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☆ Hollywood's Reynolds and McElhenney found success at Welsh soccer club Wrexham. But there's a warning for would-be copycats
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"There's a big amount of pressure and attention from the press, not to mention scepticism from diehard football fans. WREXHAM, Wales - May 2, 2023: Wrexham AFC fans celebrate during a bus parade following their league title win. One fan has donned the costume of Deadpool, the comic book character played by co-owner Ryan Reynolds. Hollis said they understood that "it would take more than funny Twitter posts and a documentary" to turn around a struggling club like Wrexham. This sort of dedication plays a crucial role in attracting more support from fans," Hollis said.

☆ Man City now in driving seat but Guardiola still cautious
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 28 (Reuters) - According to some of the headlines after Manchester City's crushing defeat of title rivals Arsenal this week the sky blue ribbons can already be fastened to the Premier League trophy. But City boss Pep Guardiola is too long in the tooth to assume a fifth league title in six seasons is now a formality. It was their seventh successive league win and left them two points behind Arsenal with two games in hand, having trailed by eight not long ago. The two clubs immediately above Saints, Everton and Leicester City, meet on Monday in a true 'six-pointer'. Liverpool are seeking a fourth successive win and, belatedly, have joined the Premier League party.

☆ Wrexham seal promotion to English Football League with blockbuster win
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - National League - Wrexham v Boreham Wood - Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Britain - April 22, 2023 Wrexham co-owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds celebrate their third goal Action Images via Reuters/Ed SykesWREXHAM, Wales, April 22 (Reuters) - Wrexham secured a fairytale return to the English Football League after a 15-year absence with their Hollywood owners watching on as they beat Boreham Wood 3-1 to win the National League with a game to spare on Saturday. All eyes were on the Welsh club owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as they sought the victory that would secure their emotional return to League Two. Wrexham then turned on the style after the break with striker Paul Mullin scoring twice, his second goal in the 71st minute kick-starting the promotion party. Promotion rivals Notts County had earlier beaten Maidstone 5-2 to raise the stakes but Wrexham responded in blockbuster fashion to seal the title. Reporting by Martyn Herman in London Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 'Why Wrexham?' Promotion provides an answer for Hollywood owners
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

On a night of drama, with Boreham Wood scoring in the opening minute, Wrexham won 3-1 and the A-list owners were in the thick of the celebrations -- hugging players and wiping away tears of joy. "The one thing running through my head over and over again is people said at the beginning 'Why Wrexham? "For us to be welcomed into their community, and to be welcomed into this experience, has been the honour of my life." Wrexham, relegated from League Two in 2008, are going back up with a record haul of points and as champions with a game to spare. Notts County pushed them hard and will be favourites to follow Wrexham into the fourth tier after the playoffs.

☆ Ryan Reynolds and Wrexham FC surprise Rob McElhenney with an original song for his birthday
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s ownership of Welsh soccer club Wrexham has already produced a Disney+ documentary and earned the pair the city’s top civic honor – the Freedom of Wrexham. And now Reynolds has released a catchy song to celebrate his co-chairman’s birthday, enlisting all his “mates in Wrexham” to teach the world how to pronounce McElhenney’s last name correctly. “Would be a real shame if this became a Wrexham Racecourse chant,” Reynolds added. McElhenney simply tweeted: “This is…I mean… I don’t…Wow.”Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought Wrexham in late 2020. Then, McElhenney retaliated by launching “The Ryan Reynolds Memorial Blimp,” complete with an unflattering picture of the Canadian actor.

The case stems from a sweeping probe of corruption in international soccer and its world governing body, FIFA. The government’s case hinges largely on the testimony of Argentine businessman Alejandro Burzaco, who has pleaded guilty to bribing soccer officials but has yet to be sentenced. Burzaco told jurors that Martinez and Lopez were aware of and approved the scheme, which he said they discussed during multiple meetings. Lawyers for Martinez and Lopez told jurors during closing arguments on Friday that their clients were unaware of Burzaco’s scheme. Prosecutors said Burzaco’s testimony was “devastating” and alleged that emails showed him discussing the bribes with Martinez and Lopez in coded terms.

☆ Wrexham offered potential dream Cup tie with Tottenham
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 30 (Reuters) - Non-league Wrexham could face a dream tie at home to eight-time winners Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup fifth round if they can get past Sheffield United in a replay, while Manchester City will travel to Championship (second-tier) side Bristol City. Wrexham, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with visiting Sheffield United on Sunday. The National League (fifth-tier) leaders were only denied a famous victory over the Championship side by a 95th-minute equaliser, forcing a replay scheduled for next month. Manchester United were handed a home tie against third-tier Derby County or fellow top-flight side West Ham United, who meet later on Monday. Brighton & Hove Albion, who knocked out holders Liverpool, will visit Championship side Stoke City.

☆ AI bot that lets you chat with Jesus, Hitler is latest GPT-3 controversy
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( David Ingram | David Ingram Covers Tech For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

But this week, it sparked viral controversy online over its inclusion of Hitler, his Nazi lieutenants and other dictators from the past. Historical Figures, which also uses GPT-3, launched the first week of January, and as of Wednesday, it had about 9,000 signups, app creator Sidhant Chadda said in a phone interview. “People expect these historical figures to be truthful, but in reality, people are not always 100% honest,” he said. Asking a question costs one coin, and the app charges extra to get access to high-profile historical figures. The possibility of digitally re-animating historical figures has been gaining ground ever since, from the “The Simpsons” to holograms of dead idols such as Buddy Holly and Whitney Houston.

☆ Former Fox execs conspired to bribe FIFA officials, prosecution witness says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Jack Queen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - An Argentine businessman testified on Wednesday that two former 21st Century Fox executives and a sports marketing company conspired with him to bribe South American soccer officials and secure lucrative broadcasting rights. FILE PHOTO: Businessman Alejandro Burzaco (R) of Argentina arrives at the Federal Court in Brooklyn, New York, September 18, 2015. Burzaco said that he, Lopez and Martinez collectively paid up to $32 million in bribes together. Full Play Group paid or committed to pay up to $90 million, he said. Lopez, Martinez and Full Play Group have pleaded not guilty to crimes including wire fraud and money laundering.

☆ Companies Spend Record Amounts on Dividends, Despite Looming Downturn
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Mark Maurer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +7 min

They usually review their cash flow expectations for at least the next 18 months when determining whether or how much to pay in dividends, Mr. Silverblatt said. Of the S&P 500, 373 companies raised dividends in 2022 through Dec. 15, compared with 353 in 2021, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. Five S&P 500 companies decreased their dividend in 2022 through Dec. 15, compared with four in 2021. It paid $7 billion in cash dividends for the year ended Oct. 30, up 13.2% from the prior-year period. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $505.5 million as of Sept. 30, down from $673 million a year earlier, filings showed.

☆ Arsenal look real deal, Newcastle relentless and Tottenham fickle as battle resumes
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

ARSENAL BEGIN WHERE THEY LEFT OFFWhen Mikel Arteta's table toppers went behind early on against struggling West Ham United there were mutterings around the Emirates Stadium -- with fans perhaps fearing Arsenal's pre-break momentum had been lost. TOTTENHAM CONTINUE TO PUZZLETottenham's inability to show consistency, even throughout 90 minutes, was evident again in a 2-2 draw at Brentford. But, as so often this season, they showed that when in a self-inflicted hole, they can actually look like a good side. West Ham United look a shadow of the side that were so impressive last season and a fourth straight defeat heaped more pressure on manager David Moyes. Like West Ham, Everton are just above the drop zone but a home loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers was ominous and manager Frank Lampard will need positive results quickly to silence his critics.

☆ These twins started companies together and other cofounders can learn a lot from them about rivalries, comparisons and being close to your business partner
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Having a business partner you are personally close to can be a huge benefit, they said. Torsten Pieper, an academic at UNC Charlotte, told Insider that twins having distinct roles in a business can be beneficial. Research from the Institute for Family Business showed companies that promote themselves as family-run can gain greater trust and are better placed to attract talent. Phan said family businesses inherently care about their communities, because their identity is often attached to the community where they work. As long as we're together, that's greatAll the twins said their businesses have changed the nature of their relationships.

☆ 'It's a work in progress.' How Covid has changed the life insurance marketplace
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

But for the life insurance industry, experts say the long-term effects aren't yet known. Faced with a staggering loss of life, insurance firms saw payouts soar during the pandemic. The demand for life insurance policies also jumped as consumers rushed to protect loved ones. Individual U.S life insurance application activity increased by 3.4% in 2021, following a record-breaking year-over-year growth of 3.9% in 2020, according to the MIB Life Index's 2021 annual report. However, the life insurance industry is still wrestling with mortality changes and how these shifts may affect the underwriting process.

☆ City stunned by Toney, Spurs comeback sinks Leeds, Lampard under more pressure
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Richard Martin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Liverpool beat Southampton 3-1 as Darwin Nunez scored his first double for the team and Roberto Firmino also got on the scoresheet. Leicester coach Brendan Rodgers sought to calm fears about the midfielder's fitness, stating he had taken him off as a precautionary measure. For this reason I think we showed great character, great will to not give up and to believe," said Conte. Leeds coach Jesse Marsch added: "I'm gutted, I feel like someone has ripped my heart out." Newcastle United were in action against Chelsea later on Saturday while league leaders Arsenal visit Wolverhampton Wanderers with the chance to increase their advantage over City to five points.

WILMINGTON, Del, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Elon Musk has taken on Detroit's automakers, short-sellers and securities regulators. Next week, the Tesla (TSLA.O) chief executive is set to square off in court against an unlikely foe - a thrash metal drummer who hopes to strip Musk of his $56 billion pay. Tornetta sued Musk and the Tesla board on behalf of the company in what is known as a shareholder derivative lawsuit. The pay package was widely criticized and California's teachers retirement system known as CalSTRS was among the investors who voted against it. The disputed pay package allows Musk to buy 1% of Tesla's stock at a deep discount each time escalating performance and financial targets are met; otherwise Musk gets nothing.

☆ Indonesia human rights body blames use of tear gas for soccer stampede
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JAKARTA, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Indonesian police firing tear gas was the main trigger for a deadly soccer stampede at a stadium in East Java last month, the country's human rights commission found in a report on the incident released on Wednesday. Officials from the human rights commission (Komnas HAM) said 135 people had died in the stampede, mostly from asphyxiation, after the match at Kanjuruhan stadium on Oct. 1. Indonesian authorities and the Indonesian football Association (PSSI) have faced questions and criticism in recent weeks over why police fired tear gas inside the stadium, a crowd control measure banned by world soccer governing body FIFA. Komnas HAM commissioners specified seven violations human rights in one of the world's worst stadium disasters, including the excessive use of force and violation of children's rights. Reporting by Stanley Widianto and Ananda Teresia; Writing by Kate Lamb; Editing by Ed DaviesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Nunez earns points for Liverpool, Man Utd outclass Tottenham
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Impressive Newcastle United bolstered their place in the top-six with a 1-0 victory at home to struggling Everton. Nunez also rattled the post with a ferocious shot but West Ham could easily have taken a point. Liverpool moved up to seventh with 16 points from 10 games, two points behind Newcastle and three behind Manchester United. UNITED TAKING SHAPEAfter a difficult start Man Utd are slowly taking shape under Dutch manager Erik ten Hag and they added Tottenham to their wins already against Liverpool and leaders Arsenal. Che Adams's first-half header earned Southampton victory at Bournemouth -- their first win in six games moving them up to 14th place with 11 points.

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