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  • Starbucks China attracts bids valuing the coffee chain at up to $10 billion

    Starbucks China attracts bids valuing the coffee chain at up to $10 billion

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  • Scientists discover Burmese pythons have never-before-seen cells that help them digest entire skeletons

    Scientists discover Burmese pythons have never-before-seen cells that help them digest entire skeletons

    Researchers found that specialized cells in Burmese pythons’ (Python bivittatus) intestinal lining process calcium from the bones of their meals. This helps explain how these predators digest whole prey.

    The team published its findings June 25 in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

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  • Baker McKenzie Advises LumApps on Legal Due Diligence for Merger with Beekeeper | Newsroom

    Baker McKenzie Advises LumApps on Legal Due Diligence for Merger with Beekeeper | Newsroom

    Baker McKenzie advised LumApps, a prominent leader in intranet platforms, on legal due diligence matters in connection with its merger agreement with Beekeeper. The merger comes with a combined valuation exceeding USD 1 billion, and the two firms’ strategic alliance will result in the creation of the first AI-powered Employee Hub, merging Swiss engineering excellence with a global presence. Serving over 7 million users and generating approximately USD 150 million in recurring revenues, the newly formed entity aims to set new benchmarks in workplace technology.

    This merger positions the LumApps group as the foremost market leader in intranet packaged solutions, effectively catering to both office-based and operational employees. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in July 2025. LumApps remains majority-owned by funds managed by Bridgepoint.

    Baker McKenzie advised LumApps on legal due diligence in all jurisdictions where Beekeeper maintains a business presence, i.e. in Switzerland, Germany, the UK, Poland and the United States.

    M&A Partners Alexander Fischer (Zurich) and Christian Vocke (Frankfurt) together with Olha Demianiuk (partner, M&A Geneva), Erika López (partner, M&A Chicago) and Eva Kriechbaumer (counsel, M&A Munich) led the cross-border team, which consisted of, in particular, the following:

    Baker McKenzie Switzerland
    • Matthias Trautmann (partner, M&A)
    • Christoph Stutz (partner, employment and compensation)
    • Nicolas Eckert (associate, M&A)
    • Roger Thomi (partner, antitrust and competition)
    • Andreas Becker (associate, employment and compensation)
    • Agathe Perron (associate, dispute resolution)
    • David Rohner (associate, dispute resolution)
    • Nadine Charriere (associate, IP)

    Baker McKenzie Germany
    • Sebastian Ens (counsel, M&A)
    • Moritz Jander (associate, M&A)
    • Annika Kissner (associate, employment and compensation)
    • Sebastian Pfrang (associate, employment and compensation)

    Baker McKenzie US
    • Erika López (partner, M&A)
    • Christopher Guldberg (partner, employment and compensation)
    • Janel Brynda (of counsel, employment and compensation)
    • Shenna Johnson (associate, M&A)
    • Kamari Koonce (associate, M&A)
    • Yanshu Zhang (associate, M&A)
    • Loic Coutelier (associate, employment and compensation)

    Baker McKenzie Warsaw
    • Lukasz Targoszynski (partner, M&A)
    • Krzysztof Sierpiński (associate,employment and compensation)
    • Michał Pakosz (associate, employment and compensation)
    • Anna Krekora (associate,M&A)
    • Katarzyna Baranowska (associate, M&A)

    About LumApps
    LumApps is a modern intranet platform that enhances employee experience by improving communication, boosting productivity and fostering growth. It integrates with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, serving over 6 million users, and is recognized as a leader in the field by Gartner and Forrester. Supported by Bridgepoint since 2024, LumApps continues to revolutionize workplace technology.

    About Beekeeper
    Beekeeper was founded in 2012 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. It focuses on mobile solutions for operational employees in industries such as manufacturing, retail and construction.

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  • ‘It’s my creative outlet’ – Ed Sheeran turns to art in time off from touring | Ed Sheeran

    ‘It’s my creative outlet’ – Ed Sheeran turns to art in time off from touring | Ed Sheeran

    He has dominated the past decade of UK music with his ability to craft earworm melodies that can become mass sing-alongs but Ed Sheeran has been swapping the recording booth for the artist’s studio.

    The singer, who grew up in a household with two parents who worked in art, is teaming up with Damien Hirst’s company Heni to sell prints of his Jackson Pollock-esque paintings in order to raise money for his foundation.

    The prints, which are being sold for just over £900 each, are large canvases he created during downtime after touring and in between recording sessions.

    Sheeran said: “I started painting at the end of my Divide Tour in 2019 and it’s something that I’ve used as a creative outlet ever since. When I was growing up, both of my parents worked in art, so I’ve naturally always been interested in it, and I always enjoyed studying art at school.”

    Created using household paint, the colourful canvases – dubbed the Cosmic Carpark Paintings – will be displayed in an exhibition at the Heni Gallery in central London from 11 July to 1 August.

    “I was back and forth on tour last year, and I used a lot of my downtime in the UK to paint. I’d run to a disused car park in Soho each morning, paint, then run home and I’d do that daily until I headed back out on tour again,” added Sheeran.

    Ed Sheeran at work on his ‘cosmic’ paintings. Photograph: Ellie Lawrie/Prudence Cuming Associates

    While he is keen not to be compared to other artists, the work is said to be “inspired by celestial patterns, and in keeping with his well-documented, expressionist splash painting style”.

    The Ed Sheeran Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting music education in state schools and grassroots organisations across the UK, will receive 50% from the print sales.

    The singer led a call for Keir Starmer to commit £250m of funding for music education, which was backed by Elton John, Coldplay, Harry Styles, Stormzy and Central Cee.

    In an open letter to the prime minister, signed by more than 500 music figures, Sheeran wrote: “As an industry, we bring in £7.6bn to the UK economy, yet the next generation is not there to take the reins. Last year was the first in over 20 years without a UK global Top 10 single or album in the charts.”

    He called on the government to set up a taskforce to work together to ensure music education remained high on the agenda.

    Ed Sheeran’s Unfolding Cosmos, a household gloss painting on canvas. Photograph: Ellie Lawrie/Prudence Cuming Associates

    The letter said: “The time to act is now. State schools, which educate 93% of the country’s children, have seen a 21% decrease in music provision.

    “We collectively ask for a £250m UK music education package this spring to repair decades of dismantling music. Music in and out of school should be for all, not a few.”

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    Sheeran has donated artwork – including a £40,000 painting – to raise money for charity. In 2021, he conducted a raffle to fundraise for the charity, Cancer Campaign in Suffolk. The singer charged £20 a ticket and the initiative brought in more than £50,000.

    The singer created the covers for several of his albums and EPs, including the artwork for his 2021 single Afterglow. He used Hirst’s spinning wheel to create the artwork for his album Divide.

    When Sheeran appeared on Desert Island Discs in 2017, he discussed his love of art and the influence of his father, who worked as a curator. “He has always said that art is meant for enjoyment,” he said. “You don’t acquire art as an investment.”

    Sheeran has an art collection that includes work by Harland Miller, known for placing provocative slogans on Penguin books. “I have pretty much the most provocative word prominently displayed in my home,” he added. “My dad said as long as you enjoy art, you never lose.”

    The National Portrait Gallery has a portrait of Sheeran painted by Colin Davidson in its collection.

    The singer has eight No 1 albums to his name, and has been the most played artist on British airwaves and in public spaces seven times.

    His next album, Play, is scheduled for release this September.

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  • LME Copper Falls on Trump, Chinese Stocks Rise: Markets Wrap

    LME Copper Falls on Trump, Chinese Stocks Rise: Markets Wrap

    (Bloomberg) — Copper futures fell in London after President Donald Trump sowed chaos in metals markets by indicating the US would implement a higher-than-expected 50% tariff on imports of the commodity.

    Copper climbed as much as 17% in New York on Tuesday, a record one-day spike to an all-time high, before falling more than 4% in early trading on Wednesday. On the LME, the metal slid as much as 2.4% at the open, before easing to change hands at $9,653 a ton, 1.4% lower, at 1:08 p.m. in Singapore.

    The Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index rose as much as 0.4% and is set for its highest close since January 2022. Asian shares and US equity-index futures dipped 0.1% while contracts for Europe edged up 0.2%. Treasuries fell and the dollar gained slightly. 

    Traders are holding back from adding to their portfolios as they gauge the impact of escalating trade tensions, looking for signals on where stocks might head next after reaching record highs last week. Trump showed a renewed determination Tuesday to push ahead with his plans to heavily tax imports after a slew of tariff warning letters on partners such as South Korea and Japan.

    “Trump’s recent winning streak —on both the trade and geopolitical front—has effectively lowered his bar for escalating trade tensions, turning tariff threats into endless background noise,” said Hebe Chen, a market analyst at Vantage Markets in Melbourne. “Markets and traders aren’t just fatigued—they’re lost in an ever-thickening foggy forest. For now, the smart move is to stay still and wait for something real to cut through the fog.”

    Trump vowed to push forward with his aggressive tariff regime in the coming days, stressing he would not offer additional extensions on country-specific levies set to now hit in early August while indicating he could announce substantial new rates on imports of copper and pharmaceuticals. 

    The posturing on social media and at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday came after traders initially shrugged off a series of letters and executive actions Trump issued Monday. 

    Trump said that despite progress with the European Union on a trade deal, frustration over the bloc’s taxes and fines targeting US technology firms could result in him unilaterally declaring a new tariff rate within the next two days.

    Meanwhile, US copper prices posted a record gain in the last session after Trump said he planned to implement a 50% tariff on imports. Benchmark copper futures fell in London on expectations that more supply will end up in other markets.

    Elsewhere, China’s factory deflation persisted into a 33rd month while consumer prices unexpectedly rose in June, data showed Wednesday.

    The still-weak inflation may keep pressure on policymakers to ramp up stimulus to escape a vicious cycle of falling prices, business profits and wages. Investors are turning their focus to Beijing’s July politburo meeting, for more forceful support measures after the government announced recent efforts to reduce factory overcapacity.

    “Domestic investors are building position ahead of the July Politburo meeting and also discussions that there could be some property stimulus,” said Billy Leung, investment strategist at Global X ETFs in Sydney. Overseas investors are also buying the relative under-performance of stocks in the mainland compared with those in Hong Kong, he said.

    Corporate News:

    • Starbucks Corp. has received proposals from prospective investors in its China business, most of whom are eyeing a controlling stake in the operation.
    • Fujitsu Ltd. shares dropped the most since April in Tokyo after the chair of a UK public inquiry called for the firm to release a compensation plan for victims of the Post Office scandal
    • Merck is nearing a $10 billion deal for respiratory drugmaker Verona, the FT reported.

    Some of the main moves in markets:

    Stocks

    • S&P 500 futures were little changed as of 6:55 a.m. London time
    • Nasdaq 100 futures were little changed
    • The MSCI Asia Pacific Index was little changed
    • Japan’s Topix rose 0.4%
    • Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.6%
    • Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.9%
    • The Shanghai Composite rose 0.4%
    • Euro Stoxx 50 futures rose 0.2%

    Currencies

    • The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was little changed
    • The euro was little changed at $1.1717
    • The Japanese yen fell 0.3% to 146.96 per dollar
    • The offshore yuan was little changed at 7.1831 per dollar
    • The British pound was little changed at $1.3591

    Cryptocurrencies

    • Bitcoin rose 0.1% to $108,793.14
    • Ether rose 1.2% to $2,630.38

    Bonds

    • The yield on 10-year Treasuries advanced one basis point to 4.41%
    • Japan’s 10-year yield was little changed at 1.495%
    • Australia’s 10-year yield advanced nine basis points to 4.35%

    Commodities

    • Spot gold fell 0.3% to $3,291.57 an ounce
    • West Texas Intermediate crude fell 0.3% to $68.15 a barrel

    This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation.

    –With assistance from Alfred Cang and Joanne Wong.

    ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.

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  • Netanyahu and Trump prioritize Gaza hostages and Hamas ceasefire in US talks – Reuters

    1. Netanyahu and Trump prioritize Gaza hostages and Hamas ceasefire in US talks  Reuters
    2. LIVE: Israel bombs Gaza refugee camp; Trump, Netanyahu meet for second time  Al Jazeera
    3. Trump, Netanyahu hold urgent White House talks on Gaza ceasefire amidst rising casualties  Ptv.com.pk
    4. Trump meets with Netanyahu amid Gaza ceasefire talks  BBC
    5. Netanyahu says meeting with Trump focused on efforts to free hostages  Dawn

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  • Rare flower found thriving in Hoddesdon nature reserve

    Rare flower found thriving in Hoddesdon nature reserve

    A rare flower has been rediscovered for the first time in seven years thriving in a nature reserve – thanks to perfect weather conditions and the control of dense vegetation.

    The Tubular Water Dropwort, a member of the carrot family of plants, had been threatened with near extinction.

    About 130 of the plants were found by the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust team at Rye Meads Nature Reserve near Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire.

    Ian Carle, nature reserves manager at the trust, described it as “an incredible find, given its rarity.”

    According to the trust, the rare flower was discovered amongst the dense vegetation of the wetland meadow which was cut back last year.

    Tubular Water Dropwort can be identified by distinctive rounded, white and pink heads.

    There has not been a reported sighting of the plant at the nature reserve since 2018.

    Mr Carle continued: “When these plants are in flower, they are easier to identify and to count, which is why we look for them at this time of year.

    “Cutting the meadow last year has opened up the vegetation benefiting species such as the Water Dropwort.”

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  • Chris Gayle gives an honest take on Wiaan Mulder not wanting to break Brian Lara’s record – Firstpost

    Chris Gayle gives an honest take on Wiaan Mulder not wanting to break Brian Lara’s record – Firstpost

    Chris Gayle has criticised Wiaan Mulder for declaring on 367 not out in the second Test against Zimbabwe, saying the South African batter missed a golden chance to break Brian Lara’s world record 400*. Mulder’s decision has sparked debate across the cricket world.

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    South Africa’s
    Wiaan Mulder may have won hearts with his selfless declaration during the second Test against Zimbabwe, but West Indies legend Chris Gayle believes the young batter missed a golden opportunity to enter cricket’s history books.

    Mulder shocked fans and pundits alike when he declared South Africa’s innings at 626/5 in Bulawayo with himself unbeaten on 367, just 33 runs short of Brian Lara’s world-record 400 not out in Tests. The decision sparked a debate across the cricketing world, with some praising the move as selfless, while others felt Mulder may regret it later.

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    Gayle criticises Mulder’s decision to declare on 367*

    Gayle, speaking on talkSPORT, did not hold back in expressing his disappointment. “If I could get the chance to get 400, I would get 400. That doesn’t happen often. You don’t know when you’re going to get to a triple century again. Any time you get a chance like that, you try and make the best out of it,” Gayle said.

    “But he was so generous and said he wanted the record to stay with Brian Lara. Maybe he panicked, he didn’t know what to do in that situation. Come on, you’re on 367, automatically you have to take a chance at the record. If you want to be a legend, how are you going to become a legend? Records come with being a legend,” he added.

    Mulder said he declared because the team had enough runs and that he wanted “legend” Lara to keep the record. Meanwhile, Gayle questioned that mindset, calling it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and adding that Mulder has blown it big time.

    “I think it was an error from his side, not to try and go to get it. We don’t know if he would go on and get it or not. But he declared on 367 and he said what he had to say. But listen, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to get 400 runs in a Test match. Come on, youngster, you’ve blown it big time!”

    Despite the missed record, Mulder’s 367 not out is now the highest individual Test score by a South African, surpassing Hashim Amla’s 311*. He also broke the record for the highest score in an away Test and registered the second-fastest triple century in Test history.

    Mulder was the stand-in skipper in the absence of Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj. South Africa eventually dismissed Zimbabwe by an innings and 236 runs to win the series 2-0.

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  • Researchers develop blood test panel for early Alzheimer’s detection

    Researchers develop blood test panel for early Alzheimer’s detection

    Researchers at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, are developing a panel of biomarkers for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and for distinguishing it from other types of dementia using blood tests. The research project is supported by FAPESP and is based on the genotype analysis of 500 volunteers with and without the disease.

    One of the most recent findings by the research group, published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging, was the identification of a rare genetic alteration related to Alzheimer’s disease that is also associated with high levels of the ADAM10 protein. The study examined 85 individuals with cognitive impairment and the genetic condition, all of whom had high levels of the protein in their blood.

    The protein is known among scientists for its role in cleaving, or breaking down, the beta-amyloid precursor protein. This prevents the formation of plaques in the brain, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.

    ADAM10 is an old candidate biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease that in recent years has gained prominence due to advances in ultrasensitive equipment that allows these molecules to be detected at very low concentrations in the blood plasma.”


    Márcia Regina Cominetti, from the Biology of Ageing Laboratory (LABEN-UFSCar) and one of the project’s coordinators

    The study found that the genetic condition involving alterations in the E4 allele of the APOE gene could result in an increase in inactive ADAM10 molecules in the blood. Consequently, the amount of active molecules would decrease, reducing their ability to inhibit the formation of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain.

    Complex disease

    Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia worldwide, affecting over 35.6 million people. Not only is there no cure, but diagnosis remains a major challenge for medicine. The earlier it is identified, the greater the chance of delaying the onset of symptoms. This is because, until now, reversing the neurodegenerative process has only been possible in the early stage of the disease, known as mild neurocognitive impairment. This stage is characterized by cognitive decline without significantly affecting the individual’s functionality.

    In this context, UFSCar researchers are developing prognostic blood tests based on ADAM10 that can identify individuals with mild cognitive impairment who are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

    “Our studies indicate that not only in the case of this rare condition but also in other causes of Alzheimer’s disease ADAM10 acts in a pathway prior to the formation of beta-amyloid plaques. With this, it’s possible, if everything goes as our hypothesis predicts, that it could be a prognostic marker, indicating, before the formation of these pathological milestones, whether or not the person has a chance of developing the disease,” says the researcher.

    Cominetti points out that, currently, the detection of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain and hyperphosphorylated tau protein (another hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease) is highly accurate for diagnosis. “However, differentiating one dementia from another is still a major challenge. In this sense, a combination of biomarkers could, for example, make broader population screening possible through blood tests,” he says.

    In partnership with the Chemistry and Gerontology departments at UFSCar, the researchers have developed a sensor that uses ADAM10 levels in the blood to distinguish between healthy older adults and those with Alzheimer’s disease. The test is currently being validated through studies with 500 volunteers.

    “We’re moving towards finding prognostic markers for the disease. Many people wonder why they’re looking for a diagnosis if there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s yet. The fact is that we’re working in the long term. At some point, a cure may appear and then it’ll be extremely important to have a diagnostic method like the one we’re proposing to develop,” he says.

    Another important aspect of the project, Cominetti notes, is the construction of a genetically diverse database that also considers risk factors for Alzheimer’s, such as education level, income, and quality of life. “We’ve completed the genetic sequencing of the 500 volunteers, creating a database without equal in the world. As well as reflecting Brazil’s genetic variability, the database is the result of a population that has distinct characteristics from the Global North, where most research is conducted. This is important because it’s known that the relevance of risk factors for Alzheimer’s can vary between rich and poor regions,” explains Cominetti.

    Source:

    São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)

    Journal reference:

    de Carvalho Pelegrini, L. N., et  al. (2025). Higher soluble ADAM10 plasma levels are associated with decreased cognitive performance in older adults carrying APOEε4. Neurobiology of Aging. doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2025.04.003.

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  • Ed Sheeran’s artwork to feature in new London exhibition

    Ed Sheeran’s artwork to feature in new London exhibition

    Alice Cunningham

    BBC News, Suffolk

    Ellie Lawrie Ed Sheeran kneels in front of one of his artworks. He wears a white suit that is covered in paint and he has red hair.Ellie Lawrie

    Ed Sheeran began painting in 2019 and created his latest works in a disused London car park

    A new exhibition will feature original art works created by singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran.

    The pop star branched into painting in 2019, but said he had always enjoyed studying art in school while growing up in Suffolk.

    He created several paintings between shows last year in a disused London car park and was encouraged to hold an exhibition of them at the Heni Gallery in Soho, London, until August.

    “I started painting at the end of my Divide Tour in 2019 and it’s something that I’ve used as a creative outlet ever since,” Sheeran explained.

    Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd Ed Sheeran walks beside a black canvas that is laid on the floor. He throws pink paint over the canvas. He wears white overalls that are splattered in paint.Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

    Sheeran said he used painting as a creative outlet in between making music

    “When I was growing up, both of my parents worked in art, so I’ve naturally always been interested in it, and I always enjoyed studying art at school.

    “I was back and forth on tour last year, and I used a lot of my downtime in the UK to paint.

    “I’d run to a disused car park in Soho each morning, paint, then run home and I’d do that daily until I headed back out on tour again.”

    Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd/Ed Sheeran A photograph of one of Ed Sheeran's canvas paintings. It is a black canvas that has been splattered with paint of all different colours.Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd/Ed Sheeran

    The works were originally created for Sheeran’s friends and family before he was convinced to exhibit them

    The exhibition has been called Cosmic Carpark Paintings and admission is free with no appointment required.

    The new works have been inspired by celestial patterns and are in keeping with Sheeran’s splash painting style.

    The works will be displayed in the Heni Gallery from Thursday to 1 August.

    They can also be bought, with proceeds being donated to The Ed Sheeran Foundation, which works to offer music education and opportunities to young people from all backgrounds.

    Sheeran explained he had told artist Damien Hirst as well as Joe Hage, founder of Heni, about his paintings, and they encouraged him to do the exhibition.

    He will perform three sell-out homecoming concerts at Portman Road stadium in Ipswich on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

    Getty Images Ed Sheeran performs on stage. He stands in front of a microphone and looks away from the camera while smiling. He has red hair and wears a white T-shirt. A guitar strap rests around his torso as he plays.Getty Images

    Sheeran’s proceeds from any sales will go to his foundation

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