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☆ How to breathe life into zombie office property: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Jennifer Saba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

NEW YORK, July 18 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Lenders are steering clear of buildings that face reckonings from remote working, pushing prices down. In this Exchange podcast, real estate investor Scott Rechler argues that it will take financial and civic engagement to make empty space desirable for living – and investing. Listen to the podcastFollow @jennifersaba on TwitterSubscribe to Breakingviews’ podcasts, Viewsroom and The Exchange. Editing by Sharon Lam, Thomas Shum and Oliver TaslicOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Scott Rechler, Sharon Lam, Thomas Shum, Oliver Taslic Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Twitter, Thomson

☆ Warren Buffett flaunts his green investment thumb
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Robert Cyran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK, July 17 (Reuters Breakingviews) - How does Warren Buffett allocate capital? Buffett noted a few years ago how electric utilities need a “massive makeover” involving costs that would chew up BHE’s earnings for decades. Natural gas will also become increasingly important as a backup fuel. Unlike most utilities, BHE doesn’t have to pay a dividend – and neither does Berkshire, because of the faith investors have in the $750 billion company. This frees up capital, giving Buffett an edge where capex and acquisitions are concerned.

Persons: Warren Buffett, Buffett, Greg Abel, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Berkshire Hathaway, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Dominion, Chevron, Occidental Petroleum, Twitter, Dominion Energy, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, Thomson Locations: Berkshire, Brookfield

☆ Luxury tests limits of its immunity to downturns
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 17 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Compagnie Financiere Richemont (CFR.S) is testing the limits of luxury’s immunity to downturns. Shares of other big luxury players, including $236 billion Hermes International (HRMS.PA) and $502 billion LVMH (LVMH.PA), also fell 4.2% and 3.7% respectively. The top 5% of wealthiest shoppers who are probably less sensitive to inflation drove around 40% of global luxury sales last year, according to Boston Consulting Group. Shares in the European luxury sector are on average up 69% since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Meanwhile, revenue in Asia, which makes up 40% of Richemont's revenue, grew 40% year-on-year in the last quarter.

Persons: Cartier, U.S . downer, Karen Kwok, George Hay, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, Financiere, Hermes, Boston Consulting, Citi, U.S ., Twitter, Cathay, Thomson Locations: Asia

☆ Why US Treasury Secretary Yellen’s visit to a Beijing restaurant set off a wild mushroom craze
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Maggie Wong | Maggie Hiufu Wong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Among the dishes the food blogger claimed to have spotted were grilled fish with herbs, stir-fried pickled Yunnan wild greens with potato slices and cold rice noodles. She ordered four portions of jian shou qing (a Yunnan wild mushroom species). But the most heated discussions were focused on the multiple orders of the mushroom dish – jian shou qing. Jian shou qing, Yunnan’s mysterious mushroomsBaskets of jian shou qing mushrooms, foraged from a Yunnan forest. Chieu Luu/CNNThe fact that Yellen and her team visited a Yunnan restaurant shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — It’s, Janet Yellen, jian shou qing, Yi Zuo Yi Wang, ”, Pan Pan Mao, ” Pan Pan Mao, Yellen, Mark Schiefelbein, Yellen’s, Jian shou qing, Colin Domnauer Jian shou qing, “, Peter Mortimer, Mortimer, Jun Xu, they’re, Luu, Dian Cai –, Ng Mung Lam, Ng, Yellen's, Leisa Tyler, LightRocket Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Weibo, CNN, Kunming Institute of Botany, African, Getty, Botanical Society of, Xinhua, CNN Travel Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, China, Yunnan, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Weibo, India, Yunnan Province, Botanical Society of Yunnan, China’s, Shenzhen, Chuxiong prefecture, pu’er

☆ Cathay Pacific’s recovery finds its wings
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, July 14 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Cathay Pacific (0293.HK) is regaining its mojo. The return to profitability for the $7 billion airline, which expects earnings of as much as HK$4.5 billion, is well-timed. Dividends owed on the preference shares are due to rise from 3% to 5% in August and would continue to rise to as much as 9%. Buying back the shares, as the company plans to do within the next 12 months, will avoid the higher coupons. But as Cathay aims to return to 100% of pre-pandemic capacity by the end of 2024, confidence is returning to Hong Kong’s skies.

Persons: Ronald Lam, Thomas Shum, Una Galani, Pranav Kiran Organizations: Reuters, Cathay, HK, Hong, Pilots, Twitter, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, HK, Hong Kong, Chengdu, Hong

☆ Saudi golf shot plays through CFIUS hazards
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Jennifer Saba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

U.S. congressional lawmakers scrutinized PGA Tour officials on Tuesday this week about the group’s tie-up with a rival golf tournament owned by Saudi Arabia. Enter the Saudis, who launched an upstart golf tournament last year, LIV Golf, that competed with the U.S.-based PGA Tour and its European counterpart DTP. There are worries that Saudi Arabia, a regime viewed as hostile to women and LGBTQ groups, would have significant sway over golf’s culture. LIV Golf is owned by Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. Former AT&T Chief Executive Randall Stephenson resigned from the PGA Tour policy board, the Washington Post reported on July 9.

Persons: State Condoleezza Rice, Darla Moore, Covid, LIV Golf, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Yasir Al, Ed Herlihy, Wachtell, Lipton, Katz, hasn’t, Randall Stephenson, Jamal Khashoggi, ”, Richard Blumenthal, –, Sherrod Brown, Maxine Waters, Janet Yellen, LIV Golf’s, Joe Biden hasn't, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Khashoggi, Uncle Sam, Refinitiv, China’s ByteDance, LIV, Stephenson, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Public Investment Fund, Augusta National Golf Club, State, U.S, PGA, LIV, Rosen, Breakingviews, Former AT, PGA Tour, Saudi, Department of Justice, Foreign Investment, U.S . Treasury, Saudi Arabian Crown, Walmart, Visa, Uber Technologies, Nation Entertainment, National Basketball League, Houston Rockets, People’s, NBA, backtrack, FIFA, Qatar, The Justice Department, Treasury, Committee, Homeland Security, Governmental Affairs, Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, T, Washington Post, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, United States, American, U.S, South Carolina, Iran, China, Saudi, Hong Kong, People’s Republic, Beijing

☆ Seed funding valuations sprout a bubble
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Anita Ramaswamy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Their need for new cash was nearly three times higher than the available supply last quarter, according to the report. Companies raising seed rounds in today’s market might command higher prices in part because they are better prepared. But it’s unlikely that today’s cohort of seed-stage startups is so markedly superior to predecessors that it warrants record high prices. A newfound focus on seed companies could just be VCs’ latest justification for keeping the tech bubble afloat. Median valuations for venture rounds in startups at all other stages captured by the report have fallen this year relative to their 2022 levels.

Persons: PitchBook, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Venture, National Venture Capital Association, Carta, Tiger Global, Thomson

☆ Exxon’s carbon-capture deal is pale shade of green
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The oil titan’s $4.9 billion all-stock deal for Denbury (DEN.N) unveiled on Thursday provides a financially and strategically judicious way to capture and move carbon dioxide. The $89.75 a share is also lower than where Denbury was trading before Bloomberg reported news of a possible deal in October. Denbury says that 28% of it is “blue oil” that produces negative scope 3 emissions. Showcasing an evolving mindset while helping extract more oil is just the pale green hue that suits Exxon. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Darren Woods, Denbury, Robert Cyran, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Exxon Mobil, Exxon, Denbury, Bloomberg, Twitter, Thomson

☆ Microsoft-Activision deal not yet game on
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Karen Kwok | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Britain’s antitrust regulator also indicated it was open to new concessions, but the parties will have to renegotiate their deal and get it approved. Two developments on Tuesday increased the odds of Microsoft getting the deal down the line. That’s a rapid change of tone from May, when the watchdog concluded blocking the Microsoft-Activision deal is the “only effective and proportionate way forward." As a result, Activision’s share price jumped 11% on Tuesday, its narrowest spread to Microsoft’s $95-a-share offer since the deal was announced. The agency's concern was that the deal would potentially preclude the availability of those videogames on other platforms.

Persons: hasn’t, Satya Nadella, it’s, ”, Brad Smith, Bobby Kotick, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, Federal Trade Commission, Activision Blizzard, Microsoft, Markets Authority, Activision, FTC, CMA, Financial, Thomson Locations: U.S, San Francisco

☆ Domino’s Uber delivery is an extra topping
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, July 12 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Domino’s Pizza (DPZ.N) wants to stuff more pie holes. The pizza chain announced on Wednesday that customers will be able to make delivery orders through Uber Eats, sending Domino’s shares up 10% in late morning trade. At first blush that may seem an admission that Domino’s own delivery app is sputtering. The agreement with Uber Technologies (UBER.N) is exclusive in the United States at least until 2024, and it extends Domino’s reach internationally as well. By partnering with Uber, Domino’s has a better chance of getting a bigger slice of the delivery market.

Persons: Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi, that’s, Domino’s, Jennifer Saba, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Uber Technologies, Twitter, Thomson Locations: United States, China

☆ Winklevoss twins take strike two with crypto hype
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Anita Ramaswamy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Winklevii, as they came to be known after “The Social Network” movie debuted, are suing another former friend – crypto baron Barry Silbert. That indicates some investors still believe in crypto even if they’ve lost faith in its former stars. Much like social media, the Winklevii seem to be on the losing end of the crypto streak, too. Follow @AnitaRamaswamy on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSOn July 7, cryptocurrency exchange Gemini sued Digital Currency Group, the parent company of now-bankrupt crypto lender Genesis, seeking over $1.1 billion. Gemini co-founder Cameron Winklevoss claimed in a July 7 Twitter post that DCG and Silbert were partially responsible for losses affecting thousands of Gemini users.

Persons: Tyler, Cameron Winklevoss, Mark Zuckerberg, Barry Silbert, Silbert, DCG, they’ve, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Facebook, Social Network, Digital Currency Group, Gemini, Wall Street, Fidelity, Twitter, Genesis’s, Thomson Locations: bitcoin, BlackRock, U.S

☆ Uber’s next CFO has one simple task
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, July 11 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Uber Technologies (UBER.N) boss Dara Khosrowshahi has an opening to shift into higher gear. His eventual replacement can dial back on spending even more and really open up a spigot of cash flow. And this year, Uber might finally start making profit, with analysts polled by Refinitiv expecting full-year earnings of some $26 million. Uber shares have nearly doubled over the year, handily beating the S&P 500 Index (.SPX), as profit pulls into view. Ensuring that Uber keeps its eyes on that prize is a worthy task for future executives.

Persons: Dara Khosrowshahi, Nelson Chai, Travis Kalanick’s, Uber, Refinitiv, Tesla, Jennifer Saba, Jonathan Guilford, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Technologies, –, Twitter, Thomson Locations: U.S, China

Growing up, my parents believed money was hard to come by and that nobody likes their job. For instance, I had trouble saying "no" to work, worked myself to the point of exhaustion, and tended to stockpile funds so I would be ready for any lull. It took quite an adjustment for me not to feel obliged to work 40 hours a week, or that I needed to adhere to traditional working hours. I've also expanded how I make money through working on a book that I'll be self-publishing and starting an Etsy store selling stickers and stationery. For instance, some of my top values are increasing my own financial literacy, financial security, and opportunities to be creative and help others.

Persons: I've, Austin L Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, Hawaii, Vietnam, workcations

☆ 3D-printing takeover battle misses third dimension
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Robert Cyran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Stratasys (SSYS.O) for now prefers a merger with peer Desktop Metal (DM.N), but a sweetened bid from Nano Dimension (2N5By.F) complicates matters. A simpler two-dimensional financial analysis suggests a snubbed offer from 3D Systems (DDD.N) may wind up the best option. The company’s nominees favor the Desktop Metal deal, while Nano’s back the alternative transaction. On May 25, Stratasys agreed to combine with Desktop Metal in an all-stock deal valued at $1.8 billion. On the same day, 3D Systems offered to buy Stratasys for $7.50 a share in cash and 1.3223 3D Systems shares for each Stratasys share.

Persons: Stratasys, Nano’s, Jeff Graves, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Systems, Desktop, Twitter, Thomson

☆ For Hong Kong's youth, government-backed hostels offer a smidgen of housing hope
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Clare Jim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/6] Guests attend the opening ceremony of BeLIVING Youth Hub, a youth hostel organized by the Hong Kong United Youth Association, in Hong Kong, China March 27, 2023. Two months ago, he landed a spot at a new so-called "youth hostel", which offers rooms for young adults that are subsidised by the Hong Kong government and can be rented for up to five years. A survey by the Concerning Youth Housing Rights Alliance published in May suggests the hostels will have limited appeal with close to 90% of respondents saying they don't plan to apply. "We need to think of ways to cut costs and to raise funds to keep operating," said Carrie Wong, a supervisor at the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups. ($1 = 7.8136 Hong Kong dollars)Reporting by Clare Jim; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree and Edwina GibbsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lam, Silver Ho, Ho, Xi Jinping, It's, Kong, Xi, Chelsea Tung, I’ll, Carrie Wong, Ngai Ming Yip, Clare Jim, Anne Marie Roantree, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Hong Kong United Youth Association, REUTERS, Hong, HK, Housing Rights Alliance, New, Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, City University of Hong, Research, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, China, HONG KONG, Beijing, Causeway, Kong's, New BeLIVING, City University of Hong Kong

☆ US job market’s shifting balance
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, July 7 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Quitting doesn’t pay like it used to. The raises Americans earn from switching jobs is shrinking, narrowing their advantage in wage gains versus job-keepers. While it’s happened without mass layoffs, weaker pay gains signal that the labor market’s balance of power is shifting back to businesses. And although job creation is gently slowing, government data released Friday showed unemployment dipping to 3.6% in June, nearly matching a five-decade low. That’s a welcome sign for workers after economists’ forecasts suggested millions would have to lose their jobs for inflation to cool.

Persons: Ben Winck, Jonathan Guilford, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Twitter, Thomson Locations: U.S

☆ Meta’s Threads isn’t worth 11 Twitters
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Lauren Silva Laughlin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

On Wednesday, he launched a Twitter competitor, Threads, promptly encouraging Twitter to threaten to sue. Zuckerberg isn’t doing shareholders any favors. It’s less clear if Twitter’s users have moved, but in that sense, Threads may hurt Meta more than it helps. Even if Threads were to put Twitter out of business, that exercise isn’t worth 11 Twitters. Follow @thereallsl on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSTwitter has threatened to sue Meta Platforms over its new Threads app, Reuters reported on July 6.

Persons: Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, Musk, Meta, Jennifer Saba, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Twitter, Elon, Facebook, Apple, Public, Meta, Semafor, Thomson Locations: Instagram

☆ Hong Kong police arrest 4 for allegedly aiding dissidents abroad
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Hong Kong police have arrested four people on suspicion of financially aiding activists abroad, just days after they offered bounties for information leading to the arrest of eight pro-democracy figures living in self-imposed exile. They were also charged with conspiracy to sedition, a colonial-era offense, which activists say has been increasingly used in recent years by police to stifle the legitimate criticism of authorities. The arrests came after police put bounties of 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($128,000) each on eight pro-democracy activists abroad, accusing them of violating national security offenses, in a move strongly condemned by rights groups and Western governments. Hong Kong and Beijing authorities say the law restored order in the city following the protests. The suspects were accused of posting content that provoked hatred towards Beijing and the Hong Kong government, while advocating “Hong Kong Independence.” The police did not provide examples of the posts.

Persons: Ivan Lam, John Lee, they’d, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong, Hong Kong, Monday, Hong Kong Independence Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, Western, United States, Britain, Australia

☆ Chinese rush to buy Hong Kong insurance, dollars as confidence cracks, yuan weakens
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

SHANGHAI/HONG KONG, July 6 (Reuters) - Chinese investors are rushing offshore to make dollar deposits and buy Hong Kong insurance in a signal domestic confidence is languishing and that the ailing yuan faces more pressure. New premiums collected on Hong Kong insurance policies leapt a staggering 2,686% to $9.6 billion in the first quarter of 2023. "The burst of insurance buying in Hong Kong reflects a gloomy domestic outlook, and worries about an uncertain future." "Offshore demand for policies denominated in Hong Kong dollars is low – U.S. dollar-denominated policies are more prevalent, to provide access to global asset allocation," said Lawrence Lam, chief executive officer at Prudential Hong Kong. The wealth manager at Noah fears that a sustained rush into Hong Kong insurance risks inviting Beijing's policy tightening.

Persons: Helen Zhao, lurch, Noah Holdings, Lawrence Lam, Hao Hong, Tan Xiaofen, We've, Sami Abouzahr, Samuel Shen, Winni Zhou, Georgina Lee, Summer Zhen, Tom Westbrook, Kim Coghill Organizations: Hong, AIA, HK, Prudential, Manulife, Noah Holdings, Savings, Bank of China, U.S, Prudential Hong Kong, Investment, School of Economics, Management, Beihang University, HSBC, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Macau, COVID, U.S, Beijing

☆ AI hype embellishes Il Makiage IPO
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Anita Ramaswamy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK, July 6 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Oddity Tech has a sparkly foundation for its upcoming initial public offering. The Israeli beauty company home to the Il Makiage and SpoiledChild brands is highlighting the artificial intelligence behind its makeup and machine learning algorithms that help consumers pick the right shades. These features should help put a dewy gloss on the valuation before the hype eventually fades. His company sells concealers and eye shadows directly to shoppers online and touts that its technology teams account for 40% of headcount. AI also powers Revela, a biotechnology firm it bought in April that develops new molecules for cosmetics and skincare.

Persons: Boss Oran Holtzman, Revela, It’s, Estee Lauder, Child, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Nasdaq, Coty, Tech, Allen, Co, Thomson Locations: Israeli, Cava

☆ JetBlue’s Spirit sacrifice
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, July 6 (Reuters Breakingviews) - JetBlue Airways (JBLU.O) is going for broke on its attempt to buy Spirit Airlines (SAVE.N). Eschewing the benefits of what the government branded a “de facto merger” to win Spirit might make sense, however. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Spirit grew capacity nearly 500% since 2010, far outstripping competitors. JetBlue’s concessions, which include selling Spirit’s operations at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, may not be enough, though. While the DOJ’s complaint against the merger does lean on harms from the alliance, it also includes Spirit executives warning of risks even without it.

Persons: Spirit, Jonathan Guilford, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, Northeast Alliance, ”, U.S . Department of Justice, LaGuardia, Twitter, Thomson Locations: New, China

☆ Supreme Court knocks Fed diversity goal down a peg
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, July 5 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The U.S. Supreme Court just made the Federal Reserve’s job more difficult. The ruling could make future workforces more homogeneous and, in turn, throws a new obstacle in the way of the Fed’s goal for diverse employment. Getting that back to 2% from the current 4% pace remains the central bank’s “top priority,” Powell said last month. While white unemployment hit 3.3% in May, Black unemployment rebounded to 5.6%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As Powell moves further away from his goal of inclusivity, the Supreme Court’s decision means closing that gap will probably take even longer.

Persons: Jerome Powell, it’s, ” Powell, Powell, Ben Winck, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, U.S, Supreme, Bureau of Labor Statistics, inclusivity, Twitter, KKR, Thomson Locations: China

HONG KONG, July 5 (Reuters) - Hong Kong national security police on Wednesday arrested four men it accused of supporting overseas dissidents and of advocating for independence from China, two days after issuing warrants and bounties against several foreign-based activists. Local media, citing unnamed sources, connected the arrested men to an online platform known as "Punish Mee" that was allegedly used to provide financial aid to the eight wanted overseas activists. Two sources with knowledge of the situation told Reuters Lam was among the four arrested men mentioned in the police statement. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday it was "unacceptable" that Hong Kong has put bounties on two Australian residents. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said on Tuesday that the eight would be "pursued for life".

Persons: Mee, Ivan Lam, Reuters Lam, Demosisto, Joshua Wong, Nathan Law, Anthony Albanese, John Lee, Jessie Pang, Tyrone Siu, James Pomfret, Frank Jack Daniel, Toby Chopra Organizations: police, National Security Department, Hong Kong Police, Local, National Security Law, Central Authorities, Government, Hong, Administrative, Reuters, Kwai, Police, HK, Australian, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Hong, Kwai Chung District, United States, Britain, Australia

☆ Mission Impossible: Paramount reckoning
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Jennifer Saba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

NEW YORK, July 5 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Paramount Global’s (PARA.O) predicament is worthy of its successful “Mission: Impossible” franchise. Over the past year or so, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRKa.N) has bought and increased its stake in Paramount to about 15%. Without the funding, her closely held firm might have needed to pledge more of its Paramount stock against a loan. Streaming service Paramount+ is similar to Netflix, whose enterprise is worth 5 times next year’s estimated revenue. “Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One,” from Paramount Pictures, opens in movie theaters on July 12.

Persons: Shari Redstone, Looney, Walt Disney, Sumner, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, Goldman Sachs, Byron Trott, Rudolph Valentino, Mae West, Marx, Trustbusters, Martin Davis, Sumner Redstone, Simon, Schuster, Walt, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam, Streisand Neto Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Paramount, Warner Bros Discovery, AT, Netflix, Apple, Comcast, Electronic Arts, MSD Partners, Viacom, Audio Communications, CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, Time Warner, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Tiffany Network, National Football League, Fox, Amazon, MGM, U.S, Penguin Random, Walt Disney, Amusements, Paramount Global, BDT Capital Partners, “, Paramount Pictures, Thomson Locations: U.S, Gulf, Western, NAI

☆ Hong Kong leader vows to pursue 8 activists 'for life' over alleged national security offences
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee vowed Tuesday to pursue eight pro-democracy activists "for life" after they were targeted with arrest warrants for alleged national security offences. "Endangering national security is a serious crime and the [Hong Kong] government will enforce the law strictly," Lee said in Cantonese at a press conference in Hong Kong, according to a CNBC translation. "The government will use all legal means, and to the best of our ability, hold these criminals endangering national security accountable," he added. On Monday, Hong Kong police accused the eight overseas activists of offences under the national security law, including foreign collusion, subversion and incitement to succession. The controversial law was resisted for several years before it was imposed on Hong Kong in 2020 after protracted anti-China protests the year before.

Persons: Ted Hui, Lam, John Lee, Lee Organizations: CNBC, Hong Locations: Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

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