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☆ Dubai wants to build the biggest airport in the world. Here’s how that’s going
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Miquel Ros | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

To put that in perspective, that’s nearly 63 million more travelers than the world’s current busiest airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International, handled in 2022 and nearly 100 million more than Dubai International. philipus/Alamy Stock PhotoThe recent Dubai Air Show, held at a purpose-built venue at Al Maktoum International Airport in 2023, offered some intriguing hints about what’s ahead for DWC – and some insights into Dubai Airports’ long-term strategy. “We have prioritized expansion and investments at DXB to meet our customers’ requirements and plans,” Paul Griffiths, Dubai Airports CEO, tells CNN. Changing the business modelNew artist renderings haven't been released in a decade, but Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths says the team will soon be working on ambitious new designs. It will have capacity for 185 million passengers per year, or almost seven times the number it handled in 2022.

Persons: Al Maktoum, it‘ll, that’s, Hartsfield –, let’s, DWC, ’ Al Maktoum, DWC –, ” Paul Griffiths, ”, Griffiths, ” Griffiths, “, haven't, Paul Griffiths, “ We’re, Mohammed bin Rashid, Nadine Itani, Abu Dhabi’s, Foster Organizations: CNN, Al, Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai World, Dubai Airports, Dubai International, Al Maktoum International, Hartsfield, Hartsfield – Jackson Atlanta International, Emirates Cargo, UAE, ‘, ’ Al Maktoum International, Dubai Air, Dubai, AFP, Traveller, Emirates, University of Surrey, Hamad International Airport, Kuwait International, Partners, Sharjah International Airport, Air, Riyadh Air Locations: Budapest, Al Maktoum, Dubai, Dubai’s, Eastern Europe, Russia, Central Asia, Emirates, England, India, Middle, Europe, Qatar, Muscat , Oman, Bahrain, Gulf, Kuwait, British, Sharjah, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi

☆ Stocks hate this one weird trick from the calendar
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Leap Day might seem like fun and games — until you consider Wall Street. To account for that gap, Julius Caesar in 45 BC decreed that an extra day be added every four years, leading to the Julian calendar. Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 AD created the Gregorian calendar, coined the term “leap year” and established February 29 as the official leap day. He adds that a leap day can also help marginally raise corporate earnings, since companies get an extra day in a fiscal quarter to operate. History shows that stocks tend to perform worse when an additional day is added to the calendar.

Persons: Julius Caesar, Pope Gregory XIII, Matt Weller, Weller, Dow, ”, “ Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, ’, Samantha Delouya, It’s, Read, Sam’s, Sam, Matt Egan, Banks Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Dow Jones, Bulls, Research, AMC Entertainment, AMC, Treasury Department, CNN, Treasury Locations: New York, FOREX.com

☆ The broader market is reasserting itself from strong earnings, says UBS' Alli McCartney
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe broader market is reasserting itself from strong earnings, says UBS' Alli McCartneyAlli McCartney, UBS Alignment Partners managing director, joins 'Money Movers' to discuss why broader market is reasserting itself, the message from the recent list of earnings results, and much more.

Persons: Alli McCartney Alli McCartney Organizations: UBS, Partners

☆ Opinion: In the Michigan primary, Biden shouldn’t fear Rashida Tlaib’s threats
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Opinion John Halpin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

John Halpin Courtesy John HalpinProgressive activists have decided to use this interlude to attack Biden for his centrist positions on immigration, energy policy and the Israel-Hamas war, in particular. Like the senators from his birth state, Biden should ignore these threats from the left and stand up strongly for his vital center perspective. Looking at Michigan specifically, the threat of Arab Americans tanking Biden must also be put in wider perspective. Even with these larger trends in the state, the authors find: “In Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck, and Livonia — the Michigan cities with the highest proportion of Arab American voters — Biden defeated Trump by a combined 38,000 or so votes. Democratic support for more moderate proposals backed by Biden is even higher: Three-quarters of Democrats support a plan to increase the number of immigration judges to speed up action on asylum claims.

Persons: John Halpin, “, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Rashida, uncommitted, Democratic Sens, John Fetterman, Bob Casey, Zers, tanking Biden, Karlyn Bowman, Nate Moore, Ruy Teixeira, Obama, —, Mark Mellman, ”, Mellman Organizations: Liberal Patriot, CNN, Democratic, Democrats, Gallup, Pew Research, — Biden, Trump, Survey Center, American Enterprise Institute, Pew, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Michigan, Israel, Gaza, Tuesday’s, Pennsylvania, Black, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck, Livonia —, Biden’s

☆ Leaked memo: Broadcom leaders address KKR's plans to acquire VMware's End-User Computing unit for $4 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Rosalie Chan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

KKR announced on Monday that it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the End-User Computing division from Broadcom for about $4 billion. Broadcom acquired VMware in November, and it had been reviewing strategic alternatives for EUC, BI previously reported. In addition, he said employees should help customers complete their renewals as many customers have expired renewals. Prior to the acquisition by Broadcom, VMware employees had already been speculating the EUC business, as well as the Carbon Black cybersecurity business, would be spun out, BI previously reported. Help customers complete their renewals and add on orders.

Persons: EUC, Shankar Iyer, Iyer, Robert Ruelas, Ruelas, Shankar Organizations: Broadcom, VMware, KKR, Business Insider, Reuters, Business, Iyer, EUC, Revenue Locations: Vegas

☆ Sweden clears final hurdle in bid to join NATO after Hungary approves accession
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Joshua Berlinger | Stephanie Halasz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Of the 194 members of parliament who voted, just six rejected Sweden’s accession. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that Sweden will join the alliance now that all allies have approved Sweden’s bid to join. As NATO states, Finland and Sweden will enjoy the protection granted under Article 5 of the treaty that established the alliance – which states that an attack on one member is considered an attack against all. While most NATO members quickly approved Finland and Sweden’s applications, Hungary and Turkey held out for some time. Video Ad Feedback Turkish parliament approves Sweden's NATO membership bid 01:05 - Source: CNNShortly after the Turkish vote, Orban told NATO chief Stoltenberg that his government would also support Swedish membership.

Persons: CNN —, Vladimir Putin, Ulf Kristersson, Viktor Orban, Sweden’s, ” Kristersson, Jens Stoltenberg, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Orban, Stoltenberg, Putin, Luke McGee, Lauren Kent Organizations: CNN, NATO, Stockholm, Swedish, Gripen, “, United, Russia, Ukraine, Union, EU, Sweden’s, Budapest, Kyiv Locations: Budapest, Hungary, Swedish, “ Sweden, Sweden, United States, Atlantic Treaty, Eastern Europe, Russia’s, Finland, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Stockholm, EU, Europe, Israel

☆ Hungary votes to approve Sweden's NATO membership
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest, as Hungary remains the last NATO member to not ratify Sweden's bid to join NATO, on (Photo by Balint Szentgallay/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Hungary on Monday voted to approve Sweden's NATO accession bid, ending months of diplomatic negotiations and finalizing Stockholm's membership almost two years after it first applied to join the military alliance. Hungarian lawmakers voted in favor of Sweden's membership after overcoming long-standing opposition from governing party members led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The Scandinavian country will become the 32nd NATO member, coming under the fold of Article 5 of the treaty, which vows that an attack on one member is an attack on all of them. Sweden applied to join NATO in May 2022 — at the same time as Finland — in a historic overhaul of its policy of military non-alignment following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While a vast majority of NATO members backed Stockholm's bid from its early days, Orban was resistant amid Swedish criticism over Hungary's democracy.

Persons: Ulf Kristersson, Viktor Orban, Balint Szentgallay, —, Orban Organizations: Swedish, Hungarian, NATO, Getty Images, Monday, Finland —, Gripen Locations: Budapest, Hungary, Sweden, Finland, Ukraine, Europe, Swedish

☆ Starboard nominates directors to Alight’s board. A plan to improve margins could be on the horizon
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Kenneth Squire | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Activist Commentary: Starboard is a very successful activist investor and has extensive experience helping companies focus on operational efficiency and margin improvement. Additionally, Starboard has extensive experience helping portfolio companies improve margins from a board level and adding one or two of their nominees to the board could expedite this. CEO Issue: Alight's CEO Stephan Scholl is a talented technologist and software expert, but not an experienced operator of a benefits administration company. Like the experienced activist Starboard is, the firm wanted to preserve its options as it speaks privately with Alight. Shareholders would certainly benefit from the addition of two or three Starboard directors to the board.

Persons: Keith D, Dorsey, Matthew C, Levin, Gavin T, Molinelli, Foley Trasimene, William P, Foley, Stephan Scholl, William Foley, Coretha, Denise Williams, Ken Squire Organizations: ExCo, CR Consulting Alliance, FIS, 13D Locations: Boyden, SPACs

☆ February full moon peaks this weekend
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —February’s full moon, known as the snow moon, is set to peak on Saturday, shining bright around the world in the night sky. It’ll just be a little bit smaller than your average full moon that you look up at.”The full moon phase occurs when the moon, Earth and the sun are in alignment, in that order. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between Earth and the sun, completely blocking the sun’s face. A total solar eclipse won’t be visible across the contiguous United States again until August 2044. A lunar eclipse, which causes the moon to look dark or dimmed, occurs when the sun, Earth and moon align so that the moon passes into Earth’s shadow.

Persons: CNN —, “ It’s, ”, Rachel Klima, “, ” Klima, Klima, “ We’re, Buck, Lyrids, Capricornids Organizations: CNN, Farmers, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics, American Meteor Society, Taurids Locations: United States, Laurel , Maryland, Mexico, Canada, South America, Europe, North, East Asia, Australia, Africa, North America, Earth’s, Asia

☆ How a century-old investment firm with $288 billion in assets identifies the companies set to dominate much of the stock market's outperformance, according to one of its fund managers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

It's also a short-sighted approach as far as Baillie Gifford, an investment management firm with $288 billion under management, is concerned. Advertisement"Our investment approach is bottom up," said Gemma Barkhuizen, an investment manager at the firm and one of the decision-makers on the Baillie Gifford Long Term Global Growth Fund. Another example is Nvidia, which is the largest holding within the long-term fund at 1.22%. A bottom-up, stock-picking strategyThe research framework that is the bedrock of the filtering process for the long-term fund looks at 10 key variables. What societal considerations are most likely to prove material to the long-term growth of the company?

Persons: —, It's, Baillie Gifford, Baillie Gifford's, Gemma Barkhuizen, Barkhuizen, Baillie, Roblox, that's, it's, aren't, isn't Organizations: Service, Business, PDD Holdings, Nvidia, Companies Locations: China

☆ The US Navy wants rechargeable magazines for lasers to take out drones
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Laser weapons avoid these problems, or at least in theory. The Navy is aiming for a magazine that can power a small weapon of 20 kilowatts and operate on a 1-micron wavelength. However, it would be perfect for the real prize that the Navy seeks: a laser weapon compact enough to disable small drones. US NavyRechargeable magazines could enable laser weapons to fire more shots before needing to cool down. “Sometimes we have a tendency to over promise and under deliver,” the Navy admiral who oversees laser weapons research admitted at a recent conference.

Persons: —, ” Iain Boyd, Boyd, “ Organizations: Service, Business, Navy Small Business Innovation Research, Navy, Stryker, Amphibious, US, Center for National Security, University of Colorado Locations: HEL, Portland, Persian Gulf

☆ 'Machine customers' are already among us, and they number in the billions
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Bob Violino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Gartner forecasts that number will rise to 15 billion by 2028, and the firm's research shows that CEOs estimate 15% to 20% of their revenue will come from machine customers by 2030. Machine customers can receive messages such as advertising, offers, email and information from the surrounding environment, Scheibenreif said. And Italy-based iProd has a platform that can accommodate the requests of machine customers located in a manufacturing environment. How to get ready for machine customersIT executives should put in place a game plan for supporting machine customers now, if they haven't already. CIOs and other technology leaders need to determine how machine customers might change their companies' go-to-market approach.

Persons: They're, Don Scheibenreif, Scheibenreif, iProd, Vishal Gupta, Gupta, Lexmark Organizations: Gartner, Machine, Amazon, Walmart, IT Locations: Italy, Lexmark

☆ 2 startups posted big membership growth in the lucrative senior health plan business — after other young insurers failed
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Just a few years ago, a crop of venture-backed health insurance startups embarked on planting a flag in the crowded but lucrative health plan business for seniors. Bright Health, which has exited the insurance business entirely as of this year, sold its Medicare Advantage plans in December. However, there are signs that the Medicare Advantage business isn’t as much of a goldmine as it used to be. It takes an enormous amount of capital to grow big in the insurance business, Fidel said. Its Medicare Advantage membership totals about 4 million.

Persons: haven’t, Stephens, underscoring, Oscar Health, Clover, Cowen, Gary Taylor, didn’t, Scott Fidel, it’s, they’ll, Fidel, UnitedHealthcare Organizations: Alignment Healthcare, Medicare, Business, Bright, Oscar, Services, Humana, CVS Health, Aetna, CVS Locations: California, New Jersey

☆ Opinion: I witnessed an execution and regretted it. Now I’m not so sure
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Opinion Jonathan Eig | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

A small group of people, including five journalists, witnessed the execution of convicted murderer Kenneth Eugene Smith. The Angolite, the Louisiana State Penitentiary’s inmate-run news magazine, published photos revealing the seared flesh of a man who’d died in the chair. Soon after Prejean’s execution, the Louisiana legislature passed laws mandating lethal injections for executions. Around the time I witnessed Prejean’s execution, roughly 80% of Americans said they approved of the death penalty, according to a Gallup poll. Prejean, who was convicted and executed for the murder of Donald Cleveland, a Louisiana state trooper, was 17 at the time of the murder.

Persons: Jonathan Eig, they’d, Jonathan Eig Doug McGoldrick, Dalton Prejean, clench, Kenneth Eugene Smith, Mr, Smith, gurney, “, Helen Prejean, Dalton, Dalton Prejean’s, who’d, Louisiana hasn’t, Jeff Landry, Landry, Prejean, Donald Cleveland Organizations: CNN, Angola State, The New Orleans Times, Louisiana State, Gallup Locations: Angola, Louisiana, Alabama, The

☆ Europe is nervous about a potential Trump win. China sees an opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

China – which has not condemned Russia’s invasion and claims impartiality in the conflict – has also emerged as a key lifeline for the sanctions-hit Russian economy. In Europe, this has galvanized concerns about China’s own global ambitions and played a role in the European Union’s ongoing push to recalibrate its policy toward China. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell reiterated the EU’s “expectation that China refrains from supporting Russia,” in a meeting with Wang Friday. “As long as war in Ukraine continues, EU policies toward China will move into closer alignment with the US. As president, Trump not only voiced skepticism of the system of US alliances in Europe, but leveraged tariffs on European steel and aluminum, sparking retaliatory measures on US goods from Europe.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Wang Yi, Wang, Donald Trump, Trump, ” Wang, Alexey Navalny, Vladimir Putin’s, “, ”, Noah Barkin, Maxym Marusenko, Putin, Xi Jinping, –, Jens Stoltenberg, Josep Borrell, Christoph Heusgen, Dmytro Kuleba, Xi, hasn’t, It’s, Kuleba, Vladimir Putin, Xie Huanchi, Yu Jie, ‘, Liu Dongshu, “ Wang Yi, China …, ” Liu, Emmanuel Macron, GMF Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Munich, Washington, NATO, German Marshall Fund of, Communist Party, Wang Friday, Bloomberg, CNN, China’s, Ministry, ”, Ukrainian, Security, Beijing, Peace, Getty, ’ Observers, US, Chatham House, City University of Hong, “, White Locations: China, Hong Kong, States, Europe, Ukraine, Beijing, Munich, Moscow, Russia, United States, Russian, Ukraine's Kharkiv, West . China, Taiwan, EU, ”, China’s, Asia, Pacific, ” Beijing, Switzerland, Xinhua, London, Spain, France, City University of Hong Kong’s, Washington, York

☆ Putin is tightening his grip over what's left of the Wagner Group
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementThe military formation has been actively recruiting former Wagner Group mercenaries and soldiers who fought in Ukraine for combat operations in Africa. The Kremlin is likely using the Africa Corps to take over many of the functions of the Wagner Group, Parens added. Last week, in a video obtained by the Kyiv Post, Ukrainian special forces were shown interrogating captured Wagner mercenaries in Sudan. "Ukrainian special services have acquired considerable experience of waging non-linear warfare against the Russian side and especially against the Wagner Group," he said. The fate of the Wagner Group, it seems, still hangs in the balance.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin's, he's, Wagner, Prigozhin, Sergey Sukhankin, Raphael Parens, Parens, Sukhankin, Russia Alessandro Arduino Organizations: Kremlin, Jamestown Foundation, Wagner, Volunteer Corps, Africa Corps, Wagner Group, Fighters, Foreign, Research, Eurasia Program, Military Companies, Africa, Kyiv Post, Russia, Ukraine Locations: Russia, Africa, Ukraine, Western, Ukrainian, Sudan, Russian

☆ Africa has its own crises but alignment is not easy, says Tanzania's defense minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAfrica has its own crises but alignment is not easy, says Tanzania's defense ministerSpeaking at the Munich Security Conference, Tanzania Defense Minister Stergomena Tax discusses issues facing Africa currently, and how they can be addressed.

Organizations: Africa, Munich Security Conference, Tanzania Defense, Stergomena Locations: Africa

☆ Jack Harlow, Palaye Royale, and other music artists are using blockchain to connect with fans — and build profitable online communities
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Diana Umana | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Jack Harlow, Mac Ayres, Palaye Royale, and Disclosure are among the artists leaning into blockchain. To make blockchain more accessible to and approachable for artists and fans, Mith and Medallion have adopted a hybrid model, blending elements of Web2 and Web3 . “So with Medallion, artists have a space for their fans to gather. The choice of blockchain tech, its alignment with specific requirements, and the overall impact on user experience are crucial aspects. Mith's and Medallion's success lies in using blockchain tech that’s seamless and engaging for the end user.

Persons: Jack Harlow, Mac Ayres, Palaye, —, ” Jack Harlow, “, Kamira Roberson, ”, Roberson, Web3, Web2, Taylor Swift’s, Mith, Halle Berry, Emilia Clarke, Harlow, Michelle Sanchez, Sydney Jackson, ” Sanchez, Joe Pitts, ” Pitts, ” Joe Pitts, Jason Cevera, Galantis, Pitts, Emerson Barrett, we’ve, ” Barrett, blockchain, Sanchez Organizations: Service, Twitter, Las Vegas ., Garden, Artists, Jack Harlow Foundation, ”, blockchain, Royal Council, “ Locations: Harlow, Las Vegas, Lexington , Kentucky, Louisville, Kentucky, Palaye Royale, ”

☆ Marriage is hard, but these 3 couples share what makes their decades-long relationships so successful
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Julia Pugachevsky | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewIf one wanted to be cynical about the length of today’s romantic relationships, it wouldn’t be hard. At first glance, they’re all quite different: Rita Smith and Theodore Smith, Sr. are devout Christians in New Orleans, Louisiana who speak openly about their sex life on TikTok . Yet for all their differences, the couples all share some core commonalities that make their relationships so successful. “It gets you stimulated, and when you do go home, the next thing you know you want to take your bath and be sexual again,” Rita Smith, 62, said. “I like to have this pink piece around my neck, it just makes me feel more sexy,” Rita Smith said.

Persons: —, centenarians, ”, Robert Waldinger, Marc Schulz, who’ve, Rita Smith, Theodore Smith, Beverly Palmer, Dr, Richard C, Palmer, Bert Morton, Lee Korty, Bryan Tarnowski, Rita, “, ” Rita Smith, Richard, ” Bert Morton, ” Morton, Peyton Fulford, Morton, Korty, ” Korty, Beverly, ” Beverly Palmer, Jess T, Dugan, ” Theodore Smith Organizations: Service, Business, ” Harvard, BI, Palmers, Smiths Locations: New Orleans, Louisiana, California, Springfield , Illinois

☆ Analysis-Indonesia's Prabowo Poised for Power, but How Will He Rule?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

One major question is how well, and for how long, his alliance with outgoing President Joko Widodo, or "Jokowi", will hold. On the campaign trail Prabowo has promised policy "continuity", but analysts say that is far from guaranteed. "Make no mistake a President Prabowo would be his own president." 'UNCERTAINTY' ON THE CARDSIn contrast to Jokowi, Prabowo is from an elite family, the son of a prominent Indonesian economist and the ex-son-law of the country's former authoritarian ruler, Suharto. Once his victory is officially endorsed, Prabowo will assume the controls of Southeast Asia's biggest economy on October 20.

Persons: Kate Lamb JAKARTA, Prabowo Subianto, Prabowo, Long, general's, Joko Widodo, Liam Gammon, Jokowi, Doug Ramage, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Indonesia's, Kevin O'Rourke, Suharto, “, He's, ANU's Gammon, Gammon, Kay Johnson, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Defence, Australian National University, ANU, Jokowi, Analysts, Human Rights Watch Locations: Indonesia, Prabowo, BowerGroupAsia, Indonesian, Ukraine, Qatar

☆ Opinion | Only Biden and M.B.S. Can Redirect the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Thomas L. Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

I understand why many in an Israeli society still traumatized by the Hamas surprise attack on Oct. 7 don’t want to hear talk of a Palestinian state, even in a demilitarized form. But for many Israelis that was true for years before the Gaza war. To continue ignoring the subject now would be a grave error. Israel needs to shape it, not ignore it. This will force Israel’s Arab allies to distance themselves from the Jewish state.

Persons: — Organizations: Israel, Israel reconnecting, West Bank Locations: Israel, America, Saudi Arabia, Palestinian, Gaza

☆ Finland's New President Sees No Limit to NATO Ties, Ukraine Support
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

He said he agreed with his predecessor Sauli Niinisto "who said that we need a more European NATO". He would be "a Western president in many ways" and lean towards the United States, Britain and Nordic neighbours when it came to setting the tone of foreign policy, he told Reuters. "My starting point is, paraphrasing (European Central Bank President) Mario Draghi, whatever it takes," Stubb said. During his election campaign Stubb said Finland should be an active NATO member and seek to have some NATO troops stationed on its territory. Stubb is a keen amateur athlete and triathlon champion - though he has said he will cut down on sport once he becomes Finland's 13th president.

Persons: Anne Kauranen, Alexander Stubb, Sauli Niinisto, Mario Draghi, Stubb, Johanna Vuorelma, Vuorelma, Markku Jokisipila, Suzanne Innes, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Anne Kauranen HELSINKI, NATO, Reuters, European Investment Bank, European University Institute, Nordic, Ukraine, Central Bank, Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Finland's Centre, Parliamentary Studies, National Coalition Party Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Finland, Europe, Florence, United States, Britain, British

☆ China’s VC playbook is undergoing a sea change as U.S. IPO exits get tougher
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

That's far less than in the previous years — the share of U.S. dollars in total VC funds raised was around 15% for the years 2018 to 2021, the data showed. China investments, China exitsWashington and Beijing in 2022 resolved a long-standing audit dispute that reduced the risk of Chinese companies having to delist from U.S. stock exchanges. "With U.S. IPOs no longer being a viable exit strategy for China assets, investors should target local exits in their respective capital markets—in other words, China exits for China assets, and U.S. exits for overseas assets," Liao said. The 20 largest VC deals for China-headquartered companies in 2013 were predominantly in e-commerce and software services, according to PitchBook data. ... the venture capital scene has become even more state-concentrated and focused on government priorities.

Persons: China’s renminbi, Athit Perawongmetha, Kyle Stanford, China —, Liao Ming, Stocks, Liao, Didi, Beijing's, Camille Boullenois Organizations: Reuters, Reuters BEIJING — Venture, Liao Ming, U.S, Sequoia, Prospect, Capital, New York Stock Exchange Locations: U.S, Bangkok, Thailand, Reuters BEIJING, China, Sequoia, Washington, India, Japan, Greater China, Beijing, New York, Hong Kong, U.S . Washington

☆ Jet lag: What Taylor Swift — and the average traveler — is up against
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Marnie Hunter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

And what about the jet lag? Here’s how jet lag works and what the average traveler can do to lessen its effects. What is jet lag? There are behavioral adjustments and remedies that can help a traveler deal with jet lag. But choosing flights that are less disruptive to getting a decent amount of sleep helps prevent a sleep deficit that can make jet lag worse.

Persons: CNN —, you’re Taylor Swift, Swift, “, Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift, Matt Winkelmeyer, ”, David Schulman, Fariha Abbasi, Feinberg, there’s, Richard Dawood, ” Dawood, Schulman, ” Schulman, you’re, Abbasi, ” Abbasi, Skip, Dawood, Don’t Organizations: CNN, Super Bowl, football’s, CBS, Super, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory Sleep Center, Vegas, Fleet Street Clinic, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Academy of Sleep, Millennium Physician Locations: Tokyo, Las Vegas, Pacific, Australia, Embassy, Japan, United States, Vegas, Melbourne, Atlanta, London, Fort Myers , Florida

☆ Factbox-Policy Pledges of Indonesia's Presidential Candidates
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

(Reuters) - Three candidates are running in Indonesia's presidential election on Feb. 14. The following is a summary of policy objectives they have pledged while campaigning. ANIES BASWEDAN- Target 5.5%-6.5% average annual economic growth from 2025-2029- Create 15 million jobs, including 'green' jobs- Raise the tax-to-GDP ratio from 10.4% in 2022 to 13%-16% by 2029- Target annual inflation of 2%-3% from 2025-2029- Offer incentives for renewable energy projects- Impose a carbon tax with proceeds to be used as an endowment fund to finance development of renewable energy- Increase the 'village fund' to 5 billion rupiah ($317,965) for each village, from the current 1 billion rupiah. - Widen access to global markets for palm oil farmers- Strengthen free trade agreements and Indonesia's role in international financial institutions- Minimise imports of staple foods- Create 2 million new affordable housing units, including for informal workers, youth- Expedite forest conservation and rehabilitation projects- Limit new construction of, and retire existing coal-fired power plants, especially in Java, Bali islands- Review debt of state-owned enterprises, continue debt restructuring programme- Revise Jobs Creation Law with goal to ensure fair wages for workers- Evaluate the $32 billion new capital city project- Evaluate food estate programme, replacing it with contract farming, a scheme to ensure farm products will be sold- Impose a wealth tax on Indonesia's 100 richest people- Audit the nickel industry with focus on its impact on the environment and ensuring welfare of domestic workers- Strengthen the anti-corruption agency by revising the law that regulates it- Ease permitting requirements for building places of worshipGANJAR PRANOWO- Continue programmes of outgoing President Joko Widodo's administration- Target average annual economic growth of 7%- Create 17 million new jobs- Expedite construction of new capital city- Increase the defence budget as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) to between 1%-2%, from about 0.8% presently. Modernise military hardware- Target 30% share for renewable sources in energy mix by 2029- Allow more renewable energy producers to use electricity grids of state utility firms to boost green energy adoption- Set up a dedicated ministry for the palm oil sector- Maintain moratorium on deforestation, accelerate reforestation programmes- Create digital tax collection system under the new tax agency separated from finance ministry- Limit permit issuance of new nickel smelter to avoid a further oversupply- Expand social welfare to cover 15 million families, up from 10 million currently- Provide funding to ensure at least one member of a poor family receives education until college- Strengthen national anti-corruption agency- Maintain foreign policy of non-alignment- Strengthen Indonesia's commitment to support fight of Palestinian people- Revitalise the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its decision-making process, especially regarding South China Sea disputes.

Persons: ANIES, GANJAR, Joko Widodo's, PRABOWO, Joko, Stanley Widianto, Ananda Teresia, Stefanno Sulaiman, Bernadette Christina Munthe, Martin Petty Organizations: Reuters, Association of Southeast Asian Nations Locations: Java, Bali, South

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