DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Bernard Hill death: ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Titanic’ actor dies at 79
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Thom Poole | Audry Jeong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —British actor Bernard Hill, best known for supporting roles in “Titanic” and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, has died, his family announced on Sunday. “It is with the greatest sadness that we must announce that Bernard Hill, renowned actor known for his roles in ‘Titanic’ and ‘Lord of the Rings,’ passed away in the early hours of this morning at the age of 79,” his family said in a statement. In James Cameron’s 1997 multi-Oscar winning “Titanic”, Hill plays the ship’s Captain Edward Smith as a man haunted by his role in the tragedy and ultimately resigned to his fate. We last see him alone, still clutching the ship’s helm, before the rising water bursts in through the windows. Bernard Hill in The Return Of The King, 2003.

Persons: Bernard Hill, ’, ”, Alison, Gabriel, ” Hill, Thatcher, James Cameron’s, Hill, Edward Smith, Shutterstock, Peter Jackson’s, King of Rohan, “ Gandhi, ” “ Shirley Valentine ”, Lou Coulson, Lindsay Salt, “ Organizations: CNN, BBC Locations: British, New

☆ The wreckage of the Titanic was found nearly 39 years ago during a secret US Navy mission to recover nuclear submarines
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Gabbi Shaw | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

But the dive initially had nothing to do with the Titanic at all — it was a secret mission to find the wrecks of two nuclear submarines, the USS Scorpion and the USS Thresher. The USS Thresher sank in April 1963, and the USS Scorpion followed five years later, in May 1968. They remain the only nuclear submarines the Navy has ever lost, reported the United States Naval Institute. Xavier Desmier/Gamma-Rapho/GettyWith 12 days left in the mission, Ballard found the Titanic using a hunch that the ship had split in two and left a trail of debris. Correction: July 18, 2023 — An earlier version of this story misstated when the USS Scorpion disappeared.

Persons: —, Robert Ballard, Jean, Louis Michel, Ballard, Bettmann, Getty Ballard, Ronald Thunman, Xavier Desmier Organizations: Service, Titanic, Navy, New York Times, Business, USS, Geographic, National Geographic, US Navy, United States Naval Institute, Soviet Union Locations: American, French, Soviet

☆ Gold continues record rally after Fed comments; U.S. data in focus
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Gold prices rallied to a record high on Thursday as Federal Reserve officials reiterated expectations of interest rate cuts in 2024, even if their timing was unclear, while traders await key U.S. jobs data. Spot gold was steady at $2,299.28 per ounce, as of 0343 GMT, and hit a record high of $2,304.09 earlier in the session. Bullion has hit record highs in each session since last week's Thursday. The U.S. jobs report for March is due to be released on Friday, with new inflation data coming next week. Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding bullion.

Persons: Bullion, Michael Langford, Jerome Powell, Langford Organizations: Federal, U.S, Scorpion Minerals Locations: U.S

☆ This Scorpion-Eating Bat Just Earned a Place in California History
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Lilian Manansala | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.

Organizations: Business

☆ Gold subdued as U.S. inflation surprise casts doubt on mid-year rate cut
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold prices were flat on Wednesday, after falling the most in a month in the previous session, as sticky U.S. inflation raised concerns an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve may be delayed beyond June. Gold's latest price drop comes as everything falls back to the inflation data, that feeds through into U.S. Fed's decision making, Michael Langford, chief investment officer at Scorpion Minerals Ltd said. Langford expects a healthy correction of up to about 10% in gold prices from here. Bullion fell 1.1% on Tuesday, after data showed U.S. consumer prices increased solidly in February, above forecasts and suggesting some stickiness in inflation. This was gold's worst single-day decline since Feb. 13, when data showed consumer prices also increased more than expected in January.

Persons: Michael Langford, Langford Organizations: Co, Federal, Scorpion Minerals Ltd, Traders, Treasury Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, U.S, Ukraine

☆ I went to SXSW and saw Netflix and Amazon competing with splashy sci-fi, while Paramount+ pitched its whole line-up
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Nathan Mcalone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Netflix, Amazon, Paramount+, and Disney competed for attention with premieres and eye-catching installations. While there, I got to witness South by Southwest's opening weekend, which was dominated by the streaming heavyweights Netflix, Amazon, and Paramount+, with a cameo from Disney. Netflix held a premiere for "3 Body Problem," and Amazon built an interactive postapocalyptic world to promote "Fallout." AdvertisementNetflix's 3D projection for "3 Body Problem" stopped people in their tracks. Nathan McAloneLater, as the "3 Body Problem" premiere began, I heard "Game of Thrones" alum John Bradley (of Samwell Tarly fame) mutter an anxious "Oh God."

Persons: —, Max, Nathan McAlone Netflix, David Benioff, Weiss, Alexander Woo —, Doug Liman, Nathan McAlone, John Bradley, mutter, Bradley shouldn't, Palmer Haasch, Bradley, Blake Griffin, Nathan McAlone Amazon, Bass Reeves, Alex Garland's Organizations: Southwest, Netflix, Paramount, Disney, Service, HBO, Hollywood, Amazon, Paramount Theatre, Rotten, Mortal Media, Apple, Studios, Austin Convention Locations: Austin, Hollywood, United States

☆ Dubai photographer reveals the UAE’s hidden wildlife
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Arya Jyothi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —In a country best known for its soaring skyscrapers, modern architecture and sprawling desert, wildlife isn’t always what comes to mind when people think of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Originally from India, Karingattil moved to Dubai 17 years ago and began photographing wildlife shortly after, specializing in macro photography, using extreme close ups. With the UAE’s president recently extending the country’s “Year of Sustainability” into 2024, Karingattil uses wildlife photography as a method of capturing the country’s biodiversity and sharing it with others. For Karingattil, conservation is an important aspect of wildlife photography, which he believes can serve as a powerful tool for advocacy. “By removing litter and debris, we can reduce the impact of human activities on the natural world.”

Persons: Anish Karingattil, Karingattil, ” Karingattil, “, ”, Herping, Andrew Gardner, Gardner, couldn't, Anish Karingattil Gardner Organizations: CNN, United Arab Emirates, “, Sustainability ”, Accounting, Biodiversity Conservation, Emirates Nature, Biological Diversity, Emirates Locations: UAE, Dubai, India, Emirates, dugongs, Australia

☆ Gold extends slide as dollar firms on hawkish Fedspeak
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold prices extended losses on Wednesday as the U.S. dollar strengthened after hawkish comments from a Federal Reserve official dampened expectations for a March interest rate cut, while traders awaited comments from more Fed speakers this week. Spot gold was down 0.2% at $2,023.49 per ounce, as of 0415 GMT, after stooping 1.3% in the previous session - its biggest single-day decline since Dec. 4, 2023. Flow of funds to the U.S. dollar have been a key driver impacting the gold price, said Michael Langford, chief investment officer at Scorpion Minerals Ltd, forecasting bullion to trade around $2,000/Oz in the near term. With geopolitical tensions escalating, safe-haven flows could provide a floor for the gold price. However, "the short-term fate of the gold price is likely in the hands of the bond market," Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade, wrote in a note.

Persons: Michael Langford, Christopher Waller, Tim Waterer Organizations: U.S ., Federal Reserve, Scorpion Minerals Ltd, Treasury, KCM, U.S Locations: U.S

NEW YORK (AP) — Someday soon, someone will be walking down the street proudly carrying a ludicrously capacious bag, bought for a ludicrously capacious price. Beginning, “My father Logan Roy was a great man,” the four cards represent the tragic failure of Roman (Kieran Culkin) to meet the moment. Tom, in his worst “human-grease-stain” way, imagined aloud what could be in the “ludicrously capacious” tote: “Flat shoes for the subway? (A group of prop sausages went for $5,250.) “The plastic ones are are actually much more durable as props," says Jacobs.

Persons: ”, Roy, “, Logan Roy, Roman, Kieran Culkin, Robert Wilonsky, there’s, Monica Jacobs, Jacobs, Tom, Shiv Roy, Sarah Snook, Logan, Shiv, Jeremy Strong, Kendall, Bridget, Cousin Greg, Nicholas Braun, ” Jacobs, Michelle Matland “, Sandro, — Organizations: Burberry tote, HBO, Heritage Auctions, New York, Express Locations: Dallas, American, New York

☆ Why is medieval art so weird? This new book offers a guide to the era
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Jacqui Palumbo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —So you want to live like you’re from the Middle Ages? Swarthout is the researcher behind the popular art history-inspired social media account Weird Medieval Guys, which has attracted nearly 700,000 followers on X, formerly Twitter, since she began posting with the handle @WeirdMedieval in April 2022. Swarthout is not a historian, but a recently graduated statistician who took art history during undergrad. Württemberg State Library Stuttgart/Courtesy Penguin Random HouseThere’s a reason why Medieval art is particularly, well, weird. Watch: “Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)The classic satire of Arthurian legend mined the Middle Ages for comedic gold decades before Medieval memes were a thing.

Persons: it’s, Olivia M, commonfolk, Guy, —, ” Swarthout, Swarthout, ”, Jonah, tradespeople, Andreas, Monty Python, Jack Hartnell Organizations: CNN, Dark Times, University of Pennsylvania, Twitter, Stuttgart, Xbox Locations: Camelot

The holiday season, which begins with Black Friday at the end of November and lasts roughly until the end of December, is expected to be especially tough for retailers selling discretionary items, executives say. "We are seeing some early Black Friday sales start just now," Barbie maker Mattel's (MAT.O) president and chief commercial officer, Steve Totzke, told Reuters on Monday. "The market for toys has been declining for the whole year," said Florian Sieber, CEO of German toy maker Simba. "We are expecting a good holiday season for Mattel," Totzke said. "We expect to continue to gain share throughout the holiday season."

Persons: Peter Nicholls, Larian, Santa Claus, Barbie, Loo, Isaac Larian, Toymakers, Nic Aldridge, Aldridge, Mattel's, Steve Totzke, Florian Sieber, Simba, Sieber, Totzke, Frédérique Tutt, Jerry Storch, Richa Naidu, Matt Scuffham Organizations: REUTERS, Hasbro, Mattel, Consumers, Euromonitor, MGA Entertainment, Toymakers Hasbro, Reuters, Bandai, P, Global, Storch Advisors, Hudson's, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Europe, Santa, United States, Loo Wee, U.S

"We are seeing some early Black Friday sales start just now," Barbie maker Mattel's (MAT.O) president and chief commercial officer, Steve Totzke, told Reuters on Monday. "The market for toys has been declining for the whole year," said Florian Sieber, CEO of German toy maker Simba. "We are expecting a good holiday season for Mattel," Totzke said. "We expect to continue to gain share throughout the holiday season." "But it's a reality that there won't be as many toys sold this year as last year."

Officials have not yet released body camera footage of the most recent shooting, which occurred Tuesday afternoon, but residents of the southwest Baltimore neighborhood expressed outrage over what they called an unnecessary loss of life. The man, later identified as Hunter Jessup, started running and allegedly pointed a gun at police during the ensuing chase. The group said DAT officers treat them with disdain and routinely initiate negative interactions. Police leaders often commend officers for getting illegal firearms off the streets, and Baltimore gun violence overall has been trending downward in recent months. Daniel Webster, a professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Gun Violence Solutions in Baltimore, said the success of specialized gun units often hinges on a focused approach.

Persons: “ They’re, ”, Rashawn McNeil, “, ” McNeil, Hunter Jessup, McNeil, Richard Worley, Jessup, ” Worley, Freddie Gray’s, Tyre Nichols, Daniel Webster, Webster, there’s, Lindsey Eldridge, ” Eldridge, Rashad McNeil, ” Rashawn McNeil, “ It’s Organizations: BALTIMORE, Baltimore Police Department, Police, Force, of Justice, Johns Hopkins University’s Center, Gun Violence Solutions, Webster’s, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Baltimore Locations: Baltimore, Jessup, Memphis

☆ An Epic Pilgrimage Across Three Great Religions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Aatish Taseer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +111 min

Before there was tourism, there was pilgrimage: a trip of endurance, hardship and ecstasy in celebration of one’s faith. On an epic pilgrimage of his own, one writer ventures into the heart of three great religions in Bolivia, Mongolia and Iraq. The Imam Hussein shrine in Karbala the day after Ashura. “They’re poor, but they come thousands of kilometers for the love of Imam Hussein.” PILGRIMAGE WAS A great equalizer. “Labaik ya Hussein,” came the solemn chorus of surrounding voices.

Persons: Eduardo Quintela Gonzáles, ” Quintela, JAN, “, ”, Quintela, Victor, Edith Turner, Chaucer, ferne, sondry londes, Vaishno Devi, Lyra Skinner, Lyra, Victoria Preston’s, —, Prophet Muhammad, Virgin Mary, Bath, Naipaul, Augustus, Ryan, garret, Virgin, Monica Machicao, Nicholas Casey, ” Monica, Casey, Evo Morales, sloughing, Columbus, Cortés, Francisco Pizarro, Monica, glitzy cholets, Peru —, Viracocha, it’s, Pablo Quisbert, Leandro Chitarroni, Eichmann, Father Chitarroni, Father Chitarroni’s, Conquistadores ”, Fernando Cervantes, Bernabé Cobo, Quisbert, Edgar Quispe, Tatiana Huayhua, Francisco Tito Yupanqui, Mary, Yupanqui’s, su, Yupanqui, Chitarroni, she’s, Friar Abelino Yeguaori, Friar Yeguaori, Friar Yeguaori’s, Irene, Juana, hajji, Waka, Aracely Alcón, Santiago, Alcón, ‘, don’t, ” Alcón, Tito Yupanqui, Uma Marka, Pachamama, haggard, Amaru Fiorilo Barrios, he’d, ” Fiorilo, Fiorilo, who’d, Valeria Alcón, Laureano Jose Quisbert, Elena Ticona Flores, Eduardo Quintela’s, Ensamble, pang, padre, consolations, Sincrético, El, Rodrigo Paz Pereira, Axel, amauta, strode, La, Aatish Taseer, Saint Helena —, Constantine I, La Paz, Orgilbaatar Tsolmon, Orgil, Genghis Khan, Edward Gibbon, ” Orgil, Araniko’s, Kublai Khan, Genghis Khan’s, Kubla Khan, Coleridge, Kublai, Stalin, sybarite, Khamar, Dalai Lama, Lama, Christopher Kaplonski, ger, I’d, banshtai tsai, Prim, Egi, Munkhdul, Gandantegchinlen, Haidav, herder, “ Um sain, boltugai, Danzanravjaa, Zanabazar’s, Erdene, Mandakhtsog Monkhbaatar, Monkhbaatar’s, Dalai Lamas, prostrated, He’d, Zuu, she’d, Santiago de, L.K, Advani, Emperor Babur, Ram, kar sevaks, Ayodhya, Narendra Modi, Munkhbaatar Batchuluun, Henry Wallace, Franklin D, Potemkin, Munkhbaatar, Gerelmaa, Giimaa, She’d, Eduardo Quintela, Aracely, Santiago’s, Joseph Brodsky’s, Muhammad’s, Hussein, William Keo, ” Khuder, pillion, Labaik, Hussein ”, O Hussein, hearkened, Prophet, Ali —, Ali, Yazid, Imam, crackling, chickpeas, Imam Ali, Imam Hussein, Saddam Hussein, Tusi, Qasim, Imam Hussein’s, Khuder, “ Will, Najaf, prestes, — I, Yasir Yaseen, Ashura, Ali Akbar, Abbas, Ali Asghar, “ We’re, Francisco Goya’s, Hussein’s, Groom, Joseph, ” Wissam, Turfi, Saddam —, Arbaeen, Saddam, “ Imam Hussein, WE, Muhammad, Barnaby Rogerson, Prophet Muhammad ”, ” Ali, Muhammad — Muhammad, formlessness, Muqtada al, Abrams, chiding, Abu Musab Al, Zarqawi, Al Qaeda, William, “ They’re, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, flagellants, ruddy, stylishly, Hussein — shahid —, Farman Ahsan, Syed Salman Raza —, Saddam’s, ” Raza, William “, Ali Zayn al, Abidin, Labaik ya Hussein, thrall —, Lloyd, Susanne Rudolph — Organizations: CITY LA, LA, LA PAZ, Virgin, Crusaders, Dolorosa, Sun, The New York Times, Bolivian, Spain, La, Cordillera, Universidad Mayor de, Catholic, Good, La Paz, Dominican, Pakistan, Caesars, Nissan, Coke, Communists, Communism, ardor, Communist, Hyundai, flails, sacra, Apache, Mahdi Army, Al, ISIS, Karachi —, Princeton Locations: Bolivia, Mongolia, Iraq, Aatish Taseer Bolivia Mongolia Iraq, CITY LA PAZ, BOLIVIA, NAJAF, IRAQ, ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA, LA PAZ, La Paz, Bolivian, Copacabana, Lake Titicaca, New York, Christian, British, sondry, India, Delhi, Varanasi, Europe, American, Mecca, Arabia, Long, Vino Tinto, Chile, Peru, Monica, Plurinational State, Bolivia —, Americas, Spain, Columbian, Aztec Mexico, Inca Peru, Calvary Hill, Virgen del Cerro, South America, Puerto Rico, Huatajata, ”, Argentine, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, Mexican, revelry, Spanish, “, morena, La, “ India, multilayered, Potosí, Argentina, Warisata, Scotch, Santiago de Compostela, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Nations, El Alto, Buenos Aires, Bombay, Tibet, Bolivia’s, Yamuna Rivers, United States, Buddhist Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolian, Istanbul, Asia, Islam, China, Beijing, Dadu, Erdene Zuu, Soviet, Gobi, Los Angeles, gers, Qing China, Karnataka, Töv Province, Karakorum, Khamar, Erdene, Ukraine, Korea, Golden, Bayankhongor, Lhasa, Dalai, Inner Mongolia, Mongol, Nalaikh, Santiago, Santiago de Compostela and Canterbury, Bulgan Province, Somnath, Gujarat, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, ger, East German, Uvs Province, Pakistani, Indian, Tennessee, Najaf, Baghdad, Khuder, —, abayas, KARBALA, Kufa, Medina, Saudi Arabia, Karbala, Imam Ali, Bab, Kuwaiti, Bohras, South Asia, Tajikistan, Zaydis, Yemen, Alawites, Anatolia, Syria, Iran, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Sadr, U.S, Jordanian, Al Qaeda, Mesopotamia, Al, Multan, Pakistan, Punjab, Pakistan’s, Islamabad, Lahore, Kuwait, Karachi, Doha, Qatar

Desmond Mills Jr., one of five former Memphis police officers charged in connection with the brutal beating and death of Tyre Nichols, pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to two felony charges of obstruction of justice and excessive force. He is the first of the five officers indicted on federal charges by a grand jury in September to plead guilty. His cooperation is expected to include pleading guilty to at least some of the state charges, and potentially testifying against the other officers. The remaining four officers have all pleaded not guilty to both federal and state charges. Five Black officers from the department’s elite Scorpion unit, including Mr. Mills, were soon fired for their roles in the beating.

Persons: Desmond Mills Jr, Tyre Nichols, Mills, Nichols Organizations: Memphis, Prosecutors, Scorpion

☆ Amazon algorithm juiced prices, cost US consumers $1 billion new FTC lawsuit documents allege
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

It has earned Amazon more than $1 billion from US households, newly unredacted portions of the suit allege. Public revelationsThe complaint’s newly unsealed portions, filed Thursday in Seattle federal court, uncover a wide range of previously non-public allegations. More than 70% of Amazon shoppers do not click past the first page of search results, according to the unsealed complaint. In another situation, Amazon allegedly took steps to promote its own, proprietary products — such as the Amazon Kindle tablet — as having been recommended by expert reviewers when the Amazon products had not earned such a recommendation. If the Amazon price went up, the competing retailers would increase their prices as well, according to the complaint.

Persons: Amazon’s, Jeff Bezos, Biden, ”, Tim Doyle, ” Doyle, “, Nessie, David Zapolsky Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Trade Commission, Amazon, FTC, Amazon Prime Locations: Seattle, Bezos

NEW YORK (AP) — Richard Moll, a character actor who found lasting fame as an eccentric but gentle giant bailiff on the original “Night Court” sitcom, has died. Moll played "Bull” Shannon on NBC's “Night Court” from 1984-1992 alongside stars Harry Anderson and John Larroquette. The towering actor — he was 6-feet 8-inches tall — did not join the reboot of “Night Court” starring Larroquette. Raised in Pasadena, California, Moll was a history and psychology major at the University of California at Berkeley, and graduated in 1964. Moll is survived by his children, Chloe and Mason Moll; ex-wife, Susan Moll; and stepchildren Cassandra Card and Morgan Ostling.

Persons: — Richard Moll, Moll, Jeff Sanderson, Bull ” Shannon, NBC's, Harry Anderson, John Larroquette, Roz Russell, Marsha Warfield, Bull, “ Ohh, kay, ”, Harvey Dent, “, Scorpion, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Natasha Lyonne, “ Thomas, Peter O’Toole, Marcia Gay Harden, Ed Asner, —, Larroquette, Chloe, Mason Moll, Susan Moll, Cassandra Card, Morgan Ostling Organizations: University of California, People Locations: Big Bear, , California, Pasadena , California, Berkeley, Alameda County, San Francisco, Hollywood

Then the cramps came,” said Currie, one of only five people so far to eat a entire Pepper X. Pepper X is greenish-yellow, doesn’t have the same shelf appeal and carries an earthy flavor once its heat is delivered. His lawyers have counted more than 10,000 products that use the Carolina Reaper name, or its other intellectual property, without permission. He calls most hot pepper challenges stupid and cautions pepper peekers against being overly ambitious and reaching too quickly for a Carolina Reaper or Pepper X. “Is this the pinnacle?” Currie said of Pepper X, a mischievous smile warming his face.

Persons: — Ed Currie, Pepper X, ” Currie, Pepper, ”, Currie, it’s Organizations: Guinness, World Records, Carolina, Reaper Locations: South Carolina, Michigan, York County, Fort Mill

☆ 12 Video Games Releasing This Fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Jason M. Bailey | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It has been such a fruitful year for video games that you couldn’t blame someone for wanting a light fall lineup to finish titles like Tears of the Kingdom and Baldur’s Gate 3. For better or worse, this season is stacked with AAA releases, long-awaited sequels and promising independent games. (Some games will be available before their official launch dates because of early-access programs.) (Sept. 19; PC, Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox Series X|S)LIES OF P This is not Disney’s Pinocchio. (Sept. 19; PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)

Persons: Johnny Cage, Belle Organizations: AAA, Nintendo, Sony PlayStation, Microsoft, Xbox

☆ Gold firms near one-month high with US inflation data on tap
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold bars of different sizes lie in a safe on a table at the precious metals dealer Pro Aurum. Gold prices firmed near one-month highs on Thursday as a fresh set of soft U.S. data added to expectations that the Federal Reserve will pause rake hikes this year, although inflation readings due later in the day could amend this outlook. U.S. gold futures steadied at $1,972.40. Among other metals, spot silver eased 0.3% to $24.59 per ounce, having climbed to a more than one-month high on Wednesday. Platinum steadied at $974.13 as it heads for its second consecutive monthly gain.

Persons: Michael Langford, Langford Organizations: Aurum, Federal, U.S, Treasury, Traders, Scorpion Minerals, Boston Fed Locations: U.S, China

☆ The US military once detonated a nuclear bomb directly above the heads of 5 officers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

On July 19, 1957, the Nevada Test Site conducted a test of an unguided nuclear air-to-air rocket. "My only regrets right now," Col. Bruce says, "are that everybody couldn't have been out here at ground zero with us." "I had a call saying they needed me out for a special test," Yoshitake said, according to The Rafu Shimpo, a bilingual Japanese-English newspaper. "I found out when I got to Nevada that I was going to be standing at Ground Zero. Yoshitake developed stomach cancer.

Persons: Christopher Nolan's, Oppenheimer, —, John, Sidney Bruce, Frank Ball, Bodie, Bodinger, John Hughes, Don Luttrell — weren't, it's, George Yoshitake, Col, Bruce, couldn't, Yoshitake, hadn't, videographers Organizations: Five Air Force, Service, Soviet Union, Popular, US Air Force, NPR, Popular Mechanics, Genie, Fox News, Air Force, New York Times Locations: Wall, Silicon, Nevada, Soviet

☆ Gold prices range-bound as traders focus on central bank decisions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A worker handles an Argor-Heraeus SA one kilogram gold bar at Solar Capital Gold Zrt. arranged in Budapest, HungaryGold prices held steady on Monday as investors awaited a U.S. Federal Reserve meeting this week where the central bank could signal a pause in interest rate hikes from July. Spot gold was little changed at $1,960.01 per ounce by 0536 GMT, while U.S. gold futures fell 0.2% to $1,961.80. With a Fed rate hike in the July meeting nearly certain, "a positive outlook for gold revolves around central bank buying to drive long-term gold prices," said Michael Langford, chief investment officer at Scorpion Minerals. Along with the Fed, the European Central Bank, or ECB, and the Bank of Japan are also meeting this week.

Persons: Michael Langford, Jerome Powell, Christine Lagarde, Tim Waterer Organizations: Heraeus SA, Solar, Federal Reserve, Scorpion Minerals, Fed, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, KCM Trade, UBS Locations: Budapest, Hungary, U.S

☆ Inspired by Ukraine war, Taiwan launches drone blitz to counter China
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Reuters Graphic | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +16 min

These drones range from jet-powered, long range surveillance aircraft to small quadcopters deployed by ground troops. Taiwan should accelerate mass production of a range of military drones to boost self-reliance in the struggle with Beijing, it concluded. U.S. drones range in size from two-kilogram, hand-launched drones to 14,500-kilogram long range surveillance drones. Unlike Taiwan, China began mass-producing unmanned aircraft long before the Ukraine conflict. Hundreds of technology experts, including specialists in AI, were recruited to the military, according to UCSD analyst Cheung.

Persons: Tsai Ing, ”, Tsai “, Max Lo, “, Hawk Yang, Yang, Tsai, Joe Biden, ’, Lo, Tai Ming Cheung, ” Cheung, Nancy Pelosi, ” Tsai, Chang, Xi Jinping, Xi, Cheung, ” Elsa Kania Organizations: Reuters, People’s Liberation Army, Thunder Tiger Group, “, Communist Party, Taiwan, Taiwan Affairs Office, U.S . Department of Defense, White, Pentagon ., Teal, University of California, PLA, U.S . House, Airborne, Washington -, Strategic & International Studies ., Royal United Services Institute, 20th Party Congress, UCSD, Center, New, New American Security, China's Ministry of Defense, Pentagon Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Taipei, Taiwan, China, Asia, United States, Australia, Japan, South Korea, America, Republic of China, “ China, Kinmen, Beijing, Washington, Pentagon . U.S, U.S, University of California San Diego, Chiayi, Strategic & International Studies . Ukraine, London, Chang Kong, Today, New American

☆ How the wreckage of the Titanic was found during a secret US Navy mission to recover nuclear submarines
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Gabbi Shaw | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

It took 73 years to find the wreckage of the Titanic in the North Atlantic Ocean. Decades later, Ballard revealed that the dive was actually a secret Cold War Navy mission. But the dive initially had nothing to do with the Titanic at all — it was a secret mission to find the wrecks of two nuclear submarines, the USS Scorpion and the USS Thresher. Of course, nobody knew that until 2008, when Ballard revealed the true nature of the mission to National Geographic. So, 23 years later, Ballard revealed the truth about his mission.

Persons: Robert Ballard, Ballard, Jean, Louis Michel, Bettmann, Ronald Thunman, Xavier Desmier Organizations: Navy, Service, Titanic, USS, Geographic, National Geographic, US Navy, Soviet Union Locations: Wall, Silicon, French, Soviet

☆ Incredible US national park campgrounds you can’t drive to
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Joe Yogerst | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Even though most national park campgrounds are easily accessible by motorized vehicles, some of the coolest digs are in places that you can’t drive to. Below are eight incredible national park campgrounds that you can’t drive to. Bright Angel Campground (Grand Canyon National Park)The Bright Angel campground is located next to a creek at the end of the South Kaibab Trail in Grand Canyon National Park. Washington Creek (Isle Royale National Park)Washington Creek, part of Michigan's Isle Royale National Park, has 10 camp sites. Sea Camp Beach (Cumberland Island National Seashore)The Cumberland Island National Seashore sits off the coast of Georgia.

Persons: we’re, CNN —, you’ve, doesn’t, Ashley Cooper, John Muir, you’re, Jim West, Weaver, Michael Shi, Joe Yogerst, ” Organizations: CNN, Key West, Yankee, Island Packers, Yosemite Valley, Nature, Washington Creek, Recreation, Washington State, Co, Cumberland, Getty Locations: Florida, Fort Jefferson, Santa Cruz, California, Ventura Harbor, Yosemite, Little Yosemite Valley, Vernal, Nevada, Maui, Palikū, Washington, Michigan's Isle, Lake Superior, Windigo, Isle, Grand Portage , Minnesota, Houghton , Michigan, Chelan, Lake Chelan, Weaver, Beach, Georgia, Stafford Plantation, Parks

Search resuls for: "Scorpion"

25 mentions found