Trump says Putin wants to end Ukraine war
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to end the war in Ukraine, even as missile strikes continue across the country.
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.
Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least twelve people and injuring 90, including children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
In an expansive interview marking his first 100 days back in office, President Donald Trump sketched out an agenda that touches everything from punitive tariffs and China policy to cease-fire hopes in Ukraine and an overhaul of domestic programmes. Below are the highlights.
A deadly explosion at Iran’s Bandar Abbas port has left at least 40 dead, with more than 1,200 people injured, state media reported on Sunday, halting operations at one of the country’s most vital trade hubs.
For three generations, the Liebigs built railcars in Görlitz. Now, the factory that shaped their lives will produce parts for battle tanks.
North Korea has launched a new 5,000-tonne destroyer as part of Kim Jong Un’s plans to expand the country’s naval power far beyond its coastal waters.
Online retail platform Temu has begun adding steep “import charges” of around 145% to orders shipped to the United States, a direct response to President Donald Trump’s newly imposed tariffs on Chinese goods, CNBC reported.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar have agreed to settle Syria's $15 million arrears with the World Bank, allowing the institution to resume grants for the country's reconstruction and support for its public sector.
IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington left global finance leaders with more questions than answers on the economic impact of U.S. tariffs. Discussions on trade and debt concerns highlighted growing uncertainty, as markets worry about the broader economic fallout.
President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order aimed at boosting the deep-sea mining industry, marking his latest attempt to boost U.S. access to nickel, copper and other critical minerals used widely across the economy.
Uzbekistan and Iran have agreed to establish a Joint Business Council aimed at fostering development of business ties and facilitating the resolution of issues between entrepreneurs from both countries.
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