DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

CNN —Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic left a political message on a TV camera lens at the French Open on Monday in response to violent clashes in Kosovo. Following his first-round victory against American Aleksandar Kovacevic, Djokovic wrote “Kosovo is the [heart] of Serbia. Stop the violence” in Serbian on a camera lens, using a heart symbol. I don’t know what will happen.”Djokovic leaves his message on the camera lens after his first-round victory at Roland-Garros. Djokovic is aiming to win his 23rd grand slam title at the French Open, which would move him clear of Rafael Nadal at the top of the men’s all-time list.

CNN —Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Sergio Rico has been hospitalized after an incident involving a mule cart and a runaway horse, according to his family. Rico was en route to mass next to the Hermitage of El Rocio when the “serious mishap” occurred. Paris Saint-Germain learned of the accident involving its player Sergio Rico on Sunday and remains in constant contact with his loved ones. — Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) May 28, 2023“We now await medical results which we hope will be positive so we can inform you of his improvement as soon as possible.”PSG released a statement on Twitter, saying: “Paris Saint-Germain learned of the accident involving its player Sergio Rico on Sunday and remains in constant contact with his loved ones. “The entire Red and Blue community offers them its full support.”Rico was on the bench for the 1-1 draw in Strasbourg.

WHEN SAMMY Palazzolo goes out, people constantly ask to see her phone. In late 2022, Ms. Palazzolo and some of her dorm-mates at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign were bemoaning their smartphone addictions. “We were talking about how we [felt] like slaves to our phones, like robots who keep scrolling and scrolling, even when we’re out at parties.” The group hatched a plan to do something about it. The next day, they went flip-phone shopping at Walmart . Ms. Palazzolo ended up with a $40 AT&T Cingular Flex.

CNN —FIFA President Gianni Infantino has threatened a Women’s World Cup broadcast blackout in five major European countries over unacceptable offers of media rights for the tournament. The UK, Spain, Italy, Germany and France are the five European countries Infantino was referring to in his remarks. “To be very clear, it is our moral and legal obligation not to undersell the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Therefore, should the offers continue not to be fair (towards women and women’s football), we will be forced not to broadcast the FIFA Women’s World Cup into the ‘Big 5’ European countries,” Infantino added. Australia and New Zealand will co-host the 2023 Women’s World Cup from July 20 until August 20.

☆ Vitalia Diatchenko: Poland's state-owned airline refuses boarding to Russian tennis player
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Sammy Mncwabe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Poland’s state-owned airline LOT refused to board Russian tennis player Vitalia Diatchenko in line with restrictions introduced following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the carrier said in a statement to CNN on Wednesday without naming her. Diatchenko was denied boarding a LOT flight departing from Cairo on Monday as she was traveling to Calvi in Corsica via Warsaw and Nice to play at a tournament. “The provisions of the regulation introduce restrictions at certain border crossings, including airport crossings, in relation to citizens of the Russian Federation traveling from outside the Schengen area,” the airline said. IOC president Thomas Bach defended the latest recommendations citing tennis as an example that participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes “works” despite the war. Bach also blasted some European governments as “deplorable” for what he calls their “negative reactions” to the organization’s stance on Russia

☆ Harry Belafonte, calypso star and civil rights champion, dies at 96
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Alex Johnson | Diana Dasrath | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Singer Harry Belafonte speaks during a press junket at The Bing Decision Maker Series with the Sing Your Song Cast and Filmmakers on January 22, 2011 in Park City, Utah. American singer Harry Belafonte performing in a recording studio, circa 1957. By the early 1960s, Belafonte had become a force in the civil rights movement. A crowd of over 10,000 civil rights marchers gathers in the Manhattan Garment Center as Harry Belafonte sings at spiritual at a civil rights rally. A capacity audience of civil rights advocates turned out to watch a glittering array of theater personalities perform.

CNN —The editor-in-chief of Die Aktuelle, a German magazine that published a fake artificial intelligence (AI) interview with Michael Schumacher, has been “relieved of her duties,” a statement from publishing house FUNKE said, alongside an apology to the Schumacher family. Schumacher has not been seen in public since he suffered a brain injury in a skiing accident in December 2013. It in no way meets the standards of journalism that we – and our readers – expect from a publishing house like FUNKE,” FUNKE magazine managing director Bianca Pohlmann said in the statement. Only toward the end of the article does it become apparent that the interview was produced by AI. Hannibal Hanschke/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockSince the accident, the Schumacher family has kept updates about the health of the motorsport legend to a minimum to protect their privacy.

CNN —The family of seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher is planning legal action after a German magazine published a fake artificial intelligence (AI) interview, a family spokesperson told CNN on Thursday. “I can confirm that Michael Schumacher’s family is planning to take legal action over a fake artificial intelligence interview by German outlet Die Aktuelle,” a Schumacher spokesperson told CNN on Thursday. German weekly magazine Die Aktuelle published a fake AI interview with Michael Schumacher. “Please understand that we do not comment on this topic,” Barkhausen told CNN on Thursday. Since the accident, the Schumacher family has kept updates about the health of the motorsport legend to a minimum to protect their privacy.

☆ ‘Angry Birds’ Maker to Be Bought by Sega
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Ben Dummett | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The success of ‘Angry Birds’ made Rovio a mobile-gaming trailblazer. Sega Sammy Holdings Inc. agreed to pay almost $800 million for the company behind the “Angry Birds” franchise, a deal that would end the independence of one of the pioneers of the mobile-gaming industry. The transaction is the latest consolidation move in the broader gaming industry. Games played mostly on phones boomed during the pandemic but sales have ebbed more recently.

☆ Sega to acquire Angry Birds maker Rovio for $776 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A model of Angry Birds character 'Red' sits on display inside the reception area of the Rovio Entertainment Oy headquarters in Espoo, Finland, on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Japanese gaming giant Sega announced Monday it has made a 706 million euro ($776 million) offer for the maker of the Angry Birds puzzle game, Finland's Rovio Entertainment Oyj. Meanwhile its Angry Birds franchise has been licensed into other entertainment and consumer products. "Among the rapidly growing global gaming market, the mobile gaming market has especially high potential, and it has been SEGA's long-term goal to accelerate its expansion in this field," said Sega Sammy's Group CEO, Haruki Satomi, in a statement. Angry Birds is "loved across the world," he said.

☆ Sega Sammy says it is considering buying Angry Birds maker Rovio
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Sega Sammy was nearing a deal to buy the Finnish firm behind the mobile game Angry Birds for about $1 billion. Rovio has said it was in talks with Sega Sammy over a possible tender offer. Sega Sammy shares fell 4.3% by midday in a broader market (.N225) that was virtually unchanged. "Sega Sammy's mobile gaming business is centred on the domestic market, while 'Angry Birds' is well known overseas. "But there has been no big hit (from Rovio) other than Angry Birds, which was originally launched more than 10 years ago.

☆ Sega offers $776 million for Angry Birds maker Rovio
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HELSINKI, April 17 (Reuters) - Japan's Sega Sammy Holdings Inc (6460.T) has agreed to launch an offer for Finland's Rovio Entertainment (ROVIO.HE), the maker of the Angry Birds mobile game, for 706 million euros ($775.8 million), the companies said in a joint statement on Monday. Tokyo-based Sega will offer 9.25 euros per share for Rovio, a 19% premium over Friday's closing price of 7.775 euros. Rovio, which has been conducting a strategic review, on Saturday said it was in talks with Sega over a possible tender offer. The Wall Street Journal had reported on Friday that a deal between the two companies was imminent. Israeli peer Playtika (8II.F), had made a preliminary bid in January to buy Rovio for 683 million euros, but the Angry Birds maker confirmed last month talks had ended.

☆ “Angry Birds” may finally have found right nest
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, April 17 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The winning trick of “Angry Birds” is to fire your slingshot at just the right angle to knock out the squadrons of enemy green pigs attempting to steal the birds’ eggs. Japanese gaming company Sega Sammy (6460.T) may have found that position. On Monday, Sega agreed to pay about 700 million euros in cash for Rovio Entertainment (ROVIO.HE), the maker of the “Angry Birds” franchise. The 9.25 offer price is a 63% premium to the closing price of Jan. 19, when rival suitor Playtika (8II.F)made a previous approach. Half the investors have preliminarily accepted the deal, and Rovio shares are near the offer price.

☆ Angry Birds creator Rovio: Sega makes takeover bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —Japan’s Sega, the company behind Sonic the Hedgehog, is buying Rovio Entertainment in a cash deal that values the creator of Angry Birds at €706 million ($774 million). The company’s prime asset, Angry Birds, which launched in 2009, became the first mobile game series to reach 1 billion downloads, according to Guinness World Records. People tour an Angry Birds theme park at its opening on July 9, 2016 in Tianjin, China. Feature China/Future Publishing/Getty ImagesThe story-based puzzle video game has players launching “Angry Birds” from a slingshot at a fortress containing pigs who stole their eggs. The company’s share price closed 4.2% down in Tokyo on Monday.

☆ Angry Birds maker Rovio confirms talks with Sega over tender offer
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 15 (Reuters) - Rovio Entertainment (ROVIO.HE), the company behind the mobile game Angry Birds, confirmed on Saturday that it is in talks with Japan's Sega Sammy Holdings Inc (6460.T) over a possible tender offer. Rovio announced the start of a strategic review and preliminary non-binding discussions regarding a potential tender offer for its shares in February, a statement from the group said. "As part of its strategic review, Rovio Entertainment Corporation confirms that it is in discussions with Sega Sammy Holdings Inc," it said. The company added in the statement that there "is no certainty as to when the possible tender offer would take place, or whether it would take place at all". Rovio received a 683 million euro takeover bid in January from Israeli peer Playtika Holding Corp (8II.F), but the talks were called off last month.

☆ Angry Birds maker may soon be owned by Sega if expected $1 billion sale goes through, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sega is nearing a deal to buy "Angry Birds" game creator Rovio Entertainment. After much success launching "Angry Birds" in 2009, the Finnish company reported losses in 2019. Rovio, a Finnish company that went public in 2017, has experienced vast success from its "Angry Birds" mobile game franchise. Since its debut in 2009, "Angry Birds" has inspired multiple spinoff games as well as TV shows and movies. Sega Sammy Holdings — which was formed by a merger of Sega and Sammy Corporation in 2004 — is best known for its "Sonic the Hedgehog" games and films.

An Angry Birds balloon floats during the Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. Sega Sammy Holdings Inc. is nearing a deal to acquire the company behind the “Angry Birds” mobile game for about $1 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. The Japan-based entertainment conglomerate could seal a deal to buy Rovio Entertainment Oyj by early next week, assuming the talks don’t break down or drag out, the people said.

☆ Sega nears deal to acquire Angry Birds maker Rovio for $1 billion, Wall Street Journal reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

April 14 (Reuters) - Japan's Sega Sammy Holdings Inc (6460.T) is nearing a deal to acquire Rovio Entertainment (ROVIO.HE), the company behind the 'Angry Birds' mobile game, for about $1 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. Tokyo-based Sega could finalize the deal to complete the acquisition of Rovio by early next week, the report said citing people familiar with the matter. Israeli peer Playtika (8II.F), had made a preliminary bid in January to buy Rovio for 683 million euros ($750.96 million), but the Angry Birds maker confirmed last month talks had ended. Rovio and Sega did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. ($1 = 0.9095 euros)Reporting by Rahat Sandhu in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra EluriOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Black and Tans: Biden confuses All Blacks rugby team with brutal police force
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —President Joe Biden made a gaffe during his visit to Ireland on Wednesday as he confused a rugby team with a controversial 1920s-era British police force. Biden was speaking at the Windsor Bar in Dundalk, Ireland, when he appeared to mistake New Zealand’s All Blacks rugby team with the Black and Tans, a brutal force deployed against rebels during the Irish War of Independence. He received the Irish team tie after they won against New Zealand at Soldier Field in Chicago in November 2016. “See this tie I have, this shamrock tie?” Biden said. He personally called the Irish rugby union team to congratulate them when they defeated New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium in 2021.

☆ Deadly stadium crush: Indonesian soccer clubs meet for first time following disaster
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Sammy Mncwabe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Two of Indonesia’s biggest soccer teams Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya played behind closed doors Tuesday in their first meeting since the deadly stadium disaster that killed more than 130 people in October. Some clashed with police, prompting security forces to fire tear gas into enclosed areas of the stadium – a crowd control measure banned by world soccer governing body FIFA. Persebaya won 1-0 against Arema, the first time the teams have met since last year's deadly stadium disaster. Willy Kurniawan/ReutersFollowing the stadium crush, which Indonesia’s National Police Chief described as one of the world’s deadliest stadium disasters, President Joko Widodo announced that Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang would be demolished and rebuilt according to FIFA standards. In March, two Indonesian soccer officials were sentenced up to 18 months in prison by a court over the deadly stadium crush, while three police officials charged with negligence will have their cases heard at a later date.

☆ NHL roundup: Connor McDavid hits 150 points in Oilers' win
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

Tomas Hertl scored, and James Reimer made 29 saves for the Sharks, who have lost seven straight against the Oilers. McDavid notched his 150th point when he scored with 1:44 left in the opening period for a 2-1 lead. Jesper Bratt scored the lone goal and MacKenzie Blackwood made 38 stops for the Devils, who had won back-to-back games. Avalanche 4, Kings 3Denis Malgin scored two goals for visiting Colorado in a win against Los Angeles. Alex Nylander, Danton Heinen and Evgeni Malkin each scored a goal and Tristan Jarry made 19 saves for the Penguins.

☆ NHL roundup: Bruins lock down Atlantic Division title
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +11 min

Hathaway has scored three goals since joining the Bruins in late February, two of which have been go-ahead tallies. Linus Ullmark made 11 of his 26 saves in the third period, improving to 11-1-0 in his last 12 starts. For the Lightning, Victor Hedman scored the lone goal and Andrei Vasilevskiy was credited with 32 saves. Leon Draisaitl had a goal and an assist, and Zach Hyman and Warren Foegele also scored for Edmonton. Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk scored his seventh goal in seven games and Mark Kastelic and defenseman Thomas Chabot also tallied.

☆ This CEO's first 2 side hustle attempts failed—now his third business is worth $4 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Look at Joe Kudla, the 45-year-old CEO and founder of Encinitas, California-based Vuori, a fast-growing athletic apparel startup most recently valued at $4 billion in 2021. When Kudla launched Vuori in 2014, he'd already tried and failed to get two other apparel brands off the ground. One was a contemporary women's apparel brand called Sammy Jo. The other was a T-shirt startup he'd also called Vuori, the Finnish word for "mountain." Launching the current version of Vuori as a side hustle wouldn't have worked for two reasons, he says.

Search resuls for: "Sammy"

25 mentions found