DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Where's the Su-57? The war in Ukraine is what fifth-generation fighter jets were made for, but Russia's Felon has largely been missing in action
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Russian state media has touted the Su-57 fighter jet as a formidable, fifth-generation aircraft. Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jets perform at the MAKS 2019 air show in Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, Russia, August 27, 2019. Sukhoi Su-57 jet fighter performs during International military-technical forum "Army-2020" at Kubinka airbase in Moscow Region, Russia August 25, 2020. So why is it that the Su-57 isn't doing what a true fifth-generation stealth fighter should theoretically be able to do in Ukraine? AdvertisementAdvertisementSukhoi Su-57 fighter jets perform at the MAKS 2019 air show in Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, Russia, August 27, 2019.

Persons: it's, —, there's, Mike Dahm, Sukhoi Su, Aleksey Nikolskyi, haven't, They're, Assad, Sergei Shoigu, Maxim Shemetov There's, Su, Russia's, Justin Bronk, Bronk, Vladimir Putin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Maxim Shemetov, Dahm, There's, that's Organizations: Aviation, intel, Service, NATO, US, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Sputnik, REUTERS, Russian, Ukraine, International, Army, Sukhoi, Royal United Services Institute, Aircraft Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Zhukovsky, Kremlin, Syria, Kubinka, Moscow Region, Russian, Ukrainian, NATO

☆ Consumers can now find huge discounts on electric cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Thanks to growing competition in the market, and some reticence from consumers, automakers and car dealers are offering huge discounts on electric vehicles, particularly luxury models. In September 2022, the average electric vehicle purchased in the United States, excluding Teslas, went for about $1,500 over sticker price. (Remember, for most new vehicles, the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, or sticker price, is just a suggestion, with the final selling price usually higher or lower.) In sheer dollars, the average price paid for a non-Tesla electric vehicle actually went up slightly over the past year. A couple looks at a Volkswagen ID.4 electric vehicle while shopping at a new car dealership.

Persons: Joseph Yoon, Pat Ryan, ” Ryan, Michael Nagle, Tesla, It’s, Yoon, Alison Flores, “, Edmunds, Charles Krupa Organizations: CNN, Edmunds, Nissan, New York, Bloomberg, Getty, Tesla, Teslas, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Volvo, Tax, H, AP Locations: Edmunds, United States, That’s

GENEVA (AP) — The new head of the U.N.'s migration agency said Monday that the private sector is “desperate” for their countries to take in migrants to mop up labor shortages, especially in the West — endeavoring to steer a narrative away from reticence and suspicion about migrants in many parts of the world. ”We hear from ... the private sector globally, but especially in Europe and in North America, that they are desperate for migration in order to meet their own labor market needs and in order to continue to fuel innovation within their own companies,” Pope, who is American, told reporters. Pope insisted that countries must ensure legal and proper “pathways” to migration, a longstanding call by U.N. institutions. Pope officially took over Sunday from Antonio Vitorino of Portugal, her former boss, whom she outlasted in a U.S.-vs.-European Union showdown earlier this year. The Geneva-based agency has only had two non-American directors-general since its founding in 1951, and today it brings together 175 member countries and more than 20,000 staff.

Persons: Amy Pope, ” Pope, That’s, Biden, —, Pope, ”, “, Antonio Vitorino Organizations: GENEVA, International Organization for Migration, Union Locations: reticence, United States, Latin America, Europe, North America, East Africa, Africa, Asia, Portugal, U.S, Geneva, American

Former President Donald Trump says he’s so far ahead that it would only help his competitors if he participated. STRIKING POLITICSThe Republican debate is playing out as thousands of U.S. auto workers strike in swing-state Michigan. While shutdowns are not popular with most voters, Republican presidential contenders typically align themselves with the party’s hardline conservatives, who hold the most power in Republican primary elections. The issue is especially critical for DeSantis and Scott, who have struggled since delivering underwhelming performances in the first debate. That's because some Republican candidates see it as one of Trump's biggest political weaknesses.

Persons: Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ron DeSantis, Joe Biden, Sen, Tim Scott, Ronald Reagan, “, ‘, you’re, Scott, Trump, autoworkers, Biden, Kevin McCarthy, That's, DeSantis, Mike Pence, ’, HALEY, Nikki Haley, Haley, it's, Roe, Wade, Pence, — Organizations: Republican, Trump, Trump . Florida Gov, Democratic, Republican Party, GOP, United Auto Workers, Capitol, Biden, Republicans, THE, United, electability Locations: SIMI VALLEY, Calif, Trump's, U.S, Michigan, Iowa, Detroit, Ukraine, United Nations, Florida

The logo of German chemicals maker Covestro is pictured outside its headquarters in Leverkusen, Germany, July 26, 2019. The sign of change from Covestro's previous stance comes after two top-15 investors of the plastics and chemicals maker told Reuters last month that it should engage in formal takeover talks in the interest of its shareholders. The German group's shares were up 8.6% at 51.96 euros at 1445 GMT, their highest level in about 18 months. In August, ADNOC indicated to Covestro, which has not commented on the takeover approach, that it could raise its informal offer to 60 euros conditional on the German company entering formal talks, Reuters reported at the time. That non-binding offer would value Covestro, a maker of chemicals used in insulation, upholstery foams, coatings and transparent engineering plastics, at about 11.6 billion euros ($12.4 billion).

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Abu, ADNOC, Ludwig Burger, Urvi, Elisa Martinuzzi, Jason Neely Organizations: REUTERS, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Reuters, Covestro, BASF, Bloomberg News, Thomson Locations: Leverkusen, Germany, Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt, Bengaluru

☆ Analysis: China's Xi Jinping skipping G20 may be part of his plan to reshape global governance
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Since its first leaders’ summit in 2008, China’s top leader has always attended the gathering – including by video link during the Covid pandemic. Now, “China sees the G20 space as increasingly oriented toward the US and its agenda, which Xi Jinping regards as hostile to China,” Werner said. Alternative governance structureXi last attended the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, in November last year, when he emerged from China’s Covid isolation and declared his return to the world stage. All the while, Xi has only made two trips abroad this year – and both are central to his attempt to reshape the global world order. Next month, the Chinese leader is expected to host the Belt and Road Forum to mark the 10th anniversary of his global infrastructure and trade initiative – a key element in Beijing’s new global governance structure.

Persons: Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, Beijing’s reticence, Xi, ”, George Magnus, I’m, I’ve, Jake Werner, ” Werner, Biden, Werner, Happymon Jacob, China’s, Shi Yinhong, Joe Biden –, Antony Blinken, Vladimir Putin –, Magnus, they’re, ” Magnus, –, “ It’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Premier, China Center, Oxford University, “, Quincy Institute in, Quincy Institute in Washington DC, Pacific NATO, ”, India, New, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Divisions, Renmin University, EU, Beijing, Global Security Initiative, Global Development Initiative, Civilization Initiative, Forum, Shanghai Cooperation Organization – Locations: Hong Kong, New Delhi, China, Xi’s, India, United States, Quincy Institute in Washington, Beijing, New, Washington, Pacific, Ukraine, Moscow, Bali , Indonesia, Germany, France, Brazil, Indonesia, Johannesburg, South Africa, BRICS

Ms. Mao declined to explain the reason for the decision and refused to answer questions about Mr. Xi. The Chinese leader has never missed a G20 summit, which brings together 19 countries and the European Union, since taking power in 2012. The opacity of Chinese politics and Beijing’s reticence make it difficult to know why Mr. Xi appears to have chosen not to attend the summit. Analysts say it could reflect Mr. Xi’s preference for groupings in which China is more dominant, such as the recently concluded BRICS summit of emerging nations in Johannesburg. Given that Mr. Xi would be missing an opportunity to meet with President Biden on the sidelines of the summit, the move might suggest that Mr. Xi wants to ease tensions with the United States on his own terms.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Mao Ning, Mao, Xi, Beijing’s, Biden Organizations: China’s Foreign Ministry, European Union, Russia Locations: China, New Delhi, India, United States, Washington, Asia, Johannesburg

The Russian-flagged ship, the Sig, was hit by a drone carrying 450 kilograms (992 pounds) of TNT shortly before midnight, according to a Ukraine Security Service source. Ukrainian officials, however, said some crew were injured and that the tanker was carrying fuel for the Russian military. The strike on the Sig came just hours after Ukrainian sea drones targeted a major naval base in Novorossiysk, a coastal city on the Black Sea that is home to Russia’s largest port by volume of cargo handled. Ukraine has stepped up its attacks using unmanned aerial vehicles in recent weeks, hitting targets well within Russian territory, including in Moscow. The new generation of powerful sea drones, however, could open up a new front for Kyiv in the 18-month conflict.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Vasyl Maliuk, ” Maliuk Organizations: Ukraine CNN, TNT, Ukraine Security Service, Federal Agency for Marine, Transport, CNN, Sig, Kyiv, Russia’s Defense Ministry Ukrainian, Ukrainian Security Service, Service, Security Service Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Novorossiysk, Russian, Moscow, Kerch, Russia, Crimea, Feodosia, ”, reticence

☆ Opinion: This throwback president is the kind of leader the GOP needs today
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Opinion Reverend Dr. Russell J. Levenson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But I now find that the GOP leadership of today is unrecognizable when compared to the party I supported enthusiastically during the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. A GOP that once welcomed character, decency and morality is sinking quickly into an abyss. How unlike Bush is the severely morally challenged GOP of today, with failings that eclipse even those of former President Richard Nixon. Wallace asked McDaniel whether the Republican Party would have a problem nominating a presidential candidate who is under federal indictment or who is a convicted felon. McDaniel and many other top-tier Republicans have missed their moment to offer moral leadership.

Persons: Dr, Russell J, Levenson, Jr, George H, Barbara Bush, CNN —, Thomas Hardy’s, Russell Levenson, Gabriel Oak, Oak’s sheepdogs, Ronald Reagan, George H.W, George H.W . Bush, Bush, Richard Nixon, Donald Trump, —, Ronna McDaniel, Chris Wallace, Chris Wallace ”, Wallace, McDaniel, “ It’s, They’re, Trump, shrugged, Nixon, “, ”, Facebook Trump, It’s, hurtling, Bush — Organizations: St, Martin’s Episcopal, CNN, Republican Party, GOP, Democrat, Republican, Twitter, Facebook, —, Republicans Locations: Martin’s, Houston , Texas, George H.W .

☆ Llama copyright drama: Meta stops disclosing what data it uses to train the company's giant AI models
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Alistair Barr | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The company didn't disclose what training data was used to train Llama 2. The AI industry typically shares many details of AI training data sets. One way to avoid the issue is to just not tell anyone what data you used to train your AI model. Until now, the AI industry has been open about the training data used for models. That last data set made up more than two-thirds of the information Meta used to train LLaMA.

Persons: Meta, Rupert Murdoch, Sarah Silverman's, OpenAI, Halimah DeLaine Prado, Meta's, Sharon Zhou Organizations: Publishers, Wall Street Journal, Big Tech, Microsoft, SEC, European Union, Google, Meta Locations: EU

☆ Bipartisan Measure Aims to Force Release of U.F.O. Records
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | More About Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Some of the videos released by the Pentagon have been explained as optical illusions or drones, but others remain unexplained and the object of much speculation. Under pressure from Congress, the Pentagon and intelligence agencies have gathered hundreds of reports of unexplained phenomena. Officials have said most of the unexplained incidents are airborne trash, Chinese spying efforts or errant weather balloons. American officials have repeatedly said that none of the videos or other material they have collected appears to be evidence of alien visitation. But in cases in which no formal conclusion has been reached, officials have been reluctant to share information on their deliberations or theories.

Persons: Schumer’s Organizations: Pentagon, Intelligence, Democratic, Republican, NASA

☆ The US should be very careful about what it promises to do for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Daniel L. Davis | Defense Priorities | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

US shouldn't support or extend a security guarantee — through NATO or bilaterally — to Ukraine. Doing so would endanger US national security and increase the odds of a direct clash with Russia. I mean, miles and miles and miles deep." Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesI concur with that assessment, and the likelihood of a stalemate should end any consideration of providing Ukraine security guarantees. Plainly stated, Russian conventional forces do not pose a risk to American national security.

Persons: Daniel L, Davis, Oleksii Reznikov, Volodymyr Zelensky, Diego Herrera Carcedo, John Kirby, Kirby, —, Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Kent Nishimura, Prigozhin's Organizations: NATO, Defense, US, Service, Ukraine Defense, American, Anadolu Agency, Getty, New York Times, National Security, House, Los Angeles Times, Ukraine, US Army Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Vilnius, United States, —, Bakhmut, Ukrainian, Russian, NATO, Kyiv, America

☆ More than 100 U.S. political elites have family links to slavery
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Reuters Graphic | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +46 min

Then the war came, and according to the family history, Union soldiers plundered Sessions’ 27-room house. About 48 years old at the time, he did not stand a chance to succeed without slavery, the family history suggests. ‘A Better Nation’Some historians and genealogists say there is a valuable reason for white leaders – and other white Americans – to explore their links to slavery. Nicka Sewell-Smith, a professional genealogist with the family history website Ancestry.com, said people frequently ask her what to do with such documents. The top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Meeks said in an interview that he has spent years trying to trace his family history back before 1870.

Persons: Black, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Tom Cotton, James Lankford, Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Duckworth, Jeanne Shaheen, Maggie Hassan, Joe Biden, –, Donald Trump –, Jimmy Carter, George W, Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Trump’s, Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch –, Asa Hutchinson, Doug Burgum, Tim Scott, James Clyburn, Henry McMaster, ”, Henry Louis Gates Jr, Gates, ” “, ” Gates, enslavers, Tony Burroughs, Biden, Obama, McConnell, Burroughs, Joseph Maddox, Maddox, Sela, Rubin, James, Sal, Sam ”, Graham, Graham didn’t, Nancy Mace, Drucilla, Drucilla Mace, John Mace, Hector Godbolt, John Mace’s, Godbolt, “, ” Nancy Mace, Henry Coe, Duckworth, Coe, Margaret, Isaac, Warner, George …, Isaac Franklin –, “ There’s, ” Duckworth, George Floyd, Donald Trump, ” Biden, ‘, ’, Ben Affleck, ” Affleck, Independent Angus King, Mo Brooks, ” Brooks, Sean Kelley, Kelley, White, don’t, wasn’t, Richard Sessions, Pete Sessions, Richard’s, William Sessions, John Cowger, Tom Cotton of, ” Cotton’s, Cowger, Cotton, Archibald Crawford, Juneteenth, Shaheen, Pocahontas, Edmond Dillehay, Peter ”, Milly, Lankford, ” Lankford, Joe Wilson, Stephen H, Wilson, Boineau, General David Addison Weisiger, Wilson –, Addison Graves Wilson –, Weisiger “, ” Wilson, Daniel Weisiger, Daniel Weisiger’s, Samuel, Samuel Weisiger, Daniel, Julia Brownley, Jesse Brownley, Brownley, ” Brownley, Thomas Ferguson, Brooks, Manumission, Marie Jenkins Schwartz, ” “ It’s, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, Harvard’s Gates, Sherman, Andrew Johnson, Abraham Lincoln, Nicka Sewell, Smith, Ancestry.com, ” Sewell, LaBrenda Garrett, Nelson, Garrett, Rick Larsen, John Wiggins, Larsen, – Gilbura, George, Agg –, ” Larsen, Gilbura, Agg, Gregory Meeks, Meeks, Jim Crow South, – Meeks, – “, ” Meeks, “ I’m, I’m, Tom Bergin, Makini Brice, Nicholas P, Brown, Donna Bryson, Lawrence Delevingne, Brad Heath, Andrea Januta, Gui Qing Koh, Tom Lasseter, Grant Smith, Maurice Tamman, Catherine Tai Design, John Emerson, Jane Ross, Emma Jehle, Jeremy Schultz, Blake Morrison Organizations: Reuters, Republicans, U.S, Supreme, Republican, Harvard University, PBS, United States Congress, Representative, WikiLeaks, Sony, Facebook, White, FedEx, National Museum of, 117th, Independent, University of Essex, Geographic, American Economic, Pete Sessions, Sessions, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jeanne Shaheen U.S, CNN, Biden, Trump, ” Reuters, South, South Carolina General Assembly, Confederate, statehouse, Congressional, Chesterfield County, Mount Vernon College, George Washington University, Mo Brooks Former U.S, “, New York Times, United, Federal Government, Union, Black, Southern, Democrat, House Foreign Affairs, Klux Klan Locations: U.S, America, Confederate States, Arkansas, North Dakota, South Carolina, Congress, Black, Northern, Southern, Illinois, Virginia, Frederick County , Virginia, United States, Minnesota, ”, Mo Brooks of Alabama, American, Texas, Mississippi, Chicot County , Arkansas, Chicot County, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Yell County, Yell County , Arkansas, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tulsa, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Frankfurt, Germany, Chesterfield County , Virginia, California, Portsmouth , Virginia, Alabama, Haywood County , North Carolina, Antebellum, United States of America, Washington, Nicholas County , Kentucky, Queens , New York, New York, York County, Mende, Sierra Leone, Africa, Bunce

☆ VIEW Bank of England delivers hefty rate hike
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Traders scrambled to price in a peak to UK rates of as much 6% and its implications for the risk of recession, and rate-sensitive stocks like banks and homebuilders slid. MONEY MARKETS: UK 2-year gilts dropped sharply, then rose after the decision but were last unchanged at 5.04%. But even if the bank hasn't offered up any new guidance, the rate decision itself is revealing. The UK has the unenviable title of highest core inflation rate in the G7, and by quite some margin. "Having said that, their policy is now more data dependent, the bank had to deliver a rate increase.

Persons: homebuilders, Sterling, gilts, JAMIE NIVEN, JAMES SMITH, hasn’t, hasn't, BoE, SEEMA SHAH, CHRIS BEAUCHAMP, Bailey, PAUL OBERSCHNEIDER, BOE, ” ROBERT JEFFREE, GARY SMITH, EVELYN, Yoruk Organizations: Bank of England, MPC, Traders, CANDRIAM, ING, LONDON, IG GROUP, Treasury, EMEA, Thomson

☆ Opinion | Ron DeSantis Thinks Power Corrupts … Everyone Else
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Ezra Klein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

“For years, the default conservative position has been to limit government and then get out of the way,” DeSantis writes. And DeSantis is trying to show, in vignette after vignette, that he has both the will and the discipline to do what Trump did not. Trump often appears in DeSantis’s book as a faintly comic figure. As Lozada observes, this is DeSantis criticizing Trump by proxy — Dr. Fauci served under Trump, and DeSantis is making clear he would have never let that stand. And so DeSantis delights in describing the methodical, relentless effort he put in to bending the state of Florida to his will.

Persons: ” DeSantis, ”, Carlos Lozada, Trump, Hurricane Michael, “, Mick Mulvaney, DeSantis, Fauci, Lozada Organizations: Facebook, Disney, Hurricane, Panhandle, Trump Locations: Mar, Trump, Florida

☆ Halfway through 2023 Wall Street still can't agree on the earnings outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Bob Pisani | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A strange year: Halfway through, there is a wide difference of opinion on earnings Strategists analyze the macroeconomy to come up with an estimate for corporate earnings. They analyze individual company performance to come up with earnings estimates, which are then aggregated into an overall estimate by agencies like FactSet or Refinitiv. The S & P 500 reported $218 in earnings in 2022, according to Refinitiv. This highlights the difference between analysts and strategists: Analysts have models for earnings of individual companies, not the macroeconomy as strategists do. However, in this case, their reticence to slash earnings estimates in expectation of an imminent recession or a banking crisis has proved to be correct.

Persons: Morgan, Mike Wilson, Wilson, Goldman Sachs, Jan Hatzius, Mike Wilson's, John Stoltzfus, Oppenheimer, David Kostin, Brian Belski, Jonathan Golub, Lori Calvasina, Savita Subramanian, Chris Harvey, Ed Clissold, Ned Davis, Hatzius Organizations: Here's, BMO, Credit, RBC, Wells, Bloomberg, Bank Locations: U.S

It was one the president deployed once again behind closed doors at the White House. With Memorial Day on the horizon, senior White House officials said protecting veterans’ benefits was a top priority. They also knew it was a sensitive issue for Republicans’ politically, especially as House Republicans parried White House allegations about cuts to veterans’ services. White House officials would engage in conversations where their Republican counterparts would outline a potential resolution on issues. For months, White House officials hoped – and to some degree based on past battles, expected – Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell would engage in finding a resolution.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, “, ” Biden, Kevin McCarthy, simmered, Steve Ricchetti, Louisa Terrell, Shalanda Young, reticence, Biden didn’t, McCarthy, ’ carveouts, Republicans ’, Republicans parried, ” Terrell, ”, ” Young, Jeff Zients, –, would’ve, that’s, ” Zients, ” Ricchetti, Patrick McHenry, Young, Michael Linden, Ricchetti, McCarthy’s, Mitch McConnell, Terrell, McHenry, Garret Graves, Graves, Dan Meyer, they’ve, “ There’s, you’re, cleaver Organizations: CNN, Resolute, Legislative, White, Republican, FBI, Republicans, Internal Revenue Service, SNAP, Congressional, Office, Progressive, Young, White House, GOP, Biden, Republican Rep, Congress, dropoff, Air Force Academy Locations: Washington, Garret Graves of Louisiana, McHenry, Louisiana, Ukraine, Colorado

“Why would Biden say what a good deal it is before the vote?” he asked reporters at one point, referring to himself in the third person. From the start of the clash with Mr. McCarthy’s Republicans, Mr. Biden has followed the instincts he has developed through long, hard and sometimes painful experience. The agreement crafted by Mr. Biden and Mr. McCarthy in the end was a whittled-down version of the original proposals on the table. Image The agreement crafted by Mr. Biden and Mr. McCarthy in the end was a whittled-down version of the original proposals on the table. Even as his allies and even his own White House issued incendiary statements, Mr. Biden acted like the person who has been there before.

Persons: Biden, ”, reticence, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, McCarthy’s, Mr, Jamaal Bowman, Kenny Holston, Biden’s, Ro Khanna, shrugged, —, “, Doug Mills, “ I’ve Organizations: Capitol, White, Democratic, McCarthy’s Republicans, Republicans, Republican Party, ”, New York Times, Congressional, Internal, Service, Twitter Locations: Washington, New York, reining, California

☆ Putin's Victory Day parade only featured a handful of world leaders, and most seemed reluctant to be there, report claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Vladimir Putin was joined by a small number of world leaders in Moscow for Victory Day. Their attendance certainly marked an improvement on last year, when no foreign leaders joined Putin in Moscow for Victory Day, which was held amid international condemnation of Russia's Ukraine invasion. "The late announcement of Central Asian leaders' attendance likely indicates their reticence to show direct and public support of the war despite Kremlin efforts to project power," said the ISW. Japarov was the only Central Asian leader to confirm his attendance well in advance, accepting his invitation on April 24, Vedmosti reported. Some of the Central Asian leaders who attended the Victory Day parade have been critical of Russia's invasion, and sought to steer a more independent path from Moscow while apparently seeking not to excessively aggravate the Kremlin.

☆ Tim Cook says AI is 'huge,' but flags the need to be 'deliberate and thoughtful' on how Apple deploys it
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AI is "huge," but Apple will remain careful folding it into products, CEO Tim Cook said Thursday. Cook said Apple has already been incorporating AI technology into some of its products. "It's very important to be deliberate and thoughtful on how you approach these things," Cook said during the company's earnings call Thursday. "We view AI as huge and we'll continue weaving it in our products on a very thoughtful basis." Meanwhile, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has himself been among those in the field sounding concerns about the potential directions generative AI technology could take.

In a roughly 20-minute speech, Haley described the debate around abortion as an issue for each state to decide. I believe in compassion, not anger," said Haley, a former governor of South Carolina and the only female candidate in the Republican presidential race. During the speech, Haley spoke of personal experiences, including her own difficulty conceiving. REPUBLICANS AT ODDS OVER ABORTIONOff the campaign trail, some Republicans are criticizing the party's handling of the issue. U.S. Republican presidential candidate and former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley delivers a campaign policy speech on abortion in Arlington, Virginia, U.S. April 25, 2023.

☆ Allies move to bolster Ukrainian tank forces ahead of counteroffensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine has pressed its allies for long-range weapons, jets and ammunition ahead of a counteroffensive to push back Russian troops that is expected in the coming weeks or months. Abrams battle tanks will arrive in Germany in the coming weeks for Ukrainian troops to begin training, U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters. NATO member states and their allies have provided Ukraine with weapons and armour, but Ukraine's leadership has repeatedly asked for more powerful weapons and quicker supplies. "The Russians are cautious to come into Ukraine because of the effective use of the Ukrainian air defense system. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban poured cold water on Ukraine's NATO prospects, simply tweeting "What?!"

☆ Airbus tells shareholders Europe needs to 'get its act together' on autonomy
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Tim Hepher | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The chairman of Europe's largest aerospace group, Rene Obermann, told investors last year's invasion of Ukraine by Russia had been a wake-up call. "It has highlighted the essential role that defence plays in society and that European nations need to get their act together for higher levels of strategic autonomy. "We are committed to playing a role of enabler for more co-operation in defence, which we believe is one of the key prerequisites to make sure that Europe maintains its strategic autonomy, Obermann said. He also cited sovereign capabilities for which Europe does not want to depend on the United States. DEFENCE DIVIDENDFrench President Emmanuel Macron is pursing an agenda to beef up Europe's "strategic autonomy" separate from the U.S.-led NATO umbrella, with eastern allies trusting the United States more for their defence.

☆ L&G succession planning misses the mark
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Jan 30 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Chief executives always like to see their company’s share price dip when they announce their departure. But it might also express mild discontent with the board’s succession planning. Even so, the smoothest way to sign off on Wilson’s tenure would have been to announce his successor now, rather than the news it might take up to a year to find one. After all, the L&G board had long enough to identify a suitable internal candidate. Chairman John Kingman’s reticence may reflect a preference for a big-hitting external candidate to grow the company beyond UK borders.

Many Germans viewed the end of the Cold War as the end of major conflict for the West. Germany has since become one of Ukraine's top military supporters, having spent 2.2 billion euros on weapons deliveries. 'EMPTY-HANDED' ARMYBeyond the immediate decision on tanks, Pistorius faces the mammoth task of upgrading Germany's military, the Bundeswehr, which army chief Alfons Mais, on the day of Russia's invasion, described as "more or less empty handed". Even before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Germany was 20 billion euros short of reaching NATO's target for ammunitions stockpiling, a defence source said. Analysts and experts say Pistorius will have to find his own voice to push for more spending and an overhaul of Germany's defence and procurement systems.

Search resuls for: "reticence"

25 mentions found