DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ McKinsey tried to boost the morale of senior staff by blasting Eminem and Bob Marley at an internal event, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

McKinsey & Co. held an internal event to rally partners amid a challenging year, Bloomberg reports. Like many major consulting firms, McKinsey has announced layoffs as demand for its services has fallen. During the event, Bob Sternfels, global managing partner at McKinsey, reportedly admitted that the last 18 months had been challenging but said that 2024 was looking better for the firm. McKinsey global managing partner, Bob Sternfels, makes a statement to the US Senate on the firm's work with Saudi Arabia, February 2024. But McKinsey partners have reportedly been unhappy with how leadership has handled the role reductions, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

Persons: Bob Marley, Eminem, —, Bob Sternfels, Sternfels, sprees, they're Organizations: McKinsey, Co, Bloomberg, Service, SPAN McKinsey, Employees, US Department of Justice, Purdue Pharma, Sternfels Locations: British, Copenhagen, Saudi Arabia

☆ A 101-year-old woman keeps getting mistaken for a baby on flights, and says it's because American Airlines' booking system can't handle her age
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An elderly woman named Patricia says American Airlines keeps getting her age wrong. Patricia told the BBC: "It was funny that they thought I was only a little child and I'm an old lady!" AdvertisementBut she said it was not the first time American Airlines had mistaken her for a baby. American Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. In 2022, 12,000 American Airlines flights were left without pilots after a glitch allowed them to drop assignments.

Persons: Patricia, — Organizations: American Airlines, Airlines, Service, BBC, BBC . American Airlines, Business Locations: Chicago, Marquette , Michigan, Europe

☆ Chinese scientists want to use lasers to power ultrafast, stealthy submarines. A laser expert says there's a major flaw in their plan.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Chinese researchers say they have made a breakthrough in laser propulsion technology that could one day be used on submarines and missiles. A laser propulsion expert at McGill University told Business Insider they see flaws in the claims. Rather than relying on nuclear or battery power, the scientists say they have found a way to use lasers to propel submarines — known as underwater laser propulsion. This technology has already been used in Russian Shkval torpedoes since the 1970s, using rocket exhaust rather than laser power. "The average overall thrust is low and the jet power cannot exceed the power supply of the laser."

Persons: —, Yang Ge, Xulong Yang, Ge Yang, Andrew Higgins, Higgins Organizations: McGill University, Business, Service, Submarines, China's Harbin University, China Morning Post, NASA, Harbin University, China Defense Locations: China, Sinica, torpedos

☆ Palmer Luckey's start-up Anduril just proved it can challenge legacy defense contractors and win
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Anduril has just been selected as one of two vendors for a major US air force contract. AdvertisementAnduril Industries, the defense tech startup run by Palmer Luckey, has just been awarded a major contract by the US Air Force, beating out legacy names like Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The Air Force hopes to eventually buy at least 1,000 CAA systems at a cost of $30 million per drone. "I'm confident we're going to deliver on budget and on schedule some really sick AI-powered fighter jets," he added. And the demand is there for them if they can make it: venture capitalists have put more than $100 billion into defense tech since 2021, according to PitchBook data.

Persons: Anduril, Northrup Grumman, Palmer Luckey, —, Lockheed Martin, Atomics, General Atomics Organizations: Boeing, Lockheed, Service, Anduril Industries, US Air Force, Aircraft, Air, Air Force, CAA, Combat Aircraft, CNBC Locations: Anduril, United States of America, …, China, Silicon Valley

☆ Singer Lily Allen weighed in on an age-old airline debate, saying she flies first class, but her kids go coach
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Lily Allen is happy to leave her kids in economy while she flies first class. But Allen said she's not a fan of people boasting on social media about refusing to swap their first class seat with families. AdvertisementBritish singer Lily Allen has weighed into the great debate over whether children should be allowed to sit in first class on flights. Allen said she's happy to send her kids to economy class while she takes a seat in first class. "I'm going in first class, she's going in economy."

Persons: Lily Allen, Allen, she's, —, Miquita Oliver, Ethel, Marnie, David Harbour, Oliver, Miquita, Lily, ANGELA WEISS, it's, Allen doesn't, …, They've, I'd, I'm Organizations: Service, Radio Locations: British, New York, London

☆ Jeff Bezos' hard-driving approach is good for business but may lack empathy, Harvard professor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Harvard Business School professor was asked to break down Jeff Bezos' leadership style on a recent podcast. But good leadership also requires empathy, an area where Bezos is seemingly lacking, Gupta said. His inventiveness, fearlessness, and focus have all played a key role in Amazon's growth, said Sunil Gupta, a Harvard Business School professor who has studied Bezos for years. Gupta broke down how Bezos's character has helped Amazon grow on a recent episode of Harvard Business Review's "On Strategy" podcast. Amazon workers rally in support of unionization efforts, March 2021.

Persons: Jeff Bezos, Sunil Gupta, Gupta, —, he's, He's, FREDERIC J . BROWN, Bezos Organizations: Harvard Business School, Service, Harvard Business, Harvard, Nomad Ventures, Inc, Getty, Amazon, Washington Post, Gallup

☆ Alaska Airlines was named America's favorite airline for the 2nd year in a row — months after a hole blew in the side of one of its planes
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The airline topped the American Customer Satisfaction Index, despite its infamous panel blowout in January. Overall, US air travel customers were happier than last year with their experiences. The airline comfortably topped the annual American Customer Satisfaction Index with a score of 82, a one-point improvement compared to 2023. Allegiant registered a four-point rise in overall customer satisfaction, making it one of the fastest climbers this year. By collating this information, the American Customer Satisfaction Index says it provides a "definitive measure of passenger satisfaction."

Persons: —, Allegiant, Max, Kyle Rinker, Jonathan W Organizations: Alaska Airlines, Service, American Airlines, Allegiant Air, Delta, United Airlines, Boeing, Portland International, Johnson, International Air Transport Association Locations: Alaska

☆ Emirates is dealing with a 30,000 bag backlog as it grovels to customers about its handling of Dubai floods
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewEmirates, the Middle East's largest airline, is still trying to return 30,000 leftover bags to customers affected by the torrential rains and flooding that brought Dubai Airport to a standstill last week. Related storyTo accommodate disrupted passengers, Emirates said it had secured 12,000 hotel rooms and issued 250,000 meal vouchers. AdvertisementDespite the chaos and a government warning telling people to stay at home, Emirates flight attendants in Dubai were also told to report for duty. The airline officially resumed regular flight operations at Dubai Airport on Saturday, but warned it would still take several days to clear the backlog. In a sign of its growing popularity, the number of passengers traveling to Dubai Airport increased by 31.7% in the last year.

Persons: —, Tim Clark, Clark, GIUSEPPE CACACE Organizations: Service, Emirates, Dubai, Business, Reuters, Dubai Airport, Air Missions, PTI, United Locations: Emirates, Dubai, UAE, United Arab Emirates, Gulf

☆ How Gordon Ramsay went from timid apprentice to celebrity chef with a huge restaurant empire
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Gordon Ramsay grew up with a disadvantaged childhood. AdvertisementIf Gordon Ramsay had a dollar for every time he shouted the F-word … he'd probably still be the multi-millionaire he is today. The global celebrity chef places 19th on Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid celebrities and has amassed a substantial fortune. Ramsay grew up in an abusive household and relied at times on handouts from neighbors. This is how the foul-mouthed, Michelin-starred celebrity chef made his way up in the world.

Persons: Gordon Ramsay, —, wasn't, Ramsay Organizations: Service, Forbes

☆ I lost everything I owned in a fire. This is how it reframed my thinking about owning material things.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I cried all night long, and then I just felt really, really angry that I had lost everything. That's partly because I feel like my belongings could go at any point, so I don't trust owning stuff anymore. I find it challenging when people say, " Oh, I really need this." I always say, "Okay, you might want it, but you definitely don't need it." People browse constantly on Instagram or social media and convince themselves that they won't be happy unless they buy certain things.

Persons: —, Helen Chandler, Wilde, Helen, It's, I'm, pare Organizations: Service, Business

☆ A woman in Brazil was arrested after she seemingly attempted to get a dead body in a wheelchair to sign for a bank loan
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A woman in Brazil was arrested after seemingly trying to secure a bank loan using her dead uncle's signature. The woman appeared to bring her uncle's body to the bank in a wheelchair and tried to use it to sign papers. Bank staff became suspicious when the man was unresponsive and his head kept lolling, local media said. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA woman in Brazil was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of theft by fraud and violating a corpse after she brought her uncle to a bank to sign a loan agreement, local media outlets reported.

Persons: —, O Dia, Erika de Souza Vieira Nunes, Nunes, that's, Paulo Roberto Braga, Correio Braziliense, Braga, Correio, Christ, Christian Adams, William Jackson Organizations: Bank, Service, Itaú Bank, Economics Locations: Brazil, Rio, Rio de Janeiro, South America

☆ Torrential rain wreaked havoc at Dubai's airport, with video showing a plane battling across a flooded runway
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Torrential rain and flash floods brought Dubai airport to a standstill on Tuesday. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . All operations were suspended for 25 minutes in the afternoon, and inbound flights were diverted due to the intense storm, an airport spokesperson said. In total, 21 outbound and 24 inbound flights were cancelled, and 3 flights were diverted, according to the latest update published around 5 p.m. local time on Tuesday. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Dubai, Business Locations: Dubai

☆ 1.5 billion more passengers flew last year than in 2022. These are the 10 busiest airports in the world.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

New data on the world's busiest airports in 2023 reveals the latest trends in global travel. 8.5 billion passengers traveled by plane last year, almost marking a return to pre-pandemic levels. Airports in Asia and the Middle East became busier, but the US has once again clinched the top spot. AdvertisementInternational travel is almost back to pre-pandemic levels, according to the just-released list of the world's busiest airports in 2023. 8.5 billion passengers traveled globally by plane last year — up from 7 billion passengers in 2022.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Airports, International, ACI, Business Locations: Asia

☆ Stock market today: US futures tread water as Wall Street remains cautious
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementUS futures were little changed on Tuesday morning after a losing start to the week for all three major indices on Monday as investors worried about the Israel-Iran conflict. Nasdaq 100 futures were also level, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures fell 0.1%. The combination of solid retail sales data and the risk-off nature of the Israel-Iran conflict saw yields on treasuries advance three basis points the previous day. Elsewhere, the release of strong March retail sales data on Monday signaled the resilience of the US economy, but also pushed back chances that the Fed will cut interest rates in June.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, —, Jerome Powell, Philip Jefferson, Johnson Organizations: Bank of America, Service, Nasdaq, Dow Jones Industrial, Dow, Treasury, Federal, IMF, United Health, Johnson Locations: Israel, Iran

☆ Stock market today: US futures tick up as traders assess risk of escalation in the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

US futures ticked up ahead of the bell as investors look ahead to an uncertain week. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementUS stocks gained ahead of Monday's opening bell as investors cautiously await Israel's reaction to Iran's missile attack over the weekend. S&P 500 futures were up 0.51% and Nasdaq 100 futures had gained 0.54% shortly after 5 a.m. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, — Organizations: Brent, Service, Nasdaq, Dow Jones Industrial, Business Locations: Israel

☆ As China's navy grows, the US fleet is on a 'downward trajectory,' maritime expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

"It's the end of the pacifist period on the seas," Dr Steven Wills of the Center for Maritime Strategy, told Business Insider. The US fleet is still widely considered the world's most powerful navy due to its 11 aircraft carriers and cutting-edge nuclear submarine capabilities. "They're scrapping more ships than they're building, which means the US Navy is on a downward trajectory, not an upward trajectory," said Dr Salvatore Mercogliano, a maritime historian at Campbell University. Another piece of the puzzle is shipbuilding capacity. Expanding American shipbuilding capacity ought to start now, Wills said: "You don't make the arsenal of democracy overnight."

Persons: —, Dr Steven Wills, Gerald R, Ford, Nikos Libertas, Wills, Doug Livermore, Arleigh Burke, Salvatore Mercogliano, Tang Ke, Livermore, Defense Mark Esper, David Sacks, Mercogliano, That's, Xi Jinping, HECTOR RETAMAL, Sacks, I'm Organizations: Service, Center for Maritime Strategy, Business, Navy, US Navy, Campbell University, Naval, People's Liberation Army Navy, Defense, of Naval Intelligence, Council, Foreign Relations, Corpus Christi, Pearl, Naval Shipyard . US Navy, Pacific, of Foreign Relations, CSIS, US, South China, Australia Locations: China, Russia, Ukraine, Virginia, Yantai Port, Asia, America, Japan, South Korea, Los Angeles, Corpus, Taiwan, Beijing, Pingtan, China's, Pacific, Philippines, South

☆ 'Assuming that I'm just a little old lady was your first mistake': Retired boomers are rejecting the idea they're lonely or sad
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Helen Brown Helen BrownGetting over the psychological hurdleThe retired boomers told BI that transitioning from working to retirement can be difficult. AdvertisementClive Hook Clive HookHook told BI that the complete loss of structure was the toughest change. Related storiesThere's a misconception that life becomes boring in retirement, Hook told BI. Falconer told BI she revels in saying no to anything she no longer wants to do. I was too young," Feest told BI.

Persons: —, Helen Brown, Brown, Helen Brown Helen Brown, Clive Hook, He'd, Clive Hook Clive Hook Hook, purposeless, Hook, Jackie Harrison, Harrison, It's, Jackie Harrison Jackie Harrison Sandra Falconer, Falconer, Parkinson's, hadn't, Kathy Feest, Sandra Falconer, Sandra Falconer Sandra Falconer, Feest Organizations: Service, Business, WHO, Open University Locations: New Zealand

☆ Suspected smugglers were caught trying to hide $10 million of gold by painting it silver and disguising it as machinery on a cargo plane
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Hong Kong customs officials discovered 146 kilograms of suspected gold on board a freight plane headed for Japan. They say it is the largest gold-smuggling case on record in terms of value. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementHong Kong customs officials have seized 146 kilograms of suspected gold, worth more than $10 million, on board a freight plane headed for Japan. The discovery is the largest gold-smuggling case on record in Hong Kong in terms of seizure value, according to the Customs Department.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Customs Department, Hong Kong International Airport, Business Locations: Hong Kong, Japan

☆ Palmer Luckey says Anduril is working on AI weapons that 'give us the ability to swiftly win any war'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Palmer Luckey says his defense tech startup is working on weapons that could change warfare. As AI-powered weapons advance, deterrence is key to national security, Luckey told the Financial Times. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA Silicon Valley defense tech startup is working on products that could have as great an impact on warfare as the atomic bomb, its founder Palmer Luckey said. "We want to build the capabilities that give us the ability to swiftly win any war we are forced to enter," he told the Financial Times.

Persons: Palmer Luckey, Anduril, Luckey, — Organizations: Financial Times, Service, Business

☆ A California police force is in trouble with Lego after using its signature yellow heads to hide the faces of suspected criminals
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A South California police department has been editing Lego heads onto suspects to protect their identity. AdvertisementA Southern California police department has found itself in trouble with Lego after it started editing the toy company's famous yellow heads onto criminal suspects. Screenshots show Lego faces edited onto suspects and posted to the Murrieta PD's Instagram page. The department may now have to turn to its stash of Barbie and Shrek faces, which also appear on the Instagram page, to protect suspects' anonymity. "Do they want people, who are being paid with their tax dollars, be paid to put Lego faces on people so it can be shown on social media?

Persons: —, Bill, Jeremy Durrant, " Durrant, Corey Jackson, Jackson Organizations: Service, Southern, Police, Murrieta Police Department, Lego, Fox News Digital, California Assembly, Associated Press Locations: California, Danish, Southern California, Murrieta, Los Angeles

☆ Lottery fever strikes as combined Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots hit $1.9 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots have hit a combined $1.9 billion. This is Powerball's sixth largest prize draw in history. AdvertisementThe Powerball and Mega Millions Powerball jackpots are now at a combined value of almost $2 billion after no tickets matched all six numbers in the most drawings. Powerball's prize has now hit $800 million, its sixth-largest prize draw ever, while the Mega Millions jackpot is up to $1.1 billion. "Lottery fever continues to spread throughout the country," Gretchen Corbin, Georgia Lottery president, said in a Mega Millions statement.

Persons: —, Powerball's, Gretchen Corbin Organizations: Service, Georgia Lottery Locations: Georgia

☆ China is reportedly developing military drones that can split into 6 to overwhelm enemy defenses
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The multiplying drones could expand into swarms that would confuse air defense systems, experts told Business Insider. But even when separated into single units, these drones' flight efficiency remains 40% higher than most small drones. Advertisement"When drones are detected, defense systems deploy a certain amount of resources proportional to the threat. If that threat suddenly multiplies, it provides an opportunity to overwhelm the air defense resources being deployed," Shumate said. Small, affordable drones are reshaping the modern battlefield in unprecedented ways, and forcing militaries to rapidly modernize their defense systems.

Persons: —, Getty, Will Shumate, Shumate, Huang, Sean Gallup, Admiral John Aquilino, Admiral Aquilino Organizations: Service, China Morning Post, Nanjing University of Aeronautics, Astronautics, Acta Aeronautica, Army, RAND, Getty, US Army, Pacific Command, Armed Locations: China, Russia, Ukraine

☆ This man bought a ghost town and lived alone for 3 years. These are the 5 biggest struggles he's faced.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Some challenges haven't become any easier, he writes in his new book "Ghost Town Living." Once a thriving 19th-century mining hub, it was a desolate ghost town when he moved there two years later. TragedyUnderwood woke at 3 a.m. one day to the smell of smoke, he writes in "Ghost Town Living." He went to stay with his parents for a month, leaving Cerro Gordo in the hands of a few friends. Brent Underwood's "Ghost Town Living" is published by Harmony.

Persons: Brent Underwood, haven't, —, Underwood, I've, he's, Loneliness Underwood, It's, Brent Underwood's Organizations: Service, Gordo, Cerro Gordo, Harmony Locations: Austin, Cerro Gordo , California, Cerro, Cerro Gordo, Death

☆ Elon Musk says Donald Trump didn't ask for money when their paths crossed during a breakfast meeting at a friend's house
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Elon Musk met Donald Trump by chance at a breakfast in Florida, he told Don Lemon in a new interview. The former President did not ask for a campaign donation or a loan for legal bills, Musk said. AdvertisementElon Musk denied that Donald Trump sought campaign donations when they met in Florida earlier this month. The X owner told Don Lemon in an interview released on Monday that their meeting on March 3 was a chance encounter. "I was at a breakfast at a friend's place, and Donald Trump came by.

Persons: Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Don Lemon, Musk, —, Lemon Organizations: New York Times, Service, CNN Locations: Florida

☆ Customers asked to return $40 million after a bank glitch let them take out more money than they had, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Customers of an Ethiopian bank found they could withdraw unlimited cash for a few hours last weekend. More than $40 million was withdrawn or transferred from CBE, local media reported. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA technical glitch let customers of an Ethiopian bank take out or transfer more money they had in their accounts.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Business

Search resuls for: "Polly Thompson"

25 mentions found