Trump: Iran sites 'totally destroyed,' denies strike failure
U.S. President Donald Trump rejects claims that recent American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities had limited effect, declaring the sites were "totally destroyed."
In a flurry of negotiations following President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Google has significantly accelerated its acquisition of Israeli cybersecurity firm Wiz, elevating its offer from an initial $23 billion to a whopping $32 billion—one of the largest tech deals in history.
Sources familiar with the matter say that a more favorable antitrust outlook under the new administration was the decisive factor in reviving and sweetening the deal.
Executives revealed that discussions, which had stalled less than a year ago, gained renewed momentum just eight weeks after Trump took office. Key appointments in the White House—particularly within antitrust circles—instilled confidence in both Google and Wiz that regulatory scrutiny would be less severe than anticipated. “The prospect of a friendlier review process made it hard for Wiz executives to turn down the revised offer,” one source said.
The deal, now valued 39% higher than the original bid, includes a reverse breakup fee exceeding $3.2 billion—more than 10% of the total transaction value. This fee, intended to compensate Wiz if the deal collapses due to regulatory reasons, dwarfs typical breakup fees that usually range between 4% and 7% of the deal’s value, according to industry studies.
Wiz’s new Chief Financial Officer, Fazal Merchant—who joined the company in January—and CEO Assaf Rappaport have been instrumental in finalizing the agreement, while Google’s cloud chief Thomas Kurian played a pivotal role in shaping the deal’s framework. Sources indicated that prior to Trump's inauguration, negotiations were sporadic, but regular meetings commenced soon after key antitrust officials were appointed, including Andrew Ferguson at the FTC and Gail Slater at the Justice Department.
The revised offer not only makes the deal economically attractive, with Wiz reportedly generating over $700 million in annualized revenue and experiencing 70% annual revenue growth, but also addresses concerns raised by Wiz’s venture-capital backers. Many had been wary following the collapse of Adobe's $20 billion attempt to acquire Figma due to antitrust challenges, and were particularly anxious about potential regulatory hurdles under the previous administration led by FTC Chair Lina Khan.
While it remains unclear if Google and Wiz engaged in preemptive discussions with U.S. antitrust authorities—a tactic employed by some companies to smooth the regulatory path—the Trump administration’s actions have, at least according to sources, provided a more predictable environment for the deal’s completion.
Bank of America advised Google on the transaction, with Goldman Sachs advising Wiz. Neither Google, Wiz, nor officials from the White House and Justice Department have immediately responded to requests for comment.
As the deal now nears its final stages, industry watchers are noting how shifts in U.S. regulatory policy can dramatically alter the dynamics of major tech acquisitions, setting a precedent for future transactions in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
Moments ago, Iran launched missiles at Qatar. Explosions have been heard in Doha and across the country.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
Goldman Sachs economists have warned that any significant disruption to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz could push Brent crude prices over $100 per barrel, potentially causing a sharp rise in transport costs, inflation, and slowing global growth.
The UK government announced plans to cut green levies on thousands of businesses, aiming to reduce soaring energy costs and boost the manufacturing sector, particularly in Labour strongholds.
Germany’s federal government spent over 1.2 billion euros on software, licenses and IT services in 2024, more than 25% higher than the previous year.
Japan’s core inflation rose to a more than two-year high in May, exceeding the central bank’s 2% target for over three years and increasing pressure on the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to resume rate hikes.
Two Nigerian communities will take Shell to trial in the UK in 2027 after winning a court ruling over Niger Delta oil pollution.
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