DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ China's economic troubles have left some cities so cash-strapped they're resorting to bizarre fines, skipping bills, and slashing health coverage
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Some Chinese cities are majorly cash-strapped as the economy grapples with debt and deflation. Local governments have resorted to handing out bizarre tickets and shirking bills to make money. That's led some cities to start imposing bizarre fines in the hopes of scraping together enough cash to meet their obligations. The state-funded China's Endangered Species Fund, for instance, says it hasn't received cash from the government for about half a year. Experts have warned of a bleak future ahead for China's economy, which is straddled with big debt loads, a deflation problem, and still-sluggish demand from its two-year COVID-lockdown.

Persons: shirk, That's, hasn't Organizations: Service, CNN, Yuekai Securities, Species Fund, New York Times Locations: Wall, Silicon, Guangdong, China, Beijing, Shanghai, Weibo, Wuhan

The zoo is run by the local government, which was said to be running out of money and therefore unable to feed its charges. These vehicles are legal entities created by Chinese cities to circumvent borrowing restrictions imposed by the central government in Beijing. “Why hurt small businesses which are the weakest?”Noodle sellers in Shanghai have been fined for adding cucumber to their dishes. Last year, Beijing issued a directive forbidding local governments from imposing “arbitrary fines” to generate income, and dispatched inspection teams to check that the policy was being followed. The scale of financial stress among China’s local governments is so big that “creative” sources of income can only cover a relatively small shortfall, he said.

Persons: hadn’t, Xi Jinping’s, ”, Willy Lam, Lam, “, Aly Song, Jiemian, Logan Wright, hasn’t, Li Qiang, Steve Tsang, Joseph Cheng, —, Martha Zhou Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Species Fund, CNN Local, China Newsweek, ” CNN, China National Radio, Washington, Jamestown Foundation, CNN, ”, Weibo, “, SOAS China, SOAS University of London, City University of Hong Locations: China, Hong Kong, Dongshan, Liaoning, Beijing, Shanghai, Henan, Huizhou, Nanchang, Qingdao, City University of Hong Kong

☆ Japan's 'moon sniper' to test precision landing - and Tokyo's space ambitions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TOKYO, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Japan aims to become the fifth country to land a spacecraft on the lunar surface with the launch of a low-cost "moon sniper" on Thursday that will test precision landing technology designed to further Tokyo’s space goals. Japan's efforts to build a homegrown space industry are also on display: The lander was assembled by Mitsubishi Electric (6503.T), using its landing radars, computers and transponder. That made India the fourth country to land a spacecraft on the moon after the United States, Russia and China. "Precise landing technology gives the ability and confidence for future human space exploration missions. In return, Washington has promised Japan seats on future crewed Artemis missions to the moon.

Persons: Smart Lander, Kenji Kushiki, SLIM, Sreeram Ananthasayanam, Tim Kelly, Nivedita, David Dolan, Kevin Krolicki, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, Tanegashima Space, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nectaris, Mitsubishi Electric, Sharp Corp, Electric, Deloitte India, NASA, U.S, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, India, Delhi, United States, Russia, China, Luna, Washington

☆ Jack Daniel's maker Brown-Forman reports lagging whiskey sales, narrower profit
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Stefan Sykes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Jack Daniel's maker Brown-Forman on Wednesday fell short of Wall Street expectations for its first quarter of fiscal 2024, plagued by lagging whiskey sales, supply challenges and a significant inventory rebuild. Net sales for whiskey products decreased by 1%, led by the brands Woodford Reserve and Gentleman Jack. Sales for Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey were flat, the company said, due to lower distributor inventories across the United States. Its New Mix RTD beverages delivered strong net sales growth of 52%, while its el Jimador tequila brand saw net sales grow by 27%. Reported advertising expense grew 19%, driven by the launch of its Jack Daniel's & Coca-Cola RTD item, increased investment in Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, and acquisitions.

Persons: Jack Daniel's, Brown, Forman, Jack, Jack Daniel's Tennessee, Lawson Whiting, Whiting, —, Robert Hum Organizations: Woodford Reserve, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey Locations: United States, Kentucky, U.S

☆ Explainer: Japan's moon landing: When is it and why is it important?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Japan aims to launch the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) into space by mid-September with a lunar landing seen starting as early as January 2024. Japan would become the fifth country to achieve a moon landing after the United States, the former USSR, China and now India. The success of India's Chandrayaan-3 moon exploration mission this month contrasts with recent setbacks in Japan's space missions. WHAT IS JAPAN'S LUNAR MISSION? WHY IS JAPAN'S SPACE PROGRAMME IMPORTANT?

Persons: India's, SLIM, Kantaro Komiya, Maki Shiraki, David Dolan, Nick Macfie Organizations: Smart, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, Soviet Union, Epsilon, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, United States, USSR, China, India, U.S, Russia

☆ Chandrayaan-3 captures images of moon ahead of landing
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —India’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is swooping toward the moon’s surface ahead of its historic landing attempt, and it’s capturing some stunning visuals on the way. India’s space agency will livestream the landing attempt starting at 5:20 p.m. IST (7:50 a.m. The spacecraft has been making a slow, methodical approach toward the lunar surface. The mission marks India’s second attempt to complete a soft landing on the moon. The first attempt, in 2019 with Chandrayaan-2, crashed into the lunar surface because of software issues and difficulties braking on its descent.

Persons: CNN — India’s, ISTRAC, Satish, Space Organizations: CNN, Indian Space Research Organization, Soviet, ISRO, Mare, Operations, isro Locations: India, United States, China, Soviet Union, MOX, Sriharikota, India’s, Andhra Pradesh, Chandrayaan

☆ Cause of death determined for grandson of Robert De Niro
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The cause of death for Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the grandson of Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro, has been determined. A woman was arrested in connection with the teen’s death. Sofia Marks was taken into custody on a charge of selling drugs to a minor, a law enforcement source told CNN later in July. Actress Drena De Niro, Robert De Niro’s daughter, wrote about the loss of her son in a post on Instagram when it happened. Drena De Niro later commented when someone asked her on social media how her son died.

Persons: Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, Oscar, Robert De Niro, Sofia Marks, Marks, Drena De Niro, Robert De Niro’s, Carlos Rodriguez, Carlos Mare, “, ” Organizations: CNN, New York, Medical, Office Locations: “

☆ Can a Rapper Change Italy’s Mind About Migrants?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Alia Malek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Those on the boats seeking to calm their nerves in rough waters sometimes sing the songs together. One summer vacation, when he was 16, Ghali arrived from Italy and began talking up life in Milan to his Tunisian cousin. The large influxes caught Europe off guard, as if it had forgotten that many of these countries were just across the Mediterranean. (The deal also simultaneously strengthened the hand — domestically and internationally — of Turkey’s increasingly authoritarian leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.) The following year, Italy signed an E.U.-sponsored deal with Libya, its former colony, to reduce sea crossings originating there.

Persons: Ghali, ”, Iraq —, Turkey’s, Recep Tayyip Erdogan Organizations: soccer, Nike, European Union Locations: Tunisia, Italy, Milan, stow, Tunisian, Italian, Europe, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkey, Libya

☆ ‘We Are a Romantic Country’: On the Set of a Steamy Hit in Italy
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Jason Horowitz | More About Jason Horowitz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Before dawn, the teenage girls convened outside the Naples Navy base where the wildly popular Italian television show “Mare Fuori” is filmed. “Ti Amo Carmine,” read one rectangle. “Ti Amo Rosa,” read another. Other fans have dived from nearby piers and swum to the back of the set, vexing gate guards charged with keeping them at bay. During the day, their screams have ruined takes.

Persons: ”, Federica Montuori, Ti Amo Carmine, Amo Organizations: Naples Navy Locations: Naples

Santos, 16, is a violinist in an orchestra made up of young musicians from the sprawling Mare "favela", home to more than 140,000 people, where violent police raids and clashes between drug gangs are commonplace. Created in 2010, the "Mare do Amanha" orchestra is the brainchild of Carlos Prazeres and his father, Armando, a musical conductor who was kidnapped and killed in 1999. Instead of turning his grief into hatred, Prazeres decided to use music to get children off the streets and away from drug dealing. Sousa was part of the orchestra group that met Francis in the Vatican in 2017, an experience she will never forget. Reporting by Catarina Demony, Miguel Pereira and Pedro Nunes; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pedro de Alcantara, Read, Caué Santos, Pope Francis, Santos, Francis, Carlos Prazeres, Armando, Prazeres, Amanha, Ana Beatriz Sousa, Sousa, Catarina Demony, Miguel Pereira, Pedro Nunes, Andrei Khalip, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Mare, Thomson Locations: Pedro, Lisbon, Portugal, LISBON, Rio de Janeiro, Mare ., Brazil

☆ 3 travel agents for the world's wealthiest people share exactly where the 1% are traveling this summer, from Botswana to the Côte d'Azur
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Mark Ellwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Summer travel can be done on a budget, but for the world's wealthiest people, no expense is spared. Top travel agents shared the hottest spots they're seeing this year, from Paros to the Côte d'Azur. Instead, look to the elite group of agents who help wrangle those jaunts and cater to the wealthiest, most demanding vacationers. Courtesy of John CliffordJohn Clifford in San Diego runs International Travel Management and has expertise with LGBTQ+ travel. Insider asked these travel professionals to share the secrets of where and how the richest 1% are vacationing in summer 2023.

Persons: they've, Jules Maury, Jules Maury Jules Maury, Scott Dunn, John Clifford, John Clifford John Clifford, Edward Granville ., Edward Granville Edward Granville, Granville, Maury, I've, Clifford, he's, Côte, they're, We've, Rod, it's, Paros, It's, Cosme, Parilio, Avant, she's, she'd, Milos Organizations: Côte, Service, San Diego, Travel Management, d'Azur, Porto Heli, Italy, Avant Mar, HBO, Domenico Palace Locations: Paros, Wall, Silicon, San, Red Savannah, London, COVID, Europe, Cannes, France, Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Botswana's Okavango Delta, Kenya, Porto, Greece, Italy, Spain, Athens, Amalfi Coast, Rome, Sicily, Domenico

☆ Return to Office, Recession Fears End Wall Street's Hamptons Work-From-Home Party
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Linette Lopez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

It may seem counterintuitive, but the pandemic was like a brief visit to Shangri-La for Wall Street. For the first time in years, Wall Street has to sing for its supper. A return to the office also means a return to more-classic Wall Street social norms. Wall Street, for all its highfalutin personalities and big paydays, is an apprenticeship system. For Wall Street, the heart of the pandemic was a moment to consider what life would be like at a slower, more-nurturing pace.

Persons: You've, Crypto, Dealmaking, Goldman Sachs, me, Seth Klarman, Klarman, Lee Felty, Harrison, Felty, Jim Chanos, Chanos, Jamie Dimon, David Solomon wouldn't, Fenty, Goldman, Solomon, Wall, Young, It's, Al Mare, Topping Rose, Jean, Georges, Maison, Wall Streeter, Linette Lopez Organizations: Wall, JPMorgan, Hamptons, CNBC, Compass, Chanos, East Hampton, Citigroup, Bloomberg, SoHo Locations: New York, East, Manhattan, Long, Stocks, Bridgehampton, It's

☆ Robert De Niro’s grandson Leandro dead at 19
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the grandson of Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro, has died, his mother announced on social media. Actress Drena De Niro, Robert De Niro’s daughter, wrote about the loss of her son in a post on Instagram on Sunday. Leandro De Niro Rodriguez was also an actor. He appeared, along with his mother, in the 2018 film “A Star Is Born,” starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. CNN has reached out to representatives for Robert and Drena De Niro for comment.

Persons: CNN — Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, Oscar, Robert De Niro, Drena De Niro, Robert De Niro’s, “, Carlos Rodriguez, Carlos Mare, ”, ” Mare, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Maxime, Robert Organizations: CNN Locations: “

☆ The 14 Best Women’s Bathing Suits for Sun and Sand
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Erika Veurink | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +9 min

The brand’s Sidestroke one-piece style is a top pick for Tussey. High-waisted optionNana Castro, a fashion content creator who splits her time between New York and Florida, raves about the flattering silhouette of these full-coverage bikini bottoms from Aerie. The brand’s Balconette swim top style (which comes in bra sizes) is supportive with lightweight, flexible underwire. Vintage-inspired pickMadewell x OOKIOH Savannah One-Piece Swimsuit $125 at MadewellOne pieces don’t have to be boring—take this bold golden suit in a classic silhouette, for example. “I really love a vintage-inspired classic one-piece, maybe because I like the idea of wearing it with high-waisted pants as an everyday bodysuit,” she says.

Persons: Erika Veurink, we’ve, men’s swimsuits, Retta Leritz, ”, Tyler McCall, “, Nana Castro, Castro, Aemelia Madden, ” Madden, Madden, It’s, Taylor Hansen Hughes, Nordstrom, Hughes, Kelly Mittendorf, ain’t, Karen Blanchard, Blanchard, Christene Barberich, Apt, Madewell Organizations: Abercrombie, Fitch, Free, Mare, New, Refinery29 Locations: Louis, Brooklyn, New York, Florida, N.Y, New York City, Moonstone

☆ Karakorum: Mongolia’s ancient capital is a cultural delight
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Breanna Wilson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Karakorum, Mongolia CNN —Karakorum is known by many names and even more reputations. Where to Stay in KarakorumThe new Silver Tree Guest House offers a variety of sleeping options including traditional yurts. Silver Tree Guest HouseWhile Karakorum is often considered a stop along the route to somewhere else, this culturally rich city deserves closer attention. The hotel is within walking distance to Erdene Zuu Monastery, Karakorum Museum, and the Erdenesiin Khuree Calligraphy Center. While Silver Tree Guest House is still in its opening phases, staying here feels like you’ve been invited into someone’s home.

☆ First, a Run for the Roses. Then, a Dash to the Breeding Shed.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Joe Drape | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

VERSAILLES, Ky. — Flightline had put on 100 pounds in the five months since the end of his brief but astonishing racing career. He was still light on his feet, though, as he high-stepped into a breeding shed last month as if he were on a red carpet. After her career, she fetched $1.2 million at auction to do what she was about to do. Bernina Star whinnied. The two tangoed and tangled, oblivious to the man holding the mare’s tail or the two other chaperones circling this tryst.

[1/5] Terry Hutt, aged 87, a life long royals fan sits surrounded by royals memorabilia he has collected since he was a child, at his home in Weston-super-Mare, Britain, April 25, 2023. REUTERS/Molly DarlingtonLONDON, May 2 (Reuters) - Margaret Tyler's fascination with the British royal family began as a child, when she would cut out photos of the now-King Charles III and his sister, Princess Anne. The 79-year-old, just four years older than the British monarch, is among the royal super fans who cannot contain her excitement for his coronation this Saturday. I sort of followed them, Princess Anne as a toddler, really, Prince Charles a bit older. Tyler's obsession has filled her home in northwest London, with rooms named after members of the royal family and little space to move among piles of royal memorabilia including flags, photos and china.

[1/6] Takeshi Hakamada, "ispace" 's founder and chief executive, is pictured at a venue to watch landing of the lander in HAKUTO-R lunar exploration program on the Moon, in Tokyo, Japan, April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonTOKYO, April 25 (Reuters) - Japanese startup ispace (9348.T) said its attempt to make the first private moon landing had failed on Tuesday after losing contact with its Hakuto-R Mission 1 (M1) lander, concluding it had most likely crashed on the lunar surface. The M1 lander appeared set to autonomously touch down about 12:40 p.m. Eastern time (1640 GMT Tuesday) after coming as close as 295 feet (90 meters) from the lunar surface, a live animation of the lander's telemetry showed. The company said in a statement Wednesday in Japan that it believes the spacecraft may have made a "hard landing" on the lunar surface. The M1 also carried an experimental solid-state battery made by NGK Spark Plug Co (5334.T), among other objects to gauge how they perform on the moon.

[1/6] Takeshi Hakamada, "ispace" 's founder and chief executive, is pictured at a venue to watch landing of the lander in HAKUTO-R lunar exploration program on the Moon, in Tokyo, Japan, April 26, 2023. But a lunar landing would be an ambitious feat for a private firm. The Japanese firm "determined that there is a high probability that the lander eventually made a hard landing." In disclosure to the Tokyo Stock Exchange, ispace said it did not expect an immediate impact on its earnings forecast. The lander completed eight out of 10 mission objectives in space that will provide valuable data for the next landing attempt in 2024, Hakamada said.

☆ Armsmaker Rheinmetall sets up maintenance hub in Romania for Ukraine weapons
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 2 (Reuters) - German armsmaker Rheinmetall (RHMG.DE) is building a military maintenance and logistics hub in Satu Mare, Romania, expected to begin operation this month to service weapons used for the war in Ukraine, the company said on Sunday. "The service hub should play a central role in maintaining the operational readiness of western combat systems in use in Ukraine and ensuring the availability of logistical support," a spokesperson for the company said. The hub, located near the border with Ukraine, will service self-propelled howitzers, Leopard 2 and Challenger tanks, Marder infantry fighting vehicles, Fuchs armoured transport vehicles and military trucks. "It is a key concern for us at Rheinmetall to provide the NATO forces and Ukraine with the best possible support," Chief Executive Armin Papperger said in a statement. Rheinmetall founded a similar center in Lithuania in June 2022 to provide support to NATO vehicles in the Baltic states.

☆ Europe drought: This once-thriving lake has all but dried up -- a story repeated across Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

While in the United States, the snow and rain that have pummeled California have helped fill reservoirs and ease unrelenting drought, winter has been far from kind to many parts of Europe. A buoy is seen on the banks of the partially dry Lake Montbel as France faces a record winter dry spell. “Lake Montbel remains at an abnormally low level,” Franck Solacroup, the regional director of the Adour-Garonne Water Agency, which covers the area that includes Lake Montbel, told CNN. Farmers like Rouquet, who rely on the lake, are having to make tough decisions on what to grow. “This is the most extreme winter in terms of low snow cover,” she told CNN.

☆ ‘Rabbit Hole’ Review: Kiefer Sutherland, Corporate Fixer
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( John Anderson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

If your paranoia has lost its edge, “Rabbit Hole” might be just the multi-episodic whetstone you need. The atmosphere of the eight-part season 1, created by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa , is a mix of good-natured dread with a dash of cynicism, and though I wouldn’t say this in most instances, Mr. Sutherland is perfectly cast. He has an actorly capacity for epic arrogance and his character, John Weir , is nothing if not smug, even in the face of daunting assignments or federal authorities—whom he assures he is not engaged in corporate espionage. “Manipulating people, influencing markets is what then?” asks beleaguered FBI Financial Crimes Unit investigator Jo Madi (Enid Graham, “Mare of Easttown”). Replies the smirking Weir: “Consulting.”

☆ Who is Matthew Kacsmaryk, the Trump-appointed Texas judge who could ban abortion pills?
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Matthew Kacsmaryk is a Texas federal judge who was nominated by Donald Trump in 2017. Kacsmaryk graduated from Abilene Christian University in 1999 and received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 2003. The Post reported that it was during law school when Kacsmaryk focused on abortion rights. Kacsmaryk also served as the executive editor of the Texas Review of Law & Politics and received two Dean's Achievement Awards, according to the questionnaire. During his undergraduate years, studying political science, Kacsmaryk was outspoken about his conservative views and stances on abortion.

☆ Column: The devil's metal strikes again in Trafigura nickel fraud case
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Andy Home | Thomson Reuters | Senior Metals Columnist Who Previously Covered Industrial Metals Markets For Metals Week | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Appearances can be deceptive when it comes to nickel, as Trafigura has just found out half a millennium later. Just as it's impossible to say whether some of the recent price volatility on the LME nickel contract was down to Trafigura restructuring hedge positions. The problem is that LME nickel trading has been volatile and unpredictable ever since last year's meltdown. There is now also a growing crisis of confidence in the world of physical nickel trading. Nickel could really do with a reputational break but recent history suggests it's just a matter of time before the devil's metal strikes again.

☆ Italy’s Friuli region is one of Europe’s best kept secrets
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Silvia Marchetti | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

With 13 natural reserves and the pristine park of the Friuli Dolomite Mountains, the region lures tourists seeking to connect with nature or explore the outdoors. There’s also the spellbinding Grotta Gigante, or Giant Cave, one of the world’s largest tourist caverns. Golden beachesThe Grotta Gigante is one of the world's largest tourist caverns. Trieste boasts an unusual segregated beach, with origins dating back several centuries. “Residents are very fond and proud of this place,” says Trieste local Maria Bonacci.

Search resuls for: "Mare"

25 mentions found