DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ 125 House Republicans — including Speaker Mike Johnson — back a 'life at conception' bill without any IVF exception
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

IVF treatments have been halted in Alabama after a ruling declared frozen embryos to be human life. Most House Republicans back a bill making a similar argument — with no IVF exception. Most House Republicans have cosponsored a bill declaring that life begins from the moment of conception, a position under increased scrutiny after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are "unborn children." This Congress, 125 House Republicans — including Speaker Mike Johnson — have cosponsored the "Life at Conception Act," which states that the term "human being" includes "all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual member of the human species comes into being." AdvertisementSome House Republicans in swing seats who have previously cosponsored the Life at Conception Act have done the same, including current cosponsor Reps. Michelle Steel of California and past cosponsor David Schweikert of Arizona.

Persons: Mike Johnson —, Republican Sen, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Alexander Mooney, Johnson, Michelle Steel, cosponsor David Schweikert, David Schweikert, Courtney Rice, Nancy Mace, Axios Organizations: Republicans, Alabama, Conception, Republican, GOP, —, Democratic Congressional, PAC, House Democrats, Democratic Locations: Alabama, California, Arizona, South Carolina

☆ Walmart shrunk by at least 101 locations last year — a smart move for what's next
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Walmart quietly reduced its store count in 2023 even though the company was doing really well. In addition to closing underperforming stores, the retailer sold at least 79 small-format locations. Given what Walmart has planned for the next few years, the move away from smaller locations makes sense. "Walmart has always struggled with smaller stores," Saunders said. In addition to new stores, many existing locations are being upgraded to Walmart's "store of the future" concept, including 650 projects this year.

Persons: —, spokespeople, Doug McMillon, Scot Ciccarelli, Ciccarelli, Neil Saunders, Saunders, it's, Walmart's Organizations: Walmart, Service, BI, Goods, Truist Securities

☆ Credit card users can save over $400 a year by switching issuers, CFPB says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Olga Rolenko | Moment | Getty ImagesCard balances and total debt at are all-time highsThe agency's findings come as average credit card balances and total credit card debt hit all-time highs at the end of 2023. The average credit card interest rate for all accountholders was more than 21% in November, also a record, according to Federal Reserve data. The federal agency's analysis defines large lenders as the nation's 25 biggest, and small lenders as all others in its sample. Credit scores didn't impact findingsThe CFPB's new interest-rate findings are consistent regardless of a consumer's credit score, it said. Why interest rates may not matter for some usersThe CFPB report doesn't necessarily offer a complete picture of the credit card market, Rossman said.

Persons: Olga Rolenko, spokespeople, Lindsey Johnson, CFPB, Ted Rossman, Rossman, cardholders, Bankrate, Rohit Chopra Organizations: Federal Reserve, Consumer Bankers Association, American Bankers Association, —

ET Jesus Jiménez andA celebration of the Kansas City football team’s Super Bowl victory was marred when several people were shot near the city’s Union Station on Wednesday afternoon, killing at least one, the police said. Two armed people were detained, the Kansas City Police Department said in a statement. Here’s what else to know: The parade began around 11 a.m. and ended with a rally in front of Union Station, an Amtrak hub and tourist spot in downtown Kansas City, Mo. Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City quarterback who led his team to victory on Sunday, said that he was “praying for Kansas City” on social media. Gun violence has been falling in some parts of the country, but Kansas City saw a record number of homicides in 2023.

Persons: Jiménez, Stacey Graves, ”, Keith King, Laurel Gifford, Laura Kelly of Kansas, Mike Parson of Missouri, Patrick Mahomes Organizations: Kansas City football team’s, Kansas City Police Department, Station, Amtrak, University Health, Truman Medical, Saint Luke’s, Gov, Kansas City Locations: city’s, Kansas City, Mo, Kansas, Missouri

☆ AI could disrupt the 2024 US presidential election. What’s Congress doing about it?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

But with just nine months until Americans head to the ballot box, there are few signs Congress is ready to pass any meaningful legislation on AI. Alex Wong/Getty ImagesSchumer has previously said that with the election nearing, he may seek to fast-track a bill that focuses specifically on AI and election security. Nothing looks likely to move.”Initial momentum on AI regulationFor months, Congress has focused on getting up to speed on the basics of AI. Still other ideas would require “high-risk” AI models to register for a government license, or create a dedicated new federal agency to oversee AI. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testifies before a Senate Judiciary Privacy, Technology & the Law Subcommittee hearing titled 'Oversight of A.I.

Persons: Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, “, Schumer, Sen, Todd Young, Martin Heinrich, Michael Rounds, Alex Wong, New Mexico Democratic Sen, South Dakota Republican Sen, Mike Rounds, Indiana Republican Sen, didn’t, Paul Gallant, Cowen, ”, Gallant, we’re, Sam Altman, Altman, Heinrich, Rounds, Young, Julia Nikhinson, Sundar Pichai, Jensen Huang, Mike Johnson, Marcus Molinaro, Johnson, Drake, Tom Hanks, Tennessee Republican Sen, Marsha Blackburn, Hakeem Jeffries, Don Beyer, it’ll, Alan Davidson, Biden, Elizabeth Frantz, ” Davidson, —, Sarah Myers West Organizations: Washington CNN, mayoral, U.S, Senate, Capitol, Artificial Intelligence, “, CNN, New, New Mexico Democratic, South Dakota Republican, Indiana Republican, Cowen Inc, United, International Atomic Energy Agency, Intelligence, Reuters, Google, Nvidia, New York Republican, The Washington Post, Commerce, Tennessee Republican, ITI, Virginia Democratic Rep, State of, Republican, House Energy, European Union, EU, Congress, Commerce Department, White House, Privacy, Technology, Democrats, Federal Trade Commission Locations: Washington ,, New Mexico, South, Washington , U.S, Washington

☆ House Republicans prepare to vote again on Mayorkas impeachment, bolstered by return of Scalise
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas holds a press conference at a U.S. Border Patrol station on January 08, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas. House Republicans are preparing to take another stab at impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a week after the same effort failed in an embarrassment for Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. This time around, Republicans are confident they will have the majority vote to impeach now that House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., has returned to Washington after cancer treatment, which prevented him from breaking last week's 215-215 tie. If Republicans eke out a majority vote against Mayorkas, he would become only the second cabinet member in U.S. history to be impeached. The White House has supported Mayorkas, condemning the impeachment effort as a political distraction by Republicans, who refused $20 billion of border security funding in a bipartisan Senate deal last week.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Mike Johnson, Steve Scalise, Tom Emmer, Ken Buck, Ken Buck of Colorado, Mike Gallagher, Tom McClintock of, Gallagher, Buck, spokespeople, McClintock, George Santos, Tom Suozzi, eke, Mayorkas, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Karine Jean, Pierre Organizations: Department of Homeland, U.S . Border Patrol, House Republicans, Homeland, Republican, Capitol, GOP House, CNBC, Democratic, Mayorkas, Rep, Press, House Press Locations: U.S, Eagle Pass , Texas, Washington, Ken Buck of, Wisconsin, Tom McClintock of California, New York, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia

☆ Joe Biden is looking for ways to get his message to break through. He’s hoping his Cabinet can play a key role.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Betsy Klein | Camila Dechalus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Nevertheless, the Biden White House and legal team has taken pains to ensure compliance – an effort to highlight its commitment to ethics and draw a sharp contrast with Trump, who skirted the rule with abandon. And the Biden White House has issued “extensive guidance to and conducts trainings for agencies” on the Hatch Act and how to avoid potential missteps, the official said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, for instance, delivered a speech to the Republican National Convention while on official travel in Jerusalem. “Voters of color can see themselves in leaders like Secretary Cardona, Secretary Fudge, and (EPA) Administrator (Michael) Regan. President Biden was intentional about assembling a Cabinet that reflects the diversity of America, and we continue to see how that diversity translates into real political strength,” he told CNN.

Persons: Washington CNN — Janet Yellen isn’t, Joe Biden’s, Biden, SSRS –, Donald Trump, Trump, ”, Yellen, Robert Hur’s, Pete Buttigieg, Gina Raimondo, Jennifer Granholm, Miguel Cardona, they’ve, “, Biden’s, they’re, Jeff Zients, “ Biden, ” Caitlin Legacki, Granholm, Buttigieg, Raimondo, “ We’re, ” Buttigieg, That’s, Mike Pompeo, Biden White, – you’ve, ” Legacki, Julie Su, Isabel Casillas Guzman, Marcia Fudge –, –, Marjory Stoneman, Gevin Reynolds, Kamala Harris, Secretary Cardona, Fudge, Michael, Regan, Young, Tom Vilsack Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Economic, of Chicago, Midwest, Treasury, White, Transportation, Democratic, GOP, Cabinet, Biden White, Republican National Convention, Coalition, SSRS, Biden, Trump, Labor, Democrats, Small, Urban, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Palmetto State’s, Education, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, “ Locations: Yellen, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Michigan, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee , Louisiana , California, Delaware, New York, Jerusalem, American, Pacific Islander, Nevada, South Carolina, Iowa

☆ Aldi is the latest grocery store to use a rival version of Amazon's Just Walk Out tech
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Aldi is reportedly testing checkout technology similar to Amazon's Just Walk Out at a store. The technology, from startup Grabango, has been used at a Chicago-area Aldi store since November. AdvertisementAldi is the latest retailer to add in-store technology that functions like Amazon's Just Walk Out checkout system. Like Amazon's Just Walk Out, Grabango's technology allows customers to download an app on their phone and add their credit card information. AdvertisementHave you visited the Aldi store in Aurora and have a story idea or insight to share?

Persons: — Organizations: Aldi, Retailers, Service, Amazon, Foods, Grabango, Business Locations: Chicago, Aurora , Illinois, Aldi's, North Carolina, Aurora

WASHINGTON (AP) — Israeli forces detained two young adult American brothers and their Canadian father in in Gaza in an overnight raid on their home in the besieged Palestinian territory, relatives of the men said. The two American brothers, their Canadian citizen father, a mentally disabled uncle and two other adult male relatives were taken away by the Israelis, and remain missing, Elagha said. State Department spokespeople in Washington had no immediate comment on the reported detention of the American brothers. The Alagha brothers' family says they are among those who have been unable to get their names on the exit lists. In the occupied West Bank, meanwhile, a 46-year-old Palestinian American woman, Samaher Esmail, was taken from her home on Monday and detained.

Persons: Borak Alagha, Hashem Alagha, Cousin Yasmeen Elagha, Khan Younis, Elagha, Antony Blinken, Israel, Samaher Esmail Organizations: WASHINGTON, Embassy, Northwestern University, Department, Hamas, State Department, West Bank Locations: Gaza, Palestinian, U.S, Jerusalem, Washington, Chicago, Israel, Khan, a.m, Egypt

☆ New sports streaming bundle could be a 'monster' — or a dud. Here are the biggest remaining questions
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

The service will launch this fall and cater to sports fans who don't subscribe to the traditional cable bundle. One person associated with the launch of the new venture told CNBC the platform will be "a monster" and massively disrupt cable TV. Cable TV has been relegated to an add-on that helps keep people subscribing to high-speed internet. The cable bundle has largely survived because it still contains exclusive live news and sports. Previously, the only way for cord cutters to get ESPN outside the cable bundle would have been that coming service.

Persons: LeBron James, Jevone Moore, it's, Lachlan Murdoch, NBC's Peacock, Bob Iger, Rich Greenfield, Max, David Zaslav's, There's, David Zaslav, Lightshed's Rich Greenfield Organizations: Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, Los Angeles Clippers, Crypto.com Arena, Warner Bros . Discovery, Fox, Disney's ESPN, Comcast, DirecTV, CNBC, YouTube, Charter, Cable, Verizon, Mobile, Satellite, Google, Hulu, Live, Disney, Warner Bros, NBC, CBS, National Football League, Paramount, ESPN, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, Wall Street, Financial Times, TNT, TBS, HGTV, Discovery, Paramount Global Locations: Los Angeles

WASHINGTON — The Biden campaign has zeroed in on a likely date and location for a fundraiser with three Democratic presidents — Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton — according to three people familiar with the planning. The fundraiser is expected to take place on March 28 in New York City, possibly at Radio City Music Hall, these people said. A spokesperson for the Biden campaign said no details have been finalized, including venue or location. NBC News first reported last month that the Biden campaign was trying to organize a fundraiser with the current president and his two most recent Democratic predecessors. Obama and Clinton also remain popular leaders in the Democratic Party.

Persons: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, Robert Byrd, Charleston , West Virginia . WASHINGTON —, — Joe Biden, Bill Clinton —, Spokespeople, Clinton, Biden, Obama Organizations: West Virginia State Capitol, Charleston , West Virginia ., Biden, Radio City Music Hall, Obama, NBC News, Democratic, Democratic Party Locations: Charleston , West Virginia, Charleston , West Virginia . WASHINGTON, New York City

☆ Why Shari Redstone is trying to sell Paramount — and why she needs the right deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

When Redstone's father, Sumner Redstone, the founder of National Amusements, died in 2020, Shari Redstone inherited his shares. Paramount Global has a market capitalization of nearly $10 billion and about $13 billion of net debt. If she agrees to sell either National Amusements or all of Paramount Global, she'll need buy in from other investors. Talks are further along with Redstone regarding NAI than they are with Paramount Global, two of the people said. Paramount Global charges $5.99 per month for Paramount+ with advertising.

Persons: Shari Redstone, Mike Blake, it's, David Ellison, Byron Allen, SpongeBob, I'm, National Amusements Shari Redstone, Brendan Mcdermid, Redstone's, Sumner Redstone, Shari, John Malone, Bob Bakish, It's, Banker Byron Trott, Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, Skydance, Spokespeople, There's, CNBC's David Faber, Bakish, Jim Cramer Organizations: National Amusements, WSJ Tech, Reuters Paramount Global, Paramount, Paramount Global, Skydance Media, Paramount Pictures, CBS, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, Hollywood, Allen, Co, Sun, Reuters, Amusements Inc, National, Warner Bros, Discovery, CNBC, Comcast, NBCUniversal, Paramount Global's, Amusements, U.S, Disney, Charter, CNBC Paramount Global, Viacom Locations: Laguna Beach , California, Israel, Sun Valley , Idaho, Wells Fargo, America, Berkshire, NAI, Skydance, U.S

☆ The Federal Reserve is fed up with data revisions
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said large revisions in data are tainting his assessments of how the economy is doing. Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesThat’s well above the average month-over-month revised change in job totals from 1973 to the latest available revision data, according to the BLS. The official summary of what Fed officials said and discussed during their September meeting — also known as the Fed minutes — stated: “A few participants observed that there were challenges in assessing the state of the economy because some data continued to be volatile and subject to large revisions.”Spokespeople from the Federal Reserve declined to answer which data Fed officials were referring to. Frequent and large revisions to economic data are weighing on Federal Reserve decision-making, Governor Michelle Bowman said. “We want to be data dependent, but not data point dependent,” Williams said.

Persons: Christopher Waller, Waller, it’s, Al Drago, ” Waller, ”, Michelle Bowman, —, Spokespeople, he’s, don’t, Erica Groshen, David Wilcox, Laura Kelter, Kelter, Groshen, Wilcox, John Williams, ” Williams, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN — Federal Reserve, ”, of Labor Statistics, BLS, Federal, Bloomberg, Getty, Fed, Ohio Bankers League, Federal Reserve, Commerce Department, Department, Census, Labor, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Employment, CNN, Wilcox . New York Fed Locations: New York, Wilcox . New

The idea is for three Democratic presidents — Biden, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama — to appear together at a fundraiser this spring, the four people familiar with the discussions said. The Biden campaign did not respond to requests for comment. The Biden campaign in recent days shifted into a general election posture — earlier than the president's aides anticipated. The Biden campaign also is poised to launch a multi-million-dollar ad campaign aimed at drawing a contrast with Trump, according to two people familiar with the plans. But the Biden campaign also hopes the presidential trio will help mobilize the party base.

Persons: Joe Biden, Barack Obama, John Fetterman, Josh Shapiro, Joe Biden's, — Biden, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama —, It's, Biden, Spokespeople, Clinton, Obama, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Trump Organizations: Democratic U.S, Democratic, WASHINGTON, Biden, Republican, White, GOP, White House Locations: Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, U.S, New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina, Nevada, Biden's State

☆ ‘The enemy is amassing forces, they assault every day.’ Ukrainian army officials give unvarnished account of the battlefield
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Andrew Carey | Maria Kostenko | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Earlier this week, Ukraine announced it had withdrawn its forces from the village of Krokhmalne to take up more advantageous defensive positions on higher ground. Reports suggest Russian forces continue to press in the area. A readout from the Army General Staff on its Facebook page said Ukrainian forces had faced down 13 attacks on the settlements of Tabaiivka and Stelmakhivka, to the northwest and south, respectively, of Krokhmalne. A Ukrainian serviceman prepares 155-mm artillery shells near the front line in Zaporizhzhia, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, on January 14, 2024. ReutersFurther southeast, the area around Bakhmut, which was the overwhelming focus of Russia’s winter offensive exactly a year ago, Ukrainian forces also report coming under increased pressure.

Persons: spokespeople, Sergeant Oles Maliarevych, …, Oleksandr Shtupun, “ Organizations: CNN, Russian, Army, Staff, Land Forces Command, Ukrainian, Reuters, 92nd Separate Brigade Locations: Kharkiv, Luhansk, Ukraine, Krokhmalne, Tabaiivka, Ukrainian, Zaporizhzhia, Bakhmut, Klishchiivka, Kyiv, Orikhiv, Tokmak, Crimea, Russia

☆ Domino's pizza is the latest American product facing backlash in Asia amid the Middle East turmoil, exec says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewDomino's Pizza is the latest American brand to face blowback as some consumers change their buying habits in light of Israel's invasion of Gaza. Domino's Pizza Enterprises, a franchisee of the US company that operates Domino's restaurants in Australia, Europe, and Asia, said same-store sales in Asia fell an estimated 8.9% in the second half of 2023. Domino's Pizza Enterprises also operates in countries including Singapore, Japan and Taiwan. Spokespeople for Domino's Pizza Enterprises and Procter & Gamble did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for additional comment. In an investor presentation last month, Unilever CEO Hein Schumacher said that some of its brands in Indonesia have been affected by "the wars in the Middle East."

Persons: —, America —, Donald Meij, Domino's, Gamble, McDonald's hasn't, Ian Borden, Borden, Hein Schumacher Organizations: Service, Business, Pizza Enterprises, Enterprises, Palestine, CNN, Israel, Procter & Gamble, Bloomberg, Starbucks, Domino's Pizza Enterprises, Procter, Reuters, Unilever Locations: Gaza, Australia, Europe, Asia, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, Israel, Indonesia, Pakistan, pushback, Egypt, Jordan, London

☆ WWE boss Vince McMahon accused of sexual assault and trafficking in new lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Vince McMahon attends a press conference at MetLife Stadium on February 16, 2012 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. WWE boss Vince McMahon was accused Thursday of sexual assault, trafficking, and physical and emotional abuse in a lawsuit by a woman who previously worked for the pro wrestling giant. The suit says McMahon only paid her $1 million, "but failed to make any further payments." In addition to McMahon, the suit names WWE and John Laurinaitis, the former head of talent relations and general manager, as defendants. McMahon's lawyer, and spokespeople for the WWE and TKO did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Persons: Vince McMahon, Janel Grant, McMahon, Grant, John Laurinaitis Organizations: MetLife, WWE, Connecticut federal, UFC, TKO, Holdings Locations: East Rutherford , New Jersey, Connecticut

NEW YORK (AP) — Journalists at The New York Daily News and Forbes walked off the job Thursday amid contentious contract talks with management and a difficult few weeks in the news industry. The one-day strike at the Daily News coincides with Forbes walkout, which runs through Monday. The labor union's actions come at a tumultuous time for media outlets, an increasing number of which are owned by billionaires. This week, Time magazine and Condé Nast, the publisher of Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ and other marquee magazines, both announced significant job cuts. Forbes spokesperson Laura Brusca said the company is “working diligently” to reach a contract with the union.

Persons: “ Alden, Condé Nast, Jeff Bezos, Alden Global, Michael Gartland, they’re, “, Andrea Murphy, ”, didn’t, Laura Brusca, ” Murphy Organizations: — Journalists, The New York Daily News, Forbes, Daily, Daily News, Strikers, York, Vogue, GQ, Condé Nast, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Amazon, Sports, Alden Global Capital, Alden, The Daily News Locations: New York, Manhattan

☆ John Fetterman and Joe Manchin decline to back resolution supporting a 2-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewOn Wednesday, Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii released an amendment to a forthcoming national security bill that affirms US support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. "What will determine the future of Israel and Palestine is whether or not there's hope," Schatz told reporters on Wednesday. "And the two-state solution has to be that hope." It comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel's security needs were "irreconcilable with a Palestinian state." "My insistence is what has prevented — over the years — the establishment of a Palestinian state that would have constituted an existential danger to Israel," Netanyahu later said.

Persons: —, Democratic Sen, Brian Schatz, Schatz, John Fetterman of, Joe Manchin, Manchin, Fetterman, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu Organizations: Service, Democratic, Hawaii, Business, Democratic Party —, Mr, Hawaii Democrat, Republican, Republicans Locations: Israel, Palestine, Sens, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Palestinian, Ukraine, Hawaii

☆ David Ellison's Skydance Media explores acquiring all of Paramount Global, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

David Ellison's Skydance Media and its financial backers are exploring a deal to take private all of Paramount Global , people familiar with the matter told CNBC. It is unclear if Redstone would demand a different premium for selling National Amusements than the remaining shareholders of Paramount Global would obtain. Skydance isn't interested in a deal where it would only acquire National Amusements but not all of Paramount, said the people. Spokespeople for RedBird, Skydance, Paramount Global and National Amusements declined to comment. Discovery has also had preliminary discussions about acquiring Paramount Global, according to people familiar with the matter.

Persons: Shari Redstone, David Ellison's, Ellison, hasn't, Skydance, Larry Ellison, Skydance hasn't, Skydance isn't, Puck Organizations: National Amusements, CBS, Viacom, Media, Paramount Global, CNBC, Skydance, Paramount, RedBird Capital Partners, KKR, Netflix, YouTube, Apple, Oracle, MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, National, Warner Bros, Redstone, Discovery, Comcast, Street, Amusements, Bloomberg Locations: Laguna Beach , California, U.S

☆ Dollar store chains would be prohibited from opening stores within one mile of each other if a proposed Chicago law passes
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewChicago is the latest city to consider limiting the number of dollar stores. AdvertisementSome have followed the path of the Chicago proposal, enacting laws limiting the opening of new dollar stores. One community in Southern Michigan pushed back on a proposed Dollar General store but ultimately approved the store after the company sued. Dollar Tree and Dollar General have responded by opening more stores with space for produce and refrigerated foods. AdvertisementDo you work at a Dollar General, Dollar Tree, or Family Dollar store and have a story idea to share?

Persons: —, Matt O'Shea, O'Shea, Dollar Organizations: Service, Chicago City Council, Chicago Sun, Times, WTTW, Business, Fortune, Sun - Times, Consumer, Institute for Local Locations: Chicago, Stonecrest , Georgia, Southern Michigan

☆ How Republicans rail against government spending on TV — only to brag about its benefits back home
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But most of it came from a must-pass spending bill that he and other Republicans voted against. AdvertisementIt was late December 2022, and Republicans were furious about the 2023 omnibus spending bill, a sprawling piece of legislation designed to avert a government shutdown and keep federal spending flowing for the next 9 months. In the end, just 9 Republicans voted for it, only 2 of whom remain in Congress. Rep. Mike Garcia of California, a member of the House Appropriations Committee that oversees government spending, was among those Republicans. Yet almost all of the funding that Garcia touted in the mailer came from the omnibus spending bill that he made a show of voting against the previous December.

Persons: Mike Garcia, —, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kevin McCarthy, Mike Garcia of, Garcia, Kathy Norris, mailer, Sen, Tommy Tuberville, David Schweikert of, Maria Elvira Salazar, Spokespeople, Salazar, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez Organizations: Service, Republicans, Children's Hospital of Los, mailer, Industrial Association, College of, Canyons, Republican, Democratic, Department of Homeland Security Locations: Georgia, Mike Garcia of California, Los Angeles, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Lancaster, Alabama, David Schweikert of Arizona, Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida, Alexandria, Cortez of New York

☆ Switzerland Says Israeli President Subject of Criminal Complaints at Davos
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

GENEVA (Reuters) - Swiss prosecutors on Friday confirmed that Israeli President Isaac Herzog had been the subject of criminal complaints during his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, as Israel finds itself accused of committing war crimes in Gaza. "The criminal complaints will be examined according to the usual procedure," the Office of the Swiss Attorney General said, adding that it would contact the Swiss foreign ministry to examine the question of immunity of the individual concerned. The Office of the Swiss Attorney General would not disclose details on who had lodged the complaints. Spokespeople for Israel's government and foreign ministry did not immediately reply to requests for comment. (Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber in Geneva and Henriette Chacar in Jerusalem; Editing by Christina Fincher)

Persons: Isaac Herzog, General, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Henriette Chacar, Christina Fincher Organizations: Economic, Swiss Locations: GENEVA, Davos, Israel, Gaza, Swiss, Geneva, Jerusalem

☆ Hezbollah Rejected US Overtures, Still Open to Diplomacy to Avoid Wider War
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +9 min

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein has been leading a diplomatic outreach to restore security at the Israel-Lebanon frontier as the wider region teeters dangerously towards a major escalation of the conflict ignited by the Gaza war. Israel has also said it wants to avoid war, but both sides say they are ready to fight if necessary. Branded a terrorist organisation by Washington, Hezbollah has not been directly involved in talks, three Lebanese officials and a European diplomat said. Hezbollah has dismissed both ideas as unrealistic, the Lebanese officials and the diplomat said. Iran's foreign minister on Wednesday said attacks against Israel and its interests by the "Axis of Resistance" will stop if the Gaza war ends.

Persons: Laila Bassam, Maya Gebeily, Amos Hochstein, Hochstein, Israel, Spokespeople, Eylon Levy, Najib Mikati, Mikati, Hamas, Mohanad Hage Ali, Hage Ali, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Nasrallah, Gebeily, Dan Williams, Tom Perry, Steve Holland, Edtiing, Frank Jack Daniel Organizations: U.S, Yemen's, Reuters, Hezbollah, Lebanese, Iran's, Guards, Carnegie Middle East Center Locations: Maya, Maya Gebeily BEIRUT, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen's Iran, Red Sea, U.S, Lebanese, Beirut, Jan, Washington, European, Hochstein, United States, IRAN, Syria, Iraq, Tehran, France, Jerusalem

☆ 15 states mostly led by Republicans refuse federal funds to feed hungry children during the summer months
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Biden Administration has launched a permanent Summer EBT program to feed hungry children. AdvertisementFifteen states, all currently led by Republican governors, were notably absent from the Summer EBT announcement. AdvertisementIn Mississippi and Oklahoma, spokespersons from their respective health departments told BI their states have existing summer food assistance programs. A spokesperson from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare said there is a budget request in its state legislature to approve funding for the Summer EBT program in 2025. Some who declined to participate in the Summer EBT program, however, were more direct.

Persons: —, Tom Vilsack, John Bel Edwards, Jeff Landry, South Carolina –, Jim Pillen Organizations: Biden Administration, Republicans, Service, Administration, Republican, US Department of Agriculture, USDA, Former Louisiana Gov, Democrat, Republican Gov, Iowa Department of Health, Human Services, Idaho Department of Health, Welfare, Vermont Public Radio, Lincoln Journal Star Locations: Alabama, Alaska , Florida, Georgia , Idaho , Iowa, Louisiana , Mississippi , Nebraska , Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota , Texas , Vermont, Wyoming, Texas , Oklahoma , Louisiana , Mississippi, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Vermont, Nebraska

Search resuls for: "Spokespeople"

25 mentions found