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☆ Intuit's CMO has a plan to help the company seize a new $30 billion revenue opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Ryan Joe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

And providing that financial assistance, Goodarzi said during an investors conference in December, represents a $30 billion opportunity that Intuit has not claimed. But TurboTax competitor H&R Block is also reaching for this opportunity, and has gone on the offensive with its own AI-powered tax assistant, released in December. A bevy of new H&R Block ads tout the assistant, and takes a shot at TurboTax: "So long, TurboTax!" "Comparative marketing is a common practice and we've used it for many years to help consumers easily see the benefits of working with H&R Block," an H&R Block spokesperson said. "People just aren't aware, because of how strongly we grew the do-it-yourself perception within TurboTax," Balazs said.

Persons: TurboTax, Lara Balazs, there's, Sasan Goodarzi, Goodarzi, Balazs, DJ Stout, we've Organizations: Intuit, Business, Karma ., Intuit Assist Locations: TurboTax

☆ Taiwan Reports First Major Chinese Military Activity After Election
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Ben Blanchard and Michael MartinaTAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan's defence ministry said it detected 18 Chinese air force planes operating around Taiwan and carrying out "joint combat readiness patrols" with Chinese warships on Wednesday, the first large-scale military activity after the Taiwanese election. Taiwan's defence ministry said that starting around 7:50 p.m. (1150 GMT) on Wednesday it had detected 18 aircraft including Su-30 fighters operating off northern and central Taiwan and to the island's southwest. Eleven of those aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait's median line, or areas close by, working with Chinese warships to carry out "joint combat readiness patrols", the ministry added. Taiwan sent its own forces to monitor, its defence ministry said. There was no immediate response from China's defence ministry.

Persons: Ben Blanchard, Michael Martina TAIPEI, Democratic Progressive Party's, Lai Ching, Biden, Lai, Vincent Chao, Xi Jinping, Chao, We're, David Brunnstrom, Michael Martina, Gareth Jones, Mark Potter, Jamie Freed Organizations: Taiwan, Democratic Progressive, China's Taiwan Affairs Office, U.S . State Department, U.S . Institute of Peace, U.S Locations: Taiwan, China, Taipei, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, U.S, United States, Washington

☆ The American Dream is 'rapidly diminishing,' Walgreens boss says in plea to raise taxes for the wealthy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Walgreens Boots Alliance's executive vice president, John Driscoll, penned a letter asking lawmakers in the US and abroad to tax the wealthy. Driscoll echoed the pleas of entrepreneurs, an heiress, and activists in his demand to save the "rapidly diminishing American Dream." Advertisement"In this spirit, I call on national and international lawmakers to do whatever it takes to tax wealthy people like me," Driscoll wrote. "I agree that we should make elaborate tax-avoidance schemes illegal, but acting upon that would upset a lot of donors, so we will see words, but no action," Musk wrote in June. In his tax letter, Driscoll cited a report from the Economic Policy Institute that CEOs made 399 times as much as a typical employee in 2021.

Persons: —, John Driscoll, Driscoll, Switzerland that's, Daniel Werfel, Elon Musk —, Joe Biden, Musk Organizations: Service, Walgreens Boots, Business, IRS, Analysts, EU Tax Observatory, Economic Policy Institute Locations: Davos, Switzerland

☆ Peace and Prosperity in the Taiwan Strait Still Have a Chance
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Nathaniel Taplin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te declared victory in the island’s presidential vote on Saturday. Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party secured an unprecedented third straight term in the presidency. Photo: An Rong Xu/Bloomberg NewsTaiwan has voted: bringing the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party an unprecedented consecutive third term in the presidency. Now the world is waiting on Beijing, which claims Taiwan but doesn’t rule it. Saturday’s DPP victory, with around 40% of the vote, could mean more scary headlines in the near-term.

Persons: Lai Ching, Rong Xu, Nancy Pelosi’s Organizations: Democratic Progressive Party, Bloomberg News Taiwan, DPP Locations: Beijing, Taiwan

☆ Unofficial US delegation says support for Taiwan remains ‘rock solid’ after voters defied China
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Nectar Gan | Eric Cheung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong/Taipei CNN —Former senior US officials reaffirmed “rock solid” American support for Taiwan in a visit Monday after the self-ruled island defied threats from China by electing a new president loathed by Beijing. “And we hope that the United States will continue to support Taiwan to deepen our cooperation in this area,” he said. An unofficial US delegation meets with Taiwan's President-elect Lai Ching-te and Vice-President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim in Taipei on January 15, 2024. Since then, the US has maintained close unofficial ties with Taiwan and is bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself. Asked by reporters to comment on Taiwan’s election results Saturday, US President Joe Biden said: “We do not support independence.”

Persons: Lai Ching, Biden, Tsai Ing, Stephen Hadley, ” Hadley, ”, James Steinberg, Lai, Hsiao Bi, “, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Yoko Kamikawa, Xi, Joe Biden Organizations: Taipei CNN — Former, Taiwan, Saturday, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan's, China’s, Ministry Locations: Hong Kong, Taipei, China, Beijing, Taiwan, United States, Washington, Taiwan Strait, Japan, United Kingdom, Canada, Tokyo, Japanese, Kuomintang

Despite having cut official diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979, the U.S. remains the island's chief diplomatic ally and source of military hardware and intelligence. Lai's victory was a setback for China’s efforts to bring Taiwan under its control. It goes against the expectation of global democratic communities and goes against the will of the people of Taiwan to uphold democratic values. Lai’s victory means the Democratic Progressive Party will hold the presidency for a third four-year term, following eight years under Tsai. Lai won a three-way race for president with 40% of the vote, less than the clear majority Tsai won in 2020.

Persons: —, Tsai Ing, “, Stephen Hadley, Lai Ching, James B, Steinberg, Tsai, ”, Antony Blinken, Lai, Johnson Lai Organizations: U.S, Saturday, Taiwan “, Communist Party, Democratic Progressive Party, United Nations, Nationalists, Kuomintang, KMT, China's, Chinese Foreign Ministry, ___ Associated Press Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Hadley, U.S, Asia, Pacific

☆ Iowa Republican caucus sets new record for state political ad buys: $120 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The battle to win the Republican Iowa caucus is the most expensive on record, with over $120 million spent on ads by the campaigns and their affiliated political action committees in the Hawkeye State, according to data provided to CNBC by AdImpact. Around $84 million of the $120 million total ad buys came from campaigns and allies of the top three candidates, Trump, Haley and Florida. DeSantis' campaign and two outside allies have spent a combined $30 million on TV, digital, and radio ads in Iowa. One of the two DeSantis super PACs, Never Back Down, has knocked on over 915,000 doors in the Iowa, according to the organization. As for Trump's super PAC, MAGA Inc. would not provide data on what efforts they've made outside of their ad spending in support of the former president.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Trump's, Nikki Haley, Trump, Haley, Ron DeSantis, Michael Franz, DeSantis, Charles Koch, Bill Riggs, Riggs, they've, We'll, backslapping, Taylor Budowich Organizations: Republican, CNBC, AdImpact, GOP, Monday's, South Carolina Gov, Gov, Inc, Wesleyan Media, Prosperity, Iowa Caucus, Hawkeye State, AFP, Iowa, Trump's, MAGA Locations: Des Moines , Iowa, Republican Iowa, Hawkeye, Iowa, Florida, New Hampshire, South Carolina

☆ What to watch for in the Iowa caucuses
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Eric Bradner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Iowa Republicans who are willing to brave record-low temperatures are set to kick off the party’s 2024 presidential nominating process with Monday night’s caucuses. Now, Iowa voters will render the first verdict of the 2024 election, weighing in on which Republican should take on President Joe Biden in November. Here are five things to watch in the Iowa caucuses:Will Trump top 50%? The Iowa caucuses have a history of paring down both parties’ fields of presidential contenders. Iowa will once again test whether any other Republican can break Trump’s hold on those voters, who have historically been a crucial bloc in the caucuses.

Persons: Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Joe Biden, Will, Trump, Haley, DeSantis, who’s, who’d, It’s, ” DeSantis, ‘ Darling, ” Trump, he’s, —, ” Haley, “ Donald Trump’s, Nikki Haley’s, ”, she’s “, CNN’s Dana Bash, “, Michele Bachmann, Pennsylvania Sen, Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee —, Kentucky Sen, Rand Paul, Kim Reynolds, Vivek Ramaswamy, Asa Hutchinson, Ramaswamy, Hutchinson, Mike Pence, Bob Vander Plaats, Koch, Huckabee, Santorum, Texas Sen, Ted Cruz, what’s, “ He’s, they’re, ” “ That’s, I’m Organizations: CNN, Iowa Republicans, South Carolina Gov, Florida Gov, Republican, Will Trump, GOP, Des Moines Register, NBC, Trump, United Nations, Minnesota, Iowa, Arkansas Gov, Kentucky, South Carolina —, Prosperity, Texas, Democratic, New Hampshire —, Praetorian Guard, Fox News Locations: Florida, Iowa, Dubuque, “, Indianola, New Hampshire, South Carolina, DeSantis, Des, “ Iowa, Haley , Iowa, Pennsylvania, Waukee, , Iowa

Traditionally, Iowa caucuses are squeakers, so close that Democrats failed to produce definitive results in the chaotic 2020 contest. Ms. Haley had 20 percent and Mr. DeSantis 16 percent — a separation at the edge of the survey’s margin of error. Ms. Haley, in the Times/Siena poll, had the support of just 3 percent of those voters. (Mr. Burgum endorsed Mr. Trump at the Indianola rally.) But depending on their performance Monday, it remains to be seen whether they will drop out and pick a side: Mr. Trump, or anyone else.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Donald J, Trump, Nikki Haley, Mr, Trump’s, Biden, Haiyun Jiang, Will, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Haley, Maansi Srivastava, Chris Christie, Haley’s, Charles, David Koch, Ted Cruz, “, Vivek Ramaswamy, There’s, Asa Hutchinson of, Ryan Binkley, Asa Hutchinson, Hilary Swift, Mike Pence, Tim Scott of, Doug Burgum, Burgum, Ramaswamy, Hutchinson, Iowans Organizations: Gov, New, Republican, The New York, Iowa, PAC, Des Moines Register, NBC, New York Times, Mr, CBS, Iowa Republicans, Siena, Times, ., The New York Times, Republicans, Prosperity, Xavier University Locations: Florida, Grimes , Iowa, Iowa, South Carolina, New Hampshire, York, Iowans ., New Jersey, Washington, Siena, Ted Cruz of Texas, Indianola , Iowa, Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, Texas, Des Moines, Tim Scott of South Carolina, North Dakota, Indianola

☆ Why China hates the new president of Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

"Lai Ching-te clings stubbornly to the separatist position for 'Taiwan independence.' A matter of Taiwan's independenceIn 2017, while he was premier, Lai referred to himself as a "pragmatic worker for 'Taiwan independence.'" AdvertisementLai has pledged to maintain status quo and stability in Taiwan, but China isn't backing down on its stance either. "I think China hates him, really hates him," Wu Xinbo, an international relations professor at Shanghai's Fudan University, told Reuters, referring to Lai. "It is because if he is elected as the leader of Taiwan, he may come to advance his goal of Taiwan independence, which will provoke a crisis across the Taiwan Strait," added Wu.

Persons: William Lai Ching, Taiwan's, Lai, —, Wiliam Lai Ching, Lai Ching, Xi Jinping, Wu Xinbo, Wu, Wang Yi, Jeremy Mark, William Lai, Chong Ja Ian, Chong, Tsai Ing Organizations: Democratic Progressive Party, Service, China's Taiwan Affairs Office, Chinese Communist Party, Shanghai's Fudan University, Reuters, Analysts, Lai's, Atlantic Council, Eurasia Group, KMT, National University of Singapore, Carnegie China, Channel News Asia Locations: China, Beijing, Taiwan, South America, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan's

☆ Election 2024 Frozen Iowa Is Set to Vote as G.O.P. Presidential Contest Gets Underway
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Adam Nagourney | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Traditionally, Iowa caucuses are squeakers, so close that Democrats failed to produce definitive results in the chaotic 2020 contest. Ms. Haley had 20 percent and Mr. DeSantis 16 percent — a separation at the edge of the survey’s margin of error. Traditionally, the Iowa caucuses have winnowed out the also-rans. (Mr. Burgum endorsed Mr. Trump at the Indianola rally.) But depending on their performance Monday, it remains to be seen whether they will drop out and pick a side: Mr. Trump, or anyone else.

☆ Taiwan's new president will face a divided parliament. Here's why it matters
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

A kid runs across the flag of Taiwan banner during the announcement of official results on January 13, 2024 in Taipei, Taiwan. While Lai won the presidential election on Saturday with 40% of the popular vote, his DPP lost 10 seats in Taiwan's parliament from its previous 61, giving up its majority. Taiwan's president- and vice president-elect from the Democratic Progressive Party Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim standing along several party's heavyweight on the central stage in Taipei on Janauary 13, 2024 to celebrate victory in Taiwan's 8th presidential election. The Chinese Communist Party has refused to engage with outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen since she assumed office in 2016. Supporters attend the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) campaign rally on January 12, 2024 in Taipei, Taiwan.

Persons: Sawayasu Tsuji, Lai Ching, Han Kuo, rancor, —, Lai, Timothy S, Rich, Sara Newland, TPP, Tsai, Gabriel Wildau, Democratic Progressive Party Lai Ching, Hsiao, Alberto Buzzola, Tsai Ing, Ting Yen Franklin Organizations: Getty, TAIPEI —, Taiwan People's Party, Democratic Progressive Party, Beijing Kuomintang, Kuomintang, KMT, TPP, Rich Western Kentucky University, Smith College, Lightrocket, Chinese Communist Party, Marshall College China, DPP, Chinese Communist Party officials, Taiwan Straits, Western Kentucky University, Supporters Locations: Taiwan, Taipei, China, Taiwan's, Beijing

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Navy ships and aircraft combed areas of the Gulf of Aden for two missing U.S. Navy SEALs on Monday as details emerged about their mission to board and take over a vessel carrying components for medium-range Iranian ballistic missiles headed for Somalia, a U.S. defense official said Monday. The crew members, who were taken into custody, had no paperwork, which allowed a search of the vessel. U.S. officials have said that the waters in the Gulf of Aden are warm, and Navy SEALs are trained for such emergencies. On Monday, Navy ships, helicopters and drones were involved in the ongoing search. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesThe U.S. Navy has conducted regular interdiction missions in the region, also intercepting weapons on ships that were bound for Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen.

Persons: USS Lewis B, Puller Organizations: WASHINGTON, — U.S . Navy, U.S . Navy, Navy, USS, Prosperity Guardian Locations: Gulf, Aden, Somalia, U.S, Iran, Iranian, Yemen, Red, United States, United Kingdom

☆ Former US Officials to Visit Taiwan for Post-Election Talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Two former senior U.S. officials will arrive in Taiwan on Sunday for post-election talks and underscore the U.S. government's "longstanding interest" in peace across the Taiwan Strait, the de facto U.S. embassy in Taipei said. In a show of support for the government, a senior administration official said last week that President Joe Biden planned to send an unofficial delegation to the Chinese-claimed island. "As we have done previously following a Taiwan presidential election, the U.S. government has asked former senior officials to travel in their private capacity to Taiwan," AIT said, adding its U.S.-based Chair Laura Rosenberger would be accompanying. China has stepped up its military and political pressure against Taiwan over the past four years. Both have offered talks with China but been rebuffed.

Persons: Lai Ching, Joe Biden, Biden, Stephen Hadley, State James Steinberg, Laura Rosenberger, Taiwan's, Lai, Tsai Ing, Ben Blanchard, Michael Perry, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: U.S, Democratic Progressive Party, The American Institute, National Security, State, Reuters Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, Taiwan Strait, Taipei, Beijing, U.S, China

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Ruling-party candidate Lai Ching-te emerged victorious in Taiwan’s presidential election on Saturday, a result that will determine the trajectory of the self-ruled democracy’s contentious relations with China over the next four years. Beijing strongly opposes Lai, the current vice president who abandoned his medical career to pursue politics from the grassroots to the presidency. It's the first time a single party has led Taiwan for three consecutive four-year presidential terms since the first open presidential election in 1996. Its candidate, Hou Yu-ih, also had promised to restart talks with China while bolstering national defense. Evelyn Ni traveled from China especially to get a taste of Taiwan’s election.

Persons: Lai Ching, Lai, Tsai Ing, Hou Yu, Hou, “, I’m, David Chiau, Ko Wen, Ko, Chen Binhua, Beijing wouldn't, ” Chen, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, Evelyn Ni, Tony Chen, ”, Xi Jinping, Stacy Chen, Gabrielle Reid, Sung Organizations: Democratic, Nationalist, KMT, ih, Taiwan People’s Party, DPP, Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office, Biden, Associated Press Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Beijing, Japanese, United States, Taipei, Russia, Ukraine, South China

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two U.S. Navy SEALs are missing after conducting a nighttime boarding mission Thursday off the coast of Somalia, according to three U.S. officials. The SEALs were on an interdiction mission, climbing up a vessel when one got knocked off by high waves. A search and rescue mission is underway and the waters in the Gulf of Aden, where they were operating, are warm, two of the U.S. officials said. In a statement Saturday, U.S. Central Command said that search and rescue operations are currently ongoing to locate the two sailors. The command said it would not release additional information on the Thursday night incident until the personnel recovery mission is complete.

Persons: Nikolas Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S . Navy, Prosperity Guardian, U.S ., U.S . Central Command, U.S . 5th Locations: Somalia, Gulf, Aden, Yemen, Red, United States, United Kingdom, Iran, U.S

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley pushed across ice-cold Iowa Saturday to find voters open to an alternative to former President Donald Trump with just two days before the state's caucuses open the Republican primary calendar. DeSantis in particular is under great pressure in Iowa given his campaign's heavy bet on a strong finish in the caucuses. Courtney Raines, a special education teacher, came to hear Haley on Saturday morning and said she would try to see DeSantis later in the day. Carroll Hinchion, a 30-year-old independent, is considering caucusing with Republicans as well and came to hear DeSantis in Council Bluffs. “The Republican caucus that’s going to happen on Monday night is going to send a shockwave.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, Trump, ”, DeSantis, Haley, “ You’re, Michael Durham, braved, Durham, Courtney Raines, “, Raines, Koch, Patti Parlee, Parlee, ” Parlee, Julie Slinger, Joe Biden, Slinger, Carroll Hinchion, Hinchion, Biden, ” Trump, Bob Dole, Kari Lake, that’s, Mariannette Miller, Meeks, Ashley Hinson, Miller, Trump’s, Texas Sen, Ted Cruz, ___ Beaumont, Colvin, Barrow, Meg Kinnard, Hannah Fingerhut Organizations: Republican, Trump, South, Prosperity, Koch Brothers, AFP, ” Independents, Democratic, Democrat, Senate, Associated Press Locations: Iowa, Mississippi, Davenport, New Hampshire, ”, Florida, Bluffs , Iowa, DeSantis, Durham, Bluffs, South Carolina, Urbandale, Iowa City, Arizona, , Iowa, Texas, Miller, Iowa City , Iowa, Urbandale , Iowa, Atlanta, Cedar Falls , Iowa, Davenport , Iowa

☆ China skeptic Lai Ching-te wins Taiwan's presidential election
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Taiwan's President-elect Lai Ching-te (left) gestures beside his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim during a rally outside the headquarters of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taipei on January 13, 2024, after winning the presidential election. The outcome of the presidential election on Saturday riled Beijing, which has repeatedly labeled Lai as a "stubborn worker for Taiwan independence" and a dangerous separatist. Annabelle Chih | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesDPP's Lai — Taiwan's current vice-president — won more than 40% of the popular vote in Taiwan's eighth presidential election. DPP is the first party to win the presidential office three times in row since direct presidential elections were introduced in 1996. This year, 71.9% of all eligible voters cast their ballots for the presidential election, according to preliminary data from Taiwan's Central Election Commission.

Persons: Lai Ching, Hsiao Bi, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Lai, Tsai Ing, Tsai, Annabelle Chih, DPP's Lai, Taiwan's, —, Beijing's, Hou, Ko Wen, Chen Binhua, Chen, Xi Jinping, Antony Blinken, Ko, Wei, Ting Yen Organizations: Democratic Progressive Party, AFP, Getty, TAIPEI, Saturday, Beijing, Chinese Communist Party, DPP, KMT, Chinese Communist Party officials, Democratic Progressive, Kuomintang, Taiwan People's Party, Taiwan's, Taiwan Affairs Office, State Council, CNBC, Franklin, Marshall College, Taiwan's DPP Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, China, U.S, Taiwan Strait, Beijing, Taiwan —, Republic of China, Xinhua, United States

☆ What’s at stake for the global economy as Taiwan goes to the polls
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

That pushed Taiwan’s trade surplus with China to an enormous $80.5 billion in 2023. For Taiwan, China has been its favorite investment stop for decades. China imports electronic components or precision machine tools from Taiwan, assembles them and exports the finished products to global markets. China may respond to a DPP victory by putting military and economic pressure on the island, Vest said. In 2022, China retaliated after Pelosi’s visit by banning imports of a range of food products from Taiwan.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Lai Ching, Lai, ”, Charlie Vest, Nancy Pelosi’s, Tsai Ing, Kevin McCarthy, they’re, ” Vest, Mike Kai Chen, Vest, there’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Communist Party, Democratic Progressive Party, US, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, Imports, Hsinchu Science, Bloomberg, Getty, Capital Economics, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Apple, Foxconn, Analysts, Atlantic Locations: China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, California, United States, Europe, Japan, South Korea, “ Taiwan, Hsinchu, Hsinchu Science Park

☆ Who are the Houthis and why are the rebels in Yemen attacking Red Sea shipping?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have been launching attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. Here's the history of the Houthi rebels and how they fit into the broader Middle East conflict. The Houthi rebels are based in Yemen and are attacking commercial vessels traveling into the Red Sea. Roberto Scandola/Getty Images; Business Insider illustrationHow could the Houthis' attacks affect the rest of the world? US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters at a press conference this week that the Houthis' attacks on international shipping are "a threat to everyone."

Persons: —, Abdul, Malik al, they've, Roberto Scandola, Antony Blinken Organizations: Service, US, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Israel, Hamas, Gazan Health Authority, Business, Prosperity Guardian Locations: Iran, Yemen, Red, Gaza, Saudi Arabia, Israel, America, Hamas, Suez

☆ Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered strikes on the Houthis from the hospital using a 'full suite of secure communications'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered attacks on Houthis from the hospital, a defense official said. AdvertisementDefense Secretary Lloyd Austin gave the order to strike the Houthis in Yemen from the hospital on Thursday, using a "full suite of secure communication," CNN reported , quoting a senior defense official. "Secretary Austin gave CENTCOM the order today to execute the strikes and monitored real-time with a full suite of secure communications capabilities," the defense official said, per CNN. Brown, and the National Security Council "to discuss response options and execution following the President's authorization." AdvertisementThis culminated in Austin's strike order on Thursday and an "initial post-strike assessment" with the National Security Council and others, the official said.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Austin, —, John Kirby, Chris Deluzio, Joe Biden, Biden, Erik Kurilla, Staff Charles Q, Brown Organizations: CNN, Service, US Central Command, US, Defense Department, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, White, National Security, Pentagon, Department of Defense, Defense, Joint Chiefs, Staff, National Security Council Locations: Yemen, Red

☆ U.S., U.K. strike Houthi targets in Yemen in response to Red Sea attacks
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Joanna Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The United States and the United Kingdom have "successfully conducted strikes" against Houthi targets in Yemen, President Joe Biden said late Thursday. The Iran-backed Houthi militia group began their drone and missile attacks on shipping vessels and cargo ships traversing the Red Sea late last year, drawing global condemnation. The militants claim their attacks in the Red Sea are in response to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. According to the U.S. Central Command, the U.S. Air Force struck more than 60 targets across 16 Houthi militant locations in those strikes, launching more than 100 precision-guided munitions. Together with Greece, Singapore and Sri Lanka, the nations make up the Operation Prosperity Guardian, a coalition that was launched in December to combat Houthi attacks.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Joe Biden, —, Netherlands —, Biden Organizations: Britain's, North Atlantic Council, NATO, U.S . Central Command, U.S . Air Force, Operation Prosperity Locations: Vilnius, Lithuania, United States, United Kingdom, Yemen, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Netherlands, Iran, Gaza, Sanaa, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Greece, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Great Britain

☆ Taiwan has chosen its new president. What’s at stake and how might China respond?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Nectar Gan | Wayne Chang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The world was watching to see not only who won the election, but how democratic Taiwan’s authoritarian neighbor will respond. China’s ruling Communist Party views Taiwan as part of its territory, despite having never controlled it. In an initial response, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said Taiwan’s presidential election result “will not change the basic layout and course of development in cross-strait relations.”“Taiwan is China’s Taiwan,” he said. Taiwan's Vice President and presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Lai Ching-te speaks during a campaign rally in Keelung on January 8, 2024. In August 2022, China staged massive war games around Taiwan to show its displeasure with then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei.

Persons: Lai Ching, Xi, China’s, ” Xi, ”, Amanda Hsiao, ” Hsiao, Lai, Chen Binhua, Hwa Cheng, “, Wen, doesn’t, Hsiao, Nancy Pelosi’s, Lai’s, Yuan Organizations: CNN, Democratic Progressive Party, DPP, Party, Taiwan, Communist, International Crisis, Taiwan Affairs Office, Getty, China’s Taiwan Affairs, Atlantic, US Locations: China, Beijing, Taiwan, Taipei, United States, Japan, Keelung, AFP, ” Beijing, “, South, Washington

☆ Denise Coates: Bet365 gambling executive’s $281 million salary deemed not ‘sensible and proportionate’
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The founder and boss of gambling company Bet365 earned a salary of around $281 million (£221 million) in the last financial year – ending March 26, 2023. Denise Coates, the joint-chief executive and majority shareholder of Bet365, also earned at least 50% of the company’s $127 million (£100 million) in dividends on top of her $281 million salary, company accounts published on Sunday show. Her base salary is an increase of about $10 million compared to last year, even as Bet365 made pre-tax losses of around $77 million (£60.2 million). The Coates family was also estimated by the Sunday Times to be the UK’s second-highest tax payer in 2023, contributing around $585 million (£460 million). Last year, the club incurred pre-tax losses of $15.8 million (£12.4 million).

Persons: Bet365, Denise Coates, Coates, BBC –, Luke Hildyard, “, Nathan Stirk Organizations: CNN, BBC, Pay, Trent, Denise Coates Foundation, Sunday Times, Forbes, Bet365, Stoke City Football Club, Commission Locations: Bet365, English, Stoke, Trent

☆ Vote counting begins in closely watched Taiwan election
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

With China intensifying its rhetoric on its claim over Taiwan, global observers are billing this Taiwan election as highly pivotal for security in the Asia-Pacific at a time of testy U.S.-China relations. If Lai and Hsiao win the Jan. 13 vote for the Taiwan presidential office, it would mark the first time any political party has stayed in office for more than two consecutive terms since Taiwan introduced direct presidential elections in 1996. Campaign posters for various legislative member candidates in Taipei, Taiwan, on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. China's Taiwan affairs office has characterized the self-ruled island's election as a choice between "peace and war, prosperity and decline." "China has always meddled whenever there is an election in Taiwan, but this time, it's the most serious."

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