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☆ Russia is using heavily modified Ka-52M aircraft in Ukraine and has equipped its fleet with long-range anti-tank missiles, says UK intel
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ka-52 attack helicopters have given Russia a strong advantage in Ukraine, the UK MOD said. Russia has now started using heavily modified versions of the aircraft in southern Ukraine, it said. Dutch open-source intelligence group Oryx said that 38 Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters have been visually confirmed as lost since the start of the invasion. Insider reported in November 2022 that the helicopters had been used more than any other attack helicopter by Russia in its invasion. At that time, more than 25% of the Russian Air Force's in-service Ka-52 fleet had been shot down, the UK MOD said.

Organizations: MOD, Service, Russia, UK Ministry of Defence, NATO, Russian Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Zaporizhzhia, Russian, Syria

☆ SpaceX aims to break a 56-year rocket record with back-to-back launches
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

SpaceX on Thursday night may break a record that's stood for over half a century, with back-to-back launches set to fly from Florida's Space Coast. ET for the launch of its Falcon 9 rocket from the Space Force's Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), carrying Starlink satellites. SpaceX said the Falcon Heavy launch window opens at 11:04 p.m. SLD 45 noted in social media posts on Thursday that the pair of SpaceX launches may break a record set by the Gemini 11 mission in September 1966. That NASA mission used an Atlas-Agena D rocket and a modified Titan II rocket, which launched 1 hour, 37 minutes and 25 seconds apart.

Persons: Kennedy Organizations: SpaceX, Kennedy Space Center, Canaveral's, Falcon, U.S . Space Force, Gemini, NASA Locations: Cape Canaveral , Florida, U.S, Cape Canaveral

☆ Space Force raises the stakes as rocket companies compete for lucrative military missions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. military is raising the stakes — and widening the field — on a high-profile competition for Space Force mission contracts. The Space Force plans to buy even more rocket launches from companies in the coming years than previously expected, granting more companies a chance at securing billions in potential contracts. Earlier this year the Space Force kicked off the process to buy five years' worth of launches, under a lucrative program known as National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3. Pentecost said Space Force hosted an industry day in February to go over the program's details and had 22 companies show up. That's split into "Launch Service," meaning how much it costs to build and launch a rocket, and the "Launch Service Support," which covers special requirements the military may have for launch.

Persons: Doug Pentecost, Pentecost Organizations: U.S, Space Force, Force's, Systems Command, Security Locations: U.S

Here's the latest AI developments at Salesforce, Apple and Microsoft — along with our take on the news. A generative AI experience built into Apple devices, however, would be an entirely new feature for users. Apple's smart assistant Siri would be the natural place to implement generative AI within the Apple ecosystem. The company promotes both generative AI tools as a way to improve productivity . We've long believed this to be true – and that's why we greeted Salesforce's price-hike announcement last week with open arms – but Wednesday's incremental generative AI updates reinforce our conviction.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Microsoft's, Jim Cramer, ChatGPT, Bing, OpenAI's ChatGPT, BARD, Siri, Salesforce, Einstein, Morgan Stanley's, Jim Cramer's, Jim, Chino Organizations: Microsoft, Apple, Big Tech, Nasdaq, Barclays, Bloomberg, Google, Einstein, CNBC Locations: Wall, Silicon Valley, Wells Fargo

☆ A former Salesforce DEI director is suing the company claiming racial discrimination. She's not the first Black employee to complain.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Ellen Thomas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A former DEI leader at Salesforce is now suing the company for race discrimination. It's not the first time a Black woman has claimed she was discriminated against at Salesforce. In November 2021, the complainant was moved to the Office of Equality at Salesforce, where she reported to the company's Chief Equality Officer. This complainant is not the first Black woman to complain of biased and unfair treatment at Salesforce. In 2022, Salesforce reported that 5.2% of its workforce identified as Black or African-American, up from 3.5% in 2020.

Persons: It's, Andy Kofoid, Salesforce, Tom Nesbitt, Michael Shaunessy, Nesbitt, Shaunessy, Cynthia Perry, Perry's, Tony Prophet, Prophet, Marc Benioff, Ellen Thomas Organizations: company's, Equality, Salesforce, North, Court of Locations: Salesforce, Austin , Texas, North American, Databricks, Court of Texas, Austin

☆ Air forces are ditching runways to prepare their jets to keep operating when enemies aim for their bases
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

It is meant to be a test of the British air force's ability to operate away from its main bases. Some air forces moved away from that capability after the Cold War and now have to train for it again. US Air Force/Senior Airman Jonathan Valdes MontijoThe US military has also been planning distributed air operations from unconventional airfields and runways. When done correctly, ACE "complicates the enemy's targeting process, creates political and operational dilemmas for the enemy, and creates flexibility for friendly forces," according to the Air Force's ACE doctrine. Gen. James Hecker, the head of US Air Forces in Europe, said last year that his command was sending airmen to study the Swedish approach.

Persons: Jon Hobley, Air Marshal Harvey Smyth, Smyth, Janis Laizans, Sweden's JAS, Jonathan Valdes Montijo, Phil Speck, James Hecker, " Hecker, Janes, Stavros Atlamazoglou Organizations: Service, Royal Air Force Eurofighter, FGR4, Coningsby, Getty, NATO, Britain's Royal Air Force, Air, Aviation, RAF, REUTERS, US Air Force, Marine Corps, Agile, US Air National Guard, Air Force, Aircraft, US Air Forces, Hellenic Army, 575th Marine Battalion, Army, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins, School, International Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, London, Finland, Finnish, Russia, Sweden, Guam, Estonia, Wyoming, Europe, Swedish, Johns

[1/3] People cool off near the Spanish Steps, during a heatwave across Italy, as temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming days, in Rome, Italy July 18, 2023. They have added fresh urgency to talks this week between the United States and China, the world's top greenhouse gas polluters. "Whilst most of the attention focuses on daytime maximum temperatures, it is the overnight temperatures which have the biggest health risks, especially for vulnerable populations," it said. The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service says 2022 and 2021 were the continent's hottest summers on record. In a large part of the territory, night-time temperatures were in the top 5% of the highest recorded at this time of year.

Persons: Remo Casilli, John Kerry, Xi Jinping, Carlo Spanu, Anita Elshoy, Elshoy, AEMET, Talim, Angelo Amante, Emma Farge, Giselda, Crispian Balmer, Angeliki Koutantou, Emma Pinedo Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Matthias Williams, Janet Lawrence Organizations: REUTERS, World Meteorological Organization, WMO, Thomson Locations: Italy, Rome, Europe, U.S, Asia Italy, ROME, Asia, United States, Sardinia, Lazio, heatwaves, Death, China's, Greece, Swiss, India, South Korea, China, Beijing, North America, North Africa, Sicily, Sulcis, Norway, Spain, Catalonia, Aragon, Mallorca, Andujar, 44.9C, Toledo, Dervenochoria, Athens

☆ Russian forces are running out of the critical radars they need to defeat Ukraine's artillery, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Britain's defense ministry said Russian forces likely only have a few key systems remaining. For ground troops to surmount these obstacles means navigating through a slow and deadly process, and Ukrainian forces lack air superiority. "Russian ground forces survivability relies on effectively detecting Ukrainian artillery and striking against it, often with its force's own artillery," Britain's defense ministry said in a Monday intelligence update. According to an analysis by the open-source intelligence site Oryx, at least 38 Russian radars have been destroyed, damaged, or captured in Ukraine. "The priority Popov apparently gave to this problem highlights the continued centrality of artillery in the war," Britain's defense ministry said.

Persons: SERGEY SHESTAK, Ivan Popov, Popov, Caesar, Biden, Jake Sullivan Organizations: Service, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Getty, Arms Army, CAA, Separate Artillery Brigade, REUTERS, West, Oryx, NATO, National Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Bakhmut, Donetsk, AFP, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Donetsk region

☆ 'Chaos' is fueling fights among Putin's top commanders. These are the players battling for power.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

More than three weeks after the historic challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin's authority, there's still internal power plays and high-level purges in motion. "We are seeing a lot of military formations and military figures that are pushing for their own objectives." For example, in Kadyrov's case, he may be pushing for control to shield his fighters from the battlefield in Ukraine and send conventional Russian forces instead. Consequences for disobedienceInsubordination against Moscow's military leadership, such as Teplinsky's criticisms or the Wagner's rebellion, has undermined Russian military leaders but has also come with consequences for members of the anti-Gerasimov camp. The instability increasingly endemic to the Russian military comes as the Ukrainians try to break through their defensive lines.

Persons: Wagner Group's, Vladimir Putin's, Wagner, Putin, doesn't, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Alexander Lukashenko, Alexander Ermochenko, he's, Stepanenko, Valery Gerasimov, Sergei Shoigu, Ramzan Kadyrov, Kadyrov, there's, Gerasimov, Vladimir Putin, Staff Valery Gerasimov, Alexei Nikolsky, Gen, Mikhail Teplinsky, Russia's, Teplinsky, Sergei Surovikin, There's, Friedemann Kohler, hasn't, Russia's Aerospace Forces Sergei Surovikin, Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov, Staff Sergei Rudskoi, Mikhail Metzel, Ivan Popov, Vladimir Seliverstov, Popov, vilely, Viktor Zolotov, it's, ISW, Vyacheslav Gladkov Organizations: Service, Institute for, Wagner Group, Kremlin, Southern Military, REUTERS, Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian Armed Forces, Russian Defense, Russian, Staff, AP, Russia's VDV Airborne Forces, Getty, Russia's Aerospace Forces, Armed Forces, Sputnik, Arms Army, 106th Guards Airborne, Russian MoD, National Guard, Russian National Guard Service, PMC Wagner Group Locations: Russian, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Moscow, Prigozhin, Belarus, Rostov, Don, Russia's Belgorod, Sputnik, Washington, Chechnya, Sochi, REUTERS Maj, Belgorod

☆ Wagner's failed rebellion could hit the Kremlin's ambitions for a 'pro-Russian state' in Africa
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

BANGUI, Central African Republic - March 23, 2023: Demonstrators carry banners in Bangui, on March 22, 2023 during a march in support of Russia's presence in the Central African Republic. Hundreds of Wagner troops were spotted last week departing from Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic (CAR), where the Kremlin-linked group has its largest and broadest overseas presence. It comes just weeks after Wagner boss Prigozhin embarked on an ill-fated rebellion in Russia, ordering his troops fighting in Ukraine to march toward Moscow. Sky News reported Friday that the Wagner personnel who left CAR had refused to sign new these contracts. "Russian instructors will continue to aid soldiers in the Central African armed forces to ensure security in anticipation of the constitutional referendum scheduled for July 30."

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Alexander Lukashenko, Vladimir Putin, Alex Vines, Chris Weafer, Weafer, Chatham House's Vines, Faustin Organizations: Central African, Wagner, Central African Republic, Belorussian, Kremlin, Sky News, Officers, Union for International Security, Central, Africa, Chatham House, CNBC Locations: BANGUI, Central African Republic, Bangui, Moscow, Russia, Russia's, Ukraine, Africa, Central, Belarus, Russian, U.S, Chatham, CAR, Sudan, Libya, Mali, Mozambique, France

☆ Russia's air force 'remains largely intact,' but more jets won't fix all its problems in Ukraine, NATO commanders say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

After 16 months of fighting, most of Russia's air force remains intact. And even though Russia has a vastly larger air force, other issues may keep it from operating effectively, according to two NATO air commanders. Royal Air Force Air Chief Marshal Rich Knighton at the Global Air & Space Chiefs’ Conference on July 13, 2023. Massicot and others say Russia's air force could still exploit its numerical advantage if Ukraine's air-defenses network falters, though other factors could inhibit Russian air operations going forward. "The Russians have recapitalized a fair amount of their tactical air force, and they've done a lot on the weapons front as well.

Persons: Rich Knighton, Knighton, Muhammed Enes Yildirim, James Hecker, " Hecker, Hecker, hasn't, We've, Dara Massicot, Johnny Stringer, Stringer Organizations: NATO, Service, Royal Air, Jets, Global Air & Space Chiefs, Conference, Air, British Defence Intelligence, Royal Air Force Air, Global Air & Space Chiefs ’ Conference, Space Power Association, YouTube, Ukrainian Air Force, Russian, Anadolu Agency, Getty, US Air Forces, NATO's Allied Air Command, Aircraft, Russian Ministry of Defense, Rand Corporation, British Air Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, London, Donetsk, Europe, Poland, Romania, Russian, Bakhmut, Kherson, Massicot

☆ A former Anheuser-Busch exec has become one of the Bud Light maker's fiercest critics
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Anson Frericks, a former executive at Anheuser-Busch, has criticized how the company has handled the backlash against Bud Light. Now, Anheuser-Busch has gotten involved with issues that he's been fighting against, Frericks told Insider. Anheuser-Busch US CEO Brendan Whitworth hasn't explicitly defended the Bud Light partnership with influencer Dylan Mulaney, nor has he called it a mistake. The dip in Bud Light sales persisted through the end of June, USA Today reported. In a TikTok video posted at the end of June, Mulvaney alleged that Bud Light never reached out to her following the onslaught of hate she received.

Persons: Anson Frericks, Bud Light, Bud, influencer Dylan Mulvaney, Brendan Whitworth, Mulvaney, Whitworth, Frericks, he's, Busch, He's, Vivek Ramaswamy, Marc Benoiff, Brendan Whitworth hasn't, influencer Dylan Mulaney, Getty, LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ, Dylan Mulvaney Organizations: Anheuser, Busch, Service, Whitworth, CBS, Newsweek, Street, Fox News, Daily Mail, Fox, Bud, MAG, AFP, Pride Month, Human, USA Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ New IT spending survey bodes well for 7 tech stocks in A.I. to cloud to cybersecurity
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Analysts at Morgan Stanley published the results of their second-quarter CIO survey, providing valuable insight into information technology budget expectations. Cloud and cybersecurity Digging a bit deeper, the survey reveals that cloud computing and security software remain the top two priorities for CIOs followed by artificial intelligence/machine learning. The analysts singled out Microsoft as the most exposed to the two major themes of the survey — generative AI via ChatGPT and cloud consumption via Azure. Cloud and AI enablers All of this also bodes well for the names that make cloud computing, generative AI, and LLMs possible. Importantly, the demand is not only coming from cloud service providers (CSPs) but also from enterprise players and AI startups.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Bard, Dell, Salesforce, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Bing, Jonathan Raa Organizations: Microsoft, Google, Web Services, Club, Software, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Palo Alto Networks, Alto, Nvidia, Devices, AMD, CNBC, Nurphoto, Getty

☆ Salesforce raises prices for the first time in 7 years. What it means for the stock
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | In Kevinstankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Salesforce (CRM) on Tuesday took another step to deliver profitable growth — a welcome development for investors, like us, which sent its stock price higher. Investors appeared upbeat around the list price increases, which Salesforce said are the first in seven years. "I don't expect it to impact churn much," said Berg, who has a buy rating and $230-per-share price target on Salesforce stock. It's worth noting, large customers will usually negotiate with Salesforce to secure a discount to a product's list price. Previously, a customer who bought 100 licenses at a 20% discount to the old list price would've generated $24,000.

Persons: Salesforce, Needham, Scott Berg, Berg, Mizuho, Marc Benioff's, Benioff, He's, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Marc Benioff, Salesforce.com, David Paul Morris Organizations: Service, Industries, Nasdaq, Nvidia, Palo Alto Networks, Devices, CNBC, Salesforce, Mizuho Securities, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: Palo, San Francisco

☆ Billionaires and corporate execs have dumped $9 billion worth of stock this year amid the market's latest rally
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Billionaires and CEOs have dumped $9 billion in stock this year. Many of those sales have been concentrated in the tech sector amid Wall Street's frenzy over AI. Executives have cashed in on the rally as the S&P 500 recovers from a dismal 2022 performance. Meanwhile, AirBnB co-founder Joe Gebbia sold off $893 million of his company's stock during the first half. Oracle CEO Safra Catz also trimmed her holdings of the company, selling $470 million worth of the company's stock.

Persons: Walton, AirBnB, Joe Gebbia, Larry Ellison, Safra Catz, Salesforce's Marc Benioff, Stephane Bancel, Josh Harris Organizations: Service, CNBC, Walmart, Sam's, Oracle, Moderna, Apollo, Vanda Research Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Germany sends troops to Australia in a first as Berlin shifts focus to Indo-Pacific
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Sabine Siebold | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

China is Berlin's most important trading partner, and 40% of Europe's foreign trade flows through the South China Sea, a waterway that is a focal point for territorial disputes in the Indo-Pacific. In 2021, a German warship sailed into the South China Sea for the first time in almost 20 years. When asked what message the first deployment of German troops to Australia was meant to send to China, he underscored Berlin did not aim to antagonize anybody. Mais plans to visit the German troops in Australia and a Rheinmetall (RHMG.DE) plant assembling Boxer armoured transport vehicles for both armies in mid-July, before travelling on to Japan and Singapore. As for Talisman Sabre, the German troops already have orders to return to Australia for the next exercise in 2025.

Persons: Alfons Mais, Berlin, Mais, Talisman Sabre, Sabine Siebold, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: European Union, Reuters, Talisman, Rheinmetall, Boxer, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Germany, Australia, China, German, U.S, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, France, Britain, Berlin, Europe, Singapore

☆ Wagner Group shooting down a Russian command plane may be gift that keeps on giving for Ukraine's beleaguered air defenses
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

During Wagner Group's revolt in June, its mercenaries shot down several Russian military aircraft. The loss of one of Russia's few Il-22M could hinder its air force's ability to operate over Ukraine. Wagner Group's abortive revolt last month didn't just end with its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, fleeing the country and its troops being absorbed into the Russian military. The airborne command posts couldn't even communicate directly with air-defense units or with Russian fighters on combat air patrols. Royal Air ForceIndeed, command and control is the Achilles heel of the Russian military, which inherited the rigid command structure of its Soviet predecessor.

Persons: Wagner Group's, —, Yevgeny Prigozhin, NIKITA SHCHYUKIN, Greg L, Davis, Justin Bronk, aren't, Bronk, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Wagner Group, NATO, British Ministry of Defense, Getty, Ukraine, Ministry of Defense, Target, Boeing, Joint STARS, US Air Force, Britain's Royal United Services Institute, Russian, Ground Forces, CAP, RAF Typhoons, Royal Air Force, US, CNA, Russian Aerospace Force, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Russia, AFP, Davis Russian, Baltic, Forbes

☆ F-22 stealth fighter jets are back in the Middle East as a US commander warns of 'buffoonery' by Russian pilots
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

US Air Force F-22 stealth fighter jets were redeployed to the Middle East in mid-JuneTheir redeployment comes amid repeated cases of aggressive flying by Russian air force pilots. Grynkewich spoke shortly after the US Air Force redeployed F-22s to the Middle East. The US planned to compensate by deploying A-10 attack planes, which are designed to strike ground targets, to the Middle East. A US Air Force A-10C refuels from a KC-135 over the Middle East in April. Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist and columnist who writes about Middle East developments, military affairs, politics, and history.

Persons: —, Alexus Grynkewich, Äzzeddin Kasim, Grynkewich, you've, Devin Boyer, Ryan Bohl, RANE, Al, DELIL SOULEIMAN, There's, Bohl, Nicholas Heras, Christopher Ruano, Heras, Su, Paul Iddon Organizations: US Air Force, Russian, Service, Air Force's, US Air Forces Central Command, Wagner Group, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images, Pacific, KC, Tech, East, Getty, New Lines Institute, UAE, Russia, Kremlin Locations: Russia, Syria, Russian, Ukraine, Idlib, East, Europe, North Africa, Al Tanf, AFP, United States, Moscow

☆ Russia has 'lost nearly half' of its combat effectiveness since invading Ukraine, UK defense official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia has "lost nearly half" its combat power since invading Ukraine, a top UK defense official said. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin claimed Russia is now "so weak" it cannot wage a counter-offensive. "Russia has lost nearly half the combat effectiveness of its army," Radakin said, according to the Financial Times. Radakin's claims about Russia's combat losses in Ukraine are roughly in line with previous reporting. In February, Oryx, an open-source intelligence group, said that at least 1,000 Russian tanks had been destroyed in Ukraine — and another 500 captured.

Persons: Sir Tony Radakin, —, Sir Tony Radakin —, Rishi Sunak —, Radakin, Ukraine's, They've, Jeffrey Edmonds, Insider's Jake Epstein Organizations: Service, British, United, Financial Times, Ukraine —, PBS, Center for Naval, CIA Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian

☆ Your city could get millions to create jobs under a new Biden plan to put Americans back to work
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Cities and regions left behind by bygone industries can now apply for funding to revitalize jobs. The Biden administration is opening up applications for its Recompete Pilot Program. Under that program, a handful of "distressed communities" can receive at least $20 million. It's called the Recompete Pilot Program, and it's meant to pump funds into economically distressed areas. According to research from Timothy J. Bartik for the Brookings Institute, nearly a sixth of the country's population lives in distressed communities.

Persons: Biden, —, It's, Biden's, Gina Raimondo, Timothy J, Bartik, Derek Kilmer, it's, Kilmer, what's, Alejandra Castillo Organizations: Service, Economic Development Administration, Brookings Institute, White, Commerce, Economic Development Locations: Scranton , Pennsylvania, Washington

☆ How a record-setting 'Ugly Baby' mission allowed US special operators to outmaneuver Iraqi forces
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

US special-operations forces wanted to infiltrate northern Iraq to tied down Iraqi forces there. Operation Ugly BabyA map of the Ugly Baby mission route along Iraq's western border on March 22, 2003. US Green Berets in an MC-130H heading to Iraq during Operation Ugly Baby on March 22, 2003. A US special-operations aircraft that was forced land by enemy fire during Operation Ugly Baby in March 2003. In all, Task Force Viking numbered about 400 special operators, including elite Delta Force commandos, Green Berets from the 10th Special Forces Group, and frogmen from the UK's Special Boat Service.

Persons: —, Saddam Hussein, Elwell, JOSEPH BARRAK, Baby, Stavros Atlamazoglou Organizations: Service, Operation, US, Allies, US Army, Operation Iraqi, NATO, Turkish, Special Forces, Green Berets, Air, Special Operations Squadron, Detachment Alpha, Air Force, Task Force, US Army 173rd Airborne Brigade, Getty, Delta Force, 10th Special Forces Group, CIA, Republication Guard, Hellenic Army, 575th Marine Battalion, Army, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins, School, International Locations: Iraq, Operation Iraqi, Baghdad, reorienting, Turkey, Kurdish, Turkish, Romania, Jordan, Syria, Erbil, AFP, Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Johns

The Central American nation urgently needs to exit the watch lists so it can reclaim its place as a financial hub, Deputy Financial Minister Jorge Almengor said in an interview late on Wednesday. In 2019 FATF again placed Panama on its list, saying the country was making too little progress on financial transparency. In 2020, the European Union added Panama to its own list of countries deemed "noncooperative" for tax purposes. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has also included Panama on its own watch list. He said the visit should result in Panama's removal from the watch list at an October plenary meeting of FATF.

Persons: Jorge Almengor, Panama's, FATF, Josep Borrell, Laurentino Cortizo, Almengor, Valentine Hilaire, Sarah Morland, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Central American, Union, Organization, Economic Co, Development, Panamanian, EU, Thomson Locations: Panama, Mexico

June 29 (Reuters) - Typeface, a generative AI platform for enterprise content creation, said on Thursday that it was valued at $1 billion after an oversubscribed Series B funding round led by Salesforce's (CRM.N) global investment arm, bringing the total capital raised to $165 million. The $100 million round also saw participation from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Madrona, GV (Google Ventures), Menlo Ventures, and M12, Microsoft's Venture Fund, the company said. In February, Lightspeed Venture Partners, GV, Menlo Ventures, and M12 invested $65 million when Typeface emerged from stealth and launched publicly. AI startups have emerged as a bright spot for investments this year amid a wider slowdown in funding caused by rising interest rates and high inflation. Editing by Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Salesforce's, Gokul, Krystal Hu, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Lightspeed Venture Partners, GV, Google Ventures, Menlo Ventures, Microsoft's Venture Fund, Google, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru, Toronto

☆ Salesforce to invest $4 billion in UK on AI innovation
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, June 29 (Reuters) - Salesforce (CRM.N) will invest $4 billion in its UK business in the next five years, the U.S. software company said on Thursday, thanks to strong demand for digital transformations and artificial intelligence. The company said the plan builds on a previous five-year injection of $2.5 billion it set out in 2018. Salesforce said it would work with the government to drive the next wave of digital transformation "in this new AI era." "A clear pro-innovation regulatory framework that compels safe and responsible use of AI is vital, and Salesforce is fully focused on bringing secure, trusted, enterprise ready generative AI to UK businesses," Salesforce UKI boss Zahra Bahrololoumi said. Earlier in June Salesforce blamed an uncertain U.S. economy and weaker demand from financial services and tech companies for its disappointing quarterly results.

Persons: Brad Smith, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Salesforce, Zahra Bahrololoumi, Muvija, Sarah Young Organizations: U.S ., Activision Blizzard, NYSE, Thomson Locations: U.S, Britain, British

☆ Salesforce and more: Goldman Sachs names 5 tech stocks set for a profit boost, giving one 50% upside
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Goldman Sachs has named the tech stocks it expects to become more profitable over the next two years. Goldman Sachs believes that the bulk of the margin expansion is yet to come as companies start to realize the full benefits of cost-cutting measures implemented in the first half of 2023. The table below highlights Goldman's five stocks with the biggest upside that are expected to benefit from the above factors. Monday.com Monday.com , a software company that aims to improve efficiency among teams, is also expected to improve its financial performance. Vertex Vertex , a tax software provider, is expected by Goldman Sachs to see a 4.2 percentage point expansion in its operating margins from 2022 to 2024.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Salesforce, Goldman, Gabriela Borges, Monday.com, Guidewire, Procore, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Goldman

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