UK Economy Contracted in April in Warning for Starmer
The UK economy shrank for the first time in six months, calling into question whether Prime Minister Keir Starmer can achieve the growth he is counting on to fund his government's spending ambitions.
Gross domestic product dropped 0.3% in April after healthy growth in the previous two months, the Office for National Statistics said Thursday. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had predicted a 0.1% decline. Services and manufacturing shrank, while construction grew.
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High-Level Financial Roundtable at the Brazil Lithium & Critical Minerals Summit 2025 Drives Capital Mobilisation for Brazil's Critical Minerals Sector
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - June 11, 2025) - (The Net-Zero Circle) The "Critical Minerals & Capital - An Exclusive Dialogue" Financial Roundtable took place last week at the Niemeyer Room of the Ouro Minas Hotel during the 2nd Brazil Lithium & Critical Minerals Summit 2025, organized by IN-VR and Invest Minas. This invitation-only, strategic session gathered an elite group of financiers, investors, mining operators, government representatives, and technology providers for an in-depth dialogue on accelerating investment flows into Brazil's rapidly growing critical minerals sector. As Brazil cements its role as a global powerhouse in lithium, nickel, graphite, and other essential minerals, this roundtable offered a unique platform to explore innovative financing solutions and foster collaboration among key stakeholders in the critical minerals value chain. Key themes discussed included: Innovative financing mechanisms tailored for lithium and critical mineral projects Challenges and opportunities in early-stage and infrastructure funding The pivotal role of public-private partnerships and development bank support ESG-linked finance and sustainability criteria shaping capital allocation Policy and regulatory frameworks influencing investor confidence Case studies showcasing successful financing structures in Latin America Held in a focused and facilitated format, the roundtable encouraged active participant engagement, enabling representatives to share their portfolios, highlight investment priorities, and identify pathways for strategic collaboration. Prominent participants included representatives from: UK Export Finance (UKEF) Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) Ministry of Finance (Ministério da Fazenda) Toronto Stock Exchange European Investment Bank UK Government Mining operators including Pilbara Minerals (PLS), Companhia Brasileira de Lítio (CBL), Atlas Lithium, Perpetual Resources, Spark Energy Minerals, Aclara Resources Financial institutions such as Banco Safra, Banco do Nordeste, Prisma Capital, Regia Capital, BDMG, YVY Capital, and Ore Investment - "I'm proud to say that Minas Gerais provides the legal and political stability necessary for sector development." – Ronaldo Barquette, Director of Investment Attraction at Invest Minas; - "I'm available to collaborate with financial institutions on matters related to mineral rights." – Caio Trivellato, Director at National Mining Agency (ANM); (Klaus Petersen from Viridis Mining, Ronaldo Barquette from Invest Minas and Guillaume Legaré from Toronto Stock Exchange at the Financial Roundtable)To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Minas Gerais stands at the heart of Brazil's critical minerals landscape, supported by the region's rich mineral endowments and Brazil's strategic commitment to the global energy transition. This roundtable reinforces Minas Gerais' position as a hub for capital mobilization, innovation, and sustainable mining development. The Financial Roundtable at the Brazil Lithium & Critical Minerals Summit 2025 exemplifies the critical role of strategic, high-level collaboration in unlocking investment and accelerating responsible development within Brazil's vital mineral sectors. About IN-VRIN-VR is a leading global consultancy specializing in energy, mining, and investment promotion, bridging the gap between governments and the private sector. With a track record of organizing premier industry summits, IN-VR facilitates high-impact investment opportunities and strategic collaborations worldwide. About Invest MinasInvest Minas is the investment promotion agency of Minas Gerais, dedicated to attracting foreign investment and fostering economic development in Brazil's lithium and critical minerals sector. For media inquiries, or to schedule interviews, please contact:Alberto CruzAssociate Marketing Director, IN-VRe-mail: alberto@ END OF PRESS RELEASE. To view the source version of this press release, please visit Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
New York Times
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Why do Man Utd keep signing such coveted players? Easy. They're massive
Why is anyone remotely surprised that Manchester United, despite suffering their worst season since being relegated in 1973-74, remain attractive to players? United are one of the three biggest clubs in the world, along with Barcelona and Real Madrid. Their history of triumphs and tragedy is one of the most compelling in football, and they are remarkably resilient. After relegation in the 1970s, crowds increased. In 1949, the club attracted 81,565 fans for an FA Cup game against non-League Yeovil Town that wasn't even played at home: the tie was staged at Maine Road, United's temporary stadium as Old Trafford was being repaired due to bomb damage. Regardless of results that left them 15th in last season's Premier League, United's DNA is appealing: attacking football, promoting young players, never giving up. The gates are huge (an average of 73,815 last term), the status of the club, too. I met the CEO, Omar Berrada, last week at Old Trafford and asked him if it was difficult to attract new signings, given the perception of United as a club in decline and not having Champions League football to offer. He shook his head, adding that he was interested in recruiting players who want to join United because they believe in the club, not whether they were in Europe's elite competition. He said that wasn't difficult and if any didn't want to come because the team aren't in the Champions League, United probably don't want them anyway. Advertisement There's a romance connected to playing for United, and the chance to make the club great again appeals to footballers' egos. Yes, money talks, and United pay very well — too well, given how poor the team have been — but plenty of other clubs offer huge wages, so there must be more at play. Joining United gives a footballer the chance to appear in front of the biggest, sell-out crowds in the world's best league every week. Brentford or Bournemouth are two very well-run clubs who battered United on the pitch last season but, with respect, it's hard to become a giant of world football at either of those clubs. Even a few appearances for United elevate your standing everywhere. Move to Old Trafford and you'll be following in the footsteps of giants, determined to become one yourself. When Matheus Cunha, in his unveiling statement issued yesterday, said that 'ever since I was a child in Brazil watching Premier League games on TV at my grandmother's house, United was my favourite English team and I dreamed of wearing the red shirt', it was entirely believable. Cunha, who signs from Wolverhampton Wanderers, is old enough to remember great United sides. A worry is that if it's another 12 years of no league titles, such memories won't exist for future signings, but that glorious history can't be expunged. Things have, admittedly, already changed. 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HKSTP Delegation Debut at VivaTech 2025 Paris
Bridging French and Hong Kong innovation ecosystems to supercharge global tech development Hong Kong SAR and Paris, France--(Newsfile Corp. - June 13, 2025) - Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) is leading 18 of Hong Kong's brightest innovators in AI and robotics, healthtech, greentech and fintech in its first-ever delegation to VivaTech 2025, Europe's largest startup and tech showcase held in Paris. The delegation joins a strong showcase of startups at the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). HKSTP is leading 18 of Hong Kong's brightest innovators in AI and robotics, healthtech, greentech and fintech in its first-ever delegation to VivaTech 2025 Paris. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: HKSTP is Hong Kong's largest innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem and an engine for taking home-grown innovators to global markets, while also propelling international innovators to success across Asia. This debut at VivaTech provides a unique and ideal platform for innovators to collaborate and evolve their technologies to meet new needs and new market opportunities in Europe and on the global stage. Standout Hong Kong tech pioneers recognised at VivaTech this year include: Ailytics was awarded as one of the five winners of the EDF Startup Challenge and named among the Top 30 VivaTech Innovations of the year, with its AI powered video analytics solutions enhance safety, productivity and operational efficiency for heavy industries in particular. AQUMON and Midas Analytics were nominated as the Top 12 FinTech Trail with their AI-driven data analysis solutions. Imsight, OKOsix, and Vismed have been nominated as finalists in the Tech for Change Award, recognising their wellbeing management solutions respectively in cancer diagnostics, biomaterial composition, and medical training and care. At VivaTech, HKSTP and its park companies made significant strides in bridging Hong Kong and French I&T ecosystems and explore new market opportunities. Westwell Technology, a smart new energy solutions provider for container logistics industry, confirmed a strategic partnership with the leading European logistics provider Logicor to co-host an innovation exhibition of an integrated logistics solution of new energy commercial vehicle and autonomous driving at Garonor park in Paris. PointFit, a wearable tech company with pioneering non-invasive and continuous lactate monitoring device, announced partnership with France-based Kinomap, an interactive indoor-training app and platform. In addition, a partnership agreement was signed between HKSTP and Startup Genome, the leading innovation ecosystem development organisation, to promote global ecosystem collaboration and partnership via events and networking opportunities for members. Hilda Chan, Chief Marketing Officer at HKSTP, said: "Innovation development in Asia plays a key part in tomorrow's world. Hong Kong offers deep connectivity, globally fluent talent, as well as trusted legal and financial systems. The ground-breaking technology on show at VivaTech this year highlight the immense potential from connecting global innovation, with Hong Kong serving as an ideal base for innovators with aspirations and ambitions." France has made clear on its desire to drive a new era of innovation-powered growth with AI unicorns leading a global charge; while Hong Kong consistently ranked second globally in the Global Innovation Index by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This landmark delegation to VivaTech is enabling the convergence of two fast-rising world-class I&T ecosystems in Hong Kong and France. Furthering the notion, HKSTP is organising EPIC for the ninth year, inviting the world's boldest and burgeoning startups to compete for a targeted investment funding of US$100m, an opportunity to scale, and an immersive experience with like-minded visionaries in Hong Kong this November. The flagship pitching competition saw extraordinary success in past years, with the previous iteration attracted over 600 applicants from 47 economies -- EPIC 2025 is setting bar even higher, and open calling for global applications until 17 June 2025, 23:59 (GMT+8): Hashtag: #HKSTP The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. HKSTP Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) was established in 2001 to create a thriving I&T ecosystem grooming 13 unicorns, more than 15,000 research professionals and over 2,300 technology companies from 25 countries and regions focused on developing healthtech, AI and robotics, fintech and smart city technologies, etc. Our growing innovation ecosystem offers comprehensive support to attract and nurture talent, accelerate and commercialise innovation for technology ventures, with the I&T journey built around our key locations of Hong Kong Science Park in Pak Shek Kok, InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong and three modern InnoParks in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long realising a vision of new industrialisation for Hong Kong, where sectors including advanced manufacturing, micro-electronics and biotechnology are being reimagined. Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch in Futian, Shenzhen plays positive roles in connecting the world and the mainland with our proximity, strengthening cross-border exchange to bring advantages in attracting global talent and allowing possibilities for the development of technology companies in seven key areas: Medtech, big data and AI, robotics, new materials, microelectronics, fintech and sustainability, with both dry and wet laboratories, co-working space, conference and exhibition facilities, and more. Through our R&D infrastructure, startup support and enterprise services, commercialisation and investment expertise, partnership networks and talent traction, HKSTP continues to contribute in establishing I&T as a pillar of growth for Hong Kong. More information about HKSTP is available at Angela To view the source version of this press release, please visit Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
