DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Xi's planned revival of Chinese financial watchdog exerts more party control
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Joe Cash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BEIJING, March 1 (Reuters) - Plans by China's Communist Party to revive a high-level economic watchdog after two decades signal President Xi Jinping push to increase oversight of the financial sector, analysts say, part of a wider tightening of control by Xi and the party. "Through the CFWC, Xi and his allies could more rapidly roll out a reshuffle to replace the remaining legacy technocrats with people more loyal to them," he said. China's financial sector is overseen by the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, with the cabinet's Financial Stability and Development Committee at the top. Under the new proposed structure, the party would take on a direction-setting role for the economy and regulatory bodies. "But this could also lead to policies replacing some market forces, which may not be ideal for financial liberalisation", she said.

☆ Ericsson Compliance Chief to Leave as Company Remains Under U.S. Scrutiny
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Mengqi Sun | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +2 min

Ericsson AB said its chief compliance officer will leave the company, as the telecommunications-equipment company continues to clean up its ethics and compliance programs following a bribery settlement. Laurie Waddy, who joined Stockholm-based Ericsson in April 2019 as compliance chief, will leave the company after almost four years, the company said Tuesday. Jan Sprafke, Ericsson’s head of compliance for Europe and Latin America, will become interim compliance chief while the company searches for a permanent successor. Mr. Sprafke will report to the company’s chief legal officer and the board’s audit and compliance committee. Ms. Waddy will work with Mr. Sprafke during the transition on issues related to the compliance functions and the company’s U.S.-mandated monitorship, according to Ericsson.

☆ Analysis: China's role as Ukraine peacemaker raises doubt as it 'deepens' Russia ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Martin Quin Pollard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A year after Russia invaded its southwestern neighbour, its "no limits" partner China is offering to broker peace. It says it will issue a "position paper" on Ukraine and President Xi Jinping is expected to give a "peace speech" this week, Italy's foreign minister said. "At the moment China’s peace effort will stay at the rhetorical level," said Li Mingjiang, associate professor of international relations at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Still, China is unlikely to provide Russia with military aid any time soon, at least not overtly, experts and diplomats said. "China still sees Russia as a central element of its overarching strategy to weaken U.S. power and influence and build a multipolar world," he said.

☆ Yale expert: This is how you build 1 trait highly successful people share
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The key lies in a simple trait that highly successful people share: self-awareness. For Gendler, who studies how insights from ancient scholars can solve modern problems, building the trait involves tapping into your inner Socrates. Start doing the same for any belief you're trying to unlearn. People on the unstable bridge reported that they felt more attracted to the person alongside them. "Imagine having an inner Socrates with you on the bridge," Gendler said.

☆ My laundry side hustle makes me $30,000 a year and only takes 15 hours a week — here's how I built it as a stay-at-home mom
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Dorothy Cucci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Laurie Fulford is a stay-at-home mom who makes makes extra cash washing people's clothes on SudShare. Fulford signed up for the on-demand laundry service app in 2021 and now makes $30,000 a year. Giving great customer service helped her rise up the ranks and stand out among the competition. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lori Fulford, a 39-year-old stay-at-home mom and SudShare user in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Now, I make $30,000 a year washing other peoples' laundry and have fun doing it.

☆ Explainer: A year into Ukraine war, how has China stood by 'no limits' partner Russia?
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Laurie Chen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Here are the implications for China as the war approaches its one-year anniversary on Feb. 24. While China has repeatedly called for peace, President Xi Jinping has stood by his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, resisting Western pressure to isolate Moscow. China has sought to avoid providing support to Russia that would invite sanctions upon itself, including refraining from providing weapons. Beijing has repeatedly opposed any linkage between the Ukraine war and its intentions to "reunify" with the self-ruled island that it claims as its territory. "The result and the cost of the war show the Chinese that an invasion is Taiwan may not be prudent," said Sun.

☆ China says certain countries must stop 'fuelling the fire' in Ukraine conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Ukrainian servicemen ride a self-propelled howitzer outside the town of Siversk, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine February 20, 2023. REUTERS/Yevhen TitovBEIJING, Feb 21 (Reuters) - China is "deeply worried" that the Ukraine conflict could spiral out of control, China's foreign minister Qin Gang said on Tuesday, and called on certain countries to stop "fuelling the fire". The United States has warned of consequences if China provides military support to Russia, which Beijing says it is not doing. "We urge certain countries to immediately stop fuelling the fire," Qin said during a speech, referring to the Ukraine conflict and in comments that appeared to be directed at the United States. Chinese-Russian trade has soared since the invasion of Ukraine, and Russia has sold Asian powers including China greater volumes of oil.

☆ Tech companies spoiled workers for decades. Now layoffs are bringing them down to Earth.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Asia Martin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The tech sector has already cut nearly 100,000 jobs this year. But for tech workers who were sold on the glamorous lifestyle these companies have provided over the last few decades, this is a blow to their self-image. It's unfortunate, Govindarajan said, but he added that these tech companies have disrupted other industries like photography, automobiles, and department stores. "There are many industries the tech sector disrupted where people got laid off. But now it's the turn of the tech sector itself," he told Insider.

☆ Explainer: What we know about China's medical reform protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Laurie Chen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

WHAT ARE THE MEDICAL INSURANCE REFORMS? Beginning Feb. 1, personal medical insurance benefits for Wuhan retirees were slashed from about 5% of the average basic pension to 2.5%, or 83 yuan ($12) per month, according to the Wuhan Healthcare Security Administration. In an essay published Thursday that did not refer to the protests, Finance Minister Liu Kun vowed to "deepen the reform of medical insurance payment methods". Following initial protests in Wuhan last week, the hashtag "Major adjustment in Wuhan medical reform" was viewed over 100 million times before being blocked. Since January, similar insurance reforms have been rolled out in provinces and regions including Jiangxi, Gansu，Shanxi, Qinghai, Sichuan and Guangxi.

☆ China imposes sanctions on Lockheed Martin, Raytheon over Taiwan arms sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] The logo of Lockheed Martin is seen at Euronaval, the world naval defence exhibition in Le Bourget near Paris, France, October 23, 2018. REUTERS/Benoit TessierBEIJING, Feb 16 (Reuters) - China's commerce ministry on Thursday said it put Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) and Raytheon Technologies Corp (RTX.N) onto an "unreliable entities list" over arms sales to Taiwan, its latest sanctions against the two U.S. defense contractors. The regulations prohibit Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Missile and Defense Corporation, a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies, from "engaging in import and export activities related to China", according to the commerce ministry statement. China previously sanctioned the two firms in Feburary last year over a $100-million arms sale to Taiwan, a self-ruled island which Beijing views as a breakaway province. China's foreign ministry at the time said the sale "undermined China's security interests, seriously undermined China-U.S. relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait".

BEIJING, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Hundreds of retirees took to the streets in the Chinese cities of Wuhan and Dalian on Wednesday to protest cuts to medical benefits, according to residents and social media posts, following widespread demonstrations last year over COVID curbs. Reuters could not immediately verify images from Dalian and some others from Wuhan widely shared on social media. The retirees were protesting local reforms including a recent cut to the monthly personal medical benefit allowance for retirees, from 260 yuan ($38) per month to 83 yuan, according to Wuhan residents. In China's health benefit system, some money goes to a personal medical allowance and other funds are pooled. Wednesday's protests in Wuhan and in Dalian in China's northeast attracted a heavy security presence, according to videos and pictures on social media.

☆ Biden plans speech on balloon, unidentified objects - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden plans on Thursday to make his most extensive remarks yet about a high-altitude Chinese balloon and three other objects that were shot down by U.S. fighter jets, two sources familiar with the discussions said on Wednesday. Biden has been under pressure from lawmakers to speak more extensively about the spate of flyovers by unidentified objects, which have baffled many Americans. The United States has said the Chinese balloon was used for surveillance purposes, while Beijing called it a weather balloon. He said the United States still had no firm grasp on the origin of the three objects. Biden has asked national security adviser Jake Sullivan to preside over a task force of related agencies to come up with guidelines on how to address unidentified objects in future.

☆ Psychologist shares the 'daily mental workout' she uses to crush her inner critic: ‘It’s been a real game changer’
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

For most of her teens and 20s, Rachel Turow was her own worst critic. "I felt awkward and lonely and weird," Turow, a Seattle-based clinical psychologist, said on a recent podcast episode of "The Happiness Lab," hosted by Yale University professor Dr. Laurie Santos. It was the epitome of self-criticism — a common affliction, and one that Turow referred to as "the smoking of mental health." Turow, who published a book called "The Self Talk Workout" last year, learned that firsthand. As she trained to become a clinical psychologist, she picked up a set of daily exercises that helped her treat herself more compassionately, she said.

☆ As Tesla ignites an EV price war, suppliers brace for Musk seeking givebacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Hyunjoo Jin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"It is never good for suppliers when (automakers) cut vehicle prices because that pressure rolls downhill," said Dan Sharkey, an attorney who represents suppliers to Tesla and other automakers. Tesla's cost-reduction efforts come after it aggressively cut vehicle prices last month, prompting U.S. rival Ford Motor Co (F.N) to follow suit. More price cuts could be painful in a sector where some suppliers are already struggling, industry officials said. Tesla could negotiate cost reductions with suppliers through "shared" efficiencies or by simply twisting the suppliers' arms and taking some of their profit away, a former Tesla executive told Reuters. "They will get a lot of pushback from suppliers to cut costs," said industry consultant Laurie Harbour, who works with suppliers.

☆ Lisa Loring, who played Wednesday in the original ‘Addams Family’ series, dies at 64
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Lisa Loring, who played the young Wednesday Addams on “The Addams Family” from 1964 to 1966 and also appeared in “As the World Turns,” died Saturday of a stroke, her daughter Vanessa Foumberg confirmed. Godspeed my friend.”Loring’s shimmying frug dance called “The Drew” gained renewed attention with the new Netflix series “Wednesday,” on which Jenna Ortega does her own interpretation of Wednesday’s dance. Loring was born in the Marshall Islands to parents who had served in the Navy and lived in Hawaii before coming to Los Angeles with her mother. She started modeling at the age of 3 and then was cast in an episode of “Dr. Kildare.”After “The Addams Family” finished its two-season run, Loring joined Phyllis Diller’s sitcom “The Pruitts of Southampton.”She made appearances on series including “The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.,” “Fantasy Island” and “Barnaby Jones,” then secured a recurring role as Cricket Montgomery on “As the World Turns” from 1980 to 1983.

☆ UK PM Sunak fires party chairman Zahawi over tax affairs
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak fired the Conservative Party chair Nadhim Zahawi from government on Sunday after an investigation into his tax affairs found a serious breach of the ministerial code. Sunak had ordered independent adviser to investigate questions over the tax affairs of Zahawi, who was briefly finance minister during a period of political turmoil in Britain last year. Zahawi has said Britain's tax authorities ruled he had been "careless" with his declarations but hadn't deliberately made an error to pay less tax. The independent adviser Laurie Magnus found that Zahawi had been misleading when he said that reports last July over his tax affairs were "clearly smears." "Mr. Zahawi's conduct as a Minister has fallen below the high standards that, as Prime Minister, you rightly expect from those who serve in your government," he said.

☆ Volkswagen's adaptive cruise control system attempted to accelerate one owner's car to 100 miles-per-hour in a 30 zone, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Two Volkswagen Tiguan owners told the Times of London about problems with adaptive cruise control. "I thought the car was trying to kill me," said one man, whose car tried to accelerate to 100 miles-per-hour. In a statement sent to Insider, Volkswagen noted that the adaptive cruise control system is "certainly not designed to create a fully autonomous vehicle nor supersede the responsibility of the driver." According to Volkswagen's website, adaptive cruise control works with front assist's radar sensors which detect if you're too close to a vehicle in front. ACC also uses front and rear cameras, as well as GPS information, to work out the road's speed limit.

☆ Women’s Telehealth Firm Favor Changes Name Back to Pill Club Following Lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Katie Deighton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

Favor, a women-focused telehealth company that rebranded last year from the Pill Club, is reverting back to its old name after an unfavorable initial ruling in a trademark lawsuit. The telehealth company last March changed its name to Favor from the Pill Club in a bid to communicate the breadth of its services beyond contraception, Chief Executive Liz Meyerdirk said. The judge ordered the telehealth company to cease using the Favor mark until a final judgment could be reached. NeighborFavor described 11 instances in which Hey Favor’s customers had contacted the delivery company in error. Hey Favor, which rebranded from the Pill Club months before the Supreme Court overturned Roe.

☆ Most Abortion Bans Include Exceptions. In Practice, Few Are Granted.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Amy Schoenfeld Walker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +19 min

But abortion-rights advocates say legal exceptions do nothing but make abortion bans appear more reasonable than they really are. One shows states with abortion bans with exceptions for rape or incest and the other shows states without those exceptions. One shows states with abortion bans with exceptions for fatal birth defects and the other shows states without those exceptions. One shows states with abortion bans with exceptions for patients with severe health risks and the other shows states without those exceptions. One shows states with abortion bans with exceptions for the life of the patient and the other shows states without those exceptions.

Adam Rich, the youngest member of the "Eight Is Enough" television ensemble, died at age 54 at his Los Angeles home Saturday. An official cause of death is pending a scheduled autopsy, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office said. "Eight Is Enough" actors Jimmy Van Patten, Connie Needham, Dianne Kay, Laurie Walters and Adam Rich at the Los Angeles premiere of the musical "Hello Dolly" on Jan. 30, 2019. The youngest member of the Bradford family, Rich endeared himself to viewers as a mop-topped child star. Rich's last credits are from 2003, when he played himself in "Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star," along with a guest spot portraying Crocodile Dundee in "Reel Comedy."

☆ Pornhub is requiring viewers in Louisiana to verify their age with a government ID as part of a new state law
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Pornhub is making users in Louisiana verify their age with a form of government ID, Vice reported. The move is part of the state's new law requiring porn sites to vet minors with age-verifying tech. But some experts say the law can increase surveillance and potentially hurt certain communities. The law considers minors as anyone under the age of 18. So far, Louisiana users can reportedly still access porn sites XVideos and XHamster without age verification, according to Vice, though OnlyFans is stuck on a loading page.

☆ Special Report: Boy Scouts, Catholic dioceses find haven from sex abuse suits in bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Kristina Cooke Mike Spector Benjamin Lesser Dan Levine Disha Raychaudhuri | Kristina Cooke | Mike Spector | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +19 min

The Boy Scouts, for instance, said on a website the group set up for restructuring that it launched a “comprehensive noticing campaign” in the media. He sought compensation in the Boy Scouts bankruptcy in June, long after a deadline of November 16, 2020 for filing claims. The Boy Scouts bankruptcy reorganization plan, approved by a judge in September, halts all lawsuits against the Boy Scouts, local councils, churches and other organizations that chartered scouting activities. His case was halted by the Boy Scouts bankruptcy. Later that year, in August, he filed his lawsuit against defendants including a Boy Scouts local council and DeSandre.

☆ Amazon's plastic packaging was reportedly found thousands of miles away at illegal dump sites in India
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Amazon delivery packages from North America were found in illegal dump sites and mills in India. Plastic waste ends up in dump sites that emit vile odors and can pollute the air, Bloomberg reports. Amazon delivery packaging was also found mixed in with materials processed at sugar cane and paper mills in Muzaffarnagar, according to Bloomberg. Bloomberg's findings come three years after the Indian government lifted its ban on importing plastic waste due to the country's waste shortage, the India Times reported. The spokesperson also referred Insider to Amazon Second Chance, a guide for customers to understand how to recycle their Amazon packaging.

☆ 19 Unique Valentine’s Gifts for Women Who Have Everything
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +10 min

Maybe she’s the type who tuts, “Oh, I don’t need anything” as Valentine’s Day or her birthday approaches. “There’s something a little decadent about wearing a matching cashmere set when you’re traveling by plane, for example,” Deyette notes. Note: The earrings can also be purchased as singles if you or your recipient like to mix and match. Constructed of 100% Australian sheepskin upper and footbed, they feel incredibly luxe and confer the benefit of breathable, moisture-wicking materials. It comes with a 72-ounce pitcher and an ice-crushing blade, as well as two single-serve blender cups for beverages on the go.

☆ Shipping companies brace for harsh winter weather with 'contingency plans' to help gifts arrive on time for the holidays
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Antonio Planas | Antonio Planas Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Postal Service, will be shipping on average a combined 100 million packages per day this week leading up to Christmas. A blast of Arctic air from Canada is expected to bring “life-threatening” cold to parts of the United States in the lead-up to Christmas, weather forecasters have warned. Postal Service, their workers are ready for harsh weather. “UPS has a team of full-time meteorologists who monitor the weather and help us create contingency plans as winter storms develop. Postal Service said it plans for “various weather issues throughout the year.” The postal service also said its workers have the proper equipment to do their jobs safely.

Search resuls for: "Laurie"

25 mentions found