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☆ Ademola Lookman scores stunning hat-trick as Atalanta wins Europa League title to end Bayer Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten run
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Bayer Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt on Wednesday as Atalanta ran riot in the Europa League final, winning 3-0 to lift just the second major trophy in the club’s 116-year history. We did it!” Lookman told TNT Sports after the game. Most of the talk going into Wednesday’s final had been about Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable season and its record-breaking 51-game unbeaten run. Leverkusen's incredible unbeaten run finally came to an end. “The unbeaten run has come to an end, but congratulations to Atalanta.

Persons: CNN —, Atalanta, Lookman, “, ” Lookman, I’m, ”, Paul Childs, Reuters “ I’m, “ We’re, Gian Piero Gasperini, Bayer, Xabi, Andrew Boyers, ” Alonso, Alonso Organizations: CNN, CNN — Bayer, Atalanta, Europa League, Charlton Athletic, Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham, Leicester City, TNT Sports, Lookman, Coppa Italia, Africa, Nations, Reuters, BBC, Bayer Leverkusen’s, Bundesliga, Leverkusen, Kaiserslautern Locations: Dublin, Ireland, London, Bergamo, Italy, Nigeria, Lookman, Leicester, England

☆ Bayer Leverkusen: Xabi Alonso hails ‘exceptional’ unbeaten season
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Bayer Leverkusen completed the most dominant Bundesliga season in history with a 2-1 victory over Augsberg on Saturday, becoming the first champion to lift the trophy without suffering a defeat all campaign. So successful has the team been this season that it has earned the club a new and improved nickname. “It is an exceptional season, not only in Germany but in Europe,” manager Xabi Alonso told reporters, per Reuters. The first Bundesliga title but a big Bundesliga title victory.”However, despite the unprecedented success, Alonso will have little time to bask in the glory of his first major trophy as a manager. It is a special day to have the league trophy here and having done it undefeated.

Persons: CNN — Bayer, ’, Xabi Alonso, “, Alonso, Wolfgang Rattay, Reuters “, ” Alonso, ” Organizations: CNN, CNN — Bayer Leverkusen, Augsberg, Leverkusen, Benfica, Reuters, Bundesliga, German, Kaiserslautern, Atalanta, Europa League, Bayern Munich, Champions League, European football’s Locations: Germany, Europe

☆ Bayer Leverkusen produces astonishing comeback to go 49 games unbeaten and reach Europa League final
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Homero De La Fuente | George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable season took another extraordinary turn on Thursday as a late 2-2 draw against AS Roma stretched the club’s unbeaten run to 49 games. The 4-2 aggregate victory saw Leverkusen reach a first European final in 22 years, while Josip Stanišić’s 97th-minute strike ensured that the recently-crowned German champion remains undefeated this season. It means that Leverkusen has now surpassed Portuguese team Benfica’s record from 1963-65 for the longest unbeaten run across all top-level matches since the introduction of European competitions, according to UEFA. “It says a lot about the team, the conviction that we have and it’s great to finally reach the final. According to UEFA, Scottish side Celtic’s unbeaten run of 62 games between 1915 and 1917 is the outright record for a European club, although that only included domestic league matches.

Persons: CNN — Bayer, Josip Stanišić’s, Leandro Paredes, Gianluca Mancini’s, Stanišić, Ina Fassbender, “, Xabi Alonso, ”, Chris Brunskill, Granit Xhaka Organizations: CNN, AS Roma, Leverkusen, UEFA, Roma, Getty, Bundesliga, ” Leverkusen, Atalanta, Europa League, Atlanta, FC Kaiserslautern, VfL Bochum, Scottish, Bochum Locations: AFP, Dublin, Ireland, European, Augsburg

☆ Bayer Leverkusen: German club equals 59-year-old record as unbeaten season continues
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —German team Bayer Leverkusen extended its miraculous unbeaten run to 48 games on Sunday after thrashing Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in the Bundesliga. The win means that Leverkusen has now equaled the record for the longest unbeaten run across all top-level matches since the introduction of European competition, according to UEFA. Leverkusen will have the chance to break the record on Thursday when it plays Roma in the second leg of its Europa League semifinal. The all-time mark of 62 games unbeaten was set by Scottish club Celtic from 1915-1917, however, those matches were all in the domestic league. The next game is important for us, the second leg of the Europa League semifinal: a chance to reach the final.

Persons: Granit Xhaka, Patrik Schick, Exequiel Palacios, Jeremie Frimpong, Victor Okoh Boniface –, Roma, ”, Xabi Alonso, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Alonso, ” Alonso, “ Organizations: CNN, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bundesliga, Leverkusen, Frankfurt’s Deutsche Bank, UEFA, Benfica, Europa League, Celtic, Bayern, Spain, VfL Bochum, FC Kaiserslautern, Roma, “ Locations: Scottish, AFP, Augsburg

☆ Real Madrid earns crucial draw against Bayern Munich in Champions League semifinal
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“We didn’t see the best Real Madrid today,” he told reporters after the game. “Let’s hope we see it in the second leg. Bayern, cheered by the ever-passionate Allianz Arena, roared back in the second half and equalized through a moment of solo brilliance from Sané in the 53rd minute. Alex Pantling/Getty ImagesWhile Madrid will be happy with the result, there were concerns over star player Jude Bellingham who came off in the second half. “We caused Real a lot of problems, especially in the second half.

Persons: Carlo Ancelotti, Blancos, Ancelotti, ”, “ It’s, Vinícius Jr, ’, Bayern’s Leroy Sané, Harry Kane, Vinícius, “, ” Harry Kane, Angelika Warmuth, Toni Kroos, Kim Min, jae, Kroos, Andriy Lunin, Jamal Musiala, clumsily, Lucas Vázquez, Dani Carvajal, Kane, Kim, Madrid’s, Alex Pantling, Jude Bellingham, He’ll, hasn’t, he’ll, ” Kane, Germain Organizations: CNN — Real Madrid, Champions League, Bayern Munich, Bayern, Allianz Arena, Madrid, ”, Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint, Wembley Locations: Santiago, Germany, Spain, Real Madrid, Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris

☆ Arne Slot to Liverpool: Compensation deal agreed for Feyenoord boss to be Jurgen Klopp's successor
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Melissa Reddy | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Head coach Arne Slot of Feyenoord looks on after the Dutch Eredivisie match between Go Ahead Eagles and Feyenoord at De Adelaarshorst on April 25, 2024 in Deventer, Netherlands. Liverpool and Feyenoord have reached an agreement in principle over a compensation package for Arne Slot to become Jurgen Klopp's successor. The compensation package is £7.7m, plus £1.7m in add-ons. Sporting coach Ruben Amorim had made Liverpool's shortlist, and despite the external noise over him, the club always maintained he was not the leading or preferred option. Suggestions that financial reasons were behind Amorim not being the frontrunner for the Anfield job has been termed fiction.

Persons: Arne Slot, Arne, Jurgen Klopp's, Xabi Alonso, Ruben Amorim, Amorim Organizations: Feyenoord, Dutch, Go Ahead Eagles, De, Liverpool, Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting, Anfield Locations: De Adelaarshorst, Deventer , Netherlands, West Ham

☆ Mohamed Salah: Jürgen Klopp defends Liverpool star after Europa League exit
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp said he was “disappointed” to see his side knocked out of the Europa League quarterfinals against Atlanta on Thursday, but insisted talisman Mohamed Salah was not to blame. Elsewhere on Thursday, fellow Premier League side West Ham crashed out of the Europa League quarterfinals after losing 3-1 on aggregate to Bayer Leverkusen. English Premier League title raceWith such disappointment in Europe for English clubs, all attention now turns back to the Premier League title race. Klopp, hoping to leave Liverpool with the perfect present of a league title, said his side can now fully focus on the remainder of the campaign. It faces Fulham in its next league game on Sunday.

Persons: Jürgen Klopp, ”, Mohamed Salah, Liverpool couldn’t, Salah, Juan Musso, ” Klopp, “ It’s, Mo, didn’t, that’s, Guglielmo Mangiapane, Klopp, “, Atalanta Organizations: CNN, Liverpool, Europa League, Atlanta, English Premier League, Atalanta, Africa, of Nations, Reuters, Anfield, Premier League, West, Bayer Leverkusen, Arsenal, Manchester City, Champions League, Sunday, Fulham Locations: Italy, Dublin, Ireland, Liverpool, West Ham, Europe, London

☆ Bayer Leverkusen: Record 44-game unbeaten run brings to an end 31 years of hurt and ridicule
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

However, if you were a fan of German soccer club Bayer Leverkusen, little changed for you over those 31 years – there was just a lot of disappointment. Since winning the German Cup in 1993, Leverkusen relentlessly explored increasingly agonizing ways of spurning chances to win trophies. The current season has already reaped rewards in the form of the Bundesliga title, with potential domestic and European competition success transforming this into a season for the ages. Everybody was on the pitch this evening, everybody was crying.”After years being the butt of the joke, Leverkusen fans could finally spin the narrative. Leverkusen fans celebrated en masse on the pitch after winning the German league title.

Persons: ’, David Letterman ’, Xabi, Alonso, Mike Hewitt, ”, Schwarzroten, ‘ You’ll, Olaf Schmidt –, –, midfifelder, Jeremie Frimpong, Xabi Alonso, Lars Baron, Florian Wirtz’s wizardry, Deutscher Meister ’, ” Schmidt, ‘, Schmidt, Andreas Rentz, ” Uwe Schewiola Organizations: CNN, Chicago Bulls, NBA, The Bulls, Bayer Leverkusen, Basque, Bundesliga, Europa League, West Ham United, Getty, Real Madrid, ’, Olaf Schmidt – Leverkusen, CNN Sport, Bayern, Spain, Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Bayer, Werder Bremen, Black, Reds, FC Kaiserslautern Locations: German, Europe, Real, London, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Germany, England, Spain, Italy, Tolosa, West Ham

☆ A Perpetual Bridesmaid Gets the Crown, and Germany (Mostly) Likes the Look
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Rory Smith | Christopher F. Schuetze | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Executives at Bayer Leverkusen, the longstanding but habitually middleweight German soccer team, have been fielding the messages since at least February. Some were delivered in person, a quiet blessing after yet another victory. Others came via WhatsApp, unsolicited and unexpected notes from peers and acquaintances and, to their occasional surprise, traditional foes. But as the German league season gathered pace, plenty wanted to laud Leverkusen’s impending achievement: It was, with each victory, getting closer and closer to being crowned national champion for the first time. Leverkusen will, this weekend, surge over the line and end a run of Bayern championships that stretches back more than a decade.

Persons: laud Leverkusen’s Organizations: Bayer Leverkusen, Soccer, Rivals, Bayern Munich, Bayern, Werder Bremen Locations: German

☆ Coaches Have to Be Salesmen, Too
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Rory Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

West Ham, in the end, could not quite withstand the barrage. Bayer Leverkusen’s first goal — a Jonas Hofmann shot that picked its way through a thronged penalty area — broke its resistance. The club’s Europa League adventure will likely extend no further than the quarterfinals. Xabi Alonso, its estimable young coach, remains on course to claim a treble — league, cup, Europa League — in his first full season. West Ham is starting to feel at home on the continent: It reached the Europa League semifinals in 2022, losing out to Eintracht Frankfurt, and then beat Fiorentina to claim the Europa Conference League trophy in 2023.

Persons: Bayer Leverkusen’s, Jonas Hofmann, Victor Boniface, Xabi Alonso Organizations: Europa League, Leverkusen, League —, Premier League, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Manchester United, Eintracht Frankfurt, Fiorentina, Europa Conference League Locations: West Ham, Europe

☆ Harry Kane: ‘He was happy to be here’: Bayern Munich striker returns to the Emirates to haunt Arsenal once again
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Some Arsenal fans might have been forgiven for waking up in a cold sweat in the nights leading up to Tuesday’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Bayern Munich. The 30-year-old became the fastest player to score 20 Bundesliga goals, reaching the landmark in just 14 matches, well ahead of Uwe Seeler’s previous record of 21. He also has four hat-tricks to his name, something no player had previously achieved in their first Bundesliga season. Arsenal fans thought Kane should have been shown a red card in the second half. With Bayern fans banned from the match due as punishment for throwing flares onto the pitch during their side’s win against Lazio in the previous round, you could hear a pin drop inside the Emirates.

Persons: Harry Kane, Kane, Uwe Seeler’s, Seeler, Robert Lewandowski’s, David Klein, Thomas Tuchel, Xabi Alonso’s Bayer, Kane’s, “, ” Tuchel, Eric Dier, Adrian Dennis, Tuchel, haven’t, ”, Serge Gnaby, Leroy Sané, David Raya, Leandro Trossard’s, Gabriel, William Saliba, Kieran Cleeves, It’s, Kingsley, Frenchman, ” Kane Organizations: CNN, Arsenal, Tuesday’s Champions League, Bayern Munich, Gunners, Tottenham Hotspur, Bundesliga, Reuters Bayern, Bayern, Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, FC Saarbrücken, League, “ Arsenal, Spurs, Champions League, Getty, “, Emirates, Lazio, Tottenham, TNT Sports Locations: England, London, Germany, Europe, AFP, Munich

☆ Bayer Leverkusen takes huge step towards ending Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga dominance
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Bayer Leverkusen took an almighty step towards winning its first Bundesliga title after producing a stunning comeback victory on Saturday, before title rival Bayern Munich lost during an eventful day in the German top-flight. Leverkusen scored two late goals to beat Hoffenheim 2-1 and maintain its unbeaten record in the league. Later that day, Bayern Munich produced a disappointing display in a 2-0 loss to fierce rival Borussia Dortmund. However, as it has done on many occasions this season, Leverkusen struck late and equalized in the 88th minute through Robert Andrich. Bayern Munich now sits 13 points off the top of the table, with seven games remaining.

Persons: CNN — Bayer, Thomas Tuchel, ”, ” Patrik Schick, Lars Baron, Xabi, Maximilian Beier, Robert Andrich, Patrik Schick, ” Alonso, Alonso, Matthias Schrader, Tuchel, Harry Kane, “, Joshua Kimmich, We’re Organizations: CNN, CNN — Bayer Leverkusen, Bundesliga, Bayern Munich, Leverkusen, Hoffenheim, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern, Reuters, Xabi Alonso’s, Star, Dortmund, Champions League, Arsenal, ” Bayern Locations: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Munich

☆ Xabi Alonso becomes Europe’s most wanted coach as Bayer Leverkusen runs away with Bundesliga
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Xabi Alonso was appointed the club’s head coach in October 2022, with Leverkusen languishing near the bottom of the German table. Prior to being appointed Leverkusen’s manager, Alonso had coached Real Madrid’s Under-14 team and Real Sociedad’s B team. We have seen in the past what else can happen,” Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tag told Dazn after the victory over Köln. There are 10 games remaining in the Bundesliga season and Leverkusen is the strong favorite to win its first ever league title. And with Leverkusen in semifinals of the domestic cup and the round-of-16 stage of the Europa League, Alonso could cap off a memorable second season in first-team management with a hat-trick of trophies.

Persons: ’, Michael Ballack, Oliver Neuville, Dimitar Berbatov, Zé Roberto, Zidane’s, Xabi Alonso, Alonso, Ina Fassbender, –, Jeremie Frimpong, Grimaldo –, Grimaldo, Frimpong, John Muller, “, ”, Jonathan Tag, Köln, Wolfgang Rattay, Thomas Tuchel’s Organizations: CNN, Bayer Leverkusen, Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund, Champions League, Real Madrid, Leverkusen, Spain, Bayern Munich, English Premier League, Köln, Getty, Real Sociedad, Liverpool, Merseyside, League, Spanish national team, Real Madrid’s, Real, Benfica, The, Bayern, Europa League Locations: Liverpool, AFP, Istanbul, Leverkusen, Europe

☆ Thomas Tuchel to leave post as Bayern Munich head coach at end of season
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Thomas Tuchel will relinquish his post as Bayern Munich head coach at the end of the season, the club announced on Wednesday. Tuchel, who was hired as head coach of the German powerhouse in March 2023, will leave a year earlier than his original contract end date of June 2025. The Bavarians also lost 1-0 to Italian club Lazio in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash. “Our goal is to pursue a new footballing direction with a new head coach for the 2024/25 season. Tuchel’s departure at the end of the season comes amid widespread speculation that Bayern are potentially interested in Leverkusen’s highly-rated coach Xabi Alonso.

Persons: CNN — Thomas Tuchel, Tuchel, Bayer, Jan, Christian Dreesen, “, ” Dreesen, ” Tuchel, previsouly, Germain, Julian Nagelsmann, Alexandra Beier, Harry Kane, Kane, Tuchel’s, Xabi Alonso, Alonso, Jürgen Klopp Organizations: CNN, Bayern Munich, Bayern, Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen, Lazio, Champions League, ” Bayern, Allianz, Chelsea, Paris Saint, Borussia Dortmund, Getty, Tuchel’s Bayern, England, Tottenham Hotspur, Leverkusen, League, Bochum, Liverpool, English Premier League Locations: Paris, Tuchel, AFP

☆ Dayot Upamecano: Bayern Munich condemns racial abuse sent to defender after Champions League defeat
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Bayern Munich has “strongly condemn[ed]” racist abuse directed at defender Dayot Upamecano following the team’s Champions League defeat against Lazio. That proved to be the decisive moment in the game as the Italian side went on to win 1-0. After the match, racist comments were left on the 25-year-old Upamecano’s Instagram page, including verbal abuse and monkey and gorilla emojis. We’re all behind you, Upa!”Upamecano hasn’t yet commented publicly on the racist comments. Bayern had 17 shots against Lazio but failed to get one on target, falling to a second defeat in five days after losing 3-0 against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.

Persons: Dayot Upamecano, Upamecano, Gustav Isaksen, Ciro, Dayot, “, Thomas Tuchel, Marco Rosi, ” Organizations: CNN — Bayern Munich, team’s Champions League, Lazio, Milan, “ FC Bayern, Upa, CNN, Bayern, Bayer Leverkusen, SS Lazio, ” Bayern, Champions League, Liverpool, Leverkusen, Bundesliga Locations: @acmilan, Munich

The Champions League narrative is so often about Manchester City and Real Madrid. The past two champions of Europe were the only teams to sweep through the group stage with six wins. BONUS ENTRIESEvery result in the Champions League, plus the Europa League and Europa Conference League, also counts toward UEFA’s longstanding ranking table of each country’s collective performance. Each Champions League win for Inter, Napoli and Lazio is good for all Italian clubs doing well in Serie A. And so, the 29 games left in the Champions League through the June 1 final in London have great value beyond the 16 clubs directly involved.

Persons: Erling Haaland, Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, Abu, Harry Kane’s, Kylian Mbappé, —, Madrid, ___ Organizations: Manchester City, Copenhagen, Everton, Champions League, Premier League, Liga, Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern, Bundesliga, Lazio, Paris Saint, Germain, Real Sociedad, Inter Milan, PSG, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Inter, Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, Dortmund, Napoli, Barcelona, Porto, Arsenal, UEFA, FIFA, League, Chelsea, Benfica, Atletico, Spanish, Juventus, Europa League, Europa Conference League, Serie, —, Liverpool Locations: Real Madrid, Europe, Man, Madrid, Leipzig, Girona, Abu Dhabi, Bellingham, Paris, United States, Barcelona, Italy, Germany, Spain, Manchester, London

☆ Bayern Munich vs Union Berlin: Soccer head coach sent off after twice pushing opposition player in the face
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Union Berlin’s head coach Nenad Bjelica was sent off for twice pushing Bayern Munich forward Leroy Sané in the face during a feisty Bundesliga encounter on Wednesday. As players and coaching staff rushed in to separate the pair, Bjelica again put his hand in Sané’s face. On the pitch, Bayern Munich was keen to hit back after losing to Werder Bremen last time out. Despite all its first-half dominance, Bayern began to creak as the game wore on and Union Berlin had a number of chances to equalize. The referee waved away the protests from Union Berlin’s players and Bayern managed to hold on for an important win.

Persons: Nenad Bjelica, Leroy Sané, Sané, Bjelica, “, ” Bjelica, Frederik Rønnow, Angelika Warmuth, Harry Kane, Raphaël Guerreiro, Kane, Union Berlin, Kevin Behrens, Konrad Laimer, Leon Goretzka Organizations: CNN — Union Berlin’s, Bayern Munich, Bayern, Werder Bremen, Reuters, Union, Union Berlin’s, ” Bayern, Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen

☆ Exclusive: Bayer holds call with bond investors after raft of bad news
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Shankar Ramakrishnan | Thomson Reuters | Shankar Ramakrishnan Has Nearly Years Of Financial Journalism Experience In Writing | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The bad news prompted some bond investors to question whether Bayer should sweeten the terms of the deal or outright pull it, one of the sources said. The drug-to-pesticides group priced the investment grade bond on Thursday last week, with the deal closing on Tuesday. Bayer priced bonds with maturities between three to 30 years. It was the 10th largest investment grade bond deal by an industrial company this year and attracted more than $22 billion in orders, according to Informa Global Markets. The events were "not enough to trigger a material adverse change clause in bond documents for investors to ask to be paid back," said CreditSights' Brady.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Bayer, Andrew Brady, CreditSights, JP Morgan, Wells, Brady, Shankar Ramakrishnan, Ludwig Burger, Mike Erman, Paritosh Bansal, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Bayer AG, REUTERS, Bayer, Nomura Holdings, Informa Global Markets, Citigroup, Nikko Securities America, RIC, Thomson Locations: Leverkusen, Germany, Seattle

☆ Monsanto hit with $165 million verdict over PCBs in Seattle school
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Clark Mindock | Companies Need To Integrate Climate Reporting Across Functions To Comply With California S New Law | Henry Engler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 21 (Reuters) - A U.S. jury has ordered Bayer's Monsanto to pay $165 million to employees of a school northeast of Seattle who claimed chemicals made by the company called polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, leaked from light fixtures and got them sick. The award included nearly $50 million in compensatory damages, and $115 million in punitive damages. Monsanto said in a statement that it will contest Monday's verdict, and that blood, air and other tests show the school employees were not exposed to unsafe levels of PCBs. PCBs are chemicals once widely used to insulate electrical equipment and in other common products like carbon copy paper, caulking, floor finish and paint. Employees, students and others have claimed in numerous lawsuits against the company that exposure to PCBs at the Sky Valley center caused their cancers, thyroid conditions and other health problems.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Monsanto, Clark Mindock, Alexia Garamfalvi, Richard Chang Organizations: Bayer AG, REUTERS, Monsanto, Sky Valley Education, Thomson Locations: Leverkusen, Germany, U.S, Seattle, Washington, Sky, Monroe , Washington

☆ Italy reach Euro 2024 after tense 0-0 draw with Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LEVERKUSEN, Germany, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Italy qualified for Euro 2024 after drawing 0-0 against Ukraine in their final Group C qualifier on Monday although the Ukrainians can still secure a spot through the playoffs. European champions Italy finished second, level on 14 points with third-placed Ukraine but with a better head-to-head record after a tense affair that could have gone either way. The Italians ended six points behind England, who had sealed qualification after beating Italy 3-1 at Wembley in October. "Ukraine showed that they are an equipped team and they gave us a hard time," Italy coach Luciano Spalletti told Rai Sport. Defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo then nearly nodded home for Italy from a corner just before the half-hour mark before Trubin pulled off a stunning save to deny Davide Frattesi.

Persons: Bryan Cristante's, Mykhailo Mudryk, Luciano Spalletti, Rai Sport, Italy's, Anatoliy Trubin, Italy's Federico Chiesa, Donnarumma, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Trubin, Davide Frattesi, Mudryk, Roberto Mancini, Anita Kobylinska, Ken Ferris Organizations: LEVERKUSEN, Ukraine, Italy, England, Wembley, BayArena, Thomson Locations: Germany, Italy, Ukraine, Nyon ., Leverkusen, Qatar, Gdansk

☆ Bayer ordered to pay $1.56 billion in latest US trial loss over Roundup weedkiller
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Tom Hals | Thomson Reuters | Tom Hals Is An Award-Winning Reporter With Years Of Experience Working In Asia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Logo of Bayer AG is pictured at the annual results news conference of the German drugmaker in Leverkusen, Germany February 27, 2019. Each was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma that they alleged was caused by using Roundup on their family property. Bayer has said that decades of studies have shown Roundup and its active ingredient, glyphosate, are safe for human use. The verdict is the fourth straight loss in court for Bayer, after the company had been found not liable to plaintiffs in nine consecutive trials. In 2020, Bayer settled most of the then-pending Roundup cases for up to $10.9 billion.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Bayer, Valorie Gunther, Jimmy Draeger of, Daniel Anderson of, Draeger's, Brenda, Bart Rankin, Forrest Weldon, Tom Hals, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Bayer AG, REUTERS, Bayer, Monsanto, Union Investment, U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, EU Commission, European Food Agency, European Chemicals Agency, Thomson Locations: Leverkusen, Germany, Missouri, Cole County , Missouri, New York, Jimmy Draeger of Missouri, Daniel Anderson of California, Wilmington , Delaware

☆ Shakira stands trial in Spain for alleged tax fraud
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shakira poses on the red carpet during the 24th Annual Latin Grammy Awards show in Seville, Spain, November 16, 2023. The 'Hips Don't Lie' Colombian megastar, who also has a second tax fraud investigation pending with Spanish authorities, has vowed to fight what she called false accusations. She rejected a settlement offer from the prosecutor's office to close the case and is expected to testify on Monday in the first of 12 hearings scheduled until Dec. 14. The prosecutor's office is seeking an up to eight-year prison term and to claim back the taxes it says she owes. Shakira, 46, lived with former Barcelona and Spain soccer star Gerard Pique for 11 years and the couple have two children.

Persons: Shakira, Marcelo del Pozo, Gerard Pique, Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, Judge Jose Manuel del Amo Sanchez, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, Argentina's Lionel Messi, Diego Costa, Bayer, Xabi Alonso, Alonso, Emma Pinedo, Aislinn Laing, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Spanish, Bayer Leverkusen, Thomson Locations: Seville, Spain, Rights BARCELONA, Barcelona, Miami, Spanish

☆ Morocco call up Nice midfielder Diop for World Cup qualifiers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 9 (Reuters) - Former France under-21 international Sofiane Diop has accepted a first call-up from Morocco for the start of their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign this month, coach Walid Regragui confirmed on Thursday. Nice midfielder Diop, 23, was born in France but is also eligible for Morocco, who reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar and recently recruited another French youth international in Bayer Leverkusen winger Amine Adli. "He (Diop) is a player who could have chosen other countries also. Morocco are scheduled to host Eritrea next Thursday in their qualification opener and despite reports the latter could withdraw from the preliminaries, Regragui said they have received no confirmation from FIFA. The Atlas Lions will travel away to Tanzania on Nov. 21 for their second game.

Persons: Sofiane Diop, Walid Regragui, Diop, Regragui, Yassine Bounou, Munir El Kajoui, El Mehdi Benabid, Ghanem Saiss, Nayef Aguerd, Abdelkabir, Yunis, Achraf, Ayoub El, Noussair Mazraoui, Yahya Attiat Allah, Sofyan, Azzedine Ounahi, Yahya Jabrane, Ismael Saibari, Bilal El Khannouss, Amir Richardson, Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En, Tarik Tissoudali, Nick Said, Toby Davis Organizations: Bayer Leverkusen, FIFA, The Atlas Lions, Thomson Locations: France, Morocco, Qatar, Tanzania, Niger, Congo, Zambia, United States, Mexico, Canada

☆ Bayer says it is keeping strict line on settling glyphosate litigation
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The 120 metres high Bayer Cross, logo of German pharmaceutical and chemical maker Bayer AG, consisting of 1710 LED glass bulbs is seen outside the industrial park "Chempark" of the chemical industry in Leverkusen, Germany, September 23, 2023. "We have no appetite to write humongous checks," said CFO Wolfgang Nickl in a media call after the release of third-quarter results. He added that Bayer has sound legal and scientific arguments to pursue its cases and appeals in court. Last week, a California jury found Bayer liable in a case brought by a man who claimed his cancer was due to exposure to the company's glyphosate-based Roundup, the third consecutive defeat for Bayer. Before that, Bayer had won nine cases in a row.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Wolfgang Nickl, Bayer, Ludwig Burger, Miranda Murray Organizations: Bayer, Bayer AG, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Leverkusen, Germany, U.S, California

☆ Bayer examines break-up options and prepares to cut management jobs
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Ludwig Burger | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Bayer will remove multiple layers of management and coordination for a "significant reduction" in the workforce, it said. "We are redesigning Bayer to focus only on what’s essential for our mission – and getting rid of everything else," said Anderson. Analysts have said Bayer shares are trading at a massive discount to rivals in agriculture, pharmaceuticals and consumer health activities, partly weighed down by a preference among many financial investors for pure-play companies. Bayer reported third-quarter earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) and adjusted for one-off effects fell 31% to 1.685 billion euros, hit by lower earnings at its Crop Science division. Bayer added that it expects a "soft growth outlook and continued challenges" to profitability next year.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Bill Anderson, Anderson, Bayer, Werner Baumann, Ludwig Burger, Miranda Murray, David Goodman Organizations: Bayer AG, REUTERS, Rights, Bayer, Consumer, Roche, Science, Thomson Locations: Leverkusen, Germany

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