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☆ Dealmaking is showing signs of life, but it comes with some downsides
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In today's big story, we're looking at why M&A could be staging a comeback and which bankers made the most of 2023 . The big storyDealmaker's delighttatomm/iStock, Tyler Le/BIThree monster deals announced in less than a week has Wall Street wondering: Is M&A back? But after a dreadful 2022 and 2023, dealmaking is showing signs of life, Business Insider's Theron Mohamed writes. Capital One, Truist, and Walmart announced acquisitions totaling $53 billion this week, leaving bankers hopeful the good times (and fees) are back. Deals represent an exit opportunity for companies, giving their investors (some of whom are employees) a chance to cash out.

Persons: Tyler Le, Theron Mohamed, Biden, Alex Morrell, Reed Alexander, Alyssa Powell, Emily Stewart, Wall, it's, M, Getty, Jenny Chang, Rodriguez, Jensen Huang, Goldman Sachs, Carlos Delgado, Associated Press Rivian, Rivian, Dan DeFrancesco, Hallam Bullock, Jordan Parker Erb, George Glover Organizations: Business, Federal Reserve, Walmart, Activision Blizzard, ExxonMobil, Cisco, Acquisitions, Activision, Wall Street, Big Tech, Nvidia, ING, Microsoft, Associated Press, BI, Google, Walgreens, Sunshine State, CVS, Intuit, Nestle, Square Locations: Europe, Florida, VillageMD, New York, London

☆ Inside the latest drama at Goldman Sachs that reportedly has some partners up in arms
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementThe drama playing out within the upper ranks of Goldman Sachs is continuing to unfold, and CEO David Solomon's troubles with senior partners don't appear to be over yet. (Garcia's co-head of European investment banking, Anthony Gutman, is also said to have been named to the committee.) Bloomberg reported this week that Beth Hammack — a longtime Goldman partner, co-head of the global financial group, member of the management committee, and former CEO of Goldman Sachs Bank USA — is set to step down. And when Esposito broke the news last month of his imminent departure in a note to partners and clients, he wrote, wistfully, that he planned to "bleed Goldman Sachs forever." Are you a Goldman Sachs or Wall Street insider?

Persons: Goldman Sachs, David Solomon's, who's, Mark Sorrell, Gonzalo Garcia, Joshua Franklin, Arash Massoudi, Kim Posnett, Sorrell —, Sir Martin Sorrell, Stephan Feldgoise, Anthony Gutman, Sorrell, Gutman, Garcia, Goldman, Alison Mass, George Lee, Jim Esposito —, —, Solomon, Adebayo, Beth Hammack —, Esposito, wistfully, Reed Alexander Organizations: Financial, IB, Reading, Goldman, Bloomberg, Goldman Sachs Bank Locations: Miami

☆ Space nukes are raising tensions between Moscow and Washington. Here’s what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Kari Bingen director of the aerospace security project and senior fellow in the international security program at the Centre for Strategic International Studies. Space-based anti-satellite nuclear weapons — or so-called space nukes — are a type of weapon designed to damage or destroy satellite systems. "It's an indiscriminate weapon," Bingen said. The deployment of a space-based nuclear weapon would mark a major advancement of Russia's military capabilities and a serious escalation of geopolitical tensions. Kari Bingen director of the aerospace security project and senior fellow in the international security program at the Centre for Strategic International Studies.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Alexander Ryumin, Mike Turner, Joe Biden, It's, Kari Bingen, Bingen, Juan Barreto, Putin, CNBC's Silvia Amaro Organizations: Sputnik, Chelyabinsk, Afp, Getty, U.S, White, CNBC, . House Intelligence, Bloomberg, Centre, Strategic International Studies, Analysts, Strategic International, United Nations Office, Outer Space Affairs, Elon Musk, Reuters, U.S ., Space Foundation, The, NATO, General, Saturday, Munich Security Conference Locations: Russian, Chelyabinsk Region, Chelyabinsk, Washington, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, China, Bogota, U.S, The U.S

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Nvidia, Rivian, Moderna, Novavax and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Nvidia earned $5.16 per share on an adjusted basis and $22.1 billion in revenue, higher than the $4.64 per share and $20.62 billion analysts polled by LSEG had expected. Moderna — Shares popped 12% after the vaccine maker beat fourth-quarter revenue expectations , lifted by deferred revenue and cost cuts. Moderna's top line came out to be $2.81 billion, while analysts polled by LSEG had expected $2.50 billion. Quanta Services — The infrastructure stock popped nearly 10% following a fourth-quarter earnings beat. Keurig Dr Pepper reported $3.87 billion in in fourth quarter revenue, below the $3.92 billion expected by analysts, according to FactSet.

Persons: LSEG, Cantor Fitzgerald, Etsy, Rivian, Synopsys, Morgan Stanley, Coty —, TD Cowen, FactSet, Keurig Dr Pepper, Dr Pepper, — CNBC's Michelle Fox, Alexander Harring, Yun Li, Jesse Pound, Pia Singh, Samantha Subin Organizations: Nvidia, Moderna, LSEG, Coty, Scotiabank, Mosaic

☆ Fox News hyped the bogus FBI informant claims against Biden. Now its refusing to walk them back
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —Days after explosive bribery claims about President Joe Biden came ripping apart at the seams, Fox News and the broader MAGA Media universe have declined to walk back their factually-challenged narrative. (Photo by Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images) Erik McGregor/LightRocket/Getty ImagesThe lack of a retraction or any real sign of contrition comes as the Smirnov allegations continue to implode in spectacular fashion. The network functions as the main organ in the right-wing media universe and has tremendous influence over the Republican Party base. By refusing to fully acknowledge the false claims and press GOP lawmakers on their relentless promotion of it, Fox News is effectively giving GOP lawmakers permission to continue doing so. A Fox News spokesperson did not off me a comment on the network’s coverage of the revelations surrounding the informant.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, David Weiss, Alexander Smirnov, Smirnov, ”, Jesse Watters, baselessly, Sean Hannity, Hannity, Weiss, Donald Trump, Brooke Singman, Erik McGregor, contrition, ” Weiss, Harris Faulkner, ” Faulkner, Rupert, Lachlan Murdoch, Lachlan, Tim Miller, “, ” Miller Organizations: New York CNN, Fox News, MAGA Media, Republican, Capitol, ” Fox News, Trump, FBI, Getty, Wednesday, Republican Party, Fox, Dominion Voting Systems, U.S . Capitol, MSNBC Locations: New York, Trump Russia, Democratic, United States

☆ Ukraine hit a company of Russian troops with HIMARS while they waited around for a visiting general
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Russian battalion congregated at a training area near the village of Trudovske in occupied eastern Ukraine when the two missiles struck, The BBC reported Wednesday. Sources familiar with the incident told the outlet that the soldiers were gathered to await the arrival of a senior commander. Ukraine has yet to comment on the strike, but the BBC reported a US-made HIMARS launch system was used to fire the two missiles. In August, Ukraine said it launched a HIMARS attack on five Russian units gathered on a beach that resulted in 200 casualties and destroyed equipment. Some accounts at the time suggested the troops had been gathered to await a general's pep talk before a dangerous mission.

Persons: —, Alexander Osipov, Osipov, Yaroslav Trofimov, Oleg Moiseyev, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Simon Miles, flack Organizations: Service, Russian, BBC, Business, Telegram, Wall Street, 29th Army of, Defense, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union Locations: Russia, Trudovske, Ukraine, Transbaikalia, Soviet, Russian

☆ El Chapo gave a briefcase with $1 million to the campaign of the ex-Honduras president now accused of US drug trafficking: witness
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Noah Hurowitz | Haven Orecchio-Egresitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

At the meeting, El Chapo told Tony Hernández he was looking to open new trafficking routes through Honduras. El Chapo then asked if, under his brother's administration, the Valle brothers or Ardon Soriano himself would be extradited for prosecution. AdvertisementAt that point, El Chapo offered $1 million to Hernández's campaign, Ardon Soriano testified. At a different meeting that year, Ardon Soriano and Tony Hernández met with El Chapo again, and El Chapo personally handed the briefcase with $1 million to Hernández, the convicted drug trafficker testified. "Juan Orlando Hernández told me that he had had them extradited because they had tried to have him killed," Ardon Soriano told the jury.

Persons: Joaquín, Guzmán, Juan Orlando Hernández, El Chapo, Amilcar Alexander Ardon Soriano, El Paraíso, —, Hernández, Ardon Soriano, Soriano, Miguel Arnulfo Valle, Luis Alfonso —, Tony, Tony Hernández, Valle, Juan Orlando, Ardon Organizations: Business, Prosecutors, Honduras —, National Party, El, Miguel Arnulfo Valle Valle Locations: Honduras, Honduran, El, Manhattan, United States, America, Espíritu

☆ Putin looms over a third successive US election
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —“Russia, Russia, Russia.”Ex-President Donald Trump’s scathing catch phrase for a torrent of investigations during his administration also serves as an apt catch-all for the current meltdown over Moscow roiling US politics. But Russia and its leader, whom President Joe Biden described as a “crazy S.O.B.” at a Wednesday fundraiser, won’t go away. All the ways Putin is playing in US politicsPutin is advancing Russian interests against the US on multiple fronts. Putin recently formalized his warming ties with North Korean tyrant Kim Jong Un by presenting him with a new limousine. The Russian leader was particularly incensed by the US-led operation to topple Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden, won’t, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Ukraine –, –, Alexander Smirnov, “, Trump, Smirnov, Biden, it’s, Putin can’t, ” Douglas, Alexey Navalny, Biden lambasts Trump, ” Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev, he’s, he’d, Mike Turner, Ksenia, Paul Whelan –, Evan Gershkovich, Geopolitically, Kim Jong Un, George W, Bush, Barack Obama, Moammar Gadhafi, Hillary Clinton, Robert Mueller, “ We’ll, Mueller Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, United States, European NATO, ”, Moscow, House Republicans, GOP, CIA, NATO, Republican Party, Republicans, Republican, Trump, Marine, Wall Street, Putin, Biden, US, Democratic Locations: Russia, Moscow, United States, China, Soviet, East Germany, United, Ukraine, Russian, European, Washington, Asia, Sweden, Finland, Berlin –, Europe, Ukrainian, California, North Korea, Iran, Crimea, Helsinki, Geneva

☆ Republicans to grill James Biden behind closed doors in critical interview as GOP looks for lifeline in impeachment probe
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Hunter Biden is expected to show for his closed-door interview next week, after intense deliberations that almost collapsed. The first check Republicans revealed went to Joe Biden in 2018 for $200,000 from James Biden and James’ wife Sara Biden. What other Biden family business associates have saidBeyond Fox and Langston, Republicans have recently interviewed a number of key Biden family business associates. Walker also attended a 2017 business meeting with Hunter Biden and Chinese business associates, where Joe Biden made an appearance. Another longtime Biden family business associate, Eric Schwerin, performed administrative and bookkeeping tasks for then-Vice President Joe Biden from 2009 to 2017.

Persons: Joe Biden, Hunter, James, Wednesday, Biden, Hunter Biden, Mike Johnson, —, David Weiss, Hunter Biden’s, Alexander Smirnov, Robert Hur’s, Biden’s, James Biden, James ’, Sara Biden, ”, James Comer, Comer, Carol Fox, ‘ Biden, ’, Fox, James Biden’s, Joseph Langston, Langston, “, “ Jimmy Biden, ” Langston, Rob Walker, Walker, Biden —, ” Walker, ‘, ’ ”, Eric Schwerin, ” Schwerin, Mervyn Yan, Kevin Morris, Tony Bobulinski, Georges Bergès, White, Bergès, ” Bergès Organizations: Republicans, GOP, CNN, FBI, Burisma Holdings, undercutting, White, Democratic, Banking, Republican, Biden, Kentucky Republican, Fox, Langston, “, White House Locations: South Korea, Washington ,, China, Kentucky, Americore, Romania, American

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Russian military chief visits Ukraine after gains; Belarus signals armed patrols could take to streets
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko called on law enforcement agencies on Tuesday to organise patrols with small arms on the streets of Belarusian cities to ensure the safety of people. Lukashenko said that while the crime rate in Belarus was decreasing, the country was at risk of crimes of an "extremist nature." Our patrol guys must be on the streets...Patrols must be armed with small arms, at least pistols." Lukashenko backed Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 by allowing Moscow to use its territory to launch the war and agreed last year to deploy Russian tactical nuclear weapons in his country on Russia's western border. In power since 1994, Lukashenko staged a new crackdown on dissent after stamping out unprecedented demonstrations against what his opponents say was his rigged re-election in 2020.

Persons: Lukashenko, Alexander Lukashenko, — Organizations: of Internal Affairs, KGB Locations: Belarus, Ukraine, Moscow, Ukrainian

☆ Special counsel asks judge to send indicted ex-informant in Hunter Biden case back to jail
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Hannah Rabinowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Special counsel David Weiss asked a California judge Wednesday to send indicted ex-FBI informant Alexander Smirnov back to jail while he awaits trial. A magistrate judge in Las Vegas released Smirnov on Tuesday, finding that even enough Smirnov posed a flight risk, he could be released under certain conditions. Those conditions include GPS monitoring, confiscating his two passports, and ordering him to remain in Nevada where he currently lives. Smirnov is charged with lying to the FBI about the Biden family’s dealings in Ukraine. In the court filings, Weiss said that Smirnov repeatedly lied to his FBI handler, whom he worked with for more than a decade, and should not be trusted.

Persons: David Weiss, Alexander Smirnov, Smirnov, Prosecutors, Weiss, ” Organizations: CNN, FBI, Las Vegas, Biden Locations: California, Las, Nevada, Ukraine, Russia

☆ London Fashion Week: Highlights from the Fall-Winter 2024 runways
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Fiona Sinclair Scott | Leah Dolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Ben BroomfieldFaux furFleecy, fuzzy or fine: Faux fur was a key textile on the London runways. Ben Broomfield/Ben Broomfield @photobenphotoRobyn Lynch gave the white anorak a romantic silhouette during her Fall-Winter 2024 show. Maja SmiejkowskaStaged in a Gothic Revival church in East London, Dilara Findikoglu's show was a twisted fantasy. Dilara FindikogluSinead O'Dwyer, whose collection was inspired by a not-so-appropriate take on office wear, led the charge on diverse casting this season. Chris YatesModel on the runway at Molly Goddard RTW Fall 2024 as part of London Ready to Wear Fashion Week held at the Cecil Sharp House on February 17, 2024 in London, England.

Persons: scrappy, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Jonathon Ferris, John Malkovich, Maximilian Raynor’s, Harris Reed, Victoriana, — Conner Ives, Sinead Gorey —, Ives, Gorey, Maria Callas —, JW Anderson, Jonathan Anderson, ”, Amy Winehouse’s, Lily Cole, Agyness Deyn, Edward Crutchley, Stephen Jones ’ millinery, Molly Goddard’s, ” Goddard, ” Molly Goddard, Ben Broomfield, Broomfield, Simone Rocha, Jean Paul Gaultier, Queen Victoria, Conner Ives, Precious Lee, Sinead Gorey, Johanna Parv, Parv, Daniel Lee, moleskin, Henry Nicholls, Robyn Lynch, Lynch upcycled outerwear, Ben Broomfield @photobenphoto Robyn Lynch, Chris Yates, Naomi Campell, Joe Maher, Daniel Lee's, Filippo Fior, Burberry Erdem, Giovanni Giannoni, Jason Lloyd Evans, Jason Lloyd Evans Harris, Marc Hibbert Jonathan Anderson's, JW Anderson “, ” Anderson, ” JW Anderson, Ben Broomfield Sinead Gorey, Eamonn M . McCormack, Aldama Precious Lee, Maja Smiejkowska, Dilara, Dilara Findikoglu Sinead O'Dwyer, Chris Yates Lottie Moss, Kate Moss's, Sinead O'Dwyer, Molly Goddard RTW, Cecil Sharp, Aitor Rosas Sune, WWD, Rosas Sune, Molly Goddard's frilly, Ahluwalia Organizations: London CNN, Central Saint Martins, Tate, JW, Fashion, Burberry, British Vogue, Jean Paul Gaultier couture, Getty, ., Company, British Museum, Getty Images Locations: London, Tate Britain, East London’s, Paris, AFP, Irish, East London, England, Nigeria

☆ Indicted ex-FBI informant admitted Russian intelligence officials passed along the Hunter Biden bribery story, prosecutors say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Smirnov said Russian intelligence passed along the story of the bribery claims, per a court filing. The memo also indicates that Smirnov met with Russian intelligence officials as recently as December of 2023. What this shows is that the misinformation he is spreading is not confined to 2020," the prosecutor's memo in favor of detention reads. "He is actively peddling new lies that could impact US elections after meeting with Russian intelligence officials in November. Impact of Smirnov's indictmentSmirnov's indictment and arrest may have an impact on unrelated gun charges facing Hunter Biden.

Persons: Biden, Alexander Smirnov, Smirnov, —, Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, Obama, General, Harry Reid, David Weiss, Smirnov's, Weiss Organizations: Burisma Holdings, Service, ex, FBI, GOP, White, Business, Ukrainian, Biden, Burisma, Public, Harry, Harry Reid International, Government, Central District of, CNN, Lawyers Locations: Ukrainian, Las Vegas, Central District, Central District of California, United States

☆ The Informant Turned Defendant Who Took Aim at the Bidens
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Glenn Thrush | Kenneth P. Vogel | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For more than a decade, he played a double game, giving the F.B.I. In 2020, Mr. Smirnov told his F.B.I. handler what prosecutors say was a brazen lie — that the oligarch owner of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma had arranged to pay $5 million bribes to both President Biden and his son Hunter. The explosive claim was leaked to Republicans, who made Mr. Smirnov’s allegations a centerpiece of their now-stalled effort to impeach President Biden, apparently without verifying the allegation. Last week, Mr. Smirnov, 43, was indicted on charges that he lied to investigators about the Bidens.

Persons: Alexander Smirnov, Smirnov, Burisma, Biden, Hunter Organizations: Soviet Locations: Soviet Union, Ukrainian

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Nvidia, SolarEdge, Teladoc, Palo Alto Networks and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

SolarEdge Technologies — Shares dropped more than 20% after the company posted mixed quarterly results. However, revenue guidance for the first quarter was well below analyst expectations . Teladoc — Shares dropped 20% the morning after the online health-care company posted worse-than-expected revenue and guidance. The company posted a loss of 17 cents per share, smaller than the 21-cent figure anticipated by analysts surveyed. Palo Alto Networks topped earnings and revenue expectations for the recent quarter, but said it anticipates slower growth for the full year.

Persons: Teladoc, RingCentral, LSEG, Brandon Oglenski, Alan Shaw, HSBC's, Noel Quinn, Wingstop, — CNBC's Michelle Fox, Alexander Harring, Fred Imbert, Sarah Min, Jesse Pound, Samantha Subin Organizations: Nvidia, SolarEdge, LSEG, Palo Alto Networks, Alto Networks, Toll, JPMorgan, Norfolk Southern, Barclays, Amazon, Dow Jones, Walgreens, Alliance, HSBC —, Wall Street, FactSet Locations: Palo, billings

☆ The Rainmakers: These 20 bankers rode a choppy deals market to top the M&A charts in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Alex Morrell | Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In 2023, the overall value of M&A transactions dipped globally to $2.9 trillion across 53,529 deals, down from $3.4 trillion across 57,830 transactions in 2022. Business Insider partnered with MergerLinks , a financial-data service that tracks deals, to present the fifth edition of "The Rainmakers," the 20 M&A bankers who orchestrated the largest deals in North America. MergerLinks tracks publicly announced deals and calculates deal values on a net basis, including both equity and debt pieces. This year’s list has a mix of returnees and first-timers and was dominated by energy bankers, including Goldman’s Sikhtian and Morgan Stanley’s Hoover. Nearly half of the bankers on this year's list worked on energy deals.

Persons: —, Scott Sheffield, Goldman Sachs, Suhail Sikhtian, Morgan Stanley, Greg Weinberger, Aaron Hoover —, Patrick Ramsey, Claudio Sauer, Hess, Goldman’s Sikhtian, Morgan Stanley’s Hoover Organizations: Service, Pioneer Natural Resources, ExxonMobil, Sheffield, Pioneer, Exxon, Business, Centerview Partners, LSEG, MergerLinks, Chevron, Centerview, Health Partners, Pfizer, & $ Locations: Sheffield, Texas, North America

☆ Ex-Informant Accused of Lying About Bidens Said He Had Russian Contacts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Glenn Thrush | Alan Feuer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

informant accused of making false bribery claims about President Biden and his son Hunter — which were widely publicized by Republicans — claimed to have been fed information by Russian intelligence, according to a court filing on Tuesday. But Mr. Smirnov told federal investigators that “officials associated with Russian intelligence were involved in passing a story” about Hunter Biden. Those disclosures, including Mr. Smirnov’s unverifiable claim that he met with Russian intelligence officials as recently as three months ago, made him a flight risk and endangered national security, Justice Department officials said. Mr. Smirnov had been held in custody in Las Vegas, where he has lived since 2022, since his arrest last week. He was released from custody on Tuesday on a personal recognizance bond after a detention hearing, said his lawyers, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld.

Persons: Biden, Hunter —, Republicans —, Alexander Smirnov, Smirnov, Hunter Biden, David Chesnoff, Richard Schonfeld Organizations: Republicans, Justice Locations: Las Vegas

☆ Alexander Smirnov told investigators he got Hunter Biden dirt from Russian intelligence officials
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Hannah Rabinowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The former FBI informant charged with lying about the Bidens’ dealings in Ukraine told investigators after his arrest that Russian intelligence officials were involved in passing information to him about Hunter Biden, prosecutors said Tuesday in a new court filing, noting that the information was false. They said he previously told the FBI that he has longstanding and extensive contacts with Russian spies, including individuals he said were high-level intelligence officers or command Russian assassins abroad. The story, prosecutors noted, matches the story Smirnov told his handler about Hunter Biden being recorded in a foreign hotel. And, prosecutors wrote, Smirnov claims to have met with Russian intelligence officials as recently as November and December 2023. “He is actively peddling new lies that could impact U.S. elections after meeting with Russian intelligence officials in November.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Prosecutors, Alexander Smirnov, ” Smirnov, David Weiss ’, Smirnov, “ Smirnov, Joe Biden’s, Smirnov’s, Weiss, “ Mr, ”, “, CNN’s Holmes Lybrand, Cheri Mossburg Organizations: CNN, FBI, Prosecutors, House Republicans, ” Prosecutors Locations: Ukraine, Russia, United States, Kyiv, Russian

☆ Hunter Biden says special counsel used Alexander Smirnov’s discredited bribery claims to derail his plea deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Hannah Rabinowitz | Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Hunter Biden’s lawyers accused special counsel David Weiss on Tuesday of using a since-discredited bribery allegation from an FBI informant to blow up his plea deal last year. House Republicans have championed Smirnov’s uncorroborated bribery claims against the Bidens and used his tips to fuel their impeachment inquiry into the president. Prosecutors were asked directly if the Justice Department could still bring charges against Hunter Biden under the Foreign Agents Registration Act despite the deal. Hunter Biden’s attorney, Christopher Clark, said he disagreed with the prosecutor’s assertion. Tuesday’s filing from Hunter Biden’s attorney also accused prosecutors of failing to abide by their obligation to turn over discovery in the Delaware case, including over allegations that Hunter Biden’s alleged gun bag had cocaine on it.

Persons: CNN — Hunter, David Weiss, Weiss, Alexander Smirnov, Smirnov, Weiss ’, Joe Biden, Prosecutors, Smirnov’s, ” Hunter, ”, ” Weiss, Hunter Biden, “, Leo Wise, Hunter Biden’s, Christopher Clark, ” Wise Organizations: CNN, FBI, Republicans, Prosecutors, Justice Department, Foreign Locations: Nevada, Ukrainian, ”, Delaware

☆ A lost 22-page transcript discovered at the National Archives reveals the secret history of how Abraham Lincoln pardoned Joe Biden's ancestor
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Alex Nicoll | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. The shouting match turned physical, and eventually, Robinette injured Alexander with his pocketknife, according to the Post. After a senator from the recently formed state of West Virginia took up the case, Lincoln pardoned Biden's ancestor on September 1, 1864. The area, now in West Virginia, was full of Union supporters and became a key early battleground of the war. He went on to spend one month in the military prison at Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas, near Key West, Florida, before Lincoln pardoned him.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln, Biden, Lincoln, Biden's, Moses J, Robinette, John J, Alexander, David Gerleman, he'd, Jane Organizations: Service, Union Army, Washington Post, Post, Business, Army, Potomac, Department, George Mason University, National Archives, Union Locations: splintering, Lincoln, Florida, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Washington ,, Grafton , Virginia, Allegany County , Maryland, Rappahannock, Fort, Key West , Florida

☆ The Death of Snow in America; Winters Are Getting Permanently Warmer
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Alexandria Herr | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

These bands of snow just completely have missed Hayward," Shawn Connelly, the Birkebeiner Ski Foundation's marketing and communications director, said. The climate crisis is altering our winters forever — making them warmer, shorter, and less predictable. "I could not have envisioned a scenario where we could not make snow or we had no snow in January. Peter McClellandWith warmer weather eating into the peak of the season, it's getting harder and harder to sustain a winter-based business. If we get low snow, we're going to find that snow and use it as best we can to get out there."

Persons: Jocie Nelson, Nelson, Hayward, Shawn Connelly, Alexander Gottlieb, Justin Mankin, Snowpack, Gottlieb, we're, Claire Wilson, couldn't, Wilson, It's, Peter McClelland, McClelland, we've, Glenn Albrecht, —, Alexander Lee, it's, Kate Nordstrum, Nordstrum, Connelly, Alexandria Herr Organizations: Office, Northern, Nelson, Loppet Foundation, Alaska Pacific University, Loppet Locations: Minnesota, Hayward , Wisconsin, Midwest, Minneapolis, Minnesota's, Southwest, New York City, Great, Alexandria, Brooklyn

It was the winter of 2021 when Philbert Shorty’s family found his abandoned car stuck in the mud outside the small community of Tsaile near the Arizona-New Mexico state line. Generations of unaddressed trauma combine with substance abuse to create a dangerous recipe that often ends in violence, and law enforcement resources and social support programs are too sparse to offer much help. Like others, Shorty's family now knows the suffering will linger despite the increased emphasis on solving such crimes. Her group has conducted dozens of individual searches, and she has helped to build bridges between families and law enforcement to help families avoid feeling like their cases are falling through cracks. “Even if (law enforcement) would just talk to the families, say, `We don’t have anything yet but we’re still working on it,' it would help," she said.

Persons: Philbert, Ben Shorty, “, ”, he’d, Shiloh Aaron Oldrock, Oldrock's, Oldrock, Donald Trump, Deb Haaland, Biden, New Mexico Alexander Uballez, Shorty, ” Uballez, Uballez, Department's, ” Ben Shorty, Philbert Shorty, That's, couldn't, Darlene Gomez, Beyale, ‘, Erwin Beach, Beach, ” Beyale, I've, They're, ___ Sonner, Susan Montoya Bryan Organizations: Interior Department, Attorney, District, U.S ., Navajo Nation, FBI, Associated Press, Navajo, ’, AP Locations: Tsaile, Arizona, New Mexico, Navajo, , North Dakota, Indian Country, United States, Canada, U.S, Albuquerque, Farmington , New Mexico, Oldrock, Beach, Reno , Nevada, Albuquerque , New Mexico

☆ Russia's war in Ukraine is igniting an old debate in Brussels over debt
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Munich, GERMANY — Should we borrow from global markets as one combined entity and raise new debt together? That's the question hanging on the shoulders of EU officials as they promise to spend more on defense amid Russia's onslaught in Ukraine. However, in 2020, the 27 members of the European Union decided that the best way to deal with the financial and extraordinary impact of the Covid-19 pandemic was to jointly raise debt. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said in an interview with Bloomberg that joint bonds would be a good way to boost the bloc's defense capacities. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was also very clear he would not support joint debt at the EU level.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Olaf Scholz, GERMANY —, Alexander de Croo, Kaja Kallas, Christian Lindner, Lindner, Mark Rutte Organizations: European Union, CNBC, Munich Security Conference, Estonian, Bloomberg, Munich Security, Dutch, EU, MSC Locations: Paris, France, Munich, GERMANY, Ukraine, Belgium, Brussels, Russia

☆ NBA All-Star Game: Record point total in controversial as the East defeats the West, 211-186
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“We found out and went after it.”This year’s All-Star Game also saw the return of the traditional East vs. West format. The East was led by 39 points from Lillard, who capped off a highly successful weekend by being named All-Star Game MVP, after retaining his title in the Three-Point Contest earlier on Sunday. Some of his makes during the showcase game were from well beyond the arc. The All-Star Game is a showcase above all, but the wild point totals and lackadaisical defensive efforts have started to frustrate viewers. “Hopefully, as years go on, [the All-Star Game] gets back to being what the fans wanna see … I guess guys are trying to figure out how to play hard and be safe at the same time,” Brown said postgame.

Persons: CNN —, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokić, Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, “, Leonard, ”, Star Durant, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Haliburton, Stacy Revere, Karl, Anthony Towns, Shai Gilgeous, Alexander –, –, — shannon sharpe, Elam, Mychal Thompson, Klay Thompson, Adam Silver, ” Brown, Durant, Silver Organizations: CNN, Eastern Conference, Western, NBA, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Kobe Bryant All, Getty Images Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Defense, Golden State Warriors, Eastern Locations: Lillard, @ShannonSharpe

☆ Belarus Prepares Law Against 'LGBT Propaganda', State Media Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Belarus has prepared a draft law punishing the "promotion of non-traditional relationships," referring to LGBT relationships, Belarusian state news agency Belta reported on Monday. The draft law is undergoing an approval procedure, he said. An anti-gay propaganda law has been on the books in neighbouring Russia since 2013 and has effectively outlawed any public expression of the behaviour or lifestyle of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals or transgender people. Photos You Should See View All 33 ImagesHomosexuality was decriminalised in Belarus in 1994, but the country does not recognise same-sex marriages and authorities have cracked down on LGBT pride parades. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has publicly mocked LGBT people, calling gay men "perverts" and "the ultimate abomination" in a speech to politicians last year.

Persons: Belta, Andrei Shved, Alexander Lukashenko, Lukashenko, Vladimir Putin's staunchest, Lucy Papachristou, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Reuters, LGBT Locations: Belarus, Russia

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