Remember those lessons where you learned to use the formal 'usted' with strangers and 'tu' with friends' Well, the signs on Philadelphia's streets show that Spanish speakers actually use pronouns differently. In Spanish, unlike modern English, speakers must choose between different ways of saying 'you' when addressing someone. Some Spanish dialects use up to four different forms ' 'tu,' 'usted,' 'vos' and the Colombian 'sumerce' ' but the Spanish speakers writing signs in Philadelphia have settled on just two: 'tu' and 'usted.' After analyzing 250 signs across three neighborhoods with a significant number of Spanish speakers ' the Golden Block, in North Philadelphia; Olney, in North Philadelphia; and South Philadelpha's Italian Market corridor ' and online spaces such as social media from different Hispanic organizations in the city, I found some surprising patterns in how these forms are used. Bilingual signs written in both Spanish and English tend to use the verb form associated with formal 'usted' ' imagine a store window announcing, 'Please wear a mask / Por favor, utilice una mascarilla.' But signs written only in Spanish often use the informal 'tu,' even when addressing strangers. This challenges the common assumption that we should always use formal language with people we don't know....

English should be the official language of the United States, says a new executive order signed by President Donald Trump on March 1, 2025. The move follows the Trump administration's termination of the Spanish-language version of the White House website and its Spanish-language account on X, formerly Twitter. Both were abruptly shut down within hours of Trump's second presidential inauguration. Visitors to whitehouse.gov/espanol were met with 'page not found' and a 'GO HOME' button that sent the user to the English-language page. This button was later updated to read, 'GO TO HOME PAGE.' In halting its Spanish-language communications, the White House is ignoring the demographic reality of the U.S. and rejecting a long-standing tradition in American government of making key civic information accessible to the public. These changes, while mostly symbolic, signal the Trump administration's unwelcoming stance toward Spanish specifically and multilingualism in general. But, as a linguist specializing in Spanish and bilingualism, I know that this is simply not true. Historically, the U.S. has had no official language, and Spanish was spoken in the lands that now make up the U.S. well before the country's founding....

Once known as Grupo Cortefiel, Tendam has long been revered for its illustrious portfolio, featuring iconic brands such as Women'secret, Springfield, Cortefiel, and Pedro del Hierro. The conglomerate commands a formidable presence worldwide with more than 1,760 retail locations across 80 countries and a robust digital footprint spanning over 33 websites. The deal comes on the heels of unsuccessful public listing attempts, as private equity heavyweights CVC Capital Partners and PAI Partners'who had been steering Tendam's fortunes since 2006 after a fierce bidding war that also saw Permira enter the fray'chose to divest. Their decision to exit was prompted by market conditions that failed to deliver the expected valuations. Multiply Group's acquisition not only shifts the balance of power but also signals a renewed focus on strategic growth. With Tendam reporting a 4.6% sales increase in Q1 of its fiscal year 2024, achieving a turnover of '253.8m, the timing appears impeccable for a reinvigorated approach to both legacy and emerging brands....

This move positions HBX as the first major European listing of 2025. The company's valuation could reach approximately '5bn. The IPO includes partial stake sales by current shareholders, including CPPIB, Cinven, and EQT. Best known for its Hotelbeds brand, HBX plays a critical role in the global travel industry. In particular, it connects clients like Expedia and airlines with a wide array of hotel rooms, rental cars, and travel experiences. By pre-negotiating room availability and rates, the company helps businesses reach customers in emerging travel markets such as Asia and Latin America. The IPO proceeds will primarily be used to reduce HBX's debt, a key step in strengthening its financial position. The company, acquired by CPPIB and Cinven in 2016 for '1.2bn, aims to capitalise on Europe's recovering IPO market. Recently, the market has faced volatility due to geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges. A successful listing would signal renewed momentum in European IPOs. While some recent offerings, like Galderma, have performed well, others, such as beauty group Douglas, have struggled. HBX's flotation could boost confidence among private equity firms looking to exit portfolio investments through public markets....