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☆ See some of the best photos from National Geographic's 'Pictures of the Year'
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-22 | by ( Marylou Costa | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

National Geographic released its annual "Pictures of the Year" issue this week, showcasing 20 photographs — out of some 2.3 million in contention — that depict striking scenes of nature, wildlife and human connection to the world. Emperor penguins have been increasingly moving from low-lying ice to higher, more permanent ice shelves as climate change changes their environment, according to National Geographic. Source: Ami Vitale by National GeographicIn January, scientists at the BioRescue project transferred a southern white rhino embryo into a southern white rhino female. Only two are left, according to National Geographic. The cover of National Geographic's "Pictures of the Year" issue, dated December 2024, shows researchers in Gabon's Bongolo Cave.

Persons: Bertie Gregory, penguins, Ingo Arndt, Arndt, Ami Vitale, Concan, Babak Tafreshi, Jason Gulley, Gulley, I've, Davide Monteleone, Synhelion, Peter Fisher, he's, Fisher, Robbie Organizations: Geographic, Pictures, National, National Geographic, Germany's University of Konstanz, Taurus, CNBC Travel, Fanning, CNBC Locations: Antarctica, Konstanz, Germany, Kenya, Texas Texas, Texas, Fanning Springs, Park, Florida, Suwannee, Swiss, Antigua, Guatemala

☆ Japanese operator of 7-Eleven rejects merger offer worth billions from Circle K owner
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-06 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —The operator of 7-Eleven has rejected an opening offer from the owner of convenience store rival Circle K, indicating the bid was too low and that its global business was worth more. In a statement Friday, Tokyo-based Seven & I Holdings, which owns 7-Eleven, said it was “open” to “sincerely consider” any proposal that is in the best interests of its shareholders. The Financial Times reported on Thursday that Seven & I was open to the possibility of a higher offer from its suitor. Shares in Seven & I have rallied since the news of the offer broke last month, pushing its market value above $38 billion. Although 7-Eleven traces its origins to Dallas, Texas, it was the late Japanese entrepreneur Masatoshi Ito who is credited with turning it into a ubiquitous global brand.

Persons: “, Alimentation, Masatoshi Ito, Ito Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Holdings, Reuters, The Financial Times, Analysts, Speedway, Marathon Petroleum Locations: Hong Kong, Tokyo, Japan, North America, Europe, United States, Dallas , Texas

☆ Ukraine: Germany to halve military aid despite possible Trump White House
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Reuters —Germany plans to halve its military aid to Ukraine next year, despite concerns that US support for Kyiv could potentially diminish if Republican candidate Donald Trump returns to the White House. German aid to Ukraine will be cut to €4 billion ($4.35 billion) in 2025 from around €8 billion in 2024, according to a draft of the 2025 budget seen by Reuters. Germany has faced criticism for repeatedly missing a NATO target of spending 2% of its economic output on defense. Days after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a “Zeitenwende” – German for historic turning point - with a €100 billion special fund to bring the military up to speed. The defense budget is set to receive a meagre €1.3 billion more than in 2024, far below the €6.7 billion requested by Pistorius.

Persons: Donald Trump, Christian Lindner, Trump, JD Vance, Olaf Scholz, Kay Nietfeld, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Boris Pistorius, Pistorius . Scholz, Zelensky, John MacDougall, “, ”, Ingo Gaedechens Organizations: Reuters, House, Group, German, Washington, Ukraine, Trump, NATO, Social Democrats, Greens, Defense, Getty, CDU Locations: Germany, Ukraine, €, Europe, United States, Russia, Irpin, Kyiv, Berlin

☆ Ad giant Omnicom lifts the lid on its new generative AI platform ArtBotAI, which it says improves ad performance by 40%
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The execs leading ArtBotAI said it differs from other ad agency holding groups' AI offerings because it builds on the ArtBot content automation tool its Critical Mass agency originally launched in 2022. "It's not just a generative AI tool, it's an automation tool that has been operationalized with large accounts at scale." Related storiesArtBotAI's generative AI functionality is driven by Omnicom's large language models, which it has created through partnerships with companies including Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, Getty, Adobe, and Amazon. KAITLIN MOERMANOmnicom said clients using ArtBotAI have, on average, achieved 40% increases in ad engagements like clicks and video views since they began using the platform. Omnicom stated in its February financial filings that its use of generative AI presents risks like ethical considerations, a negative impact on the public perception of the company, and the need to comply with various regulations.

Persons: —, ArtBotAI, ArtBot, Paolo Yuvienco, It's, Artbot, Yuvienco, Valerie Vargas, Alissa Hansen, KAITLIN MOERMAN Omnicom, Omnicom, Hansen, Ingo Duckerschein, Duckerschein Organizations: Service, Business, Apple, Unilever, Pfizer, Volkswagen, Omni, Omni Assist, Microsoft, Google, Getty, Adobe, Advertising, United Talent Agency, Agency, WPP, Intuit, Taboola Locations: North America

☆ Consumers are becoming 'channel-agnostic,' Adyen co-CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailConsumers are becoming 'channel-agnostic,' Adyen co-CEO saysIngo Uytdehaage, co-CEO of the Dutch payment company, says "one moment in time they want to buy online, the next moment they want to buy in store."

Persons: Ingo Uytdehaage Organizations: Consumers

☆ Leaked audio obtained by Russian spies reveals Germany considered giving Ukraine missiles to destroy key Crimean bridge: WSJ
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The officials were discussing plans to send Ukraine missiles that could destroy the Crimean bridge. AdvertisementLeaked audio obtained by Russian spies and later broadcast by the Russian state-controlled news network RT on Friday shows that top German officials were discussing plans to possibly send Ukraine long-range missiles that can take out the key Crimean bridge. Senior German officials confirmed the authenticity of the audio to The Wall Street Journal. The leaked audio does not confirm that Germany was definitively going to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine. "We demand explanations from Germany," Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, told TASS, the Russian state news agency.

Persons: —, Ingo Gerhartz, it's, Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Gerhartz, Maria Zakharova Organizations: Ukraine, Service, Senior, Wall Street, The, Associated Press, Taurus, Russia —, Russian Foreign, TASS Locations: Germany, Russian, Ukraine, Kerch, European

Berlin's Zoo Is Mourning Ingo the Flamingo, Who Died at What's Believed to Be the Age of 75The Berlin Zoo is mourning Ingo the Flamingo, its oldest resident, who died at what is thought to be 75 years of age

Persons: Ingo, Flamingo Locations: Berlin's

☆ Germany will own NATO's 2nd largest helicopter fleet after Chinook purchase, air force chief says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] A Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter is seen at the ILA Air Show in Berlin, Germany, April 25, 2018. REUTERS/Axel SchmidtBERLIN, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Germany will own NATO's second largest helicopter fleet with the 60 Chinooks it announced it was buying last month, German Air Force Chief Ingo Gerhartz was quoted as saying on Friday. "We will be the second largest helicopter nation in NATO after the U.S.," Gerhartz was quoted as saying by RND media network. Almost 50 Chinook helicopters would be stationed at the Holzdorf/Schoenewalde site in eastern Germany, where 1,000 additional soldiers will be also stationed, Gerhartz added. "The Schoenewalde site will play a unique key role for the Air Force, the entire Bundeswehr and Germany's security," he said.

Persons: Axel Schmidt BERLIN, Ingo Gerhartz, Gerhartz, Riham, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Boeing, ILA, REUTERS, German Air Force, Reuters, NATO, Air Force, Bundeswehr, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, U.S

☆ NATO 'Air Defender 2023': Hundreds of warplanes fly over Germany in alliance's largest-ever aerial drills
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

An F-16 fighter airplane takes off from the Schleswig-Jagel Air Base in Jagel, Germany, on June 12 during the Air Defender 2023 exercise. “Air Defender is necessary because we live in a more dangerous world. Two US Air Force A10 fighter jets taxi onto the runway ahead of Air Defender 2023. Peter Layton, a fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute and former Royal Australian Air Force officer, said Air Defender 2023 should give Russian military planners a lot to think about. Similar planes are taking part in Air Defender 2023.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Oleksandr Vilkul, Andriy Dubchak, Gregor Fischer, Oana Lungescu, “, Putin, Amy Gutmann, Ingo Gerhartz, CNN’s Nic Robertson, Formidable ‘ hodge, Karl, Josef Hildenbrand, ”, Brynn Tannehill, it’s, Adam Casey, Tannehill, Peter Layton, Harald Tittel, ” Layton, ” Tannehill Organizations: CNN, NATO, Air, Russian, Russia, Operational Command, Alliance, Atlantic Treaty Organization, Jagel, Base, AP NATO, “, ” United, Russia –, Latvia –, German Tornadoes, US Air Force, RAND Corp, US Navy, Aviators, Griffith Asia Institute, Royal Australian Air Force, US, Air National Guard, National Guard, Air Force Locations: Germany, German, Moscow, Ukrainian, Kryvyi, Black, Odesa, Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, Russia, Soviet Union, Schleswig, Jagel, ” United States, Russia – Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Japan, US, Finnish, Spangdahlem, NATO

☆ Facing its 'biggest security crisis' in years, NATO has kicked off its largest ever air drill with hundreds of aircraft to send a 'clear message'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

NATO's biggest ever air exercise is happening in Germany. Around 10,000 personnel and 250 aircraft, including about 100 from the US, are in Germany for the alliance's two-week Air Defender exercise. "Air Defender sends a clear message that NATO is ready to defend every inch of Allied territory," said NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu in a statement Monday. "Air Defender is necessary because we live in a more dangerous world" and the NATO alliance is facing "the biggest security crisis in a generation." As for the NATO air exercise, the drill will focus on protecting NATO cities and critical infrastructure, which Russia has attacked repeatedly throughout the war in Ukraine, from aircraft, drones, and missile attacks.

Persons: isn't, Putin, —, Oana, Amy Gutmann, Nathan, Ingo Gerhartz Organizations: NATO's, Service, NATO, Air, Air Force, Thunderbolt, 127th Wing, Michigan National Guard, Jagel Air Base, Air National Guard, Nathan Wingate German Air Force, The New York Times Locations: Germany, Ukraine, Japan, Crimea, Russia, Russian, Ukrainian, Ukraine's

☆ NATO Nations Kick Off Giant Air Force Drills
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Lara Jakes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The exercise, known as Air Defender, is led by the German government and brings together the largest number of aircraft from outside Germany for a training mission since NATO was founded in 1949. The United States flew about 100 National Guard and Navy aircraft to Germany for the exercises. Pilots will conduct other missions with fighter jets, the show horses of the sky, at five other bases across Germany. Air Force Gen. Ingo Gerhartz of Germany, who is overseeing Air Defender, said it was not “directed at anyone,” and emphasized that no offensive scenarios would be practiced. “We are a defense alliance, and so this exercise will be of a defensive nature,” General Gerhartz told reporters in Berlin.

Persons: Ingo Gerhartz, General Gerhartz, Gerhartz, Putin, “ Organizations: Air, NATO, United States, National Guard and Navy, Pilots, Air Force Locations: Germany, Wunstorf, Ukraine, United States, Russia, Berlin, Crimea, Ukrainian, Moscow

☆ A Message for Russia as NATO Members Stage Major Air Exercise
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Lara Jakes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The largest military air exercises in Europe since the end of the Cold War began in Germany on Monday, as fighter jets, bombers and cargo planes took to the air in a pointed demonstration to Russia of how NATO would respond if attacked. The war games have been long in the works, but took on added urgency after the invasion of Ukraine, which alarmed NATO members that lie in the shadow of Russia and jolted the military alliance into reinventing itself after years of torpor. “Air power is the first response in a crisis,” Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz, chief of the German Air Force, said in an interview at the close of Monday’s exercises — the first of 12 days unfolding at six bases across the country. They include its newest member, Finland, and Sweden, which is seeking admission. Japan attended as an observer.

Persons: Ingo Gerhartz Organizations: NATO, German Air Force, Japan Locations: Europe, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Finland, Sweden

[1/3] Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG and Dr. Ing. He did not mention the company's Xinjiang plant in China, a joint venture with SAIC Motor (600104.SS), which has become a sore point for human rights activists as well as some shareholders, including top-20 investors Deka Investment and Union Investment. "Volkswagen must be certain that its supply chains are clean," said Ingo Speich, head of sustainability and corporate governance at Deka. Volkswagen's China chief visited the plant in Xinjiang earlier this year and said he saw no evidence of forced labour. Shareholders flagged rising competition from Chinese EV competitors in China, with BYD (002594.SZ) outselling Volkswagen as the top passenger car brand earlier this year.

☆ Chinese competition, Xinjiang plant loom large for Volkswagen investors at AGM
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, May 10 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) investors will demand answers from the carmakers' executives at its annual general meeting on Wednesday on its competitiveness in China and its contested plant in Xinjiang, advance copies of their speeches showed. "Volkswagen must be certain that its supply chains are clean," said Ingo Speich, head of sustainability and corporate governance at Deka. Volkswagen's China chief visited the plant in Xinjiang, jointly owned with SAIC (600104.SS) earlier this year and said he saw no evidence of forced labour. Shareholders will also flag the rising competition from Chinese electric vehicle competitors in China, with BYD outselling the Volkswagen brand to be the bestselling passenger car brand earlier this year. Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, Jan Schwartz; Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Volkswagen defends China record at turbulent shareholder meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Volkswagen defended its record in China and its decision to jointly own a plant in the Xinjiang region after activists and investors lashed out at the carmaker at a volatile annual general shareholder meeting on Wednesday. The United Nations said last year that China's "arbitrary and discriminatory detention" of Uyghurs and other Muslims in its Xinjiang region may constitute crimes against humanity. Rights groups have documented abuses including mass forced labour in detention camps which China has denied. Investors called on Volkswagen to request its joint venture partner SAIC seeks an independent external audit of the Xinjiang plant. "Volkswagen must be certain that its supply chains are clean," said Ingo Speich, head of sustainability and corporate governance at Deka, a top-20 Volkswagen shareholder.

☆ Volkswagen sees no sign of forced labor at its plant in Xinjiang
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Volkswagen faced a barrage of criticism from campaigners Tuesday after the head of its Chinese business said he saw no sign of forced labor during a visit to the carmaker’s plant in Xinjiang. Activists and an international group of lawmakers said verifying labor standards in the region was impossible. Rights groups have documented human rights abuses in Xinjiang since the 2000s, including mass forced labor in detention camps which the United Nations said could constitute crimes against humanity. Brandstaetter said he saw no signs of forced labor and that workers’ comments matched the reports Volkswagen had received from SAIC about the plant. Reputational riskVolkswagen says it has never found evidence of forced labor among its Xinjiang workforce and its presence is positive for the local population.

Lawrence Elbaum, co-head of law firm Vinson & Elkins' shareholder activism practice, said investors were looking for value-boosting strategies that do not require much funding in a difficult market. Deka Investment, which has around 367 billion euros ($392 billion) in assets under management and holds stakes in most major German corporations, has repeatedly called out German companies for structural weaknesses. Germany's blue-chip DAX 30 index (.GDAXI) put in the worst performance of any major European stock market in the past year, rising just 2%. Joe Kaeser, supervisory board chairman of Siemens Energy (ENR1n.DE), said the United States was much more advanced, and also more successful, in the field of shareholder activism. As CEO of conglomerate Siemens AG from 2013 until 2021, he engineered one of Germany's most successful corporate break-ups, separately listing Siemens Energy and Siemens Healthineers (SHLG.DE) and merging Siemens's wind unit with Spain's Gamesa.

☆ Bayer picks outsider Anderson as CEO after investor pressure
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

News of the CEO change sent the German drugs-to-pesticides giant's shares to their highest level in nearly eight months. Shares in Bayer closed up 6% on the news of the new CEO, reaching the top of Frankfurt's blue-chip index and hitting their highest level since June last year. "Bill Anderson's mission is clear: enable Bayer to realize its full potential and create sustainable value for our shareholders, farmers, patients, consumers, employees, and all stakeholders of the company," Winkeljohann added. Sources told Reuters earlier this week that activist investor Jeff Ubben had contacted fellow investors to drum up support for big changes at Bayer, including the swift replacement of Baumann. Reporting by Patricia Weiss, Kirsti Knolle and Christoph Steitz; Editing by Tom Sims and Alexander SmithOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Thyssenkrupp top-20 investor calls for sale of defense division
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FRANKFURT, Feb 3 (Reuters) - A top-20 investor of Thyssenkrupp (TKAG.DE) on Friday called for a fast disposal of the German industrial group's warship and submarine division, saying the risks associated with the business outweighed potential benefits. "We demand the immediate sale of all defense activities. According to Refinitiv Eikon data, Deka holds 0.45% of Thyssenkrupp shares, making it the company's 12th-biggest shareholder. Thyssenkrupp is weighing what it calls a standalone solution for its defense division, Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), which potentially covers partnerships, joint ventures or any other form of consolidation. "Even a partial sale would be a step in the right direction," Speich said in a speech embargoed for the start of Thyssenkrupp's annual general meeting.

FRANKFURT, Jan 31 (Reuters) - A top-10 shareholder of Bayer (BAYGn.DE) on Tuesday called on the group's supervisory board head to replace chief executive Werner Baumann quickly, adding to investor pressure to restore trust and revive the German drugmaker's sagging share price. But shareholders have also cited a lack of market trust in its top management as a growing burden. "When it comes to CEO succession we say: the sooner the better," Markus Manns, a portfolio manager at Union Investment, one of Bayer's 10 biggest shareholders, told Reuters. Union Investment's Manns cautioned that the non-executive supervisory board may need time to find a qualified candidate. A Bayer spokesperson said the company was always open to a constructive dialogue with shareholders and declined to comment further.

☆ Bayer investor calls for swift replacement of CEO -newspaper
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FRANKFURT, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Bayer (BAYGn.DE) investor Deka has called for CEO Werner Baumann to be replaced ahead of his scheduled departure, adding to mounting pressure on the German drugmaker. "There is a window of opportunity for Chairman Norbert Winkeljohann to act before the annual general meeting at the end of April. He has to seize that opportunity, otherwise the pressure on him will increase as well," Speich added. "Generally speaking we are always open to a constructive dialogue with our stakeholders," a Bayer spokesperson said, declining to comment specifically on the interview. Another activist investment fund, hedge fund veteran Jeffrey Ubben's Inclusive Capital Partners, said this month it had also acquired a stake in Bayer.

☆ This global ETF is the only fund that's posted gains every year for the past decade
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An ETF tracking Canadian consumer stocks is the only major fund to have had a positive return every year over the past decade, data shows. The Canadian-dollar-based fund beat the SPDR S & P 500 ETF (SPY) by 59 percentage points in total returns over the past decade. It also outperformed the Canada-focussed iShares Core S & P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF (XIC) by about 125 percentage points over the same period. The Canadian consumer staples ETF has risen by 2% this year to 85.9 Canadian dollars ($64.15) a share. Unlike the larger index funds, the iShares S & P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF includes just 11 stocks, with a significant weighting toward the food retail and packaged foods sectors.

☆ Germany Is Short of Workers, but Its Migrants Are Struggling to Find Jobs
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Tom Fairless | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A temporary refugee shelter at the former Tegel airport in Berlin, where some Ukrainians are fleeing to escape Russian attacks on their country. KASSEL, Germany—In 2016, as Middle Eastern refugees fled to Germany in their hundreds of thousands, Ingo Neupert decided to help. A professor of social work, he started a training program in western Germany for 25 young refugees to become nurses and medical assistants.

☆ Adyen shares its growth strategy
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAdyen shares its growth strategyIngo Uytdehaage of the Dutch payment company explains why it's in a "lucky position" and is hiring more workers.

☆ Investors mixed as Porsche seeks price tag of up to $75 billion
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Victoria Waldersee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Volkswagen said on Sunday it was aiming for a valuation of 70 billion-75 billion euros ($70-75 billion) for Porsche AG, slightly below some estimates of up to 85 billion euros, but far outstripping the 49-billion-euro price tag for rival BMW (BMWG.DE) and Mercedes-Benz's (MBGn.DE) 61 billion euros. "It is fundamentally right that Porsche AG becomes more independent - but this is not an independent set-up." Volkswagen's valuation for Porsche AG is close to its own market capitalisation of 88 billion euros. Analysts have compared Porsche AG stock to Ferrari, which has a market capitalisation of 38 billion euros but an operating margin of 24% to Porsche's 17-18%. Total proceeds from the sale will be 18.1-19.5 billion euros and could help Volkswagen fund its electrification drive.

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