DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

Europe and the U.S. are scrambling to wean themselves off rare earths from China, which account for 90% of global refined output. Australia's RMIT University estimates there are 16.2 million tonnes of unexploited rare earths in 325 mineral sands deposits worldwide, while the U.S. Idaho National Laboratory said 100,000 tonnes of rare earths each year end up in waste from producing phosphoric acid alone. That, Adamas says, is equivalent to some 8% of expected demand for the two rare earths, vital for making permanent magnets to power EV and wind turbine motors. Reuters GraphicsReuters GraphicsQUICKER THAN NEW MINESRecovering rare earths from waste is much quicker than setting up new projects from scratch. The company will extract phosphorus for fertiliser, fluorine and gypsum in addition to rare earths.

☆ Where Restrictions on Abortion Pills Could Matter Most
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Allison Mccann | Amy Schoenfeld Walker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +10 min

Abortion providers in the United States A United States map shows the location of abortion providers in states without abortion bans. total abortions Medication abortions 71,700 61,500 58% 37,500 32,100 28,800 29,500 41% 61% 60% 51% 52% Florida New York Georgia Pa. Mich. N.C. N.J. Ohio Wash. Mass. Some ways the ruling could affect the availability of abortion pills A flowchart shows possible outcomes from a judge’s ruling and highlights how abortion pills could remain available under some scenarios. Even if the judge rules in favor of the plaintiffs, abortion pills could remain available. The foundation’s Wichita, Kansas, clinic sees more than 500 patients a month, many from Texas, and 60 percent choose abortion pills.

☆ Idaho GOP lawmakers want to classify anyone who helps a minor cross state lines to get an abortion as a human trafficker and punish them with up to 5 years in prison
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Under the bill, transporting a pregnant minor in or outside Idaho would be considered human trafficking. Idaho outlaws abortions with exceptions for rape, incest, or life-threatening circumstances. Proposed by Republican Rep. Barbara Ehardt of Idaho Falls, House Bill 98 expands the state's existing trafficking laws and would restrict alternative ways a pregnant minor might seek an abortion. Idaho shares borders with states that have no restrictions or allows abortions up to fetal viability, including Oregon, Montana, and Wyoming. However, no state so far has passed legislation that would ban abortions conducted outside of one's state residence.

☆ The Western-made tanks heading to Ukraine are unique — but that creates unique problems for Ukraine's military
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

While most modern tanks run on diesel, the Abrams uses a Honeywell 1,500-horsepower gas-turbine engine that functions best when burning JP-8 jet fuel. Challenger tanks were credited with destroying 300 Iraqi tanks. When Turkish Leopard 2s battled ISIS fighters in Syria in 2016, the results were less than impressive. Leopard manufacturer Rheinmetall has 22 Leopard 2s and 88 older Leopard 1s in its inventory, but those can't be made battle-ready until at least 2024. What matters is how many Ukraine will receive — 31 Abrams and 14 Challenger 2s are not a lot — and how Ukraine's military uses them.

☆ 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.

☆ The most — and least — expensive states to own a dog
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Loving a dog may not cost you anything, but feeding, entertaining, accessorizing and taking your dog to the vet can add up quickly. In the Unites States, new dog owners pay around $1,750 per year caring for their canines, a recent study from Pettable found. There are plenty of variable expenses that come with owning a dog that budget-conscious pet lovers can skip (does your dog really need gourmet human-grade food?). The least expensive states to own a dogTo estimate the typical cost to own a dog, Pettable collected data on how much the basic needs cost during your first year of dog ownership. The most expensive states to own a dog

Spreading lies, misinformation and doubt about the 2020 election have proven to be a winning strategy for many Republicans across the United States. The analysis identified more than 370 candidates who cast doubt in some way on the 2020 election. House Republican newcomer said the 2020 election was stolen House Republican newcomer questioned the 2020 election in other ways W y o . M o . T e x as T enn. A vast majority of states will have one or more Republicans who cast doubt on the 2020 election. More than a Dozen Skeptics Elected in the SenateThe 16 Republican skeptics elected so far include several who have outright denied the 2020 election, including J.D.

☆ Republican incumbent Sen. Mike Crapo faces off against Democrat David Roth in Idaho's US Senate election
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Hanna Kang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Mike Crapo is running against Democrat David Roth to represent Idaho in the US Senate. Idaho's Senate race candidatesFirst elected in 1998, Crapo has served in Congress for nearly a quarter of a century. Prior to entering Congress, the native Idahoan served for nearly a decade in the Idaho State Senate and for three terms in the US House. Roth unsuccessfully ran for the Idaho State Legislature in 2020. Idaho's voting historyThe state voted for then-President Donald Trump over Joe Biden by a margin of about 30 percentage points in the 2020 election.

☆ When do the polls close for the 2022 U.S. midterm elections?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

2022 U.S. midterm elections When the polls close and races to watchEarliest poll closing time by state (EST) 6:00 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 10:00 Past 11:00Map showing poll closing times for each state in the United StatesOn Tuesday, November 8, 34 out of 100 U.S. States close polls in staggered times across the nation and results will begin to trickle in shortly after. 7:00 p.m. Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Vermont and VirginiaMap showing 7:00 p.m. EST poll closing times for the United StatesPolls will close in six more states. And in Kansas’s third district, Democrat U.S. House Representative Sharice Davids faces a difficult race after Republicans redrew her suburban Kansas City district. She will face Amanda Adkins, a former chair of the state Republican Party.

☆ America's next main battle tank may be a slimmed-down, high-tech version of the iconic Abrams
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The US military has fielded the Abrams tank for more than 40 years. General Dynamics, which builds the Abrams, recently unveiled an updated version of the M1. The diet M1General Dynamics' AbramsX tank. US soldiers do maintenance on an Abrams tank in Germany in August 2017. "If you keep the armor protection at a very minimal level, that's how we achieve the 60 tons," Reese said.

☆ Stay invested in chip stocks, says one fund manager — who reveals how he’s trading the sector
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The MSCI Semiconductor Index , a benchmark for chip stocks that's down by 43% this year, reflects the wider market's sentiment toward a potential slowdown in economic growth. In such an environment, some investors have begun to ask whether it might be prudent to dump chip stocks in favor of companies in other outperforming sectors. The portfolio manager revealed that he prefers holding on to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company despite a 35% decline in the company's shares this year. The chip sector has historically run in boom and bust cycles. During economic growth, consumer demand for computers, laptops, and phones outstrips semiconductor manufacturing capacity, making the sector very profitable.

☆ You have until next week to claim your relief check in some states—how to get your money before the deadline
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

However, in some states, eligibility is contingent on filing a tax return by the deadline, Oct. 17. Coloradans who haven't yet submitted a 2021 tax return can still receive this check if they file before Oct. 17. MaineFull-year residents who file a 2021 tax return by Oct. 31, 2022, will qualify for $850 relief checks mailed to their home. IdahoThe state has redirected a state tax surplus into bonus rebates for residents who filed income taxes for both the 2020 and 2021 tax years. Another tax rebate from earlier this year pays out $75 per taxpayer and each dependent, or 12% of income taxes paid, whichever is greater.

☆ Wildfire Smoke Is Erasing Progress on Clean Air
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Mira Rojanasakul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Smoke from wildfires has worsened over the past decade, potentially reversing decades of improvements in Western air quality made under the Clean Air Act, according to research published Thursday from Stanford University. The new analysis reveals a picture of daily exposure to wildfire smoke in better geographic detail than ever before. Where Wildfire Smoke Pollution Increased Over the Past Decade 0 0.25 0.5 1 2 4+ micrograms of PM2.5 Seattle Spokane WASH. Portland MAINE Missoula MONT. FLA. Micrograms of PM2.5 0 0.25 0.5 1 2 4+ Note: Map shows increase in average wildfire smoke from 2006-2010 to 2016-2020. The research isolated wildfire smoke from background pollution from other sources, which has actually decreased in recent decades.

☆ Fact Check-Idaho’s government is not offering ‘porn literacy’ courses to students
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Viral claims that the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) is purchasing “porn literacy” materials and including them in their curriculum for students are untrue. On Sept. 13, the IFF published an article titled “Idaho’s government offers “porn literacy,” other corrupting practices to k-12 students,” (here). (The article’s first paragraph uses different wording to the headline, saying the DHW purchases “materials and training” from ETR “an interest group promoting porn literacy” – not that Idaho’s DHW offers porn literacy). The descriptions of the courses and table of contents make no mention of pornography or “porn literacy.” Stahl told Reuters the agency never considered the use of any “porn literacy” materials. Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) has not purchased “porn literacy” materials and included them in sex-ed curricula for students.

☆ If you file taxes in these 17 states, you could be getting an inflation-relief check from the government—here's who qualifies
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

Single tax filers qualify for funds up to $250, heads of household up to $375 and couples filing jointly up to $500. While most of the rebate checks from earlier this year have been mailed out already, the newer bonus checks are currently being processed. To receive the rebates, residents must file their 2020 and 2021 tax returns by Dec. 31, 2022. Charlie Baker announced that tax rebate checks will be sent to full-year residents who file a 2021 tax return on or before Oct. 17, 2022. No action is needed, as residents receive these payments automatically by direct deposit or check.

☆ The ‘Cost’ of Voting in America: A Look at Where It’s Easiest and Hardest
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Nick Corasaniti | Allison Mccann | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +13 min

Researchers focused on 10 categories related to voting, including registration, inconvenience, early voting, polling hours and absentee voting. The state also stopped using special voting deputies, officials whose tasks had sometimes included conducting voter registration drives, according to the study. To assess the voting laws passed after the 2020 election, this year’s Cost of Voting Index study added new categories and scoring. While the political debate surrounding new election laws has centered on ballots and the voting process, the Cost of Voting Index also gives heavy weight to the ease of voter registration. States rank higher in the index if they allow voter registration drives, provide automatic voter registration, offer same-day registration and maintain longer periods in which to register.

Search resuls for: ". Idaho"

16 mentions found