Latest News
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Sony Financial shares soar 40% on their debut market
Sony Financial shares jumped up to 40% on their Tokyo debut after being spun off from the entertainment and technology conglomerate Sony. Sony, which focuses on entertainment, distributed shares of its finance division, including banking and insurance, through dividends-in-kind to shareholders. This is the first partial spinoff in Japan to take advantage of the 2023 tax changes and the first direct listing for more than two decades. After trading for the first hour and thirteen minutes in Tokyo at 10:13 am, the shares reached 210 yen before trading at 201.6 at 10:30 am. The reference price is 150 yen. Direct listing is a stock market listing without the traditional initial public offer. Sony Financial announced that it would buy back shares worth up to 100 billion Japanese yen (671.1 million dollars). Sony wants to expand into movies, music and games and continue to be the leader in image sensors.
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Oil prices drop as Kurdistan resumes crude exports, OPEC+ plans to increase output
Oil prices fell by nearly 1% Monday, after the Kurdistan region of Iraq resumed crude exports through Turkey at the weekend. OPEC+ also plans to increase oil production in November. Brent crude futures dropped 63 cents or 0.90% to $69.50 per barrel at 0023 GMT, after Friday's settlement, which was the highest since July 31, had been reached. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude was trading at $65.07 per barrel, down 65c or 0.99%. This is a significant reversal of Friday's gains. Michael McCarthy, CEO Moomoo Australia & New Zealand, said that "ongoing fears of increased production are limiting gains but a tight outlook near term has crude prices in an abyss as trading week starts." Iraq's oil minister said that crude oil began flowing through the pipeline on Saturday for the first time since 2-1/2 years after a deal was reached to break a deadlock. Iraq's oil ministry told Kurdish radio Rudaw that the agreement between Iraq's Federal Government, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), and foreign oil companies operating in the area will allow for 180,000-190,000 barrels of crude oil to flow into Turkey's Ceyhan Port each day. The U.S. pushed for a restart that is expected to bring 230,000 bpd or more of crude oil back to the international market at a moment when OPEC+ increases output to gain share. Three sources familiar with the discussions said that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) will likely approve a crude production increase of at least 137,000 bpd during its Sunday meeting, as the rising oil price encourages the group to continue to gain market share. OPEC+, however, has been pumping nearly 500,000 bpd below its targets. This is contrary to market expectations that there would be a glut of supply. Brent and WTI both rose by more than 4% in the past week. This was their largest weekly gain since June as Ukraine's drone strikes on Russia's infrastructure for energy cut off fuel exports. Russia launched a sustained attack on Kyiv, and other parts in Ukraine, early Sunday morning. It was the longest assault on the capital city since the war started. (Reporting and editing by Leslie Adler, Jamie Freed, and Florence Tan)
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Indonesia's Pertamina says fuel retailer Vivo agrees to purchase gasoline
Pertamina, the Indonesian state energy company, said that Vivo Energy Indonesia, a private retailer, has agreed to purchase 40,000 barrels out of 100,000 barrels imported by Pertamina to relieve fuel shortages in private retailers. Shell, BP AKR – the operator of BP’s fuel stations – Vivo and other companies ran out of supplies this month after more customers sought them out following a report on the quality of Pertamina’s gasoline. In order to alleviate the shortages, the government has allowed private retailers to import additional fuel via Pertamina. Vivo has agreed to an inter-company process with Pertamina. Vivo will take 40,000 barrels of the 100,000 barrels offered by Pertamina Patra Niaga to serve its clients. Pertamina Patra Niaga said it had ordered 16,000 kilolitres of gasoline (100,640 barrels) that arrived this past week. The state firm offered the cargo to petrol stations including Shell and BP AKR. Dumatubun stated that a surveyor will be appointed by both parties to conduct a quality-and-quantity test of the gasoline following the agreement. A spokesperson for the energy ministry also stated that fuel was now available to private retailers and companies were in discussions about distribution. Shell declined to immediately comment. Shell refused to comment immediately. According to the energy ministry, the remaining import quota of Pertamina of 7.52 million kilolitres could be used by private retailers. Reporting by Fransiska Nanangoy, Jakarta; Editing and proofreading by Kirsiska Donovan and Kim Coghill
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Michigan church shooting leaves 1 dead and 9 injured, police report
Local police reported that a man drove through the doors of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shot at least ten people and killed one of them. The gunman got out of the vehicle and fired an assault-style weapon. William Renye, Grand Blanc Police Chief said. He said that the car smashed into the church and set it on fire. Social media footage showed smoke billowing from the building while firefighters sprayed water on the fire. Fire trucks and emergency vehicles parked nearby. The chief of police said that authorities believe they will discover additional victims among the ruins. The police did not immediately reveal the name of the suspect who died on the scene after an exchange of gunfire. The chief said that there were no officers at the church. Renye said he was a 40-year old man from Burton in Michigan. No further details are available at this time. In a social media statement, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer stated that her heart was breaking for the Grand Blanc Community. She said that violence, especially in places of worship is unacceptable. Officials from the United States, including U.S. attorney general Pam Bondi and U.S. president Donald Trump, announced that they were briefed about the shooting. Bondi wrote on X: "Such violent acts in a place for worship are heartbreaking and terrifying." In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said that this shooting "appears yet another targeted assault on Christians in the United States of America", and the FBI were on the scene. "THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!" Informally, the Mormons are known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Grand Blanc is a small town with 7,700 residents located about 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of Detroit. Reporting by Brendan O'Brien, in Chicago; Joseph Tanfani, in New York; and Rebecca Cook, in Grand Blanc. Editing by Will Dunham and Leslie Adler.
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Turkish prosecutors have ordered the detention of Ciner, according to state media.
In an investigation of media company Can Holding, which purchased TV channels from Ciner Group's mining-to energy conglomerate, Turkish prosecutors ordered Turgay Ciner to be detained and some of his companies seized. Prosecutors ordered Can Holding to be seized on September 11 as part of an investigation into money-laundering, tax evasion, and organised crime. Can Holding purchased major television channels Haberturk Show TV and Bloomberg HT, from Ciner Group in late 2018. In a report by the state-owned Anadolu News Agency, Istanbul's chief prosecutor said that Turgay Ciner was arrested on Sunday after a suspicion of money laundering was raised. In the statement of the prosecutor, it was also stated that state trustees were appointed to manage Ciner’s Park Holding Inc. and its affiliated companies AFC Import Export Tourism and Zeyfa Import Export. The statement also said that detention warrants had been issued to 10 executives from companies connected to the group in connection with the investigation. Turgay Ciner was not immediately available for comment. Reporting by Darryl Butler and Can Sezer, Editing by Jonathan Spicer, Peter Graff
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Nigeria's oil union stops gas supply to Dangote Refinery due to mass dismissals
The Nigerian oil workers' union ordered its members to stop gas supplies to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. This escalated a labour conflict after hundreds of workers had been dismissed, and threatened to disrupt fuel supplies in Africa's largest nation. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (PENGASSAN), has directed major oil companies to immediately stop crude and natural gas deliveries to refineries. According to a letter from September 26, the union accused Dangote of "misinformation" and "propaganda" rather than addressing allegations of wrongfully disengaging unionised employees. Dangote Refinery announced on Friday that it had fired a few workers citing sabotage at various units. This sparked criticism by an oil workers union who claimed that over 800 Nigerians were fired and replaced with foreigners, mostly from India. DISPUTE ADDS FURTHER PRESSURE ON DANGOTE REFINERY PENGASSAN's General Secretary Lumumba OKugbawa said that crude oil valves should be closed and vessels heading there immediately stopped being loaded. Dangote Refinery stated that the dismissals are part of an organisational reorganization to improve safety, efficiency and productivity. It stated late Saturday that "absolutely, no law" gives PENGASSAN authority to order its branches to "cut off" gas and crude oil supply to Dangote Refinery at all or even to 'interfere' or disrupt their contracts with suppliers and vendors. This dispute puts pressure on the $20-billion refinery that announced it would stop selling petrol in naira as of September 28th due to a shortage of crude and mismatches with foreign exchange rates. This has led to concerns over fuel prices rising and further pressure on Nigeria's currency. PENGASSAN has said that chairs of union chapters in oil majors should "report immediately the progress of the Directive", signaling a coordinated shut down could disrupt the fuel supply of the country. Reporting by Tife owolabi, Isaac Anyaogu and Ben Ezeamalu. Editing by Toby Chopra, Bernadette Baum and Bernadette Chopra.
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Media reports: At least 29 people killed and 50 injured in Indian actor-politician Vijay’s rally
The Hindu newspaper, citing state Health Minister Ma, reported that at least 29 people died and 50 were injured during a protest held by Tamil actor-politician Vijay, in Tamil Nadu state, south of India. Subramanian. The report stated that large crowds attended the meeting as part of Vijay’s ongoing tour of the state for his political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. Vijay is a single-named candidate who will be running in the state elections to be held at the beginning of next year. The report also stated that at least 44 doctors were sent from nearby districts Tiruchirappalli (Tirupati) and Salem (Salem). In a recent post, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the incident at a Karur political rally is "deeply saddening". The health ministry of Tamil Nadu and the office of Chief Minister MK STALIN in Tamil Nadu did not respond to calls. The news from Karur was worrying, said Stalin in an X-post. He added that he directed ministers and other officials to provide immediate medical aid to those who had collapsed during the Karur rally. Additionally, he ordered Tiruchirappalli to send additional help. (Reporting and editing by Barbara Lewis in Bengaluru, with reporting by Devika Nirra from Bengaluru)
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Peru's Gen-Z protests pensions, corruption and President Boluarte
On Saturday, Peruvian youth will rally for a second round of protests to protest against President Dina Boluarte, one week after clashes between police and protesters in the capital left over a dozen officers, journalists, and protesters injured. Protests broke out on September 20, following changes to Peru's pension system, which required all Peruvians over 18 years of age to sign up with a pension provider. However, they were also fuelled by anger that had been building against Boluarte for a long time. "There has been a low level of simmering discontent in Peru for quite some time," said Jo-Marie Burt. She is a visiting professor in Princeton University's Latin American Studies program and has studied Peruvian politics over the past decade. Burt stated that the discontent was fueled by corruption, economic insecurity and rising crime. There is also anger about the lack of accountability for dozens of protesters killed by security force when Boluarte took power late in 2022, after former president Pedro Castillo had been removed from office. According to the July report of the Institute of Peruvian Studies, Boluarte has a 2.5% approval rating while Congress is at 3%. Apart from the unrest, protests in the mining industry have shaken the country. Hudbay Minerals announced on Tuesday that it had temporarily closed its mill in Peru due to the ongoing unrest. Peru is the third-largest copper producer in the world and also a major gold and silver producer. The Peruvian Youth Take to the Streets The Gen Z protests in Peru follow the youth demonstrations that took place in Nepal and Indonesia. The demonstrations have been marked by a skull wearing a straw cap, a symbol taken from the Japanese manga "One Piece", about pirates who are on the hunt for treasure. Leonardo Munoz, a protester in Lima who has adopted the symbol. Munoz explained that "the main character Luffy travels from one town to another, freeing people of tyrannical and corrupt rulers who rule over slave towns." It represents what is happening in different countries. "That's what's happening in Peru right now." According to the INE statistics agency in Peru, 27% percent of Peruvian population are between 18 and 29 years old. "We are tired of it being normalized. "Since when have normalized death? Since when have normalized corruption and extortion?" asked Santiago Zapata a student activist. "My generation is now coming out to protest because we are tired of being made to feel scared when the government that we elected should be afraid of us." DEMOCRATIC BACSLIDING IN PERU & ABROAD Burt says that the protests are part of a larger context where democracies around the world are under pressure. They also follow the efforts by the administration to weaken the courts, watchdogs, and prosecutors. She said: "It is very similar to what happened under Fujimori in the 1990s, when the justice was captured essentially for the consolidation of authoritarian controls." Burt pointed out that while the United States is less inclined to support democracy abroad and there are still concerns about the administration's erosion of electoral institutions in the run-up to the 2026 elections in Peru, previous protests helped to "hold the line" against institutions being taken over and even led to the removal of presidents. "Democratic forces can mobilize, and act in unexpected, positive ways, even if there is almost total control from these authoritarian system," Burt said. He added that the key will be whether or not protests are sustained over time. "The opera is still not over."
Databricks expects to generate $4 billion annually in revenue from the surge in AI demand
Databricks, a firm that provides analytics, announced on Monday that it is on track to reach $4 billion in revenue annually, an increase of more than 50% over the previous year. This was due to the surge in demand for its artificial-intelligence products.
The Series K funding was led by Andreessen Hoowitz, Insight Partner, MGX Thrive Capital, and WCM Investment Management. It raised $1 billion with a valuation of over $100 billion.
The proceeds will be used to accelerate the company's AI strategy. This includes expanding its products, launching an entirely new category of operational databases, as well as future AI research and acquisitions.
The company, which serves around 15,000 clients, including Shell, a major energy company, and Rivian, an electric vehicle manufacturer, has exceeded a revenue run rate of $4 billion, with AI products exceeding $1 billion.
Databricks aims to achieve a net revenue retainment of more than 140%. It also wants more than 650 clients with annual spending exceeding $1 million and a positive free cashflow over the last 12 months.
Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi said in an interview that the company has received numerous investor inquiries since July's successful $1.22 billion initial public offering of design software firm Figma, another venture capital-backed startup. Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi stated in an interview that his firm has received many investor inquiries following the $1.22 billion IPO of Figma, a venture-backed software company, in July.
Databricks was founded in 2013 and offers a platform that helps users to ingest, analyse, and build AI apps using complex data. (Reporting by Kritika Lamba in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)
(source: Reuters)