Widow of Alexei Navalny vows to continue his fight against Putin: The Morning Rundown, Feb. 20, 2024

The widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny speaks out against Vladimir Putin following the death of her husband. And Capital One says it’s planning to acquire Discover for $35 billion. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024.

Widow of Alexei Navalny vows to continue his fight against Putin

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has vowed to continue her husband’s mission against Vladimir Putin three days after it was announced her husband had died suddenly inside an arctic prison at the age of 47. While Russian authorities claimed Alexei felt unwell before losing consciousness, in a video message posted to YouTube on Monday, Feb. 19, Navalnaya accused the Kremlin of poisoning her husband and holding on to his body to cover up the murder.

Navalnaya, who lives in exile outside Russia, said her husband loved their country more than anything in the world, and that’s why he returned to Russia following a poisoning attempt in 2020.

“I will continue Alexei Navalny’s work, continue to fight for our country,” Navalnaya said. “I urge you to stand next to me. To share not only my grief and endless pain which has enveloped us to not let us go, I ask you to share the rage with me, rage, anger, hatred towards those who dare to kill our future. I address with you Alexei’s own words, which he believed very much: It is not shameful to do little; it is shameful to do nothing.”

Since Friday, Feb. 16, reportedly 400 people have been detained in Russia for mourning the death of Alexei Navalny. On Monday, Feb. 19, President Joe Biden said the U.S. is considering additional sanctions against Russia. Biden also blames Putin for Alexei Navalny’s death.

US proposes ‘temporary cease-fire’ in draft UN resolution

The United States has proposed a United Nations Security Council draft resolution calling for a temporary cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war and opposing a major ground offensive in the town of Rafah by Israeli forces. According to the text of the draft, seen by multiple news outlets, the U.S. seeks a temporary cease-fire, the release of all hostages being held by Hamas, and the lifting of barriers for humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

The U.S. added Israel’s planned ground offensive in Rafah would harm civilians who have been displaced during the fighting. The U.S. draft comes as the council is set to vote on Tuesday, Feb. 20, on a draft proposal by Algeria demanding an immediate cease-fire. The U.S. has vowed to veto that proposal, saying it could jeopardize ongoing talks for a pause in war.

Widow of former Haiti president charged in his killing

The widow of the former president of Haiti has been charged in connection with his murder. Jovenel Moïse was shot dead in July of 2021 when armed suspects broke into his bedroom – killing him and injuring his wife, Martine Moïse. But now a judge says Martine was an accomplice in the killing. She is among 51 people to be indicted.

According to the indictment, Martine conspired with the former prime minister to kill her husband. A lawyer for Martine told the New York Times before the charges were announced that “she was a victim” and remains in hiding.

Some argue the charges result from politics, accusing the current prime minister of going after his critics. A separate U.S. investigation into the murder continues in Miami, where eleven men have been charged.

Capital One to acquire Discover in a $35 billion deal

In a significant move that will likely reshape the landscape of the U.S. banking and credit card industries, Capital One Financial has announced plans to acquire Discover Financial for $35.3 billion. This deal will merge two of the nation’s premier lenders and credit card issuers, creating the sixth-largest bank in the United States.

Discover currently serves 70 million merchants across more than 200 countries.

“Our acquisition of Discover is a singular opportunity to bring together two very successful companies with complementary capabilities and franchises, and to build a payments network that can compete with the largest payments networks and payments companies,” said Richard Fairbank, founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Capital One.

WATCH: In a deal, seeking to form the sixth-largest US bank by assets and a US credit card behemoth, Warren Buffett-backed consumer bank Capital One plans to acquire credit card issuer Discover Financial Services for $35.3 billion https://t.co/HFTf7Ezgdo pic.twitter.com/wNNrYXq6HL

— Reuters Business (@ReutersBiz) February 20, 2024

Under the terms of the current agreement, Discover shareholders will receive 1.0192 Capital One shares for each Discover share, representing a premium of 26.6% based on Discover’s closing price of $110.49 on Feb 16. At close, Capital One shareholders will own approximately 60% and Discover shareholders will own approximately 40% of the combined company.

Michael Rhodes, CEO and president of Discover, said the agreement “underscores the strength of our business and is a testament to the hard work of Discover employees. We look forward to a bright future as part of the Capital One family and to providing expanded opportunities for our loyal customers.”

Report: Abraham Lincoln pardoned President Biden’s great-great-grandfather

In a story that has waited 160 years to be told, a new report details a link between President Joe Biden and former President Abraham Lincoln. According to a Washington Post report, Lincoln pardoned a Union Army civilian employee by the name of Moses J. Robinette, President Biden’s great-great-grandfather. Monday’s, Feb. 19 post report by historian David J. Gerleman cites the National Archives detailing a Mar. 21, 1864 fight between Robinette and another Union Army civilian employee.

Robinette, who was hired as a veterinary surgeon and assigned to the Potomac’s Reserve Artillery, was charged with attempted murder and court-martialed following the fight at the camp, according to the report. After being convicted and sentenced to two years of hard labor, three army officers petitioned Lincoln to overturn Robinette’s conviction, saying that Robinette was acting in self-defense against a much superior and stronger adversary.

Lincoln pardoned Biden’s great-great-grandfather on Sept. 1, 1864. President Biden’s full name is Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., reportedly getting his middle name as a nod to his great-great-grandfather

William Byron wins the Daytona 500

A rain delay did not dampen William Byron’s excitement as he won the 2024 Daytona 500 on Monday, Feb. 19, helping kick off Hendrick Motorsports’ 40th season in style.

This was the race team’s ninth Daytona 500 victory and Byron’s 11th Career Cup series win. The 26-year-old Charlotte native called the “Great American Race” win “awesome.”