Month: November 2025

Kimberly-Clark Corporation announced Monday that it will acquire Kenvue—the maker of Tylenol, Band-Aid, and Aveeno—in a deal valued at approximately $48.7 billion. The transaction, structured as a mix of cash and stock, will unite two global consumer health and hygiene powerhouses behind a portfolio of some of the most recognizable household brands in the world.

Under the terms of the agreement, Kenvue shareholders will receive $3.50 in cash and 0.14625 shares of Kimberly-Clark stock for each Kenvue share they own, representing a total value of about $21.01 per share based on Friday’s closing price. Once the merger is completed, Kimberly-Clark investors are expected to hold roughly 54% of the combined company, while Kenvue shareholders will own about 46%.

The merger will bring together a range of billion-dollar brands under one roof, combining Kimberly-Clark’s well-known products such as Kleenex, Huggies, Cottonelle, Scott, Kotex, Poise, Pull-Ups, and Viva with Kenvue’s consumer staples like Tylenol, Band-Aid, Benadryl, Listerine, Neutrogena, and Aveeno.

Kimberly-Clark CEO Mike Hsu said in a statement: “We are excited to bring together two iconic companies to create a global health and wellness leader. With a shared commitment to developing science and technology to provide extraordinary care, we will serve billions of consumers across every stage of life.”

Hsu will assume the role of chairman and chief executive officer of the merged company, which will maintain Kimberly-Clark’s headquarters in Irving, Texas, while also preserving a significant presence at Kenvue’s existing locations. Three members of Kenvue’s board will join Kimberly-Clark’s board after the transaction closes. The merger still requires approval from both companies’ shareholders and is anticipated to be finalized in the second half of next year.

The deal comes amid a turbulent period for Kenvue. The company’s CEO, Thibaut Mongon, stepped down earlier this year as part of a strategic review, with board member Kirk Perry stepping in as interim CEO. Kenvue has also faced scrutiny surrounding its flagship product, Tylenol, following recent claims regarding the safety of acetaminophen use during pregnancy.  Adding to the company’s challenges, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit last week against Kenvue and its former parent, Johnson & Johnson, alleging the firms “deceptively marketed” Tylenol as a completely safe pain reliever.

Following Monday’s announcement, Kenvue’s shares surged about 20% in premarket trading, while Kimberly-Clark’s stock dipped roughly 14%, according to CNBC.

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Federal prosecutors have charged two Michigan men with allegedly plotting an ISIS-inspired Halloween weekend attack in Michigan.

The case stems from an FBI investigation that led to coordinated raids on the suspects’ homes and a storage unit, where agents reportedly found multiple AR-15-style rifles, shotguns, handguns, tactical vests, more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition, and evidence of extremist communications tied to ISIS-inspired activity. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force also assisted in the search operations across the Detroit area.

According to a 73-page criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud, both U.S. citizens, face charges of receiving, transferring, and conspiring to transfer firearms and ammunition while allegedly knowing the weapons would be used to commit a federal act of terrorism. Federal officials believe the suspects had scouted possible targets in Ferndale, Michigan, including LGBTQ+ bars and clubs, though no specific attack location was finalized.

FBI Director Kash Patel said Friday that agents had “thwarted a potential terrorist attack,” confirming that five people were arrested during the investigation. However, only Ali and Mahmoud have been formally charged.

Court documents allege the pair purchased a shotgun, multiple AR-15-style rifles, and a “forced reset trigger that allows a shooter to increase the rate of fire in a semiautomatic weapon.” They and several unnamed co-conspirators allegedly practiced shooting at ranges around Michigan and used encrypted messaging apps and social media to exchange ISIS-related propaganda and plans for attacks modeled after previous terrorist incidents.

Investigators say the group discussed traveling overseas to join ISIS, but ultimately decided to remain in the United States to carry out a domestic attack, allegedly referencing “the same thing as France,” an apparent nod to the 2015 Paris attacks, and mentioning the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting as inspiration.

Court documents describe coded language used by the suspects, including repeated references to “pumpkins” when discussing their Halloween plot. On October 17, Ali allegedly told another individual, “We’ve got some new plan for real — for real,” urging the person to “learn how to shoot.” The next day, he reportedly said he would hold a meeting to outline their next steps.

Later conversations suggest the men debated whether to move forward, but continued referring to “pumpkin” as the code for their plan. One exchange quoted in the complaint reads: “In another conversation on October 19, 2025, Person 1 and ALI again referenced ‘pumpkin’ and Person 1 told ALI to ‘change it back.’ ALI then told Person 1 ‘that isn’t happening’ and said, ‘if that happens, the thing is you won’t know once you see it on the news, the open news.’ On October 24, another associate allegedly told Ali, “I talked to my brothers. We are going to do pumpkin,” indicating their intent to proceed.

Two of the five initially detained suspects were released without charges, while Ali and Mahmoud remain in federal custody. If convicted, the men could face lengthy prison sentences under federal anti-terrorism statutes.

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British authorities have arrested two men following a mass stabbing on a London-bound train that left 11 people injured, two of them critically.

The incident occurred on the evening of November 1 aboard a train traveling from Doncaster, in northern England, to London’s King’s Cross station. At around 7:42 p.m., passengers began calling emergency services to report chaos and screaming as attackers moved through the carriages. The train made an emergency stop in Huntingdon, a market town roughly 75 miles north of London, where police swarmed the scene and arrested two suspects just eight minutes after the first distress calls. Authorities have not disclosed the relationship between the suspects or the type of weapons used. During the initial emergency response, police briefly activated “Plato,” a national protocol for potential terror attacks, but later rescinded it once terrorism was ruled out. (per the BBC.)

Police have ruled out terrorism as a motive as they continue to investigate what led to the violent attack. British Transport Police Superintendent John Loveless confirmed that the suspects—men aged 32 and 35, both born in the U.K.—were taken into custody at separate stations. Loveless said during a press briefing outside Huntingdon Station: “this is a shocking incident and my thoughts are with those who have been injured and their families,” emphasizing  that “there is nothing to suggest this is a terrorist incident” and cautioned that “it would not be appropriate to speculate on the cause.” Authorities have not disclosed the relationship between the suspects or the type of weapons used. During the initial emergency response, police briefly activated “Plato,” a national protocol for potential terror attacks, but later rescinded it once terrorism was ruled out.

Superintendent Loveless said detectives are working “to establish the full circumstances and motivation for this incident,” and that officers will maintain a “high visibility presence of police at stations and on trains” in the coming days to reassure the public.

According to police, ten victims were taken to local hospitals by ambulance, and another person later arrived independently for treatment. Early reports indicated nine people were in life-threatening condition, but that number has since been reduced to two. Four victims have been discharged, while two remain in critical condition.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the stabbing spree “appalling” in a post on X, writing, “My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response. Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police.”

King Charles III and Queen Camilla said in a statement that they were “shocked to hear of the dreadful knife attack” and extended their sympathies to those affected. Additionally, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood praised the “exceptional bravery of staff and passengers on the train” who risked their safety to protect others.

London North Eastern Railway, which operates the route, warned of major service disruptions through Monday. Huntingdon Station remains closed, though trains are continuing to pass through the area as the investigation continues.

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Authorities are investigating what they describe as an ‘intentional explosion’ that occurred early Saturday morning inside the Goldenson Building on the Harvard Medical School campus in Boston. No injuries have been reported, but officials say the blast appears to have been deliberately set.

The Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) said the incident began around 2:48 a.m. when a fire alarm went off in the Goldenson Building, located at 220 Longwood Avenue. A responding campus police officer arrived moments later and saw two individuals fleeing from the scene. The officer attempted to stop them but was unable to do so. Shortly afterward, the officer discovered evidence of an explosion on the building’s fourth floor.

According to officials, the Boston Fire Department’s arson unit responded to assist and determined that the explosion “appeared to be intentional.” A subsequent sweep of the building by the Boston Police Department found no additional explosive devices.

Investigators from the FBI, Boston Police, and Harvard University Police are now working together to determine who was responsible and what may have motivated the attack. An FBI spokesperson said “we’re assisting our partners at the Harvard University Police Department and we’re going to decline further comment at this time.”

Surveillance footage captured two suspects inside the building prior to the explosion. University police released still images showing the individuals—both appearing to be young men with their faces covered. One suspect was wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt with “NYC” printed on the front, khaki pants, and gray Crocs. The other was dressed in a dark hoodie and dark plaid pajama pants. In other photos released earlier, one appeared to be wearing a balaclava, and the other had their hood raised with a face covering.

The Goldenson Building, which dates back to 1906, is part of Harvard’s medical campus surrounding the HMS Quad Lawn. Officials say the structure has since been deemed safe, and the investigation remains active as federal, state, and local law enforcement continue to gather evidence and review surveillance footage.

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the suspects or the explosion to contact the Harvard University Police Department’s detective bureau at (617) 495-1796.

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