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☆ Human rights lawyer to political reformer: Who is Keir Starmer, the UK's new would-be prime minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer speaks ahead of the U.K.'s general election on July 4, 2024. The left-of-center opposition party retains a commanding lead of around 20 points over current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservatives, according to the latest YouGov poll. But who is Keir Starmer — Labour's leader and the clear favorite to become prime minister after Britain's July 4 election? Starmer also served as a human rights adviser during former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair's Northern Ireland Good Friday Agreement. Labour leader Keir Starmer takes a selfie with students after a campaign event at Three Counties Medical School on May 29, 2024.

Persons: Sir Keir Starmer, Anthony Devlin, Rishi Sunak's, Nigel Farage's, Keir Starmer —, Starmer, Margaret Thatcher's, Tony Blair's, Jeremy Corbyn, Keir Starmer, Christopher Furlong Organizations: Labour Party, Getty, Conservative, Britain's Labour Party, Labour, Conservatives, British, National Health Service, University of Leeds, University of Oxford, Shell, Tony Blair's Northern, Service, Counties Medical School, Wealth Fund Locations: London, England, Victoria, EU, Britain

☆ UK inflation falls to Bank of England's 2% target ahead of elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Shoppers on the high street in the Kingston district of London, U.K.U.K. inflation fell to the Bank of England's target of 2.0% in May, the Office for National Statistics said Wednesday, in the last print of the key economic measure ahead of national elections in July. The headline reading declined from 2.3% in April and came in line with the 2% expectations of economists polled by Reuters. Core inflation, excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, dipped to 3.5% from 3.9% in April. Unseasonably bad weather led to the slowest increase in grocery sales in two years, new figures from U.K. market research firm Kantar showed Tuesday. Grocery sales rose 1.0% in the four weeks to June 9, marking the sixteenth consecutive monthly decline in food inflation, according to the index.

Persons: Sterling, BOE, Kantar Organizations: Bank of, National Statistics, Reuters Locations: Kingston, London, —

☆ EU to challenge U.S. and China strategically on trade, competition chief says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Executive Vice President of the European Commission for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age Margrethe Vestager talks to media in the Berlaymont, the EU Commission headquarter on May 23, 2024 in Brussels, Belgium. The European Union may be no economic match for its U.S. and China trade partners, but it can seek to contend with them strategically, the bloc's competition chief said Tuesday. Margrethe Vestager told CNBC that the EU had become "much better" at defending itself against unfair trade practices, and that it would continue to find novel ways of competing equitably with its economic partners. "The point is to realise we can never outspend China or the U.S.," Vestager told Silvia Amaro in Brussels. It follows similar measures by the U.S. last month, the latest phase in a growing trade tensions between the two economic powerhouses.

Persons: Margrethe Vestager, Vestager, Silvia Amaro Organizations: European Commission, European, CNBC, EU, EV, U.S Locations: Brussels, Belgium, China

A stock trader looks at his monitors in the trading room of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Worries about a new coronavirus mutation in southern Africa have dealt a major blow to the German stock market. The Stoxx 600 index was up 0.68% in early deals, with all sectors and major bourses trading in the green. Travel and leisure stocks led gains, up 1.84%, while banks were also 1.28% higher. The index fell more than 6.2% last week.

Organizations: Frankfurt Stock Exchange, CAC Locations: Africa

☆ French protests add to Macron's political gamble as election race heats up
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Matthieu Delaty | Afp | Getty ImagesFrance's election campaign kicked off in earnest Monday following a weekend of violent nationwide protests against the far-right National Rally, or RN, whose record European Parliament gains sparked the snap vote. Protesters gather during an anti far-right rally after French president called legislative elections following far-right parties' significant gains in European Parliament elections, in Paris on June 15, 2024. More likely, however, is a "messy" hung parliament, he said — part of Macron's gamble to discredit RN's legitimacy ahead of the 2027 presidential elections. French stocks gained on Monday, with Goldman Sachs' senior European strategist Sharon Bell saying that the sell-off may have been premature. Protesters gather during an anti-far-right rally after French President Emmanuel Macron called legislative elections following far-right parties' significant gains in European Parliament elections in Paris on June 15, 2024.

Persons: Matthieu Delaty, Jordan Bardella, France's Le, Lou Benoist, Emmanuel Macron's, Mujtaba Rahman, Mujtaba, Goldman Sachs, Sharon Bell, Bell, CNBC's, Emmanuel Macron Organizations: National Rally, Afp, Getty, France's Le Monde, CGT, CNBC, Union, Eurasia, CAC, Generale, Protesters Locations: Lyon, France, Paris, Europe

☆ Europe stocks set to open mixed as investors look ahead to Bank of England decision later this week
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Commuters crossing a junction near the Bank of England (BOE), left, in the City of London, UK, on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesLONDON — European markets are set to open mixed as investors attempt to shake off negative sentiment from last week and look ahead to the latest interest rate decision from the Bank of England. Investors are looking ahead to the Bank of England's policy rate decision on Thursday. In Asia-Pacific, markets were mixed on Monday as the region assesses key economic data out from China. U.S. stock futures were little changed on Monday morning as traders start a holiday-shortened week.

Persons: BOE, Andrew Bailey, Hollie Adams, Emmanuel Macron's Organizations: Bank of England, City of, Bloomberg, Getty, CAC, Bank of, Reuters Locations: City, City of London, Italy, Asia, Pacific, China . U.S

☆ Taylor Swift's London Eras Tour could delay Bank of England rate cut, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Taylor Swift performs on stage during during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at Anfield on June 13, 2024 in Liverpool, England. LONDON — Taylor Swift's record-shattering Eras Tour is continuing to supercharge consumer spending as it enters it U.K. leg, suggesting that the Bank of England may not be out of the woods yet in its fight against inflation. The Bank of England is expected to soon begin lowering its Bank Rate from a 16-year high of 5.25%, with all but two of 65 economists polled by Reuters anticipating a cut in August, while financial markets are pricing in September. However, a possible clash between one of Swift's August tour dates and a key inflation index day could skew the data enough to make the bank rethink its path, the analysts said. "A surge in hotel prices then could be material, temporarily adding as much as 30bps to services inflation (+15bps on headline)," Krishnan and Rossiter wrote.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Taylor, BoE, Lucas Krishnan, James Rossiter, Krishnan, Rossiter Organizations: Anfield, Bank of England, Securities, MPC, Monetary, Reuters, CNBC Locations: Liverpool, England, London

☆ Trump and Biden campaigns go head-to-head with rival fundraisers in London
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Donald Trump pictured with right-wing British politician Nigel Farage during a campaign rally at the Mississippi Coliseum on Aug. 24, 2016. LONDON — Supporters of U.S. presidential candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden will put their money where their mouths are at two rival fundraising events in London on Wednesday. "It seems to be the worst kept secret in London," Greg Swenson, spokesperson for Republicans Overseas UK, a campaign group for Trump's party, told CNBC over the phone. In the days after a Manhattan jury convicted the former president of 34 felony counts last month, the Trump campaign said it raised $141 million in donations. The pair have been visibly associated with Trump and Farage since at least April 2022, when Farage tweeted a picture of the group after a meal at Mar-a-Lago.

Persons: Donald Trump, Nigel Farage, Joe Biden, Donald Trump Jr, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Holly Valance, Nick Candy, Greg Swenson, Swenson, Trump, Farage, Matthew Elliott, Valance —, — Organizations: Mississippi Coliseum, LONDON, U.S, Fox News, Republican, Republicans Overseas UK, CNBC, Trump, Reform, Financial Times, Guardian, Reform UK Locations: British, London, Australian, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, U.S

☆ Global gender gap could take 134 years to close — but 2024 elections offer hope, WEF says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The 2024 bumper election year presents a unique opportunity to make progress in closing the global gender gap, according to the World Economic Forum. It is now estimated to take 134 years — or five generations — to close the global gender gap, up from 131 years in 2023, WEF said. This year's sweeping election cycle could narrow that gap, however, by boosting women's representation in the political sphere, the non-governmental organization said. WEF's Global Gender Gap Report, now in its 18th year, is an annual index designed to measure gender equality. "With over 60 national elections in 2024 and the largest global population in history set to vote, women's political representation and the overall gender gap could be set to improve," the report said.

Persons: WEF, Saadia Zahidi, Claudia Sheinbaum, Halla Tomasdottir Organizations: Economic Locations: Saroi, Bhadohi, India's Uttar Pradesh, Mexico, Iceland

☆ Europe is reckoning with a 'much more unpredictable' U.S., former EU chief says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Former European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso speaks on stage during the 2022 Concordia Annual Summit in New York on September 20, 2022. Leigh Vogel | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty ImagesA more "unpredictable" U.S. will only add to the challenges facing the incoming European Parliament as it navigates increasingly fraught ties with China and Russia, according to former EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso. "It's not just that the European Union is facing a much more aggressive Russia, a much more assertive China, it's also facing a much more unpredictable United States of America. watch nowBarroso, who served as commission president from 2004 to 2014, said that the U.S. remains the EU's "biggest ally," and that the two sharing close ties, including within NATO. "Today there are some doubts about which way the United States can go.

Persons: Jose Manuel Barroso, Leigh Vogel, José Manuel Barroso, Barroso, Donald Trump, It's, it's, CNBC's Silvia Amaro Organizations: European, Getty, EU, CNBC, Republican, U.S, NATO, Goldman Sachs Locations: New York, China, Russia, Europe, States of America, Ukraine, U.S, United States

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Far-right makes gains in EU elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Abid Ali | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Populist, far-right parties also won record support in this year's European Parliament elections, exit polls indicated late on Sunday. No way, MuskNorway's $1.7 trillion sovereign wealth fund, Tesla's eighth-largest shareholder, will vote against Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package. Despite a recent 2% drop in Aramco's stock and pressures on global oil prices, the offering attracted strong international demand.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Pen, CNBC's Karen Gilchrist, Dow, Stocks, Musk, Kitty's, Keith Gill, Gill, Prince Mohammed bin, Aramco's, Morgan Stanley, there's Organizations: CNBC, Populist, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Treasury, Elon Musk's, GameStop, Saudi, Nvidia Locations: Europe, freefall, Saudi Arabia, Aramco, Saudi

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Far right gains in EU elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Abid Ali | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Far-right advanceFrench President Emmanuel Macron said he will dissolve parliament and call for a new legislative vote after his Renaissance party suffered a major defeat at the EU elections. Populist, far-right parties also won record support in this year's European Parliament elections, exit polls indicated late on Sunday. No way, MuskNorway's $1.7 trillion sovereign wealth fund, Tesla's eighth-largest shareholder, will vote against Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Pen, CNBC's Karen Gilchrist, Dow, Stocks, Musk, Kitty's, Keith Gill, Gill, Korea's Kospi, Macron Organizations: CNBC, Populist, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Treasury, Elon Musk's, GameStop, Nikkei, Markets, Nvidia, Apple Locations: Europe, freefall, Japan, Asia, Australia, Hong Kong, China

☆ Far right makes big gains in EU elections as center right holds majority, early data indicates
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Populist, far-right parties have won record support in this year's European Parliament elections, early exit polls indicated Sunday. The center-right European People's Party (EPP) is once again projected to win the most parliamentary seats, with a marginally bigger majority than before. The projection is based on exit polls, national estimates and pre-election polling data, and follows a four-day, EU-wide vote. The European Parliament, which is responsible for deciding EU laws and budgets, is the only directed elected institution within the bloc. It is made up of Members of European Parliament (MEPs), who are elected by each member state and come together to form European party groups.

Organizations: Populist, European Conservatives, European People's Party, EPP, Europe, Greens, European Free Alliance, EU

☆ The right-wing surge in EU Parliament could have implications for Europe and beyond
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Right-wing parties across Europe have seen a surge in support over recent years and are set for record gains in the 2024 European Parliament elections. Meanwhile, an emboldened ID party could apply pressure on Parliament to alter its stance on other contentious issues. Here's a look at how these shifts could impact EU policy. "The incoming Commission and Parliament are likely to continue the trend towards greater protectionism and intervention in strategic industries, although the EU will remain an open, trade-dependent economy," they wrote. EU enlargementElsewhere, enlargement of the EU could face further setbacks with a larger euroskeptic presence in Parliament.

Persons: Sean Gallup, Armida van Rij, Chatham House thinktank, Verisk, Mario Bikarski, Laurent Balt, van Rij, Dorien Rookmaker, Balt Organizations: Getty, Populist, Sunday, Greens, European Free Alliance, European People's Party, EPP, European Conservatives, Eurasia Group, Chatham House, CNBC, Immigration, Citi, ECR, EU Locations: Europe, Ukraine, Russia, China, U.S

Stock price information reflected on a window at the Euronext NV stock exchange in Paris, France, on Monday, March 13, 2023. LONDON — European stocks closed lower on Friday, as investors digested fresh U.S. jobs data and the European Central Bank's latest interest rate commentary. All major bourses and almost all sectors traded in the red, with utilities down 1% as health-care stocks added 0.5%. U.S. stocks were mixed following the release, with the S&P 500 hitting a fresh record high as the Nasdaq Composite dipped. Closely behind was Geert Wilders' anti-immigration party, which looks set to have won seven seats.

Persons: Dow Jones, Geert Wilders Organizations: LONDON, Central, Nasdaq, Labour Locations: Paris, France, U.S, Europe, Netherlands

☆ UK's populist right-wing party surges in popularity on Brexiteer Nigel Farage's return
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage walks to speak to supporters as he launches his election candidacy at Clacton Pier on June 4, 2024 in Clacton-on-Sea, England. Labour is expected to win 40% of votes to the Conservatives' 19% and Reform's 17%, the online polling showed. Farage's surprise return as Reform leader on Monday dealt a deadly blow to the party, threatening to steal a significant share of votes on the right. In the 2019 election, his then-Brexit Party agreed not to field candidates in hundreds of seats to safeguard a Conservative win. The announcement hurts Sunak's earlier efforts to win right-wing votes by hardening the Tories' stance on migration and the U.K.'s membership of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Persons: Nigel Farage, Rishi Sunak's, Farage, — Organizations: Clacton Pier, Reform, Sky News, Labour, Conservatives, Conservative, Brexit, Tories, Brexit Party, European, Human Rights Locations: Clacton, England, London

Stock price information reflected on a window at the Euronext NV stock exchange in Paris, France, on Monday, March 13, 2023. European markets closed lower Tuesday, as positive momentum from the past few days faltered. The pan-European Stoxx 600 provisionally closed 0.5% lower, with all major bourses and most sectors in the red. Mining stocks stocks lost 2.3% while health-care stocks were the biggest gainer, adding 0.8%. Banking stocks shed 2.1%, with Italy's UniCredit losing more than 4%, as investors looked ahead to the European Central Bank's latest interest rate decision later this week.

Persons: Italy's UniCredit Organizations: Banking, Central, Maersk, ECB Locations: Paris, France, Danish

☆ Trump ally Nigel Farage's return could be an 'extinction event' for the Conservatives ahead of UK election
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Honorary President of the Britain's right-wing populist party Reform UK and newly appointed leader Nigel Farage speaks during a campaign meeting, on June 3, 2024, ahead of the UK general election of July 4. Nigel Farage on June 3, 2024 said he would stand as a candidate for the anti-immigration Reform UK party at the UK general election next month, after initially ruling out running. LONDON — The shock return of Brexit figurehead Nigel Farage to the political fray could be the final nail in the coffin for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's ruling Conservative Party ahead of its almost certain defeat in the upcoming U.K. elections. But, critically, it threatens to deprive key votes from the Conservatives, who are already trailing opposition Labour in the polls by a dramatic margin. "Even if Reform don't win seats, they'll drain key votes away from the Conservatives," Olivia O'Sullivan, director of Chatham House's U.K. in the World programme, told CNBC over the phone.

Persons: Nigel Farage, Rishi Sunak's, Farage, Donald Trump, —, Olivia O'Sullivan, Tony Blair's, Keir Starmer, Tony Travers Organizations: Reform UK, UK, Conservative Party, U.S, Reform, Brexit Party, Conservatives, Labour, Chatham House's, CNBC, London School of Economics, Party Locations: Clacton, England

☆ European markets set to open higher ahead of ECB decision later this week
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

European markets are poised to start the month higher Monday as investors look ahead to the European Central Bank's latest interest rate decision later this week. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 was last seen 63 points higher at 8,340, according to IG data, while Germany's DAX was up 173 points at 18,652. France's CAC was 62 points higher at 8,041and Italy's MIB was up 359 points at 34,893. The move would mark the first time the ECB has cut rates ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve. U.S. stock futures also started the month in positive territory, coming off the back of a strong May in which all three major averages notched their sixth positive month in seven.

Persons: Germany's DAX, China's Organizations: Central, CAC, ECB, U.S . Federal Locations: Spain, France, Germany, Asia, Pacific

☆ European stocks head for lower open ahead of fresh inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

European stocks are poised for a lower open Friday, reversing gains from the previous session as investors await fresh inflation data. Euro zone inflation data due later in the session will by closely watched by investors for a signal on the path for monetary policy. Regional markets closed higher Thursday, shaking off negative sentiment from the previous two sessions as rising bond yields weighed on investor sentiment. U.S. stock futures ticked lower Friday as investors assessed the latest set of corporate earnings and looked ahead to a key inflation report. In Asia Pacific, markets rose on the back of fresh data from major economies across the region.

Organizations: Gross Locations: Italy, Asia Pacific

☆ EU's 14th sanctions package must target circumvention, energy exports, Zelenskyy advisor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The European Union's upcoming 14th sanctions package against Russia must do more to choke off energy exports and clamp down on circumvention by third parties, an advisor to the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told CNBC. He noted that EU states would need to work more cohesively for sanctions to stand a chance of crossing the line by the end of next month as planned. "The most critical aspect of the 14th sanctions package is its adoption by the end of June, but some member states currently pose a challenge to this," Vlasiuk said via email Thursday. The EU's special envoy for the implementation of sanctions, David O'Sullivan, was in Kyiv on Thursday to discuss the latest sanctions package amid ongoing pushback from member states such as Hungary. Among the proposed measures is a ban on Russian liquified natural gas, or LNG, exports and a crackdown on sanctions circumvention via countries including Kremlin ally Belarus.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Vlasiuk, David O'Sullivan, Nataliia, Shapoval, Dmitry Birichevsky Organizations: CNBC, Kremlin, Russian Sanctions, EU, KSE Institute, Russian Foreign Ministry, Ria Locations: Wilhelmshaven, Germany, Russia, Kyiv, Hungary, Belarus, China, India, Ria Novosti, Ports, France, Belgium, Spain, Asia

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Russia says it isn’t bluffing over threats to use nuclear weapons; ‘difficult night’ for Kharkiv
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The European Union's upcoming 14th sanctions package against Russia must do more to choke off energy exports and clamp down on circumvention by third parties, an advisor to the office of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told CNBC. Vladyslav Vlasiuk said it was also vital to tighten export controls on critical technologies used within Moscow's military equipment. However, he noted that EU states would need to work more cohesively for sanctions to stand a chance of crossing the line by the end of next month as planned. The EU's special envoy for the implementation of sanctions, David O'Sullivan, was in Kyiv Thursday to discuss the latest sanctions package amid ongoing pushback from member states such as Hungary. Shapoval noted, however, that gas supplies were much more difficult to direct without European infrastructure than, for example, oil.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Vlasiuk, David O'Sullivan, Nataliia, Shapoval, — Karen Gilchrist Organizations: CNBC, Kremlin, Russian Sanctions, EU Locations: Russia, Kyiv, Hungary, Belarus, China, India

☆ UBS overhauls wealth management leadership in wider board shake-up
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The three keys USB logo is seen outside the London office of Swiss bank UBS in central London, on March 20, 2023. LONDON — UBS on Thursday announced a shake-up of its executive board in the latest phase of a radical overhaul of the Swiss banking giant, following its takeover of fallen rival Credit Suisse. It marks the first time a divisional UBS president has been based in Asia-Pacific, the bank said. George Athanasopoulos and Marco Valla also join the executive board as co-presidents of the investment bank, alongside Damian Vogel, incoming global chief risk officer. The trio replace outgoing board members Credit Suisse CEO Ulrich Korner, UBS Asia-Pacific President Edmund Koh, and UBS Americas Regional President Naureen Hassan.

Persons: Iqbal Khan, Rob Karofsky, Sergio Ermotti, Ermotti, George Athanasopoulos, Marco Valla, Damian Vogel, Ulrich Korner, Edmund Koh, Naureen Hassan Organizations: UBS, LONDON, Credit Suisse, Group, Credit, UBS Americas, Swiss Locations: London, Swiss, Asia, Pacific, U.S, Americas, UBS Asia

☆ A top secret meeting is kicking off in Madrid with the CEOs of Google DeepMind, Anthropic and Microsoft AI in attendance
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Google DeepMind co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Demis Hassabis gives a conference during the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the telecom industry's biggest annual gathering, in Barcelona on February 26, 2024. The CEOs of artificial intelligence heavyweights Google DeepMind, Microsoft AI, Anthropic and Mistral AI are among the elite list of business and political leaders attending a secretive meeting kicking off in Madrid, Spain, on Thursday. AI will once again dominate discussions at the annual Bilderberg Meeting after catapulting onto the agenda last year following the meteoric rise of the burgeoning technology. U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg are also among the political figures who will attend for geopolitical discussions including on China and Russia. According to its organizers, the closed nature of the event aims to foster "informal discussions about major issues."

Persons: Demis Hassabis, Jane Fraser, Eric Schmidt, Albert Bourla, Wael Sawan, Peter Thiel, Wally Adeyemo, Dmytro Kuleba, Jens Stoltenberg Organizations: Google, Mobile World Congress, MWC, Microsoft, Mistral, Citigroup, Pfizer, NATO, Chatham House, Economic Locations: Barcelona, Madrid, Spain, Ukrainian, China, Russia, Spanish, Chatham, Davos, Switzerland

☆ BHP Group wants extension to $49 billion Anglo American takeover talks as deadline looms
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON — BHP Group on Wednesday said it believes an extension to talks with takeover target Anglo American is necessary, as the deadline for discussions looms later in the session. The offer values the company at £38.6 billion ($49.2 billion), according to previous Reuters calculations. "BHP believes a further extension of the Deadline is required to allow for further engagement on its proposal," it said in a statement. The rival miners have until 5 p.m. London time Wednesday to reach an agreement following a week-long extension of last week's deadline. Anglo rejected BHP's previous offers, saying they undervalued the company and its prospects.

Persons: BHP, Stuart Chambers Organizations: LONDON, BHP Group, London, CNBC, BHP Locations: American

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