(Reuters) – Apple is in talks to license more films from Hollywood studios to boost its portfolio on Apple TV+ streaming service, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Streaming platforms have been looking to grow their library of offerings, including spending millions on licensing for movies and live sports programming, […]
Google brings AI to US broadcast of Paris Olympics
By Sheila Dang (Reuters) – Alphabet’s Google will infuse artificial intelligence into the U.S. broadcast of the Paris Olympics, allowing sports commentators to use AI to explain competitions, the tech company said on Thursday alongside NBCUniversal and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Google will be named the official search AI partner of Team USA, […]
Trump-style ear bandages are new trend at Republican National Convention
MILWAUKEE (Reuters) – At the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week, a fashion trend with a difference has emerged — fake ear bandages, donned by attendees as a symbolic gesture of support for Donald Trump. Trump has appeared at the convention wearing a large bandage where a would-be assassin’s bullet grazed his right ear […]
Exclusive-Collaboration software maker Smartsheet fields buyout interest, sources say
By Milana Vinn and Anirban Sen (Reuters) – Smartsheet, a U.S. maker of workplace collaboration software with a market value of $6.3 billion, has tapped investment bankers after attracting acquisition interest from buyout firms, according to people familiar with the matter. The Bellevue, Washington-based company is working with Qatalyst Partners to review approaches from private […]
New British government proposes planning overhaul to boost growth
LONDON (Reuters) – The new British government on Wednesday said that the delivery process for critical infrastructure would be streamlined and more power given to local leaders under a proposed planning overhaul aimed at unlocking growth. New Prime Minister Keir Starmer has made boosting Britain’s anaemic growth one of the government’s core aims since winning […]
US online sales hit $7.2 billion on first day of Amazon Prime Day event, Adobe says
(Reuters) – Shoppers spent about $7.2 billion online across retailers during the first day of Amazon’s Prime Day in the United States, according to a report from Adobe Analytics on Wednesday. Major retailers including Walmart and Target have launched deals and shopping events through July to attract customers by offering deep discounts to compete with […]
Exclusive-Apax, Bain and CVC exploring potential bids for SoftwareOne, sources say
By Amy-Jo Crowley and Oliver Hirt LONDON (Reuters) – Apax Partners, Bain Capital and CVC are each exploring potential bids for SoftwareOne, two people with knowledge of the situation said, three months after the ouster of the Swiss software company’s board. Talks with interested funds are ongoing, one of the people said. Four sources mentioned […]
US hits former Israeli military sergeant with visa restrictions
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. has imposed visa restrictions against a former Israeli military sergeant for his alleged involvement in gross violations of human rights in the occupied West Bank, including an extrajudicial killing, the State Department said on Wednesday. As a result of the restrictions, Sergeant Elor Azaria “and any immediate family members are […]
Squishmallows maker can sue Build-A-Bear over alleged knockoffs
By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) – A U.S. judge rejected Build-A-Bear Workshop’s effort to dismiss a lawsuit claiming that its Skoosherz plush toys were unauthorized knockoffs of Squishmallows, the popular plush toys made by a unit of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. In a decision on Monday, U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton in Los Angeles […]
Microsoft’s hiring of former Inflection AI staff prompts UK probe
By Yadarisa Shabong and Martin Coulter (Reuters) – Britain’s competition regulator has started a formal investigation into Microsoft’s hiring of some former staff of Inflection AI and its partnership with the startup, it said on Tuesday. Over the past 18 months, regulators around the world have increasingly focused on potentially anti-competitive behaviour in the AI […]