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The rich keep getting richer. Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, whose estimated net worth of $157 billion makes him the richest man in the world, is expected to haul in hundreds of millions of dollars from Uber's anticipated initial public offering next week.

The 55-year-old tech entrepreneur was one of the early investors in the ride-hailing app. When Uber goes public, it's expected to be valued at more than $80 billion. Uber said it anticipates that the initial public offering will be priced between $44 and $50 per share.

Bezos invested both personally and through Benchmark, a venture capital firm known for its early-stage funding of Dropbox, Twitter, Snapchat and other successful tech companies, tech website The Information reported. He personally sunk $3 million into Uber for a stake that's now estimated to be worth $400 million, said The Information, citing a person familiar with the matter. Benchmark, which invested $30 million, stands to make roughly $7.9 billion on its early investment.

Bezos's wealth was scrutinized earlier this year when he and wife MacKenzie Bezos announced their divorce, which is expected to make her one of the richest women in the world. The bulk of his wealth is tied to his 12 percent stake in Amazon, which is valued at more than $108 billion.

Other big winners from the Uber IPO include ousted founder and CEO Travis Kalanick, who stands to make nearly $9 billion from his 8.6 percent stake -- more than any other individual shareholder. Co-founder Garrett Camp owns 6 percent of the company, held by his startup studio Expa-1. Arianna Huffington, who joined Uber's board in April 2016 and later helped rehabilitate the company after Kalanick's departure, owns 22,000 shares.

Matt Cohler is listed as the largest individual shareholder, but only because he's the named director for Benchmark Capital's 11 percent share. The largest shareholder overall is SoftBank (SB Cayman 2), which owns 222,228,000 shares (16.3 percent) of Uber. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, a government-owned sovereign wealth fund, was also an early investor and owns 72,841,000 shares (5.3 percent.)


This all-new compact sedan advances the brand's award-winning legacy with a distinctive fusion of design, performance and comfort, supported by Cadillac's latest technologies - including Super Cruise, the world's first true hands-free driver assistance feature for limited-access freeways.

"The first-ever Cadillac CT5 showcases Cadillac's unique expertise in crafting American luxury sedans," said Steve Carlisle, Cadillac president. "Its details elevate every drive and reward the senses."


An all-new fastback design underscores the Cadillac CT5's refined ride, complemented with a driver-centric interior that blends high technology and high-touch elements. Luxury and Sport models allow customers to tailor the car to their style preferences with unique design and trim.

"Cadillac is dedicated to building the world's most exhilarating luxury sedans," said Carlisle. "Every element of the CT5 is focused on delivering an unrivaled experience, from the 10-speed transmission to Cadillac's Super Cruise technology. The expansion of Super Cruise to CT5 reinforces our commitment to bringing the most innovative technologies to our customers."
Cadillac CT5's Super Cruise technology will be available in calendar year 2020 on select models.



A New Design Profile

With a fastback profile inspired by the Escala concept, the first-ever Cadillac CT5 charts a new direction for Cadillac sedan design that leverages the natural proportional advantage of the vehicle's rear-drive platform to communicate power, presence and performance.

"From every angle, the CT5 exudes athleticism, sophistication and confidence," said Andrew Smith, executive director of global Cadillac design. "Cadillac's signature hard-edge cues have evolved to a more sculptural and fluid expression of the brand's design language."

A long, 116-inch wheelbase (2,947 mm) and lengthened side glass accentuate the car's long, low proportion and sweeping fastback profile. Body sculpturing, including taut character lines, contributes to the car's strong stance and speaks to Cadillac's legacy of craftsmanship and technology.

An all-LED exterior lighting strategy features signature vertical lights at all four corners of the vehicle.

Bright exterior accents and unique grilles and fascias distinguish the Cadillac CT5 Luxury and Premium Luxury models, while the Sport model is differentiated by darker accents and performance-inspired details, including unique grilles, fascias, rocker extensions, spoiler and standard 19-inch wheels.

High-Tech and High-Touch Interior

Cadillac CT5's interior features elegant, wide surface lines and simple interfaces, focusing on quality, attention to detail, authenticity of materials and impeccable craftsmanship.

Everything from the instrument panel to the center display is focused on the driver and essential touch points, emphasizing control. That includes a prominent, 1080dp high-definition full-color 10-inch-diagonal touchscreen mounted high within the instrument panel for visibility.



Intuitive Technology and Connectivity

Cadillac CT5 delivers thoughtful technology integration by offering an intuitive in-vehicle experience with a heightened sense of control. This is provided in everything from vehicle controls that conform to the driver's driving style to the latest, more personal Cadillac user experience, which provides more intuitive ways to interface with the system, including phone pairing via Near Field Communication and a new rotary controller.

CT5 also features standard Adaptive Remote Start and an available hands-free power-release decklid to further customers' convenience and comfort. Adaptive Remote Start automatically activates features such as the available adaptive heated/ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel and other climate systems, depending on the temperature. The hands-free decklid uses a motion sensor with Cadillac crest target projection that allows customers to activate the trunk release with their foot, supporting easy access.



Turbocharged Performance

Cadillac CT5 is powered by a 2.0L Twin-Scroll Turbo engine and 10-speed automatic transmission with Electronic Precision Shift. This standard propulsion combination offers responsive off-the-line performance with excellent low-end torque. The twin-scroll turbocharger and a unique three-step sliding camshaft help the engine optimize performance across the rpm band for a greater feeling of on-demand power at all speeds.

Cadillac's powerful 3.0L Twin Turbo V-6 is available on Premium Luxury and Sport models, rated at an estimated 335 hp (250 kw) and 400 lb-ft of torque (542 Nm). Low-inertia turbochargers and a manifold-integrated liquid-to-air intercooling system help the engine produce exceptional power with virtually no lag and sustain it across most of the rpm band. Like the 2.0L Turbo, it is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission with Electronic Precision Shift.



Both engines employ technologies such as direct injection, camshaft phasing, Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and automatic stop/start to balance performance, refinement and efficiency. Sound tuning via mechanical and electronic sources contributes to CT5's optimized effect on the senses, with engine sounds tuned to augment the driving experience in a refined manner, while helping to minimize unwanted noise in the cabin.

Evolved Driving Dynamics

Building on the strengths of the superb RWD architecture that underpins Cadillac's award-winning rear-wheel-drive sedans, the first-ever Cadillac CT5 is designed to deliver an exhilarating driving experience while maintaining the brand's signature blend of performance, comfort and refinement.

Evolutionary enhancements of the front and rear suspensions, including Cadillac's signature double-pivot MacPherson-type front suspension, are designed to improve road isolation and driver feedback. At the rear, a five-link independent suspension contributes to the car's excellent feeling of control.

Additional chassis and driving dynamics features:

Standard Bosch premium electric, rack-mounted power steering system.
Capable, confident and precise eBoost brakes.
Brembo front brakes are standard on the Sport model.
Standard ZF MVS passive dampers.
All-wheel drive is available on all models.
Standard customer-selectable drive modes allow CT5 to adapt even better to driver preferences and changing road conditions. The modes - Tour, Sport, Snow/Ice and new My Mode - can alter the calibrations for transmission shifting, steering and brake feel, front/rear torque split (with the available AWD system) and vehicle sound character to customize the driving experience.

Cadillac CT5 can handle a variety of road conditions no matter the climate, thanks to all-wheel drive available on every model along with a diverse range of tire choices, including 19-inch all-season run-flat tires and 18-inch Michelin self-seal tires. All tire options allow drivers to continue driving during most punctures that would sideline conventional tires, for immediate replacement/repair.


Victory! A series-record 17.8 million people watched “Game of Thrones” Episode 803, titled “The Long Night,” on Sunday. That counts multiple platforms — including streaming on HBO Go and HBO Now — and one encore airing.

The sum is up 12% from the prior week, which saw the second episode of the current and final season draw 15.9 million multiplatform viewers. This Sunday’s 9 p.m. TV airing alone scored 12 million viewers, a season-high for the time slot (the Season 7 finale is still the record-holder there).
The huge “Thrones” audience provided an awesome lead-in for Bill Hader comedy “Barry,” which earned another series-high of 2.5 million multiplatform viewers at 10:30 p.m. “The Long Night” was appropriately titled, clocking in at a series-long 82 minutes.

The good guys won the Battle of Winterfell on Sunday when Arya Stark slayed the Night King with a little Valyrian steel action. You’re next, Cersei.
The April 14 “Game of Thrones” Season 8 premiere night had previously set the series’ gross-audience record by drawing 17.4 million multiplatform viewers. The record-holder before that was the show’s Season 7 finale, which drew 16.9 million multiplatform viewers.
HBO says the Season 8 premiere has now eclipsed 38 million viewers.

HBO’s preferred internal numbers, which count HBO Go, HBO Now and repeats, cut off 30 days after each season finale airs. Per HBO’s own count — so yes, that month-plus-long version — U.S. viewership per season has been:
Season 1: 9.3 million
Season 2: 11.6 million
Season 3: 14.4 million
Season 4: 19.1 million
Season 5: 20.2 million
Season 6: 25.7 million
Season 7: 32.8 million


LONDON — Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday fired her defense secretary, Gavin Williamson, for allegedly playing a role in leaking details from a meeting about Britain’s willingness to work with Chinese telecom giant Huawei.

The abrupt sacking of Britain’s top defense official — over allegations by the prime minister that Williamson had breached the secrecy protocols of the National Security Council — was stunning. For a top government minister to be canned over such a leak is almost unprecedented in Britain.

Williamson denied any involvement in the unauthorized disclosure.

The British political press quickly focused on the “Game of Thrones” atmosphere in May’s fractious government, stoked by open divisions over Brexit and by May’s weak leadership.

Williamson is one of the many aspirants to replace May, who is seen as especially vulnerable over her failure to deliver a European Union exit plan. Whether she resigns in the coming months, as she has indicated she might do, or is ousted more quickly, is a point of debate.

After an April 23 meeting of Britain’s National Security Council, attended by intelligence chiefs and senior cabinet ministers, a story appeared on the front page of the Daily Telegraph that claimed May had decided to permit Huawei to play a leading role in building Britain’s 5G Internet — despite intense pressure from the United States to ban Huawei as a security risk.

Huawei is one of the world’s largest communications conglomerates, manufacturing mobile phones, tablets and computers — and assembling the software, routers and networks to operate WiFi and high-speed Internet.

But U.S. officials have been warning allies that Chinese cyberspies could tap user data through backdoor access.

Huawei has denied the accusations that its networking equipment could be used to spy. But revelations about U.S. tech companies and their abilities to harvest user data have increased suspicions about what the Chinese could do if they were operating the switches.

In a letter to Williamson on Wednesday, May wrote that an investigation into the leaks provided “compelling evidence suggesting your responsibility for the unauthorized disclosure.”

“No other, credible version of events to explain this leak has been identified,” May added.

In his reply, Williamson wrote: “I strenuously deny that I was in any way involved in this leak and I am confident that a thorough and formal inquiry would have vindicated my position.”

Williamson became defense secretary in late 2017, after Michael Fallon left the role following allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women.

In his previous role as chief whip, Williamson kept a tarantula on his desk called Cronus.

Williamson was replaced on Wednesday evening by Penny Mordaunt. She is Britain’s first female defense secretary.

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