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☆ Starz to lay off more than 10% of employees ahead of Lionsgate spinoff
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A Starz spokesperson declined to comment on the number of cuts but confirmed the authenticity of the letter to staff. Lionsgate and Starz have been part of the same company since December 2016, when Lionsgate acquired Starz for $4.4 billion. That marriage will end in the first quarter, when the company plans to spin Lionsgate as a separately traded company. Starz announced last quarter it planned to exit Latin America to focus on the U.S., U.K. and Canada. Starz ended last quarter with about 12 million domestic streaming subscribers and about 20 million total customers when including those who sign up through traditional pay TV.

Persons: Jeffrey Hirsch, Hirsch Organizations: Starz, CNBC, Lionsgate, E Networks, Paramount, BET Locations: Australia, America, Canada

[1/3] A keyboard is placed in front of a displayed OpenAI logo in this illustration taken February 21, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 3 - ChatGPT maker OpenAI is expected to announce product enhancements that will make its AI models cheaper, with more functionality, in its first-ever developer conference on Monday. Generative AI can, using past data, create brand new content like fully formed text, images and software code. OpenAI is expected to announce updates focused on slashing costs for its developers, as well as new vision capabilities, Reuters previously reported. Cost-cutting addresses a major concern for partners whose spending on OpenAI's powerful models could pile up quickly as they try to build sustainable businesses by developing and selling AI software.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, OpenAI, Sam Altman, Altman, Anna Tong, Krystal Hu, Richard Chang Organizations: REUTERS, Microsoft, Reuters, Thomson Locations: San Francisco, City Hall, Francisco's, Silicon

☆ Can a $400 Box Keep Your Packages Safe from Porch Pirates?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Sal Vaglica | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

NEARLY ONE in seven Americans had a package snatched from their house in the first 10 months of 2022, according to a C+R Research report. Now, some homeowners are turning to a new spin on an old classic: adding Wi-Fi smarts to a beefy lockbox. These package receptacles, such as the Eufy SmartDrop S300 and Yale Smart Delivery Box (with keypad), are powered by batteries that last between three and six months depending on how often you get deliveries. Just connect the device to your home network, then choose an access code and, every time you buy online, enter that code as the second line of your address and/or in the “preferred delivery instructions” section. That equips delivery drivers to key the code into your box, pop its lid and leave your package inside, assuming you haven’t bought a 12-foot ladder or a hippopotamus.

Persons: haven’t Organizations: Yale

The long-awaited final installment of “Yellowstone” — featuring Kevin Costner ’s final episodes — has been delayed until November 2024, the Paramount Network announced Thursday. Originally scheduled to return this month, Paramount says production was delayed by this year's strikes by actors and screenwriters. “Yellowstone” has been a phenomenon for Paramount Network. The premiere episode of season five was watched by 12.1 million people, more than for any other scripted series airing at the time. It’s now begun airing season two.

Persons: Kevin Costner ’, —, ”, It’s, John Dutton III, Costner, Taylor Sheridan Organizations: Paramount Network, Paramount, CBS Locations: Montana, United States

☆ New videos of Tesla Cybertruck off-roading appear to show it struggling to climb up a steep dirt hill
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Tesla's Cybertruck appears to struggle off-roading in a new series of videos from social media. AdvertisementAdvertisementTesla's Cybertruck might not be the best vehicle for off-roading after all, at least according to some new videos. In three of the videos, a Cybertruck appears to struggle to gain traction up a steep and uphill slope and with some turns on the sandy terrain. In one video, the Cybertruck appears to spin its wheels and the tires screech as it struggles to get up a dirt hill. AdvertisementAdvertisement"Normally in other vehicles — gasoline or diesel vehicles — you've got the differential which hangs down low between the rear wheels," Musk said.

Persons: Tesla's Cybertruck, Elon Musk, —, Tesla's, Tesla, It's, Musk, Joe Rogan, you've Organizations: Service, Twitter, EV Locations: Hollister Hills, California, Texas

Even before the Hamas attacks, settler violence was hitting its highest levels since the United Nations began tracking it in the mid 2000s. According to U.N. figures, there used to be one incident of settler violence a day. The West Bank, which has been rocked by major uprisings before, feels primed to explode. Gaza and the West Bank are two separate areas that Israel captured in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Roughly half a million Jewish settlers live in the West Bank, alongside an estimated 2.7 million Palestinians.

Persons: ”, “, Israel, Naomi Kahn, ” “, “ I’m Organizations: West Bank, United Nations, Israel Defense Forces, Palestinian, Palestinian Authority Locations: Gaza, West, Israel

☆ At a seaside resort outside San Francisco, there's a secret haven for startup founders to overcome loneliness and pain: 'There's very few people you can be honest with'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Darius Rafieyan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Author and executive coach Carole Robin, speaking at a Leaders In Tech retreat. With Leaders in Tech, Robin set out to create a space for founders to practice vulnerability, free of the need to always be crushing it. The Leaders In Tech Retreat provides a world away from the relentless stress of Silicon Valley. 'If you really knew me'Participants meet in groups of 12, carefully selected to ensure no one is paired with a competitor or potential investor. "If you really knew me, you would know that I'm, I'm worried about whether or not my marriage is going to survive my startup."

Persons: Joe —, —, Joe, they'd, hadn't, helming, Carole Robin, Robin, they're, Obi Felten, Oliver Hospitality, I'm, Felten Organizations: In Tech, Stanford Business School, Tech, UC Berkeley, Entrepreneurs, Google, Lodge, Menlo Locations: San Francisco, Tomales, Silicon Valley, Marconi, Marshall , California, Pacific, Felten's

☆ Inside a secret haven for startup founders to overcome loneliness: 'There's very few people you can be honest with'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Darius Rafieyan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

☆ Starlink achieves cash-flow breakeven, says SpaceX CEO Musk
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SpaceX founder and Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks on a screen during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, June 29, 2021. REUTERS/Nacho Doce/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 2 (Reuters) - SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said on Thursday the rocket company's satellite internet unit, Starlink, had achieved cash flow breakeven. In 2021, Musk said SpaceX would spin off and take Starlink public once its cash flow was reasonably predictable. Starlink has been in the spotlight since last year as it helps provide Ukraine with satellite communications key to its war efforts against Russia. SpaceX is valued at about $150 billion and is one of the most valuable private companies in the world.

Persons: Elon Musk, Nacho, Musk, Starlink, Chavi Mehta, Joey Roulette, Shinjini Organizations: SpaceX, Mobile World Congress, REUTERS, Viasat, Russia, NASA, Wall Street, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Ukraine, Gaza, Bengaluru, New York

☆ Opinion | It Isn’t Easy to Be Mitt Romney
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Carlos Lozada | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Coppins depicts Ann Romney as the pivotal influence in her husband’s life; he is always trying to win and preserve her approval. A close second is his father, George Romney, the governor of Michigan, Republican presidential candidate and Housing and Urban Development secretary in the Nixon administration. The controversy surrounding his use of that term finally derailed George Romney’s presidential aspirations. “The one question Romney would struggle to answer — even a decade later — was whether he had been true to himself in his pursuit of the presidency,” Coppins writes. Did it allow Romney to make a statement rather than a difference, in that his isolated vote could not produce Trump’s conviction?

Persons: Ann Romney, George Romney, Nixon, “ He’s, ” Coppins, Barry Goldwater, George Floyd, Mitt, Richard Nixon peddled, Romney, —, ”, George, Coppins, “ It’s, “ Romney, he’d, Trump, marginalize, Paul Ryan, ” Romney Organizations: Republican, Housing, Urban, Trump, Senate, Republican Party Locations: Michigan, Vietnam

☆ This Yahoo spinout uses AI to help companies store and search data instantly. Check out the 12-slide pitch deck Vespa.ai used to raise $31 million.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Vespa.ai, a startup that spun out of Yahoo last month, has raised $31 million in Series A funding from Blossom Capital. The Norway-based startup has created an AI-powered platform that gives companies access to its search engine and vector database. A key problem that many companies face is having the infrastructure to store extensive amounts of data, and accessing it efficiently. The startup's cloud service and search platform can tap into this data in real time, giving companies responses or decisions almost immediately after a query has been put in. With the cash injection, the startup will ramp up its engineering functions, as well as its cloud services.

Persons: Jon Bratseth, We've Organizations: Yahoo, Blossom Capital, Fortune, Spotify Locations: Norway, London, Blossom

☆ Trump kid says the darnedest things: Donald Trump, Jr. gives guarded, sometimes flip, testimony at fraud trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Donald Trump, Jr., was well-spoken, but guarded during 90 minutes of testimony on Wednesday. He cracked a couple of jokes and protected his father during week 5 of the Trump civil fraud trial. Eric Trump testifies next, with Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump scheduled for next week. Donald Trump, Jr., jokes he "should have worn makeup" while photographed at the defense table in the Trump civil fraud trial in New York. Ivanka Trump was once a defendant in the AG case, along with Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Eric Trump.

Persons: Donald Trump , Jr, Trump, Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump, —, Donald J, Jr, Colleen Faherty, I'm, Faherty, Letitia James, James, Alina Habba, Seth Wenig, Donald Trump Jr Organizations: Service, New, Trump Revocable Trust, Trump, ocable, Trump Organization Locations: Manhattan, New York

The 10-year Japanese government bond yield rose 2 basis points (bps) to 0.970%, a level last seen in May 2013, before retreating to 0.960% immediately after the BOJ announced an emergency bond-purchase operation. Tsuruta sees the tweak as a step toward the BOJ eventually exiting from negative interest rates policy, which he expects around the beginning of next year at the earliest. The two-year JGB yield had ticked up to 0.160%, while the five-year yield reached 0.480%, levels not seen since 2011. On the superlong end, the 20-year JGB yield rose to its highest since July 2013 at 1.735%. The 30-year JGB yield was up 3 bps at 1.905%.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Keisuke Tsuruta, Mitsubishi UFJ, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley, Tsuruta, James Malcolm, YCC, Malcolm said, Brigid Riley, Vidya Ranganathan, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Bank of Japan, REUTERS, Rights, Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, UBS, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, London

☆ Disney's ESPN could be valued at $24 bln, likely buyers include Apple, Verizon - BofA
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Toy figures of people are seen in front of the displayed Disney + logo, in this illustration taken January 20, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 1 (Reuters) - Walt Disney's ESPN sports network could secure an enterprise value of $24 billion and attract investment interest from sports leagues, tech firms like Apple and telecom majors including Verizon, according to BofA Global Research. Benefits to prospective buyers, however, appear "nebulous", BofA said. "ESPN is still a strong business and a premier brand, but it sits at the nexus of possible major business transformation. Reporting by Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'SilvaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Walt Disney's, Bob Iger, Jessica Reif Ehrlich, BofA, Chavi Mehta, Anil D'Silva Organizations: REUTERS, Walt Disney's ESPN, Apple, Verizon, BofA Global Research, ESPN, Disney, National Football League, National Basketball Association, Comcast, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Matthew Perry Was One of TV’s Best Sparring Partners
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Margaret Lyons | More About Margaret Lyons | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

TV flags are flying at half-staff today, with the news that Matthew Perry died on Saturday. The show’s continuing ubiquity makes Perry’s death more galling somehow — don’t certain stars achieve immortality through streaming and syndication? Perry was not the kind of actor who disappeared into a role but rather where the role disappeared into him. This is never more clear than in “The West Wing,” where Perry appears in three episodes as Joe Quincy, a clever lawyer. His arc on “West Wing” aired right around the same time as the final few episodes of “Friends,” and it modeled the kind of role we’d frequently see him in after Chandler: a fascinating, intelligent, perhaps lovable adversary.

Persons: Matthew Perry, Chandler Bing, Perry, Joe Quincy, Wing ”, we’d, Chandler Organizations: Wing

Gavin Newsom is the latest to find out that plans for a confident jump shot can turn into a torrent of online potshots. On a trip to China, the two-term Democrat took a detour from his official meetings on climate change to join a group of Beijing schoolkids for a game of basketball. Video circulating online shows Newsom wearing slacks, an open-collared shirt and dress shoes while towering over schoolchildren on the court. The governor playfully twirls a basketball on a fingertip, then executes a spin move as he heads toward the basket. “Newsom destroys kid during basketball game in China,” celebrity website TMZ tweeted.

Persons: —, Gavin Newsom, Newsom, Boris Johnson, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry, ” George W, “, ”, “ Newsom, TMZ, Xi Jinping Organizations: ANGELES, Gov, pats, ” Fox News, America, Santa Clara University, Los Angeles Fox News Locations: China, Beijing, British, London, Japan, Scotland

☆ Opinion | I’ve Been Under Bombardment. There Must Be a Cease-Fire in Gaza.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Megan K. Stack | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

I’ve watched U.S. warplanes attack Afghanistan; barely escaped a direct strike from a Russian MiG in Georgia, and lived for weeks under relentless Israeli bombardment in Lebanon. Israel has so far killed more than 8,000 people, the Gaza Health Ministry said, more than 40 percent of them children. But having spent time under bombardment, and having reported in Gaza, I have no time for these explanations. If we are to believe the Israeli political and military leadership’s own words — and I think we should — the assault on Gaza was driven, first, by straightforward vengeance. We could find out with a cease-fire, but they say we can’t ask for a cease-fire.

Persons: I’ve, keening, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, “, Maj, Ghassan, ”, Ron Derner, Yoav Gallant, You’re Organizations: U.S, Gaza Health Ministry, Hamas, Israeli Defense Forces, ”, Israel Locations: Afghanistan, Russian, Georgia, Lebanon, Gaza, Israel, United States, America, Jerusalem

☆ Explainer: Why is Siemens Energy seeking $16 billion state guarantees?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The logo of energy technology company Siemens Energy is displayed during the LNG 2023 energy trade show in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, July 12, 2023. To make sure it can get the guarantees to fulfil its order backlog, Siemens Energy has turned to the government. Siemens owns a 25.1% stake in Siemens Energy and has not ruled out helping. Siemens still provides around 7 billion euros of performance guarantees to projects Siemens Energy is working on, significantly down from the 40 billion euros at the time of the spin-off around three years ago. Apart from seeking guarantees from the government, banks and Siemens, Siemens Energy said it is "evaluating various measures to strengthen the balance sheet", without elaborating further.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Banks, Roland Busch, hade, Andreas Rinke, Christoph Steitz, Victoria Farr, Andres Gonzalez, Pablo Mayo, Alexander Huebner, Tom Kaeckenhoff, Josephine Mason, Susan Fenton Organizations: Siemens Energy, REUTERS, Siemens, International Chamber of Commerce, German Economy Ministry, SIEMENS, Triton, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Thomson Locations: Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, downpayments, Berlin, Frankfurt, London, Munich

☆ Matthew Perry's family 'heartbroken' by 'Friends' star's death
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Rich Mckay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] Actor Matthew Perry waits to announce the nominations for the Golden Globe Awards during a news conference in Beverly Hills, California, December 14, 2006. REUTERS/Fred Prouser/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 29 (Reuters) - Matthew Perry's family, friends and fellow celebrities on Sunday mourned the passing of the wise-cracking co-star of 1990s sitcom "Friends" who died at his Los Angeles home in an apparent drowning this weekend. "Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend," Perry's family told People magazine on Sunday in a statement. The official "Friends" webpage on Instagram said: "We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry’s passing. "I'll remember that character for the rest of my life," she said as the audience cheered, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Persons: Matthew Perry, Fred Prouser, Matthew Perry's, Matthew, Perry, Chandler Bing, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, Courtney Cox, Instagram, Matthew Perry’s, Singer Adele, Chandler, He's, Alyssa Milano, “, Matty, Milano, ”, Rainn Wilson, Dwight, R.I.P, Rich McKay, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Golden Globe, REUTERS, Sunday, Los Angeles, Police, Los Angeles Times, Los, Angeles, Angeles County Medical, Thomson Locations: Beverly Hills , California, Los Angeles, Massachusetts, Canada, Los, Angeles County, Manhattan, Vegas, Atlanta

☆ Movies starring Matthew Perry include ‘Fools Rush in’, ‘The Whole Nine Yards,’ and ‘Almost Heroes’
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Like many stars best known for a major hit, Matthew Perry’s association with “Friends” and the “Could he BE any funnier?” role of Chandler Bing loomed over the rest of his career. That included the movies that came his way during the series as well as various encores in TV after the Must-See TV sitcom signed off in 2004, among them “Mr. Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek in the 1997 romantic comedy "Fools Rush In." Columbia Pictures/Getty ImagesFools Rush In: All the “Friends” stars had movie opportunities, and relatively few of those measured up to the expectations raised by the show. If only the show had consistently remained as strong as its extremely good pilot.

Persons: Matthew Perry’s, ”, Chandler Bing, Perry, Ted Kennedy, Ron Clark, –, Bruce Willis, Oscar Madison, Diana Canova, Matthew Perry, Salma Hayek, Chris Farley, Neve Campbell, Dylan McDermott, Joe Quincy, Wing’s ”, Mike Kresteva, Wing’s ” Aaron Sorkin, Bradley Whitford Organizations: CNN, ”, Columbia, “, West, Republican, Wing’s ” Democratic Bartlet Administration Locations: “

☆ Why Drug Companies Don’t Want to Sell Allergy Medicines and Bandages Anymore
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Jared S. Hopkins | Adrià Calatayud | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/sanofi-plans-to-spin-off-consumer-healthcare-business-ab808c6f

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: sanofi

☆ Sanofi Plans to Spin Off Consumer-Healthcare, Pharma Businesses
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Adrià Calatayud | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes Photo: GONZALO FUENTES/REUTERSSanofi plans to split its consumer-healtchare and pharmaceutical operations, making it the latest big drugmaker to sharpen its focus on prescription medicines by offloading adjacent businesses. The French company outlined the plan on Friday as part of a strategic update that includes increased investment in its pipeline and a cost-savings program.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, GONZALO FUENTES Organizations: Sanofi

Peter Orszag, CEO of Financial Advisory, Lazard, speaks at the 2023 Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., May 2, 2023. Dealogic data showed that globally, investment banking revenue tumbled 16% in the third quarter from a year earlier. Those takeovers, alongside a nascent revival in initial public offerings (IPOs), should bolster investment banking revenues next year. Global investment banking revenue stood at $50 billion in the first three quarters of this year, 20% below the same period in 2022, according to Dealogic. Investment banking revenue will probably rise 5% to 10% next year for the largest banks, according to Mike Mayo, an analyst at Wells Fargo.

Persons: Peter Orszag, Lazard, Mike Blake, dealmaking, Orszag, Morgan Stanley's, Ted Pick, Morgan Stanley, Dealogic, Mike Mayo, Jane Fraser, Fraser, Jana Partners, Brian Moynihan, Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, Tatiana Bautzer, Lananh Nguyen, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Megan Davies, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Financial Advisory, Milken, Global Conference, REUTERS, Wall, Exxon Mobil, Chevron CVX.N, Reuters, CNBC, Global, Investment, Wells, Citigroup, Exxon, Natural Resources, Barclays, News Corp, Frontier Communications, Bank of, Svea, Thomson Locations: Beverly Hills , California, U.S, dealmaking, Ukraine, East, Wells Fargo

☆ Sanofi loses $21 bln in market value after dropping 2025 profit target
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Ludwig Burger | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Under a push to spend more on immunology and inflammation drug development, the company abandoned a target for a 32% operating profit margin for 2025 to focus on "long-term profitability". EPS would see a strong rebound in 2025 but not enough to sustain the previous margin target. CONSUMER STAND-ALONECEO Hudson said the core innovative drugs business had improved enough to soon do without the more predictable cash flows from consumer products. The logo of French drugmaker Sanofi is seen a the Sanofi Genzyme Polyclonals in Lyon, France, September 30, 2023. The timing of the potential consumer listing, which Sanofi said would be in the fourth quarter of 2024 or later, would be set to maximize shareholder value.

Persons: Hudson, Sanofi, drugmaker, Paul Hudson, Terence McManus, Johnson, we've, Gonzalo Fuentes, Roche, Dupixent, Ludwig Burger, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Mark Potter, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Sanofi, Bellevue Asset Management, Reuters, Barclays, Johnson, GSK, Pfizer, Bayer, Polyclonals, REUTERS, Provention, Merck & Co, Thomson Locations: France, Bellevue, Lyon, Paris

☆ Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson on Q3 results: Increased R&D spending will impact 2024 profit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSanofi CEO Paul Hudson on Q3 results: Increased R&D spending will impact 2024 profitSanofi CEO Paul Hudson joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the company's quarterly earnings results, spin off of its consumer health care business, growth outlook, and more.

Persons: Paul Hudson Organizations: Sanofi

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