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☆ How Bloomberg Beta's James Cham finds the tech founders making a 'dent in the universe'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Cham ended up writing one of the first checks to Weights & Biases after he was convinced Biewald fulfilled his lofty criteria for backing founders. "I am looking for people who are trying to make a dent in the universe," Cham said. Instead of asking founders how they plan to make that dent, Cham prefers to spend lots of time observing them to see what makes them tick. Cham began making his own dent in the world after majoring in computer science at Harvard and becoming a consultant at Accenture. "The reality that the money that we make goes towards Bloomberg Philanthropies is something founders oftentimes find appealing," Cham said.

Persons: James Cham, Lukas Biewald, Cham, Biewald, Jeff Lawson, It's, Bloomberg Philanthropies, who've, James, Shreya Rajpal, who's, Rajpal Organizations: Bloomberg Beta, Business, Harvard, Accenture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bessemer Venture Partners, Trinity Ventures, Bloomberg

Behind most startup founders is an early-stage investor who saw their potential, nurtured their ambition, and backed their ideas. The end of a record bull run in tech rebooted the startup landscape, and now early-stage investors are embracing the change. Founders have gone back to basics, staying lean and mean from the start and harnessing tailwinds of the artificial intelligence boom. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.

Organizations: Business

Early-stage investing is a delicate dance. It demands an understanding of markets, a knack for recognizing potential, and sheer tenacity to weather the cyclical storms of the startup world. Now in its fourth year, our Seed 40 list illuminates the women who have mastered this craft. They are on the front lines, locking arms with visionary founders to transform ideas into full-fledged businesses, often putting money and support behind those builders before others see the opportunity. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Organizations: Business

Steve Bowsher, In-Q-TelSteve Bowsher, president and CEO of In-Q-Tel. He made an early bet on Palantir, blowing the doors open for Silicon Valley techies to go after federal contracts. The son of a federal employee who grew up devouring spy novels, Bowsher has always been interested in the work of the government but actually cut his teeth in Silicon Valley. After graduating from Stanford, he worked for three startups and spent eight years at venture fund InterWest Partners. By combining Silicon Valley's swashbuckling ethos with a government agency's mission-driven mentality, Bowsher has helped shepherd some of the biggest defense tech success stories of the past two decades.

Persons: Steve Bowsher, Bowsher Organizations: Magazine, Stanford, InterWest Partners Locations: Menlo Park , California, Silicon Valley

☆ A tax compliance startup raised millions. Then it abruptly shut down, and the founder cut off contact.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Even the human-resources firm retained to help employees with offboarding, Tandem, quit soon after the layoffs because it never got paid. Shannon Flynn Bevers, Tandem's president and founder, said that she tried to help employees but that Johnson stopped responding. "When startups go out of business, they will pay employees their final paycheck. Johnson told employees to take a weeklong furlough and blamed the issue on a technical snafu. She also told employees they could file a claim with their state labor department or hire an employment lawyer.

Persons: Slack, Shiloh Johnson, Johnson, they'd, Benjamin Matthews, Shannon Flynn Bevers, I've, Flynn Bevers, VCs, Josh Felser, Aerin Paulo, ComplYant's, I'd, ComplYant, podcaster David Sacks, Michael Tam, Tam, Matthews, Ryan Cady, Lusely Martinez, Martinez, Cady, paychecks, wasn't, Taliah McGuire, McGuire, what's, Shiloh Luckey, Penelope, We've Organizations: Business, offboarding, . Venture, BI, Craft Ventures, ComplYant, Mucker, Slauson, — Mucker, Fika Ventures, Employees Locations: Los Angeles, Shiloh, San Francisco, Colorado, New York, TikTok

☆ Israeli Officials Believe I.C.C. Is Preparing Arrest Warrants Over War
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Ronen Bergman | Patrick Kingsley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Israeli officials increasingly believe that the International Criminal Court is preparing to issue arrest warrants for senior government officials on charges related to the conflict with Hamas, according to five Israeli and foreign officials. The Israeli and foreign officials also believe the court is weighing arrest warrants for leaders from Hamas. If the court proceeds, the Israeli officials could potentially be accused of preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and pursuing an excessively harsh response to the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, according to two of the five officials, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter. The Israeli officials, who are worried about the potential fallout from such a case, said they believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is among those who might be named in a warrant. It is not clear who might be charged from Hamas or what crimes would be cited.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Gaza Locations: Israel

☆ Israeli Officials Believe International Court Is Preparing Arrest Warrants Over War
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Ronen Bergman | Patrick Kingsley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Gaza Locations: Israel

☆ Exclusive: Navan is targeting an April 2025 IPO as it projects to end next year with around $1 billion in annual revenue
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Navan is a travel and expense platform backed by a16z that was last valued at $9.2 billion. The company is targeting an April 2025 IPO, according to a source with direct knowledge. It is projecting to end 2025 with ARR in the billion dollar range, according to the source. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementNavan, a travel and expense platform last valued at $9.2 billion, is targeting an April 2025 initial public offering, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter not authorized to speak publicly.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Navan, EBITA

☆ Israel Planned Bigger Attack on Iran, but Scaled It Back to Avoid War
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Ronen Bergman | Patrick Kingsley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Israel abandoned plans for a much more extensive counterstrike on Iran after concerted diplomatic pressure from the United States and other foreign allies and because the brunt of an Iranian assault on Israel soil had been thwarted, according to three senior Israeli officials. Israeli leaders originally discussed bombarding several military targets across Iran last week, including near Tehran, the Iranian capital, in retaliation for the Iranian strike on April 13, said the officials, who spoke on the discussion of anonymity to describe the sensitive discussions. Such a broad and damaging attack would have been far harder for Iran to overlook, increasing the chances of a forceful Iranian counterattack that could have brought the Middle East to the brink of a major regional conflict. In the end — after President Biden, along with the British and German foreign ministers, urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent a wider war — Israel opted for a more limited strike on Friday that avoided significant damage, diminishing the likelihood of an escalation, at least for now.

Persons: Israel, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu Locations: Iran, United States, Israel, Tehran

☆ Disney technology executive Aaron LaBerge to leave company for personal reasons
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Walt Disney company logo is displayed on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on Dec. 1, 2023. Aaron LaBerge, the chief technology officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, is leaving the company, according to an internal memo. LaBerge is leaving for personal reasons related to his family and will stay on at Disney until June, the memo said. At ESPN, LaBerge has been a central figure behind the company's streaming services, including ESPN+, the upcoming sports streaming application co-owned by Disney, Warner Bros. They include former CEO Bob Chapek, former head of streaming Kevin Mayer, ex-finance chief Christine McCarthy, former Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn, former Disney general counsel Alan Braverman, ex-head of communications Zenia Mucha, and former president of Walt Disney Pictures, Sean Bailey.

Persons: Aaron LaBerge, LaBerge, He'll, He's, Bob Chapek, Kevin Mayer, Christine McCarthy, Alan Horn, Alan Braverman, Zenia Mucha, Sean Bailey, Aaron, Jimmy Pitaro, Dana Walden, Alan Bergman, Chris Lawson, Paul Allen Organizations: Walt Disney, New York Stock Exchange, Disney Entertainment, ESPN, PENN Entertainment, ESPN Bet, Disney, Hulu, Warner Bros . Discovery, Fox, Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, ESPN BET, Company, Starwave

☆ Israeli Weapon Damaged Iranian Air Defenses Without Being Detected, Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Farnaz Fassihi | Ronen Bergman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Some Democrats are fine sending defensive weapons to Israel, but want to see some limits on offensive weapons, which could be used against civilians in Gaza. But progressive Democrats estimated that 40 to 60 members of their party may oppose it on the House floor on Saturday. The legislation would allocate $5 billion to Israel’s defense capabilities and $9 billion for “worldwide humanitarian aid,” including for civilians in Gaza. “To give Netanyahu more offensive weapons at this stage, I believe, is to condone the destruction of Gaza that we’ve seen in the last six months. But they see a “no” vote as part of a strategy to pressure Mr. Biden to condition aid and halt future offensive weapons transfers.

Persons: Biden, ’, Pramila Jayapal, Joaquin Castro, We’re, Mr, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, ”, Ro Khanna, Netanyahu, Nancy Pelosi, Mike Johnson, —, Becca Balint, “, it’s, Lloyd Doggett, Doggett, Ms, Balint, Dan Kildee, Greg Casar Organizations: Democrats, Democratic, “, Congressional Progressive Caucus, ”, Democrat, Israel, Democratic Party, Republican, Republicans, Texas Democrat, White House, Michigan Democrat Locations: Israel, Gaza, Iraq, Washington, Texas, Ukraine, Taiwan, United States, Rafah, Iran, California, Yemen, Louisiana, Vermont, U.S, American

An Israeli airstrike on Iran on Friday damaged an air defense system, according to Western and Iranian officials, in an attack calculated to deliver a message that Israel could bypass Iran’s defensive systems undetected and paralyze them. The strike damaged a defensive battery near Natanz, a city in central Iran that is critical to the country’s nuclear weapons program, according to two Western officials and two Iranian officials. The attack — and the revelation on Saturday of its target — was in retaliation for Iran’s strike in Israel last week after Israel bombed its embassy compound in Damascus. But it used a fraction of the firepower Tehran deployed in launching hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel. But the relatively limited scope of Israel’s strike and the muted response from Iranian officials seem to have eased tensions.

Organizations: Israel Locations: Iran, Israel, Damascus, Tehran, Syria

☆ Caviar, champagne, and IPOs: At the Jefferies Private Internet Conference, tech dealmaking was back
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Jefferies hosted a conference to bring together late-stage tech founders, investors and bankers. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAs bankers and venture capitalists nibbled on caviar sushi and sipped champagne and sake this week at Nobu Malibu, there was a gleeful mood at the beachside closing dinner of the Jefferies Private Internet Conference. After a Covid pause, Jefferies resumed this conference in 2022 to bring together late-stage tech founders, investors, and bankers. Related story"Beyond typical deal considerations, AI has emerged as the single biggest new influence today in tech M&A," according to Greenberg.

Persons: Jefferies, —, Cameron Jefferies, Jason Greenberg, Greenberg, Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, Reddit, Marc Andreessen, Rich Handler, Andreessen Horowitz, Neerav, Goldman, JP Morgan Chase, we've, Lester Organizations: Service, Jefferies Private Internet Conference, Technology, Media, Telecom Investment Banking, Jefferies, Global Technology, Informatica, Epic, Venture, Jefferies Private Locations: Neerav Kingsland

☆ Trump's hush-money trial is set to heat up
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In today's newsletter, we're looking at the first week of former President Donald Trump's criminal trial and what's at stake. What's on deck:This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. AdvertisementFormer President Donald Trump's hush-money trial — the first-ever criminal trial of a former president — got underway this week with jury selection . We did get a preview of Trump's potential defense: " Some accountant " handled the paperwork he's on trial for, Trump told reporters. AdvertisementThe trial is focused on 34 felonies alleging the Trump Organization's business records were falsified to hide other crimes.

Persons: —, Donald Trump's, CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, Drew Angerer, Tyler Le, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, Zelei, Loretta Mester, John Williams, Rebecca Zisser, David Lieb, Sundar Pichai, Demis, Google's, BI's Ben Bergman, Eddie Mulholland, Alyssa Powell, Samsung execs, Taylor Swift's, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, George Glover Organizations: Service, Business, Getty, Trump, Cleveland Fed, York Fed, …, Bank of America, Google, Android, Bankers, Jefferies, Investor Conference, Samsung, Korea Economic, Disney, Warner Bros, American Express, Procter, Gamble, Poets Department Locations: Israeli, Iran, Israel, Florida, Korea, New York, London

Israel was mere moments away from an airstrike on April 1 that killed several senior Iranian commanders at Iran’s embassy complex in Syria when it told the United States what was about to happen. Aides quickly alerted Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s national security adviser; Jon Finer, the deputy national security adviser; Brett McGurk, Mr. Biden’s Middle East coordinator; and others, who saw that the strike could have serious consequences, a U.S. official said. Publicly, U.S. officials voiced support for Israel, but privately, they expressed anger that it would take such aggressive action against Iran without consulting Washington. On Saturday, Iran launched a retaliatory barrage of more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel, an unexpectedly large-scale response, if one that did minimal damage. The events made clear that the unwritten rules of engagement in the long-simmering conflict between Israel and Iran have changed drastically in recent months, making it harder than ever for each side to gauge the other’s intentions and reactions.

Persons: Israel, Jake Sullivan, Jon, Brett McGurk Organizations: U.S, Publicly, Israel, Washington Locations: Syria, United States, Biden’s, Iran, Israel

Persons: Israel, Jake Sullivan, Jon, Brett McGurk Organizations: U.S, Publicly, Israel, Washington Locations: Syria, United States, Biden’s, Iran, Israel

Iran’s attack on Israel, an immense barrage that included hundreds of ballistic missiles and exploding drones, changed the unspoken rules in the archrivals’ long-running shadow war. In that conflict, major airstrikes from one country’s territory directly against the other had been avoided. Given that change in precedent, the calculus by which Israel decides its next move has also changed, said the Israeli officials who requested anonymity to discuss Iran. “We cannot stand still from this kind of aggression,” Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the spokesman for Israel’s military said on Tuesday. Iran, he added, would not get off “scot-free with this aggression.”

Persons: Israel, Daniel Hagari, “ scot, ” Locations: Israel, Iran

☆ Families who sued social media companies years ago are taking matters into their own hands
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

Now there are hundreds of such lawsuits against social media platforms, alleging teenagers across the country have been harmed from exposure to social media, according to Matthew Bergman, the founder of the Social Media Victims Law Center, from where many of these lawsuits have been filed. Jaime Puerta said he has met with police departments, government agencies and schools to discuss the dangers of social media platforms. Mayor Eric Adams makes announcement on lawsuit against social media companies at City Hall in New York City. Next, she said she wants to work with lawmakers to help increase the age requirement to access social media sites. Donna and Chris Dawley have attended conferences, events and Congressional hearings to raise awareness about social media addiction.

Persons: Jaime Puerta’s, Daniel, Puerta, Snapchat, Matthew Bergman, Koukichi Takahashi, TikTok, ” Puerta, “, ”, Jaime Puerta, Meta, Gail Flatt, Sarah’s, Sarah, Flatt, Republican Sen, Marsha Blackburn, Sen . Blackburn, Blackburn, Mark Zuckerberg, who’ve, “ I’m, Norma Nazario, Zackery, Eric Adams, Nazario, Lev Radin, Ron DeSantis, Jaime Puerta – Amy Neville, Alexander, –, she’s, Neville, ” Amy Neville, Alexander Neville, Amy Neville, Democratic Sen, Amy Klobuchar, Sen, Klobuchar, Sabine Polak, Polak, Mileva, ” Polak, Repasky, it’s, Cece Nelter, Independence , Kentucky –, Instagram, Cece, Nelter, Donna, Chris Dawley –, CJ, ” Donna Dawley, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Chris Dawley, Donna Dawley “, Donna Dawley, “ We’ve Organizations: CNN, International Association for Suicide Prevention, Befrienders, Social Media, Law, Meta, Adobe, Big Tech, Los Angeles, Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, Homeland Security, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, Drug, Administration, Federal, Facebook, Wall, Northern District of, Republican, Union, New York City, New York, City Hall, Pacific Press, TikTok, Florida Republican, Snapchat, Alexander Neville Foundation, Alexander, Parent, Academy, Democratic, Media, Free Schools Movement Locations: Northern District, Northern District of California, Instagram, Tennessee, Biden’s, New York, New, New York City, Florida, United States, Minnesota, Phoenixville , Pennsylvania, ”, Independence , Kentucky

A Palestinian man inspecting damage on Saturday after Israeli settlers attacked the village of Al Mughayir, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The Israeli military announced on Saturday that it would bolster its forces in the West Bank with additional companies and police. Israeli settlers, some of them armed, entered the villages, the official added, and there were reports that they had opened fire. At one point, “rocks were hurled” at Israeli soldiers, leading them to open fire in response, the Israeli military said. Last February, an attack by Israeli settlers devastated the Palestinian town of Huwara in the northern West Bank.

Persons: Al Mughayir, Binyamin Achimair, Yesh Din, Abu Aliya —, Amin Abu Aliya, Binyamin’s, Naser Dawabsheh, “, ”, Na’asan Na’asan, Shaul Golan, Golan, Biden, Binyamin, Abu Aliya, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Yair Lapid, ” Mr, Na’asan Organizations: West Bank ., West Bank, United Nations, Duma Locations: Al, Palestinian, Ramallah, torching, East Jerusalem, Gaza, Al Mughayir, “, Israel, Huwara, West Bank

☆ Inside Andy Jassy's plan for Amazon in the generative AI era
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. By the way, we're wrapping up voting for the championship matchup in our business, tech, and innovation bracket. In today's big story, we're looking at Amazon CEO Andy Jassy's letter to shareholders, which details the tech giant's plan in the age of generative AI . What's on deck:AdvertisementBut first, Amazon, AI, and a letter. The big storyAmazon in the AI ageMichael M. Santiago/Getty Images; Chelsea Jia Feng/BIThe generative AI revolution is coming, and Amazon wants in on the ground floor.

Persons: —, We've, Andy Jassy's, Michael M, Chelsea Jia Feng, Andy Jassy, Ana Altchek, Jassy, that's, Andy Jassy Mike Blake, Eugene Kim, Jassy's, Phillip Faraone, Gregor Fischer, Noam Galai, Here's, it's, Morgan Stanley, Ben Bergman, Rebecca Zisser, Adam Neumann, Neumann, Samantha Lee, Bon Appétit, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, George Glover Organizations: Business, Service, Amazon, Getty, AWS, Bridgewater Associates, Pfizer, Reuters, Prime, TechCrunch, Games, New York Times, Visual China, BI, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Coachella Locations: Wells Fargo, New York, London

☆ Why is pop culture so obsessed with nuns?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Leah Dolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

These vestal get-ups are, in fact, the latest in a long line of subversive pop culture interpretations of the lives (and loves) of nuns. More recently, Bella Hadid walked the Coperni Fall-Winter 2022 runway wearing headgear reminiscent of a nun’s habit. The “Nunsploitation” subgenre saw the transformation of nuns from icons of piety and sacrifice into harbingers of evil and sexual obsession. In lighter fare, “Sister Act 3,” a third movie in the beloved “Sister Act” series of the 1990s starring Whoopi Goldberg is currently in development. “The juxtaposition of the nun’s habit with either blatant sexuality or the cultivation of personal identity and style is shocking and grabs people’s attention,” wrote Dr. Neal.

Persons: Rihanna, Sydney Sweeney, vestal, Dior, John Galliano, Serre, Emilia Wickstead, Bella Hadid, Sydney Sweeney's, Hulton, —, Andy Warhol, Ingrid Bergman, ”, Ken Vrana, Yoshitomo Nara, Lynn S, Neal, Audrey Hepburn, Christ, Lust ”, Saint Valentine ”, Sister Gertrude, Nadia Lee Cohen, Saint Maud ”, “, Whoopi Goldberg, Suzanne Hanover, Sweeney — Organizations: CNN, Couture, Deutsch, Pew Research Center, Cannes Film Locations: Maison, Sydney, Italy, Swedish, America

☆ Adam Neumann opens up about his billion-dollar plan to transform apartment living and explains why he wants to buy back WeWork
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In August 2022, former WeWork cofounder Adam Neumann announced he was back, starting a new company called Flow to transform apartment living. I spoke with residents and staff, but my many requests to speak on the record with Neumann himself were always rebuffed. Whatever happens with Flow, Neumann will always be remembered for WeWork, which he resigned from in 2019. The launch occurs as Neumann is trying to buy back his bankrupt former company for more than $500 million. I think people are skeptical of how Flow is a tech company.

Persons: Adam Neumann, Andreessen Horowitz, Neumann, Neumann's WeWork, it's, We're, we're, It's, WeWork, You've, Ben, Horowitz Organizations: Business Locations: Fort Lauderdale , Florida, South Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Miami

☆ Cicadas 2024: What to expect from the Brood XIII and Brood XIX emergence of cicadas
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Kate Golembiewski | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The 13-year group, known as Brood XIX, or the Great Southern Brood, is the largest periodical cicada brood, stretching across the southeastern United States. The Northern Illinois Brood, or Brood XIII, emerges every 17 years. Periodical cicadas are smaller and mostly black, with bright red eyes and orange-tinged wings and legs. Billions of cicadas are expected this spring as two different broods — Broods XIX and XIII — emerge simultaneously. However, predictions of a cicadapocalypse — in which Brood XIII and Brood XIX show up at the same place at the same time — are probably an exaggeration.

Persons: hasn’t, Thomas Jefferson, —, “, ”, Jonathan Larson, don’t, XIII —, Jason Bergman, ” Larson, We’re, Chris Simon, XIII haven't, Chip Somodevilla, Larson, Cheney Orr, ” Simon, Kate Golembiewski Organizations: CNN, Southern, Northern Illinois, University of Kentucky, Midwest, University of Connecticut, Reuters Locations: United States, Indianapolis, Northern Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky , Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina , Georgia, Alabama , Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Columbia , Maryland, America, Chicago

Iran is operating a clandestine smuggling route across the Middle East, employing intelligence operatives, militants and criminal gangs, to deliver weapons to Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to officials from the United States, Israel and Iran. The goal, as described by three Iranian officials, is to foment unrest against Israel by flooding the enclave with as many weapons as it can. The covert operation is now heightening concerns that Tehran is seeking to turn the West Bank into the next flashpoint in the long-simmering shadow war between Israel and Iran. Many weapons smuggled to the West Bank largely travel along two paths from Iran through Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel, the officials said. A key group in the operation, the Iranian officials and analysts said, are Bedouin smugglers who carry the weapons across the border from Jordan into Israel.

Organizations: West Bank Locations: Iran, United States, Israel, Tehran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan

☆ Disney's parks are its top money maker — and it plans to spend $60 billion to keep it that way
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

It had been more than a year since the Covid pandemic had forced Disney's domestic parks to shutter, but D'Amaro, chair of Disney's experiences division, was confident guests would flood back in when the gates reopened. Revenues fell 35% in 2020, a nearly $10 billion decrease from the $26.2 billion the experiences division had tallied in the year before the pandemic. The experiences division posted record revenue of $32.5 billion in fiscal 2023, a 16% increase from the prior year. Its innovations, from ride mechanics and animatronics to creature design and immersive architecture, have made Disney's parks a standout in the industry. Storytelling is at the heart of everything across Disney's experiences division.

Persons: Mickey Mouse, Ian Langsdon, Josh D'Amaro, D'Amaro, Bob Chapek, D'Amaro —, Walt Disney, King Arthur Carousel, Christian Thompson, you've, it's, Bob Iger, Nelson, Walt Disney Imagineering, Rey, Kylo Ren, Judy Hopps, Imagineers, CNBC —, Lewis, Disney, Imagineering, Matt Stroshane, Alan Bergman Organizations: Paris, Afp, Getty, Gibson, Disney, Walt Disney Imagineering, Hong Kong Disneyland, Walt Disney, Guardians, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Star Wars, California Disneyland's, Walt Disney Imagineering's, Disney Engineers, Force, Southwest, CNBC, Galactic, Marvel Locations: California, Burbank, Disneyland, Hong Kong, Shanghai Disneyland, Florida, Epcot, Magic, Wharf, Disneyland's, Disney's, Edge

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