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☆ U.S. launches Operation Prosperity Guardian to defend Red Sea shipping lanes from Houthi attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-18 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. officials on Monday expanded a multinational maritime force in the Red Sea to defend against escalating attacks from the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, which have impeded international shipping routes. The new defense, named Operation Prosperity Guardian, builds on the power of the Combined Maritime Forces, a 39-member international coalition. A subdivision of the forces, called Task Force 153 is dedicated to the Red Sea. Oil giant BP announced Monday it would temporarily suspend its shipping in the Red Sea, joining companies like shipping firms Maersk, MSC and others. Operation Prosperity Guardian will aim to deter further Houthi attacks as the U.S. eyes potential flare-ups of regional conflict amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, hadn't, John Kirby Organizations: Prosperity, Combined Maritime Forces, U.S . Navy Fifth Fleet, Security, Task Force, BP, Maersk, MSC Locations: Sana'a, Yemen, U.S, Iran, Bahrain, Suez, Red, Israel

☆ 25 healthcare startups that are set to take off in 2024, according to top VCs
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-18 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | Blake Dodge | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

AetionAetion's website. AetionPicked by: Lynne Chou O'Keefe, the founder and managing partner of Define VenturesWhat the company does: Aetion provides pharmaceutical companies, payers, and regulators with real-world evidence they can use to inform decisions. Aetion provides the real-world evidence that insurers, pharmaceutical companies, and regulatory agencies need to evaluate the value of drugs and inform those conversations, she said. "The cost of specialty drugs, what's happening in the Inflation Reduction Act — all are bellwethers that we need a more value-based-oriented system around therapeutics going forward," she said. — Shelby Livingston

Persons: Aetion, Lynne Chou O'Keefe, O'Keefe, — Shelby Livingston

☆ Biden campaign says Trump's repeated anti-immigration comments 'parroted Adolf Hitler'
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-17 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Biden campaign slammed former President Donald Trump for echoing Nazi sentiments with his repeated statements on Saturday night that immigrants are "poisoning the blood" of the United States. The Republican frontrunner most recently repeated the anti-immigrant remarks at a New Hampshire rally and in a Truth Social post Saturday night. "President Trump gave a great speech," Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said about the former president's remarks. Trump's inflammatory comments come as Republican hard-liners in Congress refuse to pass a Ukraine-Israel aid package until Democrats agree to stricter border policies. After Republicans voted to block Ukraine aid, Biden quoted a Kremlin propagandist saying, "Well done, Republicans!

Persons: Donald Trump, Biden, parroted Adolf Hitler, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Harris, Ammar Moussa, Trump, Raheem Kassam, Hitler, Steven Cheung, South Carolina Republican Sen, Lindsey Graham, that's, Graham, Andrew Bates Organizations: U.S, Republican, South Carolina Republican, Trump's, Trump, Press Locations: Coralville , Iowa, U.S, United States, American, New Hampshire, Ukraine, Israel, Hampshire, Russian, Russia

☆ See the 20-slide pitch deck that got Merck to back an AI-powered biotech creating drugs for untreatable diseases
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-14 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Pepper Bio wants to reduce those costs by getting drug developers to the right targets faster, using what it calls a "transomics" approach. Pepper Bio also looks at protein phosphorylation, an indication of how and when proteins are active. Pepper Bio CEO Jon Hu said working with Merck gave the startup insight into the needs of the pharma firms to which Pepper Bio hopes to sell its software. "It allows us to understand, truthfully, what drug developers are struggling with," he said. Here's the 20-slide pitch deck that got Pepper Bio $6.5 million in seed funding.

Persons: Pepper, Pepper Bio's cofounders, Jon Hu Organizations: Business, NFX, Silverton Partners, Mana Ventures, Tensility Ventures, VSC Ventures, Merck, Merck Digital Sciences, pharma

☆ Congress could punt Ukraine aid to 2024, snarl government funding talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-13 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"I would stay here indefinitely, but I don't know that all our colleagues will be able to do that," Speaker Johnson said at a Wall Street Journal conference on Monday. A small but vocal group of hardline House Republicans nearly shut down the government over their opposition to $6 billion of Ukraine aid included in the federal budget. Hours before a government shutdown deadline of Oct. 1, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy agreed to strip out the Ukraine aid to pass a bill to keep the government open. If Ukraine funding talks get delayed to 2024 and become a pawn in the coming budget negotiations, Speaker Johnson could be at risk of meeting the same fate McCarthy did. Johnson already faces an uphill budget battle, without the added burden of Ukraine aid talks.

Persons: Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's, Joe Biden's, Sen, Lindsey Graham, Zelenskyy, we're, I'm, Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Mitch McConnell, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy Organizations: White, Republican, Democratic, Street, Top, Republicans, House Republicans Locations: Washington , U.S, Washington, Ukraine, Ky

☆ VCs are getting pickier about their weight-loss bets as startups rush to prescribe Ozempic
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-11 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Read previewWith the Ozempic craze in full swing, investors are getting picky about the weight-loss startups they want to back. Kaganoff predicted that in the new year some startups prescribing GLP-1s would invest more money in studies using real-world evidence to show their programs work. And despite the Ozempic frenzy, weight-loss startups captured a tiny fraction of the money invested this year. Investors had put about $211 million toward weight-loss startups through mid-November, representing about 3% of digital-health funding over that period, according to PitchBook. Alfie HealthSome unlikely sectors of the healthcare industry stand to benefit from the growth of the weight-loss market.

Persons: —, Sari Kaganoff, Crystal Cox, Kaganoff, Ro, VCs, Michael Greeley, Alyssa Jaffee, 7wireVentures, she's, she'd, Mounjaro, Mercer, Michael Siluk, PitchBook, Alfie Health, it's, Alfie's cofounders, Aaron DeGagne, Jordan, he'd, DeGagne, There's Organizations: Service, Business, Rock Health, Flare Capital Partners, Getty, Employers, Health, Investors, Phenomix Sciences, Mayo Clinic, PitchBook, Tusk Venture Partners, Sword Health Locations: GLP

☆ 10 industry leaders transforming business in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-11 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

In 2023, Business Insider's annual list of People Transforming Business highlights key players across the advertising, ESG, finance, AI, and labor sectors. Increasingly, they're turning to more opaque private credit markets to borrow money. The world of private credit sits outside the traditional banking system. Analysts expect the private credit market to balloon in size — likely keeping lawyers like Breen very busy. Muthukrishnan is trying to make sense of how risky these private credit loans are by overseeing what is so far the most comprehensive look at vulnerabilities in the industry.

Persons: Mira Murati, who's, Vince Toye, Eileen Fisher, Eileen Fisher Fisher, Guerin Blask, Eileen Fisher Eileen Fisher, she's, Fisher, Janelle Jones, Jones, Lexey, —, She's, Justin Breen, Proskauer Breen, Proskauer Justin Breen, he's, Breen, Ares Capital, He's, McLaren, Julie Su, Labor Julie Su, Department of Labor Julie Su, Su, Marty Walsh, Murati, Jim Wilson, Neal Mohan, YouTube Mohan, Katie Thompson, YouTube It's, YouTube isn't, Mohan, Muthukrishnan, Satya Nadella, Microsoft Satya Nadella, Ben Kriemann, Nadella, Steve Ballmer, Mathias Döpfner, Axel Springer, Tim Cook, Apple Cook, Justin Sullivan, Cook, Steve Jobs, Jobs, JPMorgan Chase Toye, JPMorgan Chase, Toye, they'll, Vince Toye's, Bella Sayegh, Rebecca Ungarino, Lara O'Reilly, Juliana Kaplan, Alex Nicoll, Tim Paradis, Stephanie Hallett, Michelle Abrego, Josée Rose, Ryan Joe, Emily Canal, Kaja Whitehouse, Alyssa Powell, Davis, Jonann Brady Organizations: JPMorgan, Service Employees International, SEIU, New York, Ford, Service Employees International Union, United Auto Workers Union, Spelman College, US Department of Labor, Economic Policy Institute, Center for Economic, Research, Department of Labor, The New York Times, Ares, Churchill Asset Management, European, Atlético Madrid, Labor, Labor Department, MacArthur Foundation, New York Times, Dartmouth, OpenAI, Associated Press, YouTube, NFL, DirecTV, Federal, Microsoft, Manipal Institute of Technology, University of Wisconsin -, University of Chicago, Apple, Apple Watch, Google, Time, JPMorgan Chase, National Housing Trust, Trenton Almgren Locations: McDonald's, Lorain , Ohio, Atlanta, California, Los Angeles, Albania, Canada, Muthukrishnan, Hyderabad, India, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, OpenAI, Virginia, Wells Fargo, Trenton

☆ McDonald's is in the midst of some big changes that show the changing tides in the world of fast food
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-11 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . In today's big story, we're looking at some of the recent big changes at McDonald's, including the launch of a new restaurant concept. AdvertisementCold foam and oat milk are big business, as drink modifiers add up to roughly $1 billion in revenue for Starbucks. McDonald's app has grown over the years, with over 57 million active members, but it still leaves much to be desired. To be sure, 10 CosMc's is not even a drop in the bucket of McDonald's 40,000-plus restaurant empire.

Persons: —, I'm, Joe Ciolli, Iman Jalali, Nancy Luna, It's, McDonald's, Nancy, CosMc's, Jamie Dimon, Jerome Powell, Jose Luis Magana, Ryan Detrick, Niklas Halle'n, Rebecca Zisser, Jeff Bezos, OpenAI's Ilya Sutskever doesn't, Sam Altman's, hasn't, Elon Musk's, Ben Bergman, Adam Neumann's, Insider's Ben Bergman, Z, Donald Trump, Dan DeFrancesco, Naga Siu, Hallam Bullock, Lisa Ryan Organizations: Service, Starbucks, Nancy, McDonalds, McDonald's, Reserve, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs, Capitol, Carson Group, Getty Images, San, Sutskever, Visual China, Getty, Fort, Trump Organization, Trump Organization . Golden Globe Locations: Chicago, , Illinois, Texas, Washington, AFP, San Francisco, Fort Lauderdale, New York City, San Diego, London, New York

of X Elon Musk speaks during the New York Times annual DealBook summit on November 29, 2023 in New York City. Elon Musk on Sunday reinstated the account of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on X, formerly Twitter, reneging on a year-ago vow to keep Jones off the social network. Users of the Elon Musk-led X social media platform had anticipated the reinstatement of Jones since at least Thursday, when Musk said he would consider reinstating Jones. Musk said Jones "cannot break the law," but that if he does spread misinformation, X's community notes feature will correct him. X has allowed Tate to monetize his account and Tate has said that he generated tens of thousands of dollars on X, previously.

Persons: Tesla, X Elon Musk, Elon Musk, Alex Jones, Jones, Sandy, Sandy Hook, Infowars, Musk, Andrew Tate —, Tate, monetize, Travis Brown, Jack Sweeney, Aaron Greenspan, MMfA, he's, Donald Trump Organizations: SpaceX, New York Times, Elon, Twitter, Elementary, Sandy Hook Elementary School, Associated Press, Media, America Locations: New York City, Sandy, Newtown , Connecticut, Texas and Connecticut, Romania, New York

☆ China’s Colossal Hidden-Debt Problem Is Coming to a Head
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Rebecca Feng | Cao Li | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

At the People’s Bank of China in Beijing, regulators are trying to address the risks of the country’s hidden debt. Photo: mark r cristino/ShutterstockChina is trying to defuse a financial time bomb that could severely damage its banking system. Cities and provinces across the country have accumulated a massive amount of hidden debt following years of unchecked borrowing and spending. The International Monetary Fund and Wall Street banks estimate that the total outstanding off-balance-sheet government debt is around $7 trillion to $11 trillion. That includes corporate bonds issued by thousands of so-called local-government financing vehicles, which borrowed money to build roads, bridges and other infrastructure, or to fund other expenditures.

Organizations: People’s Bank of China, Monetary Fund Locations: Beijing, China, Cities

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., arrives for President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy's meeting with U.S. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)WASHINGTON — Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., announced Tuesday that he is dropping the bulk of his monthslong hold on hundreds of military nominations. Tuberville told reporters that he has lifted his hold on all military promotions three-star and below, amounting to over 400 promotions. Tuberville told reporters. Tuberville had signaled last week that he might drop some of his holds on military promotions "very soon."

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy's, Bill Clark, WASHINGTON — Sen, Tuberville, Nikki Haley, Lloyd Austin, Chuck Schumer, John Thune Organizations: U.S, Senators, Inc, Getty Images, Alabama Republican, Defense, Pentagon, GOP, Tuberville's, Republicans Locations: Ukraine, Israel

☆ Biden impeachment inquiry vote expected next week, House Republican leaders say
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

House Republican leaders expect to vote next week to formalize their impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, they said Tuesday. Even if the House were ultimately to vote to impeach Biden after an inquiry, the Democratic-controlled Senate would not vote to remove him from office. The real risk of a House impeachment is that it could distract the White House and put the president on defense ahead of an election year. The subpoenas are "illegitimate," the White House argues, since the House has not voted to formally authorize an impeachment inquiry. "The Republican House Majority has so far refused to take" that step, wrote White House counsel Richard Sauber in a letter Friday to House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Joe Biden, Biden, They're, they've, Johnson, Steve Scalise, Tom Emmer, Richard Sauber, James Comer, Jim Jordan, Kevin McCarthy, Hunter, Hunter Biden, Comer Organizations: Republican, U.S, Capitol, Washington , D.C, Democratic, Biden, National Archives, CNBC PRO Locations: Washington ,, Ky, Ohio

☆ How Mark Cuban forced the biggest US pharmacy to upend its business
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The new program includes a set markup for medication costs, a step toward drug pricing transparency. The retailer has been facing pressure from new models like Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs. They've been especially focused on pharmacy-benefit managers and the lack of transparency around how much drugs cost. How Mark Cuban changed drug pricingCuban's pharmacy buys drugs directly from manufacturers and sells them to consumers at a 15% markup, plus pharmacy fees. AdvertisementBut the announcement looks to be a step in the right direction for drug pricing transparency.

Persons: —, Mark, Prem Shah, Mark Cuban, GoodRx, PBMs, Kroger, it's Organizations: CVS, Cuban, Plus, Service, Mark Cuban, Federal, US Federal Trade Commission, CVS Health, Kroger, Walgreens, Drug, Wall Street Locations: California

☆ Walmart and Target borrowing ideas from each other shows we're in a new economic landscape
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

In today's big story, we're looking at the rising similarities between Target and Walmart. Dominick Reuter/Business InsiderIf imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Walmart and Target are embarking on some serious tributes to each other. AdvertisementTwo of the country's largest retailers are taking pages from each other's playbooks as they adjust to a changing economic landscape. And Walmart founder Sam Walton openly admitted he stole borrowed plenty of ideas from Sol Price, the originator of the wholesale club model. That's led Walmart to see an increase in higher-income clientele, a trend they're leaning into.

Persons: —, Dominick Reuter, Insider's Dominick Reuter, Dominick, Christina Hennington, it's, Sam Walton, Sol Price, That's, Charlie Flanagan, Management's Bryan Kelly, Li Deng, Mike Schuster, Sam Altman Andrew Caballero, Reynolds, Daniel Ek, Slaven Vlasic, Rebecca Zisser, Elon, Zers, Xochitl Gomez, Alyson Hannigan, Jason Mraz, Charity Lawson, Ariana Madix, Dan DeFrancesco, Naga Siu, Hallam Bullock, Lisa Ryan Organizations: Service, Target, Walmart, AQR, Investments, AQR Capital Management, Vatic Investments, Sigma, Investment, Barclays, ING, MSCI Israel, Tel, Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, Israel Securities Authority, Reuters, Broadcom, VMware, The New York Times, Inc, Adobe, ABC, Major, Baseball, MLB Network Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, New York City, San Diego, London, New York

Republican candidates are gearing up for the fourth GOP presidential debate, with a shrinking field as the first nominating contest approaches. After raucous debates in Wisconsin, California and Florida, the candidates are set to return to the debate stage for a two-hour event at 8 p.m. To qualify for the fourth debate, a candidate must reach at least 6% support in two national polls or 6% in one national poll and one poll from an early state poll in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada or South Carolina, according to rules set by the Republican National Committee. In addition to the polling and fundraising requirements, the candidates must also have taken a loyalty pledge in order to participate in the debate, which all candidates who appeared in the earlier debates completed. With that pledge, which has been somewhat controversial among the candidates, GOP presidential hopefuls must sign a statement that they will support the eventual Republican nominee.

Persons: Donald Trump –, Donald Trump, Julie Bennett, Ron DeSantis, Rebecca S, Gratz, Nikki Haley, Alex Brandon, Vivek Ramaswamy, Michael M, Chris Christie, Asa Hutchinson, Scott Olson, Ryan Binkley Organizations: Republican National Committee, Republican, Donald Trump Former, The Washington, Getty, United Nations, New Jersey, Asa Hutchinson Former Arkansas, Ryan Binkley Business Locations: Wisconsin , California, Florida, Tuscaloosa , Alabama, Iowa , New Hampshire , Nevada, South Carolina, Ron DeSantis Florida, Carolina, New

☆ China Evergrande Avoids a Debt Disaster—for Now
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Rebecca Feng | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

An Evergrande residential project in Nanjing, China. The company’s default in late 2021 was a watershed moment for China’s real-estate sector. Photo: Cfoto/Zuma PressChina Evergrande Group, the giant property developer whose default two years ago fueled a crisis in the country’s real-estate market, got some unexpected good news on Monday. The company, once China’s largest property developer by sales, was given until late January 2024 to reach a debt restructuring deal, after Hong Kong’s High Court postponed a hearing that could have pushed Evergrande into liquidation.

Organizations: Zuma Press China Evergrande Group, Hong Locations: Nanjing, China

After decades on the job, they had plenty of reasons to like working for the New Jersey State Police. Dawn Curran, 53, was proud to be among an elite cadre of troopers selected to protect the state’s governors. Wanda Stojanov, also 53, believed in showing her daughters that women could excel in male-dominated careers. For Rebecca Hotchkin, 56, the job offered meaningful work, competitive pay and health care that helped save her life when she got cancer. The New Jersey State Police employed 174 female officers last year — just 5.6 percent of its 3,117 troopers.

Persons: Dawn Curran, Wanda Stojanov, Rebecca Hotchkin, ” Ms, Hotchkin Organizations: New Jersey State Police, New, The New Jersey State Police, Department

☆ Former U.S. ambassador spied for Cuba for decades, Justice Department says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announces that Victor Manuel Rocha, the former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia, has been charged with acting illegally as a foreign agent for the government of Cuba, Dec. 4, 2023. Prosecutors say Victor Manuel Rocha, 73, spent more than 40 years spying for Cuba while he rose through the State Department, where he was U.S. ambassador to Bolivia during the Clinton administration. Rocha's case is "one of the highest-reaching and longest-lasting infiltrations of the United States government by a foreign agent," Attorney General Merrick Garland said Monday at a press conference. "To further that role, Rocha obtained and maintained employment in the United States government in positions that provided him: (1) access to nonpublic information, including classified information; and (2) the ability to affect United States foreign policy," wrote prosecutors. I have – have created the legend of a right-wing person," Rocha allegedly said, referring to the Cuban intelligence services.

Persons: General Merrick Garland, Victor Manuel Rocha, Clinton, Merrick Garland, Rocha, Rocha's Organizations: State Department, United, Southern, Southern District of, Foreign Government, DOJ, Undercover, Cuban Locations: Bolivia, Cuba, American, Miami, U.S, United States, Southern District, Southern District of Florida, Republic of Cuba, States, Cuban

☆ In Gaza, disease could be even deadlier than airstrikes, WHO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues, there’s growing concern about how the situation may raise the risk of disease and illness in Gaza. There could be more deaths in Gaza from disease and a broken health infrastructure than from bombs and missiles, the World Health Organization has warned. “If the conflict impacts access to safe water, then there may be challenges with waterborne diseases,” she said. In this situation, the risk of death due to disease is much greater than the risk of death due to bombardment,” said Haque, who is not involved in WHO but has studied infectious disease, conflict and war. During the Israel-Hamas conflict, maternity care facilities have been affected by Israeli airstrikes due to evacuations, power outages, and a shortage of medical supplies.

Persons: “, Margaret Harris, Barry Levy, ”, Levy, Rebecca Katz, ” Katz, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, ” Tedros, Abed Rahim Khatib, Ubydul Haque, Haque, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, Shifa, CNN’s Martin Goillandeau, Eleni Giokos Organizations: CNN, World Health Organization, WHO, Tufts University School of Medicine, Center for Global Health Science, Security, Georgetown University, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs, Getty, Rutgers Global Health Institute, CNN Health, Shifa Locations: Israel, Gaza, Covid, Al

☆ Pentagon reports U.S. warship, commercial ships encounter Houthi drones in Red Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A U.S. naval ship shot down several Houthi drones after commercial vessels were attacked in the Red Sea, the Pentagon reported on Sunday, the same day Yemen's Houthi rebel group said it had targeted two Israeli ships there. "We're aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available," the Pentagon said in a statement. Later in the day, a National Security Council official said that preliminary assessments of the situation show that only the commercial ships, not the Carney, were targeted. As it assisted the Unity Explorer, the Carney destroyed another Houthi drone headed towards itself and the Unity Explorer. "The Yemeni armed forces continue to prevent Israeli ships from navigating the Red and Arab Seas until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops," the Houthis said.

Persons: Carney Organizations: U.S, Pentagon, National Security, Unity Locations: Red, Israel, U.S, Iran, Mandeb, Arab, Gaza, Israeli

☆ Alaska Airlines says it's buying Hawaiian Airlines in $1.9 billion deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines planes takeoff at the same time from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, California, United States on June 21, 2023. Alaska Airlines has agreed to acquire its rival Hawaiian Airlines in a deal valued at about $1.9 billion, as the companies make a push to expand along the West Coast. The combined company will be based in Seattle, where Alaska Airlines is headquartered, and led by its CEO, Ben Minicucci. "With the additional scale and resources that this transaction with Alaska Airlines brings, we will be able to accelerate investments in our guest experience and technology, while maintaining the Hawaiian Airlines brand," Peter Ingram, CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, said in the release. The combination will allow Alaska Airlines to triple nonstop or one-stop flights from the Hawaiian islands to destinations throughout North America.

Persons: Ben Minicucci, Peter Ingram, Minicucci Organizations: Hawaiian Airlines, San Francisco International Airport, Alaska Airlines, North America . Alaska Airlines, Airlines Locations: Alaska, San Francisco , California, United States, West Coast, Seattle, North America, Hawai'i, Maui

☆ False claims dead Palestinian baby was 'a doll' go viral on social media in the Israel-Hamas disinformation war
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

False claims that the body of a five-month-old Palestinian baby, was "a doll" went viral. The Jerusalem Post, a leading Israeli news outlet, removed and retracted its article about the "doll." Photojournalist Ali Jadallah posted an Instagram story, writing: "I shared the name of this baby, and still Israeli media are claiming he is a doll. In a statement on X, The Jerusalem Post said: "The article in question did not meet our editorial standards and was thus removed. AdvertisementUpdate: Jerusalem Post has now fully deleted the article off of their website and all associated social media posts.

Persons: —, Ali Jadallah, Muhammad Hani Al, Attia, Attia Abu Amra, Deir, Muhammad, Ben Goggin, Shayan, Sardarizadeh Organizations: Service, Getty, Hospital, Reuters, NBC's, Jerusalem Post, BBC Locations: Jerusalem, Israel, Gaza, Aqsa, Deir Al, Balah

☆ A couple's garden ornament turned out to be a live 64-pound navy shell
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A bomb found in the front garden of a house in the UK preceded both World Wars. The couple said the detonation of the shell was "like the passing of an old friend." The 64-pound naval projectile had been used as a garden ornament for decades. AdvertisementA garden ornament turned out to be a live bomb for a UK couple who had it in pride of place in their garden for decades, the BBC reports. However, their perception of the ornament dramatically changed when a police officer who spotted the bomb alerted the Ministry of Defence.

Persons: —, Sian, Jeffrey Edwards, Morris, Edwards, Pop Morris Organizations: Service, BBC, Ministry of Defence, of Defence, Royal Navy Locations: Milford Haven, Wales

☆ Disturbing video appears to show Russian soldiers executing Ukrainian troops who had surrendered
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A video appears to show Russian soldiers executing Ukrainian troops who had surrendered. AdvertisementA new war video appears to show Russian soldiers executing two Ukrainian soldiers who had surrendered, The Kyiv Post reports. Just a few feet away, a group of Russian soldiers is seen crouching down, pointing their weapons. It is not the first instance of Russian troops being accused of killing unarmed Ukrainian soldiers. In April, a video surfaced showing Russian troops beheading a Ukrainian soldier.

Persons: —, treacherously, Ihor Lachenkov, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Oleksandr Matsievskyi, Slava Ukraini Organizations: Strategic Committee, Armed Forces of, Service, Kyiv, Armed Forces, Ukrainian Locations: Ukrainian, Russia, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Avdiika, Avdiivka, Ukraine, Donetsk

☆ A defiant Ukrainian soldier called in an artillery strike on his own position in a moment of self-sacrifice — and survived
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Ukrainian soldier called in an artillery strike on his own position, CNN reports. AdvertisementA Ukrainian soldier called in an artillery strike on his own position to try and stall a Russian advance, CNN reports. Alone and wounded, Serhii, whose call sign is "Fin," had Russian troops closing around him. Surrounded and ready to die, he called in artillery strikes on his position, successfully deterring advancing Russian forces. A Russian soldier even once entered Serhii's dugout, seemingly oblivious to his Ukrainian identity.

Persons: —, Serhii, Libkos, Oleksiy Tarasenko, Radio Svoboda Organizations: CNN, Service, 80th Air Assault Galician Brigade, Assault Brigade, Radio Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Finland, Russia, Bakhmut, Bakhmut District, Donetsk Region, Russian, Ukraine's

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