BUSINESS

SOHO HOUSE RETURNS TO PRIVATE OWNERSHIP IN $2.7 BILLION DEAL

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The iconic Soho House private members' club, once hailed as a sanctuary for creativity and exclusivity, is returning to private hands in a $2.7 billion acquisition led by MCR Hotels and joined by actor and investor Ashton Kutcher.

FORD COMMITS $2BILLION TO LOUISVILLE PLANT FOR AFFORDABLE ELECTRIC TRUCKS

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Ford Motor Company has announced a $2 billion investment to overhaul its Louisville, Kentucky, Assembly Plant, with plans to produce a new generation of affordable electric vehicles. The initiative, which will add 2,200 jobs, is part of Ford's broader $5 billion commitment to domestic EV manufacturing, including a $3 billion battery facility in Michigan.

SWATCH APOLOGIZES FOR CONTROVERSIAL AD AFTER UPROAR

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Swiss watchmaker Swatch is facing a public relations crisis after an advertisement featuring a model pulling the corners of his eyes drew widespread condemnation from Chinese social media users, prompting the company to issue an apology and withdraw the advert. Critics argued that the pose resembled the "slanted eye" gesture, a historically racist caricature used to mock people of Asian descent, and called for a boycott of Swatch products in response.

TESLA APPLIES TO SUPPLY BRITISH HOMES WITH POWER

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Seeking to expand its reach beyond electric vehicles and energy storage, Tesla has applied for a license to supply electricity to British homes, a move that could shake up the established UK energy market. If approved by Ofgem, the energy regulator, Tesla would be authorized to compete directly with the major players in the UK energy sector, providing electricity to households and businesses in England, Scotland, and Wales as soon as next year.

ROLLS-ROYCE SAYS AI COULD BOOST ITS DOMINANCE

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With the boom in artificial intelligence (AI) straining global energy resources, Rolls-Royce believes its nuclear reactors could provide a sustainable power source, potentially making the company the UK's most valuable, its CEO has said. The engineering firm has already signed agreements to supply small modular reactors (SMRs) to the UK and Czech governments.

APPLE TO INVEST ANOTHER $100 BN IN US

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Apple will invest an additional $100 billion in the United States, bringing its total pledge to $600 billion over the next four years, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday. He described the investment, made alongside Apple CEO Tim Cook at the White House, as "the largest investment Apple has made in America," and pointed to a new iPhone screen production facility in Kentucky.

PERPLEXITY BIDS $34.5 BILLION TO BUY CHROME FROM GOOGLE

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Perplexity AI, a fast-growing artificial intelligence startup, has surprised the tech industry with a $34.5 billion all-cash offer to acquire Google's Chrome browser. The bold move comes despite the bid exceeding Perplexity's own $14 billion valuation and would require significant outside financing.

UBER INITIATES $20 BILLION BUYBACK AS RIDER RETENTION AND AV INTEGRATION DRIVE GROWTH

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Uber Technologies Inc. posted strong second-quarter results, surprising analysts with an 18% jump in revenue and unveiling a massive $20 billion share repurchase plan. The ride-hailing giant's performance comes as its strategic bets on loyalty, automation, and partnerships begin to bear fruit.