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☆ Russia's showing NATO its hand in the air war over Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-13 | by ( Sinéad Baker | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +21 min

Experts told Business Insider the Ukraine war has underscored how some elements of modern air combat are radically changing. And in fights like Desert Storm and the Iraq War, the West established air superiority by taking out its opponent's air defenses. The Russian air force can't meet Western air forces air to air in a major attack without being "shot to pieces," Bronk said. "Nobody really wants an air war with Russia," said John Baum, a Mitchell Institute expert and retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel. "It is not a highly desirable thing, I think, from either side, to want to have this air war."

Persons: It's, Justin Bronk, hasn't, DIMITAR DILKOFF, Bronk, Andrew Curtis, Mark Cancian, Guy Snodgrass, Hoshang, Giorgio Di Mizio, David Allvin, it's, James Hecker, NATO hadn't, " Hecker, that's, Maxim Shemetov, Fabian Hinz, Riivo Valge, Mattias Eken, They're, Paula Bronstein, Anthony Sweeney, US Army Cancian, REUTERS Lockheed Martin, Timothy Wright, disaggregation, Schmuelgen Jarmo Lindberg, Evelyn Hockstein Valge, John Baum Organizations: Kyiv, NATO, Business, Royal United Services Institute, Western, Getty, US Air Force, Storm, Marine, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Russian Defense Ministry Press, AP Russia, AP, Hudson Institute nonresident, International Institute for Strategic Studies, REUTERS, RAND Corp, Patriots, US Army, West, Patriot, Ukraine, REUTERS Lockheed, Finnish Defense Forces, Eurofighter Typhoons, Mitchell Institute Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Russian, AFP, Iraq, Europe, West, Afghanistan, Baltic, Western Europe, Estonian, Finnish, Finland, Washington

☆ South Korea to mass produce lasers that can take out drones at $1.50 a hit
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Yoonjung Seo | Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —South Korea is beginning the mass production of a low-cost laser weapon that has successfully shot down small drones during testing, the country’s key arms agency said Thursday. The release did not give a cost for the weapon, but said each shot fired would only cost about $1.50. In Ukraine, the Middle East and elsewhere, small drones - some available off the shelf - have shown the ability to disable or destroy multimillion-dollar pieces of military hardware, including tanks. The agency said South Korea is the first country to publicly acknowledge it will deploy a mass-produced laser weapon. In 2022, the US Navy successfully tested a high-energy laser system against a target representing a cruise missile.

Persons: DAPA, ” James Black, ” Organizations: South Korea CNN, Korea’s, Administration, RAND, Korea Institute for Defense, Hanwha Aerospace, US Navy Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Ukraine, RAND Europe, Britain

☆ A European rival to HIMARS takes shape
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-07 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Europe is building a multiple rocket launcher that resembles America's HIMARS, the ground-fired weapon that took on the precision strike missions that Ukraine's battered air force couldn't. Many, such as France's LRU and Germany's MARS 2, are based on the U.S. M270, a tracked mobile rocket launcher, and its Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System rockets. One HIMARS launcher can carry six GMLRS rockets or one longer-range ATACMS ballistic missile. HIMARS rockets destroyed Russian ammunition depots and headquarters, disrupting logistics and command and control, and spurring Russian forces to move vital facilities deeper behind their lines. Collectively, such trends are prompting some militaries to consider possible alternatives to the US HIMARS system, though certainly that remains a major player in this competition for contracts."

Persons: HIMARS, KNDS, EuroPULS, hasn't, Emely Gonzalez, What's, Elbit, Lockheed Martin, that's, Elbit's PULS, James Black, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Franco, Systems, Israel Defense Forces, High, Artillery, U.S ., US Marine Corps, HIMARS, Lockheed, Munitions, MARS, US Defense Department, RAND, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, HIMARS, Germany, Europe, Netherlands, Denmark, RAND Europe, Forbes

☆ North Korean troops could be sent to Ukraine due to their sheer numbers, not their effectiveness, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-07 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewSpeculation has been growing that North Korea could send troops to Ukraine. As of now, the prospect of North Korean soldiers being deployed to Ukraine is speculative and unlikely, experts told Business Insider. "Given what we know about nutrition in North Korea, even in the army, they might have issues," he told BI. But if it does, he added that North Korean soldiers may "simply" be helping rebuild a destroyed city like Mariupol. Bennett, from RAND, said he thinks it is "fairly likely" that North Korea will send troops to Ukraine, without elaborating further.

Persons: —, Pat Ryder, Edward Howell, John Hardie, Evans Revere, Albright, Revere, George W, Bush, Bruce Bennett, Kim Jong Un, Bennett, Kim, Wallace Gregson, Benjamin Young, Young, Guns, Hardie, Howell Organizations: Service, South Korea's, Chosun, Korean, Business, Pentagon, Military Commission, Institute, North, Korea, Chatham, Programme, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Korean People's Army, Group, East, RAND, US Marine Corps, Pacific Security Affairs, Chatham House, Virginia Commonwealth University, Great Locations: Korea, Ukraine, Russia, North Korea, South, Chatham House's Asia, Korean, East Asia, Pacific, South Korea, Koreans, Howell, Chatham, Europe, Mariupol

☆ Russia has forced the West to ramp up production of older weapons — even gear it wasn't making any more
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewRussia's invasion of Ukraine has resulted in a surge in demand, orders, and manufacturing of Western weaponry, including decades-old equipment and even gear that had gone out of production. The result is more orders and manufacturing, even of Western equipment where production had stopped. Its maker, Lockheed Martin, is increasing production as well as its production of the antitank missile system. Russia has also ramped up its wartime production, which could aid it in the future and not just against Ukraine. One solution would have been countries ramping up their orders and production earlier in the war, Di Mizio said.

Persons: —, it's, Jan Kallberg, hasn't, Lockheed Martin, Diehl, Timothy Wright, Mark Cancian, Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Klimentyev, Mattias Eken, Cancian, Diego Herrera Carcedo, Giorgio Di Mizio, Kallberg, Di Mizio Organizations: Service, Business, Manufacturing, Center for, Army Cyber Institute, US Army, Air Missile System, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Getty, IRIS, Patriot, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Financial Times, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Russia Western, Military, Sputnik, REUTERS, Ukraine, Russia, RAND Corporation, Anadolu Agency Locations: Ukraine, Russia, West, Norway, Europe, Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, France, Kremlin, REUTERS Russia

It was a one-time, lump-sum special separation benefit offered to service members when the U.S. had to reduce its active-duty force. Courtesy Vernon ReffittThousands have found themselves in Reffitt’s position due to a little-known law that prohibits veterans from receiving both disability and special separation pay. Under the law, the VA has to recoup special separation benefits from veterans before those eligible can begin receiving disability payments. Army veteran Daphne Young said she would not have taken the separation pay had she known. Under the law, veterans have a chance to pursue a waiver of their recoupment responsibilities for voluntary separation pay, but the standards are high.

Persons: Vernon Reffitt, Reffitt, Stephanie Rennane, Rennane, it’s, Daphne Young, Daphne Young Young, Young, Marquis Barefield, Barefield, Shane Collins, Collins, Ruben Gallego, Gallego, I’ve Organizations: Department of Veterans Affairs, RAND Corporation, NBC News, Army, Young, DAV, American Veterans, Veterans, recoupment, RAND, Marine, Marines, Pentagon, Defense Locations: U.S, Twin City , Georgia, Panama, Honduras, Germany, Columbus , Georgia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Twin Falls , Idaho, United States

☆ Russia's navy sought a safer spot, but is still at the mercy of Ukraine's drones and missiles, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-29 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The sea, which borders occupied southern Ukraine, is connected to the Black Sea via the Kerch Strait, and, crucially, Russia controls its coastline. AdvertisementUkraine's attacks have forced Russian warships to withdraw from Crimea and relocate to safer waters, where they have also come under attack. But this doesn't mean ships there will be safe from Ukraine's aerial drones and missiles, experts told BI. But he added that "Russia's warships in the Azov Sea are still at the mercy of Ukrainian missiles and aerial drones." AdvertisementMeanwhile, Russian "missiles can reach most of Ukraine from the Sea of Azov and ports along the Russian Black Sea coast," Clark said.

Persons: —, Dmitry Pletenchuk, Pletenchuk, Matthew Boyse, Basil Germond, Mark Temnycky, Scott Savitz, Bryan Clark, Clark, Steven Horrell, Igor Delanoë, Savitz Organizations: Service, Kyiv Independent, Business, Naval Forces of, Armed Forces of, Hudson Institute's Center, Lancaster University, Council's Eurasia Center, RAND, US Navy, Hudson Institute, Transatlantic Defense, Security, Center for Locations: Russian, Azov, Kyiv, Ukraine, Kerch, Russia, Crimea, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Europe, Eurasia, Ukrainian, Western

☆ China and Russia are in a bad marriage that the West shouldn't try to break up
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-29 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Already, Russia's military and China's People's Liberation Army have held around 25 joint exercises since 2005, involving ships, aircraft and ground troops. Equally important is that China has become a key enabler of Russia's war in Ukraine. Advertisement"Policymakers and planners should avoid overestimating the state of military cooperation and operational integration that exists between Russia and China," RAND warned. AdvertisementDespite boasting of their military ties, Russia and China don't have much faith in each other's military prowess. In their 2001 friendship treaty, China and Russia did agree to consult with each other should either nation be attacked.

Persons: Mladen Antonov, Russia's, Mark Cozad, Cozad, Hitler, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Communist, Business, NATO, RAND Corp, Liberation Army, British, RAND, PLA, People's, Army, Russian, Grand Alliance, Western Allies, Central, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Soviet Union, China, Beijing, Moscow, U.S, Russian, Europe, Taiwan, Ukraine, Russia, Britain, South Korea, America, Vietnam, Korea, Syria, West, Central Asia, United States, Forbes

☆ The Houthis are getting smarter with their Red Sea attacks, and the ships sailing these waters are paying the price
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-29 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

'A useful disguise' for the HouthisBetween December and March, Houthi attacks damaged at least 19 commercial ships, according to a June 13 report published by the Defense Intelligence Agency. US Central Command via AP, FileThe following weeks saw a decrease in the pace of successful Houthi attacks. AdvertisementYemen's Houthi group released a video showing an explosive-laden drone boat target a commercial vessel earlier this month. AdvertisementDouble taps and drone boatsBeyond the recent double-tap strikes, the Houthis' ability to learn from past attacks is visible in their drone boat operations. In this photo released by the French military, the MV Tutor sinks in the Red Sea after it was struck by a Houthi drone boat.

Persons: —, Archer Macy, Behshad, Houthis, Brian Carter, Ambrey, Carter, they're, des, they'll, Macy, they've, Alex Stark, John Kirby, Kirby, Yemen —, Dwight D, Theodore Roosevelt Carrier, Stark Organizations: Service, Business, US Navy, Defense Intelligence Agency, US military's Central Command, US, Command, AP, Military Times, American Enterprise, Houthi Media, Getty, des Armées, AP Experts, Center for Strategic, Studies ' Missile Defense, RAND Corporation, National Security, Eisenhower, Eisenhower Carrier Strike, Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group Locations: Gulf of Aden, Iran, Iranian, Yemen, Tehran, Israel, Gulf, Aden, Ukraine, Russian, Red, France, Sanaa

☆ US stockpiles of the rare earth minerals it would need to fight a war against an adversary like China are a mystery, and experts warn it's a problem
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Kelsey Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Part of the military's mission at home is to keep stockpiles of goods like critical minerals on hand for emergency wartime use. In the dark on the stockpileAlthough the name suggests otherwise, rare earth minerals are not exactly rare — in fact, they're relatively plentiful. The Biden administration began cutting American imports of Chinese rare earth minerals a few years ago in an effort to decrease US reliance on China for critical minerals. Submarines, fighter aircraft, magnets used in missiles, radar systems, and drones all require critical earth minerals for manufacturing. AdvertisementA past report for Congress on rare earth minerals for national defense, for instance, noted that a single Virginia-class submarine requires 9,200 pounds of rare earth minerals, while an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer requires 5,200 pounds.

Persons: —, Biden, Lockheed Martin, Gregory Wischer, Wischer, Arleigh Burke, Halsey, Sampson, Chris Williamson Fabian Villalobos, Locke Organizations: Service, Business, Pentagon, Lockheed, Getty, Gratia, Defense Logistics Agency, of, Department of Defense, Defense Industrial Strategy, . US, Pacific, DoD, Materials, Lynas, Joint Base, Hickam . US Navy, RAND Corporation, National Defense, NDS, Industrial Base Locations: China, Fort Worth, Virginia, Arabian, Japan, South Korea, United States, California, Lynas USA, Texas, Vermont, Hickam

☆ China employing 'gray zone tactics' at contested Second Thomas Shoal, Lowy Institute's Yaacob says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( Dylan Butts | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Chinese Coast Guard vessels fire water cannons towards a Philippine resupply vessel Unaizah May 4 on its way to a resupply mission at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, March 5, 2024. China said the United States must refrain from "stirring up trouble" or taking sides on the South China Sea issue, after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a security deal with the Manila extended to attacks on the Philippine coast guard. China is employing "gray zone tactics" against the Philippines at the contested Second Thomas Shoal reef, a move likely aimed at avoiding U.S. intervention in the region, according to Lowy Institute's Rahman Yaacob. Last week, Philippine officials said Chinese forces damaged the country's boats and injured several sailors near the Second Thomas Shoal — claimed by both Beijing and Manila — in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. Gray zone tactics refer to "coercive actions that are shy of armed conflict but beyond normal diplomatic, economic, and other activities," according to Rand Corporation.

Persons: Shoal, Antony Blinken, Lowy Institute's Rahman Yaacob, Thomas Shoal —, Yaacob Organizations: Guard, U.S, Manila —, Asia Program, Lowy Institute, Rand Corporation, Philippine Locations: Philippine, South China, China, United States, Manila, Philippines, Beijing, Spratly Islands, Yaacob, Asia, India

Meanwhile, Jefferies increased its price target on Ingersoll Rand. Nagel also lifted his price target by $10 to $120, which now suggests shares have upside of 25.6%. Analyst Jason Bednar kept his overweight rating on the dental health stock while slashing his price target by $45 to $330. — Alex Harring 5:56 a.m.: Jefferies raises Ingersoll Rand price target The outlook for Ingersoll Rand is looking brighter after a recent acquisition, according to Jefferies. Analyst Stephen Volkmann reiterated his buy rating on the industrial stock and raised his price target to $110 from $105.

Persons: D.A, Davidson, Jefferies, Ingersoll Rand, Oppenheimer, bullish, Brian Nagel, Nagel, — Alex Harring, Piper Sandler, Jason Bednar, Bednar, Howard Ma, Ma, Evercore ISI's Amit Daryanani, Stephen Volkmann, Fred Imbert, Rudy Kessinger, Kessinger, Palo, PANW, Alex Harring Organizations: CNBC, Palo Alto Networks, Nike, Technology, 2Q, Guggenheim, workloads, Jefferies, ILC, Palo, Network Security, Cloud Security, Security Locations: ILC Dover, Palo Alto, Palo

☆ ‘Only pirates do this’: Philippines accuses China of using bladed weapons in major South China Sea escalation
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Nectar Gan | Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Hong Kong CNN —The Philippines has accused China’s Coast Guard of launching a “brutal assault” with bladed weapons during a South China Sea clash earlier this week, a major escalation in a festering dispute that threatens to drag the United States into another global conflict. A Philippine Navy serviceman on the rubber boat lost his right thumb when the Chinese Coast Guard rammed it, Torres said. China’s Coast Guard also deployed tear gas, “blinding” strobe lights and continuously blared sirens, the AFP said. “The Chinese Coast Guard personnel had bladed weapons and our personnel fought with bare hands. This is the closest China’s Coast Guard has come to the BRP Sierra Madre, Koh noted.

Persons: Thomas Shoal, –, ” Collin Koh, ” Koh, “, ”, Alfonso Torres Jr, Torres, Romeo Brawner Jr, ” Brawner, Ferdinand “ Bongbong ” Marcos Jr, Marcos, Matthew Miller, Enrique A, Antony Blinken, ” Derek Grossman, Koh, they’re, Thomas, Washington “, ” “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Coast Guard, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Philippine, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, Philippine Navy, Armed Forces, Getty, Western Command, Chinese Coast Guard, China’s Coast Guard, Staff, Getty Images Mutual, South China, US State Department, Mutual Defense, RAND Corporation, China Coast Guard, Philippine personnel, Navy Special Operations Group, BRP, BRP Sierra Madre Locations: Hong Kong, Philippines, China, United States, Manila, Spratly, Philippine, Singapore, AFP, ’, China’s, South, States, US, Washington, South China, The Hague, Beijing, India, BRP Sierra, BRP Sierra Madre

In 2023, Texas led the nation in solar installations on its power grid, surpassing California for its second consecutive year. Explosive power demand poses a challenge to the Biden administration's goal of converting the U.S. power grid to 100% clean electricity by 2035. Nextracker is a leading U.S. solar firm, building systems that allow panels to track to the position of the sun, improving the efficiency of solar power plants. Shugar pointed to the massive number of renewable projects in the U.S. seeking connection to the power grid. But as energy demand increases, the value of each additional hour should rise, eventually making longer duration batteries more cost effective, he said.

Persons: Brandon Bell, Andrés Gluski, Joseph Rand, We've, Kelley, Wells, Goldman Sachs, Biden, Ryan Sweezey, Wood Mackenzie, Richard Kinder, Kinder Morgan, Kinder, Amin Nasser, Nasser, Shugar, Lawrence, Lazard, Nextracker's Shugar, Lawrence Berkeley, Amol Phadke, Rand, Sweezey, Reid Ramdathsingh, Ramdathsingh, Fluence, John Zahurancik, Zahurancik, it's, Zahuranick Organizations: Getty, Renewables, Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy, Big Tech, Microsoft, AES Corporation, Google, AES, Meta, UBS, Solar, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, U.S, Tech, North America, DOE, CNBC, University of California Berkeley's Goldman School of Public, Goldman School, Lawrence, Rystad Energy, Siemens Locations: Ector County , Texas, Texas, California, United States, U.S, Wells Fargo, Saudi, Houston, Lawrence Berkeley, Fluence's Americas

☆ Xi's claim that the US is trying to trick China into invading Taiwan is meant to divide the US and its allies: experts
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewXi Jinping's claim that the US is trying to trick China into invading Taiwan is aimed at driving a wedge between the US and its European allies, experts told Business Insider. But in addressing the issue with the EU leader, Xi was trying to counter the US narrative and undermine transatlantic relations, Scobell said. "Also, China knows that the EU is generally ambivalent about backing the United States in a war with China over Taiwan," he added. However, over the last few years, the mood in Washington, DC, has shifted toward greater hawkishness, Graeme Thompson, an analyst with the Eurasia Group, told Business Insider in November. Under its One China policy, the EU recognizes the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China.

Persons: —, Ursula von der Leyen, Xi, Andrew Scobell, Scobell, Craig Singleton, Singleton, Timothy Heath, von der Leyen, Graeme Thompson, Mike Pompeo, John Bolton Organizations: Service, European, Financial Times, Business, US Institute of Peace, BI, EU, Foundation, Defense of Democracies, Taiwan, RAND, Eurasia Group, Royal Services Institute Locations: China, Taiwan, Beijing, Ukraine, United States, Washington ,, People's Republic of China, EU, Taiwan Strait

☆ US announces major bust as efforts to crack down on Chinese money launderers working with drug cartels ratchet up
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

A US-based lawyer who has represented accused Chinese money launderers said the tempo of law enforcement operations against the alleged launderers has increased in recent weeks as federal agents close in on “bigger fish” among Chinese money launderers in the US. None of the federal law enforcement agencies involved in tracking Chinese money launderers agreed to be interviewed on the record. Grassley and Whitehouse have each introduced legislation they say is key to closing loopholes in US law that are actively exploited by the cartels’ money launderers. Elaborate networksRecent court documents illuminate how far-flung and elaborate US-based networks of alleged Chinese money launderers are. Mirror TransactionsExperts say the Chinese money launderers have mastered the art of so-called mirror transactions, which involve a series of deposits at multiple bank accounts to conceal the drug money.

Persons: ”, Anne Milgram, surveil, “, Don Im, Biden, HSI, Ricardo Mayoral, William Kimbell, ” Kimbell, launderers, —, Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, ” Whitehouse, Treasury Department —, Whitehouse, Christopher Wray, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Republican Sen, Charles Grassley, Enhua Fang, Li Pei Tan, Tan, Joe Habachy, Matthew Rothbeind, Fang, Chaojie Chen, Chen, Greg Hunter, ” David Luckey, JPMorgan Chase Organizations: CNN, Drug, Administration, Sinaloa Cartel, US Court, Central, Central District of, DEA, IRS, “, Centers for Disease Control, Federal, Homeland Security, Treasury, Treasury Department, Treasury’s, Network, Homeland Security Investigations, DHS, Financial Crimes, Rhode Island Democrat, intel, Department of Homeland Security, FBI, Senate, ” CNN, White, Office of National Drug Control, Service, Biden, Republican, Grassley, Rand Corporation, of, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, JPMorgan, Organization Locations: California, Mexican, China, Mexico, Los Angeles, Sinaloa, Central District, Central District of California, Colombia, America, Oregon, Virginia, South Carolina, Washington, DC, North, Central America, —, Iowa, North Carolina, Belize, Chinese, Georgia, Chicago, Tulsa, East Coast, Detroit , Chicago, Ohio, Western, of North Carolina, Wells Fargo

☆ One private equity firm controls more than a dozen of the biggest restaurant chains
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AdvertisementThere's a good chance that just one private equity firm owns one of your favorite restaurant chains. Over the last quarter-century, Roark Capital Group has bought up nearly 20 restaurant brands in the US. Its latest acquisition happened last year when it acquired Subway, which operates the most stores out of any restaurant chain in the US. AdvertisementThe private equity firm also has investments in The Cheesecake Factory, which is publicly traded, as well as midwestern burger chain Culver's. AdvertisementWhile Roark owns a lot of restaurant brands, it's hardly the only private equity player in the industry.

Persons: —, Carl's Jr, Dunkin, Tyler Le, Roark, Jimmy John's, Auntie Anne's, Howard Roark, Ayn, TriArtisan Organizations: Buffalo Wild Wings, Roark Capital Group, Service, Business, Roark Capital, Hooters, TriArtisan Capital, Bay Capital Locations: Subway, Arby's, Carl's, Atlanta, Ayn Rand's, Nestle, Mars

☆ Russian troops surrender to an elite brigade as the Kharkiv front holds, Ukraine says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-16 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewRussian soldiers have been surrendering to an elite Ukrainian combat brigade in the northern town of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region, reports say. A video released on Wednesday by Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade appears to show Russian troops emerging from a trench with their hands raised above their head or tied behind their backs. Several of the captured soldiers said they had been forced into the Russian army due to financial or legal trouble. An earlier video published on June 6 by Ukraine's 36th Marine Brigade, appeared to show two Russian soldiers, both wounded, being captured during a Ukrainian counterattack in Vovchansk. AdvertisementIn February, some 30,000 Russian troops began pouring over Ukraine's northern border into the Kharkiv region, opening up a new front for Ukraine's already-stretched defenses.

Persons: —, Nazar Voloshyn, Voloshyn, John Kirby, Putin, Ann Marie Dailey, Dailey Organizations: Service, Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade, Business, 3rd Assault Brigade, Khortitsiya, Command, Ukraine's 36th Marine Brigade, White House National Security Communications, RAND, Putin Locations: Ukrainian, Vovchansk, Kharkiv, Moscow, Ukraine's, Russian, Belgorod, Russia

☆ This one private equity firm owns over a dozen of your favorite restaurants
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AdvertisementThere's a good chance that just one private equity firm owns one of your favorite restaurant chains. Its latest acquisition happened last year when it acquired Subway, which operates the most stores out of any restaurant chain in the US. But Roark's holdings include other restaurants that you've probably visited before:Roark Capital owns almost 20 restaurant brands, from Carl's Jr. to Dunkin'. AdvertisementThe private equity firm also has investments in The Cheesecake Factory, which is publicly traded, as well as midwestern burger chain Culver's. AdvertisementWhile Roark owns a lot of restaurant brands, it's hardly the only private equity player in the industry.

☆ Ukraine's strikes on Crimean air defenses could end its role as a Russian military staging ground: experts
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewUkraine's sustained attacks against Russia's air defenses could make occupied Crimea untenable as a military staging ground, war analysts said. Ukraine has repeatedly hit Russia's air defenses in Crimea over the last few months, with attacks intensifying this week. AdvertisementAccording to reports, one Russian S-400 "Triumf" and two S-300 air-defense missile systems were targeted overnight on Sunday into Monday, with suggestions that Ukraine used US-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as ATACMS. AdvertisementForbes reached a similar conclusion on Wednesday, saying Russia's S-400 missile systems can't defend nearby Russian troops or even themselves. AdvertisementBut despite Ukraine's recent successes, its campaign of long-range air strikes won't be the silver bullet that ends Russia's occupation of Crimea, military experts told BI.

Persons: —, Ukraine's, Forbes, Russia's, Kyrylo Budanov, Keir Giles, Giles, they're, Matthew Savill, James Black, Putin Organizations: Service, Institute for, Business, Army Tactical Missile Systems, Staff of, Armed Forces, Chatham House's, Eurasia Programme, Royal United Services Institute, RAND Europe, Kremlin Locations: Crimea, Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Chatham House's Russia, Eurasia, Ukrainian

☆ South Africa’s governing alliance emerges as the new parliament convenes
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Reuters —The African National Congress has agreed to form a government of national unity for South Africa with three other parties including its largest rival, the pro-business Democratic Alliance, public broadcaster SABC reported on Friday. The SABC report came as the newly elected parliament was convening for the first time and lawmakers were in the process of being sworn in. The chamber will later elect its speaker, deputy speaker and the country’s president. SABC said the unity government would include the ANC, the DA, the socially conservative Inkatha Freedom Party and the right-wing Patriotic Alliance. The session was taking place in a Cape Town convention centre as the parliament complex was damaged by fire in 2022.

Persons: ”, Sihle Zikalala, John Steenhuisen, Cyril Ramaphosa, Raymond Zondo, Helen Zille, Ramaphosa, “, Jacob Zuma Organizations: Reuters, African National Congress, Democratic Alliance, SABC, ANC, DA, Freedom Party, Patriotic Alliance, National Assembly, Fighters, Party, IFP, The Patriotic Alliance, Capital Economics, EFF, MK, ”, Economics Locations: South Africa, Cape Town, London, policymaking

☆ Russia had a golden opportunity to open a new front in Ukraine but is squandering it, military experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Read previewRussia is fumbling a golden opportunity in Ukraine as its latest offensive stalls, experts told Business Insider. The monthslong Republican delay over a new tranche of US military aid had left Ukrainian forces desperately short of ammo and equipment. AdvertisementBut it's likely Putin had other goals — and he may have succeeded in some of them, Bury told BI. Even so, it looks like Russian forces were quickly overextended and poorly protected, The Telegraph reported. "The Kharkiv offensive, even if it wasn't what the Russians have hoped for, ultimately in many ways it served its purpose," said Reynolds.

Persons: —, John Kirby, Patrick Bury, Vladimir Putin, readying, Jake Epstein, Chasiv Yar, Putin, Ann Marie Dailey, it's, Bury, Rob Lee, Nick Reynolds, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Dailey, Putin's, Joe Biden —, Reynolds, Russia's Organizations: Service, White House National Security Communications, Business, UK's University of Bath, Republican, of Defence, BBC, Washington Post, RAND, Policy, Telegraph, Royal United Services Institute, for, Kyiv Post, Bury, Politico, Kharkiv, Russia's Kharkiv Locations: Ukraine, Kharkiv, Russia, Ukrainian, Vovchansk, Russian, Belgorod, Kyiv, Ukraine's, Sumy

☆ Dollar finds footing as traders turn to U.S. services data
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

US Dollar notes and euro coins are arranged for a photograph on Sept. 11, 2017. The dollar steadied on Wednesday as traders pared back on riskier bets in emerging markets while waiting on an interest rate decision in Canada and on U.S. services data. Japanese real wages fell for a 25th straight month in April, data on Wednesday showed, as inflation outpaces nominal pay rises. The Swiss franc rose for a fourth straight session on the dollar overnight and at 0.8902 per dollar is close to breaking through its 200-day moving average. The New Zealand dollar was steady at $0.6173, while the Canadian dollar held the middle of a months-long range at C$1.3678 per dollar.

Persons: Jane Foley, Ryozo Himino, Narendra Modi, Chris Weston Organizations: Swiss, Bloomberg News, Bank of, Rabobank, BOJ, Westpac, New Zealand, African National Congress, Morena Locations: Canada, U.S, Bank of Japan, Asia, Japan, Morena

☆ Hunter Biden trial puts America’s addiction crisis back into focus
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Josh Campbell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to charges of illegally purchasing and possessing a gun while abusing or being addicted to drugs, a violation of federal law. Another question probed whether potential jurors or their close associates had ever sought treatment for drug use. During their, at times, emotional answers, prospective juror after juror described how drug use had afflicted people they knew. About 42% of adults in the United States say they personally know at least one person who died from a drug overdose, according to survey findings published earlier this year by the nonprofit research institute RAND Corporation. In addition to illuminating the sheer number of Americans impacted by addiction, Hunter Biden’s trial is also creating critical awareness around the very language used to describe drug use.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Wilmington’s J, Caleb Boggs, “, ”, Scott Hadland, Hunter Biden’s, Andy Mendenhall, Bob Day, McPhillips, Marshall Cohen, Jacqueline Howard Organizations: Mental Health Services Administration, CNN, RAND Corporation, Children, Concern, Portland Police Locations: Delaware, United States, Oregon

☆ These 38 GOP senators just voted against protecting contraception. Here's why.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewThe Senate failed on Wednesday to advance a bill designed to protect access to contraceptives nationwide. Just two Republican senators — Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — voted with Democrats to advance the bill. Advertisement"Do people really think that even a significant minority of the Republican conference is against access to contraception?" AdvertisementBut still — if Republicans aren't against contraception, why won't they just vote for the bill? Glenn Youngkin of Virginia vetoed a bill to protect access to contraception, arguing that it violated principles of religious freedom.

Persons: —, — Susan Collins of, Lisa Murkowski, Alaska —, Chuck Schumer, Republican Sen, Thom Tillis, — Schumer, it's, Tillis, Griswold, Roe, Wade, Clarence Thomas, They've, James Lankford, Lankford, Sen, Rick Scott of, Glenn Youngkin, John Barrasso of, John Barrasso of Wyoming Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee John Boozman, Arkansas Ted Budd of, Carolina Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia Bill Cassidy, Louisiana John Cornyn, Texas Tom Cotton, Arkansas Kevin Cramer of, Arkansas Kevin Cramer of North Dakota Mike Crapo, Idaho Ted Cruz of, Idaho Ted Cruz of Texas Steve Daines, Montana Joni Ernst, Iowa Deb Fischer, Nebraska Chuck Grassley, Josh Hawley, Missouri John Hoeven of, Missouri John Hoeven of North Dakota Cindy Hyde, Smith, Mississippi Ron Johnson, Wisconsin James Lankford, Oklahoma Mike Lee, Utah Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming Roger Marshall of Kansas Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma Rand Paul of Kentucky Pete Ricketts, Nebraska Jim Risch, Idaho Mike Rounds, South Dakota Marco Rubio, Eric Schmitt, Missouri Rick Scott, Florida Tim Scott of, Florida Tim Scott of South Carolina John Thune of, Florida Tim Scott of South Carolina John Thune of South Dakota Thoms Tillis, North Carolina Tommy Tuberville, Alabama Roger Wicker, Mississippi Todd Young, Mike Braun, Indiana Katie Britt, Alabama Lindsey Graham of, Alabama Lindsey Graham of South Carolina Bill Hagerty, Tennessee John Kennedy, Louisiana Jerry Moran of, Louisiana Jerry Moran of Kansas Mitt Romney, Utah Dan Sullivan, Alaska JD Vance, Ted Budd Organizations: Service, Nine Republicans, Democratic, Republican, Business, Republicans, GOP, Oklahoma Republican, Democrats, Republican Gov, Arkansas Kevin Cramer of North, Nebraska, Kentucky, Oklahoma, South, Florida Tim Scott of South Carolina John Thune of South Dakota, North, Alabama Lindsey Graham of South Locations: — Susan Collins of Maine, Alaska, North Carolina, . Connecticut, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Rick Scott of Florida, Virginia, John Barrasso of Wyoming, Arkansas, West, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Idaho, Idaho Ted Cruz of Texas, Montana, Missouri, Missouri John Hoeven of North Dakota, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, Florida, Florida Tim Scott of South Carolina, Florida Tim Scott of South Carolina John Thune of South, Alabama, Indiana, Alabama Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana Jerry Moran of Kansas, Ohio

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