DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Russell Brand denies ‘criminal allegations’ related to his ‘promiscuous past’
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Russell Brand is defending himself against what he described as “very serious criminal allegations” related to his past. On Saturday, British outlets The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 “Dispatches” published a joint investigation in which four women alleged Brand sexually assaulted them in separate instances between the years 2006 and 2013. One of the women said she was 16 and Brand was 31 at the time of the alleged assault in London. “I don’t mind them using my books and my stand-up to talk about my promiscuous, consensual conduct in the past,” Brand said. “What I seriously refute are these very, very, serious criminal allegations.”

Persons: CNN — Russell Brand, preemptively, ” Brand, ”, Brand, Tavistock Wood, “ Brand, “ Organizations: CNN, Sunday Times, The Times, TW, Police Locations: London, Los Angeles

LONDON (AP) — Three British news organizations reported Saturday that comedian and social influencer Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assault and abuse based on allegations from four women who knew him over a seven-year period at the height of his fame. Brand denied the allegations and said that all of his relationships have been consensual. The Sunday Times, The Times of London and Channel 4’s “Dispatches” said that one woman alleged she had been raped, while three others accused him of sexual assault. Political Cartoons View All 1163 Images“Amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute,” he said. “To see that transparency metastasized into something criminal, that I absolutely deny, makes me question is there another agenda at play,” Brand said.

Persons: Russell Brand, Brand, ”, ” Brand, Joe Rogan, “, Sarah Marshall ”, “ Arthur ”, Katy Perry Organizations: Sunday Times, The, BBC Radio, Hollywood Locations: British, London, Britain

☆ Stolen Van Gogh Painting Is Returned in Ikea Bag
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Claire Moses | More About Claire Moses | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The people believed to be involved in the theft have already been arrested and convicted, after the police intercepted their encrypted communications — meaning that they could not have been the ones to physically return the painting, Brand said. Over the last few years, he had already received tips relating to the painting, including photographs of the artwork. Brand did not reveal the identity of the tipster. In 2019, for example, he found a stolen Picasso. Brand said he had worked together with the Dutch police to find the work.

Persons: Brand, ” Brand, Indiana Jones, ”, ” Tipsters, Picasso Organizations: Dutch, NOS, Brand

☆ Victoria’s Secret recruits Naomi Campbell, Adriana Lima and Gisele Bündchen for a new campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Jacqui Palumbo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Victoria’s Secret is reuniting some of the most classic supermodels from its heyday, bringing Gisele Bündchen, Naomi Campbell, Adriana Lima and Candice Swanepoel together in a new campaign. Bündchen, Lima and Swanepoel were part of the long-running “Angels” brand, which the company retired in 2021 as part of its rebrand. (All three worked as “Angels” for years in campaigns and in the brand’s famed Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show — and all wore the show’s signature “Fantasy Bra” on occasions.) It later launched campaigns featuring ambassadors called the VS Collective, including celebrity reps including soccer star Megan Rapinoe and actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas. The campaign images, a mix of classic black-and-white and color portraits, were taken by Swedish fashion photographer Mikael Jansson.

Persons: Gisele Bündchen, Naomi Campbell, Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel, Megan Rapinoe, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Hailey Bieber, Paloma Elsesser, Sui, Emily Ratajkowski, Mikael Jansson, Adut Akech, “, Ed Razek, ”, Stuart Burgdoerfer, We’re, Amy Hauk, Jeffrey Epstein Organizations: CNN, Brands Locations: Lima, Swanepoel

☆ Diageo ends its 15-year partnership with Diddy following lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Spirits maker Diageo has cut ties with Sean “Diddy” Combs, ending a lucrative 15-year partnership that recently culminated in a racial discrimination lawsuit. The music mogul charged that Diageo had neglected and underpromoted his DeLeón tequila, dismissing it as an “urban” product in its marketing, in a suit filed last month. Diageo responded that he has “amassed nearly $1 billion dollars” from the partnership. Diageo and Combs have partnered on Ciroc vodka since 2007. In 2013, Combs bought DeLeón and formed a joint venture with Diageo for the high-end tequila.

Persons: Sean “ Diddy ” Combs, Johnnie Walker, Diddy’s, Diddy, Diageo, Don Julio, George Clooney, “, Combs, Martha Stewart, DEO, ”, they’ve, John Hueston, Diageo “, ” Hueston, Josh Gerben, it’s “, ” Gerben Organizations: New, New York CNN, Diageo, CNN, Diageo “ kneecapped Locations: New York, London

☆ It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone Gets Hurt
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Matt Martell | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In the movie “Moneyball,” Peter Brand, a baseball analyst played by Jonah Hill, has a mantra for the type of player his team covets. “He gets on base,” Brand says when his boss points at him. The movie, like the Michael Lewis book upon which it is based, is about the rise of sabermetrics in Major League Baseball. It is the story of a group of outsiders who take on the baseball establishment by following a core belief rooted in an expression you can hear at any Little League game: A walk is as good as a hit. The math of the strategy is easy enough to explain.

Persons: Peter Brand, Jonah Hill, ” Brand, Michael Lewis, Pete Alonso, Charlie Morton Organizations: Major League Baseball, Little League, Mets

☆ Diddy is suing the co-owner of his tequila for racial discrimination
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Sean “Diddy” Combs is suing Diageo for racial discrimination, claiming that the spirits company that produces DeLeón — the tequila he co-owns with the company — failed to market DeLeón on par with its other brands, including Don Julio and George Clooney’s Casamigos brands. Tequila sales have grown in the United States in recent years, according to data from Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. However, Combs said that his tequila brand hasn’t benefited from the same growth as Casamigos or other tequilas. “While Diageo invested in and expanded its other brands — many of which were acquired after Ciroc and DeLeon — Mr. Combs’ brands were allowed to wither,” it said. In 2013, Combs bought DeLeón and formed a joint venture with Diageo for the high-end tequila.

Persons: Sean “ Diddy ” Combs, Don Julio, George Clooney’s, Combs, Ciroc, DeLeon, DeLeon — Mr, Martha Stewart, DEO, “, we’ve, Diddy, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Diageo, Diageo “ kneecapped, Ciroc, Tequila, Casamigos, “, CNN, ” Locations: New York, United States

☆ A year in Azerbaijan: From the Grand Prix to the ski slopes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Words Cnn Staff | Photo Illustrations Woojin Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

CNN —Anyone who has tuned in to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has seen a tantalizing glimpse of what the capital Baku has to offer. This year’s Grand Prix comes at the height of spring, often said to be Azerbaijan’s most beautiful season. Juan Vilata/Alamy Stock Photo Explore Azerbaijan in spring Prev NextSummers in Azerbaijan are hot, so getting out of the city is a good idea. Alexander Melnikov/Alamy Stock Photo Explore Azerbaijan in fall Prev NextWrap up, because even at its coldest Azerbaijan still has plenty to offer. You’ll learn much more at the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum in Baku.

☆ Goldman’s new strategy gets baptism of fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Jeffrey Goldfarb | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NEW YORK, March 15 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank is providing a slightly awkward showcase for Goldman Sachs’ (GS.N) manifold talents. It’s true to the new unified “One Goldman Sachs” strategy expounded by Chief Executive David Solomon, dampened by the client not living to tell the tale. The investment bank Solomon now leads scrambled throughout the financial crisis to help panicked clients shore up their finances. SVB’s financial models had to be revised on the fly and approved by its board as the situation deteriorated. There also was no soothing imprimatur from Buffett, or a rich Silicon Valley grandee such as Larry Ellison, Steve Ballmer or Larry Page.

☆ Hawaii man imprisoned for 1991 murder and rape of tourist released after judge hears new evidence of innocence
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

A court officer removes Albert Schweitzer's handcuffs at a hearing in Hilo, Hawaii, on Jan. 24, 2023. “Nerves, anxiety, scared.”The justice system is “flawed,” he said, calling himself one of many imprisoned for crimes they didn’t commit. Some intentional and some unintentional.”Ireland’s relatives couldn’t immediately be reached for comment on the petition and Schweitzer’s release. In 2019, Schweitzer’s attorneys and Hawaii County prosecutors entered into a “conviction integrity agreement” to reinvestigate the case. Despite the lack of evidence linking them to the killing, the two Schweitzers and Pauline were indicted in 1997.

For users with a lot of followers, Twitter has been a place to network with professionals in their chosen field, build successful businesses and share breaking news. In October 2022 the account hit 550,000 Twitter followers, she said. Before Musk, Nelson said he communicated with Twitter staff, who engaged with the platform’s top creators to share new features and get insight. Prominent Twitter users said they have also noticed the quality of discourse on the platform declining, including more hateful messages being sent to them in direct messages and replies. It catalogs tweets from and about Musk, including reporting on the disruption to Twitter’s staff, previously suspended accounts that Musk restored and major moments on Musk’s Twitter.

On Tuesday, for example, Fox News host Sean Hannity said Republicans “have been unwilling for whatever reason” to vote early and by mail. Ahead of the general election, registered Democrats held an 8-point edge over registered Republicans in Georgia in early voting. Now about to enter his seventh term, Schweikert said that Republicans in his state used to enjoy a robust early voting edge. Kirk, who had raised concerns about mail-in voting, changed his tune after the November midterms, tweeting that Republicans must recognize the “power of early voting.” But Johnson has called for a ban on mail-in voting. At the forefront of GOP concerns over early voting is Pennsylvania, where Democrats enjoyed an edge so substantial that Republicans did not come close to overcoming it.

☆ Takeaways from the 2022 Georgia runoff: Warnock's win expands Democratic power in the Senate as his own star rises
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Sahil-Kapur-Headshot.Jpg | Sahil Kapur | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

ATLANTA — Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock wrapped up his “one more time” tour with a victory Tuesday in the runoff, defeating Republican rival Herschel Walker to secure a six-year term. But this electoral success is sure to elevate his star, possibly into the echelons of presidential or vice-presidential contenders. Walker improved his margins in some rural counties, particularly in northern Georgia, but it wasn't enough. Warnock's top advisers said they focused heavily on swing voters, and their strategy paid off. Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, won their races on Election Day, topping 50% and avoiding a runoff.

☆ Diwali is having a mainstream moment in the US
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( Harmeet Kaur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

South Asian Americans who celebrate Diwali can now pick up fireworks from Costco, greeting cards from Hallmark and party decorations from Target. Malai, a Brooklyn-based ice cream business inspired by South Asian flavors and ingredients, started selling its Diwali Celebration Box in 2019. “Sometimes I wonder if that just comes hand in hand with visibility.”Bavishi is encouraged by the recent abundance of Diwali products, both from small businesses and mainstream retailers. Does it matter whether the person or company behind a Diwali product is South Asian or not? I don’t know yet what the answer is,” Satpathy-Singh says, referring to mainstream retailers selling Diwali products.

☆ Rhode Island’s Allan Fung Tries to Blaze Trail for GOP in Deep-Blue Northeast
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Natalie Andrews | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Republican Allan Fung gestured toward Democrat Seth Magaziner during a debate Tuesday between the two candidates vying for a House seat representing Rhode Island. CRANSTON, R.I.—Republicans’ efforts to expand their House map and win over voters in unfriendly Democratic territory hinge on candidates such as Allan Fung , who casts himself as a moderate in a Trump-dominated party. Mr. Fung, the former mayor of Cranston, south of Providence, criticizes President Biden and Democrats for their spending programs, saying they have fueled inflation, while accusing the party of not doing enough to fight rising costs. But unlike many Republicans, he opposes federal abortion restrictions and has shunned former President Donald Trump’s “America First” brand of conservatism, speaking instead of finding bipartisan solutions to voters’ problems.

☆ Republicans Target Deep-Blue New England in Midterms
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Natalie Andrews | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ ‘Game of Thrones’ ended with a thud. But ‘House of the Dragon’ has caught fire
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-09 | by ( Frank Pallotta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN Business —HBO has created a kingdom of hits, with none as popular as “Game of Thrones.” But “Game of Thrones” ended with a thud in 2019 when critics and fans were unhappy with the fantasy epic’s ho-hum conclusion (Bran Stark on the Iron Throne? Create more “Game of Thrones,” of course. Enter “House of the Dragon,” a prequel that takes place almost 200 years before the events of its predecessor and focuses on the Targaryen family. To put that number into context, season seven of “Game of Thrones” averaged 32.7 million viewers per episode, and season 8, its final season, averaged 46 million viewers. (It doesn’t hurt that “Game of Thrones” is pretty much like watching sports, albeit with more dragons.)

With the term “personal taxes,” however, Mr. Garten appears to be conflating income taxes with other federal taxes Mr. Trump has paid — Social Security, Medicare and taxes for his household employees. Fragments of Mr. Trump’s tax returns have leaked out before. Mr. Agalarov’s father, Aras, a billionaire who boasts of close ties to Mr. Putin, was Mr. Trump’s partner in the event. Mr. Trump’s avoidance of income taxes is one of the most striking discoveries in his tax returns, especially given the vast wash of income itemized elsewhere in those filings. When they got to line 56, the one for income taxes due, the amount was the same each year: $750.

Search resuls for: "” Brand"

18 mentions found