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☆ Olympics commentator dropped over sexist comments about women’s swim team
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Liam Reilly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Olympics commentator Bob Ballard was dropped from Eurosport, the European pay TV company, on Monday after the veteran sportscaster made sexist comments about the Australian women’s swim team. “We can confirm that Bob Ballard has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect,” it said in a statement Monday. Ballard, a veteran commentator who has reported on sports since the mid-’80s, has covered several Olympic games. “The comments I made during the Australian freestyle relay victory ceremony on Saturday have caused some offence. “I shall miss the Eurosport team, dearly and wish them all the best for the rest of the Olympics,” he added.

Persons: Bob Ballard, Ballard, ” Ballard, Lizzie Simmonds, Bob, ” Simmons, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Eurosport, Team Australia, Paris Aquatic, BBC Local Locations: Paris, Europe

☆ Hungary’s Orban says Russia stands to gain as ‘irrational’ West loses power
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-28 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Orban, a nationalist in power since 2010, made the comments during a speech in which he forecast a shift in global power away from the “irrational” West towards Asia and Russia. “In the next long decades, maybe centuries, Asia will be the dominant centre of the world,” Orban said, mentioning China, India, Pakistan and Indonesia as the world’s future big powers. “The EU needs to give up its identity as a political project and become an economic and defence project,” Orban added. The EU opened membership talks with Ukraine late last month, although a long and tough road lies ahead of the country before it can join the bloc. A declaration at the end of the NATO summit this month said the alliance will support Ukraine on “its irreversible path” towards membership.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Orban, ” Orban, ” Organizations: Reuters, European Union, NATO, “, EU, Ukraine Locations: Hungarian, Ukraine, Asia, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Baile Tusnad, Romania, Beijing, Moscow, Kyiv, Crimea, EU

☆ Ukraine's IT army is a 'world first' in cyberwarfare — but it's a major gamble for the government, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementIn Russia, however, "they have the expertise but not necessarily the service providers who sit in front of organisations to detect and deflect DDoS attacks," Woodward added. AdvertisementSuch attacks may also help "support defensive movements of the Ukrainian army," said Vasileios Karagiannopoulos, an associate professor in cybercrime and cybersecurity at the University of Portsmouth. Advertisement"The IT Army is managed by the SBU and the Ukrainian MoD," Soesanto said, adding that they receive support from Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation. Ted told BI that "the MoD does not run the IT army, but there is collaboration to ensure efforts are synchronized." Ukraine's Ministry of Defense did not respond to a request for comment from BI on the nature of its relationship with the IT army.

Persons: —, Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's, Eager, Ted, Ted said, Alan Woodward, Woodward, Ukraine's cyberdefense, Stefan Soesanto, Vasileios Karagiannopoulos, Karagiannopoulos, Soesanto Organizations: Service, Business, Transformation Ministry, IT Army, Surrey Centre, Cyber Security, University of Surrey, Visa, Mastercard, Center for Security Studies, ETH Zurich, Kommersant, University of Portsmouth, country's Ministry of Defense, Ukrainian MoD, Ukraine's Ministry of Digital, MoD, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukraine's, cybercrime, Ukrainian

☆ Missing Henry VIII portrait spotted on X by eagle-eyed historian
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Lianne Kolirin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —An art historian has identified a missing portrait of King Henry VIII after spotting it on social media. It showed a gathering at a reception in Warwick’s Shire Hall, where Warwickshire County Council is based. The distinctive frame was one of the features that helped identify the painting as the missing portrait of Henry VIII. His focus was on the background where, hanging on a wall, was what he suspected was a missing portrait of the Tudor monarch Henry VIII. In a telephone call with CNN, Busiakiewicz revealed that this was not the first discovery he had made thanks to social media.

Persons: King Henry VIII, Adam Busiakiewicz, Tim Cox, Warwickshire –, Henry VIII, Busiakiewicz wasn’t, Busiakiewicz, Aaron Manning, Ralph Sheldon, ”, ” Busiakiewicz, Sheldon, Henry Shaw, Joan Carlile, Manning, “ Adam, Aaron, Ralph Sheldon’s Organizations: London CNN, British, Weston, CNN, “, Warwickshire County Council, Hall, Museum Collections Locations: British, Warwickshire, English, Warwick’s Shire, Warwick's, Weston, Warwick’s

☆ Katie Ledecky: The rise of an Olympic great
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +22 min

The teenager who achieved the unthinkableIn the dining hall of London’s Olympic Village, a few hours before her first Olympic final, Ledecky is eating lunch on her own. Katie Ledecky poses on the podium after winning gold in the women's 800m freestyle final at the London 2012 Olympics. Katie Ledecky and her mother Mary Gen Ledecky during the 2023 Golden Goggle Awards on November 19, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Katie Ledecky swimming to gold in a new world record of 15.25:48 in the women's 1500m freestyle final on August 4, 2015 in Kazan, Russia. Katie Ledecky celebates after she broke the world record to win the women's 800m freestyle final at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Persons: Michael Ledecky, Katie, hasn’t, ”, –, Katie Ledecky, ” Michael Ledecky, Sarah Stier, ” Russell Mark, George, “, that’s, Prince William, Catherine, Rebecca Adlington, Lotte Friis, Little, ” Prince William, Adam Pretty, Adlington, Ledecky, Becky, Michael, musing, Fabrice Coffrini, ’ ”, hadn’t, Al Bello, athletically, Michael Phelps, ” Bruce Gemmell, didn’t, Gemmell, Bruce Gemmell, Joe Scarnici, she’s, Michael Jordan, ” ‘, Mark, ” Gemmell, “ It’s, Mary Gen Ledecky, Kevork Djansezian, David, Mary Gen, Jon, Streeter Lecka, Edward Hagan, Kathleen, Berta, Albert Einstein, Jaromir “ Jerry ” Ledecky, d’état, doesn’t, Yuri Suguiyama, Michael Phelps ’, Andrew Nesty, ominously, ” Ledecky, “ She’s, Rushmore, She’s, Joe Biden, Katie Ledecky celebates, Odd Andersen, Ariarne Titmus, Summer McIntosh, wasn’t, It’s Organizations: CNN, Ivy League, CNN Sport, Antonio, London Aquatics Centre, Briton, Games, Getty, London Games, Olympic, London, Phillips, New York Islanders, Harvard, Stanford, Silver Star, Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, Rutgers, Tokyo Olympics, Rio Games, Rio Locations: San Antonio , Texas, Bethesda , Maryland, USA, AFP, Irvine , California, American, Maryland, Los Angeles , California, Harvard, Tokyo, Kazan, Russia, Woolaston , North Dakota, America, Czechoslovakia, New York, eureka, Gainesville , Florida, Paris, Indianapolis

☆ She couldn’t stop thinking about the guy she met at the Athens Olympics. Then a message from him changed her life
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +26 min

So I thought, ‘Let me see if I can go to the Athens Olympics. An unexpected opportunityOmaira got to watch the final dress rehearsal of the opening ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games on August 13, 2004. And then Omaira was off to work at the shooting center, where the Games’ shooting events were held. But while Omaira was cultivating a pretty heady crush, Dimitris didn’t really have time to engage with his potential feelings. Omaira GillThis year marks 20 years since Omaira and Dimitris crossed paths at the Athens Olympics.

Persons: CNN — Omaira Gill, ” Omaira, ‘ I’m, ’, –, Omaira, ’ ”, … ’, “, ”, Omaira didn’t, “ I’d, David Gray MD, she’d, ’ Omaira Gill, Dimitris Athanasiou, Dimitris, ‘, they’re, ” Dimitris, ” Dimitris ’, hadn’t, Dimitris who’d, he’d, Dimtiris, Dimitris didn’t, Dimitris quizzed, “ Will, She’d, I’m, … ’ ”, couldn’t, didn’t, “ You’ve, Dimitris ’, that’s, we’d, Omaira Gill, Paulo Coelho, “ Omaira, ” Here's Dimitris, Omaira Gill Omaira, Hermes, Dimitiris, Hector, Orion, they’ll, “ Hermes, We’re, Dimitris – Organizations: CNN, Olympic, CNN Travel, Athens, “, ‘ Volunteers, Uni, Reuters, Olympics, Olympic Games, Paralympic, MSN, Omaira, ”, Athens Olympics, Stade de France, Disneyland Locations: Athens, Greece, Birmingham, United Kingdom, London, inbox, Omaira, Pakistan, India, Paris, Disneyland Paris, Europe

Paris CNN —France’s high-speed train lines were targeted by multiple “malicious” acts including arson on Friday, in what has been described as “coordinated sabotage” to disrupt travel ahead of the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics. SNCF said one of the acts was “foiled.”Travel on these lines is “very disrupted,” with the railway network needing to divert and cancel a large number of trains, SNCF said. Passengers gather around the departure boards at the Gare Montparnasse train station in Paris. Eurostar, the high-speed train service that connects the United Kingdom with France, has been forced to cancel and divert trains due to the “coordinated acts of malice,” on French lines. Meanwhile, the Paris 2024 Olympic Committee canceled its pre-opening ceremony press conference amid the incident, and CNN has also asked Paris 2024 for comment.

Persons: ”, “, Thibaud Moritz, Loire, Amélie, Castera, Patrice Vergriete, Valerie Pecresse, ” Vergriete, Laurent Nunez, Nicolas Nordman, Darmanin Organizations: Paris CNN —, Paris, SNCF, Passengers, CNN, Getty, Eurostar, Lille, International Olympic, French, of Sports, Olympic, Paralympic Games, Games, France, Security, Paris Mayor Locations: France’s, Northern, Paris, du Nord, Gare Montparnasse, AFP, Courtalain, France, United Kingdom

☆ At the first Olympic Village 100 years ago, athletes slept in wooden huts and drank wine twice a day. See what it was like to stay there.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Lydia Warren | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

When Paris hosted the Olympics in 1924, it was the first time athletes stayed together in a village. The Olympic Village made its debut at the 1924 Paris Olympics. Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesBefore 1924, delegations stayed in hotels, military buildings, or with local families in host cities, according to the Olympics Studies Centre. "A contract has to be formed and charges have to be fixed each time," the IOC said. The organizers of the 1924 Paris Olympics also believed housing athletes together had benefits beyond logistics and cost.

Persons: Frantz Reichel Organizations: Paris, Hulton, Olympics Studies, International Olympic Committee, Asian Social, Canadian Center of Science, IOC, Paris Games

☆ UK Finance Minister Rachel Reeves pledges most 'pro-growth, pro-business' government the country has seen
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"I will work with business to make sure we're doing all we can to bring wealth creation, to bring business investment to the U.K. economy," she added. "This is going to be the most pro-growth, pro-business Treasury that this country has ever seen," Reeves told CNBC's Steve Sedgwick via remote interview. LONDON — U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves said Friday that the new Labour government would be the most pro-growth and pro-business the country has seen. We need to attract business investment to be able to do that." However, the chancellor has a fine balance to tread given pledges from her party to also boost national investment and public sector pay.

Persons: Reeves, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick, Rachel Reeves, I'm, Keir Starmer, Starmer Organizations: Treasury, CNBC, LONDON, Finance, Labour, Conservative Locations: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Britain

☆ Paris Olympics is the latest test of whether sports can win subscribers for NBC's Peacock
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

In this article CMCSA Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTThe Paris 2024 logo representing the Olympic Games is displayed near the Eiffel Tower in Paris on April 21, 2024, in anticipation of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Chesnot | Getty ImagesThe Paris Olympics will offer Comcast another chance to lift its streaming platform, Peacock, as it aims to not only attract more subscribers but keep them. But most importantly, Peacock will air the entirety of the Summer Olympics for the first time. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were held in 2021 due to the Covid pandemic, drew the lowest-ever audience for the Summer Games. The Beijing Olympics in 2022 had the lowest viewership ever for the Winter Games, which are notably smaller than the Summer Olympics.

Persons: Peacock, it's, Comcast's, Craig Moffett, they've, Molly Solomon, Kelly Campbell, Simone Biles, Lindsey Wasson, NBCUniversal, Mike Tirico, Grant Fisher, Abdihamid Nur, Patrick Smith Organizations: Olympic, Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Chesnot, Comcast, Olympics, Ariake Gymnastics, NBC Radio, NBC, Summer Games, Beijing, Winter, Paris Games, Summer, Games, Australia, Team USA, Hayward Field, Getty Locations: Paris, MoffettNathanson, East Coast, U.S, Tokyo, United States, Japan, France, of Versailles, USA, men's, Eugene , Oregon

☆ Trump's NY fraud judge declines to recuse himself over 'nothingburger' hallway conversation
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewThe Manhattan judge who ordered Donald Trump to pay a nearly $500 million fraud judgment has declined — in no uncertain terms — the former president's demand that he recuse himself from the case over a brief hallway conversation. The sum owed by Trump accrues another $1 million in interest every nine days, and had reached $471 million by Thursday. Engoron did not mince words in saying on Thursday that he would not step down over "this 90-second, unsolicited diatribe." Lawyers for Trump and Bailey did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Arthur Engoron, Trump, Engoron, Adam Leitman Bailey, Bailey, defamatorily, Read Organizations: Service, New, Business, Trump, Trump Organization

☆ 10 athletes to watch from Team USA at the Summer Olympics
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Kyle Feldscher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Paris CNN —Competition is already underway in Paris for the 2024 edition of the Summer Olympics and Team USA is set to take to the River Seine Friday for the Opening Ceremonies. It was the biggest shock of the Tokyo Games and left many observers wondering if the career of one of the most incredible athletes of all time had just ended in a flash. Noah Lyles competes in the men's 200 meter semi-final on Day Eight of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Track & Field Trials at Hayward Field on June 28, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. Sha’carri RichardsonSha'Carri Richardson wins women's 200m heat in 21.99 for the top time during the US Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field. Sophia SmithHeading to her first Olympics, Smith is the leading light of a new generation of stars for the US Women’s National Team.

Persons: Simone Biles Simone Biles, Laurent Landi, Matthias Hangst, Biles, isn’t, –, LeBron James It’s, James –, James, LeBron James, Altaf Qadri, James ’, Coco Gauff, Katie Ledecky, Ledecky, Sarah Stier, Noah Lyles He’s, Noah Lyles, Patrick Smith, Jamacia’s Kishane Thompson, Thompson’s countryman, Usain Bolt, Sha’carri Richardson Sha'Carri Richardson, Kirby Lee, Richardson, Caeleb Dressel, Dressel, USA's Caeleb Dressel, Jonathan Nackstrand, he’s, It’s, Sophia Smith, Smith, it’ll, Tierna Davidson, Jason Mowry, Sunisa Lee, Sunisa, Lee, Jamie Squire, A’ja Wilson Wilson, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, A'ja Wilson, Derek White, Wilson –, Clark, Wilson, Paris, Sydney McLaughlin, McLaughlin, Levrone, Charlie Neibergall, Femke Bol, Bol Organizations: Paris CNN —, Summer Olympics, Team, Team United States, FIG, Antwerp, Olympics, Tokyo Games, US, Athens Games, Los Angeles Laker, Australia, United, United Arab Emirates, Northside Swim Center, Team USA, Games, Olympic, Hayward Field, US Olympic, Hayward, USA, Reuters, Tokyo, Tokyo Aquatics, Getty, National Team, Portland Thorns, Canada, Russian, Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta, Gateway Center, College Park ,, U.S Locations: Paris, France, Antwerp, Belgium, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Athens, Abu Dhabi, United Arab, USA’s, San Antonio , Texas, Eugene , Oregon, AFP, United, United States, American, College Park, College Park , Georgia, Eugene ,

☆ Why the Paris Olympics cost so much less than in Rio, London or Tokyo
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Darren Geeter | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

About 10,000 athletes, a record 8.6 million tickets sold and billions of television viewers worldwide: That's the Olympics, and they are set to start on Friday in Paris. Since the 1960s, every city hosting the Olympics exceeded its initial budget by a large margin, according to an Oxford University study. Spending at the 2024 Paris Olympics is expected to come in at under $10 billion — only about 25% over the initial budget, according to an S&P Global Ratings report. About 95% of the venues slated for use during the Paris Olympics existed prior to the city's winning bid to host the Games, according to the S&P Global Ratings report. Watch the video to learn more about how Paris is poised to pull off one of the cheapest Olympics in modern history.

Organizations: Oxford University, Aquatics Locations: Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo

☆ A scientist who used to advise ultra-processed food companies shares 2 surprising ways they make food irresistible
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Kim Schewitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In fact, they're often specifically designed to be irresistible, a scientist who used to work with UPF companies told Business Insider. But over time, Smith said companies became more interested in enhancing food to make it irresistible to the point where people feel they can't stop eating it. That's because sonic branding, or associating a sound with a product, can make us want to consume it, Smith said. How a chocolate bar sounds when it snaps can be engineered. So, similar to sound, companies use our sense of smell to grab our attention and make us crave their products.

Persons: —, they're, Barry Smith, Ferrero, Smith, that's, you've, Coke, Mars Organizations: Service, Business, Centre, University of London

☆ CNBC's Inside India newsletter: The tax with potential side effects
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Despite its progressive intentions, the tax failed to raise sufficient revenue for the monarch, as people boarded up their windows to lower their tax liability. Window tax was a property tax based on the number of windows in a house. In addition, the minister also lifted capital gains for stock market investors who cash in within a year from 15% to 20%. While the tax raises more than £3 billion ($3.9 billion) annually, it has given birth to far riskier forms of speculation while simultaneously hurting the stock market. However, given the lofty valuations that Indian stock markets currently trade, the tax to skim the excesses might be a positive development over the longer term.

Persons: Nirmala Sitharaman, Ajay Aggarwal, King William III of, Mike Kemp, Upasana Chachra, Morgan Stanley, Siddhartha Khemka, Motilal Oswal, Michael Langham, Abrdn, it's, JPMorgan's Jahangir Aziz, Aziz, Raghuram Rajan, Suman Bery, Bery Organizations: Union Finance, Budget Press Conference, National Media Centre, Hindustan Times, Getty Images, Getty, Budget, Motilal, Institute for Fiscal Studies, Reuters, CNBC, Health, Reserve Bank of India Locations: DELHI, INDIA, New Delhi, India, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom, England, Britain, Kerala, Malaysia, Nipah

☆ Who Kamala Harris picks for her running mate will show where her campaign sees its path to victory
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Joshua Nelken-Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewVice President Kamala Harris' campaign is in the process of choosing her running mate, and who she chooses will provide insight into her battle plan for November. With 20 electoral votes, winning the battleground state will likely be a crucial part of both former President Donald Trump and Harris' campaign. Choosing Shapiro, the state's governor, who has proven he can win in Pennsylvania, could significantly bolster Harris' ticket there, Gift said. Kevin Fahey, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Nottingham, agrees but told BI that a Shapiro pick may indicate some trepidation in Harris' campaign. Plus, he's already been an attack dog against Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance, going after him for his Appalachian credentials.

Persons: —, Kamala Harris, Josh Shapiro, Roy Cooper of, Andy Beshear, Sen, Mark Kelly of, Joe Biden —, Harris, Shapiro, Cooper, Donald Trump, Thomas, Chuck Rocha, Rocha, it's, Kevin Fahey, Fahey, Beshear, Biden, JD Vance, Kelly, David Barker, Barker, they'd, Kelly wouldn't, Barry Burden, Burden, Trump Organizations: Service, Pennsylvania, Business, Electoral, Trump, University of Nottingham, Republican, American University's Center, Congressional, Presidential Studies, University of Wisconsin Locations: Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Kentucky, Mark Kelly of Arizona, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Alabama, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, Upper Midwest, North Carolina, Nevada, California, West, Madison, — Pennsylvania

☆ Rats, roaches, and other creatures are winning against climate change, and it's bad news for humans
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Ellyn Lapointe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

In the game of climate change, there are both winners and losers. AdvertisementMany of these climate change "winners" are hardy, fast-breeding scavengers that already live in some of the most degraded habitats on Earth: cities. When it comes to what they eat, they aren't picky, which means they probably don't have to worry about climate change eliminating their food source. If climate change is driving a "ratpocalypse," as some evidence suggests, that could have big consequences for human health. But as climate change raises temperatures and alters precipitation trends, their range is expanding and shifting to new geographic areas.

Persons: Giovanni Strona, Shutterstock, they've, We're, —, they're, They're Organizations: Service, Business, Commission's, Research Centre, Pest Control, South America, AP, CDC Locations: York, Africa, Asia, South America, South, Florida, Texas, Europe, Vermont

☆ Covid-19 is an unwelcome attendee at the Paris Olympic Games
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for Covid-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. Five players on Australia’s women’s water polo team have tested positive for Covid-19 as of Wednesday. Although the world is no longer under a public health emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Olympic Games come as a wave of Covid-19 infections has hit the United States. The French capital is expected to welcome about 15 million tourists while it hosts the Olympic Games. “Attending a mass gathering event increases your chances of being exposed to respiratory diseases, including whooping cough and COVID-19.

Persons: “, Lucia Mullen, ” Mullen, Anna Meares, ” Meares, “ We’re, ”, Joe Biden, Dr, Sanjay Gupta Organizations: CNN, Olympic, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, Australian Olympic, US Centers for Disease Control, Paris, CNN Health, Paralympic, WHO, French Ministry of Health, European Centre for Disease Prevention Locations: Paris, ”, France, Australian, Tokyo, United States, Europe

☆ Jordan Chiles is competing in her second Olympics in Paris. Meet the gymnast who already counts Beyoncé and Michael Jordan as fans.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Jordan Chiles has been a gymnast since the age of six. The 5'5 athlete grew up in Vancouver, WA, and was named after Michael Jordan, according to her profile on Team USA's website. Chiles told The Times that she considered quitting in 2017 after having a difficult experience with her former coaches. Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles train together and have been friends for years. "Hey Jordan, this is Michael Jordan.

Persons: —, Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles, Chiles, Elsa, Michael Jordan, Suni Lee, Hezly Rivera, Jade Carey, Timothy, Gina Chiles, she'd, Biles, Carter, Beyoncé, Hey Jordan, Here's, Hope Organizations: Service, Paris Olympics, USA, Business, US, USA's, The New York Times, Times, The Times, UCLA, NBC, Nike, Beyoncé's Locations: Paris, Washington, Vancouver , WA, Texas, Tokyo

☆ UK's Thames Water's troubles mount as credit rating cut to junk
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Britain's largest water provider Thames Water suffered a blow in its battle to avoid renationalisation on Wednesday as credit rating firm Moody's downgraded its corporate family rating (CFR) and its safest tranche of debt to junk. Moody's downgraded Thames Water's CFR to Ba2 - two rungs into 'junk' rating territory - from Baa3, which is an investment grade and something water firms are supposed to maintain as part of their licence requirements. It safest tranche of debt known as senior secured "Class A" bonds were cut to Ba1, which is one notch into junk, while its riskier "Class B" bonds were dumped five notches lower at B3. Moody's said the downgrade followed this month's provisional ruling from British regulator Ofwat that Thames would not be allowed to raise prices as much as it had requested, and because of its "weakening liquidity position". "Almost certainly it will mean special administration for the company," Seaport credit analyst Satish Pulle said, adding that the downgrade had not come as a surprise.

Persons: Moody's, Satish Pulle Organizations: Thames, CFR, Seaport Locations: Ba2, Baa3, Thames

☆ China’s leaders have floated the idea of raising the retirement age. It hasn’t gone down well
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The retirement age for female urban workers is 50 or 55 depending on their occupation. “In accordance with the principles of voluntariness and flexibility, [we] will steadily and orderly advance the reform of progressively delaying the statutory retirement age,” China’s ruling Communist Party said on Sunday. Tingshu Wang/ReutersStruggling with declining birth rate and an ageing population, China’s policymakers have been talking about increasing the retirement age for over a decade. On Weibo, the hashtag “advancing the reform of delaying retirement age” has been a top trending topic since Sunday. On Xiaohongshu, China’s equivalent of Instagram, the hashtag “retirement age” has also attracted about 100 million views by Tuesday morning.

Persons: ” China’s, Ma Qiuhua, Tingshu Wang, ”, “, ’ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Communist Party, Reuters, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Communist Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Weibo, Communist China, India

☆ Trump may regret choosing JD Vance as his running mate, political scientists say
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Joshua Nelken-Zitser | Taylor Berman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Thomas Gift, director of UCL's Centre on US Politics, told BI that Trump's selection of Vance was "a confident — some might say too confident" decision. AdvertisementShe noted that with Biden leading the Democratic ticket, Trump and Vance could effectively criticize Biden's age and competency. While Vance's first solo campaign rally in Virginia on Monday wasn't as disastrous or widely watched as Biden's debate performance, Fahey told Business Insider it still revealed a potential weakness. Beyond his loyalty to Trump, Fahey said, "Vance adds nothing to the Republican ticket."

Persons: —, Tim Alberta, Donald Trump, there's, Sen, JD Vance, Kamala Harris, JD Vance —, MskTPjvVSS — Tim Alberta, Joe Biden's, Trump's, Biden, MAGA, Thomas Gift, Vance, Wilson, Harris, Trump, Colin Talbot, Doug Emhoff, 3DJY3pQTGe, Ron Filipkowski, Talbot, Kevin Fahey, Trump world's, Vance's, Fahey, Palin'd, bHBs0pNRZH — Brandon Friedman, Vance doesn't Organizations: Service, Democratic, Business, Trump, University of Manchester, University of Nottingham, Republican Locations: Atlantic, America, Virginia, Ohio

☆ Andy Murray confirms he will retire after the Paris Olympics
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Murray was unable to play in the singles competition in the final Wimbledon tournament of his career earlier this month after undergoing surgery on a spinal cyst, but got an emotional farewell playing doubles with his brother Jamie on Centre Court. “Arrived in Paris for my last ever tennis tournament. Murray won the first Olympic gold of his career at London 2012 after beating Roger Federer in straight sets just weeks after a heartbreaking defeat to the Swiss in the Wimbledon final. Murray then defended his Olympic title four years later in Rio, defeating Juan Martín del Potro in the final. Murray won his first Olympic gold at London 2012.

Persons: Andy Murray, Murray, Jamie, “, ”, Roger Federer, Juan Martín del, Leon Neal, Judy Organizations: CNN, Paris, Wimbledon, Court, Team GB, Twitter, London, Swiss, Getty Locations: Paris, Rio, Juan Martín del Potro, AFP

☆ Modi's government pledges fiscal prudence in India's post-election budget
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | In Charmainemariajacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Nirmala Sitharaman, India's finance minister, leaves the ministry to present the budget at the parliament in New Delhi, India, on July 23, 2024. India's finance ministry on Tuesday lowered the country's fiscal deficit target to 4.9% for the financial year ending March 2025, a revision from 5.1% during the pre-election interim budget published back in February. That target will then fall to 4.5% or lower for the financial year ending March 2026, India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said during the announcements. "This is imperative for attracting foreign investment and sustaining growth," he said, adding that "unprecedented financial support" from the central bank will make the fiscal deficit target possible. "We will endeavor to maintain strong fiscal support for infrastructure over the next five years, in conjunction with imperatives of other priorities and fiscal consolidation."

Persons: Nirmala Sitharaman, Vipul Bhowar, Narendra Modi's, Sitharaman, Hajra, Anand Rathi, Modi's Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, India's, Waterfield Advisors, Sitharaman, Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, Stock Brokers, CNBC, Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, Centre, Monitoring, BSE, U.S . Locations: New Delhi, India, Mumbai, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh

☆ Founder of South Korea’s Kakao arrested for suspected stock manipulation
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Seoul, South Korea —The billionaire founder of South Korean tech giant Kakao Corp, Kim Beom-su was arrested on Tuesday on accusations of manipulating stocks during the acquisition of a K-Pop agency last year. The case is the latest legal twist for Kakao, which runs South Korea’s largest chat app, after the company and another executive went on trial last year for alleged wrongdoing during the same acquisition. Any case against him could jeopardize Kakao’s investments into artificial intelligence as well as its overseas expansion plans, industry experts said. The high-profile tech entrepreneur is the largest shareholder of Kakao Corp, with a 24% stake that he and affiliated entities control. Kakao Corp shares dropped 3.4% during morning trade to the lowest since November, after falling 24% year-to-date.

Persons: Kim Beom, su, Kim, Brian Kim, Jakub Porzycki Organizations: South, Kakao Corp, Prosecutors, SM Entertainment, Seoul Southern, Court, Detention, KakaoBank Corp Locations: Seoul, South Korea, South Korean, Korean, Kakao

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