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☆ We sailed in an interior cabin on Carnival and an ocean-view room on Royal Caribbean. We'd only book one again.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-09 | by ( Monica Humphries | Joey Hadden | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Joey's Royal Caribbean cabin cost about $700 more than the Carnival cruise. Inside the Royal Caribbean (L) and Carnival (R) rooms. Meanwhile, Monica sailed in the Carnival Vista's cheapest room option: an entry-level interior stateroom. An interior room on a typical Royal Caribbean ship could be between $25 and $40 cheaper per day than an ocean view room, according to Royal Caribbean Blog. As a result, Joey's cruise cost double what it would have been per person had she been traveling with a buddy.

Persons: Joey Hadden, Monica Humphries, Monica, Joey, Monica's stateroom Organizations: Joey's, Royal, Royal Caribbean Locations: Joey's Royal, Caribbean, Royal Caribbean

☆ An entrepreneur took a chance on the pickleball trend, and his business went from zero revenue during the pandemic to seven figures. 3 philosophies helped him take the leap.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Jon Neeter, a small business owner since 2010, has seen the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. This article is part of "Unlocking Small Business Success," a series providing micro businesses with a road map to growth. They leased the real estate — a single tennis court with an attached 330-square-foot pro shop — and bought the business. The second half of 2019 was a particularly challenging time for the small business owner. His goal was to "build the best pickleball shop in the country," he said.

Persons: Jon Neeter, It's, —, Neeter, pickleball, I'd, everybody's, Pickleball, Jon Neeter Rather, You'll Organizations: Service, BI, Santa Monica Pickleball Center, Santa Monica Tennis Center, Santa Locations: Santa Monica , California, California, America, Southern California, Los Angeles

☆ Federal judge tosses lobbying group's lawsuit challenging Medicare drug price negotiations
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The decision is an early win for the Biden administration as it grapples with a flurry of other legal challenges that drugmakers have filed against the Medicare drug price negotiations. The judge's ruling won't end the legal battle over the policy, which could end up at the Supreme Court. A slate of major companies with drugs selected for negotiations, including J&J, Merck , and Bristol Myers Squibb , have filed separate lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the price talks. The suit also argued that the price talks violate the Eighth Amendment because they include a "crippling" excise tax aimed at forcing drugmakers to accept the government-dictated price of medicines. The groups also argued that the price talks violate due process by denying pharmaceutical companies and the public input on how Medicare negotiations will be implemented.

Persons: Biden, drugmakers, Judge David Ezra of, Ezra, NICA's, Nicole Longo, PhRMA, Eli Lilly, Johnson, NICA Organizations: U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, Supreme, Medicare, Western, Western District of Texas, Pharmaceutical Research, Manufacturers of America, Global Colon Cancer Association, National, Center Association, CNBC, Pfizer, Johnson, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chamber of Commerce, Department of Health, Department of Justice Locations: Washington ,, Western District, PhRMA, Ohio

In the wake of Matthew Perry's death at 54, fans in China are mourning the loss of the star who felt less like a distant celebrity and more like an old friend. “People shared their own memories about Chandler and ‘Friends’ and many teared up.”A large poster displayed on the bar featured pictures of Perry over the years. Once Chinese fans added Mandarin subtitles to the show, which ran in the U.S. from 1994 to 2004, it quickly gained a following. “This TV show actually offered a way to imagine this kind of so-called metropolitan utopian imagination.”Many Chinese fans learned English through watching the show and got a peek into American life and culture. “It feels like I just got to know this long-lost friend, but he’s just gone.”___Fu Ting reported from Washington.

Persons: Long, ”, Matthew Perry's, Chandler Bing, Nie Yanxia, Chandler, Perry, Xian Wang, ” wasn't, China —, Wang, ” Wang, Nilufar Arkin, Monica, “, ” Arkin, ” Fu Xueying, ” Fu, Zhang Fengguang, Sun Tiantian, Zhang, Sun, ” Zhang, he’s, Fu Ting, Han Guan Ng Organizations: University of Notre Dame, Associated Press Locations: China, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Sohu, U.S, Shanghai, Tianjin, Xinjiang, Guangzhou, Washington

☆ Spain's state fund considers taking Telefonica stake after STC move
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Spanish Telecom company is displayed atop the company's building in Madrid, Spain, September 6, 2023. Acting Economy Minister Nadia Calvino has said Madrid will carry out a thorough evaluation before approving STC's stake, while acting labour minister Yolanda Diaz has called for the transaction to be blocked. Spain's SEPI said in a stock market filing on Tuesday that it was carrying out an "exploratory internal analysis over a potential acquisition" of a stake in Telefonica. STC declined to comment on any potential plans by SEPI. Caixabank, which owns 3.5% stake of Telefonica, said last week it would not raise its stake in response to STC's move, and would analyse with Telefonica any potential cooperation with the Saudi Arabian telecoms company.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, Spanish telco Caixabank, SEPI, Nadia Calvino, Yolanda Diaz, Spain's SEPI, Belen Gualda Gonzalez, Onur Genc, It's, Genc, Inti Landauro, Pietro Lombardi, Louise Heavens, Alexander Smith Organizations: Spanish Telecom, REUTERS, BBVA, Telefonica Bank, Telefonica MADRID, Telefonica, Saudi, STC, Saudi Arabia's, SEPI, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Spanish, Saudi Arabian

☆ STC reportedly drops plan to up stake in Spain's Telefonica to 9.9%
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Spanish Telecom company is displayed atop the company's building in Madrid, Spain, September 6, 2023. Telefonica and STC declined to comment on the report. In September, Saudi Arabia's largest telecoms operator amassed a 9.9% stake worth 2.1 billion euros ($2.23 billion) in a move to become Telefonica's top shareholder, though it added it did not intend to acquire control or a majority stake. STC's holding consists of 4.9% of Telefonica's shares and financial instruments that give it another 5% in so-called economic exposure to the company. As Telefonica is considered a defence service provider, the Spanish defence ministry has a say in acquisitions and holdings between 5% and 10% unless the buyer commits not to request a seat on the board.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, David Latona, Belen Carreno, Jesus Aguado, Hadeel Al, Andrei Khalip Organizations: Spanish Telecom, REUTERS, Rights, STC, Telefonica, El Economista, Saudi, Inti Landauro, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Rights MADRID, Saudi, Spanish, Hadeel Al Sayegh, Riyadh

[1/6] Cast member Matthew Perry attends the premiere of the film "17 Again" in Los Angeles April 14, 2009. "We are incredibly saddened by the too soon passing of Matthew Perry," NBC Entertainment said. The Los Angeles Times and TMZ.com, both citing unnamed law enforcement sources, reported that the American-Canadian performer was found dead in a hot tub or jacuzzi. As a youngster, Perry became a top-ranked junior tennis player before moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting and improvisational comedy. Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; Editing by Raju GopalakrishnanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Matthew Perry, Phil McCarten, Chandler Bing, Perry, Perry's, Chandler, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, Monica Geller, Cox, Rachel, Joey, Ross, Matthew, Matty, I've, Sunshine, Ally McBeal, Pierre Trudeau, Trudeau's, Justin Trudeau, Trudeau, Steve Gorman, Ismail Shakil, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, NBC, NBC Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, HBO Max, New York Times, Canadian, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles, Canadian, Palisades, Manhattan, U.S, Beverly Hills, Massachusetts, Ottawa

☆ Caixabank to look at how Telefonica and STC can cooperate
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Spain's Caixabank (CABK.MC), a major shareholder in Telefonica (TEF.MC), will analyse with the telecoms group any potential cooperation with STC after the Saudi telecoms firm's recent investment in Telefonica, the bank's CEO said on Friday. Caixabank has a 3.5% stake in Telefonica and a seat on its board. "Very particularly, we have to see what possibilities (Telefonica) has to cooperate with this great company, due to its size and relevance, which is STC," Gortazar said, adding Caixabank would seek to express its views on the matter at board-level discussions. As Telefonica is considered a defence service provider, Spain's Defence Ministry has a say in acquisitions and holdings between 5% and 10%, unless the buyer commits not to request a seat on the board. STC, which has yet to request authorisation from the Spanish government to exercise voting rights corresponding to the financial instruments, has said it does not intend to acquire control or a majority stake in Telefonica.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, Gonzalo Gortazar, Caixabank, Gortazar, Jesús, Andrei Khalip, Mark Potter Organizations: Spanish Telecom, REUTERS, Rights, Telefonica, Saudi, STC Group, Spain's Defence Ministry, STC, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Rights MADRID, Saudi

☆ EV truck maker Tevva 're-engages' with potential merger partners
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Engineers at electric maker Tevva work on a pre-production prototype truck at the startup's UK plant in Tilbury, Britain, January 14, 2022. REUTERS/Nick Carey Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 23 (Reuters) - British electric truck maker Tevva has "re-engaged" with a number of possible merger partners following ElectraMeccanica's (SOLO.O) decision earlier this month to cancel their planned deal and said on Monday it has a number of trucks in production. The two companies announced their planned merger in August, giving Tevva access to U.S. production and targeting revenue of up to $1.5 billion in 2028, but Mesa, Arizona-based ElectraMeccanica terminated the agreement citing "failures by Tevva to disclose ... material information." In a statement it also said it had a number of fully electric 7.5 tonne trucks in production to hand over to customers. A few have begun bankruptcy proceedings, including Swedish-based electric truck maker Volta Trucks which filed for bankruptcy last week.

Persons: Nick Carey, Tevva, David Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, EV, Volta, Thomson Locations: Tilbury, Britain, British, Mesa , Arizona, Swedish

☆ An entrepreneur who bought a tennis center for $40,000 in 2010 has done seven-figures in revenue in 2023 after barely surviving the pandemic. He shares 3 keys to running a successful small business.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

They leased the real estate — a single tennis court with an attached 330-square-foot pro shop — and bought the business. Pickleball, a different racket sport that is played on a smaller court with a smaller paddle and a wiffleball. His goal was to "build the best pickleball shop in the country," he said. To give yourself some time back as an entrepreneur, you have to hire good staff, which is exactly what Neeter did. Pickleball is played on a smaller court with a smaller paddle and a wiffleball.

Persons: Jon Neeter, Neeter, there's, he's, pickleball, I'd, everybody's, Pickleball, Jon Neeter Rather, You'll Organizations: Santa Monica Pickleball Center, Santa Monica Tennis Center, Santa Locations: Santa Monica , California, California, America, Southern California, Los Angeles

☆ A tennis center owner in Santa Monica changed his entire business to capitalize on the pickleball surge in America. It was a 'huge risk' but his revenue numbers have doubled and his court has never be
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

Former collegiate coach Jon Neeter bought a tennis center in Santa Monica, CA for $40,000 in 2010. He converted his single tennis court into four pickleball courts and business is booming. Plus, he liked the idea of his work being concentrated in one place, rather than scattered at various tennis courts all over LA. A standard pickleball court is 20 feet wide by 44 feet long, much smaller than a tennis court. Plus, he was unsure about how he was going to replicate the Santa Monica Tennis Center anywhere else in LA.

Persons: Jon Neeter, —, Neeter, Jon Arend, Arend, who's, he'd, Sam Querrey, didn't, I'd, they'd, He's, there's, he's Organizations: Service, beachy Santa, Santa, Duke University, Palisades Tennis Center, LA, Santa Monica Tennis Center, Santa Monica Pickleball Center, Neeter Locations: Santa Monica , CA, Wilshire, Los Angeles, LA, Santa Monica, New Jersey, California, West LA, Southern California, pickleball

As Telefonica's rivals slashed prices to attract internet users, the Spanish company also borrowed to invest in new mobile and internet networks. But the secrecy with which STC (7010.SE) built its stake did catch some observers off guard, the person said. Telefonica said it was informed Tuesday about STC'S investment, after the companies had become more acquainted in recent months. STC sought to keep the stake under wraps until it could buy at least 9.9% of Telefonica, the person said. Middle Eastern investors have been taking stakes in Spanish companies for some time.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, Jose Maria Alvarez, Pallete, Alvarez, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, UGT, Morgan Stanley, Linklaters, Motaz Al Angari, Al Angari, pare, EFG Hermes, Nadia Calvino, Inti Landauro, Tomas Cobos, Amy, Jo Crowley, Pablo Mayo, John O'Donnell, Anousha, Elisa Martinuzzi, David Gregorio, Ros Russell Organizations: Spanish Telecom, REUTERS, Rights, Telefonica, STC Group, STC, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Foresight, Saudi, United Arab, Vodafone, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Rights DUBAI, MADRID, Silicon Valley, Saudi, Riyadh, Telefonica, Saudi Arabia, Spanish, Latin America, theocracies, United Arab Emirates, Iberdrola, Davos, Gulf, London

He learned Saudi Arabia's largest telecoms operator, STC Group, aimed to be Telefonica's biggest shareholder, with an interest of 9.9%. The move is a vote of confidence in Telefonica, burdened by billions of dollars in debt while STC gains expertise to modernize Saudi telecoms infrastructure. As Telefonica's rivals slashed prices to attract internet users, the Spanish company also borrowed to invest in new mobile and internet networks. STC sought to keep the stake under wraps until it could buy at least 9.9% of Telefonica, the person said. Middle Eastern investors have been taking stakes in Spanish companies for some time.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, Jose Maria Alvarez, Pallete, Alvarez, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, UGT, Morgan Stanley, Linklaters, Motaz Al Angari, Al Angari, pare, EFG Hermes, Inti Landauro, Tomas Cobos, Amy, Jo Crowley, Pablo Mayo, John O'Donnell, Anousha, Elisa Martinuzzi, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Spanish Telecom, REUTERS, Rights, Telefonica, STC Group, STC, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Foresight, Saudi, United Arab, Vodafone, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Rights DUBAI, MADRID, Silicon Valley, Saudi, Riyadh, Telefonica, Saudi Arabia, Spanish, Latin America, theocracies, United Arab Emirates, Iberdrola, Davos, Gulf, London

☆ Russia dominated the first space race, but now it can't even land on the moon. Photos show the US and China are way ahead.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

China, Russia, and the US (with its international allies) are all plotting huge new moonshots. Photos of the space efforts of the US, China, and Russia reveal how far behind the former space power has fallen. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe US and China are innovating, while Russia's space tech agesNASA's Space Launch System rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Berger cited other underlying issues that are stifling Russia's space ambitions, like budget cuts, quality control, and corruption. Western sanctions have harmed Russia's space program in other ways, limiting its access to high-quality microchips, the AP reported.

Persons: Artemis, Russia isn't, hasn't, Russia's Luna, Bill Nelson, Luna, NASA’s, —, Tingshu Wang, Sergei Markov, Russia's, Steve Seipel, Yuri Borisov, Borisov, Bill Ingalls, Eric Berger, Vladimir Putin's, Berger, Xue Lei, landers, Roscosmos, Victoria Samson Organizations: Service, NASA, AP, Soviet Union, Operation, Space Corporation, Politico, New York Times, China National Space Administration, Vostochny, Luna, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight, Arizona State University NASA, Orion, NASA NASA, SpaceX, National Museum, Reuters, Kremlin, Kennedy Space Center, CNN, Russian Soyuz, Baikonur, Future Publishing, Getty, European Space Agency, ESA, Secure, Foundation Locations: Wall, Silicon, China, Russia, Soviet, Soviet Union, China National Space Administration Russia, Russia's Far, India, Russian, Beijing, Ukraine, Florida, Kazakhstan, Washington

☆ Vodafone and Three merger faces scrutiny from competition regulators
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Paul Sandle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The $19 billion tie-up will be scrutinised by Britain's Competition and Markets Authority, the antitrust regulator which made global headlines in April when it blocked Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard. The long-awaited mobile deal reduces the number of networks from four to three, challenging a tenet long held by regulators that four help to keep prices low in major markets. "The government's desire to make the UK a 5G powerhouse requires a lot of investment," he said. One London-based investment banker, who declined to be named, said he put the chance of the deal receiving the green light from regulators at 50%. A major telecoms investor said the deal could be approved, but only with strong remedies, and that could risk undermining its rationale.

Persons: CK Hutchison, Activision Blizzard, Hutchison, Paolo Pescatore, Peter Broadhurst, Moring, James Gray, Sarah Cardell, Robert Finnegan, Gray, Paul Sandle, Amy, Jo Crowley, Sinead Cruise, Kate Holton, Emelia Organizations: Microsoft, Activision, Hutchison, O2, Vodafone, CK, HK, Britain's Competition, Markets Authority, Ofcom, European Commission, Foresight, Hutchison's, UK plc, Victoria, Crowell, CMA, Reuters, National Security and Investment, Britain's, Tesco Mobile, Telefonica, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, Britain, Europe, China, London, Germany

☆ Kirstie Alley, 'Cheers' and 'Look Who's Talking' Star, dies aged 71
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Tim Reid | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Kirstie Alley arrives at the house as the reality show 'Celebrity Big Brother' starts, in Elstree, near London, Britain August 16, 2018. REUTERS/Henry NichollsLOS ANGELES, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Kirstie Alley, the two-time Emmy-winning actress who rose to fame in her role on the hit TV series "Cheers", died on Monday after a short battle with cancer. Alley also starred alongside John Travolta in the 1989 film comedy "Look Who's Talking" and its two sequels. "Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had," Travolta said on Instagram alongside a photo of the actress in a white dress. Alley starred as the title character in the sitcom "Veronica's Closet" from 1997 to 2000, earning Golden Globe and Emmy nominations.

☆ European companies are tapping bond markets again as investors return
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Chiara Elisei | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

German housing giant Vonovia (VNAn.DE) last week raised 1.5 billion euros ($1.54 billion) amid strong investor demand in primary markets, a bright spark for a beleaguered property sector. Also noteworthy was a 750 million euro hybrid bond sale from Spanish telecoms firm Telefonica (TEF.MC), the first offering of its kind in Europe in two months. There were no hybrid bond deals in June and July, and only one transaction in September before Telefonica's offering. New hybrid bond sales total just over 10 billion euros so far this year, compared with 30 billion euros for the whole of 2021. In the broader market, investment grade corporate issuers have raised 258 billion euros so far this year compared with 322 billion euros in 2021, according to Refinitiv data.

☆ TIM, Vivo, Claro seek $606 mln Brazil Oi deal haircut
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( David French | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A logo of the mobile phone network company Claro is seen in Bogota, Colombia December 12, 2019. REUTERS/Luisa GonzalezSAO PAULO, Sept 19 (Reuters) - TIM SA (TIMS3.SA), Telefonica Brasil (VIVT3.SA) and Claro have asked that the price of their deal to buy rival telecom Oi SA's (OIBR4.SA) mobile operations in Brazil be lowered by 3.2 billion reais ($605.05 million), securities filings showed on Monday. Telecom Italia's TIM (TLIT.MI), America Movil's Claro (AMXL.MX) and Telefonica's Vivo had agreed to acquire Oi's mobile operations in an auction in late 2020 with a joint bid of about 16 billion reais. However, post-deal analysis showed the need for an adjusted closing price, TIM said in a securities filing, citing divergences in working capital, capital expenditure and net adds data that were seen in documents available only after closing. ($1 = 5.2888 reais)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Christian PlumbOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ See the 22-slide presentation an Israeli startup used to raise $45 million for an easier way to treat migraines
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-12 | by ( Sarah Braner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Israeli healthcare startup Theranica just raised a $25 million Series C round. Theranica, an Israel-based startup developing treatments for pain management, raised a $45 million series C funding round last month. Theranica makes Nerivio, a device placed on the arm that treats migraines through electrical stimulation without needing to use drugs. The company raised a $6 million series A round in 2017 and a $35 million series B round in 2019. Here is the 22-slide presentation Theranica used to raise its $45 million Series C round.

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