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☆ Spain reaches Women's World Cup final for the first time with a stunning win over Sweden
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Spain created more history at the Women’s World Cup, shocking favorite Sweden to reach the final for the first time thanks to a dramatic 2-1 win in Auckland, New Zealand. Competing at just its third World Cup, Spain is now within a game of winning the sport’s biggest prize having never before progressed beyond the round of 16. Sweden may have had the pedigree – only the US has appeared in more World Cup semifinals – but Spain had the creativity and the stardust. “To the final!” Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, while Spain’s men’s World Cup winner Andrés Iniesta called the players “giants.”Hollywood actor Antonio Banderas wrote on social media: “Bravo!!! With the opening goal, Paralluelo – who had scored the extra-time winner against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals – became the second-youngest player to score in a Women’s World Cup semifinal and also sparked a dull contest into life.

Persons: Salma Paralluelo, Rebecka, Olga Carmona, Paralluelo, we’ve, “ We’ve, La Roja, Hagen Hopkins, “, Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s, Andrés Iniesta, Antonio Banderas, Phil Walter, Jorge Vilda, Vilda, Ballon d’Or, Alexia Putellas, Putellas, Carmona, Aitana Bonmati, wasn’t, Alba, Fridolina Rolfö, Cata Coll, Paralluelo –, –, Blomqvist’s, de grâce Organizations: CNN, La, Sweden, Getty, Twitter, Spanish, Alba Redondo Locations: Spain, Sweden, Auckland , New Zealand, Australia, England, Sunday’s, Netherlands

☆ Dunkin is releasing spiked versions of their iced coffees and teas
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

After setting the internet abuzz last week, Dunkin’ will officially announce Monday the debut of Dunkin’ Spiked Iced Coffees and Iced Teas, which are both scheduled to roll out in the coming weeks. The two malt-based beverages, scheduled for an early September release, will feature eight flavors between them, all based on the chain’s iced coffee and tea flavors. Last year, Pabst Blue Ribbon axed their hard coffee flavor drink because of poor sales. The slightly sweet ice tea flavor is being sold in a six-pack of 12-ounce cans and a single 19.2-ounce cans. Dunkin' Spiked iced tea is coming out in late August.

Persons: New York CNN —, Dunkin ’, Dunkin, RTDs, ” Duane Stanford, ”, Samuel Adams, Dave Williams, Bump, ” Dunkin, Scott Murphy, ” Stanford, “, Bravo’s, Brian Gilbert Organizations: New, New York CNN, Beverage Digest, CNN, Boston Beer Company, Bump Williams Consulting, Pabst, Ribbon, Molson Coors, La, Dunkin Locations: New York, Kahlua, Florida , Massachusetts, Texas, England

☆ Cocaine cartels encroach on Unification Church’s Paraguayan paradise
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Puerto Casado | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +20 min

Many of the runways are on land owned by the Unification Church of South Korea, founded by Rev. The Unification Church is a major power in this unruly region. Byun, the Unification Church lawyer, provided Reuters with an April 2022 document the church sent to Paraguayan anti-narcotics prosecutors, urging an investigation into potential illicit activity. Trouble in paradiseThe alleged drug-running on its land isn’t the only trouble the Unification Church has faced in the Chaco. Byun, the church lawyer, acknowledged the tensions with locals in Puerto Casado but declined to comment on the Myungs or the fire.

Persons: Sun Myung, Michelle Byun, ” Byun, “, Moon, God, ”, Miguel Ángel Servín, Servín, Rodrigo Alvarez, Elva Cáceres, Marco Alcaraz, Cynthia Tarrago, Tarrago, Raimundo Va, Rodrigo Alvarenga Paredes, Byun, Alvarenga, “ Alvarenga, Rodrigo Álvarez, Álvarez, Pedro Juan Caballero, ‘ Lawless, –, Marcelo Pecci, José Carlos Acevedo, ” Acevedo, Pecci, Acevedo, Mario Abdo Benítez, James Laverty, Hak Ja, ” –, Carlos Casado, Anger, Locals, Lorenzo Myung, Martin Rodriguez, Rodriguez, Dora Irrazábal, Irrazábal, Alberto David Gauto, Gauto, Emilio Camacho, Moon’s, Hyun Jin, Preston, Hak, Hyung Jin, Sean, Massimo Introvigne, Sean Moon, Preston Moon, Puerto Casado, Virgilio Chamorro, Gabriel Stargardter, Daniela Desantis, Feilding, Tomas Bravo, John Emerson, Brian Thevenot Organizations: Unification Church of, Rev, Authorities, Reuters, Unification Church, Holy Spirit Association, South Korea’s Unification, Belgian, Sting, South, International Association of Parliamentarians, Peace, U.S . Federal Bureau of Investigation, Colorado Party, Yorker, U.S, Attorney, FBI, Capital Command, PCC, United Nations Office, Drugs, U.S . Drug, Carlos Casado SA, Salesian, Supreme, FARC, Peace Foundation, Center for Studies, New, Iron Ministries, Preston, Tomas Bravo Graphics Locations: Paraguayan, Unification Church of South Korea, SENAD Paraguay, Chaco, Paraguay, Korea, Bolivian, Peruvian, Atlantic, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Europe, Argentine, Manhattan, “, Antwerp, Europe’s, Servín, Asunción, Seoul, New York City, United States, New Jersey, Tarrago, Va, U.S, Byun, Alvarenga, Chile, Ecuador, Colombian, Bolivia, American, South America, America, Puerto Casado, Gauto, Preston, Turin, Italy, Pennsylvania, Puerto

Yeah, you’re going to need one of those fancy pizza ovens to replicate this in your home. I think right now, every media company in the world is trying to figure out what replaces Twitter. And they say, you’re going to about to make the easiest money you’ve ever made in your entire life. You’re going to have more people beating a path down your door than you thought was possible. We now have Ubers that are so — I don’t know if you’ve looked at your Uber receipts recently.

Persons: kevin roose I’m, casey newton, kevin roose, casey newton They’re, kevin roose Gang, casey newton Oh, let’s, Kevin Roose, ” casey newton, Casey Newton, —, Casey, casey newton Mhmm, it’s, kevin roose I’d, you’re, you’ve, — casey newton, Sam Altman, casey newton Isn’t, that’s, Silly Putty, I’m, casey newton Well, Kevin, what’s, kevin roose Totally, casey newton I’ll, Unobtainium, James Cameron, You’ve, Meissner, we’re, There’s, they’re, casey newton Here’s, Twitch, kevin roose There’s, Iris_IGB, she’s, there’s, casey newton There’s, Russia she’s, I’ve, They’ve, hasn’t, ChatGPT, Claude, They’re, hydroxychloroquine, Joe Rogan, Bravo, “ Fortnite, casey newton That’s, we’ve, casey newton Kevin, India Venom, Lydia Tár, we’ll, don’t, casey newton Sure, ”, Joe Biden, casey newton I’m, casey newton Mike Masnick, he’s, Mike, — casey newton Look, who’d, It’s, HatGPT, kevin roose —, casey newton We’re, Rupert Murdaugh, Beast, James Donaldson, Jimmy Donaldson, a.k.a, Beast — casey newton James, Uber, Beast Burger, Burger, We’re, Meta, Abraham Lincoln, Facebook — Abraham Lincoln, casey newton It’s, kevin roose Oh, Abraham —, roose, casey newton Greg Rutkowski, Greg Rutkowski, Greg Rutkowski’s, Greg, You’re, casey newton Wow, Elon Musk, San Francisco NIMBYs, Don’t, kevin roose It’s, you’re Uber Organizations: Mmm, casey newton Mmm, The New York Times, Quantum Energy Research Center, collider, Twitter, Capitol, Federal Trade Commission, Netflix, Heritage Foundation, Republican, Democrats, Republicans, California, Tax, Facebook, YouTube, HatGPT, BBC, WordPress, Health Department, Financial Times, Ford Theater, ” Workers, San, Wall Street Locations: Seoul, Russian, Russia, India, KOSA, SESTA, The, Kashmir, tooting, Washington, San Francisco, Ha, Canada

☆ An airplane pilot went viral for scolding his passengers—Harvard expert says it's great leadership: 'Bravo'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Ashton Jackson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

When a video of an American Airlines pilot scolding his passengers during a pre-flight announcement went viral, some people deemed it patronizing. Others, including a Harvard University expert, are hailing the pilot's speech as an example of strong leadership — at a time when passengers desperately need it. "I say bravo to the American Airlines pilot. "Remember, the flight attendants are here for your safety. After that they're here to make your flight more enjoyable," the pilot said.

Persons: bravo, Bill George Organizations: American Airlines, Harvard University, Harvard Business School, CNBC

☆ FDIC launches sale of $18.5 billion of Signature Bank loans
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 28 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) set in motion the sale of an $18.5 billion loan portfolio from Signature Bank this week, a set of loans linked to major private equity and investing firms, according to the regulator's website. The FDIC hired Newmark Group (NMRK.O) in March to sell about $60 billion of Signature Bank's loans, after state regulators decided to close down the failed lender amid a turmoil in regional banks earlier this year. The sale was launched on July 25 and is limited to FDIC-insured depository institutions, the Bloomberg report said. The notice reads that the loans for sale "consist of subscription credit facilities to private equity funds." Reporting by Pritam Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun KoyyurOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Thoma, Newmark, Pritam Biswas, Arun Koyyur Organizations: U.S, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Signature Bank, Starwood Capital Group, Carlyle Group, Blackstone, Thoma Bravo, Brookfield Asset Management, Bloomberg, FDIC, Newmark Group, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Comcast beats expectations as higher prices offset slowing broadband growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Comcast beat analyst estimates on Thursday when it reported its second-quarter results, as higher pricing helped offset a continued slowdown in its broadband business. The company now groups its Xfinity-branded broadband, cable TV and wireless services with its U.K.-based Sky. Higher average rates helped to offset second-quarter subscriber losses, leading to broadband revenue growth of 4.4%. Comcast and its peers have experienced slowing growth in the broadband segment following quarters of robust gains during the early days of the Covid pandemic. The drop in domestic advertising was largely due to lower revenue at NBCUniversal's TV networks, which was partially offset by the leap in Peacock revenue.

Persons: Peacock, Cord, Bob Iger, NBCUniversal, Mario Organizations: Comcast, Refinitiv, Disney, USA Network, Bravo, Premier League soccer, Peacock, Sky Sports, Revenue, Mario Bros, Super Nintendo, CNBC Locations: Beijing, Japan, Orlando, Florida

☆ How Abu Dhabi's $276 billion Mubadala sovereign wealth fund is investing in software in the new age of AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Alistair Barr | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ali Osman, head of technology and software investments at Abu Dhabi's giant Mubadala sovereign wealth fund, has invested steadily through it all and is not shying away from putting more money to work. He and his team focus on business software and specialize in private equity, making direct buyout investments and indirect bets through major PE firms. Osman works with many of the biggest and most successful PE firms in the tech space, including Thoma Bravo, TPG and Bain Capital. AI uncertainty and dataThe generative AI boom, and the rise of large language models, has introduced a major new variable to software investing. The other bottleneck is capital, basically the cash available to invest in software businesses.

Persons: Ali Osman, Mubadala, Osman, Thoma Organizations: Abu, Thoma Bravo, TPG, Bain Capital, Vista Equity Partners, PE Locations: Morocco, SalesLoft, mindspace

PARIS, July 25 (Reuters) - France's Thales (TCFP.PA) said on Tuesday it would buy U.S. cybersecurity company Imperva in a deal worth $3.6 billion as it steps up expansion away from its historic defence business to the war against hacking. "This really changes our scale in civil cybersecurity," Thales Chief Executive Patrice Caine told analysts, adding that the deal represented a rare opportunity to become a premium player on a global scale in cybersecurity. Thales said the price of the deal implied an enterprise value of 17 times 2024 operating earnings. Thales said buying Imperva would generate around $110 million of pretax synergies, including $50 million of cost savings and $60 million linked to revenue opportunities. Thales said the deal would close in 2024 subject to approvals, and did not anticipate significant hurdles.

Persons: Thoma, Patrice Caine, Thales, Jefferies, Chloe Lemarie, Caine, Morgan Stanley, Sudip Kar, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Kim Coghill, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Thales, Thoma Bravo, PwC, Cobham Aerospace Communications, Thomson Locations: cybersecurity, France, Paris, Europe

☆ Thales cyber push meets investor shoulder shrug
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 25 (Reuters Breakingviews) - France's Thales (TCFP.PA) is doubling down on cybersecurity with its $3.6 billion purchase of U.S. firm Imperva. Thales's boss Patrice Caine briefly considered buying Atos's (ATOS.PA) cybersecurity arm last year, but didn’t go through with it. The purchase values the Thoma Bravo-backed group at 17 times forecast 2024 operating profit, according to Thales. Meanwhile Caine’s push into the racy cyber sector doesn’t seem to register in the group’s valuation. That means investors are sceptical that Thales’s efforts to crack the war against hacking will work out for shareholders.

Persons: Patrice Caine, Thoma, Caine’s, Refinitiv Datastream, Pamela Barbaglia, Liam Proud, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, Thales, Thoma Bravo, BAE Systems, Twitter, Thomson Locations: U.S, Spain

☆ 'Oppenheimer' leaves out the most terrifying, deadly risk of nuclear weapons because nobody knew about it until the 1980s
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The film "Oppenheimer" is filled with terrible visions of nuclear war from the father of the atom bomb. But J. Robert Oppenheimer didn't know about the worst-case scenario: nuclear winter. The theory is that nuclear war would darken the skies, cool the planet, and cause billions to starve. Last year, they published findings that fish and livestock would not be able to sustain the world if nuclear winter wiped out crops. They concluded that a nuclear war between the US and Russia could cause 5 billion people to starve to death.

Persons: Oppenheimer, Robert Oppenheimer didn't, Christopher Nolan's, Cillian Murphy's J, Robert Oppenheimer, Alan Robock, Lucy Nicholson, Carl Sagan, Robock Organizations: Service, Bravo, NOAA, Rutgers University, Reuters, Trinity, US Army, Getty Images Locations: Wall, Silicon, Alamos, Central Valley, Russia, India, Pakistan

☆ Boys lie: How a 'Vanderpump Rules' 'Scandoval' caused this business to boom
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Earlier this year, when Bravo's "Vanderpump Rules" star Tom Sandoval cheated on his long-time girlfriend Ariana Madix with their co-star and real-life friend, Raquel Leviss, it reverberated from social media to front-page news. Madix summed up the cheating scandal, dubbed "Scandoval," well, stepping out days later on her way to tape the highly anticipated "Vanderpump Rules" reunion in a yellow hoodie and matching sweatpants from the clothing brand Boys Lie. A business born on InstagramTori Robinson and Leah O'Malley, co-founders of Los Angeles-based Boys Lie. Most people, particularly millennials and Gen Zers, have spent money they weren't originally planning to on products they saw in their social media feeds, several studies show. What's next for Boys Lie

Persons: Tom Sandoval, Ariana Madix, Raquel Leviss, Madix, Tori Robinson, Leah O'Malley, Robinson, O'Malley, Franklin, Tori Spelling, Dean McDermott, influencers, Instagram Tori Robinson, Gen Zers, What's Organizations: Los, Finance Locations: Los Angeles

☆ While Lana Del Rey was serving customers at a Waffle House, David Letterman was bagging groceries in Iowa
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Like Lana Del Rey’s apparent new gig moonlighting as a waitress at an Alabama Waffle House, late night icon David Letterman, too, landed a new job… sort of. Letterman is seen in the video perusing the aisles of the Hy-Vee, bagging groceries, eating uncooked minestrone soup and telling customers on the loudspeaker that “today and today only,” celery was free. Letterman was reportedly in Des Moines over the weekend to attend the Hy-Vee IndyCar Race, where Christian Lundgaard was driving the No. Last week, videos showing the singer donning a Waffle House uniform while serving customers from behind the counter began to circulate on social media. Letterman and Del Rey aren’t the only famous faces to surprise patrons as unsuspecting staff members in recent months.

Persons: Lana Del Rey’s, David Letterman, he’s, “, ”, Letterman, Christian Lundgaard, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, Del Rey, Ben Affleck, Dunkin, Ariana Maddix Organizations: CNN, Alabama Waffle House, Hy, Vee Locations: Iowa, Indianapolis, Des Moines, Alabama, California

☆ Mexico’s president is on the attack. It’s political ‘gold’ for his rival
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( David Shortell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Gálvez’s remarkable ascent comes as President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has levied a near-daily stream of attacks against her. The immensely popular López Obrador is barred under Mexican law from seeking re-election after completing his six-year term. However it dismissed a complaint from Gálvez that the president had violated laws against gender-based political violence. In the days since the ruling against him, López Obrador has moved between open disregard, winking half-measures, and begrudging obedience. López Obrador has sought to tie the candidate to the country’s historic ruling elite with the claims, which she has denied.

Persons: Mexico City CNN —, Xóchitl Gálvez, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, López Obrador, ”, Gálvez, “ AMLO, ” Enrique Quintana, “, Carlos Bravo Regidor, López, Morena, –, Lopez Obrador, Fernando Llano, — Gálvez, El Financiero, I’m, Arturo Ramos Sobarzo, —, Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal Organizations: Mexico City CNN, Frente, El, Quarterly, Morena, Morena flagbearer, PAN, CNN, National Electoral Institute, Center for Investigation, Informatics, Mexico City’s Escuela Libre, Supreme Locations: Mexico, Mexico City

☆ Nasdaq beats profit estimates on steady demand for investment products
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 19 (Reuters) - Exchange operator Nasdaq (NDAQ.O) beat estimates for second-quarter profit on Wednesday on the back of consistent demand for its investment-related products and capital markets solutions such as anti-financial crime software. The diversification helped the transatlantic exchange operator blunt the effects of a drought in the U.S. market for IPOs that had soured last year due to rising interest rates and heavy volatility. A total of 23 companies listed on its Nasdaq Stock Market through IPOs in the quarter. In line with CEO Adena Friedman's diversification strategy, Nasdaq inked its biggest-ever deal of $10.5 billion for Thoma Bravo-owned software firm Adenza in the quarter. Reporting by Manya Saini in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju SamuelOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Thoma, Manya Saini, Maju Samuel Organizations: Nasdaq, Thoma Bravo, Thomson Locations: U.S, IPOs, Bengaluru

☆ 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' lives on, 20 years later
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

That was like queer eye for the straight guy!”Carson Kressley, left, in "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy." “And of course as luck would have it, ‘Queer Eye’ was our very first attempt at a reality show,” he added. It’s not that they’re bigger, they just became louder,” said Rob Eric, “Queer Eye” executive producer and longtime associate and friend of Collins and Williams. They’ve also enjoyed seeing the legacy they’ve created evolve and grow to new heights with Netflix’s gender-neutral and more succinctly titled “Queer Eye” – which wrapped its seventh season earlier this year. “The new ‘Queer Eye’ wouldn’t happen without these guys,” Collins said.

Persons: Guy ”, Ellen ”, Ellen DeGeneres, David Collins, QEFTSG ”, –, Carson Kressley, Jai Rodriquez, Thom Filicia, Ted Allen, Kyan Douglas, groomer, ” Rodriquez, Kressley, “, ‘, “ Gay ”, Michael Collins, ” Kressley, you’ve, Collins, Michael Williams –, ” Collins, ”, Michael, Shutterstock Collins, Williams, David, ” Williams, ’, Rodriguez, Filicia –, you’re, ” Rodriguez, ” Filicia, ‘ You’ve, we’re, Barbara Walters, “ I’m, Filicia, Anita Bryant, Rob Eric, We’ve, It’s, foodie Allen, Ted, ” What’s, They’ve, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Bravo, NBC Universal, Scout, Netflix, NBC Locations: Boston, Los Angeles

☆ How Thai food became so popular in the US — and how today’s chefs are going beyond pad thai
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Harmeet Kaur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —When Anajak Thai opened in 1981, most people who walked into the Los Angeles restaurant weren’t familiar with Thai cuisine. Thai food became so popular among Americans that the Thai government took notice. Thai food in the US reaches new heightsToday, the Thai restaurant scene in the US is perhaps the most exciting that it’s ever been. And Thai American chefs like Pichetrungsi are continuing to defy stereotypes and misconceptions of what constitutes Thai food. He wants to show diners just how innovative Thai cuisine can be, but he’s hesitant to take familiar comforts like pad thai off the menu altogether.

Persons: Justin Pichetrungsi, Pichetrungsi’s, Rick Pichetrungsi, Anajak, ” Pichetrungsi, Pichetrungsi, he’s, It’s, Mark Padoongpatt, Padoongpatt, Marie Wilson, ” Padoongpatt, Justin, “, ”, Saipin Chutima, Bill, Isabella Vosmikova, Andy Ricker, Chiang, Leah Nash, Chiang Mai, Hong Thaimee, Rather, ” Thaimee, Leela Punyaratabandhu, Punyaratabandhu, mok, We’ve, James Beard, it's, Mariah Tauger Organizations: CNN, Sherman Oaks, Disney, University of Nevada, Thai, Food, Lotus, White, Washington Post, Pichetrungsi, Los Angeles Times Locations: Los Angeles, L.A, Thailand, Asia, Las Vegas, Thai America, United States, Angeles, Central Thailand, Thai, Siam, Northern Thailand, White American, Portland , Oregon, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, America, New, Chicago, Heart, Malaysian, California

One unit ran a "hackathon," or collaborative engineering event, of so-called generative AI, technology that produces text, images or other new content based on past data. The division, Verafin, was exploring how to imbue such AI into its product for fighting financial crime, he said, adding the technology could create investigative reports. Still, despite using other forms of AI for years, Nasdaq's latest work remains experimental; no code has been published yet drafted by AI, Peterson said. Nasdaq has accessed a preview of Amazon's answer to the generative AI race, namely Amazon Bedrock, a pick-your-preferred technology approach that includes Claude AI from the startup Anthropic. On the longer-term horizon for Nasdaq is integrating the Thoma Bravo-owned software firm Adenza, subject to closure of the $10.5 billion-deal Nasdaq announced last month.

Persons: AUSTIN, Brad Peterson, Verafin, Peterson, We're, Nasdaq's, OpenAI, Claude AI, Thoma, Jeffrey Dastin, Kenneth Li, Deepa Babington Organizations: Nasdaq, Computer, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Thoma Bravo, Thomson Locations: Austin

☆ Biden nominates China specialist to be ambassador to strategic Marshall Islands
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, July 11 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden on Tuesday nominated a senior career diplomat to be U.S. ambassador to the Marshall Islands, a strategic Pacific territory that has become a focus for competition with China. A Chinese speaker, Stone also worked previously as coordinator of efforts to counter Chinese malign economic influence and as acting deputy assistant secretary for China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Mongolia. Meanwhile, Chinese diplomats have been courting the region and China's construction and mining companies have expanded their business in Pacific island nations. In May, the U.S. said it had renewed COFA terms with Micronesia and Palau and its chief negotiator told Reuters then he hoped to finalize a deal with the Marshall Islands, whose COFA is due to expire this year, in coming weeks. Last year, more than 100 arms-control, environmental and other activist groups urged the Biden administration to formally apologize to the Marshall Islands and provide fair compensation.

Persons: Joe Biden, Laura Stone, Stone, China's, Biden, David Brunnstrom, Sandra Maler Organizations: State Department's Office, Free Association, Washington, Marshall, Reuters, Marshall Islanders, U.S, Thomson Locations: Marshall, China, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mongolia, U.S, Pacific, Micronesia, Palau, Bikini

☆ Compliance chief at Chinese fintech company stole girlfriend's insider info to trade VMware, tech stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Steven Teixeira, who served as chief compliance officer for the U.S. arm of China's LianLian Global, pleaded guilty to the federal charges under a cooperation agreement. Teixeira allegedly obtained insider information, including advance knowledge of Broadcom's announced $61 billion acquisition of VMware from 2022, and shared it with an associate for profit. Proofpoint was taken private in 2021 by private equity firm Thoma Bravo in a $12.3 billion deal, within the timeframe Teixeira was allegedly trading insider information. Teixeira allegedly shared the insider information with his associate, Jordan Meadow, who is also charged with violating federal insider trading laws. Kennedy and Van Hollen introduce bill to block foreign executives from insider trading

Persons: Steven Teixeira, Teixeira, Broadcom's, Thoma Bravo's, Proofpoint, Thoma, Jordan Meadow, Meadow, Scott Thompson, Kennedy, Van Hollen Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, New, U.S, SEC, VMware, Thoma Bravo, of Locations: New York, Southern, of New York, Philadelphia, Sens

[1/5] Volunteers give electrolyte drinks to asylum seekers while they camp near the border in an attempt to cross into the U.S. without an appointment, in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico June 27, 2023. "We are clear-eyed about the limits of our ability to control the security situation in any town outside of the United States," a senior CBP official told Reuters. When asked about the potential for continued extortion in Nuevo Laredo, the CBP official said migrants could apply for appointments elsewhere, and come to the city just for their appointments. But reaching Nuevo Laredo can pose its own risks. Three migrants told Reuters that men who appeared to be cartel members told them to stay orderly, but had not been extorting recently arrived migrants for money.

Persons: Daniel Becerril, Joe Biden's, Stephanie Leutert, Biden, Gerson Bravo, Jose, Daina Beth Solomon, Laura Gottesdiener, Stephen Eisenhammer, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Volunteers, REUTERS, U.S, Customs, Borders Protection, . Customs, Border Protection, CBP, University of Texas, Reuters, Nuevo Laredo, Thomson Locations: Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, Daniel Becerril NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico's Nuevo Laredo, United States, Laredo, Texas, U.S, Austin, Matamoros, Venezuela, Venezuelan, Michoacan, Mexico City

☆ Jenna Lyons, Unlikely Housewife
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Jessica Testa | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ms. Lyons can’t deny that she is anxious, too. “Cast comes for Jenna Lyons in explosive trailer,” read the New York Post’s headline. Bravo allowed me to visit the “RHONY” set once during filming, in February, while the crew captured Ms. Lyons on a photo shoot for LoveSeen. “This can kind of be used anywhere,” said a field producer, Michael Maniglia. A few months later, I asked Ms. Lyons if she had any regrets about the way she had approached the show, which starts on July 16.

Persons: “, ‘, ’, Kline Crockett, Lyons can’t, Mr, Cohen, Lyons, Jenna Lyons, ”, Bravo, Michael Maniglia, ” Mr, Maniglia, rhapsodized, Ms Organizations: York

☆ Nasdaq to sell debt worth $5 bln to fund Adenza deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 22 (Reuters) - Nasdaq (NDAQ.O) said on Thursday it aims to sell debt worth $5.07 billion to fund its purchase of Thoma Bravo-owned software company Adenza. The $10.5 billion deal, announced earlier this month to help transform the exchange operator into a financial technology company, comprises $5.75 billion in cash and 85.6 million shares of Nasdaq common stock. Nasdaq is looking to sell senior notes worth $4.25 billion and 750 million euros ($821.33 million), according to a statement. Nasdaq and many of its peers have been morphing into financial technology firms, largely through deals, as regulatory and nationalist pushback effectively killed big cross-border exchange mergers, and as trading volumes fell after the 2008-2009 financial crisis, stunting transaction-based revenue. ($1 = 0.9132 euros)Reporting by Juby Babu in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Thoma, pushback, Juby Babu, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: Nasdaq, Thoma Bravo, OMX, International Securities Exchange, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Nasdaq expects expanded markets to justify $10.5 bln Adenza merger price tag
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( John Mccrank | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

By one metric, Nasdaq paid around what Thoma Bravo spent on creating Adenza through the merger of two software firms, the sources familiar with the deal said. Nasdaq also hopes to cut overlapping costs, which would boost profitability and make the deal look cheaper, one of the sources said. With Adenza, Nasdaq's recurring revenues, which investors like for their predictability, will comprise around 77% of overall revenues, up from 71%. A director at one of Nasdaq's largest shareholders, whose firm supports the Adenza deal, said there were few good companies left that could be synergistic to Nasdaq. One of the sources said once Nasdaq also cuts out costs, the multiple will be closer to the mid-20s.

Persons: Thoma, Adena, Thoma Bravo, Friedman, Rosenblatt, Andrew Bond, Adena's, she's, Bond, Morningstar, Michael Miller, pushback, Adenza, Verafin, John McCrank, Paritosh Bansal, David Gregorio Our Organizations: YORK, Nasdaq, Thoma Bravo, Adenza, Rosenblatt Securities, BBB, Adenza's, Thomson Locations: United States, Europe, Adenza

☆ A Bravo-obsessed Instagram account and podcast notched its biggest growth month ever amid 'Vanderpump Rules' #Scandoval. Here's its plan to keep the momentum going as the drama winds down.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Ashley Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The most explosive season of Bravo's "Vanderpump Rules" ended last week. The world of "Vanderpump Rules" was rocked in March when longtime cast member Ariana Madix discovered her partner of nine years, Tom Sandoval, had been having an affair with one of her close friends, Raquel Leviss. One Bravo-focused account seized the #Scandoval moment and gained 44,000 Instagram followersBravo by Betches, an Instagram account devoted to all things Bravo from Betches Media, had its biggest growth month ever during March. While growth has slowed since peak #Scandoval, the women's media company has managed to sustain some of the Vanderpump bump. Before #Scandoval, the audience for "Vanderpump Rules" had been waning and Bravo by Betches wasn't posting about the show as much.

Persons: Betches, Ariana Madix, Tom Sandoval, Raquel Leviss, dishing, Bravo, Madix, Sami Sage, Daisy Kelliher, Dylan Hafer, —, It's, lt's, Hafer Organizations: Bravo, Betches, Betches Media, Apple, Housewives, New Locations: Orange County, New York

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