DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

HONG KONG CNN —India is set to vote in the world’s largest ever general election, setting the stage for a mammoth exercise in democracy with nearly a billion people eligible to head to the polls across just over six weeks. Here is a look at how the world’s most populous country votes in the world’s largest democracy. The number of women registered to vote has increased by 40 million since the previous election in 2019, according to the election commission, while more than 20 million voters between ages 18-29 have been added to the electorate. Voting begins on Friday, April 19, and will continue through June 1, with results announced on June 4. This operation requires some 15 million polling officials and security staff during the election, with some of these election workers traveling via road, boat, camel, train, and helicopters to reach India’s citizens.

Persons: Narendra Modi Organizations: HONG KONG CNN —, European Union Locations: HONG KONG, HONG KONG CNN — India, North America, Lok, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, India’s

☆ India general election 2024: What to know about the world’s biggest vote
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Helen Regan | Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Under Modi, India has become the world’s fastest growing major economy, pushing the country of 1.4 billion people to near-superpower status. Here’s what you need to know about the largest election in human history:How does India vote? Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses his supporters during an election campaign rally in Pushkar on April 6, 2024. Congress senior party leader Rahul Gandhi during the release of the party manifesto on April 5, 2024 in New Delhi. The ruling BJP’s symbol is a lotus, while the Congress party is a raised, open-palmed hand.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Modi, Noah Seelam, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Congress ’ Mamata Banerjee, Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin, Himanshu Sharma, Modi’s, Kejriwal, Sanjeev Verma, Nasir Kachroo, Biju Boro Organizations: CNN, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, European Union, Getty, Indian National Congress, Congress, Developmental Inclusive Alliance, Aam Aadmi Party, Delhi, West, All India, Modi, Hindustan Times, Minorities, Analysts, Bahujan Samaj Party, Farmers, for Media Studies Locations: India, United States, Russia, Lok, Hyderabad, AFP, INDIA, West Bengal, Tamil, Pushkar, Delhi, New Delhi, Ayodhya, Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh, China, Lohore Sapori, Assam

The stop by Ms. Harris at the Planned Parenthood clinic was believed to be the first official visit by a vice president to an abortion clinic. We have to be a nation that trusts women.”Image Ms. Harris visited a Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Paul, Minn., on Thursday. Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota were almost bare — all have restricted abortion access since the overturning of Roe. But the fall of Roe upended those politics, energizing a new generation of voters energized by their support for abortion rights. “Please do understand that when we talk about a clinic such as this, it is absolutely about health care and reproductive health care.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Minn, Harris, ”, “, Jenn Ackerman, Roe, Wade, energizing, Biden, Lake, Biden’s, Donald J, Trump, Ms, Undem, Mr, Paul, Sarah Traxler, Tim Walz Organizations: Minn, ., The New York Times, Democrats, Democratic, Paul Health Center, Administration, Gov, The, of Family, State Legislature, Biden Locations: St, Paul, Minnesota, . Minnesota, Iowa . Nebraska , North Dakota, South Dakota, Gaza, KFF, Democratic, Vandalia, “ Minnesota, States

☆ US Launches Disaster Relief Reforms as Climate-Driven Events Rise
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's administration on Friday said it was launching the most major reforms to disaster management relief in two decades as climate change-driven extreme weather events, such as floods and fires, increase. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reforms of its federal assistance policies and expanded benefits for disaster survivors aim to cut red tape that victims have said makes it difficult for them to access resources after a disaster. FEMA said the reforms follow feedback from disaster survivors. Previously, the payment was assessed on a disaster-to-disaster basis. FEMA said the changes will take effect for new disasters declared on, or after March 22, 2024.

Persons: Joe Biden's, ”, Deanne, Valerie Volcovici, Sharon Singleton Organizations: WASHINGTON, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, U.S, Small Business Administration Locations: U.S, Maui, California

☆ In boost for Modi, India's ruling BJP sweeps polls in three states
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, arrives at the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in New Delhi, India, on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party won three crucial state elections and unseated the opposition in two of them, strengthening Modi's bid for a third term in office. India's ruling nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, on Sunday won regional votes in three out of four major states, in a big boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of a national election due by May. BJP comfortably won Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh from the main opposition Congress and retained Madhya Pradesh, vote-counting data from the independent election panel showed. But the alliance did not feature in the state polls due to internal rivalries and it was a direct contest between BJP and Congress.

Persons: Narendra Modi, India's, Modi Organizations: Bhartiya Janata Party, BJP, Bharatiya Janata Party, Sunday, Congress Locations: New Delhi, India, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana

USDA pegged U.S. corn yield at 174.9 bushels per acre, up from 173 last month and above nearly all estimates, which on average predicted a slight increase. It was the most bearish corn yield in a November report since 2017. That could negatively impact Brazil’s second corn production, as was the case after the 2015-16 El Nino, rerouting corn demand to the United States. USDA left Brazil’s 2023-24 soy crop unchanged at 163 million metric tons this month, but it raised the prior crop by 2 million tons to 158 million, suggesting exports are outperforming prior crop expectations. However, USDA has flashed 2.85 million tons (105 million bushels) of U.S. soybean sales so far this week, mostly to China and unknown destinations.

Persons: Dane Rhys, El, Karen Braun, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Department, USDA, El Nino, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Deerfield , Ohio, U.S, Rights NAPERVILLE , Illinois, Brazil, United States, China

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has vetoed Republican-sponsored bills intended to undo federal protections for two endangered species that have seen their populations plummet over the years: the lesser prairie chicken and northern long-eared bat. The two GOP measures would overturn “science-based rulemaking" that offers important protections for the once-abundant species and would undermine the Endangered Species Act, Biden said. Environmentalists have long sought stronger federal protections for the prairie bird, which they consider severely at risk due to oil and gas development, livestock grazing and farming, along with roads and power lines. Veto of the lesser-prairie chicken measure puts the bird "on a more certain path to recovery,” said Michael Parr, president of American Bird Conservancy. The American public, regardless of party affiliation, overwhelmingly supports the Endangered Species Act and believes it should be fully funded to protect species from extinction.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Bruce Westerman of, “, ”, Michael Parr, ” Jamie Rappaport Clark Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, GOP, Congress, U.S . Fish, Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Natural Resources, Republicans, Washington , D.C, Council, Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental, American Bird Conservancy, of Wildlife, American Locations: Midwest, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado , Oklahoma, Kansas, United States, Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, America, East, South America, Washington ,, Canada, U.S

A man with American Electric Power (AEP) repairs an electricity cable during a heatwave in Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S. July 28, 2023. Power grids carry reserves to ensure the system remains reliable in case a large power plant or transmission line fails unexpectedly. ERCOT forecast demand would reach 85,296 megawatts (MW) on Thursday, just shy of its 85,435 MW record set Aug. 10. MISO projected it would have 125,907 MW of supplies available with 120,656 MW from internal resources and 5,251 MW of imports. That would not be enough to meet the grid's forecast peak of 127,692 MW, which would top the system's all-time high of 127,100 MW in July 2011.

Persons: Adrees Latif, ERCOT, MISO, Brandon Morris, Morris, Scott DiSavino, Nick Zieminski Organizations: American Electric Power, REUTERS, Reliability, of Texas, Thomson Locations: Pass , Texas, U.S, Texas, Central, Houston, Dallas, Minnesota, Louisiana

A man with American Electric Power (AEP) repairs an electricity cable during a heatwave in Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S. July 28, 2023. REUTERS/Adrees Latif/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 24 (Reuters) - Two U.S. electric grids issued alerts warning of the potential for power shortages on Thursday due to a brutal heat wave blanketing Texas and U.S. Central states. ERCOT faces "a high potential to enter emergency operations this evening" due to low wind generation and high power demand, the grid operator said. AccuWeather forecast temperatures in Houston, the biggest city in Texas, would reach 107 degrees Fahrenheit (41.7 degrees Celsius) on Thursday. MISO projected power use would reach 127,195 MW on Thursday, topping the system's all-time high of 127,100 MW in July 2011.

Persons: Adrees Latif, ERCOT, MISO, Brandon Morris, Morris, Scott DiSavino, Brijesh Patel, Nick Zieminski, Jonathan Oatis, David Gregorio Our Organizations: American Electric Power, REUTERS, Reliability, of Texas, Thomson Locations: Pass , Texas, U.S, Texas, Central, Houston, Dallas, Minnesota, Louisiana

☆ Trucking giant Yellow declares bankruptcy after nearly 100 years in business
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Trucking giant Yellow declared bankruptcy and will shut down. The company received a $700 million loan from the federal government in 2020. Trucking company Yellow Corp. has declared bankruptcy after years of financial struggles and growing debt, marking a significant shift for the U.S. transportation industry and shippers nationwide. The Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which was filed Sunday, comes just three years after Yellow received $700 million in pandemic-era loans from the federal government. The Teamsters supported the $700 million loan when it was first announced.

Persons: Darren Hawkins, Sean O'Brien, Yellow, Trump, Bruce Chan Organizations: Teamsters, Morning, Yellow Corp, New England Motor, Former, FedEx, ABF, YRC, Inc, Street, Central States Health, Welfare Fund, U.S, Bankruptcy, Treasury Department, Treasury, Defense Locations: U.S, Nashville , Tennessee, Delaware

☆ Robust rains accelerate rice planting in India
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Mayank Bhardwaj | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Higher rice planting in India, the world's second-biggest producer of the grain, will ease concerns about lower output of the staple. Farmers typically start planting rice, corn, cotton, soybeans, sugarcane and peanuts, among other crops, from June 1, when monsoon rains are expected to begin drenching India. For June and July together, India's monsoon rains were 5% above average, falling 10% below normal in June but rebounding to 13% above average in July. Farmers planted 17.9 million hectares (44.2 million acres) with oilseeds, including soybeans, 2.2% more than a year earlier. Corn was planted on 7.6 million hectares (18.8 million acres), up from 7.5 million hectares a year earlier.

Persons: Amit Dave, Mayank Bhardwaj, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, Farmers, Thomson Locations: Indian, Ahmedabad, India, Farmers, drenching India, Punjab, Haryana

☆ India's rice planting gathers pace as monsoon rains revive
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Mayank Bhardwaj | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Higher rice planting in India, the world's second biggest producer of the grain, will ease concerns about the lower output of the staple. Farmers typically start planting rice, corn, cotton, soybeans, sugarcane and peanuts, among other crops, from June 1, when monsoon rains are expected to begin drenching India. India received 10% below normal rains in June, but in some states, the rainfall deficit was as much as 60% below average. This year, the delayed arrival of monsoon rains and lower rainfall in some southern, eastern and central states held back the planting of summer crops even as the monsoon covered the entire country nearly a week in advance. Some regions in India, including breadbasket states such as Punjab and Haryana, have received torrential rains in July, triggering floods.

Persons: Mayank Bhardwaj, Lincoln Organizations: India Meteorological Department, El, Farmers, Thomson Locations: DELHI, India, Farmers, drenching India, Punjab, Haryana

☆ Strike at trucking firm Yellow averted after deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 23 (Reuters) - U.S. trucking firm Yellow (YELL.O) averted a threatened strike by 22,000 Teamsters-represented workers on Sunday, saying the company will pay the more than $50 million it owed in worker benefits and pension accruals. Yellow is the third-biggest U.S. trucking company specializing in the less-than-truckload segment that combines shipments from different customers in the same trailer. Competitors, who are grappling with a sharp drop in freight volume, are expected to cherry-pick the company's customers, trucking experts and analysts said. It has successfully won such concessions in the past, but this time was rebuffed by new Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien. A federal judge in Kansas on Friday rejected Yellow's request to block the Teamsters from striking over the delinquent benefit payments.

Persons: Donald Trump, Sean O'Brien, O'Brien, O’Brien, Yellow's, Lisa Baertlein, Ananta Agarwal, Mrinmay Dey, Diane Craft, Chris Reese Organizations: Teamsters, Central, U.S, Walmart, Uber, Apollo Global Management, . Company, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United Parcel Service, Thomson Locations: U.S, Central States, Nashville , Tennessee, Kansas, Los Angeles, Bengaluru

☆ Iowa Republicans pass a new 6-week abortion ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Adam Edelman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Reynolds, in a statement issued moments after the bill was passed, said she would sign the bill on Friday. As it currently stands, abortion remains legal in Iowa until the 20th week of pregnancy. The bill passed by Republicans, who control the Legislature, would ban abortions at the sixth week of pregnancy — or when, in some cases, a fetal pulse can first be heard via ultrasound. Republicans have often struggled to talk to voters about abortion rights in the year since the Supreme Court's Dobbs ruling overturned Roe v. Wade. The latest bill is nearly identical to a six-week ban that remains permanently blocked following an Iowa Supreme Court ruling last month.

Persons: Kim Reynolds, Reynolds, —, Holmes, Zach Boyden, Connie Ryan, Amy Bingaman, Bingaman, Iowans, Vicki Miller, Court's Dobbs, Roe, people's, Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, Sen, Tim Scott of, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy, Ruth Richardson, Dana Oxley, Oxley Organizations: Capitol, U.S . Iowa Republicans, Republican Gov, Republicans, Protesters, Iowa, Iowa Interfaith Alliance, Democratic, Republican, Florida Gov, South Carolina Gov, Democrats, Central, Iowa Supreme Locations: Iowa, Des Moines , Iowa, U.S, Des Moines, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Central States

☆ Explainer: Why El Nino is a concern for Indian monsoon rains?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Rajendra Jadhav | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

However, a 90% likelihood of an El Nino weather pattern developing during the June-September monsoon season raises the possibility of less than normal rain. WHAT IS EL NINO? As a result, the Indian monsoon tends to be weaker and less reliable during El Nino years. HOW CLOSE IS THE CORRELATION BETWEEN EL NINO AND MONSOON RAIN? The correlation between El Nino and Indian monsoon rainfall is significant, despite occasional instances when India gets normal or above-normal rain during El Nino years.

CNN —A “large and extremely dangerous” tornado has been observed over Cole, Oklahoma, according to the National Weather Service. The tornado has rolled through southeastern Cleveland and west-central McClain counties in the central portion of the state. These storms are capable of producing large hail and damaging winds, with a limited tornado potential, along west of Hwy 75. These storms are capable of producing large hail and damaging winds, with a limited tornado potential, along west of Hwy 75,” the National Weather Service in Tulsa said. On Thursday, the severe storms threat shifts to the east to include eastern Texas, northwestern Louisiana, southeastern Oklahoma, southeastern Missouri and much of Arkansas.

☆ Iowa's GOP AG has stopped funding for emergency contraception and abortion for victims of sexual assault, say reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-09 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Iowa AG Office has paused funding emergency contraception and abortion for victims of sexual assault. The Iowa decison comes as abortion access across the US may become even more inaccessible. Under Iowa's previous Democrat attorney general, Tom Miller, the state provided funding for Plan B – the emergency contraceptive pill – and in rare cases, paid for abortions. However, it was announced on Saturday that Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird, elected last fall, had decided to pause the funding. JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty ImagesThe move comes as abortion access across the US may become even more inaccessible.

☆ Mexico can't match U.S. incentives for proposed Tesla battery plant, minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MEXICO CITY, March 3 (Reuters) - Mexico would not be able to match the incentives offered under a U.S. act to tame inflation if Tesla Inc builds a battery plant in the country, Mexico's finance minister said on Friday, days after Tesla announced the construction of a "gigafactory" there. Tesla (TSLA.O) has not confirmed whether it will also build a battery plant in Mexico, but local officials say Tesla has visited the central states of Hidalgo, Queretaro and Puebla to scout potential sites. A decision on a battery plant in Mexico has yet to be announced. "The battery plant was not in (Tesla's) original plan, it was the Mexican government's suggestion," Ramirez said. Without legislation, Ramirez said, Mexico would not be able to match U.S. incentives.

☆ Tesla plans 6,000 jobs in Mexico and eyes more investment, government says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BMW, General Motors and Ford have all recently announced plans to begin or step up EV production in Mexico as automakers transition away from fossil fuels. Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk is expected to detail his Mexico plans at an Investors Day event on Wednesday at 4 p.m. EST (2100 GMT). "(Musk) is interested in investing more in Mexico," Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said, noting the two had discussed the government's plans to develop the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in southern Mexico when they recently talked. This closeness was very good for them," she told Mexican television. The factory will employ 5,000 to 6,000 people, she added, noting that similar Tesla plants elsewhere employ up to 10,000.

☆ Airlines cancel over 1,300 U.S. flights as winter storm grips states
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 22 (Reuters) - Airlines canceled more than 1,300 flights in the United States on Wednesday as a strong winter storm makes its way through the western and central states. A total of 1,327 flights within, into and out of the United States were canceled by 12:30 p.m. ET, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware, which also showed 2,030 flights were delayed. Regional carrier SkyWest Inc (SKYW.O) led the cancellations with 312 flights, followed by low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines Co's (LUV.N) 248 and Delta Air Lines' (DAL.N) 246 flight cancellations. Southwest and Delta said they are monitoring the storm, while SkyWest did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.

☆ Major Winter Storm Brings Outages, Canceled Flights and Heavy Snow
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Gareth Vipers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The National Weather Service is expecting historic snowfall to build in Minnesota’s Twin Cities. Strong winds and heavy snowfall whipped western and central states overnight, leaving tens of thousands of homes without power as a winter storm began to barrel its way across the U.S.Gusts of up to 64 miles-an-hour swept parts of Northern California, while forecasters in the Midwest warned some areas to brace for record snowfall.

☆ Winter Storm Brings Heavy Snow, Ice From California to Maine, Grounding More Than 1,000 Flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Gareth Vipers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The National Weather Service is expecting historic snowfall to build in Minnesota’s Twin Cities. Strong winds and heavy snowfall whipped western and central states overnight, causing airlines to cancel more than a thousand flights and leaving tens of thousands of homes without power as a winter storm began to barrel across the U.S.More than 1,000 flights within, into or out of the U.S. were canceled by 9 a.m. ET, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks flight data.

☆ Winter Storm Brings Heavy Snow, Ice From California to Maine, Grounding More Than 1,300 Flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Gareth Vipers | Jennifer Calfas | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A plane is de-iced on Wednesday at Denver International Airport. Strong winds and heavy snowfall whipped western and central states Wednesday, causing airlines to cancel more than a thousand flights and leaving tens of thousands of homes without power as a winter storm began to barrel across the U.S.More than 1,300 flights within, into or out of the U.S. were canceled by 1 p.m. ET, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks flight data.

☆ Airlines cancel over 1,000 U.S. flights as winter storm grips states
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 22 (Reuters) - Airlines canceled more than 1,000 flights in the United States on Wednesday as a strong winter storm makes its way through the western and central states. A total of 1,035 flights within, into or out of the United States were canceled by 0915 am ET, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware, which showed 932 flights were delayed. Low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines Co (LUV.N) led the cancellations with 235 flights, followed by Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) that canceled 197 flights. Southwest and Delta did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Reporting by Aishwarya Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. posts $39 billion January deficit after pension fund bailout
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. federal outlays in January were $486 billion, up $140 billion, or 4%, from a year earlier due in part to Biden's $36 billion bailout of the Central States Pension Fund to prevent cuts to the pensions of over 350,000 Teamsters union workers and retirees that it serves. Social Security costs in January rose $12 billion or 12% compared to a year earlier, reaching $114 billion due to cost-of-living adjustments. Interest on the public debt rose $8 billion, or 18%, reaching $51 billion in January. Withheld individual income and payroll taxes in January rose $11 billion, or 4% from a year ago, reaching $279 billion. January non-withheld receipts fell $9 billion, or 6%, to $141 billion, reflecting lower capital gains being realized.

Search resuls for: "Central States"

25 mentions found