• Keir Starmer is poised to become the UK's next prime minister.
• He's had help opening up about his personal story from an unlikely source: Barack Obama.
• Experts say Obama could advise Starmer on handling Trump if he's reelected president.

Britons are heading to the polls, as the UK gears up for a radical change in leadership.

Polls are predicting a landslide win for the leftwing Labour Party, which would make its leader, Keir Starmer, prime minister and end 14 years of Conservative Party rule.

"Today Britain can begin a new chapter," Starmer said as voting began Thursday. "A new age of hope and opportunity after 14 years of chaos and decline."

But Starmer is often described as lacking charisma.

Jill Rutter, a research fellow at the London research group UK in a Changing Europe, told The New York Times he "does look relatively prime-ministerial," but added, "He's not going to set hearts racing."

Starmer entered politics relatively late, first being elected to the UK's House of Commons aged 52 in 2015. Before that, he was a lawyer who rose to become the chief prosecutor for England and Wales, where he had a big public profile but no need to ask the public for votes.

As a candidate for high office, Starmer has had no choice but to tell his back story. Since becoming Labour leader in 2020, he has stressed his humble roots, often describing how his father worked as a toolmaker and his mother a nurse while they raised their children in a "pebble-dash semi," a small home adjoining another property.

But Starmer has seemed, at times, ill at ease with the public display of emotion needed to tell his story, despite it being a political asset that offers a stark contrast with the current Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.

Sunak, a former Goldman Sachs banker, is married to Akshata Murty, the daughter of Indian billionaire and Infosys founder N. R. Narayana Murty. The couple's net worth is £651 million, which is around $830 million, the Sunday Times reported in May.

In recent months, Starmer has made a concerted effort to appear more relatable to voters and emphasize that contrast.

He's been helped by an unlikely mentor: former US president Barack Obama.

Obama encouraged Starmer to be vulnerable

In a series of Zoom calls, Obama, who served as US president from 2009 until 2017, encouraged Starmer to become more vulnerable and open with the public and has spoken to the Labour leader about the difficult decisions he made in the Oval Office.

Politico reported that the pair were first introduced by David Lammy, one of Starmer's key leiutenants, who will become his foreign secretary if Labour wins.

Speaking on Politico's Power Play podcast in March, Lammy said he and Obama had known each other for 20 years, since meeting at an event for Black alumni of Harvard University.

When Obama dropped in to meet Sunak in March, he also met Lammy for dinner, The Telegraph reported.

Lammy said Obama's influence on Starmer was apparent when the Labour leader recently opened up about his family's backstory "much more comfortably than perhaps we saw a few years ago."

"And I know that Obama has strong views that Keir should do that," he added.

In March, Starmer gave an extended interview to Sky News, in which he described how his mother had Still's disease, a rare type of inflammatory arthritis.

He said his father spent most of his time looking after her, and this had "squeezed" his "emotional space" and made him more emotionally distant from his children.

"I probably should have addressed that before he passed, and I wish I had, but I didn't," Starmer added.

Kitty Donaldson, a political journalist in the UK, told Business Insider that this interview marked a turning point in Starmer's public display of emotion.

"Up until that point, Starmer had been very stiff, very practical, very straight-laced," Donaldson said. She said that Obama "unlocked" and "gave permission" for Starmer to open up.

"In terms of his leadership style, it's had an impact," she said. "Obama is quite laid back. This campaign has been more laid back than we have seen, and he seemed to enjoy going up and down the country speaking to people."

Tom Packer, an honorary research fellow at University College London who specializes in US politics and elections, told BI that Starmer's backstory had become a "theme of the campaign."

He said it helped challenge the idea that all UK politicians come from a "posh background" without struggle.

Obama could advise Starmer on how to deal with Trump

Obama's and Starmer's relationship is likely to continue if Starmer wins the election on Thursday.

Obama has helped Starmer since at least 2021, when The Guardian reported that they were involved in two hours' worth of private talks with Lammy about how center-left parties could return to power.

Speaking to Politico's Power Play Podcast in September, Starmer said Obama was the US president that he spoke to "most frequently."

"I've spoken to him a number of times, and his analysis on the world is always interesting, his challenges, and just going through with him what he faced, how he rose to the challenges," Starmer said.

"It is always useful to test my ideas on people who won elections, people who've taken difficult decisions in power because that helps me think about how we might approach some of the decisions we might have to take if we do win that election," he added.

Packer said Obama and Starmer's relationship made sense, given the decadeslong ties between the UK's Labour Party and the US Democratic Party.

Meanwhile, Donaldson suggested Starmer may seek advice from Obama on dealing with Donald Trump, if the former president is reelected in November.

Trump is leading the polls, and Biden's shaky performance during the first presidential debate on June 28 has led Democrats to panic and urge him to step aside for another candidate.

Speaking to Politico last September, Starmer said his team had been in talks with Biden, adding, "It's clear what my desired outcome would be."

Packer told BI that Starmer and his team won't want to put "their eggs in one basket" and will be eager to secure "some kind of relationship with Trump that works," regardless of their political differences.

Trump "finds it hard to be nasty about people that are nice to him," Packer said.

He said a Labour government could end up with a good relationship with Trump "even if they disagree with him on policy" if Starmer is "nice."

He pointed out that Starmer has been careful to avoid making anti-Trump comments during his election campaign.

In an interview with BBC Radio 5 last week, Starmer was asked if he agreed with Lammy's 2018 description of Trump as a "woman-hating neo-Nazi sympathizing sociopath" and a "profound threat to the international order."

"Those aren't words that I've ever used," Starmer responded.

"I know the job of the person who leads our country is to deal with the leaders of other countries, who are elected by their people. You don't always get to choose the leaders of other countries," he continued.

Lammy has also softened his stance. He told a summit in May that Trump's position on European defense was "misunderstood" and he merely "wants Europeans to do more to ensure a better defended Europe," Politico reported.

After Trump was convicted of paying Stormy Daniels hush money, Starmer called it "unprecedented."

But he added, "We will work with whoever is elected… We have a special relationship with the US that transcends whoever the president is."

• Feral pigs cause billions of dollars in damage to properties and agriculture across the US.
• The US has struggled to control the feral pig population, which is between 6 and 9 million.
• The pigs are highly adaptable and intelligent, making them difficult to capture.

Across the US, hogs are damaging lawns, sprinkler systems, golf courses, and crops. The agricultural destruction alone is estimated at $2.5 billion a year.

Case in point, earlier this year, a video doorbell recorded footage of a pack of wild pigs rooting around a suburban lawn in San Antonio, Texas. It was the second time in a few weeks that hogs had ripped up grass in the neighborhood, according to KSAT, a local news station.

In addition to doing lots of property damage, the pigs also carry disease, breed quickly, are difficult to trap, and can be aggressive toward humans, feral pig expert Jack Mayer told Business Insider.

The US has been trying to keep the feral pig population — estimated to be between 6 and 9 million — in check for over a decade. A handful of states have seen success, but others, like Texas, Florida, and Georgia, are struggling.

For Mayer, a research scientist with the Savannah River National Laboratory, it's an uphill, ongoing battle. "They're very secretive," he said. And "they're smart, so they're tough to control."

Feral pigs will eat almost anything

Pigs didn't arrive in North America until the 1500s, so they're not a native species. By the mid-1600s, they were already a nuisance, destroying property and menacing children, according to one New England colonist in 1658.

In the centuries since, not much has slowed the wild pig population from expanding. A single sow can have as many as 10 piglets, sometimes twice a year. The feral hogs' genes are often a mix of wild boar and domestic pig.

Even formerly domestic pigs can quickly adapt to life in the wild. "For whatever reason, domestic pigs go wilder quicker than any other species of domestic livestock that we have," Mayer said.

Out in the wild, these omnivorous animals don't rely on humans to feed them. And they're not picky. Mayer has seen feral hogs forage at landfills and feed on diapers, rubber bands, and plastic. In 2019, Louisiana researchers found dozens of native species, from acorns to salamanders to turtles, in their stomachs.

While they're often a bit leaner than their domesticated relatives, the feral pigs can still get to be 250 pounds, according to the USDA. This means as they move about in urban and suburban areas, they can cause traffic accidents, Mayer said.

Deadly interactions between humans and pigs are very rare in the US. Worldwide, though, Mayer found that feral hogs killed 172 people between 2000 and 2019.

Most of the attacks are defensive, he said, and happen when, "for whatever reason, they feel threatened." The hogs have sharp teeth and tusks and can run fast.

They're also vectors for dozens of diseases and parasites found in their feces, fluids, and undercooked meat. One of Mayer's biggest worries is that they could spread African swine fever to domestic animals. Humans can't catch the disease, but it's deadly for pigs.

Asian countries have slaughtered millions of pigs to try and stop the outbreak of the virus. European countries are taking similar measures.

If the virus arrives in North America, "it's going to spread, and it's going to be ugly," Mayer said.

A losing battle to control the wild pig population

Because hogs reproduce so quickly, some states estimate that they would need to reduce the population size by 60% to 70% each year to keep the numbers from growing.

Currently, many states trap and euthanize pigs. In 2011, Texas passed the "pork-chopper bill," which allows feral hog hunting from helicopters. But Ohio and Kentucky are currently working on banning pig hunting. Some experts believe it can actually make the problem worse, since hunted pigs tend to become more secretive and harder to trap.

Texas and Oklahoma recently announced they'll begin using a substance with warfarin, similar to rat poison, to help control their feral hog populations.

"This is going to be potentially another tool in the toolbox," Mayer said, "but the people in the US never have really warmed up to the use of poisons for any kind of wildlife." It's a move many have opposed in the past because of its potential effects on wildlife that eat poisoned animals, Texas Monthly reported in 2023.

Mayer said another factor that makes controlling wild hogs difficult is that the entire country is a mosaic of different methods. And not everyone wants them gone, he said.

"You've got some people that love them, some people that hate them," he said, "and because of that, I don't think we're ever going to get rid of them."

• The world's two most valuable companies both have close ties to OpenAI.
• Apple could soon join Microsoft in having an observer role on OpennAI's board, Bloomberg reported.
• However, both companies have very different arrangements with the ChatGPT maker.

The world's two most valuable companies know what it's like to miss the boat on the latest technology.

In the 1990s, Apple watched as Bill Gates took Windows global, giving Microsoft absolute dominance over the nascent PC market. By the late 2000s, a Steve Ballmer-led Microsoft was left reeling as Steve Jobs' iPhone would go on to shape the smartphone industry.

Now, in the AI era, it's clear neither company wants to fall behind on a technology touted by Gates as being "as revolutionary as mobile phones and the internet." It even seems that the longtime rivals are willing to sit at the same table to ensure they don't suffer the same fate again.

According to a Bloomberg report on Tuesday, Apple is set to get an observer role on the board of OpenAI as part of an agreement unveiled last month. The deal will see Apple integrate ChatGPT into its iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating systems.

Phil Schiller, a prominent figure at Apple who leads App Store operations, has been chosen for the role, the report said. Microsoft has had a similar observer role on OpenAI's board since November.

However, while the two Big Tech companies could soon share similar status on OpenAI's board, it's worth reflecting on just how different their relationships with Sam Altman's company are.

Apple's OpenAI deal

When Apple revealed a partnership with OpenAI at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, questions swirled about the terms of the long-rumored tie-up.

Given Apple's silence on its generative AI ambitions before the reveal — a silence that had investors wondering if it had serious AI ambitions at all — a fair question to ask might have been: "Is Apple willing to pay OpenAI to get access to the buzziest AI chatbot in town?"

For those more confident in Apple, the better question would have been whether Apple would strike a deal with OpenAI that emulates its long-standing arrangement with Google.

For years, Google has paid Apple a lot of money to remain the default search engine on the Safari browser. In 2022, it paid Apple $20 billion for that position, recognizing Apple's distribution power with a user base of more than two billion active devices.

OpenAI is a much smaller company than Google, and does not have the luxury of handing Apple billions of dollars. That said, an arrangement reaffirming Apple's distribution power could materialize differently. And that it did.

Last month, Bloomberg reported that Apple was getting to integrate ChatGPT into its operating systems for free while giving its users a version of AI that it had full control over.

Apple's new suite of AI features revealed at WWDC, dubbed Apple Intelligence, hardly relies on OpenAI's technology. Apple's own AI models are the driving force behind new tools aimed at helping users write texts, create original images, and more. ChatGPT is more of an add-on that Apple users can choose to give, or refuse, permission to respond to queries.

Although Apple isn't getting direct financial benefits from OpenAI, it will hope the partnership helps trigger a massive upgrade cycle among iPhone users keen to try out Apple's new AI features, which will only be available on the most decent devices.

Microsoft's OpenAI deal

Microsoft's relationship with OpenAI is seemingly more involved.

It first backed OpenAI in 2019 with a $1 billion investment, has since put billions more into the ChatGPT maker. CEO Satya Nadella has sought close ties with OpenAI — the company arguably responsible for the generative AI boom.

Microsoft's reasons for strengthening links with OpenAI are different. Having invested billions, Nadella hopes the investment will eventually generate outsize returns for Microsoft.

OpenAI depends on Microsoft's massive cloud division to gain access to the computing power needed to train and run its large language models (LLMs), such as the GPT-4o model revealed in May.

In return, Microsoft takes almost half of OpenAI's profits, according to terms of their deal, and hopes that OpenAI can one day scale these models to a point where they create a new paradigm by achieving artificial general intelligence, or AGI.

Getting this close to the ChatGPT creator has its risks, however.

The potential for LLMs to develop into AGI is a theory that's faced growing scrutiny among AI experts including Yann LeCun, who has argued that the technology is an "off-ramp" on the path to AI that's as smart as humans.

Meanwhile, last month, Bloomberg reported that Microsoft's OpenAI investment could face questions from European regulators about the impact OpenAI's exclusive use of Microsoft cloud technology may have on the rest of the industry.

Of course, it's not yet clear which company will find their OpenAI relationship the most lucrative.

The success of Apple's OpenAI tie-up could come down to how many people are willing to buy new iPhones. Microsoft seems to be banking on a whole lot more.

• Russia and North Korea's historic defense pact last month sent shockwaves through global politics.
• South Korea responded by suggesting it could go all-in on supporting Ukraine with weapons.
• Putin threatened to flood North Korea with nuclear capabilities, missile tech, and more.

Russia and North Korea's newfound friendship has left key US ally South Korea in a predicament with few good options.

Seoul isn't happy about this situation, but if it decides to, as it has suggested it could, go all-in on supplying Ukraine with lethal aid, the flood gates could open, allowing Russia to give North Korea military technology, be that nuclear capabilities or missile tech.

Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang, where he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un further strengthened their partnership. A major focus of the summit was arms, as North Korea has been providing ammunition to Russia for its war in Ukraine in exchange for food, fuel, and potentially advanced military capabilities. What really stood out, though, was their new mutual defense pact.

Signed by both leaders, the new agreement sets the stage for one country to come to the aid of the other should it be attacked. The US has similar agreements with many of its allies.

The summit was a historic moment in Moscow's relationship with Pyongyang, signifying their closest ties since the Cold War and setting the course for uncharted territory. It meant Russia's war in Ukraine would continue to be fueled by North Korean weapons. And it set the stage for North Korea to receive military capabilities it desperately wants — potentially technologies for nuclear-powered submarines, missiles, and more.

The Russian president "is casting his lot with North Korea," Sue Mi Terry, a senior fellow for Korea studies with the Council on Foreign Relations, told Business Insider.

The play signals that "he has abandoned hopes of having some sort of relationship with the West," she explained, adding that "there is a sense that what's happening between Russia and North Korea is not a short-term tactical move."

The pact's reverberations were felt almost immediately, particularly by North Korea's neighbor to the south. Just hours after North Korean state media revealed the details of the agreement, a South Korean senior presidential official suggested it would consider sending lethal aid to Ukraine directly, a notable shift from its current policy of providing weapons via the US.

The remarks were met with a quick threat from Russia, which appeared undeterred.

"Those who supply these weapons believe that they are not at war with us," Putin said, adding that Russia reserves "the right to supply weapons to other regions," including North Korea.

His remarks essentially tell Seoul that if it goes all-in on direct support for Ukraine, Moscow can very easily make North Korea into an even more formidable adversary.

"In a sense, he's got leverage that he didn't have before by this threat to proliferate to North Korea," Victor Cha, the senior vice president for Asia and the Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Business Insider. "For South Korea, it's a dilemma, it's a hard choice because they've tried very hard to support Ukraine but not become directly involved."

Due to South Korea's long-held policy barring the direct provision of lethal aid to Ukraine, it sends weapons via the US and Poland. The deal is good for Seoul, helping to establish it as a global arms supplier while letting it keep its hands relatively clean.

A shift towards directly shipping ammunition and weapons to Ukraine would thus be huge — South Korea would have skin in the game and way more at stake, as the Russian leader himself has emphasized.

Part of the dilemma is that Putin is anticipating that, regardless of what happens, South Korea will still continue to support Ukraine, Cha explained, whether that be indirectly or directly. If it's the former, then the status quo remains unchanged. And if it's the latter, then he's got the threat to give North Korea what it wants.

If they get a sense that Russia is transferring major technologies to North Korea, "then I think there's no reason for South Korea to not directly help Ukraine," Terry said.

If Russia takes that step, nothing is holding Seoul back at that point, but it risks dramatically raising tensions on the peninsula, as changes in North Korea's capabilities could warrant a response by South Korea and its allies beyond what's been suggested.

While South Korea's long been sending weapons via the US to Kyiv, there are questions about how much more aid it could provide should it change its stance. Seoul's current annual production rate is only about 200,000 155mm artillery shells, and it likely doesn't want to dip into its own stockpiles and risk shortages should it face a fight with North Korea.

The South does, however, have a significant stockpile of 105mm shells that could be beneficial to the Ukrainians. The 105s have less reach and power, but South Korea has millions of them — and they may be expiring soon, the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank explained earlier this year.

Ultimately, perhaps South Korea's greatest concern is the conflict in Ukraine spilling over onto the Korean peninsula. With Putin supporting North Korea, tensions are higher between Pyongyang and Seoul, and the two could find themselves on the brink.

That's not a desirable outcome. The US obviously doesn't want to see its foes teaming up, but even China may find itself almost paralyzed on how to respond to a new Russia-North Korea pact, as it historically likes to keep a strong influence over North Korea and doesn't like to see Putin and Kim grow closer. "This relationship is as bad for China as it is for the United States," Cha said.

• Sean "Diddy" Combs is facing his ninth sexual misconduct lawsuit.
• The Los Angeles Times reported that a porn star accused him of sex trafficking.
• Here's a timeline of all the allegations against the hip-hop mogul.

Another woman has sued Sean 'Diddy' Combs for sexual misconduct, meaning the hip-hop star is now facing eight open civil lawsuits.

On Wednesday, The Los Angeles Times, Fox News, and TMZ reported that Adria English, a pornstar, accused Combs of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and sex trafficking in a lawsuit filed in a district court in New York on July 3.

The LA Times reported English said she worked for Combs between 2004 and 2009 and accused him of forcing her to have sex with guests at his high-profile "white parties."

Jonathan Davis, Combs' attorney, told the LA Times in a statement: "No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it won't change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone."

English is the ninth person to file a lawsuit against Combs since November 2023. These have damaged Combs' reputation as a hip-hop mogul and led to some companies cutting ties with him.

Combs settled the first lawsuit, filed by his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura who accused him of rape and physical assault in November.

Combs has denied all allegations, but in May, he apologized in an Instagram post for hitting Ventura after CNN published a video showing the rapper attacking her.

Combs could also face criminal charges.

In March, Sean Combs' homes were raided by federal officials, with multiple reports indicating the search was related to a sex trafficking probe.

Combs was not charged at the time and denied any wrongdoing.

But in May, CNN reported, citing unnamed sources, that federal investigators want to bring Combs' accusers in front of a federal grand jury as part of a larger case focused on sex trafficking, money laundering, and illegal drugs.

Here's a timeline of the sexual assault allegations Combs has faced in the last few months.

November 16, 2023: Ventura files the first lawsuit.

In the lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court and reviewed by Business Insider, Ventura accused Combs of years of physical abuse, raping her in their home, and forcing her to engage in sex acts with male sex workers. The pair had an on-again-off-again relationship from 2007 to 2018.

Ventura said in a statement that she was speaking up before the expiration of New York's Adult Survivors Act, a yearlong suspension on the normal time restrictions for sexual assault lawsuits, which ended on November 23, 2023.

"After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships," Ventura said.

Ben Brafman, a lawyer for Combs, denied the allegation in a statement to Business Insider and accused Ventura of trying to "tarnish" Combs' reputation for money.

"For the past six months, Mr. Combs has been subjected to Ms. Ventura's persistent demand of $30 million, under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail," Brafman said.

BI reported that Douglas Wigdor, Ventura's lawyer, said Combs offered Ventura an eight-figure sum to prevent her from speaking out before the suit was filed.

The next day, the Associated Press reported that Ventura and Combs had settled the suit. The agreement's details were not publicly disclosed.

November 23, 2023: Two more women accuse Combs of sexual abuse.

On the eve of the expiration date for the Adult Survivors Act, two more women accused Combs of sexual abuse in separate lawsuits.

Business Insider reported that Joi Dickerson-Neal, one of the accusers, accused Combs of drugging her, sexually assaulting her, and videotaping the assault after a date in 1991. Dickerson-Neal said the incident caused her to become withdrawn, and that she was diagnosed later with clinical depression and dropped out of college.

The other accuser, who filed the suit without revealing her identity, said that Combs and R&B singer Aaron Hall sexually assaulted her and a friend after a music industry event in 1990 or 1991, according to AP. The suit said that Combs came to their home a few days later to silence them and choked the woman until she passed out, per AP.

A representative for Hall did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

A spokesperson for Combs told AP that Combs denied both allegations and said the women were exploiting the Adult Survivors Act.

Both cases were pending as of late February, NBC News reported.

November 28, 2023: the allegations have an impact on Combs' business ventures.

Amid the numerous lawsuits, Revolt, a cable television network, announced on Instagram that Combs was stepping down as chairman.

Rolling Stone reported on December 3 that Hulu canceled an upcoming reality show project based on Combs and his family called "Diddy+7." Rolling Stone also said 23 brands severed ties with Combs' marketplace for Black-owned businesses, Empower Global.

December 6, 2023: A woman accuses Combs and 2 other men of raping her when she was 17.

The woman, who also filed the suit anonymously, alleged that Combs, his longtime producing partner Harve Pierre, and an unnamed third man "sex trafficked and gang raped" her in 2003 when she was 17, according to prior reporting by BI.

The lawsuit said Pierre flew the women to Combs' studio in New York, where they gave her drugs and alcohol until she was too inebriated to consent.

"While at the studio, Ms. Doe was gang raped by Mr. Combs, the Third Assailant and Mr. Pierre, in that order," the suit says. The suit also included photos of the accuser, with her face blurred, in the New York studio.

Combs denied the allegation on Instagram and declared he was going to "fight for my name, my family and for the truth."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by LOVE (@diddy)

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

"For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy," he said. "Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday."

Pierre didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

On February 20, 2024, Rolling Stone reported that Combs, Pierre, and Combs' company, Bad Boy Entertainment, filed a response to the lawsuit. Combs' lawyers refuted the allegation and questioned the accuracy of the photographs.

"(Combs) never participated in, witnessed, or was or is presently aware of any misconduct, sexual or otherwise, relating to plaintiff in any circumstance whatsoever," the filing says, per Rolling Stone.

Combs' lawyers also said the suit should be thrown out because they believe an amendment to the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Act, which allowed the unnamed woman to sue Combs, is unconstitutional.

The 2022 amendment removes the statute of limitations for gender-based violence cases for two years, similar to the Adult Survivors Act.

Pierre also denied participating in any sexual assault when he filed his defense. Bad Boy Entertainment motioned to dismiss the suit against them, arguing there is no basis that the Gender-Motivated Violence Act expands to corporate defendants.

December 7, 2023: Tiffany Red defends Ventura in an open letter published in Rolling Stone.

Tiffany Red is a singer-songwriter who became friends with Ventura in 2015 while working together. In December 2023, Red wrote an open letter in Rolling Stone to Combs, saying that she saw Combs verbally abusing Ventura after Ventura's 29th birthday party in August 2015.

Red said the incident occurred outside a private karaoke room that the group went to after the main party. According to Red, Combs pulled Ventura out of the room, cornered her with his security team, and "cursed her out with your hands in her face."

"I felt helpless. She looked afraid and kept looking down at the floor. I didn't know what to do. I was scared," Red said.

In response, Combs' spokesperson referred Rolling Stone to Combs' Instagram statement.

February 26, 2024: Rodney Jones Jr. accuses Combs of sexual assault and drugging.

Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones Jr's suit, filed in late February, lists several allegations against Combs.

The suit says Combs made Jones work in a bathroom while Combs walked around naked and showered. Jones also accused Combs of grabbing his genitals without consent, attempting to "groom" Jones into having sex with another man, and forcing Jones to "solicit sex workers and perform sex acts to the pleasure of Mr. Combs."

Jones alleged in the suit he was not paid for his work on Combs' latest album, according to the New York Times. There is an online crowdfunding campaign with a statement reading "Help Me Sue Sean 'Diddy' Combs," which seems to have been started by Jones earlier this month.

Shawn Holley, an attorney for Combs, accused Jones of lying to get money from Combs.

"Lil Rod is nothing more than a liar who filed a $30 million lawsuit shamelessly looking for an undeserved payday," she said in a statement to BI. "His reckless name-dropping about events that are pure fiction and simply did not happen is nothing more than a transparent attempt to garner headlines."

Tyrone Blackburn, Jones' attorney, did not respond to a request to comment from BI.

March 25, 2024: Combs' Los Angeles and Miami homes were searched by the Department of Homeland Security.

Combs' Los Angeles and Miami homes were searched by Department of Homeland Security officials in late March.

Representatives for DHS told BI that authorities "executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation" but declined to specify a target or reason behind the raids.

The Associated Press and Los Angeles Times, citing law-enforcement sources, reported the search was part of a sex trafficking investigation.

Aaron Dyer, an attorney for Combs, in a statement sent to BI the day after the search, maintained Combs' innocence and said the search conducted on his properties was "a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs' residences."

"There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated," Dyer's statement read. "Mr. Combs was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities. Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to travel been restricted in any way."

No charges have been filed following the search.

Dyers' statement continued: "This unprecedented ambush — paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence — leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits. There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name."

A few days after the incident, Combs' ex-girlfriend Misa Hylton criticized the raid on Instagram, and shared a video that appeared to be taken from surveillance cameras at the rapper's home.

The video showed federal agents detaining Justin Dior Combs, Combs' 30-year-old son with Hylton, and Christian Combs, the rapper's 26-year-old son with the late Kim Porter, but neither was charged.

"The over zealous and overtly militarized force used against my sons Justin and Christian is deplorable," Hylton wrote in the caption.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Misa Hylton (@misahylton)

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

April 5, 2024: Combs is named a co-defendant in lawsuit against his son, Christian Combs.

On April 5, a woman named Grace O'Marcaigh filed a lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court alleging Christian Combs assaulted her on a yacht where she was working, which was chartered by Combs in December 2022. Combs was listed as a co-defendant.

In the lawsuit, seen by BI, O'Marcaigh alleged Christian Combs became "aggressive" during one shift, violently grabbed her arm, and then drugged and sexually assaulted her.

O'Marcaigh said in the suit that her career was derailed due to the "trauma" of the alleged assault.

Aaron Dyer, Combs, and Christian Combs' attorney denied the allegations, and said the lawsuit was "lewd and meritless." Dyer also said they would file "a motion to dismiss this outrageous claim."

April 26, 2024: Combs motions to dismiss parts of Dickerson-Neal's lawsuit.

In late April, People reported that Combs' attorneys motioned to dismiss Dickerson-Neal's allegations of human trafficking and revenge porn, calling the claims "false, offensive, and salacious."

The attorneys said that the allegations "were brought under statutes that did not exist at the time the alleged misconduct occurred." They are referring to the New York State revenge porn law, which was codified in 2019, and the New York Services for Victims of Human Trafficking law, which did not come into effect until 2007.

In the filing, Combs' attorneys also requested that the allegations against the music mogul's companies, Bad Boy Entertainment and Combs Enterprises, which were formed after the incident in 1991, be dismissed. Both companies were listed as defendants in Dickerson-Neal's initial filing.

Following Combs' motion, Michelle Caiola, Dickerson-Neal's attorney, told Business Insider in an email: "We will be filing a response in the coming weeks. We are confident Ms. Dickerson-Neal's allegations against Combs are strong, credible, and legally viable."

May 17, 2024: CNN publishes a video that shows Combs assaulting Ventura.

In surveillance footage from 2016, published by CNN on May 17, Combs can be seen physically assaulting Ventura.

The video shows Combs trailing his then-girlfriend down a hallway. He then grabs Ventura by the back of the neck, throws her down, kicks her twice, and drags her body across the floor. The footage corroborates an allegation in the federal lawsuit Ventura filed (and quickly settled) six months prior.

According to the lawsuit, this particular incident occurred at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles. This was confirmed by CNN reporters who reviewed photos of the location.

In her complaint, Ventura said she tried to leave the hotel after Combs had punched her in the face, giving her a black eye. The uncovered footage seems to show the aftermath when Combs chased after Ventura as she ran to the elevator.

Venutra declined to provide a comment to CNN. Her attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, said in a statement: "The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs. Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light."

A few hours after the video was published, Ventura's husband Alex Fine also shared a statement on Instagram.

He captioned the post: "Wrote this awhile back but the words ring true not just today but everyday."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Poonie Fine (@alexfine44)

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

May 19, 2024: Combs apologizes for assaulting Ventura.

On May 19, Combs shared an Instagram video captioned: "I'm truly sorry."

"My behavior in that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video," Combs said in the video. "I was disgusted then when I did it. I'm disgusted now."

Combs said that he sought professional help, therapy, and rehab after the incident.

"I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I'm so sorry. But I'm committed to be a better man each and every day," he added. "I'm not asking for forgiveness. I'm truly sorry."

Combs has since deleted all Instagram posts on his account.

Representatives for Combs did not respond to a request for comment from BI.

Meredith Firetog, Ventura's attorney, told CNN in a statement on Sunday: "Combs' most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt."

Firetog added that Combs' video was "disingenuous."

"That he was only compelled to 'apologize' once his repeated denials were proven false shows his pathetic desperation, and no one will be swayed by his disingenuous words," she said.

May 21, 2024: A former model accuses Combs of sexually assaulting and drugging her.

Per a lawsuit obtained by Business Insider, former model Crystal McKinney said that when she was 22, she met Combs at a 2003 Men's Fashion Week event in Manhattan.

She accused Combs of giving her copious amounts of alcohol and pressuring her to take marijuana she believed was laced, according to the lawsuit.

McKinney said that she was invited to Combs' studio and claims that Combs forced her to perform oral sex on him, according to the lawsuit.

McKinney said that she became unconscious and later woke up in a cab, according to the lawsuit.

Representatives for Combs did not respond to a request for comment.

May 23, 2024: Ventura speaks out and another woman files a lawsuit against Combs.

On May 23, Ventura shared a statement on Instagram thanking the public for their support and asking people to believe "victims the first time."

"The outpouring of love has created a place for my younger self to settle and feel safe now, but this is only the beginning," she wrote. "My only ask is that EVERYONE open your heart to believing victims the first time. It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Casandra Fine (@cassie)

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

Ventura also offered support to other victims of domestic violence.

"Domestic Violence is THE issue. It broke me down to someone never thought would become. With a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will always be recovering from my past," she wrote.

Ventura added: "I offer my hand to those that are still living in fear. Reach out to your people, don't cut them off. No one should carry this weight alone."

Later on that day, another woman, April Lampros, filed a lawsuit against Combs.

The lawsuit lists several allegations including sexual assault, battery, and assault. Lampros said she met Combs in 1994 while she was a student at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology and he offered to mentor her at the time.

"What Mr. Combs displayed as kind gestures quickly manifested into an aggressive, coercive, and abusive relationship based on sex," the lawsuit said.

Lampros alleged that Combs sexually assaulted her on four occasions between 1995 and 2001, with the last encounter occuring a few years after the former fashion student ended her relationship with him.

Lampros also alleged that in 1996 Combs forced her and his former girlfriend Kim Porter to take ecstasy and have sex with each other while he watched.

Lampros is represented by Tyrone Blackburn, who represented Jones and other women suing Combs.

"I'm confident that justice will prevail and the veil will be removed so no other woman will have to endure what I did," Lampros told CNN in a statement.

May 28, 2024: Rolling Stone drops exposé about Combs.

On May 28, Rolling Stone published an investigation into Combs after interviewing his former friends, colleagues, and artists at his label, Bad Boy Records. The report featured new allegations against Combs, but he has not been sued in relation to these alleged incidents.

Three unnamed women who claimed they attended Howard University with Combs said they witnessed him assaulting a woman on campus.

The mother and two close friends of Shakir Stewart, a music executive who died in 2008, told Rolling Stone that Combs broke a chair over Stewart's head in 2000. They said Combs attacked him because Stewart tried to date Combs' ex-girlfriend, Kim Porter.

Kirk Burrowes, the former president of Bad Boy Records, and Felicia Newsome, the first manager of Bad Boy's recording studio, claimed that Combs attacked an unnamed woman inside the label's offices in 1994 and they had to pull the rapper off her.

Another woman, who went by the pseudonym of Anna, told Rolling Stone that Combs tried to solicit her for sex while she was working as a freelance graphic designer for Bad Boy Records in 2001.

Davis, Combs' attorney, told Rolling Stone in a statement that the rapper refused to respond to the new allegations.

"Mr. Combs cannot comment on settled litigation, will not comment on pending litigation, and cannot address every allegation picked up by the press from any source, no matter how unreliable," Davis said. "We are aware that the proper authorities are conducting a thorough investigation and therefore have confidence any important issues will be addressed in the proper forum, where the rules distinguish facts from fiction."

Representatives for Combs did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

May 29, 2024: CNN reports that Combs' case may be brought before a federal grand jury.

Combs' legal issues may escalate to a criminal trial, according to a CNN report published May 29.

CNN reported, citing unnamed sources, that federal investigators aim to bring Combs' accusers to testify in front of a federal grand jury. However, according to the CNN report, the case would be focused on sex trafficking, money laundering, and illegal drugs.

Grand juries, which are comprised of citizens, assess the evidence provided by prosecutors and determine whether there is enough "probable cause" to put an individual on trial.

The jury would determine if there is enough evidence to charge Combs. These hearings are held in secret, and only the prosecutors are present, giving the prosecution an advantage in getting an indictment.

CNN also reported, citing unnamed sources, that federal agents have already interviewed most of the people who have filed lawsuits against Combs and questioned individuals seen in a video filmed inside Combs' house.

Representatives for Combs did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

A representative for the Homeland Security Investigations agency declined to comment.

July 3, 2024: Another woman files a lawsuit against Combs

On Wednesday, multiple outlets reported that pornstar Adria English had filed a lawsuit against Combs that day, accusing him of a number of allegations, including sex trafficking and sexual assault.

The LA Times reported English claimed Combs forced her to have sex with guests, including celebrity jeweler Jacob Arabo, while she worked for Combs at his high-profile parties in Miami and New York between 2004 and 2009.

English said Combs threatened to "blackball" her from the entertainment industry if she did not engage in sex work at the parties. English said she went back to California in 2009 to escape Combs.

A representative for Combs and Arabo did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI

Davis, Combs' attorney, has denied the allegations in a statement to multiple outlets.

"We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason and without any proof. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth and Mr. Combs is confident he will prevail against these and other baseless claims in court," Davis told The LA Times.

Correction: May 24, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated the date that Cassie Ventura spoke out. It was May 23, 2024, not May 23, 2023.

• Universal moved the "Wicked" release date to the same day as "Gladiator 2."
• Fans are saying the two films are the new "Barbenheimer."
• They'd have to make over $2 billion to compete with the last blockbuster double bill.

There might be a new "Barbenheimer" in town, as two other highly anticipated blockbusters, "Wicked" and "Gladiator 2," are scheduled to premiere on the same day.

Last year, the polar-opposite movies "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" were coincidentally released on July 21. This created a cultural moment, dubbed "Barbenheimer," that breathed life into a struggling industry as cinemagoers approached the films as a double bill.

Sources told Business Insider's Jason Guerrasio last July that Christopher Nolan, who directed "Oppenheimer," was upset about the date clash. The "Barbie" actor and producer Margot Robbie told Variety's "Actors on Actors" series last December that an "Oppenheimer" producer had called her to suggest she move the date, but she declined.

Despite worries about the clash, "Barbenheimer" was a huge success. "Barbie" became Warner Bros.'s highest-grossing movie, and "Oppenheimer" set a record for the highest-grossing biopic. The films made over $2 billion combined.

On Monday, Universal announced that the release date of "Wicked" would move from November 27 to November 22, clashing with Paramount's "Gladiator 2." Film fans are dubbing the movies the new "Barbenheimer."

Others complained that it seemed like an attempt to re-create the "Barbenheimer" phenomenon.

Last year, some fans who noticed that "Saw X" and a "PAW Patrol" movie had the same release date tried to make "Saw Patrol" happen, but it didn't generate a similar buzz as "Barbenheimer."

"Wicked" and "Gladiator 2" would likely fare better.

"Gladiator 2," directed by Ridley Scott ("Alien," "House of Gucci"), is a sequel to one of the biggest movies of the 2000s, so it already has a fan base. "Gladiator" won five Oscars and made $465 million at the box office in 2000, according to Box Office Mojo.

Starring buzzy actors including Pedro Pascal, Paul Mescal, and Denzel Washington, "Gladiator 2" could be an even bigger success.

Meanwhile, "Wicked," directed by Jon M. Chu ("Crazy Rich Asians," "Step Up 2: The Streets"), is the first of a two-part movie adaptation of one of the most famous musicals. Variety reported last year that the musical had made over $5 billion globally since its premiere in 2003.

Non-Disney movie musicals have been a tougher sell in cinemas, but "Wicked" could attract fans with the star power of Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Jonathan Bailey.

"Wickiator" ("Gladicked"? "Glicked"?) becoming a cultural moment like "Barbenheimer" would give Paramount, Universal, and movie theatres a welcome boost after a slow summer so far.

Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst for Comscore, told Business Insider via email that the success of "Barbenheimer" was a "first of its kind scenario" that will likely not be replicated. But he said, this trend has likely raised awareness for "Wicked" and "Gladiator 2."

"The studios behind both films should embrace the social media conversation and excitement that this key pre-Thanksgiving multiplex match-up is generating in the movie marketplace," Dergarabedian said. "There's really no downside to something like this."

Marketing the films as a double feature could also help them compete with "Moana 2," another highly anticipated movie set to be released on November 27.

Regardless, the double bill has a $2 billion bar to clear to repeat the success of "Barbenheimer."

• Director Mark Molloy chose to use practical effects for the 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' action scenes.
• Molloy aimed to replicate the gritty realism of the original films from the '80s.
• "I wanted to ground it," Molloy said. "The stakes are real, and the danger is real."

In an era when everything from car chases to even kisses in movies can be done with computer-generated visual effects, director Mark Molloy wanted to go against the grain with "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" by doing all the action sequences with practical effects.

Molloy was set on his stance from the beginning, when he took his first meetings with franchise producer Jerry Bruckheimer and got the offer to direct the sequel, which was decades in the making.

"I went to Jerry and said, 'I love this but I want to make an '80s action comedy, I want to shoot everything in-camera,'" Molloy recalled to Business Insider during a recent chat over Zoom.

Though "Axel F" marks Molloy's feature directing debut after decades of commercial work and directing TV in his native Australia, the filmmaker knew instantly that the only way a fourth "Beverly Hills Cop" movie would work would be if it stayed true to the texture and attitude of the beloved first two movies, which were box office hits and made Eddie Murphy a superstar in the late 1980s (let's just forget there was a third movie).

"A lot of films these days, everything is so VFX-heavy that there's a perfection there," he said. "I wanted to ground it. The stakes are real, and the danger is real. Like films 1 and 2, those were gritty films."

Bruckheimer loved the idea, which led to Molloy filming Murphy driving a massive snow plow through rows of parked cars in Detroit and a scene in which they actually had a car fall off the side of a building in Los Angeles.

"We had to shut down part of the I-10 to do that," Molloy said with glee, referring to one of the busiest freeways in Los Angeles.

In that scene, Axel Foley's daughter Jane, played by Taylour Paige ("Zola"), gets a visit from the movie's bad guys, who end up yanking the car off the side of the parking garage. (Though doing this stunt for real was fun, Molloy pointed out Paige was not in the car when that stunt was filmed. Safety first.)

"It was a perfect location that we found, but it's literally right next to the I-10, so we had to close part of that down, or people were going to get into crashes if they suddenly saw a car fall off the side of a building," Molloy said.

But the action sequence that kept him up at night was the helicopter scene. Toward the end of the movie, Foley and Detective Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) steal a police helicopter to escape Grant (Kevin Bacon), the crooked police captain. Aside from the interior shots of Murphy and Gordon-Levitt in the cockpit, the entire sequence used a real helicopter that did everything from freefalling between buildings to flying so low that there were sparks as it scraped the road. The sequence concludes with the chopper landing not so gracefully in front of the Beverly Hills Town Hall.

Looking back on it now, Molloy laughs in disbelief at how he tackled such ambitious scenes. "It was very challenging."

"Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" is now available on Netflix.

• I've long considered using a foot hammock to ease long-haul, economy flights. 
• I wasn't sure if it would be worth the space in my carry-on or if it would accommodate my taller height.
• I loved the accessory, which allowed me to bend my knees and get comfortable in the cramped seat.

I have a confession: I'm not always the most courteous person on a flight.

No, I don't pick fights with flight attendants or eat tuna salad midair, but I do constantly search for the most comfortable resting position. And, sometimes, that's pressing my knees against the seat in front of me.

On a recent 10-hour flight, I wanted to avoid feeling uncomfortable and bothering another passenger.

The solution I found was a $9 foot hammock.

I was initially hesitant to buy the hammock

For years, I've eyed a foot hammock. The Wall Street Journal deemed it a "savior of economy fliers," and Travel and Leisure reported that flight attendants love the plane accessory.

But a few things kept me from pressing add to cart on Amazon.

Mainly, I like to pack as light as possible. I refuse to check a bag, meaning every bit of space in my carry-on is precious. I wasn't sure if sacrificing room for an item I would only use during a small portion of a trip would be worth it.

I've also read that the foot hammocks cater to shorter travelers. As Business Insider previously reported, shorter people can face lower back and leg pressure if their feet don't touch the floor. A hammock saves them from that pain. At 5'8", I don't face that challenge.

My final concern was that I wouldn't be allowed to use the hammock in the first place. Some airlines, like Air New Zealand, prohibit items that hang from an aircraft seat. Since foot hammocks hang from your tray table, they're technically not allowed.

But after booking a 10-hour economy flight, I wanted a new approach to getting comfy on a plane. Since foot hammocks are affordable — I bought mine for under $10 — I figured I would give one a shot.

I'll be packing it on all future long-haul flights

A few days before my flight, I purchased the Zoklu footrest on Amazon for $9. A few days later, it arrived in a small package.

I realized my first concern — taking up precious carry-on space — was no longer a worry. The hammock was smaller than a paperback book, and I could easily find space in my backpack.

While waiting to board, I searched to see if my airline, Lufthansa, prohibited foot hammocks. I didn't see any rules against them, so I set up the contraption once I was settled in my seat.

The setup was easy. The foot hammock is attached to an adjustable strap that wraps around your tray table. Once the strap is looped around the table, you can close it, sit back, and relax.

The foot hammock allowed me to be in my preferred plane position with my knees up. The passenger in front of me didn't indicate they could feel the hammock, which made sense since my weight pushed toward the floor instead of into their back.

With a backpack tucked under my seat, I didn't find the hammock helpful for stretching my legs straight, which is how many of the online Amazon descriptions outline its use. This didn't bother me since my height allows me to have my feet on the ground anyway.

But having another comfortable position for resting (that didn't disturb anyone else) was easily worth the $9 and room in my backpack.

For all future flights that allow it, you'll find me curled up in my seat with a foot hammock in tow.

• Out of the 15 cruises I've been on, Disney Cruise Line is my favorite company to travel with.
• Disney cruises offer the perfect getaway for adults without children.
• From animation classes and private islands to Broadway-style shows, I never run out of things to do.

After taking over 15 cruises on most of the major lines, one stands out as my favorite company to travel with — Disney Cruise Line. Disney cruises combine what I love about the theme parks with relaxation and stellar dining, making them the perfect getaway.

I also love that Disney continues to invest in its cruise line. For example, the company's newest ship, Disney Treasure, plans to embark on its maiden voyage in December.

And next year, Disney Destiny and Disney Adventure will set sail for the first time. The company also invested between $250 million and $400 million in a new island in the Bahamas, which I was lucky enough to visit.

Although some may think of Disney Cruise Line as a company that caters to kids, I've had an incredible time on adults-only vacations with my sister, mother, friends, and husband. Here's why I think Disney cruises are the perfect choice for travelers without children.

I’m never bored on a Disney ship.

On most of the cruises I've been on, the main activities include eating and drinking. However, that's not the case on Disney cruises.

In addition to having great pools, Disney ships are known for having a wide variety of activities throughout the day. My favorites include trivia, mixology classes, panel discussions with Disney animators, and animation classes.

The food is by far the best I’ve had at sea, and I’ll always splurge on the specialty restaurants.

Food plays a big role in determining where I vacation, and I've had some of the most incredible meals on board Disney ships. In addition to the food, the restaurants are well-themed and detailed. While there are plenty of elevated eats, there are also casual bites, like pizza, and Disney favorites, including Mickey waffles.

While the main dining rooms are delicious — and included with the cruise fare — I'll always splurge on one of the specialty restaurants that charge an additional fee.

These upcharge restaurants offer a more intimate experience with super personalized service and a greater variety of dining options. My favorite is Palo, which is open for both brunch and dinner. Here, I've enjoyed fresh pasta, standout wine, and high-quality wagyu.

I love the themed bars, and the drinks are surprisingly affordable.

While Disney doesn't offer a drink package that includes cocktails, the well-themed bars are worth the splurge.

From a Star Wars-themed watering hole to a Peter Pan-themed speakeasy, I really enjoy the inventive cocktail programs and immersive settings. Each bar also has its own unique themed drinks, which keeps things exciting.

As a regular at Disney World, I was also surprised to find that drinks are much more affordable on a Disney Cruise, with prices consistent across the ships I've been on.

For example, my favorite Dole Whip spiked with rum was $9 on board, compared to the exact same version priced at $14 at Disney World.

There are plenty of adults-only spaces.

While I tend to spend much of my day at the lively main pool, which features Disney movies and live entertainment, there are also plenty of adults-only spaces, including pool areas exclusive to guests 18 and older.

Some ships even have bar districts with multiple venues exclusive to adults.

The rooms are spacious and practical.

I've found the rooms on Disney cruises to be the most spacious — and practical in design — I've encountered.

Most rooms on Disney ships also have a split bathroom, which means the toilet area is separate from the shower. This is a vacation lifesaver when multiple adults are trying to get ready at once.

There are also plenty of opportunities to enjoy Disney Magic.

I love Disney ships because, from dressing up for pirate night to meeting my favorite characters, there are plenty of opportunities to feel like a kid again.

The shows on board are Broadway-quality.

I'm a sucker for live entertainment, and each Disney ship offers at least one Broadway-style production. From "Frozen" to "Beauty and the Beast," I always make sure to check out these high-quality musicals, which are included in the price of the cruise.

Disney’s private islands are very relaxing.

I've been to several cruise-line private islands, but Disney's are by far my favorite. Castaway Cay, located in the Bahamas, exudes relaxation. The island is home to one of my favorite activities, the Castaway 5k, which is included in the cruise fare and allows participants to earn an exclusive race medal.

Disney's newest island destination, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, is located near the southern tip of Eleuthera in The Bahamas. The beaches here blew me away and were some of the best I've experienced after dozens of trips to the Caribbean and Mexico.

Disney Cruise Line is the perfect adults-only vacation, and I can't wait to plan another trip.

As a big fan of the parks, Disney Cruise Line takes those magical elements and upgrades them at sea with incredible food, live entertainment, and relaxation — making for the perfect adults-only vacation.

Its ships are home to some of the most exciting, highly themed lounge options I've encountered, and I love the Broadway-quality productions. While on board, I'm able to do as much or as little as I want.

• Ukraine's military intelligence said that a saboteur was responsible for damage to a Russian ship.
• The Serpukhov was set ablaze in April, damaging much of its interior, officials said. 
• Ukraine said that the saboteur was a member of a special legion of Russians fighting for Ukraine.

A Russian dissident covertly working with Ukrainian military intelligence was responsible for setting a fire that badly damaged a Russian warship, Ukrainian officials said on Wednesday.

Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate, or HUR, said at a press conference that a Russian sailor with the callsign "Hoga" had set the blaze aboard the missile ship Serpukhov in April, Radio Svoboda reported.

They said the ship, based out of the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, needed extensive repairs after the fire.

In April, Ukrainian intelligence announced that the Serpukhov had been damaged by a fire, without explicitly claiming responsibility.

The HUR said that the ship's communication and automation systems had been damaged. It shared a brief video clip of a fire starting inside a cabin, as well as diagrams.

Russian authorities did not comment at the time.

In a statement at Wednesday's press conference, Ukraine's "Freedom of Russia" legion — which consists of dissident Russians who fight on Ukraine's side — said that the fire was started by one of their recruits.

Hoga, an active serviceman in Russia's Baltic Fleet, contacted Ukraine's "I Want To Live" program in 2023, Radio Svoboda reported the HUR as saying.

The program, which has been in operation since late 2022, provides a secure phone line for Russians to call to arrange to surrender.

Ukraine claims that more than 220 soldiers have surrendered in this way.

Hoga covertly joined the "Freedom of Russia" legion, remained on board the Serpukhov, and passed intelligence onto the HUR at risk to his own life, the legion said in a statement.

He then committed the act of sabotage on the ship before escaping to Ukraine with secret documents, the HUR said.

Business Insider was unable to independently confirm the claims.

The Serpukhov is one of Russia's most advanced missile ships, Ukrainian intelligence said.

According to KCHF, a Russian site that closely monitors Russia's Black Sea Fleet, the Serpukhov is capable of striking land targets with cruise missiles and previously served in the Black Sea, before being transferred to the Baltics in 2016.