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How ‘Solo’ star Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) went from YouTube comic to ‘Star Wars’ 13 Mins Ago Before Donald Glover (also known as Childish Gambino) played Lando Calrissian in the new "Star Wars" movie, he was making viral YouTube comedy videos that caught Tina Fey's attention.

How ‘Solo’ star Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) went from YouTube comic to ‘Star Wars’

MOSCOW, May 4 (Reuters) - Russia’s National Wealth Fund declined to $63.91 billion as of May 1, down from $65.88 billion a month earlier, the Finance Ministry said on Friday. The ministry said earlier this year it had fully drained its Reserve Fund to plug budget holes by the end of 2017, ahead of switching to a new budget mechanism which will lower the dependence of the Russian economy on global oil prices. (Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya Writing by Katya Golubkova Editing by Maria Kiselyova)

Russia's National Wealth Fund at $63.91 bln as of May 1

STOCKHOLM, May 16(Reuters) - Swedish apartment prices fell 7 percent in the February-April period from the same period a year earlier, data from an association of Swedish real estate agents showed on Wednesday. Prices of single-family homes were unchanged, the Svensk Maklarstatistik association said. Compared with the January-March period, apartment prices were down 1 percent while single-family home prices were stable. Property prices in the Nordic country have surged higher for most of the last two decades and households are among Europe’s most indebted. But the market has cooled in recent months, mostly due to a surge in building and tighter mortgage regulations. Earlier this week, Statistics Sweden said the average price of Swedish houses fell 1 percent in the three months to the end of April. Most analysts and households expect the market to stabilize this year. Reporting by Johan Sennero; Editing by Simon Johnson

Swedish apartment prices fell 7 pct Feb-April vs year earlier - Maklarstatistik

Development of lead product candidate, AsiDNA™, for the treatment of advanced solid tumors, progressing according to plan DRIIV phase I clinical trial ongoing Interim results expected in H2 2018 Cash position of €9.2 million at March 31, 2018, sufficient to support Company’s operations until mid-2019, including through multiple key catalysts PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: Onxeo S.A. (Euronext Paris, NASDAQ Copenhagen: ONXEO FR0010095596), a biotechnology company specializing in the development of innovative drugs in oncology, notably against rare or resistant forms of cancer, today provided a business update and announced its consolidated revenues and cash position at March 31, 2018. Judith Greciet, Chief Executive Officer of Onxeo, said: “The first quarter of 2018 was highlighted by strong momentum in the development of AsiDNA™, our lead product candidate. Following the significant efforts of our R&D team over the previous months, we recently initiated the DRIIV phase I clinical trial in order to evaluate the potential of AsiDNA™, our first-in-class DNA repair inhibitor, administered intravenously, in patients with advanced solid tumors. We expect interim data from this study to be available in the second half of 2018. If these results confirm both the safety profile of AsiDNA™ and its activity, we will have achieved a key milestone in our AsiDNA™ development program. Importantly, we continue to advance our core R&D programs according to plan while maintaining strict cost control. As such, we expect that our current cash position of €9.2 million will support our currently planned activities until mid-2019, including through multiple potentially value-creating inflection points for our company.” Recent corporate highlights Initiated patient enrollment in the DRIIV ( D NA R epair I nhibitor administered I ntra V enously) phase I clinical trial of AsiDNA™ administered intravenously. The aim of the study is to assess the safety profile of AsiDNA™ and identify the optimal clinical dose, as well as determine its active dose at the tumor level, in patients with advanced solid cancers. The interim results are expected in the second half of 2018. Presented the results of two pre-clinical studies highlighting the potential of AsiDNA™ as an anti-cancer treatment during two poster sessions at the 2018 AACR Annual Meeting in April. Granted a composition of matter patent in Europe in January 2018 covering multiple product candidates, including AsiDNA™, and providing protection until 2031, with a potential extension to 2036. Onxeo’s intellectual property portfolio for DNA-targeting technologies, product candidates and combinations now includes 10 patent families worldwide. Q1 2018 financial information In the first quarter of 2018, revenues were €687 thousand and consisted of: €475 thousand in recurring revenue corresponding to net sales from the Beleodaq® named patient program in Europe, as well as royalties on sales from US partner, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals. Recurring revenues now relate solely to Beleodaq sales following the divestiture of non-core products, Loramyc® and Sitavig®, to Vectans Pharma in July 2017. Beleodaq revenues in the first quarter of 2018 were up 15% compared to the first quarter of 2017. €212 thousand in non-recurring revenue corresponding to the appropriate fraction of upfront payments from licensees. The implementation of the new IFRS15 standard regarding revenue recognition as of January 1, 2018, negatively impacted Onxeo’s non-recurring revenue by approximately €240 thousand in the first quarter of 2018. At March 31, 2018, the Company had a consolidated cash position of €9.2 million. Onxeo expects that these resources will be sufficient to support the Company’s operations until mid-2019, including currently planned clinical and pre-clinical activities, and through multiple potentially value-creating milestones. UPCOMING FINANCIAL PUBLICATIONS & EVENTS Shareholder’s general meeting on the second call : Tuesday, June 19, 2018 Half-year 2018 results: Friday, July 27, 2018 About Onxeo Onxeo (Euronext Paris, NASDAQ Copenhagen: ONXEO) is a French biotechnology company developing innovative oncology drugs based on DNA-targeting and epigenetics, two of the most sought-after mechanisms of action in cancer treatment today. The Company is focused on bringing early-stage first-in-class or disruptive compounds (proprietary, acquired or in-licensed) from translational research to clinical proof-of-concept, a value-creating inflection point appealing to potential partners. Onxeo’s R&D pipeline includes belinostat , an HDAC inhibitor (epigenetics) currently being developed in oral form to be used in combination with other anti-cancer agents for liquid or solid tumors. Belinostat is already conditionally FDA-approved in the US as a 2 nd line treatment for patients with peripheral T cell lymphoma and marketed in the US by Onxeo’s partner, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, under the name Beleodaq® (belinostat IV form). Onxeo is also developing AsiDNA™ , a first-in-class DNA break repair inhibitor based on a unique decoy mechanism. AsiDNA™ has already successfully completed a Phase I trial in metastatic melanoma via local administration, and is currently being developed for systemic (IV) administration in solid tumors. AsiDNA™ is the first compound generated from platON™ , the Company’s proprietary chemistry platform of decoy oligonucleotides based on three components, a sequence of double strand oligonucleotides, a linker and a cellular uptake facilitator. PlatON™ will continue to generate new compounds that will broaden Onxeo’s pipeline. For further information, please visit www.onxeo.com . Forward looking statements This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Onxeo and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Onxeo to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Onxeo is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Onxeo to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the section 5.7.1.4 “Risk Factors” ("Facteurs de Risque") of the 2017 reference document filed with the Autorité des marchés financiers on April 25, 2018 under number D.18-0389, which is available on the Autorité des marchés financiers website ( www.amf-france.org ) or on the Company’s website ( www.onxeo.com ). View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180516006045/en/ Onxeo Valerie Leroy, +33 1 45 58 76 00 Investor Relations [email protected] or Media Relations Caroline Carmagnol / Tatiana Vieira, 33 (0) 1 44 54 36 65 [email protected] or Investor Relations / Strategic Communication NewCap Dušan Orešanský / Emmanuel Huynh, +33 1 44 71 94 92 [email protected] or Investor Relations US LifeSci Advisors Brian Ritchie, +1-212-915-2578 [email protected] Source: Onxeo S.A.

Onxeo Provides Business Update and Reports First Quarter 2018 Financial Information

May 7 (Reuters) - CPT Technology Group Co Ltd: * SAYS APRIL CONSOLIDATED REVENUE AT 366.6 MILLION YUAN, JAN-APR CONSOLIDATED REVENUE AT 1.5 BILLION YUAN ($235.72 million) Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2jBC6Ll ($1 = 6.3636 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom) Our

CPT Technology Group's April Consolidated Revenue At 366.6 Million Yuan

Images of April 8:51am EDT - 01:38 Images taken by Reuters photographers around the world in April 2018, including the inter-Korean summit, deadly protests on the Gaza-Israel border, a migrant caravan seeking asylum in the U.S. and the Toronto van attack. Produced by David Lucas. Images taken by Reuters photographers around the world in April 2018, including the inter-Korean summit, deadly protests on the Gaza-Israel border, a migrant caravan seeking asylum in the U.S. and the Toronto van attack. Produced by David Lucas. //reut.rs/2rcclow

Images of April

The following Spanish stocks may be affected by newspaper reports and other factors on Tuesday. Reuters has not verified the newspaper reports, and cannot vouch for their accuracy: VIDRALA Vidrala said on Tuesday it expected double-digit annual growth in earnings per share for the full year 2018. PHARMA MAR Pharma Mar says gets recommendation of Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) to continue Phase III trial with Zepsyre in small-cell lung cancer. REE Goldman Sachs raises to “neutral” from “sell” ORYZON Oryzon Genomics has received approval from UK’s MHRA to conduct Phiia clinical trial with Ory-2001 in patients with Alzheimer. BANKIA Bankia says has entered into an agreement with Credit Agricole for creation of a joint venture to jointly operate in consumer finance segment in Spain. For today’s European market outlook double click on. For real-time moves on the Spanish blue-chip index IBEX please double click on For IBEX constituent stocks highlight .IBEX in the command box and press the F3 button on your keyboard For latest news on Spanish stock moves double click For Spanish language market report double click on For latest Eurostocks report please double click on

Spanish stocks - Factors to watch on Tuesday

May 21 (Reuters) - Nexeon Medsystems Inc: * NEXEON MEDSYSTEMS ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2018 FINANCIAL RESULTS * Q1 REVENUE $2.87 MILLION Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:

BRIEF-Nexeon Medsystems Q1 Revenue $2.87 Million

May 17, 2018 / 4:41 PM / Updated 2 hours ago ATP World Tour Masters 1000 / WTA Premier, Rome Masters Men's Doubles Results Reuters Staff 2 Min Read May 17 (OPTA) - Results from the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 / WTA Premier, Rome Masters Men's Doubles matches on Thursday .. 2nd Round .. 1-Lukasz Kubot (POL) and beat Santiago Gonzalez (MEX) 7-6(4) 6-7(5) Marcelo Melo (BRA) and 1-0(2) Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK) 6-Juan Sebastian Cabal beat Robin Haase (NED) and 6-7(5) 7-5 (COL) and Jean-Julien Rojer (AHO) 1-0(8) Robert Farah (COL) 4-Henri Kontinen (FIN) and beat John Isner (USA) and 7-6(2) 6-3 John Peers (AUS) Jack Sock (USA) 8-Feliciano Lopez (ESP) beat Juan Martin del Potro (Walkover) and (ARG) and Marc Lopez (ESP) Leonardo Mayer (ARG) Pablo Cuevas (URU) and beat 7-Rohan Bopanna (IND) and 7-6(5) 6-4 Marcel Granollers (ESP) Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) 2-Oliver Marach (AUT) and beat Steve Johnson (USA) and 0-6 6-3 1-0(14) Mate Pavic (CRO) Dominic Thiem (AUT)

ATP World Tour Masters 1000 / WTA Premier, Rome Masters Men's Doubles Results

FORT WORTH, Texas, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Galenfeha, Inc. (OTC: GLFH ) announced today the company signed a Letter of Intent to acquire Fleaux Services of Louisiana, LLC, a leading oil and gas measurement company, for $18,000,000 USD. The acquisition is contingent on Galenfeha's ability to raise the funds, and the Company has engaged Wall Street firm Paulson Investment Company, LLC as the lead placement agent for financing the transaction. Galenfeha's founder, Mr. James Ketner stated: "We have a lot of work to do, and I want to inform the public of some upcoming changes, so there are no surprises. Mr. Trey Moore, President/CEO, and founder of Fleaux Services, is assuming the role of Galenfeha's Chief Executive Officer. I believe there is nobody more qualified to take the position, as he is a young, charismatic leader with a great operational history in the oil and gas industry. He has the ability to lead the company to continued growth in the future. I will be working directly with Mr. Moore over the next several months as he transitions into the role." Building on his historic relationships in the oil and gas industry, Trey Moore founded Fleaux Services six years ago. The company is now a premier provider of oil and gas measurement, automation, and control equipment, boasting revenues of approximately $21m in 2016, approximately $36m in 2017, and revenues for first quarter 2018 of approximately $12m. Mr. Trey Moore, Galenfeha's newly appointed CEO commented: "I am excited about what lies ahead of us with this potential acquisition, and our most recent acquisition. I also want to thank Mr. Ketner for his personal sacrifices over the last year and a half in order to prepare Galenfeha for these opportunities. He has done a tremendous job staying focused and diligent in getting us to this point. We are looking forward to his continued involvement, direction, and leadership in our promising future." Mr. Ketner added: "In addition to the change in the CEO position, we will also be electing a new board of directors. In order to meet the listing requirements for the NYSE-MKT exchange, we need to have board independence, and have already identified two experienced candidates to fill the roles of Chairman and Audit committee chair." "Lastly, our investment firm has advised us to eliminate the preferred stock to make our capital structure less complicated for potential investors funding this transaction. All preferred shares will move 1:1 into the common. This should by no means be perceived as a rush for the door by our current affiliates. I personally believe there is a tremendous opportunity here for all investors going forward over the next several years," Mr. Ketner concluded. About Galenfeha, Inc.: Galenfeha, Inc. was founded by James Ketner in March 2013 as an Engineering Services/Research and Development company headquartered in Ft. Worth Texas. The company generates revenue by receiving royalties from products we developed, providing engineering, regulatory, and business consulting services across numerous disciplines, such as aerospace, automotive, and medical, and by making investments in companies that our management team feels to be undervalued. With the recent acquisition of Fleaux Solutions, LLC, the company also generates revenues and earnings through government contracts. The Company's stock has been actively traded (OTC: GLFH ) since September 2014. For more information on Galenfeha's products and services, please visit www.galenfeha.com About Fleaux Services of Louisiana, LLC: Fleaux Services was created from, and is based on, a simple concept—Service for the Customer, and the Employees are Assets. Fleaux Services has built a sales and support team with an industry reputation of making sure that the customer is taken care of with quality parts and service. Fleaux Services is a company committed to Oil and Gas industry innovative solutions with a creative vision of complete system automation through hardware and software products. While investing in its employees and customers' knowledge level of available technologies, we are devoted to creating simplicity through advanced Technology. An online presentation of Fleaux Services: https://prezi.com/view/xcQMMUlYCM1Y2vKuexSt/ For more information on Fleaux Services of Louisiana, LLC please visit www.fleaux.com Contact: Galenfeha, Inc. 817-945-6448 [email protected] Contact: Fleaux Services of Louisiana 318-603-5440 [email protected] Forward-Looking Statements: Except for historical information contained in this release, the matters discussed are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. When used in this release, words such as "anticipate," "believes," "estimate," "expect," "should," "intend," "projects," "objective," and "appears," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company's management. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the effect of business and economic conditions; the impact of competitive products and pricing; capacity and supply constraints or difficulties; product development, commercialization, or technological difficulties; the regulatory and trade environment; the impact of reimbursement rates and coverage; and the risk factors reported from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements as a result of future events or developments. View original content with multimedia: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/galenfeha-signs-letter-of-intent-to-acquire-fleaux-services-of-louisiana-llc-for-18-000-000-usd-300641743.html SOURCE Galenfeha, Inc.

Galenfeha Signs Letter Of Intent To Acquire Fleaux Services Of Louisiana, LLC For $18,000,000 USD

Italy's president appointed former International Monetary Fund official Carlo Cottarelli as interim prime minister on Monday with a task to try and form a new government and bring order to political and constitutional turmoil. The euro zone's third-largest economy has been seeking a new government since inconclusive March elections, with anti-establishment forces abandoning their efforts to form a ruling coalition at the weekend after a standoff with the president over their choice of economy minister. Cottarelli said on Monday that he will put together a government "very quickly" to accompany the country to fresh elections, to be held in the fall or early next year. "I'll present myself to parliament with a program which — if it wins the backing of parliament — would include the approval of the 2019 budget. Then parliament would be dissolved with elections at the beginning of 2019," Cottarelli said shortly after being named interim prime minister by Italy's president. "In the absence of (parliament's) confidence, the government would resign immediately and its main function would be the management of ordinary affairs until elections are held after the month of August," Cottarelli added.

Italy president names ex-IMF official as interim PM to form government

Short-seller Chris Brown is not a believer in Energous' technology. Energous "is a worthless equity," he said at the Kase Learning: The Art, Pain and Opportunity of Short Selling conference in New York. "Energous is a fraud, one which is burning a lot of cash and will run out of money. ... We expect the stock will go to $0." The investor doubted Apple will ever use Energous' wireless charging technology, as some investors are hoping for. VentureBeat has reported regulatory documents indicated Energous and Apple have been working together since 2014. show chapters Here are three reasons why you should change your old iPhone battery 2:24 PM ET Tue, 2 Jan 2018 | 01:48 Brown said what the company claims will "break the laws of physics" and has safety issues. He also noted the high levels of insider selling from company management. "The company has no chance to make a commercially successful product," he said. "The CEO pretty much lies all the time." Brown is managing member of hedge fund Aristides Capital. Energous did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Short-seller Chris Brown says wireless charging company Energous is ‘worthless’

May 15, 2018 / 4:49 PM / in 10 minutes UPDATE 4-Argentina peso closes higher for the first time in seven sessions Reuters Staff (Adds peso closing level, updates Merval stock index level) By Jorge Otaola BUENOS AIRES, May 15 (Reuters) - Argentina’s beleaguered peso snapped a seven-session losing streak on Tuesday, closing 3.73 percent stronger at 24.10 per U.S. dollar after the central bank offered to sell up to $5 billion in the spot market. The currency had lost 6.6 percent to a record low on Monday, having weakened every trading day since May 3. Despite Tuesday’s gain, the peso remained 14.77 percent weaker since the start of the month and 22.61 percent so far this year. The wobbly currency last week drove the government to ask for a “high access stand-by arrangement” from the International Monetary Fund. The deal, which may impose fiscal belt-tightening conditions, is being negotiated in Washington. Traders estimated the central bank’s Tuesday intervention at $800 million. It was expected to announce the official figure later in the day. The bank had already sold billions of dollars of its reserves and hiked interest rates to 40 percent as it sought to contain inflation. The IMF negotiations carry political risks for President Mauricio Macri’s reform agenda. Many Argentines blame IMF-backed policies of the late 1990s for Argentina’s 2001-2002 economic meltdown. Some opposition politicians and activists have voiced concerns that the deal being drawn up in Washington will require painful fiscal belt-tightening. Weak fundamentals, skittishness regarding devaluation and concern over Argentina’s drought-hit soy harvest have helped put the economy, and the peso, under pressure. Gross domestic product is nonetheless expected to expand modestly this year. The peso is one of the world’s hardest-hit currencies as investors leave emerging markets. Macri’s Cabinet Chief Marcos Pena told reporters on Tuesday that Argentina, and not the IMF, would dictate the terms of any agreement. He called on the country to work to lower Argentina’s deficit, particularly in the 2019 budget. “We will have to sit down, all parties, with enormous openness, generosity and responsibility,” to hammer out a spending plan for next year, Pena said. The government earlier this month lowered its fiscal deficit goal in 2018 to 2.7 percent of gross domestic product from 3.2 percent previously, in another bid to calm markets. Argentina reported on Tuesday a primary fiscal deficit of 10.342 billion pesos ($503.5 million) in April, down 44.6 percent from a year earlier. The MerVal stock index rose 1.73 percent. (Reporting by Jorge Otaola, writing by Hugh Bronstein, Dave Sherwood and Caroline Stauffer; editing by Grant McCool and Lisa Shumaker)

UPDATE 2-Argentine central bank intervention leads to rise in peso

May 30 (Reuters) - ANZ Bank New Zealand on Wednesday agreed to sell its New Zealand life insurance business to U.S-listed Cigna Corp for NZ$700 million ($482.4 million). Australia and New Zealand Banking Group’s New Zealand unit said the deal to sell OnePath Life NZ would add about 5 basis points to the parent’s level 1 CET ratio. It added the deal would generate a gain on sale of around NZ$50 million. ($1 = 1.4512 New Zealand dollars) (Reporting by Ambar Warrick in Bengaluru; Editing by Stephen Coates)

ANZ Bank New Zealand sells life insurance business to Cigna Corp

SEOUL, May 17 (Reuters) - South Korea is seeking to mediate to bridge the gap between the United States and North Korea as they appear to have “some kind of difference in stances” ahead of a planned summit, an official at South Korea’s presidential Blue House said on Thursday. The comments come after Pyongyang on Wednesday threatened to pull out of the June 12 summit in Singapore with U.S. President Donald Trump, saying it might not attend if Washington continues to demand it unilaterally abandon its nuclear arsenal. The Blue House official said the South Korean government or President Moon Jae-in intends to more actively perform “the role of a mediator” in various channels between South Korea, the U.S. and North Korea. Trump will host South Korean President Moon Jae-in at a summit at the White House on May 22, and the two are expected to discuss the upcoming summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The Blue House intends to “sufficiently convey (to the United States) what we’ve discerned about North Korea’s position and attitude through the summit on the 22nd, and sufficiently convey the United States’ position to North Korea,” thereby helping to bridge the gap between their positions, the official said. “Seeing the announced statements and responses from North Korea and the United States, we see the two parties as having a sincere and serious attitude (to stand in each other’s shoes),” the official said. South Korea intends to continue discussions with North Korea to hold high-level talks North Korea cancelled on Wednesday, Blue House said in a statement on Thursday. North Korea called off the talks, blaming U.S.-South Korean military exercises. Meanwhile, Chinese government’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, said on Thursday the measures North Korea has taken to ease tension on the Korean peninsula should be acknowledged, and all other parties, especially the United States, should cherish the opportunity for peace. (Reporting by Joyce Lee; Additional reporting by Michael Martina in BEIJING; Editing by Michael Perry)

S.Korea to play mediator to resolve N.Korea-U.S. summit doubts - official

Taxes US Senate, House panels OK bills to tighten foreign investment oversight Committees in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to approve bills aimed at tightening oversight of foreign investment. The bills were aimed at slowing China's acquisition of sensitive U.S. technology. Published 5 Hours Ago Updated 3 Hours Ago Reuters Committees in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to approve bills aimed at tightening oversight of foreign investment to slow China's acquisition of sensitive U.S. technology. The Senate Banking Committee and the House Financial Services Committee approved laws that would strengthen the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which reviews potential foreign investment to ensure it does not compromise national security. The two chambers began the process in November with identical bills to expand the clout of the inter-agency body. Congress is considering the bills to address Defense Department concerns that U.S. soldiers could someday face on a battlefield U.S. technology like robotics or drones that was acquired by foreign adversaries. The Senate committee approved removing from the bill a section that would require CFIUS to review joint ventures that could lead to technology transfer, a process that would delay transactions. The approved bill also defines passive investments, which CFIUS normally considers approvable. The House Financial Services Committee unanimously passed its version later on Tuesday, according to a statement by its sponsor, Republican Representative Robert Pittenger . Getty Images Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) walks out of the senate on Capitol Hill. He believes the Trump administration's claim that cheap imports threaten U.S. national security could lead trade partners to use the same argument to tax U.S. exports. Senator John Cornyn , the No. 2 Republican in the Senate and lead sponsor of the legislation, told reporters it would be "ideal" to attach CFIUS to the defense authorization bill or some other "must-pass" legislation. "What we need to do is elevate everybody's understanding of what China's strategic long-term goals are, and they are to dominate the United States economically and militarily," said Cornyn. "They've got a very clear strategy for doing that, and we need to wake up to that and make sure we're responding in kind." The Senate Banking Committee voted to tack onto the bill a measure that would make it more difficult for the president to modify penalties on Chinese telecommunications companies such as ZTE Corp. U.S. lawmakers have expressed concern that President Donald Trump would ease tough penalties on ZTE, saying the United States should not bow to pressure from Beijing to help the smartphone maker.

US Senate, House panels OK bills to tighten foreign investment oversight

Lebanon has to improve its economy in multiple ways, says IMF director 1 Hour Ago Jihad Azour, director of Middle East and Central Asia Department at the IMF, offers advice to Lebanon to improve its economic stability.

Lebanon has to improve its economy in multiple ways, says IMF director

Sandra Gillespie Appointed as Chief Operating Officer RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NCI, Inc., a leading provider of advanced information technology solutions and professional services to U.S. Federal Government agencies, today announced the promotion of Sandra Gillespie to chief operating officer (COO). In this key role, Gillespie will assume oversight of all operational programs for the company with an immediate focus on aligning the organization by capability and customer set. Gillespie previously served as NCI’s senior vice president and general manager of the company’s Agile and Analytics Sector. Her promotion is part of an organizational restructuring designed to create operational efficiencies and execute on the company’s strategy of driving collaboration and innovation across the enterprise. “Sandy’s leadership and technical background, coupled with her savvy business acumen, will enable her to lead NCI to new levels,” said NCI President and CEO Paul A. Dillahay. “She is a proven and effective executive. With Sandy’s experience, insight and strategic perspective, she will strengthen and transform the organization in ways that will benefit our customers, partners and employees.” Gillespie brings more than 30 years of executive information technology experience to her role. Her expertise includes information technology, mission system integration, logistics, infrastructure and professional services. Prior to joining NCI, Gillespie served as senior vice president of health and compliance programs for CGI Federal. She also served in executive roles at Federal Capgemini Government Solutions, GTSI, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and DynCorp. “I am confident in and deeply committed to leading NCI forward,” Gillespie said. “Having spent my career in this industry, I am excited by the opportunities that lie ahead for NCI, particularly in growth markets such as artificial intelligence, agile software development and advanced data analytics. I look forward to positioning NCI with competitive, innovative differentiators for new and existing business opportunities.” Gillespie holds a bachelor’s in computer science and accounting, and a master’s in business administration from Jacksonville State University. She also attended executive leadership training from Harvard University and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. About NCI, Inc. NCI is a leading provider of enterprise solutions and services to U.S. defense, intelligence, health and civilian government agencies. The company has the expertise and proven track record to solve its customers' most important and complex mission challenges through technology and innovation. With core competencies in delivering cost-effective solutions and services in areas such as agile digital transformation; advanced analytics; hyperconverged infrastructure; cybersecurity and information assurance; fraud, waste and abuse detection; and engineering and logistics, NCI's team of highly skilled professionals are expanding their portfolio to include generation-changing technology offerings such as artificial intelligence for their government customers. Coupled with a refined focus on strategic partnerships, NCI is committed to bringing commercial innovation to missions of national importance. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, NCI has approximately 2,000 employees operating at locations across the globe. For more information, visit www.nciinc.com or email [email protected] . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180515005582/en/ NCI, Inc. Amanda Hall Director of Communications 703-707-6677 Source: NCI, Inc.

NCI Announces Key Executive Promotion

May 8, 2018 / 4:40 PM / Updated 15 minutes ago Millennium bcp likely to resume dividend payouts after 2018 Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LISBON, May 8 (Reuters) - Millennium bcp is likely to resume dividend payouts from next year based on its 2018 results, its chief financial officer said on Tuesday, a day after Portugal’s largest listed lender posted a 71 percent rise in first quarter profit. BCP stopped paying dividends in 2011 at the height of the country’s economic and debt crisis. Portugal has since returned to economic growth and cut its budget deficit to below the -European Union threshold. “As we approach a level of 12 percent of CET1 (solvency ratio) with a low single digit growth in terms of risk weighted assets, we are generating organic capital and what makes sense is to distribute this capital to shareholders,” Miguel Braganca said on a call with analysts. Shares in the bank closed 4.9 percent higher on Tuesday boosted by the strong results, including the CET1 ratio of 11.8 percent, which is up from 11.1 percent a year ago. “By the end of this year we should be in a position to start to distribute (a) dividend,” he said, adding that the decision also depends on other opportunities and what solvency ratio levels can be considered as adequate. “I think a bank such (as) ours should have a ratio of CET1 between 11 pct and 12 pct and the remaining capital should be distributed to shareholders,” Braganca said. (Reporting by Sergio Goncalves, writing by Andrei Khalip, editing by Alexander Smith)

Millennium bcp likely to resume dividend payouts after 2018

Closing Bill Exchange: Never bet against Warren Buffett 2 Hours Ago Brian Milligan, Ave Maria Growth Fund; Steve Grasso, Stuart Frankel; and CNBC's Rick Santelli discuss today's markets.

Closing Bill Exchange: Never bet against Warren Buffett

Markets already know the Federal Reserve will deliver more rate hikes this year. They're just not prepared for how much it will hurt, according to Peter Boockvar , chief investment officer of Bleakley Advisory Group. "The Fed is trying to ease the effect of their rate hike cycle by being very transparent," Boockvar told CNBC's " Futures Now " this week. It is "trying to convince us that quantitative tightening is like watching paint dry." Fed chair Jerome Powell is carrying on Janet Yellen 's legacy of full transparency by prepping the markets as best as he can for inevitable monetary tightening. The Fed's message of 'steady-as-she-goes' rate increases has calmed Wall Street into thinking this will mostly be a smooth path higher. Boockvar expects tighter monetary policy will have a far greater impact than the Fed is telegraphing, and the market is anticipating. "Regardless of how they tell us, regardless of how they do it, there's still a rise in the cost of capital, there's still a drain of liquidity," he said. He used a colorful analogy for the shock the markets will be dealt, even with the Fed's fair warning. "If I gave you a month's notice that I'm going to punch you in the face, when I punch you in the face, it's still going to feel the same, it's still going to hurt," he said. Vote Vote to see results Total Votes: Not a Scientific Survey. Results may not total 100% due to rounding. 'Not a believer' Even worse, it's more like two blows: While the Fed hikes interest rates, it's also shrinking its balance sheet, Boockvar points out. "The biggest risk to the market is that they're really tightening twice through the reduction of the size of their balance sheet," said Boockvar. The Fed is currently unwinding its $4 trillion-plus balance sheet at an ever-increasing pace. The central bank's purchases of mortgage-back securities spiked in late 2008, marking the beginning of the first round of quantitative easing under then-Fed chair Ben Bernanke . "At the same time, they'll likely raise two more times this year, so the rise in interest rates to me is very noteworthy," said Boockvar. "In a very over-levered, credit-dependent economy, that is my main concern because it's very rare that the Fed engineers soft landings, and I'm not a believer that they're going to do it again this time." Of the last 13 rate hike cycles, 10 have resulted in a recession, says Boockvar. Markets are taking another 25 basis-point hike from the Fed at its June meeting as a near certainty, based on CME Group fed funds futures. The Fed last tweaked rates at its March meeting. The rest of the year is less clear. A third rate hike for 2018 could come in September, but the chances of a fourth in December are at less than 41 percent. Boockvar asked: "The question is when does the rise in interest rates begin to have an effect on the economy? As I said, we are very credit-addicted, credit-dependent economy that will be affected by a continued rise in interest rates if this trend persists." The personal savings rate increased 3.1 percent in the first quarter, nearly half the rate of the first quarter three years ago, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Meanwhile, the Fed reported a preliminary growth rate of 4.2 percent in outstanding consumer credit in the first quarter. The U.S. economy rose by 2.3 percent in the first quarter, higher than estimates but weaker than 2.9 percent growth in the fourth quarter. show chapters Futures Now: We could retest February lows as the Fed sticks to its rate hike plans, says Peter Boockvar 1:40 PM ET Thu, 10 May 2018 | 09:43

Fed is about to deliver a ‘punch in the face,' Peter Boockvar says

May 28, 2018 / 12:38 PM / Updated an hour ago Brazil to implement variable tax on diesel imports -minister Reuters Staff 1 Min Read SAO PAULO, May 28 (Reuters) - Brazil will implement a variable tax on diesel imports to stabilize local diesel prices whenever global prices fall below the local benchmark, Finance Minister Eduardo Guardia said on Monday. The measure is one in a string of concessions to truckers protesting high fuel prices. In an interview with local television station GloboNews, Guardia said the government will also extend subsidies to diesel importers. (Reporting by Tatiana Bautzer; Writing by Bruno Federowski Editing by James Dalgleish)

Brazil to implement variable tax on diesel imports -minister

ALLENTOWN, Pa., PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) on Thursday (5/3) announced first-quarter 2018 reported earnings (GAAP) of $452 million or $0.65 per share, an increase from first-quarter 2017 reported earnings of $403 million, or $0.59 per share. Adjusting for special items, first-quarter 2018 earnings from ongoing operations (non-GAAP) were $517 million, or $0.74 per share, a per-share increase of 19 percent from $425 million, or $0.62 per share, a year ago. The increase in ongoing earnings was primarily driven by higher earnings at PPL's U.S. segments, partially offset by lower earnings at its U.K. segment. "Based on our first-quarter results, we are on track to deliver on our 2018 earnings forecast," said William H. Spence, PPL's chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer. "Our customers and shareowners continue to realize the benefits of our infrastructure investments and our constructive regulatory jurisdictions." With the effect of special items recorded through the first quarter, the company's forecast range for 2018 reported earnings is $2.11 to $2.31 per share. PPL's forecast range for earnings from ongoing operations, reaffirmed today, is $2.20 to $2.40 per share, with a midpoint of $2.30 per share. In addition, PPL reaffirmed its expectation of 5 to 6 percent compound annual earnings growth per share from 2018 through 2020 off of the 2018 forecast midpoint as the company pursues its strategy for long-term growth and success. That strategy is focused on delivering best-in-sector operational performance, investing responsibly in a sustainable energy future, maintaining a strong financial foundation and engaging and developing its people. Spence noted that PPL continues to assess and revise its expectations for the impact of tax reform. As a result of these revisions, the company is now targeting the lower end of its previously stated equity financing needs of $2 billion to $3 billion through 2020. In addition to announcing first-quarter earnings, Spence said the company supports U.K. regulator Ofgem's decision to forgo any mid-period review during the RIIO-ED1 price-control period. We believe Ofgem, through its consultation process, arrived at the best outcome for all stakeholders," Spence said. "We believe this is an important signal of support for the regulation that has made the U.K. a premier jurisdiction in which to operate. We look forward to continuing to deliver positive outcomes for customers and fair returns for our shareowners moving forward." First-Quarter 2018 Earnings Details PPL's reported earnings for the first quarter of 2018 included net special-item after-tax charges of $65 million, or $0.09 per share, from foreign currency economic hedges. Reported earnings for the first quarter of 2017 included net special-item after-tax charges of $22 million, or $0.03 per share, primarily from foreign currency economic hedges. As discussed in this news release, reported earnings are calculated in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). "Earnings from ongoing operations" is a non-GAAP financial measure that is adjusted for special items. See the tables at the end of this news release for a reconciliation of reported earnings to earnings from ongoing operations, including an itemization of special items. (Dollars in millions, except for per-share amounts) 1st Quarter 2018 2017 % Change Reported earnings $ 452 $ 403 12 % Reported earnings per share $ 0.65 $ 0.59 10 % 1st Quarter 2018 2017 % Change Earnings from ongoing operations $ 517 $ 425 22 % Earnings from ongoing operations per share $ 0.74 $ 0.62 19 % First-Quarter 2018 Earnings by Segment 1st Quarter Per share 2018 2017 Reported earnings U.K. Regulated $ 0.28 $ 0.42 Kentucky Regulated 0.19 0.14 Pennsylvania Regulated 0.21 0.12 Corporate and Other (0.03) (0.09) Total $ 0.65 $ 0.59 1st Quarter 2018 2017 Special items (expense) benefit U.K. Regulated $ (0.09) $ (0.03) Kentucky Regulated — — Pennsylvania Regulated — — Corporate and Other — — Total $ (0.09) $ (0.03) 1st Quarter 2018 2017 Earnings from ongoing operations U.K. Regulated $ 0.37 $ 0.45 Kentucky Regulated 0.19 0.14 Pennsylvania Regulated 0.21 0.12 Corporate and Other (0.03) (0.09) Total $ 0.74 $ 0.62 Key Factors Impacting Earnings U.K. Regulated Segment PPL's U.K. Regulated segment primarily consists of the regulated electricity delivery operations of Western Power Distribution (WPD) plc, which serves Southwest and Central England and South Wales. Reported earnings in the first quarter of 2018 decreased by $0.14 per share compared to a year ago. Earnings from ongoing operations in the first quarter of 2018 decreased by $0.08 per share. Excluding special items, factors driving earnings results included higher income taxes primarily due to a 2017 U.S. tax benefit from accelerated pension contributions that did not recur in 2018; lower prices from an April 1, 2017 price decrease, driven by true-up mechanisms partially offset by higher base demand revenue; lower volumes and the effect of share dilution. These factors were partially offset by higher pension income and higher foreign currency exchange rates. Kentucky Regulated Segment PPL's Kentucky Regulated segment primarily consists of the regulated electricity and natural gas operations of Louisville Gas and Electric Company and the regulated electricity operations of Kentucky Utilities Company. Reported earnings and earnings from ongoing operations in the first quarter of 2018 both increased by $0.05 per share compared to a year ago, driven primarily by higher base electricity and gas rates effective July 1, 2017, and higher sales volumes due to favorable weather. Pennsylvania Regulated Segment PPL's Pennsylvania Regulated segment consists of the regulated electricity delivery operations of PPL Electric Utilities. Reported earnings and earnings from ongoing operations in the first quarter of 2018 both increased by $0.09 compared to a year ago, driven primarily by higher revenues and lower operation and maintenance expense. The higher revenues were driven by returns on additional capital investments in transmission and higher sales volumes in distribution due to favorable weather. Corporate and Other PPL's Corporate and Other category primarily includes unallocated corporate-level financing and other costs. The loss in first-quarter reported earnings and earnings from ongoing operations decreased by $0.06 per share compared to a year ago, driven primarily by the timing impact of recording annual estimated taxes in 2017. 2018 Earnings Forecast Reported Earnings Earnings from Ongoing Operations 2018 forecast midpoint 2017 actual 2018 forecast midpoint 2017 actual Per share U.K. Regulated $ 1.23 $ 0.95 $ 1.32 $ 1.28 Kentucky Regulated 0.52 0.42 0.52 0.57 Pennsylvania Regulated 0.57 0.52 0.57 0.51 Corporate and Other (0.11) (0.25) (0.11) (0.11) Total $ 2.21 $ 1.64 $ 2.30 $ 2.25 (See the tables at the end of this news release for a reconciliation of reported earnings to earnings from ongoing operations.) U.K. Regulated Segment PPL projects higher segment earnings in 2018 compared with 2017. The increase in reported earnings reflects the 2017 unfavorable impact of U.S. tax reform and unrealized losses on foreign currency economic hedges. Excluding these 2017 special items, the increase is expected to be driven primarily by higher foreign currency exchange rates and higher pension income, partially offset by higher taxes and the effect of share dilution. The remaining 2018 foreign currency exposure for this segment is 100 percent hedged at an average rate of $1.32 per pound. Kentucky Regulated Segment PPL projects higher reported segment earnings in 2018 compared with 2017, which reflects the 2017 unfavorable impact of U.S. tax reform. Excluding this 2017 special item, earnings in 2018 compared with 2017 are projected to be lower, driven primarily by higher operation and maintenance expense, higher depreciation expense, higher interest expense, a lower tax shield on holding company interest and expenses, and the effect of share dilution, partially offset by an assumed return to normal weather and higher base electricity and gas rates effective July 1, 2017. Pennsylvania Regulated Segment PPL projects higher segment earnings in 2018 compared to 2017, driven primarily by higher transmission earnings and lower operation and maintenance expense, partially offset by higher depreciation expense, higher interest expense and the effect of share dilution. Corporate and Other PPL projects lower reported costs in 2018 compared with 2017, which reflects the 2017 unfavorable impact of U.S. tax reform. Excluding this 2017 special item, PPL projects costs to be flat in this category in 2018 compared to 2017 with a lower tax shield on holding company interest expense offset by lower financing costs. Headquartered in Allentown, Pa., PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) is one of the largest companies in the U.S. utility sector. PPL's seven high-performing, award-winning utilities serve 10 million customers in the U.S. and United Kingdom. With more than 12,000 employees, the company is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and reliability and delivering superior value for shareowners. To learn more, visit www.pplweb.com . (Note: All references to earnings per share in the text and tables of this news release are stated in terms of diluted earnings per share unless otherwise noted.) Conference Call and Webcast PPL invites interested parties to listen to a live Internet webcast of management's teleconference with financial analysts about first-quarter 2018 financial results at 10 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, May 3. The call will be webcast live, in audio format, together with slides of the presentation. For those who are unable to listen to the live webcast, a replay with slides will be accessible at www.pplweb.com/investors for 90 days after the call. Interested individuals can access the live conference call via telephone at 1-888-346-8683. International participants should call 1-412-902-4270. Participants will need to enter the following "Elite Entry" number in order to join the conference: 5034820. Callers can access the webcast link at www.pplweb.com/investors under "Events." Management utilizes "Earnings from Ongoing Operations" as a non-GAAP financial measure that should not be considered as an alternative to reported earnings, or net income, an indicator of operating performance determined in accordance with GAAP. PPL believes that Earnings from Ongoing Operations is useful and meaningful to investors because it provides management's view of PPL's earnings performance as another criterion in making investment decisions. In addition, PPL's management uses Earnings from Ongoing Operations in measuring achievement of certain corporate performance goals, including targets for certain executive incentive compensation. Other companies may use different measures to present financial performance. Earnings from Ongoing Operations is adjusted for the impact of special items. Special items are presented in the financial tables on an after-tax basis with the related income taxes on special items separately disclosed. Income taxes on special items, when applicable, are calculated based on the effective tax rate of the entity where the activity is recorded. Special items include: Unrealized gains or losses on foreign currency economic hedges (as discussed below). Gains and losses on sales of assets not in the ordinary course of business. Impairment charges. Significant workforce reduction and other restructuring effects. Acquisition and divestiture-related adjustments. Other charges or credits that are, in management's view, non-recurring or otherwise not reflective of the company's ongoing operations. Unrealized gains or losses on foreign currency economic hedges include the changes in fair value of foreign currency contracts used to hedge British-pound-sterling-denominated anticipated earnings. The changes in fair value of these contracts are recognized immediately within GAAP earnings. Management believes that excluding these amounts from Earnings from Ongoing Operations until settlement of the contracts provides a better matching of the financial impacts of those contracts with the economic value of PPL's underlying hedged earnings. Statements contained in this news release, including statements with respect to future earnings, cash flows, dividends, financing, regulation and corporate strategy, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Although PPL Corporation believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the statements. The following are among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements: market demand for energy in our U.S. service territories; weather conditions affecting customer energy usage and operating costs; the effect of any business or industry restructuring; the profitability and liquidity of PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries; new accounting requirements or new interpretations or applications of existing requirements; operating performance of our facilities; the length of scheduled and unscheduled outages at our generating plants; environmental conditions and requirements and the related costs of compliance; system conditions and operating costs; development of new projects, markets and technologies; performance of new ventures; asset or business acquisitions and dispositions; any impact of severe weather on our business; receipt of necessary government permits, approvals, rate relief and regulatory cost recovery; capital market conditions and decisions regarding capital structure; the impact of state, federal or foreign investigations applicable to PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries; the outcome of litigation against PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries; stock price performance; the market prices of equity securities and the impact on pension income and resultant cash funding requirements for defined benefit pension plans; the securities and credit ratings of PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries; political, regulatory or economic conditions in states, regions or countries where PPL Corporation or its subsidiaries conduct business, including any potential effects of threatened or actual cyberattack, terrorism, or war or other hostilities; British pound sterling to U.S. dollar exchange rates; new state, federal or foreign legislation, including new tax legislation; and the commitments and liabilities of PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries. Any such forward-looking statements should be considered in light of such important factors and in conjunction with factors and other matters discussed in PPL Corporation's Form 10-K and other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Note to Editors: Visit our media website at www.pplnewsroom.com for additional news and background about PPL Corporation. PPL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (1) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Millions of Dollars) March 31, December 31, 2018 2017 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 629 $ 485 Accounts receivable 849 781 Unbilled revenues 489 543 Fuel, materials and supplies 279 320 Current price risk management assets 56 49 Other current assets 188 116 Property, Plant and Equipment Regulated utility plant 38,891 38,228 Less: Accumulated depreciation - regulated utility plant 7,003 6,785 Regulated utility plant, net 31,888 31,443 Non-regulated property, plant and equipment 387 384 Less: Accumulated depreciation - non-regulated property, plant and equipment 114 110 Non-regulated property, plant and equipment, net 273 274 Construction work in progress 1,575 1,375 Property, Plant and Equipment, net 33,736 33,092 Noncurrent regulatory assets 1,519 1,504 Goodwill and other intangibles 4,005 3,955 Pension benefit asset 378 284 Noncurrent price risk management assets 120 215 Other noncurrent assets 140 135 Total Assets $ 42,388 $ 41,479 Liabilities and Equity Short-term debt $ 1,457 $ 1,080 Long-term debt due within one year 250 348 Accounts payable 836 924 Other current liabilities 1,695 1,671 Long-term debt 20,214 19,847 Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits 2,685 2,591 Accrued pension obligations 653 800 Asset retirement obligations 292 312 Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 2,689 2,704 Other noncurrent liabilities 441 441 Common stock and additional paid-in capital 10,418 10,312 Earnings reinvested 4,037 3,871 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,279) (3,422) Total Liabilities and Equity $ 42,388 $ 41,479 (1) The Financial Statements in this news release have been condensed and summarized for purposes of this presentation. Please refer to PPL Corporation's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for full financial statements, including note disclosure. PPL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (Millions of Dollars, except share data) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Operating Revenues $ 2,126 $ 1,951 Operating Expenses Operation Fuel 214 191 Energy purchases 241 215 Other operation and maintenance 468 470 Depreciation 269 242 Taxes, other than income 83 75 Total Operating Expenses 1,275 1,193 Operating Income 851 758 Other Income (Expense) - net (43) (9) Interest Expense 239 217 Income Before Income Taxes 569 532 Income Taxes 117 129 Net Income $ 452 $ 403 Earnings Per Share of Common Stock: Net Income Available to PPL Common Shareowners: Basic $ 0.65 $ 0.59 Diluted $ 0.65 $ 0.59 Weighted-Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding (in thousands) Basic 694,514 680,882 Diluted 695,322 683,084 PPL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (Millions of Dollars) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Cash Flows from Operating Activities Net income $ 452 $ 403 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities Depreciation 269 242 Amortization 21 23 Defined benefit plans - (income) (50) (19) Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits 59 161 Unrealized losses on derivatives, and other hedging activities 85 35 Other 12 18 Change in current assets and current liabilities Accounts receivable (71) (43) Accounts payable (36) (84) Prepayments (73) (110) Taxes payable 22 (21) Unbilled revenues 58 52 Other 10 (11) Other operating activities Defined benefit plans - funding (150) (520) Other (42) 9 Net cash provided by operating activities 566 135 Cash Flows from Investing Activities Expenditures for property, plant and equipment (750) (677) Expenditures for intangible assets (7) (3) Other investing activities 4 1 Net cash used in investing activities (753) (679) Cash Flows from Financing Activities Issuance of long-term debt 144 64 Issuance of common stock 100 73 Payment of common stock dividends (273) (258) Net increase in short-term debt 369 744 Other financing activities (9) (16) Net cash provided by financing activities 331 607 Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash (2) 3 Net Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash 142 66 Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Period 511 367 Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at End of Period $ 653 $ 433 Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information Significant non-cash transactions: Accrued expenditures for property, plant and equipment at March 31, $ 313 $ 236 Accrued expenditures for intangible assets at March 31, $ 65 $ 62 Key Indicators (Unaudited) 3 Months Ended March 31 Financial 2018 2017 Dividends declared per share of common stock $ 1.595 $ 1.535 Book value per share (1)(2) $ 16.03 $ 14.81 Market price per share (1) $ 28.29 $ 37.39 Dividend yield 5.6 % 4.1 % Dividend payout ratio (3) 93.8 % 57.5 % Dividend payout ratio - earnings from ongoing operations (3)(4) 67.0 % 64.0 % Return on common equity 11.1 % 18.4 % Return on common equity - earnings from ongoing operations (4) 15.5 % 16.5 % Spot rate of U.S. dollar per British pound sterling for Balance Sheet translation (5) $ 1.38 $ 1.24 Average rate of U.S. dollar per British pound sterling for Statement of Income translation (6) $ 1.26 $ 1.22 (1) End of period. (2) Based on 697,383 and 682,427 shares of common stock outstanding (in thousands) at March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017. (3) Based on diluted earnings per share. (4) Calculated using earnings from ongoing operations, which is a non-GAAP financial measure that includes adjustments described in the text and tables of this news release. (5) As of February 28, 2018 and 2017, as WPD is consolidated on a one-month lag. (6) Represents a year-to-date average and includes the impact of foreign exchange hedges. Operating - Domestic & International Electricity Sales (Unaudited) 3 Months Ended March 31, Percent (GWh) 2018 2017 Change Domestic Retail Delivered PPL Electric Utilities 10,040 9,546 5.2 % LKE 7,808 7,235 7.9 % Total 17,848 16,781 6.4 % International Delivered United Kingdom 20,310 20,658 (1.7) % Domestic Wholesale LKE (1) 706 566 24.7 % (1) Represents FERC-regulated municipal and unregulated off-system sales. Reconciliation of Segment Reported Earnings to Earnings from Ongoing Operations (After-Tax) (Unaudited) Year-to-Date March 31, 2018 (millions of dollars) U.K. KY PA Corp. Reg. Reg. Reg. & Other Total Reported Earnings $ 197 $ 133 $ 148 $ (26) $ 452 Less: Special Items (expense) benefit: Foreign currency economic hedges, net of tax of $17 (65) — — — (65) Total Special Items (65) — — — (65) Earnings from Ongoing Operations $ 262 $ 133 $ 148 $ (26) $ 517 (per share - diluted) U.K. KY PA Corp. Reg. Reg. Reg. & Other Total Reported Earnings $ 0.28 $ 0.19 $ 0.21 $ (0.03) $ 0.65 Less: Special Items (expense) benefit: Foreign currency economic hedges (0.09) — — — (0.09) Total Special Items (0.09) — — — (0.09) Earnings from Ongoing Operations $ 0.37 $ 0.19 $ 0.21 $ (0.03) $ 0.74 Reconciliation of Segment Reported Earnings to Earnings from Ongoing Operations (After-Tax) (Unaudited) Year-to-Date March 31, 2017 (millions of dollars) U.K. KY PA Corp. Reg. Reg. Reg. & Other Total Reported Earnings $ 286 $ 95 $ 79 $ (57) $ 403 Less: Special Items (expense) benefit: — Foreign currency economic hedges, net of tax of $12 (21) — — — (21) Adjustment to investment, net of tax of $0 — (1) — — (1) Total Special Items (21) (1) — — (22) Earnings from Ongoing Operations $ 307 $ 96 $ 79 $ (57) $ 425 (per share - diluted) U.K. KY PA Corp. Reg. Reg. Reg. & Other Total Reported Earnings $ 0.42 $ 0.14 $ 0.12 $ (0.09) $ 0.59 Less: Special Items (expense) benefit: Foreign currency economic hedges (0.03) — — — (0.03) Total Special Items (0.03) — — — (0.03) Earnings from Ongoing Operations $ 0.45 $ 0.14 $ 0.12 $ (0.09) $ 0.62 Reconciliation of Segment Reported Earnings to Earnings from Ongoing Operations (After-Tax) (Unaudited) Year-to-Date December 31, 2017 (millions of dollars) U.K. KY PA Corp. Reg. Reg. Reg. & Other Total Reported Earnings $ 652 $ 286 $ 359 $ (169) $ 1,128 Less: Special Items (expense) benefit: Foreign currency economic hedges, net of tax of $59 (111) — — — (111) Spinoff of the Supply segment, net of tax of ($1) — — — 4 4 Other: U.S. tax reform (122) (112) 10 (97) (321) Settlement of indemnification agreement, net of tax of ($2) — 4 — — 4 Adjustment to investment, net of tax of $0 — (1) — — (1) Total Special Items (233) (109) 10 (93) (425) Earnings from Ongoing Operations $ 885 $ 395 $ 349 $ (76) $ 1,553 (per share - diluted) U.K. KY PA Corp. Reg. Reg. Reg. & Other Total Reported Earnings $ 0.95 $ 0.42 $ 0.52 $ (0.25) $ 1.64 Less: Special Items (expense) benefit: Foreign currency economic hedges (0.15) — — — (0.15) Other: U.S. tax reform (0.18) (0.16) 0.01 (0.14) (0.47) Settlement of indemnification agreement — 0.01 — — 0.01 Total Special Items (0.33) (0.15) 0.01 (0.14) (0.61) Earnings from Ongoing Operations $ 1.28 $ 0.57 $ 0.51 $ (0.11) $ 2.25 Reconciliation of PPL's Forecast of Reported Earnings to Earnings from Ongoing Operations (After-Tax) (Unaudited) Forecast (per-share - diluted) 2018 Midpoint U.K. KY PA Corp. High Low Reg. Reg. Reg. & Other Total 2018 2018 Reported Earnings $ 1.23 $ 0.52 $ 0.57 $ (0.11) $ 2.21 $ 2.31 $ 2.11 Less: Special Items (expense) benefit: Foreign currency economic hedges (0.09) (0.09) (0.09) (0.09) Total Special Items (0.09) — — — (0.09) (0.09) (0.09) Earnings from Ongoing Operations $ 1.32 $ 0.52 $ 0.57 $ (0.11) $ 2.30 $ 2.40 $ 2.20 Contacts: For news media – Ryan Hill, 610-774-5997 For financial analysts – Andy Ludwig, 610-774-3389 View original content: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ppl-corporation-reports-first-quarter-earnings-300641977.html SOURCE PPL Corporation

PPL Corporation Reports First-Quarter Earnings

May 25, 2018 / 2:16 AM / Updated 18 hours ago Deja vu for French Open as Nadal favorite again 3 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - “Jeu, set et match Rafa Nadal.” FILE PHOTO: Tennis - ATP World Tour Masters 1000 - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 20, 2018 Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates winning the final against Germany's Alexander Zverev REUTERS/Tony Gentile The words are likely to be heard seven times at the French Open as the Spanish juggernaut guns for a record-extending 11th title at Roland Garros. Nadal, who has a 79-2 win-loss record on the Parisian clay, enters his title defense after a stellar season on his favorite surface. He won at Monte Carlo and Barcelona, claimed a record 50 consecutive sets, then bounced back from defeat in Madrid to take the title in Rome. His last defeat at Roland Garros came in 2015 when he lost to Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals. While upset by Dominic Thiem in Madrid earlier this month, he will be harder to beat in the best-of-five sets. “Nadal is always the favorite, then I come behind with four or five other players,” said Thiem, who ended Nadal’s 50-set winning streak. The 24-year-old Austrian is the only player to beat Nadal on clay in the last two years but he was thrashed in straight sets by the Spaniard in last year’s French Open semi-finals. Still, Henri Leconte, the 1988 runner-up, feels Nadal could be vulnerable. “For the moment Dominic Thiem beat him in Madrid but still Rafa is the number one,” he told Reuters. “But there’s still an opportunity for someone to beat him at the French. It’s difficult because it’s five sets. I don’t know why but there could be an opportunity. He is the best player of all time on clay.” If Thiem cannot deliver, the 21-year-old Alexander Zverev might be the man in the absence of Roger Federer, who is skipping the claycourt season. “(Zverev) is way more mature now in the last two or three months, even since Australia,” three-times French Open champion Mats Wilander told Reuters. “He is more certain of how he needs to play.” Zverev lost to Nadal in the Rome final but showed the full potential of his game when he took the second set 6-1 before fading away. “Nadal doesn’t really have a weakness,” added Wilander. “The only thing is that the next generation, the 19-23 year-olds, they don’t have the fear factor against him like the likes of Nishikori, Dimitrov, Raonic have. “They have less baggage. Zverev, his game-plan against Nadal is pretty clear. “He has the kind of game-plan that Soderling and Djokovic had when they beat Rafa at the French, which is, don’t stay away from his forehand but hit hard on his forehand to open up the backhand side.” Although ranked outside the top 20, the 2016 champion Djokovic will also be closely watched, having shown signs that he is emerging from the toughest spell of his career. The 12-times grand slam champion was beaten 7-6(4) 6-3 by Nadal at the Rome semi-finals but produced a level of tennis that should leave potential opponents in the draw nervous. Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ian Ransom

Deja vu for French Open as Nadal favorite again

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia’s Westpac Banking Corp ( WBC.AX ) was cleared by a court of accusations it rigged a key rate to boost profit, but the win on Thursday against a regulator was dampened by an additional finding of unconscionable conduct by the bank. FILE PHOTO: Pedestrians hold umbrellas as they walk past a branch of the Westpac Banking Corp in central Sydney, Australia, March 30, 2017. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo The mostly favorable ruling for the No. 2 Australian lender was a rare bright spot for an industry facing daily allegations of malfeasance and fraud in a year-long public inquiry that has wiped billions of dollars from companies’ market values. It also puts pressure on the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), which brought the case against Westpac, to step up its policing. The regulator has faced criticism in the same inquiry for failing to rein in the country’s biggest financial industry participants. In a series of civil lawsuits, ASIC accused the country’s “big four” banks of rigging the Bank Bill Swap Rate (BBSW) - a benchmark interest rate in Australia used to price trillions of dollars of assets - to inflate profit. Westpac, which was accused of rate rigging from 2010 to 2012, was the only bank to defend the action after the other three - Commonwealth Bank of Australia ( CBA.AX ), National Australia Bank ( NAB.AX ) and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group ( ANZ.AX ) - settled before hearings began. “In summary, I have rejected ASIC’s case,” Federal Court judge David Beach said. However, he noted that while Westpac did not break the law its actions amounted to “unconscionable conduct and misleading or deceptive conduct”. The bank also contravened its financial services obligations through “inadequate procedures and training”, the judge added. “This is a very significant and positive outcome for the integrity of Australia’s financial markets,” an ASIC spokesman said. EXPLETIVE-RIDDEN EXCHANGES ASIC had argued that communications within the bank and with outside traders that included expletive-ridden exchanges captured in email records and telephone recordings showed them boasting about how much money they had made from BBSW fixes. But those messages were “open to competing interpretations, particularly when understood in context”, the judge said. “Westpac is committed to working with regulators in a constructive manner including when we have a genuine difference of opinion,” the bank said in a statement. Its shares were down 0.4 percent after the verdict, in line with the broader market , but are down 10 percent since the so-called Royal Commission began in February. “This looks to be a win in that there wasn’t much actual impact from their actions but a moral loss in that they did do the wrong thing,” said a fund manager referring to Westpac. The investor, who owns Westpac shares, asked not to be identified because of rules in Australia that restrict commentary on court matters. Spokespeople for CBA, NAB and ANZ declined to comment. Australia’s neighbor New Zealand is also scrutinizing its financial industry, which has a significant presence of big Australian banks and its top wealth manager AMP ( AMP.AX ). Thomas Clarke, a professor at University of Technology, Sydney’s business school, said Thursday’s court verdict was unlikely to ease the public pressure on banks and ASIC. “It’s a small win for Westpac and a small win for ASIC in amongst a catastrophic series of revelations for the big four banks and AMP, from which they will not recover very readily,” Clarke said. AMP has lost its CEO, chairman and several board members over the inquiry. “The focus is also on ASIC for seeming to treat the big banks with a velvet glove,” added Clarke. Reporting by Byron Kaye and Paulina Duran; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman

Australia's Westpac cleared of rate rigging but bank inquiry sword stays

May 11 (Reuters) - United Community Banks Inc: * UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND INCREASE * SETS REGULAR QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND OF $0.15 PER SHARE Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:

BRIEF-United Community Banks Inc Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend Increase

A penthouse in a new Manhattan tower with a Turkish bath and a residents-only blowout bar is hitting the market for $40 million. The penthouse, at 111 Murray St. in the Tribeca neighborhood, spans approximately 7,488 square feet with a 1,500-square-foot great room with walls of glass and a marble fireplace. It has ceilings over 12 feet high, panoramic views of downtown Manhattan and a master suite with two master bathrooms and a private outdoor terrace. ... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In

Penthouse for ‘Health-Conscious’ Buyer Lists for $40 Million

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April 30 (Reuters) - Orkla ASA: * HAS DECIDED TO INITIATE A SHARE BUYBACK PROGRAM FOR UP TO 10 MILLION SHARES IN THE MARKET * THE PROGRAM WILL BE INITIATED TODAY AND TERMINATED ON 23 JUNE 2018 AT THE LATEST * THE SHARES PURCHASED UNDER THIS PROGRAM WILL BE USED FOR ORKLA’S SHARE FOR EMPLOYEES PROGRAM AS APPROVED BY THE GENERAL MEETING ON 12 APRIL 2018 AS WELL AS FOR AMORTIZATION PURPOSES Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Reporting By Camilla Knudsen)

BRIEF-Orkla starts share buyback program

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CCO) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018. “The investments we continue to make in both the Americas and International businesses to enhance our global network are benefiting our marketing and advertising partners and generating results,” said Bob Pittman, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. “In the first quarter, we have delivered against our strategy in key markets worldwide by expanding our digital network, enhancing our programmatic solutions and data analytics capabilities and winning new contracts.” Rich Bressler, Chief Financial Officer of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. said: “We are encouraged by our start in the first quarter of 2018. Revenue increased, operating income declined primarily due to a gain from the sale of our Indianapolis market in the prior year, while OIBDAN increased. We continue to be committed to financial discipline as we invest in our strategic growth initiatives.” Key Financial Highlights The Company’s key financial highlights for the first quarter of 2018 include: Consolidated revenue increased 9.9%. Consolidated revenue increased 4.4%, after adjusting for a $34.8 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates and the $4.7 million impact of the sale of our business in Canada. Americas revenues decreased $4.5 million, or 1.7%. Revenues increased $0.2 million, or 0.1%, after adjusting for the $4.7 million impact from the sale of our business in Canada. International revenues increased $58.5 million, or 20.6%. Revenues increased $23.7 million, or 8.3%, after adjusting for a $34.8 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates. Operating income (loss) decreased 139.1% to $(8.4) million, primarily due to the gain of $28.6 million recognized on the sale of our Americas Indianapolis market in the first quarter of 2017. OIBDAN increased 13.0%. OIBDAN increased 10.1%, excluding the impact from movements in foreign exchange rates and the impact of the sale of our business in Canada. Key Non-Financial Highlights The Company’s recent key non-financial highlights include: Building out our digital network by adding 36 new digital billboards for a total of 1,228 now available across the United States and installing 335 digital displays with more than 14,000 now available across our International markets including: Acquiring the rights to manage 22 new digital displays in Philadelphia. Launching Hyperstories in France, an exclusive out-of-home (OOH) video and social content platform that allows brands and cities to connect with customers by sponsoring or creating story content through a partnership with BRUT, an online video producer. Available across all of our digital shopping malls and street furniture networks in France, the stories are also amplified online via micro-influencers - enabling advertisers to engage consumers in both the physical and digital worlds. Installing ‘City Play’ digital screens - a network of portrait LCDs - in the cities of Ostend, Diest and Tienen in Belgium. Announcing the addition of three large digital billboards to its digital OOH network in Madrid, Spain - the billboards are prominently located in one of Europe’s biggest gastronomic and leisure spots, Platea Madrid and will be seen by over 3.5 million visitors annually. Adding 11 digital screens in Basel, Switzerland. Enhancing the capabilities of our tools: Introducing RADARView to RADAR’s suite of out-of-home advanced data-analytics advertising solutions. It is a sophisticated visualization platform where advertisers can plan their campaigns by selecting information like demographics, audience segments or locations, to reach consumers. This leverages mobile and digital data - applying the same approach from the digital world to the physical world’s largest screens. Connecting our Ad Platform with Posterscope’s location analytics planning and trading platform, enabled through Clear Channel UK’s first external API integration. Media buyers can connect to our Ad Platform through their planning and buying tools, making the buying process simpler and more flexible. Widening our reach with new contracts: Expanding our displays in San Diego - winning the long-term expansion deal to administer, innovate and grow ad sales across the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System's 550+ buses and 150+ trolleys for up to a period of 10 years. Announcing a five-year extension with Bradley International Airport in Hartford, CT and the introduction of a state-of-the-art advertising program to help advertisers engage with airline passengers passing through the Insurance Capital of the World. Becoming the market leader in regional bus advertising in France following the extension of our partnership with Transdev. We now reach almost 60 percent of people in France’s major regional cities. Winning an additional contract for OOH advertising in the city of Stockholm, Sweden, including advertising on an estimated 2,000 buses. We now hold three out of four of SL’s (Stockholm Public Transport) advertising contracts, strengthening our position in the market. Being honored within the industry and community: Receiving the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s, “Director’s Community Leadership Award” - in recognition of our Las Vegas team’s prompt action providing digital billboard services that assisted law enforcement in generating thousands of leads and tips, following the tragic event last October in Las Vegas. Accepting the “Best Sales Initiative” and “Best Sales Team - All Media” gold awards for Clear Channel Ireland at the annual Media Awards 2018. Recognizing the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club for receiving both a Gold and Silver OBIE Award from the Outdoor Advertising Association of America in recognition of the team’s four-phase billboard campaign leading up to the start of the 2017 baseball season on Clear Channel Americas billboards. GAAP Measures by Segment (In thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, % Change 2018 2017 Revenue Americas $ 255,847 $ 260,346 (1.7 )% International 342,864 284,380 20.6 % Consolidated revenue $ 598,711 $ 544,726 9.9 % Direct Operating and SG&A expenses 1 Americas $ 173,823 $ 181,029 (4.0 )% International 313,787 262,676 19.5 % Consolidated Direct Operating and SG&A expenses 1 $ 487,610 $ 443,705 9.9 % Operating income (loss) Americas $ 37,520 $ 36,501 2.8 % International (9,488 ) (11,448 ) (17.1 )% Corporate 2 (36,426 ) (36,066 ) 1.0 % Other operating income (expense), net (54 ) 32,611 Consolidated Operating income (loss) $ (8,448 ) $ 21,598 (139.1 )% 1 Direct Operating and SG&A Expenses as included throughout this earnings release refers to the sum of Direct operating expenses (excludes depreciation and amortization) and Selling, general and administrative expenses (excludes depreciation and amortization). 2 Includes Corporate depreciation and amortization of $1.0 million and $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Non-GAAP Measures 1 (see preceding table for comparable GAAP measures) (In thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, % Change 2018 2017 Revenue excluding movements in foreign exchange Americas $ 255,847 $ 260,346 (1.7 )% International 308,086 284,380 8.3 % Consolidated revenue excluding movements in foreign exchange $ 563,933 $ 544,726 3.5 % Direct Operating and SG&A expenses 1 excluding movements in foreign exchange Americas $ 173,823 $ 181,029 (4.0 )% International 280,983 262,676 7.0 % Consolidated Direct Operating and SG&A expenses excluding movements in foreign exchange $ 454,806 $ 443,705 2.5 % OIBDAN Americas $ 82,024 $ 79,317 3.4 % International 29,077 21,704 34.0 % Corporate (33,329 ) (32,181 ) 3.6 % Consolidated OIBDAN $ 77,772 $ 68,840 13.0 % OIBDAN excluding movements in foreign exchange Americas $ 82,024 $ 79,317 3.4 % International 27,103 21,704 24.9 % Corporate (32,513 ) (32,181 ) 1.0 % Consolidated OIBDAN excluding movements in foreign exchange $ 76,614 $ 68,840 11.3 % Revenue excluding effects of foreign exchange and revenue from business sold Americas $ 255,847 $ 255,676 0.1 % Consolidated revenue, excluding effects of foreign exchange and revenue from business sold $ 563,933 $ 540,056 4.4 % OIBDAN excluding effects of foreign exchange and revenue from business sold Americas $ 82,024 $ 80,085 2.4 % Consolidated OIBDAN, excluding effects of foreign exchange and revenue from business sold $ 76,614 $ 69,608 10.1 % Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2018 presentation of financial information throughout the press release. 1 See the end of this press release for reconciliations of (i) OIBDAN, excluding effects of foreign exchange rates and OIBDAN for each segment, to consolidated and segment operating income (loss); (ii) revenues, excluding effects of foreign exchange rates, to revenues; (iii) direct operating and SG&A expenses, excluding effects of foreign exchange rates, to direct operating and SG&A expenses; (iv) corporate expenses, excluding non-cash compensation expenses and effects of foreign exchange rates, to corporate expenses; (v) Consolidated and segment revenues, excluding effects of foreign exchange rates and results from business sold, to Consolidated and segment revenues; (vi) Consolidated and segment direct operating and SG&A expenses, excluding effects of foreign exchange rates and results from business sold, to Consolidated and segment direct operating and SG&A expenses; and (vii) Consolidated and segment OIBDAN, excluding effects of foreign exchange rates and results from business sold, to Consolidated and segment operating income (loss). See also the definition of OIBDAN under the Supplemental Disclosure section in this release. First Quarter 2018 Results Consolidated Consolidated revenue increased $54.0 million, or 9.9%, during the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the first quarter of 2017. Consolidated revenue increased $23.9 million, or 4.4%, after adjusting for a $34.8 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates and the $4.7 million impact from the sale of our business in Canada. Consolidated direct operating and SG&A expenses increased $43.9 million, or 9.9%, during the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the first quarter of 2017. Consolidated direct operating and SG&A expenses increased $16.5 million, or 3.8%, in the first quarter, after adjusting for a $32.8 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates and the $5.4 million impact from the sale of our business in Canada. Consolidated operating income (loss ) decreased 139.1% to $(8.4) million, during the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the first quarter of 2017, primarily due to the net gain of $28.6 million recognized on the sale of our Americas Indianapolis market in the first quarter of 2017. The Company's OIBDAN increased 13.0% to $77.8 million, during the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the first quarter of 2017. The Company’s OIBDAN increased 10.1% in the first quarter 2018 compared to the same period of 2017, after adjusting for movements in foreign exchange rates and the impact from the sale of our business in Canada. Americas Americas revenues decreased $4.5 million, or 1.7%, during the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the first quarter of 2017. Revenues increased $0.2 million, or 0.1%, after adjusting for the $4.7 million impact from the sale of our business in Canada. Direct operating and SG&A expenses decreased $7.2 million, or 4.0%, during the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the first quarter of 2017. Direct operating and SG&A expenses decreased $1.8 million, or 1.0%, after adjusting for the $5.4 million impact from the sale of our business in Canada. Operating income increased 2.8% to $37.5 million during the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the first quarter of 2017. OIBDAN increased $2.7 million, or 3.4%. OIBDAN increased $1.9 million, or 2.4%, during the first quarter of 2018, after adjusting for the $0.8 million impact from the sale of our business in Canada. International International revenues increased $58.5 million, or 20.6%, during the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the first quarter of 2017. Revenues increased $23.7 million, or 8.3%, after adjusting for a $34.8 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates. The increase is primarily due to growth across several markets including China, Switzerland, Spain and Sweden, primarily from new deployments and digital expansion. Direct operating and SG&A expenses increased $51.1 million, or 19.5%, during the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the first quarter of 2017. Direct operating and SG&A expenses increased $18.3 million, or 7.0%, after adjusting for a $32.8 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates. Direct operating and SG&A expenses increased primarily due to higher site lease expenses and other variable expenses in countries experiencing revenue growth. Operating loss decreased 17.1% to $(9.5) million during the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the first quarter of 2017. OIBDAN increased $7.4 million, or 34.0%. OIBDAN increased $5.4 million, or 24.9%, during the first quarter of 2018, after adjusting for a $2.0 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates. Clear Channel International B.V. (“CCIBV”) CCIBV’s consolidated revenues increased $42.9 million to $266.8 million in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. This increase includes a $30.1 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates. Excluding the impact from movements in foreign exchange rates, CCIBV revenues increased $12.8 million during the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017. CCIBV’s operating loss was $13.7 million in the first quarter of 2018 compared to operating loss of $20.7 million in the same period in 2017, which was primarily due to the increase in revenues, due to growth across several markets, partially offset by an increase in direct operating expenses. Liquidity and Financial Position As of March 31, 2018, we had $153.2 million of cash on our balance sheet, including $135.4 million of cash held outside the U.S. by our subsidiaries. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, cash provided by operating activities was $5.0 million, cash used for investing activities was $27.3 million, cash provided by financing activities was $30.5 million, and there was $3.3 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates on cash. The net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash from December 31, 2017 was $11.6 million. Capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2018 were $28.7 million compared to $36.3 million for the same period in 2017. On January 24, 2018, we made a demand for repayment of $30.0 million outstanding under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note and simultaneously paid a special cash dividend of $30.0 million. iHeartCommunications received approximately 89.5%, or approximately $26.8 million, of the proceeds of the dividend through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, with the remaining approximately 10.5%, or approximately $3.2 million, of the proceeds of the dividend paid to our public stockholders. At March 31, 2018, the principal amount outstanding under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note was $1,031.7 million. As a result of the voluntary petition by iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and certain of their subsidiaries for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the "iHeart Chapter 11 Cases"), CCOH recognized a loss of $855.6 million on the Due from iHeartCommunications Note during the fourth quarter of 2017 to reflect the estimated recoverable amount of the note as of December 31, 2017, based on management's best estimate of the cash settlement amount. As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the asset recorded in “Due from iHeartCommunications” on our consolidated balance sheet was $154.8 million and $212.0 million, respectively Conference Call The Company will host a conference call to discuss results on May 22, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call number is (800) 230-1092 (U.S. callers) and (612) 288-0337 (International callers) and the passcode for both is 449192. A live audio webcast of the conference call will also be available on the investor section of www.clearchanneloutdoor.com . After the live conference call, a replay will be available for a period of thirty days. The replay numbers are (800) 475-6701 (U.S. callers) and (320) 365-3844 (International callers) and the passcode for both is 449192. An archive of the webcast will be available beginning 24 hours after the call for a period of thirty days. TABLE 1 - Financial Highlights of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries (In thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Revenue $ 598,711 $ 544,726 Operating expenses: Direct operating expenses (excludes depreciation and amortization) 360,202 327,931 Selling, general and administrative expenses (excludes depreciation and amortization) 127,408 115,774 Corporate expenses (excludes depreciation and amortization) 35,435 34,540 Depreciation and amortization 84,060 77,494 Other operating income (expense), net (54 ) 32,611 Operating income (loss) (8,448 ) 21,598 Interest expense 97,264 92,633 Interest income on Due from iHeartCommunications — 14,807 Equity in earnings (loss) of nonconsolidated affiliates 188 (472 ) Other income, net 19,543 3,867 Loss before income taxes (85,981 ) (52,833 ) Income tax benefit (expense) (45,367 ) 21,837 Consolidated net loss (131,348 ) (30,996 ) Less: Amount attributable to noncontrolling interest (4,416 ) (1,995 ) Net loss attributable to the Company $ (126,932 ) $ (29,001 ) For the three months ended March 31, 2018, foreign exchange rate movements increased the Company’s revenues by $34.8 million and increased direct operating expenses by $24.6 million and SG&A expenses by $8.2 million. TABLE 2 - Selected Balance Sheet Information Selected balance sheet information for March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017: (In millions) March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 Cash and cash equivalents $ 153.2 $ 144.1 Total current assets 1,003.7 974.2 Net property, plant and equipment 1,365.1 1,395.0 Due from iHeartCommunications 154.8 212.0 Total assets 4,615.5 4,670.8 Current liabilities (excluding current portion of long-term debt) 733.4 656.9 Long-term debt (including current portion of long-term debt) 5,271.3 5,266.7 Stockholders’ deficit (1,993.6 ) (1,841.4 ) TABLE 3 - Total Debt At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings had a total net debt of: (In millions) March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 Clear Channel Worldwide Senior Notes: 6.5% Series A Senior Notes Due 2022 $ 735.8 $ 735.8 6.5% Series B Senior Notes Due 2022 1,989.2 1,989.2 Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings Senior Subordinated Notes: 7.625% Series A Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2020 275.0 275.0 7.625% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2020 1,925.0 1,925.0 Clear Channel International B.V. Senior Notes due 2020 375.0 375.0 Other debt 4.4 2.4 Original issue discount (0.4 ) (0.2 ) Long-term debt fees (32.7 ) (35.5 ) Total debt 5,271.3 5,266.7 Cash 153.2 144.1 Net Debt $ 5,118.1 $ 5,122.6 The current portion of long-term debt was $0.5 million and $0.6 million as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Supplemental Disclosure Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Information The following tables set forth the Company’s OIBDAN for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. The Company defines OIBDAN as consolidated operating income adjusted to exclude non-cash compensation expenses, included within corporate expenses, as well as the following line items presented in its Statement of Operations: Depreciation and amortization; Impairment charges; and Other operating income (expense), net. The Company uses OIBDAN, among other measures, to evaluate the Company's operating performance. This measure is among the primary measures used by management for the planning and forecasting of future periods, as well as for measuring performance for compensation of executives and other members of management. We believe this measure is an important indicator of the Company's operational strength and performance of its business because it provides a link between operational performance and operating income. It is also a primary measure used by management in evaluating companies as potential acquisition targets. The Company believes the presentation of this measure is relevant and useful for investors because it allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by the Company's management. The Company believes it helps improve investors' ability to understand the Company's operating performance and makes it easier to compare the Company's results with other companies that have different capital structures or tax rates. In addition, the Company believes this measure is also among the primary measures used externally by the Company's investors, analysts and peers in its industry for purposes of valuation and comparing the operating performance of the Company to other companies in its industry. Since OIBDAN is not a measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, it should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, operating income as an indicator of operating performance and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies. OIBDAN is not necessarily a measure of the Company's ability to fund its cash needs. As it excludes certain financial information compared with operating income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, users of this financial information should consider the types of events and transactions which are excluded. The other non-GAAP financial measures presented in the tables below are: (i) revenues, direct operating and SG&A expenses and OIBDAN, each excluding the effects of foreign exchange rates; (ii) revenues, direct operating and SG&A expenses and OIBDAN, each excluding the effects of foreign exchange rates and the results from business sold and (iii) corporate expenses, excluding non-cash compensation expenses and the effects of foreign exchange rates. The Company presents revenues, direct operating and SG&A expenses and OIBDAN, each excluding the effects of foreign exchange rates, because management believes that viewing certain financial results without the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency rates facilitates period to period comparisons of business performance and provides useful information to investors. A significant portion of the Company's advertising operations are conducted in foreign markets, principally Europe, the U.K. and China, and management reviews the results from its foreign operations on a constant dollar basis. Revenues, direct operating and SG&A expenses and OIBDAN, each excluding the effects of foreign exchange rates, are calculated by converting the current period's amounts in local currency to U.S. dollars using average foreign exchange rates for the prior period. In the third quarter of 2018, we sold our business in Canada. The Company presents revenues, direct operating and SG&A expenses and OIBDAN, each excluding the effects of foreign exchange rates and the results from the business sold, for the consolidated Company and the Company's segments, in order to facilitate investors' understanding of operational trends without the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency rates and without the results from the markets and businesses that were sold, as these results will not be included in the Company's results in current and future periods. Corporate expenses, excluding the effects of non-cash compensation expenses is presented as OIBDAN excludes non-cash compensation expenses. Since these non-GAAP financial measures are not calculated in accordance with GAAP, they should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures as an indicator of operating performance. As required by the SEC rules, the Company provides reconciliations below to the most directly comparable amounts reported under GAAP, including (i) OIBDAN, excluding effects of foreign exchange rates and OIBDAN for each segment, to consolidated and segment operating income (loss); (ii) revenues, excluding effects of foreign exchange rates, to revenues; (iii) direct operating and SG&A expenses, excluding effects of foreign exchange rates, to direct operating and SG&A expenses; (iv) corporate expenses, excluding non-cash compensation expenses and effects of foreign exchange rates, to corporate expenses; (v) Consolidated and segment revenues, excluding effects of foreign exchange rates and results from business sold, to Consolidated and segment revenues; (vi) Consolidated and segment direct operating and SG&A expenses, excluding effects of foreign exchange rates and results from business sold, to Consolidated and segment direct operating and SG&A expenses; and (vii) Consolidated and segment OIBDAN, excluding effects of foreign exchange rates and results from business sold, to Consolidated and segment operating income (loss). Reconciliation of OIBDAN, excluding effects of foreign exchange rates and OIBDAN for each segment to, Consolidated and Segment Operating Income (Loss) (In thousands) OIBDAN excluding effects of foreign exchange Foreign exchange effects OIBDAN (subtotal) Non-cash compensation expenses Depreciation and amortization Other operating (income) expense, net Operating income (loss) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 Americas $ 82,024 $ — $ 82,024 $ — $ 44,504 $ — $ 37,520 International 27,103 1,974 29,077 — 38,565 — (9,488 ) Corporate (32,513 ) (816 ) (33,329 ) 2,106 991 — (36,426 ) Impairment charges — — — — — — — Other operating expense, net — — — — — 54 (54 ) Consolidated $ 76,614 $ 1,158 $ 77,772 $ 2,106 $ 84,060 $ 54 $ (8,448 ) Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 Americas $ 79,317 $ — $ 79,317 $ — $ 42,816 $ — $ 36,501 International 21,704 — 21,704 — 33,152 — (11,448 ) Corporate (32,181 ) — (32,181 ) 2,359 1,526 — (36,066 ) Impairment charges — — — — — — — Other operating income, net — — — — — (32,611 ) 32,611 Consolidated $ 68,840 $ — $ 68,840 $ 2,359 $ 77,494 $ (32,611 ) $ 21,598 Reconciliation of Revenues, excluding effects of foreign exchange rates, to Revenues (In thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, % Change 2018 2017 Consolidated revenue $ 598,711 $ 544,726 9.9 % Excluding: Foreign exchange increase (34,778 ) — Consolidated revenue excluding effects of foreign exchange $ 563,933 $ 544,726 3.5 % International revenue $ 342,864 $ 284,380 20.6 % Excluding: Foreign exchange increase (34,778 ) — International revenue excluding effects of foreign exchange $ 308,086 $ 284,380 8.3 % Reconciliation of Direct operating and SG&A expenses, excluding effects of foreign exchange rates, to Direct operating and SG&A expenses (In thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, % Change 2018 2017 Consolidated direct operating and SG&A expenses $ 487,610 $ 443,705 9.9 % Excluding: Foreign exchange increase (32,804 ) — Consolidated direct operating and SG&A expenses excluding effects of foreign exchange $ 454,806 $ 443,705 2.5 % International direct operating and SG&A expenses $ 313,787 $ 262,676 19.5 % Excluding: Foreign exchange increase (32,804 ) — International direct operating and SG&A expenses excluding effects of foreign exchange $ 280,983 $ 262,676 7.0 % Reconciliation of Corporate expenses, excluding non-cash compensation expenses and effects of foreign exchange rates, to Corporate Expenses (In thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, % Change 2018 2017 Corporate Expense $ 35,435 $ 34,540 2.6% Excluding: Non-cash compensation expense (2,106 ) (2,359 ) Corporate Expense excluding non-cash compensation expense $ 33,329 $ 32,181 3.6% Excluding: Foreign exchange increase $ (816 ) $ — Corporate Expense excluding non-cash compensation expense and effects of foreign exchange $ 32,513 $ 32,181 1.0% Reconciliation of Consolidated and Segment Revenues, excluding effects of foreign exchange rates and results from business sold, to Consolidated and Segment Revenues (In thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, % Change 2018 2017 Consolidated revenue $ 598,711 $ 544,726 9.9 % Excluding: Revenue from business sold — (4,670 ) Excluding: Foreign exchange increase (34,778 ) — Consolidated revenue, excluding effects of foreign exchange and revenue from business sold $ 563,933 $ 540,056 4.4 % Americas revenue $ 255,847 $ 260,346 (1.7 )% Excluding: Revenue from business sold — (4,670 ) Americas revenue, excluding effects of foreign exchange and revenue from business sold $ 255,847 $ 255,676 0.1 % Reconciliation of Consolidated and Segment Direct operating and SG&A expenses, excluding effects of foreign exchange rates and results from business sold, to Consolidated and Segment Direct operating and SG&A expenses (In thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, % Change 2018 2017 Consolidated direct operating and SG&A expenses $ 487,610 $ 443,705 9.9 % Excluding: Operating expenses from business sold — (5,438 ) Excluding: Foreign exchange increase (32,804 ) — Consolidated direct operating and SG&A expenses, excluding effects of foreign exchange and operating expenses from business sold $ 454,806 $ 438,267 3.8 % Americas direct operating and SG&A expenses $ 173,823 $ 181,029 (4.0 )% Excluding: Operating expenses from business sold — (5,438 ) Americas direct operating and SG&A expenses, excluding effects of foreign exchange and operating expenses from business sold $ 173,823 $ 175,591 (1.0 )% Reconciliation of Consolidated and Segment OIBDAN, excluding effects of foreign exchange rates and results from business sold to, Consolidated and Segment Operating Income (Loss) (In thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, % Change 2018 2017 Consolidated operating income (loss) $ (8,448 ) $ 21,598 (139.1 )% Excluding: Revenue, direct operating and SG&A expenses from business sold — 768 Excluding: Foreign exchange increase (1,158 ) — Excluding: Non-cash compensation expense 2,106 2,359 Excluding: Depreciation and amortization 84,060 77,494 Excluding: Other operating (income) expense, net 54 (32,611 ) Consolidated OIBDAN, excluding effects of foreign exchange and OIBDAN from business sold $ 76,614 $ 69,608 10.1 % Americas Outdoor operating income $ 37,520 $ 36,501 2.8 % Excluding: Revenue, direct operating and SG&A expenses from business sold — 768 Excluding: Depreciation and amortization 44,504 42,816 Americas Outdoor OIBDAN, excluding effects of foreign exchange and OIBDAN from business sold $ 82,024 $ 80,085 2.4 % About Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CCO) is one of the world’s largest outdoor advertising companies with over 560,000 displays in 31 countries across Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. Reaching millions of people monthly, including consumers in 43 of the top 50 U.S. markets, Clear Channel Outdoor enables advertisers to engage with consumers through innovative advertising solutions. Clear Channel Outdoor is pioneering the integration of out-of-home with mobile and social platforms, and the company’s digital platform includes more than 1,200 digital billboards across 28 markets in the U.S. and more than 14,000 digital displays in international markets. More information is available at www.clearchanneloutdoor.com and www.clearchannelinternational.com . Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiary Clear Channel International B.V. to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The words or phrases “guidance,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimates,” “forecast” and similar words or expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, such as statements about our business plans, strategies and initiatives and our expectations about certain markets, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and are difficult to predict. Various risks that could cause future results to differ from those expressed by the forward-looking statements included in this press release include, but are not limited to: weak or uncertain global economic condition; our ability to service our debt obligations and to fund our operations and capital expenditures; industry conditions, including competition; our dependence on our management team and other key individuals; our ability to obtain key municipal concessions; fluctuations in operating costs; technological changes and innovations; shifts in population and other demographics; other general economic and political conditions in the United States and in other countries in which we currently do business; changes in labor conditions and management; the impact of future dispositions, acquisitions and other strategic transactions; legislative or regulatory requirements; regulations and consumer concerns regarding privacy and data protection; restrictions on outdoor advertising of certain products; capital expenditure requirements; fluctuations in exchange rates and currency values; risks of doing business in foreign countries; the identification of a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting; our relationship with iHeartCommunications, including its ability to elect all of the members of our board of directors and its ability as our controlling stockholder to determine the outcome of matters submitted to our stockholders and certain additional matters governed by intercompany agreements between us; the risks and uncertainties associated with the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases on us and iHeartCommunications, our primary direct or indirect external source of capital, which is operating as a "debtor-in-possession" under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court; the obligations and restrictions imposed on us by our agreements with iHeartCommunucations; the risk that we may be unable to replace the services iHeartCommunications provides us in a timely manner or on comparable terms; the risk that the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases may result in unfavorable tax consequences for us and impair our ability to utilize our federal income tax net operating loss carryforwards in future years; the impact of our substantial indebtedness, including the effect of our leverage on our financial position and earnings; the ability of our subsidiaries to dividend or distribute funds to us in order for us to repay our debts; the restrictions contained in the agreements governing our indebtedness limiting our flexibility in operating our business; and the effect of credit ratings downgrades. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on the Company’s future results, performance or achievements. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release may not occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date of this press release. Other key risks are described in the Company’s reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the section entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Except as otherwise stated in this press release, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180522005370/en/ For further information: Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. Media Wendy Goldberg, 212-377-1105 Executive Vice President – Communications or Investors Eileen McLaughlin, 212-377-1116 Vice President – Investor Relations Source: Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. Reports Results for 2018 First Quarter

May 9, 2018 / 6:34 PM / in 40 minutes Rio councilwoman's murder may be linked to colleague, probe finds - sources Rodrigo Viga Gaier 4 Min Read RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian authorities investigating the assassination of a Rio de Janeiro councilwoman are closing in on suspects, including a fellow councilman accused of links to paramilitary militias, two sources with knowledge of the investigation told Reuters on Wednesday. Pictures of Rio de Janeiro city councilor Marielle Franco are seen, where she was shot dead in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes Marielle Franco, an outspoken critic of the militias that control many impoverished areas of Brazil’s second-largest city, was shot four times in the head in March as she rode in a car in central Rio. Her driver was also killed. The killing sparked major protests in Brazil and demands that her murder be solved quickly. As a rare black politician who came from a poor background, she was seen by many of Rio’s impoverished as a hope that their voices would increasingly be heard. O Globo newspaper reported on Tuesday night that in relation to Franco’s murder police were investigating councilman Marcello Siciliano, whose political stronghold is an area in western Rio controlled by militias. Two government sources confirmed to Reuters that investigators were close to naming suspects and that Siciliano is one of those involved, citing evidence given by a militia member. The sources spoke on condition their names not be used, saying they were not authorized to discuss the case. A picture of Rio de Janeiro city councillor Marielle Franco is seen, where she was shot dead in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes Siciliano strongly denied any link to the case in a written statement released on Wednesday and sent to Reuters, calling the allegations “totally false.” At a media conference later Wednesday, Siciliano underscored his innocence, saying that he had a good relationship with Franco and that “she had even attended my birthday party.” He said he had already been questioned by police, as have several councilmen who knew Franco, and that he was available to answer any questions investigators might have at any time. A man walks near a wall, where Rio de Janeiro city councillor Marielle Franco was shot dead in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil May 9, 2018. The wall reads: "Marielle present" and "execution". REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes “Now, more than ever, I ask that everything be brought to light as quickly as possible,” Siciliano said. The two sources told Reuters that a militia member who is cooperating with federal police told authorities he witnessed four meetings last year between Siciliano and former police officer Orlando Oliveira de Araujo, during which they plotted Franco’s murder. Araujo was jailed in October while prosecutors investigate a murder charge and allegations that he led a militia in western Rio. His lawyer did not return a request for comment. Militias, formed by former and current police officers, firefighters, prison guards and even members of the military, have rapidly expanded in the past decade. They control black-market transport, water and cooking gas sales, extort small businesses for “protection” and are increasingly involved in the drug trade, among other illegal activities. “There is no doubt that this crime was committed by members of a militia,” one of the sources told Reuters. “Marielle had been getting in the way of militia plans and activities.” Franco, 38, was a rising star in the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL). She was born and raised in a slum, was a strong advocate for the poor and denounced brutal policing tactics used in shantytowns, where hundreds are killed each year in the crossfire between police and drug gangs who control most of Rio’s slums. Political violence is common in Brazil. In the months before the 2016 city council elections in Baixada Fluminense - a hardscrabble region that surrounds Rio - at least 13 politicians or candidates were murdered before ballots were cast. Reporting by Rodrigo Viga Gaier; Additional reporting and writing by Brad Brooks in Sao Paulo; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Rosalba O'Brien

Rio councilwoman's murder may be linked to colleague, probe finds - sources

May 16, 2018 / 8:56 PM / Updated 14 hours ago Texas murder-suicide leaves five dead, including three children Suzannah Gonzales 1 Min Read (Reuters) - A man fatally shot three children and his ex-wife’s boyfriend inside a Ponder, Texas, home on Wednesday, before shooting and killing himself, the sheriff’s department said. His ex-wife was also wounded in the shooting, said Captain Orlando Hinojosa with the Denton County Sheriff’s Office. The ex-wife is the mother of the three children, Hinojosa said. Hinojosa said he did not know the identity of the children’s father. Officials were called to the home at about 8:30 a.m. local time, responding to a possible burglary in progress, Hinojosa said. Ponder fire officials took the woman to a local hospital, Hinojosa said. Her condition is not known, he said. Reporting by Suzannah Gonzales in Chicago; Editing by Lisa Shumaker

Five dead, one wounded in murder-suicide in Texas: media reports

LAS VEGAS, May 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Fusion Bank , a leading cash and treasury management solution for the underserved and under-banked high-risk emerging markets, announced Canadian-born, South African-raised content writer and science author Thea R. Beckman as its choice for Content Director. In this position, Ms. Beckman will be responsible for writing all the content (blogs, website text, press releases, email campaigns, and more), while also managing and coordinating the company's content production, scheduling, and marketing efforts. Thea Beckman has a Master of Science degree (MSc) in Atmospheric Sciences and a certificate in Internet Marketing, which she earned at the University of Cape Town, where she also lectured third-year students in Synoptic Climatology. Subsequent to graduation, she moved to Thailand to travel Southeast Asia. It was here that she chanced upon an online job opening at WorldClass Brand Management, a thriving Internet marketing and e-business consulting firm based in San Diego, California. This business was owned and operated by Fusion Bank Chairman Kendell Lang and thus began a long and profitable working relationship between the two. Ms. Beckman, who had always 'had a flourish for creative writing' began her writing career as an SEO copywriter but then, over the years, worked her way up the ranks to Managing Editor, overseeing all the content production, scheduling, and marketing for WorldClass Brand Management and Mr. Lang's other entrepreneurial endeavors, including Fusion Properties Management Group, Inc . (FPMG), a privately held Puerto Rico corporation and real estate developer. Now, having moved back to South Africa and started her own freelance writing business, Content Queen , Ms. Beckman has come on board with Fusion Bank as its Content Director. "I'm extremely excited about the work I will be doing with Fusion Bank, especially since this organization is blazing fresh trails," says Ms. Beckman. "We have a real chance here to change the face of the legal cannabis industry, not only for the licensed businesses that are struggling against federal prohibition but also - especially - for the patients and researchers." Outside of her commitment to Fusion Bank, Thea Beckman writes for a celebrated South African-based lifestyle, travel, and leisure magazine, Southern Vines , which has her travelling all over South Africa to experience its wine, food, and culture. Additionally, she is the author of the book "Why? Because Science!" which provides a sweeping and hilarious look at the world, the universe, and human nature (and occasional idiocy) in a way that everyone can understand. "I have worked with Thea since 2011 and so I couldn't be better qualified to judge her mettle; hence the easy decision to offer her this position as Content Director of Fusion Bank," says Kendell Lang. "She's not only my long-standing friend and trusty wordsmith, but also my shero!" About Fusion Bank Fusion Bank is an innovative cash and treasury management solution that is in compliance with required government and central bank regulations. This members-only financial institution is licensed under the Bahamas-based Sovereign Friendly Society and provides safe, legal, and ethical financial, cash, and treasury management services to licensed cannabis operators, ancillary service providers, and qualified cannabis friendly members around the globe, including cultivators, grower industry supporters, patients, healthcare providers, lobbyists, and more. For information [email protected] +1-866-347-3321 visit Fusion Bank to Register for a Bank Account . SOURCE Fusion Bank

Fusion Bank Introduces its New Content Director

May 3 (Reuters) - Pembina Pipeline Corp: * ORATION REPORTS RECORD FIRST QUARTER RESULTS IN 2018 * QTRLY EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC AND DILUTED $0.59 * QTRLY REVENUE $1,837 MILLION VERSUS $1,480 MILLION Source text for Eikon: Our

BRIEF-Pembina Pipeline Corp Reports Q1 EPS $0.59

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain’s leading People’s Party (PP) was seen holding on to a slim lead though would be closely followed by market-friendly Ciudadanos if a general election were held today, an official voting intention poll showed on Tuesday. The PP would win 24 percent of the vote while Ciudadanos would overtake the Socialists as the second largest political force with 22.4 percent, according to a poll by Sociological Research Center (CIS). Ciudadanos’ stance against the Catalonia independence movement, which has pushed the government in to its worst political crisis in decades, has helped lift the relatively new party to the top of many polls. According to the CIS poll, the Socialists would win 22 percent of the vote, while anti-austerity Podemos would secure 19.6 percent. Those results compared to previous poll published in February which showed the PP taking 26.3 percent, Socialists 23.1 percent, Ciudadanos 20.7 percent and Podemos 19 percent. The PP holds a minority in parliament after the last general election in 2016. Spaniards are expected to return to voting booths again in around 2020. Reporting by Rodrigo de Miguel; writing by Paul E. Day; editing by Jesús Aguado

Spain's ruling PP seen holding slim lead in election in official poll

May 28, 2018 / 4:46 AM / Updated 6 hours ago China April industrial profit growth rebounds to 6-month high Reuters Staff 4 Min Read BEIJING (Reuters) - Profits earned by Chinese industrial firms in April rose at their fastest pace in six months, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Sunday, as factories benefited from higher prices and strong demand. A worker checks tailor-made magnetic stainless steel inside a factory in Dongguan, China April 10, 2018. REUTERS/Bobby Yip/Files Profits in April rose 21.9 percent year-on-year to 576 billion yuan ($90.14 billion), the quickest since October, bringing gains for the first four months of 2018 to 15 percent. The data suggests China’s industrial sector is still seeing solid growth momentum despite curbs on pollution and rocky trade relations with the United States. Last month’s rebound was helped by lower comparison figures for April 2017, higher factory prices and stronger demand, He Ping, head of NBS’ industrial division, said in a statement. It was a significant improvement over March’s 3.1 percent growth that was the slowest in over a year and which government officials had blamed on the timing of the Lunar New Year holiday. The higher April data should help ease concerns of slowing momentum in China’s economy as the country implements tougher pollution controls on “smokestack” industries and cash-strapped regional governments cut back on big investment projects, curbing demand for building materials. Profit growth for Chinese industrial firms has softened from last year’s strong pace as factory gate price gains weaken. In the first four months of 2017, profits rose 24.4 percent. China’s producer price inflation picked up to 3.4 percent in April from March but was much lower than 6.4 percent in the year-ago period. Weaker profit growth suggests companies may be reluctant to invest and hire new staff, while making it harder for debt-laden firms to service their debt, especially state-owned enterprises that account for the bulk of the country’s high leverage. A Reuters analysis showed that debt growth for Chinese companies has slowed to the lowest rate in more than a decade, but companies have also seen profit margins squeezed to their lowest level in two years. April economic data had shown signs of slowing momentum as investment growth touched a near 20-year low and retail sales growth weakened. Despite stronger-than-expected first-quarter economic growth, economists polled by Reuters still expect a gradual slowdown to around 6.5 percent this year from 6.9 percent in 2017, as rising borrowing costs weigh on consumption and investment. Beijing continues to call for tighter controls on risky investments and speculation in the property sector, but does not want to cut off funding to firms in the “real economy” such as manufacturing firms that are a key source of jobs. There have also been signs that policymakers have moved to a slightly looser stance as they look to ensure growth doesn’t slow too much, while also keeping financial risks under control. STEEL SECTOR LEADS REBOUND April’s rebound was led by the steel, chemicals and automobile industries, said He, as profits for iron and steel processing firms rose 260 percent in April. No industrial sectors recorded year-on-year losses over January to April, the data showed. But earnings in the computer and telecommunications sector fell 5.3 percent over the four months, though that was a slight improvement from an 11 percent decline in the first quarter. Liabilities of industrial firms rose 6.1 percent year-on-year as of end-April, according to the statistics bureau. Profits at China’s state-owned firms rose 26.2 percent to 627 billion yuan for Jan-April, compared with a 23.1 percent rise in the first quarter. The data includes companies with annual revenues of more than 20 million yuan ($3.13 million) from their main operations. ($1 = 6.3903 Chinese yuan)

China April industrial profit growth rebounds to 6-month high

TOKYO (Reuters) - After a decade of talks, Japan and China agreed on Wednesday to set up a security hotline to defuse any maritime confrontations between the two Asian powers. The deal is the latest result of a push to improve ties strained by lingering acrimony over Japan’s wartime occupation of swathes of China and a dispute over the ownership of islets in the East China Sea. In a public ceremony after a summit in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang oversaw the signing of a pact to set up within 30 days a hotline for senior defense officials to communicate during incidents involving each others’ naval vessels or military aircraft. Talks on the hotline had stalled in 2012, after the Japanese government bought the disputed islands, known in Tokyo as the Senkaku, and in Beijing as the Diaoyu, from a private landowner. The step aimed to halt a more inflammatory purchase by the Tokyo city government, then headed by a nationalist governor. China had also resisted Japan’s insistence that the agreement should not cover the territorial waters surrounding the islets, which are controlled by Japan. “It does not include the Senkakus,” a Japanese government official said during an earlier press briefing. Besides the hotline, Wednesday’s pact provides for regular meetings between both nations’ defense officials and a mechanism for their naval vessels to communicate at sea to avert maritime incidents. Known as the Code for Unexpected Encounters at Sea (CUES), the procedure is used by other nations, including the United States. Japan is defended by U.S. forces that have used it as their main Asia base since the end of World War Two. A security treaty obliges Washington to aid Tokyo if its territory is attacked, including the disputed islets, even though the U.S. does not support either side. Reporting by Tim Kelly and Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Clarence Fernandez

Japan and agree on security hotline after a decade of talks |

ATHENS, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SKAPS Industries has completed an agreement to acquire Matrix Composites (Henderson, KY and Seguin, Texas). The acquisition includes all Matrix Composites technologies, operations and assets in their entirety. The acquisition of Matrix provides SKAPS Fiberglass Division a global position and platform to expand in North and South America. SKAPS will focus on customer service performance, technical textile expertise, improved quality and certifications to bring in-line to customers’ expectations. Matrix Composites, Inc. was started January 1996 in Henderson, Kentucky in a new building to produce woven fiberglass fabrics. Under the ownership of Don Hudson (1996) Matrix expanded with a second factory in Seguin, Texas (2002) which took Matrix to producing woven and non-woven fabrics in two different states. Matrix has built a diversified customer based, with lean production practices and the ability to provide speed to market services for many products lines. The acquisition is SKAPS Industries first in North America. About SKAPS Industries: SKAPS Industries was founded by Perry Vyas in 1996. SKAPS is the leader in the fabrication of geosynthetic and nonwoven drainage products for environmental and civil use in the U.S. and abroad. Producing in three countries (USA, India and Brazil) with seven factories it holds a strong presence in over 60 countries. In 2014 SKAPS diversified into fiberglass fabrics in India which since has grown supporting both the woven and non-woven markets. For additional information, please visit www.skaps.com or follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180515006662/en/ SKAPS Industries Randall Stout, 480-242-0913 [email protected] Source: SKAPS Industries

SKAPS Industries Acquires Matrix Composites

LONDON, May 30 (Reuters) - British discount retailer B&M European Value reported a 25 percent rise in full-year profit on Wednesday, saying its good valued products were wining over customers in a difficult economic environment. The fast-growing company, which finished the year with 576 B&M stores, reported profit before tax of 229.3 million pounds ($304 million) for the 53 weeks to end-March on sales of 2.98 billion pounds, up 22.4 percent. $1 = 0.7537 pounds Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Kate Holton Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. 0 : 0 narrow-browser-and-phone medium-browser-and-portrait-tablet landscape-tablet medium-wide-browser wide-browser-and-larger medium-browser-and-landscape-tablet medium-wide-browser-and-larger above-phone portrait-tablet-and-above above-portrait-tablet landscape-tablet-and-above landscape-tablet-and-medium-wide-browser portrait-tablet-and-below landscape-tablet-and-below Apps Newsletters Advertise with Us Advertising Guidelines Cookies Terms of Use Privacy All Quote: s delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. © 2018 Reuters. All Rights Reserved.

UK retailer B&M's full-year profit rises 25 pct

U.S. building products company USG Corp on Tuesday said it agreed to open talks to sell itself to Germany’s Gebr Knauf AG, a sale that could benefit Warren Buffett ‘s Berkshire Hathaway Inc, USG’s largest shareholder. Shares of USG rose to their highest since August 2007. USG had in March rejected a $5.9 billion takeover proposal by Knauf, its second-largest shareholder, that valued the wallboard maker at $42 per share. But USG changed its mind after Berkshire, which holds a roughly 31 percent stake, and two major proxy advisory firms recommended voting against four USG board nominees at the Chicago-based company’s May 9 annual meeting. Merger talks may not succeed. USG signaled it might hold out for more than $42 per share and that Knauf “will see value in excess” of its original bid. “Given USG’s having publicly endorsed in a recent investor presentation that it views its intrinsic value at $45 to $52 per share, I don’t think they’re that far apart from getting a deal over the finish line,” said Garik Shmois, a senior analyst at Longbow Research, who rates USG “neutral.” Knauf, which recently held a 10.5 percent USG stake, said it was encouraged by USG’s change of heart, although its original all-cash offer still reflected “full and fair” value. “We are pleased that the board has acknowledged shareholders want to see a transaction,” Knauf said. Berkshire did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In afternoon trading, USG shares were up $1.72, or 4.3 percent, at $41.95 on the New York Stock Exchange. Berkshire has owned a USG stake since 2000, held on as asbestos liabilities helped push USG into a five-year bankruptcy, and provided a $300 million lifeline in 2008 after the housing market imploded. At Berkshire’s 2017 annual shareholder meeting, Buffett called USG “not one of my great ideas” but “no disaster.” Berkshire had in March offered to sell its 43.4 million USG shares for at least $42 each, if Knauf bought the rest of USG for that price or more. Knauf would have paid Berkshire $2 per share up front for that privilege. “It shows that Berkshire has been frustrated with its investment in USG” and that Knauf’s bid was “close enough,” Shmois said. A sale would add to Berkshire’s roughly $116 billion of cash and equivalents, giving Buffett more ammunition for one or more of the “huge” non-insurance acquisitions he has said he wants. Berkshire’s 2018 annual meeting will be held on Saturday.

Warren Buffett-backed USG to open sale talks with Germany's Knauf - HS NEWS

BEIJING (Reuters) - Taiwan has a case of sour grapes, Chinese state media said on Wednesday, after the self-ruled island accused China of using a $3-billion aid pledge to persuade the Dominican Republic to switch long-standing diplomatic ties to Beijing. A police officer stands next to the Dominican Republic flag (L) inside the Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taipei, Taiwan, May 1, 2018. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu China, which denied there were any economic pre-conditions for establishing relations with the Caribbean nation, says Taiwan is simply a wayward province with no right to state-to-state ties. Taiwan’s government says the Dominican Republic accepted false promises of aid from China. A Taiwan official told Reuters that China had dangled a package of investments, financial assistance and low-interest loans worth at least $3.1 billion to the country, which shares an island with Haiti to the west. The overseas edition of China’s ruling Communist Party’s People’s Daily said Taiwan’s governing Democratic Progressive Party was unfairly trying to cast aspersions on the move. “Once again they are playing the shirking responsibility game of laying the blame on others, creating tragedy and inciting confrontation, slandering the Dominican Republic’s choice of China with an axe to grind,” it wrote in a front page commentary. However, it added, the real story was that the Dominican Republic abandoned Taiwan because that was the irresistible trend of the times and what the people demanded. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying reiterated on Wednesday that no “coercion or trade” was involved, saying the decision was “right and proper, and fair and above board”. The changeover leaves Taiwan with formal relations to just 19 countries, many of them poor nations in Central America and the Pacific, such as Belize and Nauru. Widely-read Chinese tabloid the Global Times said Taiwan was now a step closer to having no diplomatic allies. “In the end, Taiwan’s diplomacy will be suffocated,” it added. China and Taiwan have tried to poach each other’s allies over the years, often dangling generous aid packages in front of developing nations, though Taipei struggles to compete with an increasingly powerful China. Beijing has stepped up the pressure on Taiwan since the 2016 election of Tsai Ing-wen, from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, as president. China fears she will push for Taiwan’s formal independence, but Tsai says she wants to maintain the status quo. The official China Daily said there was now “shrinking space for secessionists’ tricks” and that nearly all of the international community recognized Taiwan was an inalienable part of China. “It shows that no matter how hard the Taiwan authorities try to maintain the island’s ‘international space’, their efforts to secure recognition of the island as an ‘independent country’ are doomed to failure,” it said in an editorial. The Dominican Republic is the fourth country to cut ties with Taiwan since Tsai came to office, following the Gambia, Sao Tome and Principe and Panama. The Vatican is possibly next, as the Holy See and China edge closer to an accord on the appointment of bishops there. Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Clarence Fernandez

China media say Taiwan has sour grapes as another ally goes

May 4, 2018 / 4:23 AM / Updated 7 hours ago Ireland winger Trimble to retire at the end of season Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Ireland winger Andrew Trimble has announced that he will retire at the end of the season, bringing to a close a 70-test international career and hanging up his boots as Ulster’s most-capped player. Rugby Union - France v Ireland - RBS Six Nations Championship 2016 - Stade de France, St Denis, France - 13/2/16 Irelands Andrew Trimble looks dejected Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. The versatile 33-year-old played at two World Cups for Ireland in 2011 and 2011, missed out on a third in 2015 as he struggled with a toe injury and had clearly decided that next year’s tournament in Japan is beyond him. “These have been some of the most fulfilling days of my life and I feel nothing but gratitude for them,” Trimble said in a statement. “But there’s no way of stopping time and I see that each day in the lives of my young children, who are now close to beating me over 5 metres.” Trimble was his country’s Player of the Year when Ireland won the Six Nations in 2014 and was in the team which gave the country its first win over the All Blacks in Chicago in 2016. He made his debut for Ulster as a teenager and went on to play a record 229 times for his province. Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru, editing by Nick Mulvenney

Rugby-Ireland winger Trimble to retire at the end of season