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☆ Asian shares rise as S&P 500 records longest win streak in two years
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Scott Murdoch | Thomson Reuters | Scott Murdoch Has Been A Journalist For More Than Two Decades Working For Thomson Reuters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was flat, although up 4.6% so far this month. The dollar index , which tracks the greenback against a basket of currencies of other major trading partners, was down slightly at 105.52. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 (.SPX) rose 0.10% and the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC) added 0.08%. The S&P 500 rose for the eighth consecutive day, extending its longest win streak in two years. In Asia on Thursday, U.S. crude and Brent crude both rose 0.8% following the weak performance in the U.S. session.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Ping, Brent, Gold, Scott Murdoch, Tom Hogue Organizations: Nikkei, REUTERS, Rights, CPI, ANZ, Reuters, Ping An Insurance Group, Garden Holdings, HK, Ping An, U.S, U.S . Federal, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Federal Reserve, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Asia, Pacific, U.S, U.S ., China

☆ Exclusive: Geely's Zeekr edges closer to US IPO, to make filing public this week - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The EV brand will publish its prospectus and its shares could start being traded on the bourse within weeks of the announcement, the sources said. Zeekr confidentially filed for a U.S. initial public offering last December, aiming to raise more than $1 billion, Reuters has reported. However, the company is likely to raise less than the targeted amount from the IPO, one of the sources said. It offers four EV models in China, with its 001 crossover priced from 269,000 yuan ($36,927.22) as its best-selling EV. ($1 = 7.2846 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Zhang Yan in Shanghai and Scott Murdoch in Sydney.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Zeekr, Zeekr confidentially, Didi, Amnon Shashua, Andy, Zhang Yan, Scott Murdoch, Kane Wu, Kim Coghill Organizations: bourse, underwriters, U.S, Reuters, Mobileye, Intel Corp, Tesla, Zhejiang Geely, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, New York, China, United States, Beijing, Zhejiang, Zeekr, Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Israel, Kazakhstan, Shanghai, Sydney, Hong Kong

☆ Banking chiefs say market vulnerable to 'geopolitical escalation', regulatory push
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Selena Li | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] UBS Chairman Colm Kelleher looks on during the Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit, in Hong Kong, China November 7, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu Acquire Licensing RightsHONG KONG, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Top global banking chiefs on Tuesday said they are concerned the financial sector's next crisis may come from rising geopolitical uncertainty which could test financial market resiliency, while the industry remains vulnerable to regulatory tightening. The trigger for the next global financial crisis is likely to come from the geopolitical or political space, said Morgan Stanley (MS.N) Chairman and CEO James Gorman. Gorman was among more than a dozen top executives of international firms speaking at the Global Financial Leaders Investment Summit hosted by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. REGULATION "WAY TOO FAR"The global banking bosses also took the stage of the Asia summit to voice their concerns in an unusually aggressive joint effort to push back on a set of stricter banking rules.

Persons: Colm Kelleher, Tyrone Siu, Morgan Stanley, MS.N, James Gorman, Gorman, " Gorman, Christian, Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, Solomon, Morgan Stanley's Gorman, Selena Li ， Kane Wu, Xie Yu, Scott Murdoch, Summer, Tom Hogue, Christopher Cushing, Lincoln Organizations: UBS, Global Financial, Investment, REUTERS, Tyrone, Investment Summit, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Deutsche Bank, Christian Sewing, UBS Group, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, China, HONG KONG, Israel, Gaza, Russia, Ukraine, Asia, U.S

☆ Proxy firm ISS recommends vote in favour of Brookfield-led consortium's Origin Energy bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Scott Murdoch | Thomson Reuters | Scott Murdoch Has Been A Journalist For More Than Two Decades Working For Thomson Reuters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has recommended investors vote in favour of a Brookfield-led consortium's $10.5 billion bid for Australia's Origin Energy (ORG.AX). Brookfield and EIG Partners has offered A$9.53 per share for Origin Energy. AustralianSuper, which holds a 15.03% stake, has said it believes the consortium's bid substantially "undervalues" Origin and will vote against the offer. Brookfield will take ownership of Origin's energy markets business if the vote is in favour of the bid, while EIG's MidOcean Energy will gain a 27.5% stake in Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG). In that scenario, EIG will own Origin and sell the energy markets business to Brookfield, meaning remaining shareholders, including AustralianSuper, will own only APLNG.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Scott Murdoch, Paul Simao Organizations: Brookfield, REUTERS, Rights, Services, Origin Energy, EIG Partners, Shareholders, Energy, Australia Pacific LNG, Thomson Locations: Brookfield, Australia, Sydney

Nov 6 (Reuters) - EIG Partners Chief Executive Blair Thomas said on Monday he is confident a Brookfield-EIG consortium can win support for its $10.5 billion bid for Origin Energy (ORG.AX) despite opposition from the Australian electricity and gas firm's top shareholder. Pension fund AustralianSuper said on Monday it had increased its stake in Origin to 15.03% from 13.67% and the A$9.53 per share bid remained "substantially" below its estimate of long-term value. Origin will hold a shareholder meeting on Nov. 23, where it will urge investors to vote in favour of the deal. If the deal is successful, Brookfield will take ownership of Origin's energy markets business, while EIG's MidOcean Energy will gain a 27.5% stake in Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG). Thomas confirmed both Brookfield and EIG had discussed with AustralianSuper the possibility of it participating in the deal earlier this year.

Persons: Blair Thomas, AustralianSuper, Thomas, EIG, Scott Murdoch, Lewis Jackson, Archishma Iyer, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: EIG Partners, EIG, Origin Energy, Brookfield, Energy, Australia Pacific LNG, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Brookfield, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ White House calls on Fox News to apologize after top host’s ‘sickening’ Islamophobic rant
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The right-wing television network has remained entirely silent amid fierce backlash stemming from Islamophobic comments made on its top-rated show, “The Five,” by one of its top hosts, Jesse Watters. In an astonishing and ugly rant, Watters on Wednesday said that he was fed up with Arab Americans and the entire Muslim world. As usual, Fox News hasn’t said a word about the hateful rant that streamed out of a top host’s mouth and into the homes of millions. And it’s not the first time that Watters has made abhorrent comments since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out. But in the charged environment we now find ourselves in, where hate against Muslim Americans is surging alongside anti-Semitism, it is particularly irresponsible and repugnant.

Persons: CNN —, Jesse Watters, Watters, ” Watters, you’re, —, ”, Fox News “, hasn’t, “, Rupert Murdoch’s, Tucker Carlson Organizations: CNN, CNN — Fox, Fox News, White, Fox, Hamas Locations: American, Israel, America

☆ Fox touts sports programming performance even as costs rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Drew Richardson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Fox Sports drove higher consumption overall for Fox Corporation last quarter, CEO Lachlan Murdoch said Thursday during the company's quarterly earnings call. "FOX Sports was a big driver of that consumption, especially with its broadcast of the Women's World Cup, where the U.S. versus the Netherlands on Fox with the most watched Women's World Cup game match ever on U.S. English language television," Murdoch said. Sports programming costs drove expenses higher, weighing on profit and offsetting revenue growth in the company's TV segment. Fox cited the Women's World Cup and the renewal of National Football League rights as major costs. But it comes with a massive price tag, especially as linear networks and streaming services have begun battling it out for programming rights.

Persons: Lachlan Murdoch, Murdoch, Fox Organizations: Fox Sports, Utah Utes, USC Trojans, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Fox Corporation, Fox, FOX, Netherlands, Sports, National Football League, YouTube, NFL, DirecTV Locations: Los Angeles

The company logo is seen on the headquarters of China Evergrande Group in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China September 26, 2021. Evergrande was also banned from issuing new dollar bonds, a key part of its original restructuring plan, while its flagship mainland unit was being investigated by regulators. The biggest challenge ahead for Evergrande will be convincing its creditors and shareholders in the two Hong Kong-listed units that the new proposal is worthwhile, industry experts said. The ad hoc group of bondholders is unhappy about the revised terms offering equity in the Hong Kong-listed subsidiaries, according to sources. ($1 = 7.8239 Hong Kong dollars)Reporting by Xie Yu and Julie Zhu in Hong Kong; Additional reporting by Clare Jim; Editing by Scott Murdoch and Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Aly, Evergrande, Hui Ka Yan, Xie Yu, Julie Zhu, Clare Jim, Scott Murdoch, Jamie Freed Organizations: China Evergrande Group, REUTERS, HK, Evergrande Property Services, New Energy Vehicle Group, Thomson Locations: China, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Guangdong

"AustralianSuper believes Origin has a highly strategic portfolio of assets to participate in, and benefit from, the energy transition," a spokesperson said. Origin shares plunged as much as 5.6% to A$8.565 in high-volume trading following the news, as AustralianSuper's 13.68% holding could scupper a deal that requires approval from 75% of the register if not all investors vote. Should the deal fail at the shareholder vote scheduled for Nov. 23, a revised agreement allows the consortium to make a subsequent off-market bid if it buys 5% or more of Origin shares. "If it gets voted down, Brookfield aren't obligated to come back with an off-market takeover offer, but they may be inclined to," he said. Should the deal close, Brookfield and its partners GIC and Temasek will own Origin's Energy Markets business, which includes power generation and retailing.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, AustralianSuper, Canada's Brookfield, Brookfield, Jamie Hannah, Simon Mawhinney, Allan Gray, Stewart Upson, Scott Murdoch, Lewis Jackson, Sameer Manekar, Jamie Freed Organizations: Brookfield, REUTERS, SYDNEY, bourse, Brookfield Asia, Energy Markets, Saudi Arabia's Aramco, Australia Pacific LNG, Thomson Locations: VanEck, Brookfield, Temasek, Saudi, Australia, Sydney, Bengaluru

Evergrande's lawyer said the company was working on a revised plan to "monetise the value" of its two Hong Kong-listed units - Evergrande Property Services Group (6666.HK) and Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group (NEV) (0708.HK). Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that plan included allowing Evergrande creditors to swap their debt into equity and bonds tied to these units. Evergrande, Evergrande Property Services and Evergrande NEV declined to comment. "Why would those shareholders want to see new debt issued to replace the existing debt issued by Evergrande, what is the benefit for them?" Evergrande's initial $23 billion offshore debt restructuring plan was thrown off course last month when its billionaire founder Hui Ka Yan was confirmed to be under investigation for suspected criminal activities.

Persons: Aly, Evergrande NEV, Mat Ng, Grant Thornton, Evergrande, Hui Ka Yan, Clare Jim, Xie Yu, Scott Murdoch, Miral Organizations: China Evergrande Group, REUTERS, Hong, Evergrande, Services, HK, New Energy Vehicle Group, Reuters, Evergrande Property, Thomson Locations: China, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, HONG KONG, HK, Hong Kong, Grant Thornton Hong Kong, SYDNEY

☆ Books Offer Shelter From the Storm of Dementia
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Alexandra Jacobs | More About Alexandra Jacobs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Well, it works too for dementia: that dull and darkening cloud that will dim more and more people’s lives as baby boomers enter old age. Alzheimer’s is the most common variant of dementia, like tequila is to mezcal — both of which might come in handy if you are helping care for someone with the disease. I’ve watched some version of it descend on both of my parents (hi Mom, for whom the print edition of The New York Times remains a blessed daily guidepost). A credit-card bill unpaid; a date forgotten; an episode of disorientation at a familiar train station — these might get excused and melt away. Then one day you wake up and realize you’re in a full-on blizzard.

Persons: “, ”, John Bayley, Iris, Iris Murdoch, —, I’ve Organizations: The New York Times Locations: Israel

AustralianSuper owns a 13.68% stake in Origin Energy and said the offer was "substantially below" its estimate of long-term value for Australia's biggest energy retailer. Origin shares were down 0.9% in early trade on Tuesday at A$9.10 each, which was above the $A8.81 offer price. Origin shares have been trading above the offer price since the deal got an approval from the country's competition regulator on Oct. 10. Origin shares closed at A$9.17 on Monday, 4.1% above the offer price. "The current offer from the Brookfield and EIG-backed consortium remains substantially below our estimate of Origin's long-term value," the firm said.

Persons: AustralianSuper, Max Vickerson, AusSuper, it’s, Scott Murdoch, Lewis Jackson, Sameer Manekar, Josie Kao, Lincoln, Chris Reese Organizations: Origin Energy, Brookfield, stockbroker Morgans, Frontier Economics, Energy, Thomson Locations: Brookfield, EIG, Sydey, Bengaluru

☆ Guilty pleas from ex-Trump attorneys deal blow to right-wing media outlets that amplified election lies
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —It’s raining “guilty” pleas in Trump-world. The rapid succession of guilty pleas not only marks a big blow to Trump, but also to the right-wing media apparatus that championed and disseminated his election lies to the masses. In the aftermath of the 2020 election, both Ellis and Powell toured across MAGA Media, becoming heroes to Trump’s fans as they sowed doubt about the legitimacy of the election. Fox News, which repeatedly hosted Ellis in the wake of the 2020 election, suddenly became disinterested in the former Trump lawyer. The result is that a good portion of the channel’s audience, made up of legions of viewers who willfully seclude themselves in right-wing media safe spaces, will likely miss the consequential news.

Persons: Jenna Ellis, Donald Trump’s, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, Trump, Ellis, Powell, they’re, ”, Donald Trump, ” Ellis, Matt Gertz, Trump’s, Rupert, Lachlan Murdoch Organizations: CNN, Salem Media, MAGA Media, Media, Fox News, Voting, Dominion Locations: Trump, Georgia, Fulton

Investors stand in front of a screen showing the logo of Nomura Holdings in Tokyo, Japan, December 1, 2015. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Japanese investment bank Nomura Holdings (8604.T) has laid off about 10 of its Hong Kong-based investment bankers, including some who were focused on China-related deals, said two sources with direct knowledge of the matter. The Japanese investment bank has seen its China-linked fortunes slipping lately. Its fortunes in regional equity capital markets were boosted by its leading advisory role in March on the $9.24-billion stake sale by Japan Post Holdings (6178.T) in Japan Post Bank Co(7182.T). Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Sydney and Selena Li in Hong Kong Editing by Helen PopperOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Nomura, LSEG, Goldman Sachs, Scott Murdoch, Selena Li, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Nomura Holdings, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Japan Post Holdings, Japan Post Bank Co, Bank of America, Citigroup, UBS, Hong, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Asia, Sydney

[1/5] A view of the residential apartments in Country Garden's Forest City development in Johor Bahru, Malaysia August 16, 2023. The group hired PJT Partners (PJT.N) as financial adviser to lead discussions with Country Garden, two people with knowledge of the matter said. Ratings agency Moody's said on Thursday it could downgrade Country Garden's (2007.HK) 'corporate family rating' if the recovery prospects for its creditors weaken further. Moody's said Country Garden's senior unsecured rating of C was already at the lowest of its rating scale. Country Garden and Frasers did not immediately respond for a request for comment on that sale.

Persons: Edgar Su, PJT, Moody's, Frasers, Houlihan Lokey, Sidley Austin, Yeung Kwok Keung, Yang Huiyan, Yeung, Yang, Cao Jianglin, Garden's, China Evergrande, Scott Murdoch, Xie Yu, Clare Jim, Anousha Sakoui, Liz Lee, Lewis Jackson, Kim Coghill, Christopher Cushing, Jamie Freed, Lincoln, Miral Fahmy, Jane Merriman Organizations: REUTERS, HK, PJT Partners, Garden's, Australian Financial, Reuters, China International Capital Corporation, Finance, HSBC, China National Agricultural Development, SOE, Thomson Locations: Garden's, City, Johor Bahru, Malaysia, China HONG KONG, Garden's Australian, Melbourne, China, Shunde, Guangdong province, Sydney, Hong Kong, London, Beijing, Sydndey

☆ Country Garden says founder, board chairperson at work, haven't left China
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Country Garden's founder and chairperson of the board are at work as usual, the debt-laden Chinese property developer said on social media on Thursday, denying online reports of the pair leaving the country. Founder Yeung Kwok Keung quit Country Garden's board in March and daughter Yang Huiyan became chairperson. Country Garden on Wednesday was due to pay a $15 million coupon payment on a bond due September 2025, but two bondholders told Reuters they were yet to receive it. On Wednesday, it said it was unlikely to be able to meet most of its upcoming offshore debt payments. Country Garden has almost $11 billion of offshore bonds outstanding.

Persons: Yeung Kwok Keung, Yang Huiyan, Yeung, Liz Lee, Scott Murdoch, Kim Coghill, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Shanghai

A construction site of residential buildings by Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured in Tianjin, China August 18, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY/LONDON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - A major group of Country Garden (2007.HK) offshore bondholders has appointed PJT Partners (PJT.N) as financial advisors to lead discussions with the troubled Chinese property developer, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter. Bondholders have been seeking urgent talks with the company since it missed a $15 million coupon repayment on Wednesday, putting it at risk of default. Country Garden did not immediately respond to a request to comment made outside of business hours. Reporting Scott Murdoch in Sydney and Anousha Sakoui in London, editing by Karin StroheckerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, PJT, Scott Murdoch, Anousha, Karin Strohecker Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, PJT Partners, Thomson Locations: Tianjin, China, LONDON, HK, Sydney, London

☆ Mitt Romney criticizes Fox News and right-wing media for warping Republican Party
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Mitt Romney, once the Republican Party’s standard-bearer, believes the right-wing media machine is at fault for much of the radicalization that has disfigured the GOP. In another excerpt, Romney expressed alarm at how prominent storylines in the right-wing media space demonized people that he believed should have been celebrated, such as an Olympian struggling with mental health. The warped political environment made Romney, once the archetype of its traditional conservative values, an outcast to right-wing media figures, which after a brief civil war, wholly embraced Trump following his election. But the call didn’t go well, with Hannity scolding Romney and accusing him of making certain comments to appease the mainstream press. “You’re just doing this because you want to get praise on MSNBC!” Hannity told Romney, according to the book.

Persons: Mitt Romney, McKay Coppins, “, ” Romney, Tucker Carlson, Romney, Donald Trump, Trump, Sean Hannity, Coppins, Hannity, “ You’re, ” Hannity, Hunter Biden, Carlson —, Sean, Tucker, Tucker —, ”, Mitt, Rupert Murdoch, Lou Dobbs fearmonger, Fox, “ Lou, “ Fox Organizations: CNN, Republican, GOP, Republican Party, Romney, Fox News, Trump, MSNBC, Fox Business Locations: Utah, “ Romney, Washington

[1/2] A worker looks on at a construction site of residential buildings by Chinese developer Country Garden, in Beijing, China August 11, 2023. Non-payment would trigger cross defaults in other Country Garden bonds as is standard in bond contracts. Country Garden reiterated on Wednesday that it expects to be unable to meet all of its offshore debt obligations and hopes to seek a "holistic" solution to its difficulties. Shares in Country Garden have lost some 70% of their value this year but gained some ground on Wednesday, rising 2.7%. "I think Country Garden offshore US dollar bond pricing speaks for itself as to the current expectations," said Real Estate Foresight co-founder Robert Ciemniak who publishes on Smartkarma.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Cedric Rimaud, Garden's, China Evergrande, Robert Ciemniak, Clare Jim, Xie Yu, Scott Murdoch, Anne Marie Roantree, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, HK, Foresight, Data, JPMorgan, Mainland Properties, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, HONG KONG, U.S, Hang, Hong Kong

[1/2] A worker looks on at a construction site of residential buildings by Chinese developer Country Garden, in Beijing, China August 11, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHONG KONG, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The grace period for Chinese property developer Country Garden Holding's (2007.HK) $15 million coupon payment has expired with no word that the money has been paid. Country Garden did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Country Garden has also missed other offshore payments in the past few weeks, though those payments still have not seen their 30-day grace periods lapse. A default would open the way for Country Garden's offshore creditors to begin negotiations with the firm's financial advisors.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Clare Jim, Scott Murdoch, Xie Yu, Sonali Paul, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, HK, Data, JPMorgan, Mainland Properties, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, HONG KONG, China's, Hang, Hong Kong, Sydney

The company logo of Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured at the Shanghai Country Garden Center in Shanghai, China August 9, 2023. The company last week warned of its inability to meet offshore debt obligations. Country Garden did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters on Wednesday. With nearly $11 billion of offshore bonds and $6 billion of onshore loans, a default by Country Garden would set the stage for one of China's biggest corporate debt restructurings. Country Garden has also missed other offshore payments in the past few weeks, though those payments still have not seen their 30-day grace periods lapse.

Persons: Aly, Scott Murdoch, Sonali Paul Organizations: Shanghai Country Garden, REUTERS, Rights, Garden Holdings, HK, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, New York, China's, Sydney

☆ Starboard says Rupert Murdoch's News Corp should break up
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Svea Herbst-Bayliss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Jeff Smith, CEO and chief investment officer of Starboard Value, L.P., speaks at a panel discussion at the SALT conference in Las Vegas May 14, 2014. Smith's remarks at the 13D Monitor Active Passive Investor Summit came after Reuters revealed last week that Starboard had become a News Corp shareholder, a prelude to a potential shake-up at Murdoch's media empire. "We believe separate news and real estate assets could help unlock $7 billion or more in value," he added. Starboard, which has pushed for changes at companies ranging from Salesforce (CRM.N) to Darden Restaurants <DRI.N,> would struggle to shake up News Corp without Murdoch's consent. If News Corp separates its real estate assets, shareholders would benefit, Smith said.

Persons: Jeff Smith, Rick Wilking, Rupert, Smith's, Smith, REA, Murdoch, Lachlan, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Sharon Singleton, David Gregorio Our Organizations: SkyBridge, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, 13D, Investor, Reuters, News Corp, Dow Jones, Street, Darden, Corp, Svea, Thomson Locations: Las Vegas

☆ Starboard CEO makes case for spinning off real estate assets from WSJ owner News Corp
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

– in particular to see its real estate business separated from the rest of the company. Smith said News Corp. should split out its real estate assets, including an interest in REA Group of Australia. On Tuesday, Smith called out the valuation discrepancies between the news and real estate businesses. Meanwhile, News Corp.'s real estate assets trade at eight-times, he said. "It's a great business, a great asset, it's just too cheap," Smith said of News Corp.'s stock price.

Persons: Jeffrey Smith, CNBC's David Faber, Smith, Murdoch, It's, it's Organizations: News Corp, –, REA Group of Australia . News Corp, Dow Jones, Wall Street, New, CNBC, Reuters, Street, Fox Corp, New York Times Locations: New York

☆ Starboard dusts off old plan at News Corp
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A view of the signage outside the News Corporation building in New York, U.S., September 21, 2023. REUTERS/Bing Guan Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Oct 16 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Maybe it takes a pile on to move the Murdoch family’s thinking. Reuters reported on Friday that Jeff Smith’s Starboard is the latest activist to try and unlock value at News Corp (NWSA.O), the publisher of the Wall Street Journal, owner of book conglomerate HarperCollins and Realtor.com. Starboard, which took a position in the $13 billion company, is pushing for a spinoff of the real estate assets, according to the Wall Street Journal. Last year Irenic Capital Management agitated for the same transaction in reaction to the Murdochs’ desire to reunite News Corp with broadcasting company Fox (FOXA.O).

Persons: Bing Guan, Murdoch, Jeff Smith’s, pushback, Jennifer Saba, Jean, Pierre Mustier, Atos, Larry Fink, Uncle Sam, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: News Corporation, REUTERS, Reuters, News Corp, Wall Street Journal, HarperCollins, Wall Street, Capital Management, Fox, X, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Europe

☆ The difficult task of verifying truth in a war zone, especially now
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A report of "40 beheaded babies" in Israel made the rounds last week as journalists worked to verify it. AdvertisementAdvertisementLast week, I was watching CNN and heard a someone describing the Hamas attacks on a kibbutz referencing 40 beheaded babies. The i24news' online story references "40 babies and young children" taken out on gurneys from the town of Kfar Aza. "I just wanted to clarify that I did not tweet 40 babies had been beheaded. Clearly fed up with the mess, BBC's Sardarizadeh, wrote on X, "War is not a game for retweets and likes on social media."

Persons: Claire Atkinson, —, Cooper, Nic Robertson, Robertson, Rashida, Kfar Aza, Marc Owen Jones, JK, Bel, Anna Botting, hadn't, Justin Peden, Sardarizadeh, Elon, Elon Musk, Thierry Breton, Musk, BBC's Sardarizadeh, Rupert Murdoch, She's, Atkinson Organizations: Media, Service, CNN, Fox, Fox News, The Independent, Sky News, Comcast, Times, The Media Locations: Israel, Kfar, Gaza

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