DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Trump’s former ‘thug’ Michael Cohen set for trial-defining testimony in hush money case
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Cohen’s testimony is set to be the critical moment of the hush money trial that could make Trump the first ex-president to be convicted of a crime. He has talked extensively about his desire to see President Trump go to prison. He has talked extensively about his desire to see President Trump’s family go to prison. He has talked extensively about President Trump getting convicted in this case,” Blanche said. While the hush money trial harks back to the 2016 election, its end game could play a significant role in the destiny of the White House eight years later.

Persons: CNN — Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s “, Trump, Stormy Daniels, —, Cohen, Daniels, ” Cohen, “, Matthew Colangelo, “ Cohen, ”, ” Colangelo, Anthony Scaramucci, Donald Trump, Michael Cohen, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Todd Blanche, Trump’s, ” Blanche, John Dean, Roy Cohn, He’s, Judge Juan Merchan, Fani Willis, Joe Biden, he’s Organizations: CNN, Trump, Republican, Trump Organization, House, Nixon White, “ CNN, Mr, Fulton, White House, GOP Locations: Russia, New York, Florida, Fulton County

☆ ADL gives Harvard and a dozen other universities failing grades on campus antisemitism
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —The Anti-Defamation League has graded 85 American universities for their policies to protect Jewish students from antisemitism on campus. The ADL said antisemitic incidents on campus have reached historic levels, leaving Jewish students feeling unsafe. The dozen schools that received failing grades from the ADL include Harvard, MIT, Stanford, University of Chicago, Princeton, University of Virginia, Tufts, Michigan State University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, SUNY Purchase, SUNY Rockland, and Swarthmore. Harvard remains under federal investigation for potential Title VI violations, and several Jewish students have sued Harvard for failing to protect them from antisemitism. “Like all students, Jewish students deserve to feel safe and supported on campus.”Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel left 1,200 dead, and hundreds of Israelis were taken hostage.

Persons: ”, I’m, Jonathan Greenblatt, Israel, Claudine Gay, Gay, Rabbi David Wolpe, Alan Garber, Raffaella Sadun, Derek Penslar, Larry Summers, Sadun, University of Pennsylvania –, Brandeis, Justice Louis Brandeis, Greenblatt Organizations: New, New York CNN, Defamation, Harvard, ADL, “, Civil, Education Department, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University and Stanford, MIT, Stanford, University of Chicago, University of Virginia, Tufts , Michigan State University , University of Massachusetts, SUNY, Swarthmore . Harvard, Harvard Faculty, Staff, Justice, Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee, American Resistance Organization, Education, Harvard’s Divinity School, Harvard Business School, Columbia, Rutgers, Brandeis, Elon, Students for Justice, Foundation, Combat, Elon University Locations: New York, United States, Israel, Princeton, Tufts ,, Tufts , Michigan State University , University of Massachusetts Amherst, SUNY Rockland, Palestine, “, Gaza

☆ Biden signs $1.2 trillion spending package for government funding until October
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

President Joe Biden on Saturday signed Congress' $1.2 trillion spending package, finalizing the remaining batch of bills in a long-awaited budget to keep the government funded until Oct. 1. The Senate passed the budget in a 74-24 vote at roughly 2 a.m. However, the White House said that it would not begin official shutdown operations since a deal had ultimately been secured and only procedural actions remained. Hours before the House passed the spending package Friday morning, hardline House Republicans held a press conference to lambast the bill. If ousting a House speaker for budget disagreements feels like a familiar story, that's because it is.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Mitch McConnell, Mike Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Johnson, Kevin McCarthy Organizations: White, Saturday, Department of Homeland Security, Republicans, Georgia Republican, Republican, Freedom Caucus Locations: Washington , DC

☆ Hungary accuses EU of blackmail over Ukraine aid stand-off
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister, arrives on day one of the European Union (EU) leaders summit at the EU Council headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday, May 30, 2022. Hungary accused the European Union of blackmail after a leaked document reportedly suggested that the bloc plans to sabotage Budapest's economy if it vetoes fresh aid for Ukraine at a summit later this week. "Hungary does not give in to blackmail," Bóka János wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "The document drafted by Brussels bureaucrats only confirms what the Hungarian Government has been saying for a long time: access to EU funds is used for political blackmailing by Brussels," he added. It added that budget talks remain ongoing and will continue to be based on reaching a compromise that is acceptable to all 27 member states.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Hungary's, Bóka János Organizations: European Union, EU, European, Ukraine, Financial Times, Hungarian Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Hungary, European Union, Kyiv, Hungarian Government, Budapest, Hungarian, Ukraine

☆ Russian military blogger Igor Girkin sentenced to four years in prison on extremism charges
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Igor Girkin, a prominent Russian pro-war blogger who criticized President Vladimir Putin’s handling of the war on Ukraine, has been found guilty on extremism charges and sentenced to four years in prison by a Moscow court. Moscow City Court convicted Girkin, also known under his pseudonym, Strelkov, of inciting extremism – a charge he denied. Girkin was an influential blogger and critic of Putin. The court in 2022 found Girkin guilty of mass murder for his role in the incident and he was sentenced in absentia to life in prison. According to the court, Girkin participated in the conflicts in Chechnya, Transnistria and Bosnia.

Persons: Igor Girkin, Vladimir Putin’s, Girkin, Strelkov, Putin, Wagner, Natalia Kolesnikova, ” Organizations: CNN, Court, Federal Security Service, Malaysia Airlines Flight, Getty, Angry Patriots Club, Reuters, Donetsk People’s, DPR Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Moscow, Crimea, Donbas, Russia, AFP, Donetsk, Donetsk People’s Republic, Netherlands, Chechnya, Transnistria, Bosnia

☆ Paris mayor quits X platform, calling it a 'gigantic global sewer'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Paris' Mayor Anne Hidalgo attends the 105th session of the Congress of Mayors organised by the "France's Mayors' Association" (AMF), in Paris, France, November 21, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo on Monday announced she was quitting the X platform formerly known as Twitter, calling it a "gigantic global sewer" that was "destroying our democracies" by spreading abuse and misinformation. After buying Twitter in 2022, Elon Musk laid off thousands of employees, including many who moderated content on the platform. "This medium has become a gigantic global sewer, and we should continue to wade into it?" X users and opposition politicians took to the #TahitiGate hashtag to lambast her over the partially taxpayer-funded trip.

Persons: Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Sarah Meyssonnier, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Elon Musk, Hidalgo, Michel Rose, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Mayor, Mayors, Association, REUTERS, Rights, Paris Mayor, Monday, Twitter, White, Socialist, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Tahiti

JERUSALEM (AP) — Without warning on Saturday, Gaza's militant Hamas rulers attacked Israel by air, land and sea. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies were scrambling to respond to the rapidly changing events. Here are some key takeaways from the multi-pronged attack that has suddenly plunged Israel into war. In a dramatic escalation unseen in decades, Hamas also sent paragliders flying into Israel, the Israeli military said. Some political analysts have linked Hamas' attack to ongoing U.S.-brokered talks on normalization of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Persons: strode, Benjamin Netanyahu, ISRAEL, —, Golda Meir, Netanyahu's, Netanyahu, Itamar Ben, Gvir, lambast Netanyahu, Gilad Shalit, Shalit, Ben, ” Bassem Naim Organizations: JERUSALEM, Israeli, Labor Party, National, National Security, United Nations, Hamas, West Bank, AP, Palestinian Authority Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Gaza, Lebanon, Aqsa, Ben, Qatar, Egypt, U.S, Saudi Arabia, ISRAEL

The union is pushing for higher wages, shorter work weeks and assurances from the country’s top automakers that new electric vehicle jobs will be unionized. The dueling appearances reflect what will likely be a chief dynamic of the 2024 general election, which is increasingly looking like a rematch between Trump and Biden. Trump has tried to capitalize on the strike to drive a wedge between Biden and union workers, a constituency that helped pave the way for the ex-president’s surprise 2016 victory. While Biden has not implemented an electric vehicle mandate, he has set a goal that half of all new vehicle sales be electric by 2030. He’s set to hold a press conference to highlight Trump’s “false promises to blue collar and union workers in Michigan and across America.”___AP Auto Writer Tom Krisher in Van Buren Township, Michigan, contributed to this report.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, plumbers, Biden, ”, Biden’s, Joe Biden’s, ” Trump, autoworkers, “, Shawn Fain, ” Fain, Jason Miller, Adrian Mitchell, ” Mitchell, “ He’s, Mitchell, Matthew Coleman, Romulus, Ford —, Asa Hutchinson, He’s, Tom Krisher Organizations: Republican, United Auto Workers, Trump, Biden, Drake Enterprises, UAW, Democratic, U.S . Trump, U.S, Supreme, General Motors, Big Three, —, Motors, Stellantis, Arkansas Gov Locations: California, Michigan, Detroit, Clinton Township, Michigan , Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Lordstown , Ohio, Romulus , Michigan, Korean, U.S, America, Van Buren Township , Michigan

☆ GOP Rep. John James, one of the party's highest-profile Black lawmakers, blasts Ron DeSantis over Florida's new slavery curriculum: 'You've gone too far. Stop.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ron DeSantis over the new slavery curriculum in Florida. James on the social media platform X said DeSantis is now "so far from the Party of Lincoln." DeSantis has pushed back against Rep. Donalds and Sen. Scott over their critiques of the changes. Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida. Donalds on Friday made an appearance on Fox News, where he pointed to the DeSantis campaign over the dustup.

Persons: John James, Ron DeSantis, James, DeSantis, Sen, Scott, John James of Michigan, James —, —, lambast, Byron Donalds of, Tim Scott of, Christ, Ed, You've, Kamala Harris, Emmett Till, Donalds —, Trump's, Donalds, Michael M, Scott —, Donald Trump — Organizations: Gov, Party of Lincoln, Service, Republican, GOP, Republicans, Florida Department of Education, Rep, Fox News, Washington Republicans Locations: Florida, Wall, Silicon, Byron Donalds of Florida, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Donalds, Iowa

☆ Trump’s dominance of GOP field has America bracing for a toxic campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

But the raucous event in Pickens also showed the enduring power of his personality and feral political appeal to GOP base voters. The state of the raceAs early as it is, some of the big questions that will decide the 2024 GOP primary are beginning to be answered. Even with his support among GOP voters appearing to soften in CNN’s post-indictment poll, there’s little sign it’s affecting his position in the race. While this may reinforce perceptions among GOP primary voters that he’s a victim, it could remind other voters of the possibility of a convicted felon serving as president. Still, Kennedy’s appeal shows that a distrust of Washington institutions, experts and a political system many voters fear has failed them, is no longer exclusively reserved for Republican primary voters.

Persons: Donald Trump, Pickens, ” Trump, Trump, ” Steve Cortes, DeSantis, Mike Pence, Obama, Clinton, Biden, it’s, —, Sen, Lindsey Graham –, –, Chris Christie, Asa Hutchinson, Will Hurd, Lindsey Graham, president’s, — DeSantis, he’s, I’ll, ” Cortes, “, Buttigieg, Still, — Biden, Robert Kennedy’s, didn’t Organizations: CNN, America, Republican, GOP, DeSantis, ”, Trump, NBC, Labor, FBI, Justice Department, New, New Jersey Gov, Arkansas Gov, Texas Rep, PAC, White, Democratic Locations: South Carolina, Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Arkansas, Manhattan, Washington

☆ Ukraine’s cross-border tactics are aimed at destabilizing Russia. Judging by the response, they’re working
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Sam Kiley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The operations of Russian citizens, carrying Ukrainian military ID, wearing Ukrainian uniforms and attacking from Ukraine, remain officially opaque. Back then, “Little Green Men” in peculiar two-tone sport-hunting uniforms – and Russian military fatigues – appeared in Crimea. The Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom for Russia Legion – which fall under Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence structure – have been conducting short cross-border raids into Russia. Russia rattledIn Ukraine, it suits Kyiv to have Russians invade Russia on its behalf. Previous days with all the shelling - there was almost no response, no (Russian) military.

Persons: coy, what’s, “, fatigues –, Vladimir Putin, Moscow, Sergey Bobok, for Russia Legion –, –, Putin, it’s, ”, ” Putin, Prigozhin, Wagner, “ Wagner, Yulia Morozova, you’ve, ” Dmitry Medvedev, Medvedev, Vyacheslav Gladkov, Shebekino Organizations: CNN, Fighters, Russian Volunteer Corps, of Russia Legion, Getty, for Russia Legion, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence, Frontline, Kremlin, Russian, Russian Federation, “ Wagner PMC, Russia, Kyiv, Reuters, Russian Telegram Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Crimea, Simferopol, Soviet, AFP, South, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Pretoria, destabilization, Belgorod –, Moscow, Kursk, Smelensk, Russian, St Petersburg, Soviet Union, Belgorod, Shebekino, “

☆ E. Jean Carroll's team wanted to dismiss a juror during the Trump sexual abuse and defamation trial who described Tim Pool's podcast as 'balanced'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

New filings from E. Jean Carroll's case against Donald Trump reveal her team sought to dismiss a juror. On April 30, Carroll's team moved to dismiss Juror No. The juror was ultimately allowed to stay on after a judge rejected the request from Carroll's team, according to Politico. Carroll was awarded $5 million in damages for the sexual abuse and defamation claims. 77 was among the nine jurors who unanimously found Trump was liable for the sexual abuse and defamation of Carroll.

CNN —Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the anti-vaccine activist and environmental lawyer, described himself as a truth-teller who will “end the division” as he launched his bid for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination on Wednesday in Boston. Some Kennedy family members have denounced his views on vaccines. Kennedy lives in Los Angeles, but he chose Boston as a nod to his family’s deep political roots in the city, even though his father, Robert F. Kennedy, declared his presidential ambitions in the Senate Caucus Room on Capitol Hill in 1968, the same place his uncle, John F. Kennedy, launched his presidential campaign in 1960. “I’m a lifelong Democrat, but I will not be voting for Robert Kennedy Jr. because I cannot stomach the anti-vaccine thing,” said Tyson Humble of Portland, Oregon, who was visiting the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of former President Kennedy, is currently the US ambassador to Australia.

☆ BlackRock Communications Specialists Exit As Fink Scrutiny Mounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Rebecca Ungarino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

At least nine people have left or are transitioning out of BlackRock's communications group. The corporate communications team has some 90 employees globally, up from 48 in 2019, a BlackRock spokesperson said. "We're fortunate the BlackRock communications team includes some of the most talented professionals in the industry and that we have continued to attract top talent as the team has grown in recent years," Badenhausen said in a statement to Insider. Jonathan Posen, a veteran speechwriter who worked as former Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner's chief writer on the financial crisis and other economic matters, joined BlackRock's communications group in 2013. The criticism reached new heights in 2022 as Republican state officials coordinated attacks on Fink and BlackRock and some pulled their investments.

☆ The first economic plan the new GOP House proposed would raise the deficit by $100 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Their first target: $80 billion in IRS funding from the Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act. The IRS funding was meant to relieve an overburdened agency and beef up enforcement on some of the wealthiest Americans. Of the $80 billion, $45.6 billion is directed towards tax enforcement, specifically targeting areas that have been challenging for the IRS, like global high-net-worth filers. The Congressional Budget Office previously found that the enforcement funding would bring in $204 billion over the next 10 years. "With inflation high, interest rates rising, and debt approaching record levels, rescinding IRS enforcement funds would be a big mistake."

☆ RNC chair Ronna McDaniel says it's 'unfair' to link GOP criticism of Nancy Pelosi to her husband being attacked by an intruder at their California home
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ronna McDaniel said it was "unfair" to link GOP messaging to the attack on Paul Pelosi on Sunday. Nancy Pelosi, who has led House Democrats since 2003, has long been a political foil for the GOP. McDaniel pushed back against any allegations that GOP messaging was problematic or incited violence and instead flipped the narrative to lambast Democrats. "But I think the other thing to remember is, if this weren't Paul Pelosi, this criminal would probably be out on the street tomorrow." "But of course we wish Paul Pelosi a recovery.

Flash-forward to today, at the peak of the midterm elections’ race, and the political landscape around reproductive freedom and abortion rights has massively shifted. The Supreme Court’s stunning decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June swept away abortion rights, allowing the GOP to start making good on the draconian abortion measures they’ve long been cheerleading. And those voters are increasingly in the abortion rights camp. According to Gallup, women support abortion rights by a nearly 30-point margin. President Bill Clinton preferred to discuss abortion as “safe, legal and rare,” a catchphrase that many Democrats adopted later.

☆ Meet the ideal political candidate: An educated, healthy millennial with business experience, per a new poll
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A poll found that the prototypical congressional candidate is a healthy, educated, millennial with business experience. The poll found that American adults care less about political experience and more about how 'in touch' they are. Sign up for our newsletter to receive our top stories based on your reading preferences — delivered daily to your inbox. The poll from early September inquired about what Americans value when deciding "which candidate to vote for in an election." In addition to education, six-in-10 respondents noted that it would be a "good thing" if more "Americans with business experience" were represented in Congress.

☆ Jesse Watters' rise at Fox, from Bill O'Reilly's ambush man to Tucker Carlson wannabe
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Noah Hurowitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +23 min

At the time, Watters was best known for pulling off elaborately planned ambush interviews on "The O'Reilly Factor," then Fox News' top-rated show. When Grim picked his phone up and trained it again on Watters, the smile was gone from Watters' face. Watters on the set of his show "Jesse Watters Primetime." In early 2022, "Jesse Watters Primetime" debuted, airing right before "Hannity." Watters, whose entire career has been at Fox News, might be a safer bet, according to Muto, the former O'Reilly producer.

Persons: Jesse Watters, MSNBC's swank, Watters, O'Reilly, Ryan Grim, Amanda Terkel, Terkel, he'd, Grim, Drudge, Roger Ailes, Tucker Carlson's, Erik Wemple, Tucker Carlson, Carlson's, Carlson, who's, Donald Trump's, Don Jr, Eric, Julio Cortez, David Hockney, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Limbaugh, Mueller, Jon Stewart, Tucker, it's, Wemple, Andrew Lawrence, Lawrence, " Watters, Joe Muto, Jesse, Muto, Clowning, irked O'Reilly, stoke —, Obama, Lefties, Al Qaeda's, Breitbart, Gretchen Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Bill O'Reilly, Spencer Platt, O'Reilly's, cohosts, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Greg Gutfeld, Juan Williams, Ivanka Trump, Emma DiGiovine, DiGiovine, John Lamparski, Hannity, Sean Hannity, Biden, doesn't, You've, we'll, Newt Gingrich, Watters nodded, Neil Cavuto, Chris Wallace, Mike Pence, Tom Brenner, Wallace, gunning, There's, Bill, Jack Newsham, Katherine Long Organizations: Fox News, DC, Huffington Post, Washington Post, Fox, MSNBC, The Washington Post, Better Homes, Gardens, America, East Coast, Quaker, Trinity, Trump National Golf Club, Republican, CNN, Media, Gawker, Ivy League, Fox Nation, stoke, CIA, Corp's, The New York Times, Democrat, Dominion Voting Systems, Daily, Trump, Reuters, OG Locations: O'Reilly's crosshairs, Washington ,, Virginia, Watters, Terkel's, East, St, Middletown , Rhode Island, Philadelphia, Long, Hartford , Connecticut, Bedminster , NJ, San Diego, An Alabama, Chinatown, Telluride, New York's Chinatown, York, New York, Los Angeles

☆ George Conway says individuals defending Trump over his handling of presidential records are 'basically desperate'
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-13 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

George Conway during a CNN interview was highly critical of Trump's handling of classified documents. "Having top-secret FBI information in our home? Conway said individuals defending Trump and criticizing the FBI were "basically desperate." On CNN, Conway proceeded to lambast individuals who have backed Trump's claims regarding the FBI's search. He had no business bringing top-secret FBI material from the Situation Room or the Oval Office up to the residence.

☆ 10 best cuisines in the world
▼ + stars: | 2017-07-12 | by ( Zoe Li | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Of course, it’s subjective according to personal tastes, but this is CNN Travel’s take on some of the best food cultures and destinations around the world. United StatesAmerica knows how to take a good food -- for instance, the hamburger -- and make it even better. With influences from China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar and a royal culinary tradition, Thai cuisine is the best of many worlds. The best part about eating Thai food in Thailand, though, is the hospitality. Sun, beach, service with a smile and a plastic bag full of som tam – that’s the good life.

Search resuls for: "lambast"

21 mentions found