Gaming & Hospitality Deal: Tilman Fertitta’s Fertitta Entertainment has entered a definitive, all-cash agreement to buy Caesars Entertainment for about $17.6B (including roughly $11.9B in assumed debt), with Caesars shareholders set to receive $31 per share; Caesars says property-level management should largely stay put and regulators will decide the timing. Local Industry Link: The deal is expected to keep Caesars Virginia operations steady, according to Danville’s city manager, while Fertitta’s broader portfolio (Golden Nugget, Landry’s and more) could reshape meeting and hotel supply across major U.S. markets. Sanctions & Shipping: The U.S. Treasury and State Department expanded “maximum pressure” sanctions tied to Iran’s oil trade, targeting tankers and companies, including vessels flagged by San Marino. Maritime Transport: A new Cyprus–Lebanon passenger ferry route starts June 9, with the vessel flagged in San Marino and carrying up to about 90 passengers per trip. Research Spotlight: USC honored a San Marino resident, Amy Lee, with a 2026 Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award for decades of work on glucose-regulated proteins. Border Tech Update: Europe’s EES is now fully operational across Schengen, and airlines warn travelers to plan for longer airport waits as biometric checks ramp up.