DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

Arizona took a major step on Wednesday toward scrapping an 1864 law banning abortion, when three Republican lawmakers in the state House of Representatives broke ranks with their party and voted with Democrats to repeal the ban. Republican leaders had thwarted earlier repeal efforts in the two weeks since the Arizona Supreme Court ignited a political firestorm by reviving the Civil War-era law, which outlaws abortions from the moment of conception except to save the mother’s life. “The people of Arizona are waiting for us to get this done,” said Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, a Democrat, who introduced the one-sentence bill to undo the 1864 law. Many voters denounced the ban — which provides no exceptions for cases of rape or incest — as a draconian intrusion into women’s rights. And some Republicans — including former President Donald J. Trump — said they wanted the Legislature to scrap it quickly, to try to head off a possible election-year backlash.

Persons: “, ”, Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, —, Donald J, Trump — Organizations: Arizona, Republican, Democrat Locations: Arizona

CNN —The Arizona House of Representatives voted Wednesday to overturn the state’s 160-year-old abortion ban, setting the stage for a repeal that would leave the state’s 15-week restriction on the procedure in place. The vote comes after two failed attempts by state House lawmakers to bring the bill to the floor last week. If it succeeds, Arizona’s 15-week restriction on abortions will continue to be state law. That legislation stated explicitly that it did not overrule the 1864 law. Arizona state Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, left, hugs Arizona state Sen. Anna Hernandez after the state House voted to repeal the 1864 abortion law at the state Capitol in Phoenix on April 24, 2024.

Persons: Katie Hobbs, Roe, Wade, Doug Ducey, Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, Sen, Anna Hernandez, Rebecca Noble Organizations: CNN, Arizona, Arizona GOP, Democratic, Republican Gov, Reuters, Abortion, Arizona House, Republican Locations: Arizona, Phoenix

They see Ms. Lake, who is in a competitive race that could determine control of the Senate, as an important ally. “It is time for my legislative colleagues to find common ground of common sense: the first step is to repeal the territorial law,” State Senator Shawnna Bolick posted on X. The State Senate president, Warren Petersen, and the State House speaker, Ben Toma, both Republicans, supported the abortion ban. Credit... Matt York/Associated PressDemocrats said it was urgent to pass a repeal before the court’s ruling upholding the 1864 law takes effect. Image The Arizona Supreme Court on Tuesday that upheld an 1864 law regarding abortion.

Persons: Kari Lake, Donald J, Trump, Roe, Wade, Lake, Shawnna Bolick, Bolick, Arizona Democrats clamored, Warren Petersen, Ben Toma, Mr, Toma, Matt York, Katie Hobbs, —, ”, Doug Ducey, “, that’s, Caitlin O'Hara, The New York Times “, Juan Ciscomani, David Schweikert, Ciscomani, Schweikert, “ Arizona’s MAGA, Hannah Goss, Ruben Gallego, Stephanie Stahl Hamilton Organizations: Arizona Republican, Arizona Republicans, U.S, Supreme, Republicans, Democratic, Arizona Democrats, Senate, State House, Republican, Arizona Capitol, ., Associated Press Democrats, ”, Gov, Arizona Supreme, The New York Times, State Legislature, “ Arizona’s MAGA Republicans, Democratic Party, Democrat Locations: Arizona, ”

☆ China is torn between wanting control of its citizens' data and growing its economy, says US ambassador
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, said that China is torn between seeking foreign investment and its desire to control data about its businesses and citizens. US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns attends a climate roundtable at the US embassy on July 8, 2023 in Beijing, China. Advertisement"You know, I think they want to control data about the Chinese people, about Chinese companies. And so, that I think is at the heart of the problem with those American companies operating in that sphere," said Burns. But on the other hand, they've raided six or seven American businesses since last March," said Burns.

Persons: —, Nicholas Burns, Lesley Stahl, Burns, China Nicholas Burns, Mintz, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xi, they've Organizations: Service, Getty, Bain & Co, APEC Locations: China, Beijing, Chinese, San Francisco

☆ Why Israel’s peace activists are re-evaluating their position on the war
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Tara John | Lottie Beilin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Her position, which she described as “complicated,” speaks to the challenge Israel’s peace movement faces when coming to terms with the worst massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust. Some activists complain that authorities are attempting to equate peace activism with support for Hamas. Some Jewish Israelis have lost their jobs or have been publicly sanctioned for speaking out in favour of Gaza, say activists. Hundreds of people came (and) tried to hurt me,” he told CNN from an undisclosed location, as he is currently in hiding. Tara John/CNNNot many Jewish peace activists are ready to vocally advocate for peace “because everyone is traumatized – but I have the words,” Inon said.

Persons: Ziv Stahl, “, Stahl, Yesh Din, ”, Zayin, Tara John, Rafael, Zayin’s, , won’t, Gen, Benjamin Netanyahu, Gen Zayin, ” Doxed, Ofer Cassif, “ That’s, Maoz Inon, Israel Frey, ” Inon, Elana Kaminka, –, Yannai, Yannai Kaminka Organizations: Tel, Tel Aviv CNN, Jewish, CNN, Israeli Democracy Institute, West Bank, Riot, Israel Police Special Patrol, ” Locations: Tel Aviv, Kfar Aza, Israel, Gaza, “ Israel, West, Jerusalem, “, Tzur Hadassah

☆ Switzerland to bid for 2030 or 2034 Winter Games
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A view shows the Olympic Rings in front of the Olympic House, headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), during the executive board meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in Lausanne, Switzerland, March 28, 2023. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsGENEVA, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Switzerland on Friday announced it would bid for either the 2030 or 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, which would be the third time the Alpine country has hosted the event. Japan's northern city of Sapporo last month dropped its bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics and said it would consider hosting the Games in 2034 or in subsequent years. According to studies by the IOC's future host commission for Winter Games, only 10 nations would be able to host the snow sports of the Olympic Winter and Paralympic Games by 2040. Switzerland - which hosted the Winter Olympic Games in St. Moritz in 1928 and 1948 - has struggled in recent years to get its population behind its Olympic bids.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Jurg Stahl, Urs Lehmann, Moritz, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Noele, Toby Davis Organizations: Rings, Olympic House, International Olympic Committee, REUTERS, Rights, Paralympic Games, Swiss Olympic Association, Olympic, IOC, Swiss, Swiss Ski Association, Games, Winter Games, Swiss Olympic, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Thomson Locations: Lausanne, Switzerland, Salt Lake City, United States, Sweden, France, Japan's, Sapporo, St, Milan

These include plans by ArcelorMittal , the world's second-largest steelmaker, to spend 2.5 billion euros to decarbonise its German steel mills, efforts that depend on now-uncertain government support. "What we're seeing here is devastating for Germany as a business location globally. Besides the 6 billion euros of steel investments, other sectors potentially affected by the court ruling include 4 billion euros in the area of microelectronics and 20 billion euros for battery cell production, according to an economy ministry paper seen by Reuters. Those have previously been estimated at 68 billion euros. "Important industries in Germany, such as chemicals or steel production, need economical energy prices," Oliver Blume, CEO of Europe's top carmaker Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Robert Habeck, Christian Lindner, Reiner Blaschek, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Stefan Rauber, Intel INTC.O, Taiwan's, Bernhard Osburg, Oliver Blume, Christoph Steitz, Tom Kaeckenhoff, Andreas Rinke, Catherine Evans Organizations: Climate, Finance, ArcelorMittal, SHS Stahl, Reuters, IMF, Intel, TW, Infineon, Steel, BASF, Wacker Chemie, Volkswagen, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, DUESSELDORF, Berlin, Germany, Asia, United States, U.S, USA, Steel Europe

NEW YORK (AP) — The latest honor for Salman Rushdie was a prize kept secret until minutes before he rose from his seat to accept it. On Tuesday night, the author received the first-ever Lifetime Disturbing the Peace Award, presented by the Vaclav Havel Center on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Alaa Abdel-Fattah, the imprisoned Egyptian activist, was given the Disturbing the Peace Award to a Courageous Writer at Risk. Rushdie, 76, noted that last month he had received the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, and now was getting a prize for disturbing the peace, leaving him wondering which side of “the fence” he was on. “He was inspirational to me as for many, many writers, and to receive an award in his name is a great honor,” Rushdie added.

Persons: Salman Rushdie, Vaclav Havel, Rushdie, “, ” Rushdie, Azar Nafisi, Vaclav, Havel, Lesley Stahl, Alaa Abdel, Fattah, Adhaf Soueif, ”, ” Abdel, Hosni Mubarak, Ruhollah Khomeini's Organizations: Lolita, Library Foundation, Communist, CBS, Abdel, Trade Locations: Western New York, Tehran ”, Czech, Czechoslovakia

☆ Breaking Down the Best Earnings Quarter in a Year
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Peter Santilli | George Stahl | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Earnings for the nation’s biggest companies are poised to show their first collective increase in a year, helped in part by strong consumer spending this summer. The members of the S&P 500 are on pace to collectively report a 3.7% rise in earnings for the year’s third quarter, the first such increase since the year-ago third quarter. Revenue is on track to grow 2.3% from a year ago, according to FactSet.

Organizations: Revenue

NEW YORK (AP) — The iconic stopwatch won't be reset, but for six episodes this fall, “60 Minutes” will become 90 minutes. Political Cartoons View All 1154 ImagesMore than a half century in, “60 Minutes” remains the most popular show in television news. “60 Minutes” has almost completely turned over its correspondent corps since its glory years, with Lesley Stahl remaining as the elder stateswoman. It's almost a defiant normalcy.”Besides Whitaker, Stahl, Vega and Pelley, the current “60 Minutes” correspondent team includes Sharyn Alfonsi, Anderson Cooper and Jon Wertheim. “I think Morley would be proud of this show.”

Persons: “, Bill Owens, George Cheeks, Owens, ”, Bill Whitaker, That's, Lesley Stahl, Cecilia Vega, ” Owens, Vega, Whitaker, Scott Pelley —, Edward R, Murrow, ” Whitaker, Stahl, Alfonsi, Anderson Cooper, Jon Wertheim, Pelley, Morley Organizations: CBS, NFL, Hollywood, Nielsen, ABC, U.S ., “ Locations: Coast, Isle of, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Europe, U.S

☆ First US Gulf offshore wind auction to fuel region's green hydrogen push
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Nichola Groom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

It is considered "green" if produced with renewable energy and "gray" if the process is fueled with carbon-emitting natural gas. "When we get to the Gulf, (offshore wind) will start becoming much more disconnected from the grid," said Cheryl Stahl, principal project manager at risk assessment firm DNV. In comments to BOEM on the planned Gulf sale earlier this year, those three companies noted the potential of offshore wind to produce green hydrogen in the region. "The Gulf of Mexico is uniquely situated to facilitate and benefit from green hydrogen production via offshore wind," Shell said in April, pointing to the region's existing port and pipeline infrastructure as well as new federal funding for green hydrogen development. The American Clean Power Association, a trade group that represents offshore wind and other renewable energy developers, also said in its comments to BOEM that green hydrogen would "increase market viability of offshore wind."

Persons: Biden, Cheryl Stahl, John Filostrat, Shell, TotalEnergies, Alon Carmel, Joe Biden's, Lacy McManus, McManus, Nichola, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Department's, of Ocean Energy Management, Companies, Shell, Clean Power Association, PA Consulting, New, New Orleans Inc, Thomson Locations: U.S, Gulf Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf, Louisiana, Texas, Mexico, New York, New Jersey, New Orleans, South Louisiana

☆ American Tausaga wins shock discus gold with astonishing personal best
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary Tausaga improves personal best by four metresVictory comes after finishing last in previous two worldsSecond successive World Championship heartbreak for AllmanBUDAPEST, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Laulauga Tausaga obliterated her personal best by over four metres to take a stunning world discus gold on Tuesday just as fellow American and hot favourite Valarie Allman had been seemingly cruising towards the title. She improved that to 68.79 in the third round and 69.23 in the fourth and seemed comfortably set for gold until her team mate's stunner. Hawaiian-born Tausaga had managed a personal best of 65.56 but that was barely noticed as it kept her in sixth place at the halfway point. After Tausaga's Bob Beamonesque throw, Allman had a final chance to reclaim the lead but could not manage it, leaving her compatriot to take a victory throw, which shed did with tears streaming down her face. Feng claimed bronze with a final round throw of 68.20.

Persons: Allman, Tausaga, Valarie Allman, Feng Bin, mate's, Bob Beamonesque, Feng, Daniel Stahl, Mitch Phillips, Ken Ferris Organizations: Allman BUDAPEST, Budapest, USA, Thomson Locations: China, Eugene

☆ Breaking Down the Worst Earnings Quarter in Years
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Peter Santilli | George Stahl | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/breaking-down-the-worst-earnings-quarter-in-years-74199fb6

Persons: Dow Jones, 74199fb6

☆ Warholm wins 400m hurdles race hit by environmental protest in Stockholm
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

STOCKHOLM, July 2 (Reuters) - Norway's Olympic champion Karsten Warholm won the men's 400 metres hurdles in a race that was hindered by a protest from environmentalists at a rain-hit Galan Diamond League meet on Sunday. The 27-year-old double world champion, who slapped his thighs and let out a loud whoop during the introductions, ran blind in the outside lane en route to a time of 47.57 seconds. WORLD RECORD ATTEMPTThe rain wreaked havoc with numerous events, particularly the much-anticipated men's pole vault featuring local hero Armand Duplantis. He then missed on three attempts at 6.23, which would have topped his world record of 6.22. With Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia breaking the steeplechase world record last month in Paris, there could be a thrilling battle between the African pair at the worlds in Hungary.

Persons: Karsten Warholm, Galan, Warholm, Armand Duplantis, Kristjan, Daniel Stahl of Sweden, Freweyni Hailu, Hailu, Beatrice Chebet, Soufiane El, Akani, Simbine, Lori Ewing, Tommy Lund, Ken Ferris, Toby Davis Organizations: Galan Diamond League, A22 Network, TV4, NRK, Stockholm, Broadcasters, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Norwegian, Budapest, Slovenia, Soufiane El Bakkali, Morocco, Ethiopia, Paris, Hungary, South Africa, Gdansk

Fox will pay $6 million, and CBS, now known as Paramount Global (PARA.O), will pay $5 million, the court filing showed. Representatives for Cox, Fox and CBS either declined to comment or did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Representatives from those defendants either declined to comment on the pending litigation or did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. Plaintiffs' attorney Megan Jones at law firm Hausfeld, on Tuesday did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. The case is In re: Local TV Advertising Antitrust Litigation, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, No.

Persons: Cox, District Judge Virginia Kendall, schemed, Sinclair, Kendall, Megan Jones, Hausfeld, Freed, Robins Kaplan, Jennifer Giordano, George Cary, Cleary Gottlieb Steen, Nathan Eimer, Eimer Stahl, Weil, Brian Sher, Bryan Cave Leighton, Mike Scarcella, Leigh Jones Organizations: Fox, CBS, Cox Media Group, Fox Corp, CBS Corp, Northern, Northern District of Illinois, Paramount Global, U.S, District Judge, Cox, Sinclair Broadcasting Group Inc, Scripps Company, TEGNA Inc, U.S . Justice Department, Local, Antitrust Litigation, Northern District of, Millen, Latham, Watkins, Hamilton, Thomson Locations: U.S, Northern District, Chicago, Northern District of Illinois

Walmart de Mexico (Walmex) (WALMEX.MX) in April said it had bought Trafalgar, a payment app, to compete in a market dominated by Grupo Salinas' Baz, Oxxo's (FEMSAUBD.MX) Spin and MercadoPago of MercadoLibre (MELI.O). Executives at the Walmart unit expect the deal to "unlock Cashi's potential," starting with transfers, withdrawals and remittances while keeping open the option of loans and other financial services in the future. "We want to be the best financial services application in Mexico, and that requires constant investment," Marcelino Herrera, Walmex senior vice president of financial services, told Reuters. Walmart plans over $15 billion in capital expenditures for automation and alternate revenue streams in 2023, including its ad business, third-party marketplace, and deliveries. SYNERGIESWalmart has not defined fintech as a top investment priority but has poured money into it over the past year.

☆ What Is a W-4 and How Do I Fill Mine Out?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +14 min

How Form W-4 has changedIf you haven’t checked in on your W-4 lately, you’ll want to take a gander, says Pete Isberg, an executive with payroll provider ADP. That’s because Form W-4 was overhauled in 2020 based on changes passed in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act a few years earlier. At the top of the W-4 form, you enter your personal information and filing status. If you have multiple jobs, you’ll use Step 2(b)—Multiple Jobs Worksheet, which is found on page 3 of Form W-4. So after you file your Form 1040 tax return, your W-4 form updates should be next.

☆ James Davolos' stock fund has been one of the world's best for two decades. He told us how he has consistently beaten the market, and why he's comfortable betting half his money on a single company.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Marley Jay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Co-manager James Davolos told Insider about the fund's approach to identifying market mistakes. Half the fund's money is in one stock, and Davolos explained why he's not hurrying to change that. Davolos and his team then investigate those areas and try to identify any mistakes the market has made about the quality of an investment. "Nobody at the firm follows a sector per se, or a geography, or a capitalization," Davolos told Insider in a recent interview. Texas Pacific doesn't have to pay for equipment or fund that work; it simply makes money from the drillers.

☆ This startup is one step closer to cracking the code on 3D printing shoes with a $3 million investment led by former Nike executives
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Matthew Kish | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The company makes 3D-printed footwear. Footwear manufacturing is inherently wasteful and time consuming. Hilos' technology works like this: When a customer purchases a shoe, Hilos makes another one available in a matter of days. Hilos makes soles from a type of plastic, technically TPU, or thermoplastic polyurethane, that is made from 80% recycled material. "If you started with the premise of, 'I want to make a new footwear company,' how would you do it?

☆ What CEOs Are Saying: 2023 ‘Is the Year of Efficiency’
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( George Stahl | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Here is what some of the world’s corporate leaders said this week about business and consumer spending, the supply chain and other topics. Meta Platforms Inc. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg:“I want to discuss my management theme for 2023, which is the year of efficiency. We closed last year with some difficult layoffs and restructuring some teams, and when we did this, I said clearly that this was the beginning of our focus on efficiency and not the end. And since then, we’ve taken some additional steps.” (Feb. 1)

☆ What CEOs Are Saying: ‘The Consumer Is Under Pressure’
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( George Stahl | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Here is what some of the world’s corporate leaders said this week about the economy, inflation and the labor market, among other topics. Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Satya Nadella:“A few things are increasingly clear. Just as we saw customers accelerate their digital spend during the pandemic, we are now seeing them optimize that spend. Also, organizations are exercising caution given the macroeconomic uncertainty. And the next major wave of computing is being born as we turn the world’s most advanced AI models into a new computing platform.” (Jan. 24)

☆ Women journalists remember Barbara Walters: 'Her powerful legacy lives on'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Julianne Mcshane | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters report from London during the wedding of Prince William and Princes Kate in 2011. Guthrie posted a throwback photo of Walters at the “TODAY” anchor desk with the caption: “thank you, Barbara. Harry Reasoner and Barbara Barbara on the set of ABC's evening news in 1976. "Her powerful legacy lives on in all the women journalists who were influenced by her passionate work and searing interviews," Roberts wrote. 'This is my legacy'Led by Oprah, 25 women journalists who were influenced by Barbara Walters say goodbye to her during her final co-host appearance on "The View" in 2014.

☆ Elizabeth Holmes’s Sentencing: How Other White-Collar Criminals Fared
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( George Stahl | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Elizabeth Holmes is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday, and the Theranos Inc. founder could be joining a list of notable white-collar criminals to serve time in prison. Ms. Holmes was convicted in January on four counts of criminal fraud for deceiving investors while running a yearslong scheme at Theranos, the blood-testing startup where she was chief executive.

☆ What CEOs Are Saying: The Fed ‘Should Look Out the Front Windshield’
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( George Stahl | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-ceos-are-saying-the-fed-should-look-out-the-front-windshield-11666401863

☆ Steel makers fear deepening crisis from energy crunch as output halted
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Stainless metal coils are seen at the Belgian site of stainless steel maker Aperam, which has been forced to slow production due to spiralling energy prices, in Genk, Belgium September 22, 2022. Even with four wind turbines and over 50,000 solar panels at its site in eastern Belgium, stainless steel maker Aperam has been forced to halt production as surging energy prices bite. Hallemans says the potential payout producers such as Aperam would receive is unclear and could be months away, with energy prices sky-high just as Aperam seeks to bind customers to annual contracts. ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe has trimmed production there, with customers hesitant in the face of an emerging recession and energy prices that challenge its international competitiveness. Eurofer says the situation has worsened markedly since its August forecast of a modest 1.7% decline of European steel consumption this year, but a solid 5.6% rebound in 2023.

Search resuls for: "Stahl"

25 mentions found