US approves $15 billion in Patriot and missile defense upgrades for Poland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $15 billion sale of an Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS) and related equipment to Poland as it upgrades its air defenses, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. Despite State Department approval, the notification did not indicate that a contract had…

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Oracle extends its flagship database to Ampere’s computing chips

By Stephen Nellis MENLO PARK, California (Reuters) – Oracle on Wednesday said that it has modified its flagship database software to work on a new category of computing chip, starting with chips from Ampere Computing, a startup founded by former Intel executives. Oracle’s database software is used by major banks and corporations to track transactions….

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From caterers to cowboy outfitters: Writers’ strike hits Hollywood economy

By Lisa Richwine and Dawn Chmielewski LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Before Hollywood writers walked off the job in early May, Pam Elyea’s prop house History for Hire filled an average of 53 requests per week for everything from period-appropriate cameras and luggage to camping gear and snow globes. Weekly orders this year now average 26…

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OPEC withholds media access to Reuters, Bloomberg, WSJ for July event

(Reuters) – OPEC has withheld media access to reporters from Reuters, Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal to cover a meeting of oil industry CEOs with energy ministers from OPEC and its allies, reporters and several people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. The three media organizations are among the world’s leading suppliers of…

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Bed Bath & Beyond splits auction, doubt grows over Buy Buy Baby sale process – CNBC

(Reuters) – Bed Bath & Beyond is splitting the bankruptcy-run auction of its Buy Buy Baby chain into two phases, CNBC reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. An auction was originally scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, the report said, adding that now only bids for the chain’s intellectual property, including its…

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Spartan Capital broker faces probe tied to deals advised by Morgan Stanley – WSJ

(Reuters) – Federal prosecutors are investigating whether a broker at Spartan Capital Securities traded on confidential information about planned mergers and acquisitions illegally obtained from Morgan Stanley, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. Jordan Meadow’s communications with five people, including a former Morgan Stanley employee, are under the scanner, the report said, citing people familiar…

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Russia’s Lavrov says Moscow is in contact with U.S. about embassies

(Reuters) – White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has been in touch with Moscow to discuss the respective Russian and U.S. embassies, and the two sides are in talks on the subject, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday. The two countries’ embassies have been severely and reciprocally scaled down in recent years as…

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