China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown were pulled from library shelves, Hong Kong’s leader stated on Tuesday that public libraries must verify materials don’t infringe on local laws. Private bookshops sell these books. “If they want to buy, they can buy,” Hong Kong’s chief executive John Lee told reporters about June 4 books and documentaries being removed from public libraries. “What libraries need to do is to ensure that there’s no breach of any laws in Hong Kong, including of course, copyrights etc., and also if they spread any kind of messages that are not in…

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Russian officials on Monday condemned French President Emmanuel Macron’s claims that Moscow was becoming subservient to China, saying Western countries must adapt to a world dominated by Moscow’s connections to Beijing. Macron’s interview with l’Opinion, in which he denounced the Kremlin’s isolation after it invaded Ukraine 14 months earlier, drew Russian condemnation. “(Russia) has de facto started a form of vasallisation with China and has lost access to the Baltic that was critical to it as it has precipitated the decision by Sweden and Finland to join Nato,” Macron told the daily. “This was unthinkable two years ago.” The polemic…

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China’s April industrial output and retail sales growth missed expectations, suggesting the economy lost impetus at the start of the second quarter and putting pressure on policymakers to stabilize the post-COVID rebound. As both its domestic and export development engines remain anemic, Tuesday’s report, which also showed a decrease in property market investment, offers little to assuage fears about the world’s second-largest economy. Industrial output rose 5.6% in April from a year earlier, up from 3.9% in March, according to NBS data. It was the fastest growth rate since September 2022, although a Reuters survey of economists expected 10.9%. Retail…

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The White House said Monday that Russia and Iran are expanding an unprecedented defense relationship that will help Moscow prolong its war in Ukraine and threaten Iran’s neighbors. In August, Iran sent Russia over 400 one-way attack drones, national security adviser John Kirby claimed. Kirby told reporters, “This is about a burgeoning defense relationship” that allows Russia to kill more Ukrainians and Iran to stockpile military assets and threaten its neighbors. He stated Iran is mostly helping Russia get powerful drones. Kirby said the US would announce more designations targeting Russia-Iran military cooperation.

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On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron told TF1 that Ukraine’s fighter aircraft pilots could be trained in France immediately. Macron denied discussing warplanes with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during his weekend visit to France. “Airplanes are not discussed. Missiles, yes. He mentioned training. “There are no taboos” about Ukraine pilots practicing aboard French jets, he said. Zelenskiy delivered his nightly video address from a train returning him to Kyiv from London on Monday, saying Britain and Poland have joined a coalition to train Ukrainian pilots on sophisticated Western aircraft. Britain, yes. Poland yeah. “France and others will join,” he said.

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Exxon settles Indonesia torture case that ousted SEC officer. Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) resolved a long-running human rights complaint with Indonesian villagers who accused its soldiers guarding a natural gas site of murder and torture on Monday. The parties settled the 2001 dispute in a Washington, D.C., federal court filing. Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll lawyer Agnieszka Fryszman, representing Indonesian villagers, said the terms remain private. Exxon Mobil’s spokeswoman stated the settlement “brings closure for all parties.” After a U.S. judge voiced concerns about Oh’s actions while defending Exxon at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, Oh abruptly resigned as…

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Envision Healthcare Corp. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday. In a court filing, the U.S. medical provider projected assets and liabilities between $1 billion and $10 billion. AMSURG, which oversees ambulatory surgery clinics, and Envision Physician Services would be separately held under a restructuring assistance agreement for $7.7 billion in financial obligations, the business said. Envision’s AMSURG business will buy surgery centers for $300 million and cancel intercompany loans. It said the corporation would extinguish all debt save a revolving credit arrangement, deleveraging $5.6 billion.

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At the annual Choose France conference, which will be held in Versailles on Monday, President Emmanuel Macron will meet with world business leaders like Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla. They are expected to make record foreign investment pledges for France. At this conference, the president may defend his pro-business reform effort and redirect focus to his advocacy for a lower carbon industry, such as electric vehicles, which has helped boost his popularity after a controversial proposal to raise the French retirement age. Executives at the Versailles gathering outside Paris have pledged 13 billion euros ($14 billion), the biggest since Macron…

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On Monday, the Nikkei business newspaper revealed that North Korean hackers had stolen $721 million in Bitcoin assets from Japan since 2017. The Nikkei stated that it represents 30% of global losses. The news follows a Saturday declaration by Group of Seven finance ministers and central bank governors supporting efforts to combat state-sponsored cybercrime, including crypto-asset theft. North Korea stole $2.3 billion in cryptocurrencies from businesses between 2017 and 2022, Elliptic found for the Japanese publication.

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The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) issued “notices of suspicion” of theft to tycoon Dmytro Firtash and company executives on Monday. Reuters did not immediately hear back from Firtash’s Vienna-based agent. The SBU and the Economic Security Bureau (BEB) discovered a “large-scale scheme” to steal $485 million of fuel from Ukraine’s gas transportation infrastructure. Ukraine has been opposing Russia’s invasion and reducing business people’s political power since the fall of the USSR. Last June, Ukraine sanctioned Firtash for selling titanium materials to Russian military companies. Firtash refused them. Ukrainian businessman Firtash was indicted in the US for bribery and racketeering.…

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British American Tobacco (BATS.L) named finance director Tadeu Marroco CEO Monday, succeeding Jack Bowles, who retired after four years. Marroco joined the board in 2019. Bowles joined the board in 2019 and led Lucky Strike and Dunhill’s vape and e-cigarette restructuring. “Having been at the center of this strategy, I am convinced that this is the right strategic path for BAT,” Marroco said. The company named Javed Iqbal as acting financial director, while Marroco was replaced. BAT and a subsidiary pleaded guilty last month to conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions by selling tobacco to North Korea and committing bank fraud.

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According to Brussels-based sources, the European Commission anticipates Germany’s economic growth at 0.2% and Italy’s at 1.2%. The Commission will release spring forecasts at 0900 GMT on Monday. Germany’s 0.2% GDP growth forecast matches the Commission’s February forecast but is lower than Berlin’s 0.4% forecast from last month. La Stampa reports that the Commission expects the euro zone’s largest economy to grow 1.4% next year, up from 1.3% in February. Brussels’ 1.2% Italy projection is higher than the Rome government’s 1.0% and up from February’s 0.8% estimate. La Stampa said that Brussels expects Italian growth to be 1.1% next year,…

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Asian stocks rise ahead of China data, Fed speakers. Asian markets rose gingerly on Monday as investors awaited China’s industrial and retail statistics and a host of U.S. Federal Reserve officials to confirm market pricing of rate cuts this year. European markets will open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.2%, reflecting cautious optimism. S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures flat. In emerging markets, the Turkish lira hit a two-month low after Saturday elections looked destined for a runoff. At the same time, the Thai baht rose about 1% after Thailand’s opposition defeated military-allied parties. After a severe sell-off the week…

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Newcrest supports Newmont’s $17.8 billion deal. Newcrest Mining Ltd., an Australian gold miner, backed Newmont Corp.’s (NEM.N) A$26.2 billion ($17.8 billion) takeover offer on Monday. Newmont will surpass Freeport McMoRan (FCX.N) as the largest U.S. gold and copper producer by market capitalization if shareholders of both companies approve the deal. Newcrest shareholders would receive 0.400 Newmont shares per share, with an implied value of A$29.27, up from the 0.380 exchange ratio rejected by Newcrest’s board in February. Newcrest shares opened Monday 1.5% higher at A$28.68, a 30.4% premium to February’s price when the Newmont bid was announced. Newmont will also…

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The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that BlackRock Inc (BLK.N) CEO Larry Fink has been grooming five key leaders to succeed him. The CEO, Fink, and President Robert Kapito have been educating these contenders for “The Great Race” to determine the successor, which Fink deems his “No. 1 priority,” according to the newspaper. The article named Mark Wiedman, worldwide commercial business head; Rob Goldstein, COO; Martin Small, CFO; Rachel Lord, Asia Pacific business head; and Salim Ramji, ETFs, and indexing products head, as the five candidates. Fink told the newspaper he wanted the five to work together by building friendship,…

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On Saturday, Russia’s Defence Ministry said Ukrainian aircraft fired British-supplied Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles against two industrial locations in Luhansk, a Russian-held city in eastern Ukraine. Reuters could not corroborate combat accounts. Britain was the first to equip Kyiv with long-range cruise missiles on Thursday, allowing it to attack Russian troops and supply dumps behind the front lines as it plans a major counter-offensive. British Defence Minister Ben Wallace said the missiles might be used in Ukraine, meaning Kyiv had assured him they would not hit targets inside Russia’s internationally recognized boundaries. On Friday, the Russian government claimed the…

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Luminar Technologies CEO Austin Russell and IWM announced Friday that Russell would buy a majority interest in Forbes Global Media Holdings for $800 million. In a joint statement to Reuters, the automotive tech millionaire bought 82% of Forbes, including the Forbes family’s stake. The announcement added Russell would not manage the company and that the acquisition money is distinct from his Luminar ownership. Russell’s agreement financing is questionable. The Wall Street Journal reported that Forbes’ Hong Kong-based IWM would obtain a minority share and one board seat. In addition, Forbes appointed an American media, IT, and AI board. Forbes CEO…

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Oppo will close its chip design team by citing global economic and smartphone industry uncertainty. The 2019-founded Zeku unit of the Chinese smartphone maker will shut down. The MariSilicon X neural processing unit (NPU) improves smartphone video and pictures. “Due to uncertainties in the global economy and the smartphone industry, we have to make difficult adjustments for long-term development,” a business representative stated. China’s world’s largest smartphone market is still recovering from one of its greatest slumps as cost-conscious consumers avoid big-ticket purchases even after zero-COVID limitations were lifted. Smartphone shipments plummeted 14% in 2022, falling below 300 million for…

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On Saturday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called a battle over extending the U.S. debt ceiling “more difficult” but said she was hopeful a solution could be found to avoid a first-ever U.S. default. Yellen told Reuters on the sidelines of a Group of Seven financial officials conference in Japan that she intended to inform Congress within two weeks of when the Treasury will run out of funds to pay the government’s bills. The U.S. Treasury director has repeatedly urged Congress to lift the $31.4 trillion cap on federal borrowing to avoid the “economic and financial catastrophe” of a default. British…

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Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis cautioned Friday that a Taiwan issue might harm EU-China relations. Landsbergis said he wasn’t supporting a “decoupling” from China, but the bloc needed to prepare for the break with Moscow when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. “Here we are,” he said. “Somebody has to devise a possibility that a ddecouplingmight happen – not because we wished it, like with Russia, not because we willed it but because the situation, for example in the Taiwan Strait, has been changed by force,” he told reporters in Stockholm before his EU counterparts. “The reaction would lead to…

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Nissan confirmed on Friday that COO Ashwani Gupta would not be reappointed to the board next month, casting doubt on his CEO prospects. After Carlos Ghosn’s arrest and removal, Gupta joined Nissan’s leadership team. Gupta’s associates persuaded the board to designate him co-CEO in 2020, expecting him to turn the firm around and repair relations with Renault SA (RENA.PA). Nissan confirmed Gupta’s June 27 board resignation Friday. A corporate official suggested he may remain COO. Nissan predicted a 38% profit rise on Thursday due to greater sales. Renault cut its Nissan investment to 15% from 43% in January to equalize…

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If President Tayyip Erdogan loses Sunday’s election, his opponents promise to restore democracy and human rights. Rights supporters hope Erdogan’s toughest election test will end an era of judicial independence eroding, freedom of speech curtailed, and journalists and politicians incarcerated. “If we take power, everyone will speak freely and be harshly criticized,” CHP deputy chairwoman Gokce Gokcen told Reuters. We’ll focus on pluralistic democracy. “We will take comprehensive measures to prevent authoritarian rule in Turkey after we end autocratic rule,” she stated. While Ankara defends its rights record, critics say civil liberties and freedoms have suffered severe setbacks over the…

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ProLogium officials said President Emmanuel Macron’s lobbying, deal sweeteners, and competitive power rates won ProLogium’s first overseas vehicle battery plant over Germany and the Netherlands. ProLogium chose Dunkirk, France, for its second gigafactory and first outside Taiwan this week after limiting a list of 13 countries to three. The factory will become northern France’s fourth battery plant in 2026, joining a growing electric car cluster. Europe relies on Asian batteries for electric cars, and politicians are proposing incentives to boost the industry. Since the US passed its $430 billion Inflation Reduction Act last year, which contains large tax subsidies to…

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Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) announced Friday that 2.15 million Japanese customers’ car data was publicly available from November 2013 to mid-April. A cloud setup problem leaked car positions and device IDs, although the company claimed no harm. Toyota apologized for T-Connect network users’ 2012–April 17 worry. Lexus G-Link users were also affected. After detecting the vulnerability, Toyota stopped outside access and investigated all Toyota Connected Corp. cloud environments.

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According to a source, Go Airlines (India)’s new resolution professional told staff on Thursday that the firm needs finance to survive. On Wednesday, a New Delhi judge granted Go First bankruptcy protection and appointed Alvarez & Marsal’s Abhilash Lal as its temporary resolution expert. We must restart the firm quickly… According to the article, Lal informed colleagues in a virtual town hall, “We have to raise the funds to do it.” The source refused to comment to the media. Go First responded slowly to our request for feedback.

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Vodafone (VOD.L) announced Thursday that the CEO of its largest shareholder, Emirates telecoms giant Etisalat (EAND.AD), commonly known as e&, will join its board to enhance their strategic collaboration. The British business said e& CEO Hatem Dowidar would remain on the board provided e& maintained its 14.6% ownership and might add a second non-executive director if its stock surpassed 20%. It wants more Vodafone shares. Last month’s permanent Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle said improved collaboration with e& will benefit both businesses and teach Vodafone’s board telecommunications. The groups suggested offering corporations and public sector companies cross-border digital services and…

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After missing fourth-quarter projections, Honda Motor Co (7267.T) estimated a 19.1% operational profit increase for this financial year on Thursday. Japan’s second-largest carmaker estimated a full-year operating profit of 1.0 trillion yen ($7.40 billion) compared to 21 analysts’ average of 985.62 billion. It anticipated better revenue and supply chain improvements. Operating profit for the three months to March 31 was 105.5 billion yen, compared to Refinitiv’s 11 analysts’ average forecast of 164.78 billion.

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On Thursday, two government sources told Reuters that India’s income tax agency is searching Mankind Pharma Ltd.’s (MNKI.NS) New Delhi office days after the condom maker’s successful stock market debut. The announcement dropped the company’s stock by 5.5%. The second source estimated two to three days for the searches. Neither source explained the search. Due to media restrictions, they declined to be named. Reuters received no responses from Mankind Pharma or the IT department. In a rare domestic public offering this year, Mankind Pharma shares rose 32% on Tuesday, valuing the creator of Manforce condoms at 569.76 billion rupees (almost…

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SoftBank Group Corp (9984.T) announced a 970 billion yen ($7.18 billion) financial loss for the year ended March 31, with the Vision Fund business incurring a quarterly investment loss owing to high valuations. A year ago, it lost 1.7 trillion yen. After SoftBank’s first Vision Fund bets failed and a smaller second fund’s investments plummeted, CEO Masayoshi Son’s quest to dominate tech investing has suffered a succession of high-profile setbacks. With major architects of that plan gone, Son has concentrated on shoring up the finance sheet, lowering his investment in e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (9988. HK), and pulling…

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India’s Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care Ltd (PROC.NS) reported a reduction in quarterly revenues due to a decline in COVID-19 cases. In the January-March quarter, Vicks inhalers and Whisper sanitary napkins sales declined 1% to 8.81 billion rupees ($107.73 million). In an exchange filing, Omicron claimed the demand for its healthcare items, including Vicks VapoRub and throat drops. At the same time, rising cases drove sales growth in a similar period a year earlier. After three years, the WHO lifted COVID-19’s worldwide emergency designation last week. The company’s healthcare revenue was unclear. India’s annual retail inflation soared in…

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Britain abandons 2023 EU law abolition. Instead of repealing all EU legislation by 2023, the government will rewrite the retained EU law (REUL) bill to clarify the laws it will remove this year. In January, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman said the government would not extend an end-of-year deadline to remove EU legislation kept after Britain left in 2020. On Wednesday, economy and trade minister Kemi Badenoch said the government would rewrite the measure to remove 600 of the 4,000 protected EU laws. “Today the Government is tabling an amendment… which will replace the current sunset in the Bill with…

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Turkey, Syria, Russia, and Iran in the highest-level talks since Syrian conflict. On Wednesday in Moscow, Turkey, Syria, Russia, and Iran’s foreign ministers held the highest-level discussions on repairing relations between Ankara and Damascus after years of antagonism during Syria’s civil war. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted that he emphasized “cooperation in the fight against terrorism and working together to establish the basis for the return of Syrians” during the discussion. During Syria’s 12-year civil war, NATO member Turkey has supported political and armed opposition to President Bashar al-Assad and supplied soldiers to the north. In addition, it hosts…

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On Wednesday, Israel-based Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (TEVA.TA) announced first-quarter profit below projections. Still, they maintained its full-year outlook, citing a hope that new product releases will enhance profitability into 2023. Teva projected adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.25-$2.55 and revenue of $14.8-$15.4 billion this year, compared to $2.52 and $14.9 billion in 2022. “We are growing in our innovative (drugs segment) and we’ll see more growth, also in our generics outside of the United States, in Europe and international markets,” Chief Financial Officer Eli Kalif told an investors’ conference call. Teva plans to launch UZEDY (risperidone), an extended-release injectable…

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On Wednesday, Indian commercial port operator JSW Infrastructure Ltd. filed a draft prospectus for an IPO for up to 28 billion rupees ($342.4 million). The business will issue new equity shares and utilize the IPO proceeds to reduce debt and support unit capital expenditure. Their website shows JSW Infra has ports in Maharashtra, Odisha, and Karnataka with 153.43 million tonnes of cargo handling capacity. Domestic listings are down, prompting the IPO file. Due to worries about company valuations, profitability, and global market volatility, the IPO market has declined since 2021. Fabindia, Joyalukkas, Mamaearth, and Snapdeal have canceled their IPO preparations…

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According to news from the Sankei newspaper published on Wednesday, the Japanese government reportedly plans to discuss with South Korea and the United States in Hiroshima on May 21. Sankei said that the meetings, scheduled for the final day of the Group of Seven summit, will focus on improving security cooperation and relations between Japan and South Korea. Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima is where Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will pay their respects to the victims of the atomic bombing of Korea, according to the newspaper.

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Tucker Carlson, fired by Fox News last month, indicated he will return to Twitter “soon.” Fox News Media and Carlson parted ways last month after Fox Corp (FOXA.O) resolved a defamation lawsuit against the top-rated presenter for $787.5 million. “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” his prime-time show on the most-watched U.S. cable news network, was the highest-rated cable news program in the 25-to-54 demographic. His departure lowered ratings. “Starting soon, we’ll be bringing a new version of the show we’ve been doing for the last six and a half years to Twitter,” Carlson stated in a Twitter video. In addition, we’ll inform…

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On Wednesday, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said Austria would prohibit TikTok from government workers’ phones. British, American, and EU governments have banned TikTok due to security concerns. The EU’s two largest governing organs banned the app in March. “Work mobile phones will ban it. When asked if government officials may use the app on private phones outside the state network, Karner told reporters during a weekly cabinet meeting, “Of course.” Governments and regulators are concerned that China’s government may utilize TikTok, controlled by ByteDance, to steal user data or further its objectives.

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Volkswagen investors fear Chinese competition and Xinjiang factory at AGM. According to advanced versions of their remarks, Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) investors will question executives at its annual general meeting on Wednesday about its competitiveness in China and its contentious Xinjiang factory. A copy of Chief Executive Oliver Blume’s speech, which does not mention Xinjiang, acknowledges China’s rapid electrification and outlines Volkswagen’s strategy to maintain its market leadership by tailoring products to Chinese tastes and building local partnerships. Shareholders Deka Investment and Union Investment will urge the carmaker to require its joint venture partner SAIC to conduct an external independent audit of…

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After Ottawa and Beijing expelled diplomats, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated Tuesday that Canada would not be frightened by China. On Monday, Ottawa expelled Chinese envoy Zhao Wei for foreign meddling. Hours later, China ordered a Canadian diplomat in Shanghai to leave by May 13 in reaction to Ottawa’s “unreasonable actions.” “We understand there is retaliation, but we will not be intimidated, we will continue to do everything necessary to keep Canadians protected from foreign interference,” Trudeau told Ottawa media. Since Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou’s 2018 incarceration and Beijing arrested of two Canadians on spying charges, tensions have grown.…

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UK equities moved higher on Wednesday as investors avoided major bets ahead of US inflation data. At the same time, aerospace firm Melrose soared to its highest in almost three years after predicting revenues in line with forecasts. After the car spin-off, Melrose Industries Plc (MRON.L) said it would remain a pure-play aerospace firm, pushing its shares 5.8% higher. Rate-sensitive banks (.FTNMX301010) gained 0.5% as the FTSE 100 (.FTSE) advanced 0.1%. Investors await April consumer inflation data from the world’s largest economy at 1230 GMT, which might affect Federal Reserve rate-cut predictions. By 0719 GMT, the mid-cap FTSE 250 (.FTMC)…

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Twitter Inc. CEO Elon Musk announced calls and encrypted messaging on Tuesday. Musk announced “Twitter 2.0 The Everything App” last year, promising encrypted DMs, long-form tweets, and payments. “Coming soon will be voice and video chat from your handle to anyone on this platform, so you can talk to people anywhere in the world without giving them your phone number,” Musk tweeted Tuesday. Twitter’s call function will align with Facebook and Instagram, which offer comparable features. Musk said Twitter would offer direct encrypted messaging starting Wednesday, but not calls. Twitter will remove and archive dormant accounts this week.

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Stocks fall as investors’ anxieties appear ahead of US inflation data. Asia stocks were struggling to climb, and the dollar was steady on Wednesday ahead of U.S. consumer price data that might hurt chances for interest rate reduction later this year if inflation fails to drop. MSCI’s broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) fell on Tuesday and 0.3% early on Wednesday. Nikkei lost 0.4%. S&P 500 futures were stable in Asia after the S&P 500 (.SPX) lost 0.5% overnight. A strong dollar dropped the euro to $1.0971. At 1230 GMT, analysts estimate headline CPI to remain at 5% and…

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Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that the US is pressing the WHO to welcome Taiwan as an observer to its annual conference in Geneva from May 21 to 30. In 2017, China, which considers Taiwan one of its provinces, blocked Taiwan’s participation in the WHO’s annual assembly in a diplomatic drive to isolate the island, which opposes Chinese sovereignty claims. “Inviting Taiwan as an observer would exemplify the WHO’s commitment to an inclusive, ‘health for all’ approach to international health cooperation,” Blinken added. He noted that Washington’s one-China policy supports participation. Taiwan’s foreign ministry commended the US for…

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SoftBank Group Corp (9984.T) announced earnings on Thursday amid an increase in some Vision Fund equities and a market eager for news on its anticipated Arm offering to strengthen the investment company’s financial sheet. After four straight quarters of investment losses by the Vision Fund unit, investors debated whether privately held holdings would fall further in the fourth quarter. “The public side did well but questions linger about the private side because we don’t have a lot of visibility on that,” said Astris Advisory Japan analyst Kirk Boodry. “They have some cushion to writedowns,” he added. E-commerce company Coupang Inc…

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Britain sets financial watchdog standards to keep City competitive. On Tuesday, Britain’s finance ministry requested input on defining regulator targets to enhance London’s post-Brexit competitiveness as a global financial center and UK growth. New York’s fierce rivalry in corporate listings and Amsterdam’s surpassing London as Europe’s biggest stock exchange post-Brexit has pressured UK financial watchdogs to relax standards. The government denies lowering international standards or limiting watchdog independence. On Tuesday, the government stated it would set quarterly “metrics” for the Financial Conduct Authority and Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority to hold them responsible for their expanded powers. The financial…

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On Tuesday, Spanish travel booking giant Amadeus (AMA.MC) reported a near 200% increase in first-quarter adjusted net profit, above analysts’ projections. The three-month adjusted net profit was 273.1 million euros ($300.6 million), up from 95 million a year earlier and 334.7 million in the first quarter of 2019. Refinitiv analysts predicted a 241.2 million euro adjusted net profit. After China reopened in January after almost three years of COVID-19 restrictions, the travel sector is on pace to recover from higher interest rates. “Asia-Pacific traffic recovered particularly well, with Amadeus’ bookings growing above 150% and passengers boarded above 120% in the…

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MSCI will give Egyptian securities in its indexes “special treatment” after investor criticism about poor FX liquidity. MSCI stated late Monday that it will not “implement any changes as part of upcoming index reviews for any securities classified in Egypt for MSCI Egypt indexes, impacted composite, derived and custom indexes.” On Thursday, after the U.S. market close, MSCI will reveal the findings of its quarterly index review, updating investors on stocks added or deleted from its equity benchmarks.

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On Tuesday, the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai expressed alarm about allegations of Chinese probes into U.S. due diligence and consulting businesses and requested authorities to give more advice. “We are concerned by recent reports about investigations of U.S. companies in China that specialize in due diligence or consulting,” said Eric Zheng, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. “It would be helpful if the authorities more clearly delineated the areas in which companies can or cannot conduct such due diligence.”

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Amazon offers $10 for pickup to reduce shipping expenses. Amazon.com (AMZN.O) is joining other retailers to cut home delivery and return expenses despite sluggish consumer demand by offering $10 to pick up purchases instead of sending them. Amazon has recently contacted an unknown number of Prime customers offering $10 to pick up an order of $25 or more at corporate pickup points in Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh, or Kohl’s shops. Amazon did not comment. The deal went to shipping expert Dean Maciuba from Upstate New York. Amazon pickup sites provide “a huge opportunity for Amazon to reduce the cost of…

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Oil prices dipped on Tuesday as the market remained cautious ahead of April U.S. inflation numbers, which will influence the Fed’s next interest rate decision. At 0340 GMT, Brent crude traded at $76.71 and WTI at $72.90, down 30 and 26 cents, respectively. Both futures ended the previous trading session up over 2%. “Oil prices have rebounded somewhat in the last two sessions, so now is time for a pause… with no real positive data coming out,” said DBS Bank head energy analyst Suvro Sarkar. “The market is cautious today ahead of inflation data…. Over the previous two weeks, net…

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Blinken faces contempt of Congress for Afghanistan cable. The Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee threatened Secretary of State Antony Blinken with contempt of Congress if he did not cooperate with a subpoena for a secret communication about the August 2021 U.S. exit from Afghanistan. Representative Michael McCaul wrote to Blinken on Friday and revealed it on Monday, stating the committee was unsatisfied with the department’s answer to a July 2021 “dissent channel” cable. The committee subpoenaed the information in March. The “dissent channel” connects State Department officials to higher authorities. In August 2021, the Wall Street Journal…

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On Monday, contract drugmaker Catalent Inc. (CTLT.N) said it expected to “significantly” lower its 2023 sales and core profit expectations and delay its third-quarter results by a week. Company shares dropped 20% before the bell. In April, Catalent warned that poor output and higher-than-expected expenditures at three locations, including two major manufacturing plants, would hurt fiscal 2023 profits. On Monday, the business claimed it had found major forecasting errors over the last year and was fixing them. Last week, Catalent uncovered potential non-cash adjustments linked to its Bloomington, Indiana facilities, requiring additional examination of its third-quarter results. It stated that…

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Shares gain, while the dollar falls before inflation data. In fair trading on Monday, global equities rose ahead of U.S. inflation data this week that might shape monetary policy expectations. The dollar fell as the deadline for Congress to address the U.S. government’s borrowing ceiling approached. MSCI All-World index (.MIWD00000PUS) increased 0.2%. Friday’s strong payroll data has lowered investors’ expectations for the Fed’s first rate decrease. In addition, Wednesday’s consumer pricing statistics should indicate core inflation eased somewhat. “With the Fed having hiked by 25 basis points last week and signalled a pause, this week’s inflation report is more about…

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HSBC buys China, the fund partner. According to two sources, HSBC (HSBA.L) has agreed to buy out its China fund management joint venture partner as it expands in the world’s second-largest economy. According to reports, HSBC, which holds 49% of HSBC Jintrust Fund Management, has negotiated with Shanxi Trust to buy the Chinese state-owned company’s 51% part in the joint venture. The individuals, who declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to the media, said the transfer is subject to a public auction of the shares and regulatory approval. If allowed, Europe’s biggest bank by assets,…

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Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM.O) said on Monday that it would acquire Israel’s Autotalks Ltd., which produces processors for crash-prevention technology. Chipmakers are seeing growth in the automotive business as manufacturers utilize more chips for electric vehicles and autonomous functions. Autotalks manufactures V2X chips. Road safety technology for human and driverless cars. “We have been investing in V2X research, development, and deployment since 2017 and believe that as the automotive market matures, a standalone V2X safety architecture will be needed for enhanced road user safety, as well as smart transportation systems,” said Qualcomm Technologies senior vice-president – automotive Nakul Duggal. Qualcomm announced…

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On Monday, PostNL (PTNL.AS) reported an unexpected first-quarter operational profit, supported by a smaller-than-expected package volume decline and last year’s adaptive measures. As demand normalizes and rising inflation erodes consumer confidence, PostNL, Deutsche Post (DPWGn.DE), and FedEx (FDX.N) parcel volumes have decreased from pandemic highs. PostNL, which delivers parcels and letters in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, reported a 78% drop in normalized earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to 7 million euros ($7.7 million), exceeding analysts’ projections of a 2 million euro loss. The company said that optimizing routes, workers, and vehicles and managing indirect expenses helped. PostNL’s package…

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Bain Capital wants $4 billion for global special circumstances fund. Two sources claimed Bain Capital is seeking $4 billion for a worldwide “special situations fund” to buy troubled investments across asset classes. The sources, who requested anonymity because these negotiations are classified, said Bain Capital started fundraising for the new fund at the start of the year and has raised around $2 billion. Sources said the fund would shut by year’s end. Bain declined to comment. Bain Capital raised $3.2 billion for a worldwide fund in 2020. Bain Capital’s credit business housed the Bain Capital Distressed and Special Situations Fund.…

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The Global Times, a conservative Chinese state media tabloid, criticized South Korea’s embassy in China’s protest letter on Monday, the latest public quarrel amid worsening relations between the Asian neighbors. In a Friday internet letter of protest, the South Korean embassy “expressed strong regret over a series of unreasonable slanderous articles” from the Global Times. The publications “use sensational, provocative and inappropriate vocabulary to denigrate not only our leader but also the Korean government’s foreign policy,” the letter read. The Global Times criticized the embassy’s “brutal interference in (its) independent reporting” in its editorial. The editorial warned that South Korea’s…

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On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that Congress’s failure to raise the debt ceiling might lead to a “constitutional crisis” undermining the federal government’s creditworthiness. Yellen warned that the federal government might run out of money to pay its debts if the debt ceiling is not lifted by early June. Yellen told ABC’s “This Week” that discussions should not be conducted “with a gun to the head of the American people.” Biden has requested Congress to increase the debt ceiling unconditionally. The Republican-led House of Representatives enacted a package last month to increase the government’s $31.4 trillion debt ceiling.…

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Sweden’s Assa Abloy AB (ASSAb. S.T.), the world’s No. 1 lock producer, and Spectrum Brands Holdings (SPB.N) announced a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department over Assa’s $4.3 billion proposed acquisition of Spectrum’s hardware and home improvement (HHI) business. Last year, the Justice Department sought to halt Assa Abloy’s proposed acquisition of Spectrum Brands HHI, which produces residential door hardware, claiming it would raise costs. Spectrum manufactures Baldwin and Kwikset, whereas Assa Abloy makes Yale, August, and EMTEK. Assa Abloy said that Fortune Brands (FBIN.N) would acquire Emtek and Smart Residential in the U.S. and Canada under the settlement announced…

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At a May 9 meeting with congressional leaders, U.S. President Joe Biden severely blasted ‘MAGA’ Republicans over their unwillingness to support a higher federal debt ceiling, warning that the White House would not compromise. Biden claimed Republicans are “divided” on the debt ceiling before a White House investment meeting and MAGA. Republicans want “draconian” budget cutbacks. “This country doesn’t need a manufactured crisis,” he remarked. Biden slammed House Republicans for threatening not to lift the debt ceiling unless Biden and Democrats reduce the budget drastically. “They’re unconnected. “Your budget has nothing to do with whether you pay the debt,” he…

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Opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu feels his moment has arrived to change Turkey’s course and undo much of Tayyip Erdogan’s legacy. A coalition of six opposition parties chose the conscientious and occasionally fiery former government servant to challenge Erdogan in the country’s most important elections on May 14. After an inclusive campaign promising remedies to a cost-of-living issue that has weakened the president’s popularity, Kilicdaroglu, 74, leads surveys and may win in a second round. He has promised a return to classical economic policies and the parliamentary system, independence for court opponents believe Erdogan has exploited to repress dissent and better…

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On Saturday, King Charles III was crowned at Westminster Abbey in Britain’s greatest ceremony in seven decades, a 1,000-year-old spectacle. In September, Charles succeeded his mother, Queen Elizabeth, and will become the oldest British monarch to wear the 360-year-old St Edward’s Crown on a 14th-century throne at Westminster Abbey at 74. The monarch and his second wife Camilla, 75, who will be proclaimed queen during the two-hour event, departed Buckingham Palace in the sleek, black Diamond State Jubilee Coach with cavalrymen in gleaming breastplates plumed helmets. Charles was crowned at the abbey in front of 100 heads of state and…

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Two sources said China’s largest express delivery operator, SF Holding Co Ltd (002352.SZ), aimed to raise up to $3 billion in a second Hong Kong listing later this year, one of the city’s largest public offers. According to reports, China’s FedEx Corp (FDX.N) and DHL (DHL.UL) have picked Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N), Huatai Securities (601688.SS), and JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) to work on the offering, which may raise $2 billion to $3 billion. One source said the Shenzhen-listed business, known for its SF Express delivery service, has initiated preparations for the Hong Kong listing and aims to file…

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On Friday, the French president announced that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would attend France’s Bastille Day military display on July 14. “An Indian armed forces contingent will take part in the parade alongside French forces,” the presidency said. Modi’s visit will coincide with the 25th anniversary of France and India’s “strategic partnership.” This historic visit will also allow coordinated activities to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development aims.

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Ukraine’s nuclear contract with Cameco is risky but lucrative. The Ukrainian state-owned utility Energoatom told Reuters that Ukraine’s 12-year arrangement to acquire enough uranium from Canadian miner Cameco Corp to run all its nuclear reactors allows each party to adjust sales amounts with two years’ notice. The February deal’s extraordinary flexibility, which has not been disclosed, illustrates Russia’s battle with its neighbor and the high stakes for all sides. Cameco’s financial concerns. Ukraine relies on one electricity supply, which limits its options. In an interview with Reuters, Energoatom CEO Petro Kotin said, “There’s a lot of flexibility” in the arrangement.…

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The Prime Minister said he “heard a message” after Conservative local election losses. Tories lost nationwide. Bolton Tories lost seven seats overnight in Greater Manchester. In Tameside and Salford, they lost the same number. For the first time since 1998, the Conservatives lost Medway Council and Thurrock Council’s leader. Despite changing Prime Ministers twice since the last local election, the Conservatives face a general election year with work to do. This morning, Rishi Sunak called the findings “a message” (May 5). Mr. Sunak told Sky News: “It’s always disappointing to lose hard-working Conservative councilors; they’re friends and colleagues, and I’m…

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UK Conservatives lose ‘awful’ local elections. After a year of political scandals, rising inflation, and stalled economic development, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives suffered in Friday’s municipal elections. The English council elections will be the greatest and potentially penultimate test of voter opinion before next year’s general election, where ruling parties struggle. Local government bodies, which provide public services like rubbish collections and schools, have counted approximately a fifth of their 8,000 council seats. The Conservatives lost 218 seats, the Labour Party won 118, and the Liberal Democrats gained 57 in the early results, which did not reduce the…

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According to documents, Israel’s counter-terror authorities have seized 190 Binance crypto accounts since 2021, including two linked to Islamic State and dozens owned by Palestinian firms linked to Hamas. One document on the NBCTF’s website indicated that on Jan. 12, Israel’s National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing (NBCTF) seized two Binance accounts and their contents. The confiscation was to “thwart the activity” of the Islamic State and “impair its ability to further its goals,” according to the NBCTF. The unreported NBCTF document did not specify the amount of the crypto recovered or how the accounts were linked to the Islamic…

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On Thursday, Kellogg Co. (K.N) anticipated a smaller annual profit decrease and boosted the lower end of its sales prediction due to persistent price rises and solid cereal and snack demand. After beating first-quarter revenue and profit projections, Michigan-based Corn Flakes producer shares increased slightly in premarket trade. Like other global packaged food companies, Kellogg has used its brand strength to slowly boost product prices over the past year to offset rising ingredient costs during a cost-of-living crisis. Demand, especially for Kellogg’s more expensive cereals, has remained steady as buyers refuse to switch to lower brands and continue to spend…

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On Thursday, Shopify Inc. (SHOP.TO) announced a second wave of layoffs and sold its logistics subsidiary to freight forwarder Flexport, sending its U.S.-listed shares up 16%. More retailers employed web tools and targeted services to entice customers to fight rising inflation, boosting first-quarter revenues. New tools have attracted companies like Mattel (MAT.O) and Coty (COTY.N), allowing the company to raise subscription fees. Shopify, a small company e-commerce platform, expanded its order fulfillment network in anticipation of the pandemic-driven e-commerce surge. However, in July 2022, it laid off 10% of its workers after overestimating growth prospects. Investors are scrutinizing Shopify’s fulfillment…

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Stocks and euro fall ahead of ECB rate rise. Europe’s stock markets and the euro fell on Thursday as investors awaited another European Central Bank rate hike after the U.S. Federal Reserve hinted that its marathon rising run may have ended. Frankfurt was the focus, with gold near a record high and oil up after a rough few days. Reuters surveyed economists anticipating the ECB to hike rates for a seventh straight meeting. However, they forecast a quarter-point increase rather than the half-point leap it has been favoring. After the Fed did a decent job “threading the needle” on Wednesday…

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France’s antitrust authority warned Facebook-owner META (META.O) two months to adjust its ad verification partner access rules on Thursday, citing the company’s dominance in online advertising. The antitrust authority ordered META to disclose additional access limits for partners using its analytics tools to assess if people have viewed online ad campaigns and are not represented in a way that might damage the brand’s image. New standards are transparent, objective, non-discriminatory, and proportional. Ad verification services check online ad views, detect fake visitors, and keep client advertisements off pornographic sites. The French agency claimed Meta’s invite-only approach might discriminate in its…

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Volvo Cars (VOLCARb.ST) announced Thursday that it would lay off 1,300 Swedish office workers as it cuts costs. In a statement, Chief Executive Jim Rowan said the group’s efficiency effort showed benefits but required more. “Economic headwinds, increased raw material prices, and increased competition will likely continue to challenge our industry,” Rowan added. The corporation said Volvo Personvagnar, Volvo Cars’ major worldwide operational arm, will lose 1,100 jobs, while the remaining 200 will be determined after a study of the company’s companies in Sweden.

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Goldman Sachs said it was “cautious” on Turkish banks ahead into the May 14 election, with lenders more sensitive than other companies to a potential post-vote rate rise after years of unorthodox monetary policy. President Tayyip Erdogan fears losing the historic election owing to a cost-of-living crisis that drove inflation to over 85% last year. In a letter to clients, Goldman Sachs argued that Turkish banks had historically benefited from higher rates. Still, in November, the government imposed new laws forcing banks to lend at lower rates. The Wall Street bank said lenders remained resilient despite authorities hiking the ceiling…

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On Thursday, Taiwan Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said supply chain difficulties had delayed the arrival of 66 sophisticated modern F-16Vs from the U.S. Still, the ministry was striving to minimize damage and “make up deficiencies.” In 2019, the U.S. approved a $8 billion sale of Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, boosting the island’s F-16 fleet to over 200 jets, the largest in Asia, to defend against China, which claims Taiwan as its own. Taiwan has converted 141 F-16A/B planes into F-16Vs and bought 66 additional F-16Vs with upgraded avionics, missiles, and radar systems to combat the…

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S3 Partners reports that Nvidia Corp (NVDA.O) short sellers have lost $5.09 billion this year while the stock has risen over 90%. The company is the worst equities short in 2023, followed by Apple (AAPL.O) and Tesla (TSLA.O), the brokerage reported Wednesday. It estimated Apple short traders lost $4.47 billion in 2023 while the stock rose 30%. As the stock has gained 33%, Tesla short sellers have lost $3.65 billion this year, it added. Nvidia’s short interest fell 7.04 million shares, or 18%, year-to-date. In addition, the business reported short interest at 1.32%, the lowest since October 2022. After AMD’s…

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On Wednesday, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission accused Meta’s (META.O) Facebook of fooling parents about kid safety and recommended tightening a privacy agreement to prevent benefiting from kids’ data. The FTC alleged Facebook misled parents about their control over Messenger Kids app connections and app developers’ access to users’ private data, breaking a 2019 privacy agreement. Facebook’s virtual reality company cannot benefit from under-18 data under FTC regulations. Facial recognition would be limited. Post-announcement Meta shares fell 2%. Andy Stone, Meta spokesperson, tweeted, “political stunt.” “We will vigorously fight this action and expect to prevail,” he said. Wednesday changes the…

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Ford Motor Co. (F.N.) announced Wednesday that it would incur restructuring expenditures of $1.5 billion to $2 billion in 2023 to close unproductive locations and cut workers. The manufacturer said “employee separations and supplier settlements” will cost the most. The additional restructuring may be needed “where a path to sustained profitability is not feasible when considering the capital allocation required for those businesses.” Ford said earlier this year that it would cut one in nine European jobs to save money and concentrate engineering talent in the U.S. It cut operations in Brazil and India to spend billions on electric automobiles.…

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CEO: Go. The First owner won’t leave the airline. On Wednesday, Go Airlines (India)’s CEO told Reuters that the budget carrier’s owner had no intentions of leaving after engine issues put it into bankruptcy. Instead, frustrated travelers complained of abrupt flight cancellations. On Tuesday, India’s third-largest airline, Go First, filed for bankruptcy, citing Pratt & Whitney’s “faulty” engines on its Airbus 320 neo aircraft. The first Indian airline to fail since Jet Airways in 2019 faces intense competition from IndiGo and Tata Group-owned Air India as passenger traffic recovers from the epidemic. “The Wadia group, in particular Nusli Wadia, has…

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The Treasury Department announced Wednesday that Janet Yellen will attend the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors conference in Niigata, Japan, next week. Treasury said Yellen would engage with G7 partners to enhance the global economy by encouraging and aligning domestic investments and addressing Russia’s conflict against Ukraine’s spillover consequences. A month after the IMF lowered its 2023 global growth prognosis and warned that a catastrophic financial system crisis might cut production to near recessionary levels, G7 finance ministers and central bankers will convene in Niigata, Japan, from May 11-13. Due to tighter monetary policy, the IMF expects global…

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Russia claims Ukraine used drones to try to murder Putin. According to RIA, Russia accused Ukraine of drone-bombing the Kremlin overnight to kill President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin termed the event a “planned terrorist action” and promised reprisal, RIA said. The Kremlin citadel’s defenses damaged two drones accused of attacking Putin’s house. Putin and the Kremlin were unhurt. “The Kremlin has assessed these actions as a planned terrorist act and an assassination attempt on the president on the eve of Victory Day, the May 9 Parade,” RIA said. Putin was working normally. “The Russian side reserves the right to take…

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U.S. SEC will vote on private fund and hedge fund disclosures. On Wednesday, the SEC will vote whether to impose new regulations for hedge fund and private equity fund advisors to increase openness, competition, and efficiency in the $ 25 trillion business. The SEC will vote on a proposal to revise Form PF, which was implemented after the 2008-2009 financial crisis, to monitor private fund risks and improve major funds’ disclosures regarding their investing strategy and leverage. “Since the SEC put in place Form PF 12 years ago, a lot has changed,” SEC Chair Gary Gensler said at a Managed…

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Marathon Petroleum Corp (MPC.N) reported a more than three-fold increase in quarterly earnings on Tuesday, benefitting from greater margins on sustained gasoline demand and tight crude supply, and increased its share repurchase program by $5 billion. After Russia invaded Ukraine, crude supplies tightened, and refiners’ margins rose due to pandemic-related facility closures and demand recovery. Jet fuel demand has also benefitted the corporation. The January-March refining and marketing profit rose 70.8% to $26.15 per barrel. Due to Gulf Coast maintenance, the leading U.S. refiner recorded 89% crude capacity utilization in the reporting quarter, down from 91% the previous year. After…

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The Sweden Democrats, Sweden’s second-largest party and informal government chairman, said on Tuesday that Sweden should seek more EU exemptions to reset relations with the 27-member union. Jimmie Akesson agreed with Euroskeptics that “German, Polish or French politicians, in practice decide what car you can buy, how expensive petrol should be and which tree you can cut down on your own property” due to the EU’s rising power. Akesson, whose anti-immigration party dominates Sweden’s right-of-center government, did not call for “Swexit”—a referendum on whether to leave the EU as British voters did in 2016. Instead, he stated EU was incorrect. “Today,…

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On Tuesday, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu stated that Russia delivered significant blows on Ukraine across the frontline but that weapons supply was key to Moscow’s “special military operation” success. Shoigu told Russia’s senior military officers that Russian soldiers were battling Ukraine and “unprecedented military assistance from the West” “along the entire line of contact.” However, Russia was successfully attacking Ukrainian depots storing Western-supplied weapons. Shoigu said Moscow has increased arms manufacturing to help the fight since Russian forces’ effectiveness “largely depended on the timely replenishment of weapons” and other military equipment. “The country’s leadership has set defence enterprises the task…

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German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock demanded a global renewable energy objective on Tuesday. At the outset of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin, Baerbock said the G7 had already set such aims but that wind and solar energy expansion should have internationally binding goals. The Petersberg Climate Dialogue is gathering over 40 countries in Berlin this week to debate how to achieve the 2015 Paris Agreement’s climate targets. From November 30 to December 10, Dubai will host COP28, the next global climate conference, with Germany. Climate dialogues prepare for conferences. John Kerry, Washington’s climate envoy, attends.

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DSM’s (DSMN.AS) first-quarter earnings and sales below estimates on Tuesday due to low vitamin prices, poor volumes, and high inflation. DSM and Firmenich released their final quarterly results separately before their merger on Monday. The May 2022 merger becomes a key competitor in the fast-growing food ingredients and health goods industries, competing with IFF Inc (IFF.N), Givaudan (GIVN.S), and Symrise (SY1G.DE). KBC analysts called the merged business “a global powerhouse with a well-balanced portfolio and solid growth prospects.” DSM, which makes vitamins, food supplements, and specialized plastics for cars, clothing, and construction, reported a 24% drop in quarterly adjusted core…

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China’s departure prohibitions increase as Xi tightens political control. After three years of COVID-19 limitations, China progressively prohibits anyone from departing, including international executives. A new Safeguard Defenders report found that exit bans have caught scores of Chinese and foreigners, and a Reuters analysis found an apparent rise in court cases involving such bans in recent years. Foreign business lobbies are concerned about the trend. “Since Xi Jinping took power in 2012, China has expanded the legal landscape for exit bans and increasingly used them, sometimes outside legal justification,” according Safeguard Defenders. “Between 2018 and July of this year, no…

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On Tuesday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) boosted Asia’s economic estimate due to China’s rebound but warned of dangers from prolonged inflation and global market volatility caused by Western banking sector difficulties. The IMF predicted that Asia’s spillover from China’s openness would be a consumer and service-sector demand, not an investment. “Asia and Pacific will be the most dynamic of the world’s major regions in 2023, predominantly driven by the buoyant outlook for China and India,” stated the IMF’s regional economic outlook report. “As in the rest of the world, domestic demand is expected to remain the largest growth driver…

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BlackBerry (BB.TO) announced a strategic examination on Monday that may lead to company splits. As a result, US-listed shares rose nearly 11% post-bell. BlackBerry, formed in 1984 and making pagers, said it has no timeline for the review and would not disclose progress unless the board accepts a transaction or cancels the process. The company went public in 1997, and executives, legislators, and fans used its business telephones in the early 2000s. The business sold its mobile device patents after shutting down last year. After delays, BlackBerry said on Monday that it would sell the rights to Malikie Innovations Limited…

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JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s (JPM.N) acquisition of First Republic Bank forced the Biden administration to reconcile its anti-merger position with enabling the largest U.S. bank to grow. President Joe Biden praised the sale of the ailing San Francisco lender at a White House event on small business on Monday, saying it will safeguard depositors and avoid a government bailout. However, he stressed stricter financial restrictions without mentioning JPMorgan. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat and member of the Senate Banking Committee pushing for tighter banking regulations, blasted the decision. This theme could haunt Biden, who announced his bid for another term…

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As global interest rates rose, HSBC Holdings (HSBA.L) reported a 212% quarterly profit increase on Tuesday. Europe’s largest bank earned $12.9 billion pretax for the first quarter ended March, up from $4.2 billion a year earlier. HSBC’s 17 analysts’ $8.64 billion average forecast was exceeded. HSBC’s headline earnings were boosted by a $2 billion impairment reversal against the planned sale of its French subsidiary, indicating the deal’s potential failure. The bank said the $10 billion sale of its Canadian business, initially scheduled for this year, will likely occur in the first quarter of 2024. The bank warned last month that…

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Israeli opposition leader claims little progress on judicial reform negotiations. On Monday, Benny Gantz, president of one of the main opposition parties, said that Israeli parties had made no progress toward a compromise on the government’s fiercely disputed judicial overhaul program despite a month of meetings. After Israel’s largest street protests, the planned overhaul, which would give the government control over Supreme Court judges and let parliament overrule many rulings, was halted. President Isaac Herzog has led political party sessions to reconcile. The administration claims the revision is required to curb activist judges and balance parliament and the courts. The…

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Foxconn accuses Lordstown of breaching the agreement. Lordstown Motors (RIDE.O) shares fell 25% after key stakeholder Foxconn claimed it broke its $170 million investment pact. The EV truck producer warned it might not have enough cash to maintain operations if the arrangement falls through. Foxconn’s letter to Lordstown referenced Nasdaq’s delisting notification. Lordstown denied the accusation and was negotiating with the Taiwanese contract manufacturer. Foxconn’s actions are unjustified. “Their conduct has caused material and irreparable harm to the company,” Lordstown claimed. “In the absence of a timely resolution, we will take all actions necessary to protect our business interests and…

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On Monday, Russia’s defense ministry said that its midnight missile attacks on Ukrainian military locations, including arms depots and ammunition makers, had struck all their objectives. Ukrainian officials claimed the second air attack in three days ignited a fire in Pavlohrad, a railway hub behind the southern and eastern fronts, hurting at least 34 people and damaging dozens of homes. “Overnight, Russia’s armed forces launched a group of missile strikes using high-precision long-range air and sea-based weapons against Ukraine’s military-industrial facilities,” the Russian defense ministry stated. “The objectives of the strike were achieved… The work of enterprises making ammunition, weapons,…

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Ministers recommend ‘risk-based’ AI legislation for the G7. As European lawmakers rush to pass an AI Act to regulate emerging tools like ChatGPT, the Group of Seven digital ministers agreed on Sunday to “risk-based” regulation of artificial intelligence. In a joint statement after a two-day summit in Japan, G7 ministers said AI legislation should “preserve an open and enabling environment” and be founded on democratic ideals. “Policy instruments to achieve the common vision and goal of trustworthy AI may vary across G7 members,” the ministers acknowledged. Still, the pact sets a precedent for how large countries regulate AI amid privacy…

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Qatar Airways might reach 255 routes with aircraft deliveries. Qatar Airways’ chief executive said Monday that the Gulf airline might increase its destinations to more than 255 from 170 under aggressive development plans, but it needs more planes. At a press conference at the Arabian Travel Market conference in Dubai, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said the airline planned to expand to 190 routes but could add more. “We could add maybe 85 or 90 destinations depending on the aircraft deliveries,” Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker told reporters. He said the airline anticipates Boeing (BA.N) and Airbus (AIR.PA)…

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On Monday, a senior official at India’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MRTI.NS), predicted a second-quarter chip shortage recovery. The CEO predicted the April production deficit would persist in the June quarter. “Chip shortage will continue in Q1 but we are expecting some recovery in Q2, although visibility on semiconductor supply remains limited,” Shashank Srivastava, senior executive of marketing and sales, said on a teleconference. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, automakers have faced semiconductor shortages and higher raw material prices. In an exchange report, Maruti stated April sales jumped 6.5% to 160,529 units. However, the company raised prices across models…

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Franchisees shuttered 2.7% of Subway’s U.S. sandwich restaurants last year, reducing royalties and fees. According to its newest disclosure statement to franchisees interested in buying sites, the company closed another 571 stores in 2022 after significantly steeper closings in the U.S., its largest worldwide market. Over-expansion, antiquated operations and design, closed menus, and $5 footlong promotions that cut franchisee revenues have caused Subway to shutter hundreds of U.S. shops. John Chidsey’s 2021 turnaround plan featured a new cuisine and a celebrity-studded ad campaign. However, restaurant expert John Gordon said such ideas could take years. Robert Edwards, the franchisee advisor, said…

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French President Emmanuel Macron faced widespread protests on Labour Day on Monday as he battles to get past a highly unpopular retirement age rise that has sparked social discontent. After confronting labor unions and multi-sector strikes and raising the retirement age to 64, Macron’s popularity fell to near-record lows amid the “Yellow Vest” crisis. Macron has been booed, pot-banged, and heckled on walkabouts by residents who see him as unsympathetic to their everyday struggles. Unions anticipate over 1 million people march on Monday. “This May 1st will be a milestone,” declared Sophie Binet, leader of the hard-left CGT union. “It…

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Leader of Uzbekistan wins vote on expanding powers. On Monday, early statistics revealed that Uzbekistan’s referendum passed a package of constitutional revisions allowing President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to seek two more seven-year terms when his current one ends in 2026. With 90.21% of Sunday’s vote, the reform resets Mirziyoyev’s term count and promises Central Asians more social and legal rights. Mirziyoyev, 65, has liberalized the former Soviet republic’s economy, strengthened links with the West, and limited security forces’ influence, turning the 35-million-person nation into a police state. Uzbekistan risks little by extending presidential powers because the West needs ex-Soviet republics to…

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Officials said Jordan would host Arab foreign ministers and Syria’s top diplomat on Monday to discuss Syria’s readmission to the Arab League as part of a political settlement of Syria’s more than decade-old conflict. Jordanian government sources stated that Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad and his colleagues from Egypt, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia would discuss a Jordanian plan for a political settlement. Two weeks after the Gulf Cooperation Council, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq failed to agree on Syria’s future Arab return in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the summit took place. After a crackdown on protesters denouncing President Bashar al-Assad’s authoritarian rule…

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PNC Financial Services Group (PNC.N), JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N), and Citizens Financial Group Inc (CFG.N) filed final offers for First Republic Bank (FRC.N) on Sunday in a U.S. regulator auction, sources said. According to three individuals, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp was scheduled to announce an agreement and seize the lender on Sunday night. One source claimed the regulators had repeatedly requested bid revisions and modified asset requirements as the process continued late into the evening. That source felt a decision was imminent. On Saturday, sources claimed U.S. regulators sought to sell the First Republic, the third big U.S.…

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President Tayyip Erdogan announced Sunday that Turkish intelligence officers assassinated Islamic State commander Abu Hussein al-Qurashi in Syria. “This individual was neutralized as part of an operation by the Turkish national intelligence organization in Syria yesterday,” Erdogan stated in an interview with TRT Turk. Erdogan said the spy agency had tracked Qurashi for years. Syrian local and security sources stated the attack occurred in January in a northern Syrian town controlled by Turkey-backed rebel factions and one of the worst hit by the Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria. The Syrian National Army, a local rebel group with security,…

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Two sources familiar with the situation said India’s market regulator had requested a six-month extension to finish its investigation into billionaire Gautam Adani’s Adani group’s suspected securities law violations or regulatory filings. According to reports, Sebi submitted its motion to the Supreme Court on Saturday, citing complicated transactions involving listed, unlisted, and offshore businesses that require further scrutiny. A US short seller accused Adani. Reuters inquiries went unanswered by Adani Group.

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On Saturday, India’s Kotak Mahindra Bank (KTKM.NS) announced a better-than-expected 26% increase in net profit for the January-March quarter, aided by increased net interest income and solid loan growth. In the fourth quarter of the fiscal year, the private lender’s standalone net profit, excluding subsidiaries, grew to 34.96 billion rupees ($427.8 million) from 27.67 billion the previous year. Refinitiv statistics showed the outcome above experts’ 29.13 billion rupee projection. Net interest income rose 35% to 61.03 billion rupees from 45.21 billion. Net interest margin rose to 5.75% from 4.78% last year. The bank’s loans surged 18% year-over-year, while deposits rose…

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Pfizer’s RSV shot access commitment faces challenges. Global health authorities told Reuters that Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) has vowed to provide crucial new medicines faster in low-income nations. Still, its initial vaccination endeavor confronts challenges that may delay distribution for years. Last year, Pfizer pledged to provide more equitable access to its COVID-19 vaccine after criticism that it prioritized wealthy nations. In addition, the business seeks to reduce the time impoverished nations wait to acquire immunizations. In September, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gave the company $28 million to introduce the respiratory syncytial virus vaccine in impoverished nations where the…

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After a major setback for nationalist Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the Chamber of Deputies approved additional borrowing for Italy’s government on Friday. Two hundred twenty-one votes to 116 backed the government’s request to expand this year’s budget deficit to 4.5% of GDP from 4.4% under existing trends. Politicians said roughly 50 right-wing deputies were absent on Thursday when the coalition failed to get the 201 votes needed to authorize the extra borrowing. The right-wing bloc, in control since October, was surprised. A senior coalition legislator, who requested anonymity, told Reuters it showed parliament alliance flaws. Meloni needs both chambers of…

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British bank NatWest (NWG.L) reported a 20 billion pound deposit drop in the first quarter despite a fiercely competitive environment and a cautious outlook pointing to future problems, dulling forecast-beating earnings. Higher central bank interest rates that enhance lending returns prompted clients to shop around and drove banks to raise savings product rates, causing NatWest’s income to rise 37% but fall short of analysts’ expectations. Despite a profit increase, the bank’s shares plummeted 6% in early trade as investors digested a third consecutive quarter of lower deposits. In addition, analysts noted the lack of a year-end performance projection revision. NatWest…

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London’s FTSE 100 fell for the fifth day on Friday as mining firms fell with copper prices, while financials rose. At 0714 GMT, the blue-chip index (.FTSE) was up 0.1%, and the mid-cap FTSE 250 (.FTMC) was up 0.3%. Life insurers (.FTNMX303010) rose 1.7%, headed by Prudential (PRU.L)’s 3.3% rise after a 30% increase in new business earnings. Base metal miners (.FTNMX551020) are down 1.6%, heading for their largest weekly monthly decrease. Despite Britain’s economic outlook, NatWest (NWG.L) reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit. However, the firm lost 19.8 billion pounds in deposits, and its shares fell 5.8%. Pearson (PSON.L) climbed…

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On Friday, Standard Chartered Plc (STAN.L) revised its objective for reducing carbon emissions from oil and gas loans, abandoning a system that critics argue permits increasing climate-damaging emissions. The Asia, Africa, and Middle East Bank had earlier set a 2030 aim to cut sector loans’ carbon “intensity” by 30% from 2020 levels. Emissions intensity compares carbon emissions to economic activities like revenue. Because firms can get more effective at lowering emissions and yet emit more when their activity increases, carbon emissions can grow even while emissions intensity decreases. In a policy update, Standard Chartered announced it will decrease emissions by…

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Rishi Sunak faces his first major political test as British prime minister next week in local elections, where the opposition Labour Party aims to capitalize on a year of Conservative instability ahead of a national election likely next year. Since October, Sunak has worked to restore the Conservative Party’s reputation, but despite Brexit achievements, he has not ended his predecessors’ chaos. Sunak inherited a double-digit Labour poll advantage from Boris Johnson’s scandal-ridden government and Liz Truss’s catastrophic economic policies, which drove her down in two months. Local council elections in most of England on May 4 allow Labor to test…

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Japan will subsidize storage battery chip projects up to $1.8 billion. Friday, Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura announced up to $1.8 billion in storage battery and semiconductor subsidies. Nishimura told reporters the government would finance eight storage battery projects with 184.6 billion yen and two semiconductor projects with 56.4 billion. Honda Motor Co Ltd (7267.T) and GS Yuasa Corp (6674.T) plan to spend 430 billion yen on storage battery production, with the ministry financing up to 158.7 billion. “We have great expectations that this will lead to the stable supply of storage batteries and the promotion of GX (green transformation),” Nishimura…

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An EU official told Reuters that the EU is ready to contact index providers to include its debt in their government bond indexes, which would generate steady demand from a larger global investor pool. The official said index inclusion “is something we are discussing with market participants at the moment, while we are also doing our internal analysis,” examining how the EU meets index providers’ standards. EU bonds are included in broad bond indexes. Still, inclusion in specialized government bond indexes created by Bloomberg, JPMorgan, or FTSE Russell would alter the game, forcing trillions of investor money to buy. Bloomberg…

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Russia assaults Ukrainian cities, killing two. According to media and officials, Russia targeted cities from Kyiv to central and southern Ukraine early Friday, killing at least two people. “A young woman and a three-year-old child have been killed,” Dnipro mayor Borys Filatov stated on Telegram. Filatov didn’t elaborate. Uman’s central residential complex burned on social media. Interfax Ukraine and social media reported nationwide explosions and air raid sirens in Kyiv. Kyiv’s strike and damage were unknown. However, the city’s military administration reported anti-aircraft operations. After midnight, Interfax reported explosions in Dnipro, Kremenchuk, Poltava, and Mykolaiv. Interfax reported Telegram messages that…

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Microsoft (MSFT.O) president Brad Smith said the U.K. regulator’s rejection of its takeover of ‘Call of Duty’ creator Activision Blizzard “had shaken confidence” in Britain as a tech hub. On Wednesday, the independent Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) banned the acquisition, claiming it may hurt cloud gaming competition. Microsoft responded Thursday, calling it “probably the darkest day in our four decades in Britain” and sending the incorrect message about the UK to the global software sector. “If the government of the United Kingdom wants to bring in investment, if it wants to create jobs (…) it needs to look hard…

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Britain’s Ministry of Defence indicated they were open to other countries entering the next phase of enhanced armor-piercing tank ammunition research with Germany. “The standardised ammunition will not only benefit battlefield collaboration with many of our NATO allies, but has important export potential for UK and German defence industry partners,” Britain’s military Secretary Ben Wallace said on Thursday.

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Mobileye Global Inc. (MBLY.O) cut its yearly revenue projection on Thursday due to increased competition from start-ups and automakers developing driver-assistance devices. Jerusalem-based firm shares dropped 13% before the bell. The autonomous driving technology business now forecasts sales between $2.07 billion and $2.11 billion instead of $2.19 billion and $2.28 billion. Nvidia (NVDA.O) and Qualcomm (QCOM.O) compete to enter the assisted driving industry. Investors are also concerned about autonomous car deployment owing to regulatory scrutiny and slow commercial uptake. Mobileye’s first-quarter sales were $458 million, compared to Refinitiv IBES data’s $454.7 million forecast.

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On Thursday, Danish brewer Carlsberg (CARLb.CO) surpassed first-quarter sales predictions and boosted the lower end of its full-year profit outlook range due to strong beer sales in China. The world’s third-largest brewer now expects organic operating profit growth of between minus 2% and 5% this year, down from minus 5% to plus 5%. “What has changed since the beginning of the year, when we were uncertain about China, is that the situation there has improved significantly because of a good start of the year and very good throughput during Chinese New Year,” said Chief Executive Cees ‘t Hart. “We are…

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On Thursday, Denmark’s DSV (DSV.CO), the world’s third-largest freight forwarder, announced a first-quarter adjusted operating profit beyond forecasts and anticipated a worldwide trade volume recovery. The logistics group profited from high freight rates during the epidemic but cost inflation and huge inventories have reduced worldwide consumer demand, lowering rates. “As anticipated, demand for transport services and freight rates declined during the first quarter of 2023,” CEO Jens Bjorn Andersen remarked. “We expect that global trade volumes will gradually improve in the upcoming quarters,” he added. A DSV survey of analysts predicted 4.2 billion crowns for first-quarter earnings before interest, tax,…

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A U.S. Navy nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) will visit South Korea for the first time since the 1980s to show Washington’s commitment to protecting the country from North Korea. On Wednesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden announced the visit. U.S. SSBNs seldom visit foreign ports because they need secrecy and stealth to survive and deploy nuclear missiles during the conflict. “That could be a huge pressure on North Korea, because usually they don’t share where those submarines are,” said former South Korean submarine commander and squadron leader Moon Keun-Sik. To prevent North Korea,…

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Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) just exceeded its aim of 9.1 million cars in the financial year that ended in March as factory interruptions from global chip supply concerns and pandemic lockdowns eased. The world’s largest carmaker by sales said predicting the long-term chip shortage’s effects was hard. On Thursday, Toyota said that it produced 9.13 million vehicles in the 12 months to March 31, ahead of its target, which was trimmed twice from 9.7 million due to industry disruption. Last year, 8.57 million automobiles were made. In March, 9.61 million cars were sold globally, up from 9.51 million the year…

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On Wednesday, China’s largest insurer by market value, Ping An Insurance (Group) Co of China Ltd (601318. SS), announced a 48.9% increase in first-quarter net profit due to higher investment income. Its January-March profit was 38.4 billion yuan ($5.55 billion). “The domestic economy continued to recover in the first three months of 2023, with household consumption picking up steadily,” the business said in the filing. “Global capital markets remained volatile in a complex international environment,” it stated. The group’s gross written premiums grew 2.1% to 133.1 billion yuan from the year before, while retail customers rose 0.9% to 228.6 million.…

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A leading U.S. business lobbying group said Wednesday that Beijing’s examination of U.S. chipmaker Micron Technology Inc (MU.O) was a “major concern” for other firms in China. In the absence of data or “real evidence showing that Micron’s products provided or stood as an example of a particular vulnerability to China,” the probe suggests that Beijing may target other companies or industries based on dark suspicions, according to AmCham China policy committee chair Lester Ross. “It is a major concern because China lacks transparency in many conventions of law and policy, and this is one,” Ross said. China’s cyberspace authority…

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Russia temporarily took control of Finnish energy giant Fortum and its former German subsidiary Uniper, raising uncertainties over the status of other Western corporations in Russia as pressure rises to censure Moscow over Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin signed an order late Tuesday to temporarily manage the Russian assets of the two European state-owned energy giants. Fortum (FORTUM.HE) stated it was “investigating,” and Uniper (UN01.DE) and the German finance minister did not respond. According to the directive, Moscow has previously seized Uniper’s (UN01.DE) Russian division Unipro (UPRO.MM) and Fortum’s assets. However, Russia said the measure might be overturned. Moscow is furious…

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On Wednesday, German sportswear producer Puma (PUMG.DE) said it expects second-quarter sales to rise at a low- to mid-single-digit percentage rate, below its full-year objective, due to high inventory levels and market headwinds. In the first half of 2023, the firm projected its earnings and margins to be under pressure. It said currency impacts, promotional activities, and raw material costs would weigh on profits during the year. Like Adidas (ADSGn.DE) and Nike (NKE.N), Puma has concentrated on clearing surplus inventory despite sluggish demand, which has placed pressure on sporting goods profits. According to Refinitiv Eikon statistics, Puma’s first-quarter sales grew…

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Pernod Ricard (PERP.PA) has sought an Indian court to force New Delhi municipal authorities to award it a liquor-selling license after local officials denied its request, citing investigations, according to a legal filing. In a 332-page court petition at the Delhi High Court on April 23, the Chivas Regal and Absolut Vodka manufacturer claims Delhi officials made the decision based on criminal charges against the corporation but ignored the fact that no crime had been proven. “Merely because there may be certain allegations… cannot be equated with a criminal or be considered as having a criminal background,” Pernod Ricard’s April…

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Standard Chartered PLC (StanChart) (STAN.L) reported a 21% higher first-quarter pretax profit than expected on Wednesday, driven by rising interest rates and unpredictable market activities. StanChart’s January-March statutory pretax profit was $1.81 billion, mostly from Asia. The bank’s average of 14 analyst expectations was $1.43 billion. Bill Winters, CEO, anticipates income to climb 10% this year, at the top of a previously stated range. Rising interest rates increased lending income, but volatility markets drove client trading in the bank’s financial markets trading segment, resulting in its greatest quarterly profit since 2014.

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On Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said the South Korean-U.S. alliance must “leap into a new phase” to face complex issues, including slowing economic development, technology rivalry with strategic adversaries, and climate change. Yoon told the U.S. Chamber of Commerce a day before a Washington summit with President Joe Biden that the bilateral security alliance should “evolve into a supply chain and future-oriented, innovative-technology alliance.” He said the two countries economies had new problems, and the economic slump was an upsetting investment. “Competition for technological hegemony, energy issues, and climate crises are casting more uncertainties on business activity…

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On Tuesday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated the nation supports industrial applications of generative artificial intelligence technology like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Kishida visited the CEO of Microsoft (MSFT.O)-backed OpenAI in Tokyo earlier this month and said the Group of Seven conferences in Hiroshima next month would discuss “international rules” on generative AI. As national and international governments regulate AI tools, rapid improvements in AI technologies are making it harder for governments to agree on regulations.

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Joby Aviation lands a $55 million contract from U.S. Air Force. On Tuesday, Joby Aviation (JOBY.N) announced a $55 million contract renewal to deliver up to nine air taxis to the U.S. Air Force. Joby will deploy the first two aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base in California by March 2024 for field exercises to enable the Air Force to decide whether to use eVTOL aircraft. Joby Executive Chairman Paul Sciarra said the deal lets the California business test its pilot training, maintenance, and charging infrastructure before commercial operations begin in 2025. “It lets us trial run lots of the…

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On Monday, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum signed a measure banning most abortions, save for rape and incest victims in the first six weeks. Doctors can conduct abortions to save the mother’s life or if her health is in danger, but it’s a criminal. Unless “the probable gestational age of the unborn child is six weeks or less,” Senate Bill 2150 requires rape and incest victims to carry their pregnancies to term. Since the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated the federal right to abortion last year, Republican-led states have passed abortion restrictions. North Dakota joins 13 other states in banning abortion…

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Myanmar army must cease violence first. After visiting Myanmar’s military commander, Ban Ki-Moon stated the military “must take the first steps” to cease bloodshed. Ban visited Myanmar this week to broker peace between junta commander Min Aung Hlaing and reformist ex-president Thein Sein. Since February 2021, Myanmar has been in turmoil as the military struggles to consolidate control and fight ethnic minority militants and an armed pro-democracy movement. “I came to Myanmar to urge the military to adopt an immediate cessation of violence, and start constructive dialogue among all parties concerned,” Ban said in a “The Elders” statement. The state-run…

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G.M., Samsung SDI to announce U.S. EV battery factory plans. As the carmaker diversifies its component suppliers, General Motors Co (GM.N) and Samsung SDI (006400. K.S.) will unveil a joint venture electric vehicle battery production factory in the U.S. on Tuesday, sources said. President Yoon Suk Yeol is visiting Washington for the first time in 12 years to meet President Joe Biden. More than 100 executives from South Korea’s biggest companies, including Samsung Electronics (005930. K.S.) Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung accompanied Yoon on his U.S. visit focused on business opportunities. G.M.…

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Due to legal preparations for past litigation, UBS Group AG (UBSG.S) announced a 52% drop in first-quarter earnings on Tuesday. After being compelled to acquire Credit Suisse (CSGN.S), the Swiss bank is in turmoil. The average of 15 analyst projections in a UBS survey was $1.71 billion, while shareholders received $1.03 billion. UBS upped residential mortgage-backed securities litigation provisions by $665 million. “We are in advanced discussions with the US Department of Justice, and I am pleased that we are making progress toward resolving the legacy matter which dates back 15 years,” said Chief Executive Sergio Ermotti, who returned to…

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Russia warns again of US-Russia nuclear conflict. On Tuesday, TASS reported that a senior Russian official warned of rising risks of a direct military conflict between Russia and the U.S. Vladimir Yermakov, the foreign ministry’s nuclear non-proliferation chief, told the Russian state news agency that Washington’s behavior with Moscow raises hazards. Since it invaded Ukraine 14 months ago, Moscow has often accused the U.S. and “the collective West” of boosting nuclear war risks to discourage Kyiv’s supporters. “If the United States continues to follow its current course of confrontation with Russia, with the stakes constantly escalating on the verge of…

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China’s demand and rate rises to keep oil prices constant. Investors balanced robust holiday travel in China, which might raise gasoline consumption, against rising interest rates abroad, which could limit economic development. As a result, oil prices were unchanged on Tuesday. At 0345 GMT, Brent crude jumped 4 cents to $82.77, and WTI rose 6 cents to $78.82. On Monday, oil futures rose over 1% on hopes that Chinese holiday travel will boost gasoline consumption in the world’s second-largest economy. Chinese May Day holiday bookings indicate a prolonged resurgence in Asian tourism. However, the numbers remain well below pre-COVID levels,…

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Tech investors emphasize AI earnings following layoffs. A quarter after historic layoffs, investors in U.S. tech titans will evaluate if the cost cuts increased profitability as the businesses underline how artificial intelligence will be their next growth engine. This week, Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O), Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O), Instagram owner Meta Platforms Inc (META.O), and Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) publish quarterly results. They own almost $5 trillion in market capitalization or 14% of the S&P 500 (.SPX) index. Refinitiv expects Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta’s earnings to grow 4.5% over the previous quarter, led by Meta’s 11.8% increase. However, profit is predicted to fall…

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Seven sources with knowledge of the situation say China encouraged banks to slash deposit interest rates further this month in the latest move to divert the country’s enormous savings pool towards consumption and more productive investments. Two participants and two other bank sources intimately briefed on the discussion said China’s “interest rate self-regulatory mechanism,” largely banks, convened this month and supported deposit rate reductions. China’s central bank sets bank rates indirectly through the market-based process, which includes large and small banks. As a result, banks and the economy struggle under massive savings and deposit inflows. Since December’s zero-COVID policy hike,…

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After its envoy to Paris sparked outrage in European capitals, China’s foreign ministry said on Monday that it respects former Soviet states’ sovereignty. Several EU foreign ministers had condemned Ambassador Lu Shaye’s remarks, which appeared to doubt Ukraine and other former Soviet governments’ sovereignty, and requested Beijing to explain its position. Lu told French TV on Friday that Crimea was historically part of Russia and had been offered to Ukraine by former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. “These ex-USSR countries don’t have actual status in international law because there is no international agreement to materialize their sovereign status,” Lu said. Lu…

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After an attempt to suppress his testimony was dropped, the panel announced Friday that a former prosecutor who led the Manhattan district attorney’s criminal probe against former U.S. President Donald Trump would testify before a congressional committee in May. A spokeswoman for the House Judiciary Committee chairman stated Mark Pomerantz would testify on May 12. He was subpoenaed for the probe that resulted in Trump’s criminal charges. Democrat Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg sued Republican committee head Jim Jordan to prevent the subpoena. Both sides dropped the appeal on Friday, allowing the deposition. “We are pleased with this resolution, which…

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On Monday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he would ask U.S. Vice President Joe Biden to clarify Washington’s commitment to protecting his country under a 1951 security deal. The last two Philippine administrations have encouraged former colonial power U.S. to be precise on the circumstances under which it will support its friend under the Mutual Defence Treaty amid fears of escalating conflict in the South China Sea. The White House said Marcos and Biden would reiterate its “ironclad commitments to the defence of the Philippines” this weekend in Washington. “It (the treaty) needs to adjust because of the changes…

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Energy companies and industrial miners on London’s commodity-heavy FTSE 100 slumped on Monday morning due to sluggish crude demand and falling metal prices. At 0710 GMT, the FTSE 100 (.FTSE) declined 0.3%, and the mid-cap FTSE 250 (.FTMC) fell 0.1%. BP (BP.L) and Shell (SHEL.L) lost 1.5% and 1.3%, respectively, as crude prices fell over 1% on concerns about increasing interest rates, the global economy, and fuel demand outweighed support from OPEC+ production curbs. Base metal miners (.FTNMX551020) fell 1.2% as China’s patchy economic recovery hurt metal demand in the world’s top metal consumer. After shareholder consulting organization ISS advised…

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Chilean President Gabriel Boric’s plan to nationalize his country’s massive lithium industry highlights new filtration technologies that could revolutionize metal production for electric vehicles. Boric said last Thursday that a new state-owned corporation would employ direct lithium extraction (DLE) instead of evaporation ponds to reduce the environmental effect of lithium production in a national prime-time address. While neighboring Bolivia, General Motors Co(GM.N), Rio Tinto Ltd(RIO.AX), and other companies have made DLE bets, Boric’s move represents the biggest vote of confidence in the commercially unproven suite of technologies given plans to deploy it across Chile’s vast lithium reserves, the world’s largest.…

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Tesla prepares China-to-Canada Model Y shipment. According to a person with firsthand knowledge and a production letter seen by Reuters, Tesla has started manufacturing a Model Y for Canada in Shanghai. Tesla’s (TSLA.O) largest and most cost-efficient factory would connect to North America, its largest market. The Model Y is the EV maker’s best-selling model worldwide. Tesla announced on its website over the weekend that it would sell a rear-wheel drive Model Y in Canada for C$10,000 ($7,377.90) less than the long-range version. Tesla’s website indicated Canadians could receive the new Model Y between May and July. On Friday, the…

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In an interview released on Monday, China’s EU envoy reassured Ukraine’s neutrality by saying that China’s collaboration with Europe and other nations is “endless” and that its connections with Russia are “unlimited.” The Paper interviewed the Chinese ambassador to the EU, Fu Cong, at an unknown time. However, China’s ambassador to France questioned the sovereignty of former Soviet Union states like Ukraine in a Friday French television interview. EU diplomats had criticized China for refusing to name Russia’s war on Ukraine an invasion or demand for its withdrawal, stressing that Beijing and Moscow established a “no limits” alliance just days…

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According to a source, President Joe Biden’s team has chosen Julie Chavez Rodriguez, a White House senior adviser and deputy campaign manager of his 2020 presidential campaign, as his 2024 campaign manager. The source claimed Rodriguez, the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs director, would accept. Biden has yet to offer Rodriguez, the insider noted. However, the source said Rodriguez was Biden’s senior aides’ top pick after almost a dozen interviews. A second source claimed Rodriguez had been a key West Wing ally for Vice President Kamala Harris, who has struggled to win over Washington. Rodriguez served in Senator Harris’s…

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Russia claims progress in the Bakhmut war. Russian forces advanced in Bakhmut on Sunday, while a top Ukrainian general said his men were holding the lines through the city, which was nearly destroyed in some of the heaviest action of the 14-month war. The Russian defense ministry said airborne units reinforced the north and south after securing two western blocks. Russia sees Bakhmut as a springboard to eastern Ukraine. “Bakhmut frontline,” Ukrainian Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi posted on Telegram. “Defense continues.” “We hit the enemy, often unexpectedly for him, and continue to hold strategic lines,” he wrote. Reuters couldn’t corroborate…

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On Saturday, the daughter of an Iranian environmentalist imprisoned said she no longer trusted President Joe Biden to liberate her father. Morad Tahbaz, an Iranian-American with British citizenship, has served five years of a 10-year spying term. He was briefly released to house arrest with an electronic tag in March 2022 when two other dual nationals, including British-Iranian humanitarian worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, were permitted to leave Iran. His lawyer said he was released in July, but his daughter said he was back in jail. “I think being told since Biden has taken office that our loved ones are a priority,…

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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ben Wallace attended the emergency reaction committee meeting in Sudan on Saturday. Sudan’s army evacuated foreigners Saturday after a week of warfare. The army said the US, UK, France, and China embassies would leave Khartoum “in the coming hours.” When asked about the reports, a government source said, “We recognise that the situation is extremely concerning for British nationals trapped by the fighting in Sudan.” “The Ministry of Defence is working with the Foreign Office to prepare for a number of contingencies to support British nationals and diplomatic staff in Khartoum.” The British Foreign…

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Acquisition talks have reportedly taken place between Swiss institution Zuercher Kantonalbank and GAM Holding AG (GAMH.S), according to sources familiar with the situation who was quoted by The Financial Times on Saturday. The article claims that ZKB is one of several businesses considering buying Zurich-based asset management firm GAM. This week, London-listed Liontrust Asset Management (LIO.L) disclosed that it was in talks with GAM over a prospective merger of its investment management division. ZKB declined to respond to a query regarding whether or not GAM and ZKB had discussed acquisitions. However, the corporation said it was “constantly examining opportunities within…

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A senior U.S. official said Friday that President Joe Biden would pledge “substantial” actions to deter a North Korean nuclear assault on South Korea at a summit with Yoon Suk Yeol next week. “We are working extraordinarily and intensively with the South Koreans to take the necessary steps to buttress both public perception and the reality of our commitments,” the person told Reuters before Yoon’s summit with Biden next Wednesday. The official called it one of the greatest U.S. achievements because several Indo-Pacific countries that could have built nuclear weapons chose not to due to the U.S. nuclear umbrella. “We…

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After Dominic Raab’s resignation on Friday, British politician Alex Chalk will become justice minister, the Times’ political editor announced. After a bullying report, deputy prime minister and justice minister Raab resigned. Chalk, 46, has been Minister for Defence Procurement since Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister in October. Chalk became a lawmaker in 2015 after 14 years as a barrister. Before politics, he specialized in counter-terrorism, homicide, and major fraud.

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Chile will nationalize its massive lithium sector. On Thursday, Chilean President Gabriel Boric announced he would nationalize the world’s second-largest lithium business to strengthen the economy and safeguard the environment. SQM (SQMA.SN) and Albemarle (ALB.N) would lose control of Chile’s massive lithium operations to a state-owned firm in the country with the world’s largest lithium reserves. As more governments defend their natural resources, electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers scramble to get battery materials. In 2020, Indonesia stopped nickel ore exports, and Mexico nationalized its lithium reserves. This is our best hope for a sustainable and developed economy. “We can’t waste it,”…

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Bloomberg News reported on Friday that Carlyle Group Inc. (CG.O) might seek new investors for its stake in McDonald’s Corp.’s (MCD.N) China operations at $8-$10 billion. According to the article, Carlyle and Trustar Capital, which own McDonald’s China, could sell part of their interests while retaining control. Bloomberg said that preliminary considerations are underway. The U.S. fast-food company sold most of its China and Hong Kong business to CITIC and Carlyle for up to $2.1 billion in 2017. CITIC Capital Holdings owns the private equity firm Trustar Capital. Reuters received no response from Carlyle, McDonald’s, or Trustar.

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One of the largest investors in the world, Norway’s national wealth fund, announced on Friday that it would back a plan by Canadian miner Teck Resources (TECKb.TO) to spin off its metallurgical coal business and concentrate on copper and zinc. The Norwegian fund indirectly rejected Swiss miner Glencore’s (GLEN.L) plan to take up Teck by voting for the board’s spin-off at a shareholder meeting on April 26.

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Glencore (GLEN.L) announced lower first-quarter copper, zinc, and nickel production on Friday but said its trading segment would exceed yearly guidance. The miner and dealer, exploring a takeover proposal for Canada’s Teck Resources (TECKb.TO), maintained its 2023 copper guidance at 1.04 million tonnes, even as first-quarter production declined 5% to 244,100 tonnes due to lower grades and delays at some mines. Glencore mines thermal coal to create electricity and has a trading sector that sells oil, LNG, and associated products. In 2022, it made $6.4 billion, up 73% from the year before. It now expects 2023 marketing EBIT to reach…

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SAP (SAPG.DE) reported strong first-quarter revenue growth and cut its guidance on Friday owing to the divestiture of Qualtrics. SAP reported a 10% sales increase in the first three months of 2023, to 7.44 billion euros ($8.15 billion), exceeding the corporate consensus of 7%. SAP’s current earnings report excludes last month’s sold Qualtrics profits. This is because the sale money hasn’t been included yet. The computer giant now predicts non-IFRS operating profit of 8.6-8.9 billion euros, down 200 million euros. In addition, it now targets 14–14.4 billion euros in cloud revenue, down 1.3 billion euros from previous guidance. SAP’s profitable…

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Tesla Inc. (TSLA.O), slashing prices to boost sales, will only benefit from a recent commodity price drop in the year’s second half. On Wednesday, Tesla CFO Zachary Kirkhorn said battery material prices have been a huge drag for two years, and Tesla was “still kind of at the maximum of pain for commodities in our cost structure.” Tesla’s first-quarter margins slipped to 19.3%, below the average market estimate of 22.4%, dampening hopes that this year’s commodity price drop would help. Tesla cut prices six times in 2023, which Wall Street analysts believe increased rivalry with Ford Motor Co (F.N.) and…

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On Thursday, non-adjusted figures revealed that Germany and Italy led the eurozone to a trade surplus from a deficit a year earlier in February. In addition, chemical and industrial exports increased. In February, Eurostat reported that the seasonally unadjusted trade balance of the 20 eurozone countries was 4.6 billion euros, down from 9.4 billion a year earlier. The February trade balance was 100 million euros in deficit, compared to 11.6 billion the month before. Seasonally adjusted, Germany contributed 20.3 billion euros to the eurozone trade balance in February, up from 15.6 billion in January, while Italy added 3.6 billion, up…

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On Thursday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will remark that the U.S. wants “constructive and fair” commercial relations with China but will defend its national security and oppose China’s attempts to dominate international competitors. Yellen outlined the Biden administration’s economic goals for the world’s two major economies in Treasury excerpts amid continued conflicts preventing high-level meetings. Yellen, who plans to visit Beijing to speak with her new economic colleagues, said the U.S. was the world’s largest and most dynamic economy, leading in wealth and technology. Our success comes from our people, principles, and institutions, not resources or geography. “American democracy, while…

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Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) will slash infrastructure and private banking employees to save money; a source told Reuters on Thursday. On April 27, Germany’s largest bank will report first-quarter results. The source said the cost-cutting measures would not affect preparations to replace deputy CEO Karl von Rohr, who the bank said would not renew his board membership after October. In February, Deutsche CEO Christian Sewing suggested job cutbacks were possible. Sewing had to cut costs when the bank concluded its transition phase in 2022 with a lower cost-to-income ratio. Deutsche has high cost-to-income ratios. Bloomberg reported the board reshuffle.

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President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will meet next week to discuss North Korea’s increasing nuclear and missile capabilities. Yoon’s April 24-29 official visit to the U.S. will mark the 70th anniversary of the countries’ partnership. The two presidents will discuss North Korea’s deterrence, supply chain stability, chip, battery, and other high-tech collaboration. “It will be an opportunity to further solidify the combined defence posture and operate extended deterrence between the two countries in a more concrete manner, while deepening economic security cooperation,” deputy national security adviser Kim Tae-hyo told a briefing. Since conservative Yoon assumed…

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On Thursday, Nokia (NOKIA.HE) reported first-quarter operating profit below market expectations and warned customer spending was slowing. It maintained its full-year outlook and predicted greater second-half profitability. Refinitiv analysts predicted 532.4 million euros for first-quarter comparable operating profit, which declined to 479 million euros ($524.94 million) from 583 million euros last year. Nokia and Ericsson (ERICb.ST) have relied on sales growth in India, where telecom operators establish a 5G network, to offset slowdowns in high-margin countries like the US. “What we are seeing in India at the moment is the fastest 5G rollout the world has ever seen,” Nokia CEO…

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According to Reuters, a Tunisian investigating magistrate sentenced Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi to prison on Thursday. She stated that Ghannouchi was arrested on Monday for planning against internal state security after an eight-hour inquiry. Several prominent politicians have been arrested this year for accusing Saied of a coup for closing parliament and ruling by decree before amending the constitution. “It was a ready decision to imprison Ghannouchi only because of Ghannouchi’s expression of his opinion,” lawyer Monia Bouali told Reuters. After the judge’s verdict, Ghannouchi’s official Facebook page posted: “I am optimistic about the future… Tunisia is free”. Saied dissolved…

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On Wednesday, Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) announced it would invest 1.7 billion reais ($337.68 million) to build a hybrid, flex-fuel compact car in Brazil that runs on gasoline, ethanol, and electric power. In 2019, Toyota unveiled Brazil’s first hybrid flex-fuel vehicle, a variant of its flagship Corolla sedan. Most automobiles in the country can run on 100% ethanol. Unlike General Motors (GM.N) and Ford (F.N), which have focused on completely electric cars, Stellantis (STLAM.MI) and Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) are investing in the technology. Toyota’s local leader, Rafael Chang, and Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas attended the announcement. Toyota will invest…

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On Wednesday, at London’s High Court, German discount supermarket Lidl won a trademark dispute against Britain’s largest retailer, Tesco (TSCO.L). Lidl sued Tesco in 2020 because Tesco promoted its “Clubcard Prices” discount scheme with a yellow circle on a blue backdrop. Tesco’s Clubcard Price plan is promoted in stores, sometimes adjacent to reduced products. Judge Joanna Smith said on Wednesday that Tesco had “taken unfair advantage of the distinctive reputation” of Lidl’s trademarks for low costs. The judge rejected Lidl’s claim that Tesco had “the deliberate subjective intention of riding on Lidl’s coattails.” A Lidl representative said, “We are pleased…

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On Wednesday, the U.S. targeted Chinese, Iranian, and other companies and suppliers in a procurement network suspected of assisting Iran’s drone and military programs. The U.S. Treasury Department said it imposed sanctions on the head of Iran’s Pardazan System Namad Arman (PASNA), which was already under sanctions, and the entity’s front companies and suppliers in Iran, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and China that Washington said have enabled PASNA’s procurement of goods and technology. Washington’s latest UAV attack against Iran. “The network sanctioned today has procured goods and technology for the Iranian government and its defense industry and UAV program,” said Treasury…

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On Wednesday, anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a member of a political dynasty, will declare a long-shot quest to challenge President Joe Biden for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination. Kennedy, 69, had little chance of winning, but his campaign could help him promote the scientifically disproven belief that infant vaccines are harmful. Kennedy was banned from YouTube and Instagram for disseminating vaccination and COVID-19 disinformation. He is the nephew of John F. Kennedy, who was slain in 1963, and the son of Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968 during his presidential campaign. Kennedy will likely underscore these…

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BYD’s Seagull draws Shanghai car show crowds. The Shanghai car show’s greatest crowds surround BYD (002594. SZ)’s a bright yellow hatchback. “Seagull,” BYD’s latest EV, launched at the exhibition this week, impressing attendees with its low price of 78,000 yuan ($11,300)—half the price of the cheapest new energy vehicles. “It’s my kind of car, it’s suitable for driving to and from work, and you don’t need to manage anything, just use the battery… it’s also a relatively low cost product,” said Fan Yuhong, 28, an advertising professional who visited the event and was at the booth. BYD says the car…

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On Tuesday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva decried Russia’s breach of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and again called for mediation to stop the war, which the Ukrainian government criticized. At lunch, Lula told Romanian President Klaus Iohannis that a coalition of neutral nations must help broker peace between Russia and Ukraine. He said over the weekend that Western allies were extending the battle by delivering armaments to Ukraine. A White House official accused Lula of” parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda without looking at the facts” On Tuesday, the White House said Lula’s” tone was not one of neutrality.” A…

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BluSmart, an Indian ride-hailing startup, is betting on an all-electric taxi fleet to take market share from Uber and Ola. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clean energy program is expected to transform India’s transport business, affecting ride-hailing companies. Uber (UBER.N) and SoftBank-backed Ola struggle with driver retention and consumer satisfaction, so a full switch to EVs may be a huge undertaking. BluSmart, a new entry, hopes to top combustion engine-powered competition on electrification, cleanliness, and dependability by directly managing its fleet and drivers. Drivers cannot cancel BluSmart app bookings. “BluSmart delivers clean, on-time automobiles. “Having your fleet allows you to do…

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According to two sources, Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O) is building an artificial intelligence processor called “Athena” to power AI chatbots like ChatGPT, the Information said on Tuesday. The article said a small group of Microsoft and OpenAI employees is testing the chip, which the company, an early backer of ChatGPT-owner OpenAI, has been working on since 2019. According to the study, the chips will train large-language models and support inference. Generative AI like ChatGPT must process enormous input quantities, spot patterns, and create new outputs to resemble human interaction. According to the source, Microsoft hopes the chip would outperform those from…

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Monday saw Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe add Eversheds Sutherland partners in Germany and France. Paris restructuring practice head Aurélien Loric joins Orrick. Orrick stated that Loric brings a four-attorney Eversheds team that advises funds on financial and operational restructurings. Loric is Orrick’s first partner hire from a Paris rival since August 2021. Loric said the tech industry-focused legal firm’s worldwide platform would allow his team to serve debt funds and financial investors on larger cross-border transactions and collaborate on a tech company and founder deals. Werner Brickwedde joins the energy transaction practice in Dusseldorf, Germany, after leading Eversheds’ national M&A…

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As the dollar and bond rates fell on Tuesday, gold prices rose above $2,000 as investors considered whether the U.S. Federal Reserve would pause its rate-hike cycle after a widely expected increase in May. After touching a two-week low of $1,981.19 the previous session, spot gold was up 0.7% at $2,008.55 per ounce at 1025 a.m. EDT (1425 GMT). U.S. gold futures rose 0.6% to $2,020.10. While benchmark U.S. Treasury yields fell, the dollar index rose, making greenback-priced bullion more appealing to foreign buyers. Gold traders want rate reduction quickly. “The market has priced in a summer cutting cycle,” said…

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After weeks of protests and outrage over his unpopular plans to raise the retirement age, French President Emmanuel Macron handed himself 100 days to heal the country on Monday, ordering his cabinet to initiate discussions with unions on various problems. Macron asked his prime minister to address labor conditions, peace and order, education, and health in a televised speech two days after signing into law a two-year retirement age raised to 64. Macron stated, “On July 14, we must be able to take stock,” alluding to Bastille Day, France’s national day and a political milestone. “We have ahead of us…

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Bank of America Corp.’s (BAC.N) first-quarter profit rose as customers’ interest payments increased while the Federal Reserve raised borrowing costs. In the first quarter, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM.N) and Citigroup Inc. (C.N) also profited from higher interest payments while setting away billions to brace for a weaker economy. “Results were strong despite a challenging economic environment with market and banking sector volatility,” Bank of America CFO Alastair Borthwick said on Tuesday. The results boosted the company’s premarket shares by 3%. In March, two U.S. lenders collapsed, raising recession fears. As a result, Bank stocks plummeted as frightened depositors moved…

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In an interview published Tuesday, Italy’s data protection watchdog chief Pasquale Stanzione said the ChatGPT chatbot could return at the end of April if OpenAI takes “useful steps” to resolve the agency’s concerns. Microsoft Corp.-backed OpenAI took ChatGPT down in Italy in late March after the watchdog temporarily prohibited its data processing and initiated a probe into a suspected privacy violation. If OpenAI takes useful measures, we’ll reopen ChatGPT on April 30. “I think the company has, let’s see,” Stanzione told Corriere della Sera. Last week, Stanzione’s data protection office gave OpenAI a list of demands to rectify its issues…

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On Tuesday, British energy market regulator Ofgem announced a tighter code of practice with energy suppliers for forced prepayment meter installation. In February, Ofgem ordered all suppliers to cease forcing such meters into people’s homes and launched an immediate inquiry into British Gas, part of Centrica (CNA.L). The new guidelines prohibit involuntary prepayment meter installation in houses with residents over 85 or extremely unwell.

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The Polish agricultural minister told public radio station PR1 that Poland and Ukraine would resume talks early on Tuesday to reopen food and grain transit. On Monday, the two nations discussed central-eastern European prohibitions to protect farmers from cheaper Ukrainian grain. After Russia invaded Ukraine, logistical bottlenecks trapped enormous amounts of Ukrainian grain in Central Europe. We are negotiating with the EU and Ukraine. “We want these products to go deep into Europe,” stated Agriculture Minister Robert Telus. “We talked long yesterday. We’re also meeting today.”These are technical talks to solve this transit to Europe,” he said.

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As Group of Seven foreign ministers in Japan blasted a Russian plan to install nuclear weapons in Belarus, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited security forces in portions of Ukraine that Russia claims it seized last year. The Kremlin claimed that Putin attended a military command meeting in Kherson and a national guard headquarters in Luhansk. He visited without Kremlin notification. Commanders of the airborne forces briefed him, the “Dnieper” army group, and other senior officers at Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk are three of the four eastern territories Putin annexed in September. However, Russia only partially controlled the…

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New battery sourcing restrictions would deny Volkswagen, BMW, Nissan, Rivian, Hyundai, and Volvo electric vehicles a $7,500 tax credit, the U.S. Treasury announced Monday. The Treasury announced Tuesday that the Tesla (TSLA.O) Model 3 Standard Range Rear Wheel Drive will lose half its $7,500 credit to $3,750, although other Tesla models will keep it. Credit-losing cars On Tuesday are the BMW (BMWG.DE) 330e, BMW X5 xDrive45e, Genesis Electrified GV70, Nissan Leaf (7201.T), Rivian (RIVN.O) R1S and R1T, Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) ID.4, Audi Q5 TFSI e Quattro, and Volvo S60. Zhejiang Geely Holding Group owns 82% of the Swedish automaker. President Joe…

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According to sources, Apple (AAPL.O) CEO Tim Cook will meet India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and deputy IT minister this week to open the iPhone maker’s first retail store in the country. This week, Cook’s visit to establish the first formal company-owned stores in Mumbai and New Delhi shows Apple’s enormous ambitions for India. It has been expanding iPhone assembly via contract manufacturers and exports despite a 3% market share. According to sources, Apple (AAPL.O) CEO Tim Cook will meet India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and deputy IT minister this week to open the iPhone maker’s first retail store in…

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Britain wants fintech banks to grow. On Monday, Britain’s financial authorities announced they would create a new agency to promote banking competition through fintech apps over the next two years. Open banking—third-party firms accessing financial data from conventional lenders to offer personalized services like loans or payments—has helped make Britain’s fintech sector the world’s third largest. In 2018, Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority ordered banks to share data with other corporations if clients consented to open banking, utilized by around 7 million people and businesses. Regulators aim to establish a long-term body to promote open banking and expand it to…

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ISS advises investors to endorse the Barclays board. As investigations into former CEO Jes Staley’s ties to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein continue, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has advised Barclays investors to re-elect all board members at its annual meeting in May. In a Monday report, the influential proxy advisor stated that “questions may be posed” about the board’s judgment in backing Staley between 2019 and 2021. Still, evaluating the voting implications for director elections may be premature. “Although it is accepted that the Board could only have acted based on information available to it at the time… given how recently…

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The new BOJ chief’s message to the world: We’re keeping the course. Last week, Japan’s new central bank governor, Kazuo Ueda, told officials at global financial meetings here that the country will remain a dovish outlier by keeping interest rates ultra-low for now. Ueda has hinted at the end of Haruhiko Kuroda’s enormous stimulus since taking over a week ago. Ueda has every motive to reassure the world that changing the ultra-loose policy will take time. “Many countries have high or slow inflation. However, on Wednesday, Ueda told reporters, “The important thing is that the situation is quite different in…

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On Sunday, the judge delayed Dominion Voting Systems’ $1.6 billion defamation trial against Fox by a day, with a source indicating the media giant was negotiating a settlement. Fox was pursuing a settlement, the unnamed source told Reuters. However, according to insiders, Fox was also negotiating a deal. Dominion is suing Fox Corp (FOXA.O) and Fox News for defamation over their 2020 presidential election coverage. “The Court has decided to continue the start of the trial, including jury selection, until Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. (1300 GMT),” Judge Eric Davis stated in a statement without reason. “I will…

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On Saturday, a top official said Russia’s spring military conscription campaign is going as planned, and there are no plans to send out mass electronic warnings under a new mechanism put into law by President Vladimir Putin. Colonel Andrei Biryukov, a draft officer at an armed forces department, appeared to dispel speculation that Russia may rapidly employ the new method to undertake another mass call-up for the Ukraine war. Russia conscripts 147,000 18-to-27-year-old men between April 1 and July 15 as part of its twice-yearly conscription cycle. “Permanent deployment points on the territory of the Russian Federation” will receive the…

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French President Emmanuel Macron signed a law raising the state pension age on Saturday, sparking protests. After months of protests, France’s Constitutional Council authorized the main pension-age raise on Friday, which the government hurried through parliament without a vote. Protests followed the Constitutional Council’s state pension age increase to 64 from 62. Parisians burnt trash bins, and Renne villagers burned a police station door on Friday night. Trade unions encouraged May 1 Labour Day marches despite Constitutional Council permission. Macron refused Tuesday’s invitation. The president’s centerpiece pension reform prevents billions of euros in deficit by the decade’s end. “Never give…

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On Saturday, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated a willingness to improve their ties, ideally in the coming months, as Washington seeks partners to oppose an increasingly aggressive China. Blinken met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on his first official visit to the indispensable Southeast Asian nation. Before their meeting, he noted “extraordinary progress” in bilateral relations over the last decade. “We have now hope to be able to take it to an even higher level, deepening even further the economic partnerships,” Blinken added, noting that the two nations celebrate their…

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On Saturday, France’s energy transition minister said that the Group of Seven affluent nations had agreed to reduce gas usage, increase renewable electricity, phase out fossil fuels quicker, and build no new coal-fired facilities. On the first two days of climate and energy discussions in Sapporo, northern Japan, France’s Agnes Pannier-Runacher, I told reporters that G7 environment and energy ministers could not agree on a coal power departure date. “The G7 countries have agreed to reduce energy and gas consumption as the first response to the energy crisis.” For the first time, the G7 acknowledged that we must speed up…

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Milorad Dodik informed Serbia on Friday that he was seriously contemplating declaring the autonomous Serb Republic separate from Bosnia unless a property law dispute is settled. Dodik’s rigidity A century after its tragic war, Serb nationalism, and pro-Russian posture have fuelled concerns that Bosnia may divide again along ethnic lines. “We are considering in the most serious terms to bring a decision to declare independence and secede Republika Srpska unless the property issue is solved,” Dodik stated. Milorad Dodik informed Serbia on Friday that he was seriously contemplating declaring the autonomous Serb Republic separate from Bosnia unless a property law…

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On Friday, Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed Hungary had abandoned a Budapest-based Russian bank because U.S. sanctions had “ruined” it. The NATO leader with the closest relations to Russia told state radio that Hungary was an essential U.S. ally but disagreed on the Ukraine war. Orban said Hungary would fight the U.S.’s “not given up on its plan to squeeze everyone into a war alliance” because it does not sell weapons to Ukraine. On Thursday, Orban’s administration declared it would leave IIB, which sponsors Eastern European development projects and moved its headquarters to Budapest from Moscow in 2019. Russia is…

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On Friday, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia would surprise test its Pacific naval fleet with missile launches and torpedoes. US-South Korea air exercises followed North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile launch. “The main objective of this inspection is to increase the ability of the Armed Forces to repel the aggression of a probable enemy from the direction of ocean and sea,” Shoigu said on state television. Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov said Russia’s naval soldiers would be on high alert and deployed to combat rehearsal sites. The maneuvers will simulate an enemy assault on Russia’s Sakhalin Island and the…

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US document leak suspect will appear in court.  A 21-year-old Air Force National Guard soldier accused of releasing highly sensitive military intelligence information online will appear before a federal court in Boston on Friday. On Thursday, the FBI detained North Dighton resident Jack Douglas Teixeira. The New York Times reported last week that the leaked secret papers at the center of the probe were uploaded on a social networking platform in March or earlier. It may be the worst security compromise since WikiLeaks released 700,000 documents, videos, and diplomatic cables in 2010. The disclosures, which revealed Ukrainian military weaknesses and…

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On Friday, struggling British apparel firm Superdry (SDRY.L) contemplated a 20% stock raising sponsored by founder and CEO Julian Dunkerton. The business, whose shares have plunged 37% over the last year, has lowered its earnings outlook from “broadly breakeven” to 615 million pounds to 635 million pounds ($771-$796 million). Superdry, which cautioned on earnings in January, said February and March retail sales fell short. It stated the cost-of-living problem and adverse weather affected spring-summer sales. Superdry claimed its wholesale sector continues to underperform. Superdry sold its Asia-Pacific intellectual property rights to South Korea’s Cowell Fashion Company (033290. KQ) for $50…

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Pierre Wunsch, a Belgian policymaker, suggested that the European Central Bank accelerate its balance sheet reduction and stop reinvesting maturing debt in its largest asset purchase plan to support interest rate rises. The ECB has been raising rates at a record pace and decreasing its balance sheet, hoping that higher borrowing costs will reduce demand and inflation. “We need to do more on quantitative tightening,” Wunsch told Reuters at the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington. “Even if we stop reinvestments this year, it will take years to run down the portfolio.” Wunsch said the ECB’s 3.2 trillion…

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On Thursday, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva urged policymakers against a new Cold War as they increase attempts to protect industrial supply chains amid geopolitical tensions between major nations. Can we increase supply security without starting a second Cold War? In Washington, Georgieva held a press conference. “It’s possible.” Georgieva, who grew up in Bulgaria during the Cold War, said she didn’t want to see it happen again. On Wednesday, G7 finance chiefs vowed to empower low- and middle-income nations to diversify supply chains to make them more robust and sustainable. Their communique did not mention China. However,…

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Transforming the Recruitment Industry: Nina Ildari’s Impact with Summit Human Capital Discover the inspiring story of CEO Nina Ildari and the success of Summit Human Capital in human resources, talent management, and leadership development. Learn how they became industry leaders. KEY TAKEAWAYS Nina Ildari is the CEO of Summit Human Capital, a leading recruitment and staffing firm. She has a background in engineering and a passion for human resources and talent management. Nina started Summit Human Capital in 2015 with a focus on providing quality staffing services to businesses. Under her leadership, Summit Human Capital has grown rapidly and…

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The Journey to the Top: Bryan Perkins and Penguin Home Solutions Meet CEO Bryan Perkins, founder of Penguin Home Solutions. Learn how his business consulting, strategic planning, and leadership development have helped turn his company into a success. KEY TAKEAWAYS Bryan Perkins is the CEO of Penguin Home Solutions, a home improvement company based in California.  Penguin Home Solutions specializes in kitchen and bathroom remodeling, as well as energy-efficient upgrades. Bryan has a strong background in business and finance, having worked in the finance industry before joining Penguin Home Solutions.  He has a passion for helping people improve their homes…

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Building Trust in Cybersecurity: The Story of Vanta and CEO Christina Cacioppo Vanta offers cybersecurity solutions that include compliance and risk management to protect your business from data breaches and other security threats. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEO Christina Cacioppo has a diverse background in technology and entrepreneurship. She co-founded Vanta, a software company that helps businesses automate their security compliance. Vanta’s mission is to simplify and streamline the compliance process for businesses. The company has gained recognition and funding from notable investors in the tech industry. Vanta’s innovative approach to security compliance has led to its rapid growth and success. In…

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China’s Foreign Ministry sanctioned U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Michael McCaul on Thursday for sending a “serious wrong signal to Taiwan independence separatist forces” by visiting Taiwan. China regards democratically-governed Taiwan as its territory and firmly opposes all high-level exchanges between foreign and Taiwanese authorities, especially those involving Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen. Last week, McCaul met Tsai in Taipei and pledged to help train Taiwan’s military and expedite weapon deliveries. China’s Foreign Ministry claimed Republican McCaul repeatedly interfered in China’s domestic affairs and endangered China’s interests. He recently led a delegation to Taiwan, “seriously harming China’s sovereignty and territorial…

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On Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden said investigators were closing in on the source of the leak of highly sensitive intelligence papers, the worst security breach in a decade. After the Pentagon sent the case to the Department of Justice last week, the investigation began. Reuters has studied more than 50 “Secret” and “Top Secret” papers but has not independently verified their authenticity. The number of leaked documents is likely over 100. “There’s a full blown investigation going on, as you know, with the intelligence community and the Justice Department, and they’re getting close but I don’t have an answer,”…

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Former President Donald Trump landed in New York on Thursday to be questioned by the state’s attorney general in a $250 million civil fraud lawsuit against him, he claimed in a series of midnight social media posts. The deposition will be private and unlikely to get the same attention as his surrender on unrelated criminal charges last week. Trump, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, will be questioned about his business practices by New York Attorney General Letitia James in Lower Manhattan. He and others are accused of a decade-long plan to falsify property valuations and…

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Team Building’s Michael Alexis: A Biography Team Building provides corporate event planning and employee engagement solutions. Improve team morale and productivity with their services. KEY TAKEAWAYS Michael Alexis was a successful entrepreneur and leader in the field of team building.  He was the founder of Team Building, Inc., a company that specialized in helping organizations create a culture of collaboration.  He developed a unique approach to team building that focused on creating an environment of trust, understanding, and respect.  He was an avid learner and always sought out new ways to improve his team-building techniques. He was a strong advocate…

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A securities report on Wednesday showed that Chevron Corp (CVX.N) CEO Michael Wirth was paid $23.6 million in 2022, up 4% from the previous year, while the median employee wage fell 12%. High oil prices and cost-cutting increased Chevron’s 2022 earnings to $36.5 billion. Chevron workers made $161,488 last year. Equity awards, pension benefit adjustments, and other remuneration increased Wirth’s “actual compensation paid” by 60% to $86.7 million under new SEC standards. Since it comprised equity-based rewards, Chevron claimed it did not reflect Wirth’s actual realized income. Last year, You Sow’s 100 CEOs with unjustified compensation ranked Wirth 87th. You…

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A Canadian government source said Thursday that Canada and South Korea would start information security talks to strengthen intelligence-sharing and security. The anonymous source stated that Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly would announce the concept in Seoul this week. Intelligence-sharing, defense cooperation, and Canadian procurement bids are allowed under the proposed arrangement. “This cooperation is all the more important given the current threats to global security and the rules-based international order,” the source said. October saw Canada-Japan information-sharing. Tokyo awaits Joly after South Korea. Canada established an Indo-Pacific policy in November, committing C$2.3 billion ($1.7 billion) for military and cyber…

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On Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden, a patriotic Irish-American, ended his three-day trip to Ireland with an address to parliament and a dinner at Dublin Castle, shifting his focus from Northern Irish peace to honoring his roots. It feels great. Biden told reporters on Wednesday afternoon that seeing Carlingford Castle, near his family’s Irish birthplace, was like going home. On Thursday evening, Biden will be honored at a dinner at St. Patrick’s Hall in Dublin Castle, joining Queen Elizabeth II and John F. Kennedy. He will meet with Ireland’s president and prime minister in the afternoon and address a joint…

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Five people with intimate knowledge of the issue say European Central Bank policymakers are leaning toward a 25 basis point interest rate rise in May, even if alternative options remain on the table. To combat excessive inflation, the ECB has increased rates by at least 50 basis points at six consecutive meetings, the quickest pace on record. However, the unnamed sources told Reuters that several considerations now encourage increasing caution. After last month’s financial sector turbulence, uncertainty remains high, and prior rate rises have yet to take root; therefore, less is needed, sources added. They highlighted that rates are peaking,…

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A source told Reuters on Thursday that India’s financial crime-fighting agency is investigating the BBC’s foreign currency infractions months after tax investigators inspected its Mumbai and Delhi offices. A BBC documentary detailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2002 Gujarat riot leadership preceded the February tax searches. Then, the rioting murdered 1,000 Muslims. The ED is investigating under India’s Foreign Exchange Management Act. The source, who requested anonymity due to the delicacy of the topic, said the agency notified the BBC in March and questioned several staff this month. Calls and texts to an ED representative went unanswered. Emails to the BBC…

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On Thursday, a senior parliamentarian told business publication Vedomosti that Moscow markets would restrict shares in “unfriendly” defense businesses. Vedomosti quoted the first deputy chair of the State Duma’s financial markets commission, Konstantin Bakharev, as calling the lack of a ban “unacceptable and amoral.” The tabloid said Russia’s finance ministry supported the prohibition. Russia issued its “unfriendly” nations list in 2021. The US, all EU member states, and several other nations have sanctioned Moscow for the Ukraine war.

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Chinese electric vehicle maker Zeekr launched a compact, all-electric sport utility vehicle, targeting a premium market in China that German automakers have dominated. The Geely-owned [RIC:RIC: GEELY.The UL] brand also planned to offer the SUV-styled Zeekr X and its Zeekr 001 EV sedan in Western Europe without saying when. With a starting price of 189,800 yuan ($27,615.31) in China, the Zeekr X offers features such as facial recognition to unlock the car and an option for an in-vehicle refrigerator, Chief Executive Andy An told an event in China’s southwestern city of Chengdu. A said Zeekr X deliveries in China would…

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Trump tweeted on Thursday that he was in Manhattan for a deposition with New York attorney general Letitia James. In September, James sued Trump and his three adult children for fraud for misstating real estate property assessments to get loans and tax benefits in Manhattan state court. Trump filed suit against James. In March, Trump asked for a six-month delay to review the “staggering” information, including millions of pages of data, and interview dozens of witnesses. In another Truth Social post on Thursday, Trump stated, “I will finally be able to show what a great, profitable, and valuable company I…

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SnapNurse’s Visionary Leader: The Jeff Richards Biography Discover the story of Jeff Richards, the visionary leader behind SnapNurse – the innovative healthcare staffing platform disrupting the industry. Learn about his background, achievements, and mission. Follow Jeff’s journey to revolutionize healthcare staffing. KEY TAKEAWAYS Jeff Richards is the CEO and visionary leader of SnapNurse, an innovative healthcare staffing platform. He has a strong background in healthcare, having worked as a nurse and hospital administrator before founding SnapNurse. SnapNurse’s on-demand staffing model and commitment to customer service have earned it recognition from industry leaders and numerous awards for excellence. The company’s response…

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The Highkey Entrepreneur: Aditya Pate’s Journey to Success HighKey offers leadership development and personal growth resources. Elevate your career and unlock your potential. KEY TAKEAWAYS Aditya Pate is the CEO of HighKey, a successful e-commerce company. Aditya’s journey to success has been shaped by his dedication to personal growth and leadership development. HighKey’s success is a testament to Aditya’s vision and entrepreneurial spirit. Aditya’s story is an inspiration to anyone who wants to achieve greatness in business and life. Hard work, resilience, and a passion for personal growth are essential ingredients for success. Aditya’s legacy will continue to inspire future…

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On Wednesday, the Biden administration asked major meatpackers to verify their supply chains for child labor. The Department of Labor supported the letter to end child labor. Since 2018, U.S. child labor has climbed 69%. According to the Labor Department, Packers Sanitation Services Inc., which cleans meatpacker slaughterhouses, unlawfully employed over 100 children in February. As a result, the city corporation was fined $1.5 million. Tom Vilsack’s letter urged meat and poultry companies to monitor their supply chains for child labor and enhance subcontractor child labor laws. Vilsack advised food manufacturers, especially those with market power, to monitor supplier standards…

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On Wednesday in the US, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stated Poland wants to be Europe’s Abrams tank service center. “I want a Polish Abrams tank servicing center for Europe to ensure war readiness. “This is possible; I am in talks regarding this…,” Morawiecki told a Polish public television press conference in Anniston, Alabama. “We want Poland to make Abrams depleted uranium ammunition cores.” Poland, a NATO partner of the US, bought 250 advanced Abrams combat tanks and 116 modernized ones. He claimed, “…I have confirmation that by June at the latest 14 Abrams tanks will be delivered to Poland…” to…

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Macron backs China interview – French ambassador, On Wednesday, a senior diplomat said French President Emmanuel Macron is not retracting his words in China asking the E.U. to minimize dependence on the U.S. Macron warned Politico and Les Echos against getting sucked into a Taiwan issue fueled by “American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction.” Former U.S. President Donald Trump called him “kissing ass” to Beijing. According to the anonymous French ambassador, Macron’s position on Taiwan and China has not altered. “This is something the president stands by entirely,” he added in the interview. The ambassador said Politico’s title, “Europe must…

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The 50 Wealthiest Individuals in the Philippines Learn about the 50 wealthiest people in the Philippines, including their net worth and the industries they come from. Find out who made the list of the Philippines’ billionaires and how they got to the top. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Philippines 50 Richest People list is an annual ranking by Forbes The list was released in 2019 and features 50 individuals with a combined net worth of US$74.2 billion The top 5 wealthiest individuals in the Philippines are: Henry Sy (net worth US$17.2 billion) John Gokongwei Jr. (net worth US$7.1 billion) Enrique Razon Jr.…

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Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) focuses on more profitable premium travel to prepare for a recession. The U.S. carrier’s CEO, Ed Bastian, told Reuters that all planes would feature premium seats this summer. Around 2% of Delta’s fleet, dozens of 50-seat planes, lack the seats. The Atlanta-based carrier announced quarterly profits on Thursday and said it would offer 15,000 more premium seats a day throughout its network this year than pre-pandemic. It wouldn’t elaborate. Bastian said Delta wants to entice customers prepared to pay for anything besides a seat, helping drive company profitability. “It also lifts us out of the commodity trap,”…

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A senior U.S. source said President Joe Biden would honor the 25th anniversary of Northern Ireland’s 1998 peace settlement in Belfast on Wednesday and discuss his “strong desire” to enhance U.S. investment there with political leaders. Biden, proud of his Irish background, will spend little over half a day in the U.K., including a meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, before heading south to the Irish Republic for two-and-a-half days of speeches and meetings with officials and distant relatives. The devolved powersharing government, a major feature of the 1998 peace settlement, has not convened for almost a year owing…

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On Wednesday, Merck (MRCG.DE) announced it would spend 300 million euros ($327.90 million) in Hometown, U.S.’s biggest integrated specialty gas facility. The Pennsylvania deal promotes “growth of production capacity for the semiconductor sector,” it noted. In a press release, the science and technology business stated it would invest “considerably more than 3 billion euros” in innovations and capacity expansions to boost its semiconductor solutions segment.

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Vice President William Lai encouraged the Taiwanese to “choose democracy” a day after China ceased military drills surrounding the self-ruled island. Beijing held three drills and combat training days on Tuesday after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles last week. In his first speech after gaining the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) nomination, Lai compared Tsai’s defense of democracy with that of her predecessor, former president Ma Ying-jeou from the major opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), who visited China while Tsai was in the U.S. “Former President Ma walked back inside the framework…

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The Taliban called the banning an “internal problem,” while the U.N. expressed concern and said it would review its efforts in Afghanistan. “All parties should obey the policy,” Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Wednesday. The judgment contradicts the U.N. charter. It has told employees not to enter until May 5 for meetings and operations inspections. The U.N. Mission to Afghanistan cautioned the Taliban on Tuesday of the embargo’s humanitarian repercussions. Mujahid blamed other nations for the humanitarian crisis created by banking sector sanctions and freezing Afghan central bank assets overseas, some in a Swiss trust fund. Diplomats and aid workers…

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On Wednesday, Mercedes-Benz Group (MBGn.DE) reported that EV and luxury car sales increased marginally in the first quarter. Europe grew 8% to 503,500 automobiles. Sales of 51,600 EVs nearly doubled in the quarter. The top-end segment—which includes AMG, Maybach, and G-class—grew 18% to 91,800. Mercedes board member Britta Seeger said both areas performed well “despite continued supply chain problems, economic difficulties and geopolitical uncertainty.” Mercedes-Benz Vans sales rose 12% to 98,900, its greatest first-quarter record. Volvo (VOLVb.ST) recorded first-quarter earnings on Wednesday, indicating the business has overcome industry constraints and inflation.

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On Wednesday, U.S. President Joseph Biden will meet British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Northern Irish political leaders in Belfast to commemorate Northern Ireland’s 1998 peace treaty. Biden, proud of his Irish background, will spend little over half a day in the U.K. before heading south to Ireland for two-and-a-half days of speeches and meetings with officials and distant relatives. Biden told reporters before departing Washington that he wanted to “maintain the peace” as Northern Ireland commemorates the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ended 30 years of conflict between Catholic opponents and Protestant supporters of British authority. He also pledged…

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British banknote producer De La Rue Plc (DLAR.L) said Wednesday it expects full-year earnings for fiscal 2023 to be below market estimates due to banknote demand at its lowest level in over 20 years. De La Rue said the currency decline was also clouding its 2024 projection. Due to the worsening outlook, the 200-year-old firm is negotiating with its lenders to change its banking conditions and has asked its pension trustee to withhold its next deficit contribution. The business forecasts 2023 adjusted operating profit to be mid-single-digit below market expectations. It forecasts a low 20 million pound adjusted operating profit…

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The World Health Organization (WHO) said that a rare bird flu strain killed a Chinese woman but did not spread. The WHO said late Tuesday that a 56-year-old lady from Guangdong was the third H3N8 avian influenza patient. China has had all instances, with the first two reported last year. The Guangdong Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention disclosed the third infection late last month but did not mention the woman’s death. The WHO reported various underlying diseases and live poultry exposure. China’s massive poultry and wild bird populations spread avian flu viruses, causing occasional human illnesses. The WHO…

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A preliminary filing late Tuesday revealed that truck maker AB Volvo (VOLVb.ST) had overcome industry constraints and inflation to announce record first-quarter earnings as sales and margins climbed. A Refinitiv poll of experts predicted 12.9 billion Swedish crowns for the group’s adjusted January-March operating profit, which jumped 45% to 18.4 billion crowns ($1.76 billion). Volvo, Daimler Truck (DTGGe.DE), and Traton (8TRA.DE) have suffered from semiconductor shortages, supply chain challenges, and freight capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukrainian war. Volvo’s prior quarter net sales were 131.4 billion crowns, up from 105.3 billion a year earlier, while experts projected…

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On Tuesday, sources said Emerson Electric (EMR.N) is in advanced discussions to purchase National Instruments Inc (NATI.O) for $8 billion. Sources said Emerson outbid Fortive Corp (FTV.N) and Keysight Technologies Inc (KEYS.N) with a $60 per share offer for National Instruments. The sources warned that the agreement might fall apart at the last minute but could be unveiled this week. Due to confidentiality, sources requested anonymity. National Instruments, Emerson, Fortive, and Keysight did not reply to requests for comment. National Instruments began a formal selling process in January after Emerson threatened to challenge its board if it did not negotiate.…

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Sustainable Cryptocurrency: The Key to Fintech’s Future Growth Discover the potential of sustainable cryptocurrency and its ability to revolutionize fintech. Learn how this new technology is changing the way people view and use money. Unlock the future of sustainable cryptocurrency and its impact on the world of finance. KEY TAKEAWAYS Learn about the potential of sustainable cryptocurrency and its ability to revolutionize fintech Understand the impact this technology has on the way people view and use money Discover how sustainable cryptocurrency is changing the world of finance Explore the potential of this new technology and its implications for the…

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Sustainable Investing: A Beginner’s Guide with Fintech Tips and Strategies Discover how fintech is revolutionizing sustainable investing. Learn how fintech enables more efficient, cost-effective, and transparent investing, making it more attractive to investors. KEY TAKEAWAYS Fintech is playing a major role in the growth of sustainable investing. It has enabled more people to access sustainable investing, including those with smaller amounts of capital. Fintech has enabled more efficient ways of investing and has made sustainable investing more accessible and transparent. Fintech allows for more data-driven, automated investing. Fintech is creating new opportunities for investors to engage with, and benefit…

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On Tuesday, the Kremlin said Wall Street Journal writer Evan Gershkovich had “violated Russian law” and been caught “red-handed,” one day after the U.S. State Department declared him “wrongfully detained” by Russia. The White House, several Western countries, the Wall Street Journal, hundreds of media organizations, and human rights groups denounced Gershkovich’s FSB espionage arrest last month. The United States Monday judgment that he was “wrongfully imprisoned” implies that he was targeted solely because he is an American citizen. It’s shifting of the case from the State Department to the Special Envoy for Hostage Issues enhances the issue’s political prominence.…

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Exploring the Role of Fintech in Advancing the Circular Economy Fintech is revolutionizing the way businesses finance their circular economy operations. Learn how to leverage fintech solutions to optimize circular economy financing and unlock value. KEY TAKEAWAYS The circular economy can be a powerful tool in tackling climate change and environmental issues. Fintech can play a key role in advancing the circular economy by providing financial services that encourage or enable reuse, recycling, and sharing of products and resources. Some of the ways fintech can support the circular economy include:  Creating loan or investment products to support circular businesses  Providing…

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Unlocking the Potential of Green Lending in Fintech Discover how green lending solutions in fintech can unlock opportunities to support sustainability and combat climate change. Learn how this new type of financial service can help drive the green economy. KEY TAKEAWAYS Green lending is a type of financial service that uses technology to promote sustainability and reduce environmental impact.  Fintech companies can use green lending to support businesses and individuals in transitioning to a green economy.  Green lending has the potential to drive economic development, reduce energy costs, and create green jobs.  There are several challenges to green lending,…

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Ford Motor Co. (F.N.) announced Tuesday that it would begin retooling its Oakville, Ontario SUV assembly factory to make electric vehicles next year, meeting a 2020 contract agreement with Canada’s Unifor union. Ford officials indicated Tuesday during a conference call that the Oakville facility will be overhauled in the second quarter of 2024, idle most production employees until the new E.V. assembly system starts in late 2024. David Nowicki, Ford’s head of manufacturing operations for electric cars, said the C$1.8 billion ($1.34 billion) upgrade would include a new battery pack assembly operation at the 70-year-old site. Ford executives declined to…

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Exploring the Link Between Fintech and Sustainable Development Discover how fintech can drive sustainable development. Learn how financial technology is empowering sustainable businesses, promoting financial inclusion, and supporting a low-carbon economy. KEY TAKEAWAYS Fintech (financial technology) can play a significant role in advancing sustainable development goals, including poverty reduction, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. Fintech offers new solutions to traditional financial challenges and can help to extend access to financial services to underserved populations. Digital financial services can reduce the costs and time associated with traditional financial transactions, increasing efficiency and reducing waste. Fintech can facilitate the deployment of innovative…

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Realizing the Potential of Carbon Credits Trading with Fintech Fintech companies are leveraging technology to enter the carbon credits trading market. Learn how they’re using blockchain technology to provide greater security and accuracy in carbon credits trading and how it’s expected to grow. KEY TAKEAWAYS Carbon credits are a form of trading that helps reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Fintech companies are leveraging technology to enter the carbon credit trading market. Fintech companies can provide a more efficient and transparent platform for carbon credit trading. Fintech companies are using blockchain technology to provide greater security and accuracy in…

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On Tuesday, Ferrari announced a partnership with Samsung Display to employ OLED display panels in future cars. Chief Executive Benedetto Vigna stated that the South Korean business would produce “bespoke OLED technology display solutions” for the next generation of Ferraris. In Asan, South Korea, Ferrari and Samsung Display leaders have signed a memorandum of collaboration without financial specifics. Due to its electrification priority, Vigna stated that Ferrari would outsource non-essential components and software. Ferrari will launch an electric automobile in 2025. Samsung Display, a company of Samsung Electronics, proposes to invest over $3 billion in OLED panel manufacturing in Asan…

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FGS Global will be valued at $1.4 billion when private equity company KKR & Co Inc (KKR.N) buys a large share. KKR will purchase a 30% interest from FGS Global’s top staff and major investors, including WPP Plc (WPP.L). Martin Sorrell’s WPP will own most of FGS Worldwide. KKR’s $8-billion European Fund VI is buying Golden Gate Capital’s total investment in FGS Global. We back great management teams in growing sectors where we can provide more than cash. “We feel the strategic communications area is certainly at an exciting and critical stage,” said Philipp Freise, co-head of European private equity…

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Boeing (BA.N) announced Tuesday that 11 Chinese airlines had begun 737 MAX operations as of April 10, a promising sign for the U.S. planemaker’s efforts to revive its business in the world’s second-largest aviation market. In a WeChat post, the business stated 43 737 MAX returned to commercial operation, representing 45% of the Chinese fleet. The bestseller After improvements and pilot training, the Boeing model returned to service worldwide in late 2020. After abandoning the zero-COVID policy, China is the final major market to fly the MAX amid trade concerns with the U.S. As a result, domestic travel demand is…

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President Joseph Biden arrives in Belfast on Tuesday to commemorate the 25th anniversary of a peace accord that ended 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland. Biden, renowned for decades for his pro-Irish sentiments, would need to tread lightly as pro-British unionists loyal to London continue to boycott the devolved power-sharing government, a key feature of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. A senior administration official said Biden would meet with five Northern Irish parties before his Ulster University address but would not pressure them. “The president will have the opportunity to engage with the political parties of Northern Ireland before…

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China’s potential economic boost, strong Asian demand, and falling U.S. crude stocks lifted oil prices on Tuesday. Brent crude prices jumped 64 cents, or 0.8%, to $84.82 a barrel at 0557 GMT, while WTI futures rose 67 cents, or 0.8%, to $80.41. China’s March consumer inflation was the smallest since September 2021, indicating demand weakness amid an uneven economic rebound and raising hopes Beijing may bolster growth. CMC Markets analyst Tina Teng said China’s March CPI was lower than predicted, which may encourage the government to bolster the economy. While the dollar fell on predictions that the Fed will cease…

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On Tuesday, Cineworld (CINE.L), the world’s second-largest cinema chain, filed a reorganization plan with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. In September, most of the firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. After failing to sell its U.S., U.K., and Ireland companies, the operator suggested a new financing solution a week earlier. On Tuesday, the faltering movie company announced its reorganization would not benefit share investors. Cineworld aims to emerge from Chapter 11 in the first half of 2023, although any sale transaction from the marketing process may postpone emergence.

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On Monday, the U.S. Energy Department (DOE) recommended lowering E.V. mileage ratings to fulfill federal fuel economy regulations, which might push automakers to offer more low-emissions cars or upgrade conventional ones. DOE intends to dramatically change how it calculates the petroleum-equivalent fuel economy rating for electric and plug-in electric hybrids for the NHTSA’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program. It’s been 20 years since the system was upgraded. In its proposed regulation, DOE stated, “Encouraging adoption of E.V.s can reduce petroleum consumption but giving too much credit for that adoption can lead to increased net petroleum use because it enables…

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On Tuesday, South Korea called a reportedly leaked U.S. classified paper based on private deliberations among top security officials “untrue” and “altered.” The U.S. and certain allies have clashed over social media posts of a month-old partial picture of the Ukrainian battle. One of the documents included South Korean officials’ internal conversations regarding U.S. pressure on Seoul to give weapons to Ukraine, suggesting the U.S. was snooping on one of its most important allies and eliciting censure from the Asian nation’s politicians. The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stated that allegations his office in Seoul was monitored…

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Going Green: The Rise of Eco-Friendly Crypto Marketplaces Discover the latest news and developments in eco-friendly crypto marketplaces – from energy-efficient blockchain networks to green cryptocurrency exchanges. Learn how to use sustainable crypto solutions and invest in a more sustainable future. KEY TAKEAWAYS Learn about the latest developments in eco-friendly crypto marketplaces Understand the benefits of energy-efficient blockchain networks Explore green cryptocurrency exchanges Discover how to use sustainable crypto solutions Invest in a more sustainable future The rise of cryptocurrency has brought about unprecedented innovation in the world of finance. However, it has also raised concerns about the…

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Cryptocurrency and sustainable agriculture Learn how cryptocurrency and sustainable agriculture can work together to create a more secure food supply and reduce environmental impacts. Discover the potential of this innovative pairing and how it can benefit farmers and consumers alike. KEY TAKEAWAYS • Cryptocurrency can be used to improve the sustainability of agriculture.  Blockchain technology can be used to create secure and transparent food supply chains. Smart contracts can be used to automate agricultural processes, such as tracking and payments. Cryptocurrency can be used to provide farmers with access to capital and to facilitate global trade.  Cryptocurrency can help reduce…

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A Look at the Lives and Businesses of Singapore’s Top 50 Richest People Discover Singapore’s 50 richest people with a combined net worth of billions of dollars. Learn about their industries, philanthropy, and how they compare to billionaires worldwide. KEY TAKEAWAYS Singapore is home to 50 of the world’s wealthiest individuals. The top five richest Singaporeans are Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, real estate mogul Kwee brothers, palm oil tycoon Kuok Khoon Hong, and brothers Robert and Philip Ng. The combined wealth of the 50 individuals are estimated to be over $50 billion. Most of these individuals have made their wealth…

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Exploring the Lives of China’s Richest People Explore the lives of China’s wealthiest individuals and how they achieved their economic success. Learn about the Chinese billionaires and their lives as one of China’s richest people. KEY TAKEAWAYS The wealth of China’s billionaires has grown exponentially due to the country’s economic growth.  Many of China’s richest people are self-made entrepreneurs who have made their fortunes through technology, real estate, and retail. China’s billionaires are incredibly influential and wield a lot of power in the country.  Many of China’s richest people are involved in philanthropy, donating money to causes they believe in. …

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Harnessing the Power of Fintech for Sustainable Waste Management Learn how Fintech can be used to help reduce waste and promote sustainable waste management. Read this article to find out how Fintech is revolutionizing the waste management industry. KEY TAKEAWAYS Fintech can be used to reduce waste and promote sustainable waste management The waste management industry is being revolutionized by Fintech Fintech can provide access to finance for waste management projects Fintech can be used to improve data collection and monitoring of waste management Fintech can enable better pricing of waste management services The world is facing a…

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Sustainable Finance: A New Era in Banking Discover what the future of sustainable finance looks like in banking, from green investments to responsible lending. Learn the importance of sustainable finance and how it can help create a more sustainable economic future. KEY TAKEAWAYS Sustainable finance is essential for a more sustainable economic future It involves green investments and responsible lending Banks are increasingly aware of the need to have sustainable finance models Sustainable finance should be integrated into financial products, services, and processes Sustainable finance can help to create positive environmental and social outcomes As the world continue…

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Investing in a Greener Future: The Role of Green Mortgages and Sustainable Banking Learn how green mortgages and sustainable banking are making it easier for homeowners to reduce their carbon footprints and save money on their energy bills. Discover the advantages of green mortgages and how sustainable banking practices benefit both the environment and your finances. KEY TAKEAWAYS Green mortgages enable homeowners to reduce their carbon footprints and energy costs Sustainable banking practices can benefit both the environment and your finances Advantages of green mortgages include lower interest rates and additional tax deductions Sustainable banking involves investing in green…

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Green Investing: How Sustainable Banking is Changing the Game Discover the benefits of green investments and sustainable banking with this comprehensive guide. Learn how to use your money in an environmentally friendly and socially responsible way to achieve your financial goals. KEY TAKEAWAYS Learn how to invest in green and sustainable banking options Understand the financial and environmental benefits of investing responsibly Explore different types of green investments Discover the social and economic impact of sustainable banking Find out how to use your money to achieve your financial goals in a socially and environmentally responsible way Green investments…

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On Monday, dozens of Russian journalists and rights activists demanded the release of a major opposition lawmaker facing up to 25 years in prison for suspected treason and other politically motivated accusations. The petition to free Vladimir Kara-Murza, 41, came ahead of a Moscow court hearing as his trial, which media compared to Stalin’s political horror in the 1930s, nears its end. On Thursday, Russian state prosecutors demanded a 25-year prison term for Kara-Murza, a father of three and novelist and former journalist with Russian and British passports. His lawyer Dmitry Prokhorov expects a final address on Monday. Kara-Murza has…

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On Monday, Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister said Kyiv wants Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top officials to visit to assist in resolving its crisis with Russia. In an interview with CNBC TV18, Emine Dzhaparova said Kyiv expects India to invite Ukrainian representatives to G20 events and strengthen political interaction. India hosts a September leaders conference as G20 president. New Delhi has increased its purchase of Russian oil, the lifeline of its economy, while others have pushed to reduce or restrict it. “We feel India should be active and involved in the Ukrainian problem to a significant level,” Dzhaparova…

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Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) tweeted on Sunday that it will construct a Shanghai facility to produce 10,000 Megapack energy products per year to support its California Megapack production. Xinhua broke the news. At a Shanghai signing ceremony, Xinhua claimed that Elon Musk’s manufacturer will start manufacturing in 2024. Xinhua said the new facility would create 10,000 Megapack units a year, equal to 40 gigawatt hours of energy storage, to sell internationally. Tesla’s new Shanghai factory will employ China’s world-leading battery supply chain to increase Megapack lithium-ion battery unit production and cut costs to satisfy global energy storage demand as the globe…

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On Monday, Pope Francis prayed that the 25-year-old Good Friday deal that ended Northern Ireland’s carnage be “consolidated” for all Irish people. Francis stressed the 1998 treaty, strained since Britain left the EU, in his Easter Monday lunchtime address to tens of thousands in St. Peter’s Square. Francis recognized the Belfast Good Friday accord’s 25th anniversary. On April 10, 1998, the Belfast Agreement ended “The Troubles,” three decades of Catholic-Protestant sectarian violence that killed over 3,600 people. The head of the 1.4 billion-member Roman Catholic Church said, “In a spirit of appreciation I pray to the God of peace so…

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On Monday, physicians confirmed former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s persistent leukemia-related lung infection is improving. Doctors Alberto Zangrillo and Fabio Ciceri stated that organ functioning had improved during the previous 48 hours. On Wednesday, the 86-year-old billionaire media tycoon was transported to Milan’s San Raffaele hospital and treated in its critical care unit, causing concern for his life and gathering relatives and friends to his bedside. Doctors eventually discovered that Berlusconi had Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CML) “for some time” and had recently developed a lung infection. “Cytoreductive, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory therapy are generating the expected benefits, allowing us to…

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Three officials said Monday that trade discussions between India and Britain would continue this year despite a British tabloid claim that Delhi had “disengaged” when London failed to denounce Sikh militants. India’s foreign ministry spokesman said trade discussions and Sikh separatist activity in Britain should not be connected. A British High Commission official in New Delhi said economic discussions would continue as scheduled, and security authorities in London were addressing India’s worries over Sikh separatist activity in Britain. “Both the UK and India are dedicated to completing an ambitious and mutually beneficial FTA and finished the current round of trade…

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A relative and rights groups told Reuters that a Chinese court sentenced two famous human rights attorneys to over a decade in prison on Monday, continuing President Xi Jinping’s years-long assault on civil society. In June 2018, the family informed Reuters that, behind closed doors, Xu Zhiyong, 50, and Ding Jiaxi, 55, were tried for state subversion in Linshu County, Shandong. The New Citizens Movement, led by Xu and Ding, wanted more transparency into officials’ wealth and constitutional civil rights for Chinese individuals. Ding’s wife, Luo Shengchun, who lives in the US and has pursued his case with State Department…

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As Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) announced excellent fourth-quarter sales and anticipated $1 billion in free cash flow, Tata Motors Ltd. (TAMO.NS) shares jumped as much as  8.15% to a seven-month high on Monday. Tata Motors’ shares led the Nifty 50 index (.NSEI) up 0.33% and the auto index (.NIFTYAUTO) up 1.16%. On Thursday, JLR reported a 24% increase in wholesale volumes, excluding China, in the January-March quarter, while retail sales rose 30% as chip and other supply restrictions eased. Tata Motors’ quarterly worldwide wholesales grew by 8%. JLR’s strong sales in the October-December quarter helped Tata Motors post its first…

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IDC said that global PC shipments declined 29% in the first quarter of 2023 owing to weak demand, excess inventory, and a worsening macroeconomic situation, with Apple Inc. suffering the most. The International Data Corporation (IDC) said Sunday that global PC shipments fell to 56.9 million in the first quarter from 80.2 million last year. Shipments fell 28.1% in the fourth quarter of 2022. Apple’s Q1 shipments dropped 40.5% from 2022, followed by Dell Technologies Inc (DELL.N31%. )’s IDC reported shipping reductions for Lenovo Group Ltd (0992. HK), Asustek Computer Corp (2357. TW), and HP Inc (HPQ.N). In February, Apple…

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Highly secret intel personal data on Ukraine’s air defenses and Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency have emerged online, prompting U.S. officials to search for the leaker, which some analysts believe is an American. The records include Ukraine, China, the Middle East, and Africa, suggesting an American leaker. “The focus now is on this being a U.S. leak,” former senior Military officer Michael Mulroy told Reuters. The leak, one of the worst security breaches since WikiLeaks released 700,000 documents, videos, and diplomatic cables in 2013, is under investigation by U.S. officials, who have not ruled out pro-Russian involvement. The Kremlin and the…

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On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe should adopt a strategy independent of Washington and Beijing and not escalate the Taiwan conflict. President Xi Jinping welcomed Macron on a three-day state visit to China. China conducted drills surrounding Taiwan on Saturday in retaliation for President Tsai Ing-meeting wen’s with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday. China has never stopped using force to annex democratic Taiwan. Taiwan’s government opposes China’s claims. During his visit to China, Macron told French publication Les Echos and Politico that Europe should take time to strengthen its position as a third pole between China and…

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On Monday, e& said that Emirates Telecommunications Group Company (EAND.AD) would pay $400 million for a 50.3% stake in Careem’s nifty app. Mudassir Sheikha and Magnus Olsson, the founders of Careem, would manage the Careem Super App. Uber will also own ride-hailing. Reuters reported last month that e& was near a deal. Last year, Careem sought investors for their Super App, which offers food delivery, bike rentals, digital payments, and courier services.

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On Monday, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund Temasek said it is purchasing a 41% share in India’s Manipal Health Enterprises from investors, including TPG, increasing its investment to 59% in one of the country’s major hospital networks. A source told Manipal that Temasek paid roughly $2 billion for the new share. Manipal didn’t immediately comment. TPG, a Manipal investor since 2015, will sell its interest but reinvest in a new fund. The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), India’s sovereign wealth fund, would sell its complete interest to Temasek, while Ranjan Pai’s family ownership will drop from 50% to 30%. According…

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Baidu (9888. HK), a Chinese search engine, sued “relevant” app developers and Apple Inc. (AAPL.O) for bogus versions of its Ernie bot app in Apple’s app store. Last month’s Ernie bot, backed by artificial intelligence, has been called China’s ChatGPT. Baidu filed lawsuits in Beijing Haidian People’s Court against Ernest Bot counterfeiters and Apple. “Ernie does not have any official app,” Baidu claimed late Friday on its “Baidu AI” WeChat account. It shared a court filing photo. “Ernie apps from App Store or other shops are phony until our company’s formal announcement,” it said. Apple did not immediately react. On…

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On Saturday, Iraq demanded that Turkey apologize for shelling Sulaymaniyah airport in northern Iraq and end hostilities in Iraq. The Iraqi president stated Turkey has no legal right to “maintain its policy of harassing people under the pretense that forces opposed to it are present on Iraqi land.” Lawk Ghafuri, KRG head of international media affairs, tweeted late Friday that a drone assault near Sulaymaniyah airport caused no damage, delays, or cancellations. The strike occurred a few days after Turkey restricted its airspace to Sulaymaniyah flights owing to PKK insurgent activities.

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Next week’s U.S. inflation data may answer Wall Street’s biggest question: has the market accurately forecast interest rates? With last month’s financial crisis, investors believe the Fed will drop rates in the second half to avoid an economic collapse. Such investments have lowered bond rates, helping tech and growth sectors dominate broad market indices. 2023’s S&P 500 (.SPX) is up 6.9%. Next week’s U.S. inflation data may answer Wall Street’s biggest question: has the market accurately forecast interest rates? With last month’s financial crisis, investors believe the Fed will drop rates in the second half to avoid an economic collapse.…

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After Israeli police search at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque this week, the attacks heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions. Israel reacted to a barrage of missiles by attacking Hamas sites in Gaza and southern Lebanon, but the violence slowed on Friday. Yet, the two attacks showed how volatile the situation remained after several nights of turmoil that alarmed the globe and called for calm. In the latest incident, a vehicle hit a group along a Tel Aviv promenade cycling and pedestrian route. Police say a nearby cop shot and killed the driver when he pulled a revolver. An Israeli security source identified the attacker…

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Canada announced Thursday it would send a military aircraft to Japan to bolster UN Security Council sanctions on North Korea. Anita Anand, Canadian Defense Minister, announced CP-140 Aurora deployment. The Canadian government said the CP-140 Aurora would monitor ship-to-ship gasoline transfers and other Security Council-banned goods for six weeks. Since 2006, the UN has sanctioned North Korea for its missile and nuclear programs. North Korea’s state media said that Kim Jong Un tested a nuclear-capable underwater attack drone late in March, warning South Korea and the U.S. to cease military drills. China and Russia also accuse US-South Korean military drills…

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On Friday, government sources indicated Pakistan’s finance minister would not attend spring IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington due to local political upheaval. From April 10, Minister Ishaq Dar was due to meet with top IMF officials and global creditors to get blocked cash South Asia needs to avoid a balance-of-payments catastrophe. Islamabad has been negotiating with the IMF since early February to get $1.1 billion for a $6.5 billion rescue program approved in 2019. Two government sources cited political upheaval for the cancellation. Dar told the English-language Express Tribune that the political instability prevented him from traveling. Reuters…

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Cyprus’ military minister said Friday that its humanitarian help would include land mines clearance training for Ukraine. On Friday, Cyprus-visiting Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov will tour training sites. “We will host people who will de-mine and identify mines,” Cyprus Defence Minister Michalis Georgallas told Sigma TV. Politis said 18 Ukrainian officers would train in Cyprus in the last week of April. After a short Greek-inspired coup, Cyprus was partitioned by Turkey in 1974. The two sides cleared minefields along a 180 km (116 miles) dividing line in Cyprus with UN help in the previous decade.

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Oscar-nominated actor Jeremy Renner apologized to his family for causing a New Year’s Day snowplow mishap that almost killed him. On Thursday, Renner told Walt Disney Co.’s (DIS.N) ABC network that he drove the plow after pulling one of the family’s trucks out of the snow. Renner was concerned for his nephew Alex, who had just unhooked the truck and plow chains as the plow skidded on ice. Renner glanced towards Alex without setting the parking brake. The actor slipped and tumbled out of the plow’s cab. “Is that what you mean? Like driving with one foot out “Renner informed…

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Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930. KS) announced on Friday that it would slash chip manufacturing “meaningfully” in response to a worldwide semiconductor demand slump that has driven prices down. After reporting a 96% drop in first-quarter profit, Samsung halted output without warning. Investors ignored the earnings loss, thinking the industry leader’s move would boost chip prices, which had plunged 70% in nine months. SK Hynix Inc. (000660. KS) rose 5.6% and Samsung 4.5% in early trade, the highest one-day advance since September. Smartphone and PC companies stockpiled chips during the epidemic, but buyers bought less as inflation rose. Samsung claimed…

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Glass Lewis advised Barclays (BARC.L) shareholders to vote against full boss compensation since its former finance head received long-term incentives when the business liquidated billions of pounds of assets in mistake. In February, Barclays fined ex-CFO Tushar Morzaria and other senior executives 1 million pounds ($1.25 million) for the blunder, but Glass Lewis argued Morzaria was not punished enough. The proxy adviser rejected Morzaria’s 2020 long-term incentives of 3 million pounds after deductions, 70% of the pot. Glass Lewis noted ahead of Barclays’ annual shareholder meeting on May 3 that shareholders may have expected the committee to lower this award…

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On Wednesday, the Kremlin rejected NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s criticism of deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, told reporters that Russia had to protect itself because the U.S.-led transatlantic alliance was advancing toward Russia. On Wednesday, Stoltenberg claimed Russia’s decision contradicted a previous Russian-Chinese agreement against nuclear weapons deployment abroad. “It is NATO that is expanding towards Russia, not Russia that is taking its military infrastructure towards the borders of NATO,” Peskov said on Thursday when asked to respond to Stoltenberg’s remarks. With Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine last year, Finland and Sweden joined NATO…

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While Hungary wants NATO membership, Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s chief of staff asked Stockholm to strengthen relations on Thursday. Finland and Sweden concurrently applied to NATO last year. However, notwithstanding Swedish criticism of Orban’s democratic and the rule of law record, NATO allies Turkey and Hungary have delayed Sweden’s application. As Russia invaded Ukraine and promised “counter-measures,” Finland joined NATO on Tuesday. President Joseph Biden welcomed Finland and urged Turkey and Hungary to finalize their ratification processes for Sweden to join “without delay.” Orban’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, said the government shared ruling party concerns over Sweden’s NATO candidacy.…

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When interest rates rose, customers demanded banks pay more for deposits. Analysts believe lenders are reworking incentives to retain consumers’ money in their accounts after last month’s financial turmoil. U.S. banks are giving signing incentives to attract new and frequent depositors. Customers moved $119 billion out of smaller banks after Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank failed last month, forcing the promotions. Capital One Financial Corp (COF.N) offers a $100 incentive for opening a new savings account and depositing more than $10,000 for 90 days. After that, deposits exceeding $100,000 receive a $1,000 bonus. In addition, discover Financial Services…

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As China protested a meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the administration said Thursday that it monitors a Chinese aircraft carrier but does not foresee a major escalation. McCarthy, the third-highest-ranking U.S. official, and other Republicans and Democrats visited Tsai on Wednesday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. The meeting took place at a low point in U.S.-China relations and despite threats of punishment from Beijing, which claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its own and has never renounced using force to subjugate it. Taiwan Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng told parliament…

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On Thursday, Shell (SHEL.L) said it expected stronger LNG output in the first quarter after disruptions at its Australian plants last year and stable LNG trading profitability. Shell, which made a record $40 billion profit last year, said in an update ahead of results on May 4 that it projected first-quarter liquefaction volumes of 7 to 7.4 million tonnes, up from 6.8 million tonnes. The world’s largest gasoline retailer said its oil products division’s “much stronger” trade performance benefited profitability. It expects to pay $2.6–$3.4 billion in taxes for the first quarter, down from $4.4 billion. Compared to $300 million…

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On Wednesday, the Elysee Palace said that French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed to work with China to stop the Ukrainian war. “The two leaders have expressed their common desire to engage China to speed the conclusion of the war in Ukraine and take part in creating durable peace in the area,” Macron’s office stated. The Elysee said Macron and Biden believed China could help develop a climate and biodiversity agenda for the global north and south. No details. Macron visits China Wednesday–Friday. The Chinese foreign ministry said President Xi Jinping would meet with him to…

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On Wednesday, Foxconn, the world’s largest contract electronics maker and Apple Inc. (AAPL.O) iPhone assembler, reported that first-quarter revenue climbed 3.9% year-over-year but that current-quarter sales would fall. The corporation reported that March revenue was the third highest on record at T$400.3 billion ($13.14 billion), down 21.1% year-over-year. Foxconn (2317. TW), formerly Hon Hai Precision Industries Co Ltd., said its first-quarter sales of T$1.46 trillion were a record high and in line with earlier projections. Due to new product introductions last year, smart consumer electronics sales, including smartphones, fell in March. After an “unseasonally significant pull-in in the first half…

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On Wednesday, Hilton Food (HFG.L) announced that ex-Co-operative Group CEO Steve Murrells would succeed Philip Heffer. Hilton Food, which supplies supermarkets with meat and ready-to-eat meals, said Heffer, its CEO since 2018, will step down, and Murrells will take over on July 3. After five years as CEO of Co-op Group, Britain’s seventh-largest grocery company, Murrells retired last year. The 57-year-old was Hilton Food’s first client and business partner at Tesco over 30 years ago (TSCO.L). Hilton Food’s management transition after a 3.3% drop in yearly adjusted operating profit of 71.1 million pounds (approximately $89 million) owing to seafood inflation.…

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On Wednesday, Volvo Car AB (VOLCARb.ST) said that its March sales rose 10% to 162,938 automobiles, boosted by its completely electric cars. In the first three months of 2019, Volvo Cars, majority-owned by China’s Geely Group (0175. HK), sold 41% of its cars worldwide as completely electric versions. In Europe’s first quarter of 2023, Volvo Car’s completely electric cars accounted for 62% of sales. The group’s overall automobile sales rose 22% in February, with recharge models up 187% and fully electric cars for 19% of sales. Volvo Cars, based in Torslanda, Gothenburg, manufactures premium cars. SUVs, station wagons, and sedans…

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An Australian provincial mayor threatened to sue OpenAI if ChatGPT did not retract its erroneous statements that he served time in prison for bribery. When members of the public told Brian Hood, mayor of Hepburn Shire, 120km (75 miles) northwest of Melbourne, that ChatGPT had falsely named him as a guilty party in a foreign bribery scandal involving a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia in the early 2000s, he became concerned about his reputation. Hood worked for Note Printing Australia, but his defenders say he reported bribery to foreign officials to gain currency printing contracts and was never…

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Tesla (TSLA.O) cautioned that its “sentry mode” may breach German data privacy rules after vzbv sued it for not revealing that it gathers a car’s surroundings. The newest debate in China and the Netherlands involves Tesla cars’ cameras, which the firm claims prevent theft and damage, but authorities say record. The July vzbv complaint stated that the producer misled consumers by not notifying them in advertising that the driver may infringe data protection regulations if used in public and videotaped bystanders without consent. At a Berlin court, vzbv stated the corporation filed a cease-and-desist. Tesla was unresponsive. “It is your…

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Saudi Arabia’s unpredictable crown prince is working to realign Middle East dynamics, connecting with old rivals and coordinating OPEC oil cutbacks like Sunday’s, which surprised the global market. Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, known as MbS, has shown he is willing to pursue Saudi goals without U.S. assistance, whether reestablishing connections with Iran or withholding supply from the oil market and angering customers. MbS’s Vision 2030, into which he has put hundreds of billions of dollars, is intended to expand the conservative kingdom to industry and tourism despite mounting regional competition. After the disastrous strikes on Saudi Aramco’s oil facilities…

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On Tuesday, executives from Indonesian state oil major PT Pertamina announced they will invest roughly $2 billion to improve facility safety by 2026. Pertamina’s fuel station fire in north Jakarta killed over 30 people last month after spreading to a heavily populated neighborhood. The catastrophic fire followed other recent mishaps at Pertamina’s refineries, including a weekend explosion at the Dumai plant that injured nine workers. After the occurrences, the parliamentary energy committee wants a “complete audit” of Pertamina’s assets. After a fire at its Balongan refinery in 2021, Pertamina undertook a safety audit and began making refinery modifications, CEO Nicke…

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On Tuesday, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, accused by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of war crimes in Ukraine with President Vladimir Putin, claimed the ICC’s claims were untrue and vague. On March 17, the Hague-based ICC issued arrest warrants for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian commissioner for children’s rights, for the war crime of forcibly deporting children from Ukraine seized by Russian forces. The ICC said that hundreds of children were removed from orphanages and children’s homes in Russia-controlled Ukraine. The ICC stated Russia adopted several of the youngsters. Lvova-Belova told a Moscow press conference that the Commission…

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Italy’s temporary ban on ChatGPT has prompted other European governments to consider stricter measures to control the popular chatbots and whether to coordinate them. While European legislators debate the substance and extent of the EU AI Act, some authorities are discovering that current instruments, like the GDPR, which allows users control over their data, can apply to the fast-developing category of generative AI enterprises. Generative AI, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, analyzes enormous amounts of data, some of which may belong to internet users, to create human-like replies to text questions. The Italian agency Garante accused Microsoft Corp.-backed OpenAI of neglecting to…

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After failing to find long-term funding to recover from a January rocket mishap, Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit Holdings (VORB.O) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Tuesday. After laying off 85% of its 750 workers last week, the Long Beach, California-based firm filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware to sell its assets. “We think that the Chapter 11 procedure is the best road ahead to find and conclude an efficient and value-maximizing transaction,” Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart stated. The statement showed $243 million in assets and $153.5 million in debt as of September 30. Virgin…

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THE TOP BUSINESS LEADERS TO WATCH IN THE COMING YEAR Discover the Visionaries Shaping the Future of Business: Meet the Top 10 Business Leaders to Watch in the Coming Year KEY TAKEAWAYS One of the most successful business people in the world and the CEO and founder of Amazon, Andy Jassy, will undoubtedly remain one of the most important figures to monitor in the coming year. Bill Gates: A co-founder of Microsoft and one of the most well-known names in technology, Bill Gates will undoubtedly be a leader to watch in the coming year. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook,…

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SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE: WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS LEADING THE CHARGE A better way to healthcare, brought to you by the bold and brilliant women entrepreneurs making waves in the industry and leading the charge towards a brighter future.” KEY TAKEAWAYS Women’s entrepreneurship in the healthcare industry is becoming increasingly important and impactful. Recognizing the best women entrepreneurs in healthcare is crucial for inspiring others and driving growth in the industry. Key characteristics of successful women entrepreneurs in healthcare include determination and drive, innovative thinking, strong leadership skills, empathy and compassion, and strong business acumen. Dr. Judy Faulkner, Elizabeth Holmes, Martine…

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THE FUTURE OF INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE ECONOMY IN 2023 The world of infrastructure is changing significantly as we start a new year. The future of infrastructure in the economy in 2023 seems exciting and daunting, from digital infrastructure to sustainable development. KEY TAKEAWAYS Investments in digital and sustainable infrastructure will be key drivers in the next years since infrastructure plays a crucial role in driving economic development. To ensure successful projects, infrastructure development must overcome obstacles, including money, politics, and the environment. The way we construct and use infrastructure will change due to technological innovations like smart infrastructure, autonomous cars,…

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THE FUTURE OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE IN 2023 The Electoral College has been a controversial topic for years. Yet, as we approach the 2024 presidential election, the future of this system remains uncertain – could major changes be on the horizon? KEY TAKEAWAYS The Electoral College has been used in American elections for centuries, but it has come under fire recently for being antiquated and biased. Proponents of the Electoral College point to its capacity to prevent election fraud and maintain a balance of power across the country’s regions. The Electoral College, according to detractors, does not adequately represent the…

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THE FUTURE OF THE EMERGING MARKETS IN THE ECONOMY IN 2023 Emerging markets are becoming the future of the global economy with unprecedented growth potential and a promising outlook, but challenges and opportunities lie ahead in 2023. Will emerging markets be the next big thing or a missed opportunity? KEY TAKEAWAYS With enormous development potential, emerging markets play a significant role in the global economy. Technological breakthroughs, climate change, and population upheavals shape emerging markets’ future. Expanding global commerce, rising investment, and rising middle classes provide opportunities in emerging markets. Risks to emerging markets include geopolitical instability, economic stagnation, and…

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THE FUTURE OF WOMEN IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP: HOW WOMEN ARE DISRUPTING INDUSTRIES Are you ready for a revolution? With their cutting-edge goods and services, female entrepreneurs are upending traditional industries and changing the face of business. Learn how women are upending industries and creating a better future. KEY TAKEAWAYS Women entrepreneurs are driving economic growth and contributing to job creation  Women are challenging traditional industries and influencing new technologies  There are still many challenges for women entrepreneurs, such as access to capital and gender bias in the workplace  The future of women in entrepreneurship is an exciting one, with endless possibilities …

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THE STATE OF THE GLOBAL DEBT CRISIS IN 2023 In 2023, the world’s debt issue will be more dangerous to the global economy than ever before. KEY TAKEAWAYS In 2022, global debt hit an all-time high of $281 trillion and was expected to keep rising rapidly. Government borrowing and spending, low-interest rates, and private-sector borrowing are the main causes of the debt crisis. The debt crisis negatively impacts economic development, social programs, and financial stability. Consequences, such as economic and financial collapse and potential unrest, might be severe if the current path of debt accumulation continues. Debt restructuring, austerity measures,…

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TOP 16 WOMEN ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR 2023 Female business owners have taken the lead in overcoming obstacles and demonstrating that they can succeed in their particular industry as the world continues to change. In addition to establishing themselves, these women have encouraged and motivated others to follow their passions. We’ll look at some of the most successful female entrepreneurs in this post and what makes them unique. Meet Sarah Blakely, the powerhouse behind the wildly successful shapewear line, Spanx. With just a $5,000 investment, Sarah revolutionized the industry and turned her vision into a billion-dollar empire. But her success…

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Ukraine’s military said its troops were fighting Russian forces outside Bakhmut’s government building on Monday, dismissing Russian claims that mercenary fighters had conquered the eastern city after months of fighting. The Russians flew a triumph flag over “some type of toilet,” a Ukrainian spokesperson added. Moscow blamed Ukraine for a Sunday café bombing in St. Petersburg that killed a popular Russian pro-war blogger. In addition, Russia detained a woman accused of bombing the blogger. The two-year war for Bakhmut has been one of the deadliest, with numerous losses on both sides and much of the eastern city devastated by bombardments.…

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On Monday, Cineworld Group (CINE.L) said it would cease selling its U.S., U.K., and Ireland operations after failing to find an all-cash buyer and striking a conditional arrangement with lenders to leave bankruptcy. The Chapter 11 bankruptcy-protected worldwide corporation said it would continue to explore offers for the sale of its “Rest of World” division, which includes operations outside the U.S., U.K., and Ireland. Cineworld filed Sunday to raise $2.26 billion to leave bankruptcy in the first half of 2023. “This agreement with our lenders marks a ‘vote-of-confidence’ in our business and significantly advances Cineworld towards realizing its long-term goal…

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In an interview on Monday, Julius Baer (BAER.S) CEO said he is having “productive negotiations” with Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) employees who want to leave after UBS (UBSG.S) took control. Philipp Rickenbacher told the Financial Times that rich Swiss account holders were “moving to quality” from UBS and Credit Suisse, whose business models involve riskier investment banking. He told the publication that Swiss authorities’ last-month takeover would be challenging. “An integration of such size in Switzerland will need a lot of money, effort, and complexity.” Julius Baer, Switzerland’s largest private bank. It works with rich clients and does not speculate or…

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With OPEC+’s unexpected output reduction, oil prices rose, raising inflation fears, and Indian equities were quiet on Monday, the opening trading day of the financial year. At 10:18 a.m. IST, the Nifty 50 index (.NSEI) was 17,355.25, down 0.02%.BSESN is down 0.06% to 58,952.16. With solid March sales, auto stocks (.NIFTYAUTO) rose 1.5%. SML Isuzu (SMLI.NS) rose 15% as March passenger car sales quadrupled. As Saudi Arabia and other oil-exporting nations unexpectedly curtailed output over the weekend, inflation worries cooled crude oil prices. Goldman Sachs raised its Brent crude projection to $95 per barrel by 2023, expecting the reduction to…

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The Binance Controversy: Is it Safe for US Investors? discusses the legal and regulatory status of Binance in the United States, exploring the reasons for its recent restrictions and the options available to American users KEY TAKEAWAYS Binance has complied with US regulations by creating a separate US-based exchange, Binance US. US investors should be aware of the potential legal risks of using non-compliant cryptocurrency exchanges. Binance is a good option for US investors looking to trade cryptocurrency while complying with US regulations. US investors should understand the risks involved in cryptocurrency trading and make informed decisions. Binance is…

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What sets Binance US apart from its International Counterpart? The article explores the rationale behind Binance’s decision to create a separate platform for its American users, including the legal and regulatory challenges of operating in different jurisdictions. KEY TAKEAWAYS Binance launched a US-specific version in September 2019 The US version of Binance offers more localized services  US customers are now subject to enhanced KYC and AML compliance The US version of Binance offers access to a limited selection of digital assets  Binance US is a separate entity from the global Binance exchange Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has made a…

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ASHTON  KUTCHER’S SOUND VENTURES CONSIDER A $200 MILLION AI FUND  Ashton Kutcher and his venture capital firm, Sound Ventures, are proposing a $200 million AI Fund to help construct a brighter tomorrow by investing in the future of technology and artificial intelligence. KEY TAKEAWAYS Sound Ventures and Ashton Kutcher are considering a $200 million AI Fund. Increasing investments in technology and artificial intelligence is the goal of the fund. The fund will include participation from Sound Ventures and Ashton Kutcher. The fund helps the AI industry and can provide a return on investment. The…

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TAKING WING: BARCLAY BANK’S EAGLE LABS SCORES  £12.9 MILLION TO GROW BRITAIN’S TECH ECOSYSTEM Soaring to new heights: Barclay Bank’s Eagle Labs secures £12.9 million to propel Britain’s tech ecosystem forward.” KEY TAKEAWAYS The £12.9 million investment round attracted a large number of investors, and the money raised will be used toward enhancing and expanding the scope of the program’s services. Eagle Labs’ already sizable impact on the British IT sector is expected to grow with the additional money. Eagle Labs’ long-term goals include expanding its reach and strengthening its skills to play a prominent role…

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THE EFFECT OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON THE GLOBAL ECONOMY IN 2023 As economic sanctions continue to be used as a tool for geopolitical influence, the question remains: what are the long-term effects on the global economy? Will 2023 see a new era of economic cooperation or continued instability? KEY TAKEAWAYS Economic sanctions may have significant negative effects on the global economy, but they are a potent tool for countries looking to exert pressure on the conduct of other countries. There are several economic sanctions, such as comprehensive, targeted, and smart, each with advantages and disadvantages. Yet, solutions like economic…

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Binance Launchpool: How to Farm New Tokens on Binance Learn how to farm new tokens on Binance Launchpool! Get the latest information on Binance’s launch pool and find out how you can start farming tokens from the comfort of your home. Get started today with Binance Launchpool and increase your cryptocurrency portfolio! KEY TAKEAWAYS Binance Launchpool is a new initiative from Binance to help users earn newly listed tokens on the platform. Binance Launchpool allows users to stake coins from a variety of projects to earn rewards in newly listed tokens. Users can earn rewards by staking coins from…

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Binance API: A beginner’s guide to using the Binance API This beginner’s guide provides an overview of the Binance API, including how to use it and the available features. Learn the essentials of the Binance API and start using it to trade cryptocurrency today.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Binance is one of the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. The Binance API is an application programming interface that allows developers to access and integrate the features of the Binance platform with other applications. The Binance API can be used to create trading bots, analyze market data, and access accounts. The…

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Binance card: A complete guide to using the Binance Visa card Learn about Binance’s Visa card and how to use it for spending cryptocurrency. KEY TAKEAWAYS Binance Card is a Visa card that allows users to spend cryptocurrency funds at any merchant that accepts Visa cards.  The card is linked to Binance’s native token BNB and is supported by a range of cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and more. Users can top up their cards with crypto from their wallets and have the funds converted into fiat currency at the point of sale. The card has no…

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Margin trading on Binance: Strategies and tips for success Learn about margin trading on Binance and strategies for success. KEY TAKEAWAYS Margin trading involves borrowing money to increase the size of a trading position. Binance offers margin trading for certain cryptocurrencies. It is important to understand the risks of margin trading and be aware of the leverage available. Strategies for successful margin trading include diversifying, setting stop-loss orders, and using margin trading tools. Strictly follow Binance’s rules and regulations to ensure a successful margin trading experience. Margin trading on Binance is a popular way to generate higher returns…

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BEST WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY Unleashing the Power of Women: Meet the Trailblazing Entrepreneurs Disrupting the Energy Industry KEY TAKEAWAYS Women have led the way in energy for decades and are revolutionizing the industry. Women entrepreneurs are creating innovative solutions to the world’s energy challenges. Despite the opportunities available to women, significant challenges still need to be addressed. Women must work together and advocate for policies that promote diversity and equal opportunity in the industry. IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNIZING WOMEN IN THE INDUSTRY. One of the world’s biggest and most important industries is the energy sector. It is…

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Syria’s foreign minister visited Cairo for the first time in a decade on Saturday, the latest sign of Arab nations reestablishing ties with President Bashar al Assad. Sameh Shoukry welcomed Faisal Mekdad to the Egyptian foreign ministry on his first official trip since the 2011 Syrian uprising. Western and Arab nations overlooked President Assad due to the Syrian conflict. An Egyptian security source said the visit aimed to help Syria rejoin the Arab League through Egyptian and Saudi mediation. The Cairo-based Arab League suspended Syria in 2011, and many Arab states withdrew their envoys from Damascus. The US and Qatar…

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Facing increasing scrutiny from Washington that might lead to a ban, TikTok’s senior counsel defended the social media platform’s plan to protect U.S. user data from China. In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press at a cybersecurity conference in Sausalito, California, sponsored by the Hewlett Foundation and Aspen Digital and featuring top government officials, tech executives, and journalists, general counsel Erich Andersen said, “The basic approach that we’re following is to make it physically impossible for any government, including the Chinese government, to get access to U.S. user data.” Andersen said ByteDance’s Lemon8 software would be developed further. Andersen…

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As the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges for a 2016 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, Trump will be fingerprinted and photographed in a New York courthouse next week. Trump’s scheduled Manhattan court appearance on Tuesday might exacerbate U.S. differences as the Republican seeks reelection. In a letter unsealed Friday, a New York court permitted Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, to reveal that Trump had been indicted. Still, it was unclear when the allegations would be revealed. According to a source, Trump will travel from Mar-a-Lago to New York on Monday and stay…

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Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Germany’s military cannot mend its holes by 2030 after decades of neglect. “2030 won’t fix inequality. Years pass. Everyone knows that,” Welt am Sonntag quoted Pistorius Saturday. Since Ukraine’s weapons and ammunition haven’t been replaced, experts say the Bundeswehr is worse off than last year. Pistorius opposes Bundeswehr’s military supply to Ukraine beyond agreements. “We have restricted stockpiles like other nations. Federal military minister, I cannot give everything “he said. The minister, appointed this year, said his first goal was increasing the defense budget to meet the NATO expenditure benchmark of 2% of national production…

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Five sources said Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930. K.S.) might construct a chip test line in Japan to improve its advanced packaging business and deepen ties with Japanese semiconductor equipment and material manufacturers. Samsung’s first Japanese test line. The U.S. seeks allies to fight China’s semiconductor and advanced technology power. On Friday, Japan banned 23 chip-making equipment, joining the U.S. campaign to curb China’s chip-making capabilities. Four individuals, who requested anonymity, said Samsung is contemplating developing the facility in Kanagawa prefecture, near Tokyo, where it already has an R&D center. One source estimated the investment at tens of billions of…

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On Friday, the UAE Central Bank revoked the license for a branch of Russia’s MTS bank, awarded last year and was sanctioned by Britain and the US in February. The Abu Dhabi-licensed bank would collapse within six months under central bank supervision. “This decision comes after examining the numerous alternatives for the new status of the MTS Bank, and taking into consideration the sanctions risks related with the bank following the designation,” the statement stated. The branch might use the central bank’s payment infrastructure to settle current commitments but not open new accounts or transact during the winding down process.…

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Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla (TSLA.O), will likely visit China in April and meet with Premier Li Qiang, two individuals familiar with the travel told Reuters. Tesla and China’s State Council Information Office did not immediately respond to calls for comment. China is Tesla’s second-biggest market after the US, and its Shanghai facility is its major manufacturing base. Musk would mark the first time he has visited China since the COVID-19 pandemic and since Xi Jinping secured a third term as China’s president. Businessman and investor Elon Musk. He founded SpaceX, Tesla, Twitter, the Boring Corporation, Neuralink, OpenAI, and the…

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On Friday, Indonesia’s law minister welcomed an extradition deal with Russia, saying it will improve efforts to combat cross-border crimes, including money laundering and cybercrime. Indonesia’s law minister Yasonna Laoly and Russia’s justice minister Konstantin Chuychenko signed the deal in Bali. “This is crucial for combating international crimes like cybercrime, money laundering, narcotics, and corruption,” added Yasonna. Indonesia has maintained cordial relations with Russia despite the Ukraine conflict since 1950. Last year, Indonesian President Joko Widodo visited Moscow and Kyiv to restart peace negotiations and release grain to global markets. Official tourist statistics show that Russians are among Indonesia’s most…

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Ukrainian military authorities claimed Russian forces achieved some success in Bakhmut, the eastern border city, but their men were still hanging on after months of significant casualties. The UN nuclear watchdog director said the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia power facility in southern Ukraine was no longer safeguarded due to a military buildup. Russia’s 13-month invasion of Ukraine has focused on Bakhmut and nearby villages in Donetsk’s eastern industrial sector. “Enemy forces had a degree of success in their efforts aimed at assaulting the city of Bakhmut,” the Ukrainian General Staff stated in a routine report late Wednesday. “Our defenders keep the city…

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Country Garden Holdings (2007. HK), China’s largest property developer, reported a record net loss and a 90% drop in core profit in 2022 due to a slow property market and a debt crisis. Country Garden reported core earnings of 2.6 billion yuan ($377.36 million), down from 26.9 billion the year before. It lost 6.1 billion yuan after making 26.8 billion in 2021. Country Garden announced the poor results earlier this month, citing a decline in gross profit margin, a surge in property project impairment reserves, and net foreign currency losses. Since mid-2021, debt-stricken Chinese property businesses have struggled to finish…

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With Silicon Valley Bank’s failure, opponents argue the Federal Reserve’s secretive bank monitoring has to be more flexible, transparent, and decisive. At hearings last week, Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr told lawmakers that supervisors had frequently flagged dangers to the collapsed bank, starting in 2021, and even restricted its development in 2022 because they remained ignored. Despite that, SVB collapsed this month, sparking worries of contagion. Lawmakers have accused the Fed of not escalating the problem fast enough and asked if the process should be more open. “The culture of supervision is steeped in secrecy; I hope SVB…

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Polish central banker Joanna Tyrowicz urged restrictive monetary policy until net inflation and wages meet the goal. Tyrowicz told PAP that the central bank had failed until net inflation and wages reached the inflation aim. “Elementary responsibility demands constrained monetary policy.” Ludwik Kotecki, another limited MPC member, said a rate increase would demonstrate the Council was still worried about price spikes. “Even a slight hike (in interest rates) would suggest that the cycle of monetary policy tightening has not completed,” Kotecki said in a Wednesday interview with Dziennik Gazeta Prawna. “We still worry that the price rise is too substantial…

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Hungary’s foreign minister discussed gas, oil, and nuclear cooperation with Alexander Novak late Tuesday. Szijjarto claimed Novak said Moscow might keep the Turkstream pipeline despite Western sanctions. “Hungary’s gas supply will remain uninterrupted,” the statement said. Hungary receives 4.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas from Russia via Bulgaria and Serbia via the Turkstream pipeline. Turkstream will be offline June 5–12 for maintenance, according to Bulgartransgaz’s website. Szijjarto said Hungary will fight EU nuclear energy penalties. Hungary intends to install two 1.2-gigawatt VVER reactors in its Paks nuclear power facility. Szijjarto informed Novak that Hungary was trying to increase Framatome’s…

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Adidas AG (ADSGn.DE) wants the U.S. Trademark Office to reject a Black Lives Matter trademark with three parallel stripes because it might mislead consumers. Adidas informed the office in a Monday filing that Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation Inc.’s yellow-stripe design would confuse its iconic three-stripe mark. As a result, it opposed the group’s request to put the design on the German sportswear maker’s shirts, caps, and bags. Adidas declined to comment. Black Lives Matter ignored Tuesday’s request. Adidas said in the petition that its logo has had “international repute and high public awareness” since 1952. According to court…

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Alibaba Group, a Chinese technology company, underwent an extraordinary overhaul on Wednesday, which experts say has the support of local authorities. This caused Alibaba’s U.S.-listed stock to rise, and then on Wednesday, Alibaba’s Hong Kong shares rose. An outlook for the upcoming trading day in European and international markets provided by Anshuman Daga The prospective conclusion of China’s multi-year regulatory onslaught on the IT industry in China is cheering up markets while investor anxiety over banking problems in the United States and Europe is easing. As a result of increased oversight from China’s government in recent years, the market value…

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Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL.O) requested a U.S. federal judge on Monday to reject a Justice Department lawsuit saying the search giant improperly exploited its online advertising supremacy. The government and eight states sued Google in January to force the sale of its ad management suite. Google denies wrongdoing. “The United States has received more than two million documents from Google and taken over thirty depositions of Google witnesses,” the company stated in a court filing late Monday. As a result, plaintiffs cannot prove their antitrust damages. Google claimed the lawsuit should be dismissed because the government erroneously defined the internet…

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Belarus confirmed on Tuesday that it will host Russian tactical nuclear weapons after years of US and partner pressure to reverse its geopolitical course. On Saturday, Putin threatened to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, a close ally, intensifying a standoff with the West. On Tuesday, the Belarusian foreign ministry claimed Minsk was working with Russia to defend against the West. “Over the previous two and a half years, the Republic of Belarus has been exposed to unprecedented political, economic, and information pressure from the US, UK, and NATO partners, as well as EU member states.” These situations warrant increased…

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According to an internal document, Facebook owner Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) plans to cut incentive compensation for some workers and evaluate performance more often as part of a restructuring. According to the study, employees who “meet most expectations” in their 2023 year-end assessments will get a lesser bonus and restricted stock award in March 2024. WSJ said the bonus multiplier for that grade has dropped to 65% from 85%. “We appreciate that while this is a substantial adjustment that could surprise some workers, it corresponds with our sustained focus on sustaining a high-performance culture,” the newspaper quoted the message. The…

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On Tuesday, Russia’s navy launched supersonic anti-ship missiles at a Sea of Japan dummy target. “Pacific Fleet missile ships fired Moskit cruise missiles against a fake enemy maritime target in the Sea of Japan,” it claimed on Telegram. Two Moskit cruise missiles strike the target at 100 kilometers (62.14 miles). Soviet-made medium-range supersonic cruise missile P-270 Moskit (SS-N-22 Sunburn) can kill a ship within 120 km (75 miles). The missile launches caused no harm, but Japan’s foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said Tokyo would remain watchful against Moscow’s military actions. “As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine proceeds, Russian soldiers are also becoming…

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On Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Lyft Inc. (LYFT.O) co-founder Logan Green would replace board member David Risher as CEO. Company shares increased 5% after the bell. The article said President John Zimmer and Green would remain board members but not participate in daily operations. Lyft’s prediction last month raised fears that pricing cuts to compete with Uber (UBER.N) in the North American ride-sharing sector might hurt revenues. Lyft, Inc. offers ride-hailing, vehicles for hire, motorized scooters, bicycle-sharing, rental cars, and food delivery in the US and Canada. Logan Green and John Zimmer founded Zimride, a long-distance intercity…

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After Iran-backed militia attacked U.S. personnel in Syria last week, the White House stated Monday that the U.S. would not withdraw from its almost eight-year-old commitment to fight Islamic State remnants. On March 23, a one-way attack drone hit a U.S. facility in Syria, killing an American contractor and injuring five service members. It prompted U.S. air strikes and exchanges of fire that killed three Syrian army, 11 pro-government militia members, and five government-aligned non-Syrian fighters, according to a Syrian war monitoring organization. “We’re going to keep watchful,” White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said. Kirby also mentioned…

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According to a Putin supporter, Russia can annihilate any opponent, even the US, to survive. Nikolai Patrushev, Russia’s Security Council secretary, is the latest high official to warn of a nuclear conflict between the world’s two nuclear powers, which Moscow wishes to prevent. “American politicians deluded by propaganda think they can dissuade Russia with a preemptive missile attack. Risky shortsightedness “Patrushev warned Rossiiskaya Gazeta Monday. “It’s fearless of Russia’s military. If threatened, its sophisticated, unique weaponry can destroy even the US “he added. In February, Moscow launched a “special military operation” to disrupt Kyiv’s NATO rapprochement. Since then, Russia has…

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On Monday, Li-Cycle Holdings Corp (LICY.N) announced it would develop a French plant to break down batteries from forklift maker The Kion Group (KGX.DE). Li-Cycle will recycle lithium-ion batteries from Kion’s forklifts and other heavy gear at the French factory, which is planned to open in 2024. Li-Cycle has a $40 million budget to create battery processing facilities worldwide, but it did not specify how much it spends on the French business. As our clients localize their supply chains, we believe firmly in a regional strategy to recycling,” Li-executive Cycle’s chairman Tim Johnston told Reuters. “Europe is a growing hub…

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Barclays boosted its terminal rate prediction to 4.5% after the Bank of England’s eleventh straight rise last week. Barclays predicted a March BoE stop. However, after a 25 basis point rise to 4.25% and an unexpected inflation jump last week, the British bank reaffirmed its projection for another quarter percentage point hike in May. After a manufacturing rebound and stronger-than-expected economic growth in January, Barclays raised its UK GDP forecast for the first three quarters of 2023 by 0.1-0.2 percentage points. Marian Cena of Barclays economists predicted a “moderate recession.” They expect a 0.3% GDP decline in 2023. After this…

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Saudi National Bank said on Monday that CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Ghamdi would succeed Chairman Ammar Abdul Wahed Al Khudairy after his departure for personal reasons. With all changes effective March 27, the bank’s board named Talal Ahmed Al Khereiji as acting CEO. The Saudi National Bank “SNB Group” is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital. National Commercial Bank (NCB) was created in December 1953. By merging with Samba Financial Group, SNB became a regional banking champion in 2021. SNB has subsidiaries and affiliates in 8 countries. The Saudi Public Investment Fund and General Organization for Social Insurance hold the Saudi…

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On Monday, UAE-based exchange house Al Ansari Financial Services (IPO-ALAE.DU) reported raising 773 million dirhams ($210.5 million) at the top of the indicated range in an initial public offering (IPO). Al Ansari said that 10% of the firm, or 750 million shares, will list on the Dubai Financial Exchange on April 6 at 1.03 dirhams each. Al Ansari Holding will keep 90%. The business stated the UAE retail offer was 44 times oversubscribed. The Al Ansari family founded Al Ansari Exchange, the UAE’s largest exchange firm, over 60 years ago. Al Ansari Exchange was founded to address its commercial partners,’…

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Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian will meet during Ramadan to mend relations, according to SPA. SPA said the ministers spoke by phone again. “After the People’s Republic of China’s tripartite agreement, the call addressed several shared topics. The two ministers also agreed to a bilateral meeting during Ramadan “SPA stated. Ramadan may finish on April 20. Iran and Saudi Arabia restored relations earlier this month after years of hostility that had undermined Gulf stability and fueled crises from Yemen to Syria. During secret discussions in Beijing between top security officials…

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Sky News said Saturday that the British government would soon move refugees from hotels to military facilities or abandoned ships. The poll found decreasing utilization of vacation camps and student halls. Hotels ban asylum seekers. “We have always been transparent about the substantial burden on our asylum system, caused by a major surge in hazardous and illegal travels into the UK,” the Home Office spokeswoman said. “We’re helping government and municipal agencies find houses.” This month, the government barred asylum seekers from crossing the Channel in tiny boats, which some organizations believe would be impracticable and imprison hundreds of legitimate…

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The U.S. Transportation Department refused JetBlue and Spirit’s exemption request to operate under shared ownership on Friday due to the Justice Department’s antitrust action launched this month. Last July, JetBlue announced its $3.8 billion Spirit purchase. They then obtained an exemption from the Transportation Department to operate under common ownership before requesting a transfer application to consolidate and operate foreign routes under one certificate. On March 7, the Justice Department argued that the merger would diminish competition, raise ticket costs, restrict passenger capacity, and limit consumer choice. The Transportation Department rejected the exemption request due to President Joe Biden’s executive…

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On Friday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy accused President Joe Biden of ignoring the problem, even though Republicans have failed to identify spending cutbacks they seek before lifting the debt ceiling. The Republican speaker criticized the Democratic president for not negotiating since a first meeting early last month during a Capitol press conference. “Unfortunately the president doesn’t believe it’s essential,” McCarthy said when questioned about debt ceiling negotiations. The nation faces a historic default without raising the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling. Biden and senior Democrats in Congress have asked McCarthy to reveal Republicans’ spending-cutting proposals, warning more discussions would be pointless.…

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After the Democrat’s initial pick was rejected by lawmakers from her party, a New York state commission delivered Governor Kathy Hochul a list of seven contenders for the state’s new top judge on Friday. The state Commission on Judicial Nomination gave Hochul the list a month after the state Senate rejected Hochul’s nomination of appellate judge Hector LaSalle. Corey Stoughton, a prominent civil rights lawyer, and Court of Appeals Judge Anthony Cannataro, the acting chief judge, are on the revised list. Appellate judges Elizabeth Garry and Gerald Whalen, Court of Appeals Judges Rowan Wilson and Shirley Troutman, and Selendy Gay…

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On Friday, New York-based Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton hired London private equity partner Edward Aldred. Aldred spent his entire two-decade career at Linklaters, co-heading its financial sponsor leveraged finance practice. Cleary managing partner Michael Gerstenzang said Aldred would assist in funding public and private M&As. Linklaters wished Aldred well. Aldred is Cleary’s third London hire. In January, Travers Smith’s private equity head Ian Shawyer joined. Cleary hired Linklaters corporate finance partner Nicholas Rumsby in November.

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Former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened “death & destruction” if he is charged for paying porn star Stormy Daniels hush money hours after New York prosecutors declared they would not be intimidated. Since last Saturday, when Trump incorrectly predicted Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s arrest three days later, Trump’s Truth Social networking site has verbally attacked him. Trump erroneously claims his 2020 defeat was due to fraud, which motivated his followers to launch a violent Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol to block Congress from certifying Democratic President Joseph Biden’s victory, which defeated Trump by more than 7…

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When technical difficulties halted spot trading, Binance resumed withdrawals. Chief Executive Changpeng Zhao tweeted that Binance froze deposits and withdrawals early on Friday owing to a “bug on a trailing stop order,” noting that it was the regular procedure. The wait was caused by a technological fault, according to Youhodler CEO Ilya Volkov. Bitcoin fell 1.14% to $28,021. Monday saw a nine-month high. “Crypto exchanges are not unique,” Volkov remarked. Binance declined further comment. The world’s largest crypto exchange stopped pound deposits and withdrawals a month after it stopped dollar payments last Monday. Traditional currency transactions have stopped amid a…

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On Friday, Israel’s attorney general charged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with breaching the law by failing to disclose a conflict of interest about his current corruption prosecution and participating personally in his administration’s proposal to reorganize the judiciary. Netanyahu declared on Thursday that he was setting aside all other factors and would do “whatever it takes” to find a solution in the face of escalating opposition to the proposed reforms, which opponents claim will undermine the Supreme Court. The plans have faced several obstacles, including a letter from attorney general Gali Baharav-Miara, a major rift in Israeli society, tens of…

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After capturing Do Kwon at Podgorica airport, Montenegro police accused him of fabricating official papers on Friday. Do Kwon, a South Korean, and a second suspect were arrested Thursday at Podgorica airport while trying to fly to Dubai? During the meeting, police uncovered counterfeit Costa Rican and Belgian passports in their bags. It started a Podgorica court that accused the two of falsifying official papers. “Pending conclusion of the (court) procedures they will be transported to an investigative judge…for subsequent steps according to an international (arrest) warrant,” it added. The two were also given an international warrant “to assure their…

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The U.N. human rights office reported hundreds more civilian fatalities in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including 21 Russian killings or individual attacks. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said, “A year after the Russian Federation started a full-scale armed offensive on Ukraine, the hostilities continue to impose a heavy toll on children, women and men across the country.” It found at least 5,987 deaths and injuries between Aug. 1, 2022, and Jan. 31, 2023, a total it said was likely understated because its investigators only validated cases. Ukrainian-held areas had four times more civilian casualties from…

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An IMF official said Friday that Pakistan and the IMF would sign a long-awaited loan agreement after settling a few remaining issues, including a gasoline price mechanism. Since early February, Pakistan and the IMF have been negotiating to disburse $1.1 billion to the cash-strapped, nuclear-armed nation of 220 million. Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif revealed a plan to charge wealthy users more for petrol to subsidize inflation-hit poor consumers. As a result, it reached a 50-year high in February. According to the petroleum ministry, the affluent will pay about 100 rupees (35 U.S. cents) more for each liter. On…

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Local officials reported that a Russian missile hit an “invincibility point” for Ukrainian civilians, killing at least three women. Local authorities reported four more civilian deaths overnight. In addition, president Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s administration reported two deaths from the Russian bombardment of Sumy in northern Ukraine. The invincibility point attacked overnight in Kostiantynivka, eastern Donetsk, was one of the numerous shelters erected by authorities around Ukraine to offer power, warmth, water, and other essential utilities. Emergency services photos from Kostiantynivka revealed the highly damaged one-story invincibility point surrounded by rubble. Mattresses protruded. Emergency officials stated two males were injured, and one…

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Meituan (3690. HK), a Chinese meal delivery company, beat expectations with a 21.4% quarterly sales increase on Friday. During the three months ending December, Meituan, whose super app offers bike-sharing, movie tickets, navigation, food delivery, and restaurant bookings, reported 60.13 billion yuan ($8.76 billion) in sales, up from 49.52 billion a year earlier. According to Refinitiv, analysts predicted 57.88 billion yuan in sales. From 5.34 billion yuan a year earlier, its fourth-quarter net loss was 1.08 billion. Last year, COVID-19 limits hurt Meituan, but it turned a profit in the third quarter by cutting back on new activities. Meituan, originally…

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On Friday, Reuter’s partner ANI reported that Indian police are investigating a protest outside its London High Commission this week, which has strained relations with Britain. British and Indian media claimed that protesters with “Khalistan” banners removed an Indian flag from a first-floor balcony of the High Commission in London on Sunday to criticize recent police violence in Punjab. Some Sikhs in India and abroad want an independent nation called Khalistan. On Sunday, India called the senior British diplomat in New Delhi to express its “strong displeasure at the mission’s activities committed by separatist and extremist groups” and ask about…

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German software firm Nextcloud said Microsoft Corp.’s (MSFT.O) initial offer to answer competitor EU antitrust allegations is insufficient; The U.S. software giant must do more as authorities contemplate opening a formal inquiry. A person with direct knowledge said French cloud computing services provider and complaint OVHcloud (OVH.PA) is likewise waiting for a more precise proposal from Microsoft. Microsoft might avoid an EU antitrust inquiry that could punish with 10% of its worldwide revenue by resolving the allegations with the firms. In 2021, Nextcloud complained to the European Commission that Microsoft exploits its dominance by bundling OneDrive with Windows 10 and…

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According to Bloomberg News, Indian salt-to-software giant Tata Group may invest $2 billion in its mega app initiative to boost its digital operations. The study stated the investment would improve Tata Neu’s digital products, repair technological issues, and meet new expenditure demands. It said the injection would take two years if the deal went through. According to the article, Tata Group has urged Tata Digital to find methods to increase the super app’s worth. Tata Group and Tata Digital declined to comment. Tata created the mega e-commerce app in April last year to compete with Amazon.com (AMZN.O) and Walmart’s (WMT.N)…

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Prince William visited the Polish president in Warsaw on Thursday, the second day of his tour, to thank troops and locals for supporting Ukraine. The heir-apparent lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before visiting President Andrzej Duda. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, the prince’s late grandparents, put a wreath there on their 1996 state visit. The president’s office tweeted that Duda discussed humanitarian relief for Ukraine with Prince William. “The Prince of Wales took the opportunity to thank the president and the Polish people who have done so much to help the people of Ukraine who…

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Accenture Plc announced on Thursday that it would eliminate 2.5% of its staff, or 19,000 positions, as the global economic outlook worsened. The business claimed more than half of the layoffs would affect personnel at its non-billable corporate services, sending its shares up more than 4% before the bell. Accenture predicts annual revenue growth of 8%–10%, down from 8%–11%. When its first-quarter revenue prediction fell short, rival Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH.O) predicted “muted” bookings growth in 2022. Accenture predicts profits per share of $10.84 to $11.06 instead of $11.20 to $11.52. Accenture plc is a Dublin-based Irish-American professional services firm…

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Dmitry Medvedev, Putin’s supporter, stated Thursday that arresting him after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant would be a declaration of war against Russia. The ICC issued a Friday arrest warrant for Putin for unlawfully deporting hundreds of Ukrainian children. Court said Putin’s criminal liability is plausible. Former President Dmitry Medvedev told Russian media that the ICC—which Russia, China, and the US do not recognize—as a “legal nonentity” that had never done anything substantial. Medvedev, deputy head of Putin’s influential security council, said detaining Putin would be a declaration of war. “Let’s pretend that the present leader of…

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The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) raised its overnight discount window base rate to 5.25% on Thursday, hours after the U.S. Federal Reserve did the same. Hong Kong’s currency is tied to the U.S. dollar at 7.75 to 7.85 per dollar. “The Fed’s rate-hike decision is consistent with market anticipation, but there will continue to be substantial uncertainty on the U.S. interest rate path,” HKMA added. HSBC Holdings 0005. H.K. maintained its 5.625% Hong Kong best lending rate. After two U.S. banks failed this month, the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point on Wednesday…

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After nearly three years of pandemic lockdowns, investors are moving away from airplanes to invest in airports, hotels, and duty-free businesses. China abandoned its zero-COVID policy in December, lifting airline stocks and online travel providers like Trip.com Group Ltd. But, with global airlines hesitant to increase capacity to connect China with the U.S. and Europe and Chinese tourists preferring domestic travel, a new group of equities is gaining. Chinese tourists and investors have rediscovered Thailand. “We were involved earlier in domestic travel, accommodation space, and airports, where we’ve done fairly well,” said All spring Global Investments portfolio manager Elaine Tse.…

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On Wednesday, Oleg Deripaska, a Russian aluminum entrepreneur, denied lying about moving EN+ Group from Jersey to Russia to dodge U.S. sanctions in London’s High Court. Since 2010, Rusal (RUAL.MM) founder Oleg Deripaska has been fighting former Russian finance minister Vladimir Chernukhin for a Moscow real estate joint venture. Chernukhin, whose wife Lubov has contributed more than 2 million pounds ($2.5 million) to Britain’s ruling Conservative party and legislators since 2012, argues Deripaska is in contempt of court for allegedly enabling EN+ Group, which owns 57% of Rusal, to “redomicile” in 2019 in response to U.S. sanctions. Contempt of court…

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On Wednesday, a local environmental organization accused Etihad of greenwashing and misled customers about its net zero intentions. Australia’s competition authority will review the allegation. The Environmental Defenders Office filed a complaint with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) alleging “greenwashing” in Etihad ads misrepresenting flying’s environmental effect and the airline’s net zero emissions promise (EDO). “We’ve pored through Etihad’s public documentation and found insufficient evidence that it wants, or reasonably expects, to attain net zero by 2050,” said EDO Senior Attorney Zoe Bush. The ACCC told Reporters it would review the complaint but not discuss an investigation. However,…

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When Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized Britain for delivering depleted uranium tank bombs to Ukrainian soldiers, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated Wednesday there was no nuclear escalation in the Ukraine war. On Monday, Britain admitted to supplying Ukraine with depleted uranium munitions. Because of its density, heavy metal may penetrate tanks and armor. On Tuesday, Putin blasted British intentions to transfer such ammunition to Ukraine, saying Russia would have to retaliate since such weapons had “a nuclear component.” Cleverly claimed Russia was the only country discussing rising nuclear hazards, and the ammo was conventional. “No nuclear escalation. Only Russia discusses…

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Gold prices hovered in a limited range on Wednesday as some investors waited for the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision and policy outlook. Gold was unchanged at $1,940.11 per ounce at 0540 GMT after falling 2% on Tuesday. Gold futures rose 0.1% to $1,942.10. “Market developments are volatile, but banking sector wounds appear to be healing after emergency backstops and government promises. As safe-haven demand declines, gold has fallen “Christopher Wong, OCBC FX strategist. With Silicon Valley Bank’s failure and Credit Suisse’s turmoil, gold rose 10%, or $180, to a one-year high on safe-haven demand. Notwithstanding financial system fears,…

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Adobe Corp. (ADBE.O) introduced artificial intelligence to some of its most popular apps, including Photoshop and Illustrator, to speed up picture and text effect generation and pay artists. In cooperation with the technology, Nvidia Corp (NVDA.O) launched “Picasso,” a service that leverages AI to produce photos, movies, and 3D applications from text descriptions. Nvidia will pay royalties for training the system on Getty Images, Shutterstock Inc (SSTK.N), and Adobe pictures. This is a milestone in the conflict between copyright holders and new technology. Image-generation technology is “trained” on billions of photos, but its legality is unclear. Getty Images sued Stability…

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On Tuesday, a Swedish court authorized a class action lawsuit against the Swedish state for “insufficient climate policy” by Greta Thunberg and hundreds of other climate activists. In November, Thunberg and 600 other Aurora activists sued the Swedish state for failing to prevent global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius following the European Convention on Human Rights. Once the organization adjusted the claim, Nacka District Court allowed the complaint on Tuesday. “The district court has now issued a summons in a high-profile class action case,” the court announced. “The lawsuit requires the district court to rule that the state must implement…

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On Tuesday, Tata Motors (TAMO.NS) announced a 5% pricing increase for commercial cars to meet new emission standards. The business said in an exchange filing that starting April 1, prices for all commercial cars will rise, depending on model and version. Tata Motors is adapting its whole lineup to Bharat Stage 6 phase II emission requirements. In a high-inflation climate, the Jaguar Land Rover owner upped Tiago EV version pricing by 20,000 rupees in February and passenger car prices by 1.2% in January. The Mumbai-based Tata Group is an Indian multinational. It is India’s largest company and operates in 100…

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Despite Conservative criticism, on Tuesday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokeswoman encouraged legislators to support a key part of the new accord on post-Brexit commercial arrangements in Northern Ireland. On Tuesday, an important group of eurosceptic Tory members cautioned that the recently agreed “Stormont brake” mechanism to protect Northern Ireland from being exposed to unpleasant EU rules was “practically worthless”. Sunak’s spokeswoman said before Wednesday’s Windsor Framework vote that “the Stormont brake is vital and the most critical feature of the framework,” urging legislators to support it. “I don’t comment on Conservative MP communications… But this is excellent for Northern…

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Wildberries, founded by Tatyana Bakalchuk in 2004, is Russia’s largest internet shop. With almost 48,000 people, they operate in 15 countries: Armenia, Belarus, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, the United States, and Uzbekistan. Wildberries sells 37,000 brands of apparel, shoes, cosmetics, home products, children’s goods, gadgets, books, jewelry, cuisine, and more. Seven hundred fifty thousand internet orders are processed daily by the firm. The Russian internet retailer launched its home appliance brand on Tuesday. It stated the “Razz” and “Ruzz” product lines would comprise refrigerators and washing machines made in Russia, China, and Belarus.…

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According to Reuters, BYD (1211. HK), the world’s best-selling electric car company, has cut shifts at two Chinese auto assembly factories. BYD, which outsells Tesla (TSLA.O) in China, requested certain workers at its Xian facility, its biggest production center, to work only four days a week at a factory running two eight-hour shifts each day, according to three sources and an internal document written earlier this month and obtained by Reuters. BYD’s best-selling Song and Qin EV cars are made in Xian. Four sources claimed BYD decreased shifts at its Shenzhen facility, which builds Han sedans, from three to two…

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On Monday, Boston-based legal firm Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky, and Popeo inaugurated its first international office in Toronto, hiring five Toronto attorneys from competitor firms. Mintz hired practice leaders Michael Akkawi, Mitch Frazer, and Cheryl Reicin from Toronto-based Torys. Frazer and Reicin oversaw the pensions and employment and life sciences practices, respectively, while Akkawi managed private equity and fund creation. Capital markets and M&A will be Foster’s priority. In addition, Mintz said Lee Johnson, from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, will advise life sciences clients on patent prosecution. “Canadian firms and investors are increasingly turning to the U.S. and…

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Russia’s highest investigative agency charged the International Criminal Court prosecutor and judges who issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin on war crimes accusations on Monday. The move was symbolic defiance three days after the ICC charged Putin and his children’s commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova of war crimes for deporting Ukrainian children to Russia. According to the state Investigative Committee, Putin had no criminal accountability, and a 1973 U.N. treaty granted leaders of complete state protection. The committee ruled the ICC prosecutor committed Russian law offenses, including willfully charging an innocent person. “Preparing an assault on a representative of a…

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According to Manhattan court filings filed Sunday, SVB Financial (SIVB.O), the insolvent parent company of Silicon Valley Bank, lost access to its financial data when the FDIC placed the bank into receivership. SVB Financial’s venture capital and investment banking operations, which were not included in the FDIC’s takeover, are considering bankruptcy. A breakdown in collaboration with the bridge bank set up to take over SVB’s business has made its Chapter 11 bankruptcy “difficult,” according to SVB Financial Chief Restructuring Officer William Kosturos’ declaration filed Sunday in U.S. bankruptcy court. SVB Financial has no workers, and the new bank’s staff “shut…

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Bitcoin reached a nine-month high on Monday as financial uncertainty drove some investors to digital assets, building on its greatest week in four years. The largest cryptocurrency reached $28,567, its highest since mid-June, and was up 0.9% amid optimism that central banks will pause interest rate rises. Bitcoin climbed 26% last week, its highest weekly increase since April 2019, and 40% in 10 days as global financial turbulence culminated in UBS Group’s purchase of Credit Suisse Group AG over the weekend. As UBS completed its state-backed takeover of Credit Suisse on Monday, banking equities and bonds fell. On Sunday, top…

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On Monday, the Kremlin claimed the ICC’s arrest order for President Vladimir Putin showed “obvious animosity” toward Russia and Putin. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, told reporters that Russia was reacting “calmly” and working. “We are witnessing such a lot of blatantly hostile displays against our nation and against our president,” Peskov said at a daily press briefing. “We notice them, but if we took them all to heart, nothing would happen. So, we remain quiet, observe, and work.” The ICC’s arrest warrant for Putin and Russia’s children’s rights commissioner for the widespread abduction of Ukrainian children is ambiguous. Russia…

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On Monday, official media KCNA said that Kim Jong Un had overseen drills simulating a nuclear retaliation against the U.S. and South Korea as a warning to the allies. The North launched a short-range missile from a subterranean silo, which analysts think might enhance intercontinental ballistic missile testing (ICBM). KCNA accused Washington and Seoul of “explicitly attempting to launch a war” against it and said the Saturday and Sunday drills will enhance “war deterrent and nuclear counterattack capacity.” “The practice also meant to display our harder will to make a genuine war reaction and convey a stronger warning to the…

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According to a Saturday Truth Social post, former U.S. President Donald Trump expects to be detained on Tuesday in a Manhattan district attorney’s case and called on his fans to protest. District attorney spokeswoman denied comment. Trump said that “illegal leaks” from the Manhattan district attorney’s office predicted his arrest. However, he didn’t specify the charges. Trump tweeted, “Illegal leaks from a corrupt & very political Manhattan district attorney’s office… indicate that, with no crime being able to be established… the far & away leading Republican contender & former president of the United States of America, will be arrested on…

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On Saturday, party-run media reported that Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region’s dominant party nominated its spokesman Getachew Reda to lead an interim regional administration mandated by a peace deal that ended a two-year war. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) fought Ethiopian forces and their allies in a war that killed tens of thousands. Federal forces won several battles last November, leading to a truce. If the federal government approves Getachew’s nomination, he will succeed Debretsion Gebremichael, who has led Tigray since 2018. The federal government’s opinion on Getachew’s nomination and the interim administration’s formation is unknown. Ethiopian government spokesperson Legesse…

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Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, arrived in Japan on Saturday with six of his ministers in tow. Amid supply chain difficulties worldwide, he hopes to deepen Germany’s economic connections with Tokyo while lowering his country’s reliance on China for raw resources. Scholz and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida began their first “government dialogue” with some cabinet members from each nation to examine strategies to ensure economic stability. According to German authorities, it is of great political and symbolic significance for Germany to have its first such consultation with Japan. Germany now has similar consultations with several nations, including France and…

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Aggressive cost cuts helped FedEx Corp. (FDX.N) raise its profit projection amid dropping e-commerce package volumes; its shares soared as much as 11% in early trade on Friday. Bloated operations have hurt FedEx’s previous results, frustrating investors and raising concerns about its performance compared to rival United Parcel Service Corp. (UPS.N). Stock Street rose Thursday after FedEx reported progress on its plan to save $3.7 billion by slashing employees and storing planes. “Management has been able to slash costs quicker than projected which offsets worries of decelerating pricing support,” said J.P. Morgan analysts, raising their FedEx stock price objective by…

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In a Friday report, U.N. rights investigators accused Belarus of chronic violations, including the suppression of protestors and dissidents that may constitute crimes against humanity. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights document addressed the lead-up to the disputed presidential election on Aug. 9, 2020, and the crackdown on protesters and opponents that followed. President Alexander Lukashenko, a Russian ally who won his sixth poll term, denied breaches and blamed foreign forces for supporting the protesters. Friday’s request for a response from Belarus’ foreign ministry went unanswered. The study stated that Belarus had perpetrated systematic, pervasive, and egregious human rights…

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On Friday, a spokeswoman said that Germany’s education minister would visit Taiwan next week. China protested Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s liberal Free Democrats (FDP) delegation’s January visit to Taiwan. The spokeswoman stated FDP Bettina Stark-Watzinger would arrive early next week. A person familiar with the visit claimed Stark-Watzinger would not encounter President Tsai Ing-wen on the German government’s orders to avoid upsetting China. The source emphasized this was a working visit to discuss Stark-portfolio, Watzinger’s not a statement of support from Germany to Taiwan. Scholz restated his support for Beijing’s “one China” policy before a Saturday trip to Japan. Berlin maintains…

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On Friday, a new judge takes over the U.S. trial court in Washington, overseeing secret special counsel criminal investigations into former President Donald Trump’s retention of confidential materials and his allies’ attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat. After Judge Beryl Howell’s seven-year term, James “Jeb” Boasberg becomes the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Only the chief judge can seal federal grand jury sessions. It means Boasberg will immediately handle any special counsel concerns involving Trump, who stated in November he would run for the 2024 GOP presidential nominee. If a grand jury…

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The Kremlin announced on Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping would visit Russia from March 20 to 22 due to President Vladimir Putin’s invitation. The offer by Beijing to arbitrate a settlement in Ukraine has been met with suspicion in the West at the time of the visit due to Beijing’s diplomatic support for Russia. The Kremlin announced that the discussions would touch on pertinent issues related to the future expansion of comprehensive partnership ties and strategic cooperation between Russia and China. Also, according to the statement, “a number of key bilateral documents” will be signed. As Putin was in…

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Volkswagen (VOWG p.DEtechnology )’s board member aims to invest in mines to lower battery cell prices, fulfill half of its own needs, and sell to other parties. Thomas Schmall told Reuters that V.W. wants PowerCo, its battery company, to provide batteries worldwide. He said Powerco would provide cells to Ford (F.N.) for the 1.2 million European vehicles it produces on Volkswagen’s electric MEB platform. Schmall said V.W. would develop enough cells to cover half its worldwide battery demands in Europe and North America. “The barrier for raw materials is mining capacity,” he stated. The company was negotiating supply arrangements with…

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As part of a rescue plan for First Republic Bank (FRC.N), several large banks said Thursday that they had deposited $30 billion. The statement names JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N), Citigroup Inc (C.N.), Bank of America Corp (BAC.N), Wells Fargo & Co (WFC.N), Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N), Morgan Stanley (MS.N), and others as rescuers. Several big banks deposited $30 billion Thursday to rescue First Republic Bank (FRC.N). Rescuers include JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N), Citigroup Inc (C.N.), Bank of America Corp (BAC.N), Wells Fargo & Co (WFC.N), Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N), Morgan Stanley (MS.N), and others. A source…

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Senior Chinese ambassador Qin Gang told his Ukrainian counterpart on Thursday that Beijing is concerned about an escalation of the crisis in Ukraine and hopes Moscow and Kyiv would resume peace negotiations. China’s 12-point proposal on the “political settlement of the Ukrainian issue” calls for a gradual de-escalation and a ceasefire. Both parties lukewarmly accepted the plan, calling for civilian protection and respect for sovereignty. Qin told Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, “Beijing hopes that all sides would stay calm, sensible and controlled, and begin peace discussions as soon as feasible,” according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement. The ministry…

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On Thursday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he would strive to enhance European competitiveness at an E.U. summit in Brussels next week by making state support more flexible and completing capital markets and banking unions. Scholz told the German Parliament that the E.U. must cooperate on various subjects, including the Inflation Reduction Act, a massive U.S. subsidy program for sustainable technologies. Cooperation has deteriorated as the EU competes with the U.S. and China economically and defends Ukraine from Russia. Scholz has called for a unified banking market to eliminate public bailouts of institutions like Credit Suisse (CSGN.S). Scholz said competitiveness…

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The defense minister said on Thursday that Poland had dismantled an espionage network after private station RMF FM claimed that Russian operatives had been captured. RMF announced Wednesday that Polish security forces had apprehended six Russian spies. In addition, the broadcaster reported sabotage plans. Mariusz Blaszczak informed state radio Polskie Radio 1 that “the complete spy network has been unravelled” by Internal Security Agency employees. “This proves that the Polish services protect our nation efficiently.” Blaszczak declined to comment and said Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski would release further details at an 11 a.m. press conference (1000 GMT). Andrzej Duda met…

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Israeli President Isaac Herzog proposed alternative modifications to the court in response to a far-right coalition makeover that has sparked weeks of protests. Still, Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected the new idea. “Major elements of the framework he offered merely perpetuate the existing situation and do not bring the needed balance to the Israeli authorities,” Netanyahu tweeted. “Sad truth.” Netanyahu’s hard-right government’s push to overhaul Israel’s judiciary has alarmed Western allies and enraged Israelis. The original plan would increase government influence in judge selection and limit the Supreme Court’s capacity to strike down legislation. A reform of judge selection is a…

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The Israeli soldiers killed a man accused of planting a roadside bomb that wounded a civilian near the occupied West Bank on Wednesday. An Israeli driver was badly injured in a West Bank explosion on Monday. Palestinian terrorist attacks have intensified. A guy with many weapons, including a suicide vest, was arrested at a checkpoint on Monday, the military reported. Israeli officials were silent. Israeli security shot and murdered him. An Israeli military official said his driver was seized and questioned. The military said the suspect “was identified in possession of weapons, including an explosive belt ready to be fired,”…

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On Wednesday, two Turkish sources told Reuters that Turkey’s parliament would “very likely” confirm Finland’s NATO membership proposal by mid-April, a day before Finnish President Sauli Niinisto visits. As Russia invaded Ukraine, Sweden, and Finland applied to join the trans-Atlantic defense agreement, but Turkey objected. Stockholm denies harboring terrorists, according to Ankara. All 30 NATO member parliaments must approve membership applications. However, Turkey is the only member not to have approved Finland, Sweden, and Hungary. A senior Turkish official told Reuters that Finland’s proposal would be accepted separately from Sweden’s. Another official claimed Helsinki had tried to address Turkey’s concerns…

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In a Tuesday filing, Albertsons Companies Inc (ACI.N) reaffirmed it would dispose of some shops controlled by the business and Kroger Inc (KR.N) to get regulatory approval for the combination. Last month, Reuters reported, citing sources, that the supermarket operators were pursuing plans to sell 250 to 300 outlets to ease U.S. antitrust concerns over their combination. Several U.S. legislators and consumer advocacy organizations want the FTC to reject Kroger’s $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons due to worries it will raise supermarket costs.

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On Wednesday, Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) CEO Christian Sewing reported incoming deposits over the past three to four days as clients hurried to quality. Germany’s top banker addressed a banking conference after Silicon Valley Bank failed and bank shares plunged. Deutsche has received deposits “because individuals are doing that what is typical in these circumstances—fly to quality,” Sewing added. Figures weren’t provided. “We should also be extremely clear that there is in my perspective no parallel” between West Coast and European Bank situations, Sewing said. Sewing also previewed the first quarter, stating that investment bank fixed-income and currency trading will be…

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When Tropical Storm Freddy’s death toll soared past 270, Malawi and Mozambique raced to rescue survivors. Freddy hit southern Africa for the second time in a month over the weekend and continued to rain on Wednesday, hindering relief operations. Malawi’s crisis management service reported 225 deaths after the second hit, up from 190 on Tuesday, 707 injuries, and 41 missing. The disaster agency reported 21 deaths in Mozambique on Tuesday. Since February, Freddy has killed over 270 people in Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar. Blantyre, a commercial hub, was most struck by Malawi’s army, police, Red Cross, and other assistance agencies’…

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On Wednesday, Democratic and Republican senators proposed a resolution that may require President Joe Biden’s administration to report on Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and reconsider security support. Under the Foreign Assistance Act, House can vote to request information on a country’s human rights policies. Democrat Chris Murphy and Republican Mike Lee submitted the resolution. The government must provide the report within 30 days if the resolution passes. Otherwise, security aid to the country ends. After receiving the report, the statute allows Congress to pass a joint resolution canceling, limiting, or continuing security aid to that nation. Murphy, who leads…

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Andrii “Tuman,” whose call sign means “fog,” commands his unit around the clock from a modest, nondescript house in a heavily destroyed hamlet in eastern Ukraine to fend off Russian strikes. Russian soldiers, weaponry, and aggressive tactics in the Luhansk region replicate what Ukrainian forces have reported in Bakhmut. The grinding conflict along the eastern and southern Ukraine border costs both sides, as Tuman medics reported substantial casualties in recent weeks. When soldiers race through the village on armored personnel vehicles, Tuman orders out artillery attacks from his bunker, which has blacked-out windows. “From the beginning of February, they (the…

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Following Asian markets, the Indian rupee rose against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday, but importer-led dollar buying erased gains. After opening at 82.31, the rupee traded at 82.45 per dollar by 10:50 a.m. IST, up from 82.49. Two dealers said they watched the 82.50 level as state-run banks bought dollars for oil marketing companies and importers, reversing initial gains. In addition, traders reported fixing-related dollar demand. “A breakout over 82.50 amid speculative buying can drive the USD/INR pair towards 83.00 levels,” said CR Forex Advisors managing director Amit Pabari, adding that their overall bias was up. Wall Street rallied overnight…

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On Tuesday, Taiwan unveiled updated versions of its homegrown military drones, claiming that they are essential to its “asymmetric warfare” capability to make its forces more flexible if they come up against the much bigger Chinese military. China has increased military activities close to the democratically run island to compel it to embrace Chinese sovereignty despite Taiwan’s protests. China has never renounced the use of force to seize control of Taiwan. The conflict in Ukraine has given Taiwan’s military attempts to improve defense, including a push to create drones, additional urgency. The military-owned National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology…

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On Sunday, British finance minister Jeremy Hunt said he was working with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey to “prevent or mitigate damage” from the Silicon Valley Bank debacle. The digital startup-focused U.S. bank SVB Financial Group (SIVB.O) collapsed on Friday, the largest since the 2008 financial crisis. According to Hunt, the bank’s failure might have a big effect on British technology companies, given the importance of the bank to certain of its customers. Hunt told Sky News, “We’ve been working quickly through the night throughout the weekend. “We will present proposals very shortly to…

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Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that his ruling AK Party and its nationalist allies would continue on their planned route after the opposition coalition split over who should face him in a May national election. “We predicted this months ago…Our aim is set… Nonetheless, we stick to our plan, “Erdogan told state-owned TRT Haber. Analysts say Friday’s public rift in an opposition alliance was a setback to the opposition’s dreams of overthrowing Erdogan, who has been in power for two decades. Despite criticism of his government’s response to last month’s earthquakes, which killed over 45,000 people in Turkey,…

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On Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged 34 million euros ($36 million) to Congo’s east and threatened to penalize any organization disrupting peace efforts. Macron said on an official visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where anti-French sentiment has surged as eastern provinces fight the M23 rebel group, which Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting. Denies. Macron was asked in Kinshasa to condemn Rwanda for assisting the M23. Macron said, “I criticized the M23 and its sympathizers.” Macron supported an Angola peace proposal that failed in November. He said, “If they don’t respect it, there may be ramifications.” Before Macron’s…

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On Friday, Turkey’s right-wing IYI Party left the major opposition coalition after rejecting its plan to make the biggest opposition party leader their election candidate, weakening the threat to President Tayyip Erdogan. After months of turmoil, Erdogan announced this week that elections would be placed on May 14 despite criticism of his government’s reaction to last month’s deadly earthquakes, causing a public rift. “As of yesterday, the ‘Table of Six’ (opposition parties) has lost the power to reflect the desire of the people in its choices,” she stated, foreshadowing her party’s resignation from the partnership. “It’s no longer a platform…

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In a Friday video, Wagner mercenary group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin stated his soldiers “practically surrounded” Bakhmut and that Kyiv’s forces had just one path out. Prigozhin’s forces have led eastern Ukraine’s attack for months. Moscow uses Bakhmut, formerly Artyomovsk, as a stepping stone to take Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. In the video, Prigozhin, in military dress, urged Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy to evacuate his soldiers from the little city. “Wagner’s private military company surrounds Bakhmut. The pincers are tightening “Prigozhin said. Reuters placed the footage in Paraskoviivka, 4.3 miles (7 km) north of Bakhmut. On February 17, Prigozhin declared Paraskoviivka captured.…

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South Asian island nation Sri Lanka, previously Ceylon, is officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. It is southwest of the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean, separated from the Indian peninsula by the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait. In a statement, Sri Lanka’s central bank boosted interest rates unexpectedly on Friday to assist finalize an International Monetary Fund’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreement. The bank boosted its fixed deposit and loan facility rates by 100 basis points to 15.50% and 16.50%, respectively. A $2.9 billion IMF rescue is pending. The biggest financial crisis since independence from…

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On Wednesday, Polish Environment Minister Anna Moskwa said democratic nations should force Russia to pay Ukraine war reparations and terminate all financial and commercial links with Moscow. During an energy conference in Zagreb, Croatia’s capital, Moskwa stated, “We need to have Ukraine reimbursed from Russian Federation as much as possible.” “Dignified recompense for everything, for energy, for energy infrastructure, for every single human being, for environment, for everything was lost and impacted,” she said. The Partnership for Transatlantic Energy and Climate Cooperation (P-TECC) met with US and European government officials and corporate investors to explore how to assist Ukraine in…

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In November, Li Qiang, the new No. 2 on the ruling Communist Party’s Politburo Standing Committee, capitalized on enormous protests against China’s zero-COVID policy. Over the previous weeks, top Chinese officials and medical experts had been quietly formulating plans to dismantle President Xi Jinping’s zero-COVID strategy and gradually reopen the country by the end of 2022 to declare a return to normality in March, four people with knowledge of the matter told Newspress. This month’s new prime minister, Li, took a more urgent approach. The four workers and another person stated he hastily activated the reopening plans sooner than planned…

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Belarusian pro-democracy activist and prisoner of conscience Viktaravich Bialiatski works with the Viasna Human Rights Centre. From the early 1980s, Bialiatski has worked for Belarusian independence and democracy, forming Viasna and the Belarusian People Front, which he led from 1996 to 1999. He is a Belarusian opposition Coordinating Council member. The New York Times labeled him “a cornerstone of the human rights movement in Eastern Europe” and a leading Belarusian pro-democracy campaigner. Bialiatski has received international acclaim for defending Belarusian human rights. The “Alternative Nobel Prize”—the Right Livelihood Award—was his in 2020. In addition, Memorial, Centre for Civil Liberties, and…

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On Tuesday, South Korea’s presidential office announced the first economic security discussion between South Korea, the US, and Japan to improve supply chains and technologies. Amid rising global tensions, a more assertive China, and an unpredictable North Korea, Japan, South Korea, and China want to cooperate more. “This conversation is important in increasing bilateral economic security cooperation with the United States to the trilateral level,” the office of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol stated. “It should improve the three nations’ key supply chain resilience and crisis response capacities and create collaboration to promote and protect vital and emerging technologies.” At…

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In an interview with the German news magazine Spiegel published on Tuesday, the head of the European Investment Bank recommended a new fund to counter the subsidies granted by the United States Inflation Reduction Act. Werner Hoyer stated that while a capital increase for the bank would not be necessary for the creation of the fund, financial guarantees would need to be provided by either the European Union or member states

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A police official said two individuals were gravely injured Tuesday after shots were fired near a German primary school in Bramsche, northwestern Germany. The official stated the incident near Martinusschule elementary school was unconnected. Bild, a mass-circulation newspaper, said that police captured the gunman after witnesses reported the event at 7.30 a.m. (0630 GMT).

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A Turkish and Syrian opposition official estimated that 40,000 Syrians who fled the fatal Feb. 6 earthquake had returned from Turkey to rebel-held northwestern Syria in the two weeks since Ankara lifted restrictions. Mazen Alloush, a media officer at the rebel-held Bab Al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey, told Reuters that four border checkpoints reported immigration. According to a figure Alloush gave, 13,500 people have passed Bab Al-Hawa, roughly 10,000 through Jarabulus, and 7,000 each through Bab Al-Salam and Tal Abiad as of Monday. On Monday, a Turkish defense ministry spokesman reported 40,000 Syrians returning home. The officer stated that more…

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On Monday, Uber’s Middle Eastern subsidiary Careem informed Qatari clients that it would suspend operations on Tuesday. Two months after the World Cup in Qatar, when Careem, Uber, and Karwa vehicles were part of the tournament’s official preparations to transport visiting spectators, the surprising news arrived. “Unfortunately, Careem’s ride hailing operations will no longer operate in Qatar as of February 28, 2023,” the message read, adding that Careem credit holders will receive a full refund by March 15. Careem didn’t explain its shutdown. Careem didn’t reply to Reuters’ request for comment. Uber Technologies Inc. purchased Careem for $3.1 billion in…

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On Monday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to reveal a new arrangement on post-Brexit trade regulations for Northern Ireland, betting that improved EU relations are worth party division. Sunak, in charge for barely four months, is taking a gamble that he can find a solution to strengthen relations with Brussels and the US without angering the Brexit-supporting element of his party. On Monday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet Sunak for final negotiations and visit King Charles, which has generated criticism because the monarch should not be involved in politics. The pact aims to ease…

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Businessman and politician Peter Obi was governor of Anambra from March to November 2006, February to May 2007, and June 2007 to March 2014. After leaving the Peoples Democratic Party in May 2022, he became the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate. Obi graduated from the University of Nigeria in 1984. He worked as a bank executive afterward. Obi was ousted following the 2007 Anambra State governorship election, but the judges once more stepped in and decided he should be let to serve his whole four-year term. He won reelection to a second term in 2010 Lagos State, home to Africa’s…

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MVD is an uncommon yet severe hemorrhagic fever that affects humans and non-human primates. Marburg virus, a filovirus, causes MVD. The only other filoviruses are the six Ebola virus species. In 1967, hemorrhagic fever broke out in laboratories in Marburg, Frankfurt, and Belgrade, Yugoslavia, revealing the Marburg virus (now Serbia). Thirty-one persons fell sick, including laboratory employees, hospital staff, and family members. Seven died. Either Ugandan African green monkeys or their tissues infected the first people. Retrospective diagnosis added one instance. Marburg virus lives in Rousettus aegyptiacus, an African fruit bat. Marburg-infected fruit bats are asymptomatic. Marburg virus may infect…

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Financial officials from the world’s major economies could not reconcile disputes on Saturday over the crisis in Ukraine. Nevertheless, according to sources, they inched forward debt restructures for distressed nations. Three participants told the Group of 20 (G20) finance ministers and central bank heads conference, hosted by India, would likely finish later in the day without a unified declaration because there was no consensus on defining the Ukrainian war. The U.S. and its G7 industrial partners have insisted that the communiqué denounce Russia for invading its neighbor a year ago, but the Russian and Chinese delegations have objected. Two delegates…

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President Kais Saied is Tunisia’s 8th president since October 2019. He led the Tunisian Constitutional Law Association from 1995 until 2019. Saied, an Ennahda-supported independent social conservative, ran for president in 2019. After President Kais Saied expelled unauthorized migrants and suggested immigration was a scheme to change Tunisia’s demographics, the African Union (AU) criticized Tunisia and asked it to avoid “racialized hate speech.” On Saturday, Tunisia’s Foreign Ministry was shocked by the AU statement late Friday and rejected “baseless charges” that misinterpreted the government’s position. The AU expressed “great astonishment and concern at the form and substance of the statement”…

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Zhuzhou Rubber Research & Design Institute, a Chinese weather balloon maker, denied involvement in the US-shot-down balloon. ChemChina subsidiary Zhuzhou Rubber “primarily produces sounding balloons of natural latex in accordance with all applicable norms and regulations.” “Weather stations use our products for daily weather forecasts,” ChemChina’s website stated. A Chinese surveillance balloon was blasted off the Atlantic Coast after a week above the U.S. and Canada at President Joseph Biden’s request. China says it was a government spycraft. China labeled the U.S. balloon incident “hysterical” and “absurd,” violating international conventions. Last year, China’s state-owned business regulator stated Zhuzhou Rubber produced…

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After years of growing violence and suffering, Nigerians began voting Saturday for President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor. News reporters at numerous sites around the nation noticed polling stations that were not ready by 8:30 a.m. (0730 GMT). In addition, reporters reported voting lineups without election officials in northern Kano, southern Bayelsa, Abuja, Benin, and some parts of the eastern states. News Reporters in central Lagos, Awka, in southern Anambra State, and Maiduguri, in northeastern Nigeria, observed voting begin while other Lagos areas were delayed. Buhari, a retired army general, is resigning after spending the maximum eight years permitted by the constitution…

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Russia’s conflict in Ukraine breached FATF rules. Thus, the organization suspended its membership on Friday. “The Russian Federation’s actions unacceptably go opposite to the FATF key principles seeking to enhance security, safety, and integrity of the global financial system,” the Paris-based organization stated. Ukraine has been urging the group to remove Russia for a year. Although suspended, Russia remains a member. “Russia must follow FATF Standards. Russia must keep paying its bills “”FATF” During each plenary meeting, it would assess the situation. The FATF is an intergovernmental organization that sets global standards and monitors compliance to combat money laundering and…

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Wang Wenbin is a Chinese diplomat, diplomat spokesman, deputy head of the Foreign Ministry Information Department, and Communist Party member. He is the 32nd spokesman since 1983. From 2018 until 2020, he was the Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia. On Friday, China’s foreign ministry denied news of Russian-Chinese drone negotiations. “Too much untruth about China has been circulated. Beware of the motives “ministry spokeswoman Wang Wenbin said. “I also want to emphasize that China has always been cautious and responsible when exporting military items, avoiding selling to conflict zones or fighting groups.” READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: U.S. PREPARES $550 MILLION ENERGY SECURITY…

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Since 2021, Fumio Kishida has been Prime Minister of Japan and LDP president. He was Foreign Affairs Minister from 2012 to 2017 and interim Defense Minister in 2017. In addition, he led the LDP Policy Research Council from 2017–2020. From a political family, Kishida attended primary school in New York City. Kishida became an LDP member of the House of Representatives in 1993 after working in finance. According to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the other members of the Group of Seven (G7), Japan is putting up a fresh set of sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. During…

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At a G20 financial leaders summit, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen accused Russian officials of being “complicit” in atrocities in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, host India avoided addressing the year-long war in opening comments. The war and its impact on the global economy are set to dominate the two-day summit. Still, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the financial leaders to focus on the world’s “most vulnerable citizens.” Modi claimed the COVID-19 epidemic and “growing geo-political tensions in different areas of the world” had caused unsustainable debt levels in numerous nations, supply chain disruptions, and food…

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The potential of North Korea utilizing a nuclear bomb was the topic of a simulated “table-top” exercise in which U.S. and South Korean officials took part, the Military announced on Thursday. Nuclear-armed In 2017, North Korea launched an unprecedented number of missiles, including ICBMs, that could strike the U.S. mainland. In addition, it fired two missiles into the Pacific Ocean on Monday. The North may be ready for its first nuclear test since 2017. The 8th U.S.-South Korean deterrent strategy committee table-top exercise (DSC TTX) was the first since they decided to hold it yearly last year. “With the DPRK’s…

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On Friday, the war in Ukraine reached its second year with no end in sight, a U.N. vote demanding Russia withdraw its forces, and world leaders ready to boost Ukraine aid and slap additional penalties on Moscow and its allies. On the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion, Ukraine’s allies showed their support. “If you stand for freedom, stand for Ukraine” was the banner during a London vigil where Ukrainian flag-draped people held hands on their hearts. Paris lit up the Eiffel Tower in blue and yellow. “Ukraine will win,” Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo stated. On Thursday, the U.N. General Assembly…

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On Wednesday, Pope Francis said no victory could be “built on ruins” and urged a ceasefire and peace talks. He made this statement two days before the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Francis spoke during his weekly general audience at the Vatican, calling for an end to the carnage in Ukraine since Russia invaded the nation on February 24, 2022. Francis spoke during his weekly general audience at the Vatican, calling for an end to the carnage in Ukraine since Russia invaded the nation on February 24, 2022. “It has been a terrible anniversary, a year since the…

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An island nation in the Indian Ocean, Madagascar is officially known as the Republic of Madagascar. It is located about 400 kilometers (250 miles) off the coast of East Africa across the Mozambique Channel. The government of Madagascar shut down schools and public transportation on Tuesday because tropical storm Freddy was expected to hit the southeast at night. The storm is anticipated to strike Mananjary district, around 270 kilometers from Antananarivo, with gusts of almost 155 km per hour, Madagascar’s meteorological authorities warned. On Twitter, the International Federation of Red Cross warned of heavy rainfall and waves over 26 feet…

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Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, born on March 1966, is China’s second-highest-ranking diplomat behind CCP Politburo member Wang Yi. He was China’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2018 to 2021 and Ambassador to the US from 2021 to 2023. On Tuesday, the foreign minister said China is “seriously frightened” that the Ukrainian crisis might spiral out of hand and urged certain nations to cease “fuelling the fire,” presumably referring to the US. Beijing, which signed a “no boundaries” cooperation with Moscow last year, hasn’t condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Beijing denies supporting Russia militarily, but the US has threatened…

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President Joe Biden, who just got back from a trip to Kyiv, was supposed to reassure U.S. allies on Tuesday that the U.S. supports Ukraine and will strengthen NATO’s eastern flank as the anniversary of Russia’s invasion gets closer. After a dramatic visit to Kyiv, where he met President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who wants more weapons for a spring offensive against Russia, Biden arrived in Warsaw late on Monday. Biden was supposed to meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda to talk about helping Ukraine and to thank Poland for its military and humanitarian aid. Duda’s advisor on foreign policy said they…

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Raiffeisen Bank, a Romanian universal bank, offers a full range of goods and services to private individuals, SMEs, and major organizations through numerous distribution channels: banking locations, ATM and EPOS networks, phone banking, and mobile banking. Recent news sources say that Raiffeisen Bank International’s (RBIV.VI) shares had their worst day since the Ukrainian crisis began on Monday. It was due to rumors that the Austrian bank’s operations in Russia had caught the attention of U.S. sanctions regulators. At 11:30 GMT, the bank’s shares were down 7.6% after the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) asked for more…

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The dollar dipped on Monday but stayed around a six-week high on Friday as a slew of economic data boosted market expectations of Federal Reserve monetary tightening. At 103.81, the US Dollar Index lost 0.2%. Since September, it has grown approximately 1.8% monthly. However, Friday’s high was 104.67. Monday’s US market closure for Presidents’ Day is likely to affect liquidity. Statistics from the world’s largest economy revealed a tight labor market, sticky consumer prices, and robust retail sales. Plus rising producer costs. Thereby increasing Americans hope.. Interest rates will increase unless the central bank controls inflation. Analysts predict the dollar’s…

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In a Sunday interview, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said French President Emmanuel Macron was wasting time talking to Moscow. Zelenskiy, interviewed by Corriere Sera, responded to Macron’s notion that Russia should be “defeated but not crushed” and that Ukraine’s crisis should be resolved via diplomacy. Sunday’s call between presidents. He denied that Western sanctions isolated Russian President Vladimir Putin. “The war decision marginalized Putin,” He said. Macron called for further military aid to Ukraine on Friday. In an interview with the Journal du Dimanche, he claimed he did not believe in regime change, that there was no hope of a…

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The 45th president of the United States, Donald John Trump, is an American politician, media personality, and businessman. He was in office from 2017 to 2021. In 1968, Trump earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, is thought to be a leading candidate for the Republican presidential candidacy in 2024. Former President Donald Trump denies spending time considering or brainstorming nicknames for DeSantis. Instead, using his social media channel Truth Social, Trump referred to the reports as “Fake News” and said they were “an irrelevant subject to me!!!” According to…

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Many news sources, including Forbes and AllSides, say that Pennsylvania Democrat Senator John Fetterman has been hospitalized and may stay there for more than a month. Fetterman got help at the Walter Reed Military Medical Center this week for “serious” depression. It is unknown what type of depression Fetterman is experiencing or what kind of treatment he is getting. But, while being hospitalized, Fetterman is still performing his duties as a senator, according to his top assistant, who spoke to the Wall Street Journal—on the recommendation of congressional physician Dr. Brian P. Monahan, Fetterman’s chief of staff Adam Jentleson stated…

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Jimmy Carter passed George H.W. Bush as the former president of the United States and has lived the longest. His 98th birthday was observed on October 22, 2022. From January 1977 until January 1981, Carter presided as the 39th president of the United States. He belonged to the Democratic Party. During his time in office, there was a hostage crisis in Iran, the economy went down, and the Camp David agreements led to a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. In recent years, Carter has experienced many health problems, including melanoma that spread to his liver and brain. However, he…

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In February, manufacturing activity in the Mid-Atlantic region dropped unexpectedly. Thereafter, goods producers reported input price hikes accelerated for the first time in 10 months. While their own price increases slowed remarkably. Thus indicating margin pressures were mounting. The Philadelphia Federal Reserve’s monthly manufacturing index dropped to -24.3 from -8.9 in January. Thus, defying economists’ expectations for a third consecutive monthly improvement. The indices that track new orders, shipments, delivery times, and employee count all decreased. In the meantime, the survey’s measures of prices, those paid by producers and those charged to consumers – both closely monitored inflation indicators. Reveals…

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The earnings challenges of U.S. firms are likely to continue beyond the unsatisfactory fourth quarter, as the expanding labor market, which drags on margins, is anticipated to have a negative influence on performance in the first quarter of this year. Credit Suisse predicts that both the first and second halves of 2022 will be the worst profit quarters since the conclusion of the last recession 24 years ago. A further loss in the first quarter of 2023 would place the S&P 500 in the so-called profits recession, a period of successive earnings declines not seen since COVID-19 devastated corporate performance…

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Unilever Plc announced on Thursday that it expects price hikes to continue for its detergents, soaps, and packaged foods to help mitigate rising input costs, but will decrease prices in the second half of 2023. The London-based manufacturing company of Dove soaps, savory food spread Marmite, and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream predicts cost inflation to continue in 2023, estimating net resource inflation of around 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) in the first half. Over the past year, the prices of key ingredients such as cocoa, sunflower oil, and wheat have skyrocketed. This is pushing the processed food industry to…

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Biden adopts a decades-old strategy to fight GOP on Social Security and Medicare. After attacking Republicans in Tuesday’s State of the Union address, President Joe Biden (during which he received audible “boos” from GOP Congress members). This is to cut Medicare and Social Security. “Republicans want to eliminate Social Security and Medicare,” he declared at the University of Tampa on Thursday. “If that’s your dream, I’m your worst horror.” Social Security funding has been a campaign issue (putting Democrats versus Republicans) for decades because people see efforts to eliminate it as political poison, giving it the label “third rail of politics.”…

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Iranian dissident Farhad Meysami has been released – judiciary He was released this week, after his supporters warned that he was in danger of dying for protesting the mandatory wearing of the hijab. Images of a malnourished Meysami, who had been imprisoned since 2018 for supporting women activists protesting Iran’s headscarf policy, went viral on social media, causing an uproar among netizens and international rights groups. Following the approval of the recent amnesty by the leader of the revolution (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei), Farhad Meysami was included in the amnesty. Then, he was released from prison hours ago, according to…

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At least eight dead and many more missing by landslide caused by heavy rain in Peru. Heavy rains over the weekend triggered mudslides in several communities, including Pampaylima, Venado de Oro, Infiernillo, San Martin, Miski, and Secocha, all of which are located in the Mariano Nicolas Valcarcel district. The COEN, updated the death toll shortly after Wilson Gutierrez, the  technical secretary of the district’s National Civil Defense Institute, told Radio Programs of Peru that 36 people had been killed. Local authorities have requested that  humanitarian aid be airlifted to the affected communities. The defense ministry announced on Twitter that it…

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