Apple in talks to license more Hollywood films, Bloomberg News reports

(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, to attract users in a competitive industry. The iPhone maker did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for a comment. … Read more…

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, marking the first time a tech company has partnered with the sports nonprofit, the three organizations said in a statement. … Read more…

Factbox-Trump’s foreign policy: rethink NATO, troops to Mexico, boost tariffs

By Gram Slattery WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican former President Donald Trump is planning to fundamentally alter the U.S. relationship with NATO should he win a second four-year term in office.  On the campaign trail, he has also floated sending armed forces into Mexico to battle drug cartels and slapping expansive tariffs on friends and foes alike. Here is a look at the foreign policy proposals Trump has pledged to institute should he win the 2024 … Read more…

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Factbox-Stocks to watch as Biden, Trump vie for presidency

(Reuters) -Investors are closely watching stocks that could be impacted by the outcome of the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential elections, especially those more exposed to government policy actions such as banking and clean energy. While U.S. President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump are locked in a close election rematch, a two-day Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that Trump had opened a marginal lead in the race to the White House after surviving an assassination … Read more…

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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 Bain and CVC and two of them also named Apax. SoftwareOne’s board was ousted in April after it rejected a … Read more…

Oil prices gain 2% on big US storage withdrawal, weaker US dollar

By Scott DiSavino NEW YORK (Reuters) -Oil prices climbed about 2% on Wednesday on a bigger-than-expected weekly drop in U.S. crude stockpiles and as a weaker U.S. dollar overshadowed signs of lower economic growth in China. Brent futures rose $1.35, or 1.6%, to $85.08 a barrel by 1:33 p.m. EDT (1733 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $2.09, or 2.6%, to settle at $82.85. On Tuesday, Brent closed at its lowest level … Read more…

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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 industry, with Microsoft’s various deals with smaller startups facing mounting scrutiny. In March, the tech giant hired Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder … Read more…

Amazon Prime Day sales to hit record $14 billion, data firm says

By Ananya Mariam Rajesh and Arriana McLymore (Reuters) – Shoppers are likely to spend roughly $14 billion during Amazon’s Prime Day two-day shopping event this week, according to projections from Adobe Analytics, a firm that studies e-commerce transaction data. Spending at Amazon on Tuesday and Wednesday could rise 10.5% from Prime Day 2023, Adobe said. The online retailer began holding Prime Day a decade ago, typically in July. Prime Day accounts for 1% to 2% … Read more…

Exclusive-Four in five Americans fear country is sliding into chaos, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

By Jason Lange WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Americans fear their country is spiraling out of control following an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, with worries growing that the Nov. 5 election could spark more political violence, a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Tuesday found. The two-day poll found Republican presidential candidate Trump opening a marginal lead among registered voters – 43% to 41% – over Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden, an advantage that was within the … Read more…

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Warner Bros Discovery rises after BofA says possible sale of assets likely beneficial

(Reuters) – Shares of Warner Bros Discovery rose more than 6% on Tuesday after Bank of America (BofA) Global Research said the company could create more value for its shareholders if it explored strategic options, including a potential sale. The loss-making media conglomerate has been reeling from the effects of subdued advertising in the U.S. and certain international markets. The fallout of last year’s Hollywood strikes have also impacted the company’s studio segment. Warner could … Read more…