Meredith Corp. and Interactiveation announced a partnership that will bring video content created across Meredith’s national and local platforms to more than 25 million homes this fall, Meredith announced today. “This partnership represents a unique content- and revenue-sharing arrangement in the ‘video on demand’ space,” said Meredith President and CEO Steve Lacy in a release. “We possess tremendous video content creation capabilities across our multiple national and local brands. Interactivation’s Mag Rack network has an impressive national footprint across the major cable and satellite television operators. That’s a powerful combination that will be attractive to viewers and marketers alike.”

The Massachusetts Division of Insurance has approved the proposed merger of three John Hancock insurance companies. The merger agreement was proposed by John Hancock Life Insurance Co., its subsidiary, John Hancock Variable Life Insurance Co., both Massachusetts domestic insurance companies, and John Hancock Life Insurance Co. (USA), a Michigan-domiciled insurer licensed in Massachusetts, A.M. Best Co. reported. Under the proposed transaction, John Hancock Life and John Hancock Variable would combine with and into John Hancock USA. The transaction isn’t scheduled to close until the end of this year, according to an Aug. 27 order approving the deal by Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner Nonnie Burnes. The John Hancock companies are subsidiaries of Canada’s Manulife Financial Corp.

Switzerland has overtaken the United States as the world’s most competitive economy, due to the U.S. financial crisis and fiscal debt, according to a Geneva-based World Economic Forum ranking. The rankings are calculated from both publicly available data and a survey of more than 13,000 business leaders in 133 economies. Switzerland ranked first with a score of 5.60, the U.S. ranked second at 5.59, Singapore third at 5.55, and Sweden fourth at 5.51. See the full rankings.

Mercy Medical Center – West Lakes at 1601 60th St., West Des Moines, opened today. A number of surgeries and heart cath lab procedures were scheduled for today, and tonight the hospital will have its first patients staying overnight. It is West Des Moines’ first community hospital.

Spot gold and U.S. futures topped $1,000 an ounce for the first time in six months today, according to a CNNMoney.com report. Spot gold has risen to about $1,000 five times, including today, once in February, and three times in March 2008. Futures have topped $1,000 nine times, including three times this year and six last year.

The total number for 2009 bank failures reached 89 over the weekend, after five small regional banks were closed by regulators on Friday evening, CNNMoney.com reported. Two were in Illinois, one in Arizona, one in Missouri, and one was Iowa-based Vantus Bank. See a complete list of failed banks here.