DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Heineken sees Europe resilience offsetting Asia slowdown risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The world's second-largest brewer expects its operating profit this year to increase by a mid- to high- single-digit percentage. "We see signals of a relatively resilient Europe and risks of slower economic growth in Asia Pacific, thus performance across markets may be different than anticipated," Heineken said. Overall beer volumes fell 3.0% in the first quarter, below the average expectation of a 1.9% decline in a company-compiled poll. In Nigeria, another large Heineken market, volumes fell sharply due to a transition to new bank notes that left many consumers short of cash. Heineken expected the situation to improve, with the validity of old notes now extended.

☆ Harry Styles, Kate Bush among nominees for Ivor songwriting awards
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, April 19 (Reuters) - Singers Harry Styles and Kate Bush are among the nominees at next month's Ivors, the annual awards honouring songwriters and screen composers. Styles has three nominations overall, including best song musically and lyrically for "As It Was" and songwriter of the year alongside his collaborator Kid Harpoon. Tom Odell’s "Best Day of My Life", Katie Gregson-Macleod’s "complex", Sault's "Stronger" and Florence + the Machine’s "King" complete the Best Song Musically and Lyrically category. Box office hit "Avatar: The Way of Water" and psychological drama "Don't Worry Darling" are among the nominees for best original film score. Named after the early 20th century Welsh composer, actor and entertainer Ivor Novello, the Ivor Awards were first handed out in 1956.

☆ 35 Ways Real People Are Using A.I. Right Now
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Francesca Paris | Larry Buchanan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +24 min

People are using ChatGPT and other A.I. Here’s how 35 real people are using A.I for work, life, play and procrastination. People are using A.I to …Plan gardens. Chris Norn Researcher at the University of Washington Two years ago researchers cracked the code on using A.I. When you run a Dungeons & Dragons game, Mr. Green says, you have to be creative, but that almost always means pulling from existing fantasy literature.

☆ Exploring Picasso’s Málaga
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Andrew Ferren | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Christine Picasso renewed those efforts in the 1990s by offering to donate a portion of her own collection of Picasso’s work to establish a new museum in the city. Since the Museo Picasso Málaga opened in 2003, it has helped convert the city into a top cultural destination, not just in Spain, but in southern Europe. The sidewalks and pretty pedestrian streets of the historic city center once again bustle with pedestrians amid the palm trees, geraniums and bougainvillea. “Evidently, people don’t want to just lie on the beach.”If you goWithin Spain, Málaga is a short flight from both Barcelona and Madrid; the latter is also less than three hours away on Spain’s high-speed AVE rail network. About 300 feet from the Picasso Museum, Hotel Palacio Solecio offers luxury accommodations in a beautifully restored 18th-century palace; doubles from about 300 euros, or about $326.

☆ Wes Anderson, Ken Loach among big names competing at Cannes Film Festival
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Marie-Louise Gumuchian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] 72nd Cannes Film Festival - Photocall for the film "Sorry We Missed You" in competition - Cannes, France, May 17, 2019. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/File PhotoApril 13 (Reuters) - Wes Anderson, Ken Loach, Todd Haynes and Wim Wenders are among the directors who will compete for the top prize at next month's Cannes Film Festival, where a spate of Hollywood stars will also premiere their latest works on the famed Croisette waterfront. At a press conference on Thursday, festival director Thierry Fremaux announced the line-up for the 76th edition of major cinema showcase from May 16-27. "It's a competition that will mix young filmmakers competing for the first time with veterans whose names and works we know," Fremaux said. Adventurer Indiana Jones will also return to the festival 15 years since his last appearance in Cannes.

☆ Fact Check-Altered video shows North Korean military chorus singing Queen’s ‘I want to break free’
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A video showing a North Korean military chorus performing Queen’s “I want to break free” to leader Kim Jong Un was created by a comedy YouTube channel. A Facebook reel with the edited footage has been played close to one million times as of this article’s writing (here). Examples of segments used in the edited video are viewable in the following timestamps: (youtu.be/jYvcdhCbzJw?t=1), (youtu.be/9sdT10f3AFM?t=26), (youtu.be/jYvcdhCbzJw?t=166), (youtu.be/9sdT10f3AFM?t=4368), (youtu.be/jYvcdhCbzJw?t=147) (youtu.be/9sdT10f3AFM?t=3490). Their outfits match those viewable in undated photographs released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Feb. 17, 2021, as reported by Reuters (here). This video was created by a comedy YouTube channel by combining clips from two different concerts in North Korea and by superimposing audio of a cover of Queen’s “I want to break free.”This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team.

☆ I took a 6-month 'sabbatical' after months of cheap living while traveling. The best thing about the digital-nomad lifestyle is having options.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Ella Hopkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

She worked for two years in a remote job, while living in Greece, Portugal, Germany, and Argentina. I quit my job with no planI quit my job in July 2019 with nothing lined up. I got a remote job as the head of marketing for a recruitment-tech startup. I had savings from working in my marketing job. I quit my remote job in August 2021 and left Madeira.

☆ Black Lives Matter dodges Adidas legal battle, but other brands using striped logos remain targets
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Danni Santana | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Adidas has retracted its notice of opposition against Black Lives Matter trademarking its logo. But BLM's stripes are yellow as opposed to Adidas' black and white branding. In the notice of opposition, Adidas went into great detail about its 70-year history using the three-stripe mark in collaborating with artists and athletes. An Adidas spokesperson told Insider that it will withdraw its opposition to BLM registering its trademark "as soon as possible." Adidas has at least five pending cases involving its three stripes logo against companies like Elite Custom Wear, Equicor LLC, and Sol Echo.

☆ Kim Jong Un's daughter was a mystery for years, but now she's showing up at North Korea's biggest missile tests
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

For years, Kim Jong Un's daughter — Kim Ju Ae — was a mystery to the world. But in late 2022 state media began showing photos of her at North Korean military events. Photographs released by state media after the launch appear to show the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, watching with a girl who has been identified by analysts and experts as his daughter, Kim Ju Ae. This photo provided on Nov. 19, 2022, by the North Korean government shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and his daughter inspecting a missile at Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with his daughter, inspects what it says is an artillery drill at an undisclosed location in North Korea, Thursday, March 9, 2023.

☆ Five New Work Perks You’ll See in the Future
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Tara Weiss | Illustrations Sol Cotti | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The workforce of the future will be made up of a greater mix of employees of all ages as people live and work longer, economists project. As a result, companies competing for these workers are expected to offer more benefits tailored to needs at different stages of life. Here’s a look ahead at evolving work perks and benefits in the coming decade.

☆ Kim Jong Un may be prepping his daughter as his successor because he wants a woman in charge to modernize North Korea's image, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But it will likely have little impact on the lives of ordinary North Korean women. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his sister Kim Yo Jong attend a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on April 27, 2018. "Kim Jong Un is a feminist — at least if judged by the incredibly low standards of North Korea," Andrei Lankov, a North Korea expert recently wrote for NK News. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un talks with his daughter Kim Ju Ae at a banquet in Pyongyang, North Korea February 7, 2023. "Discrimination against women and girls in North Korea is widespread and is accepted as a natural part of everyday life in North Korea," said Joon.

☆ Kim Jong Un attended a soccer match with his daughter, sparking fresh rumors that she will be North Korea's next ruler
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un's daughter is making increasingly frequent public appearances. North Korean state media said that Kim Jong Un had attended the match in Pyongyang Friday to mark the North Korean Day of the Shining Star holiday, which commemorates his father, Kim Jing Il's, birth. In pictures of the event, Kim Ju Ae, who is believed to be about 10, sits beside her father. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reacts as he watches sport games in Pyongyang, North Korea on February 17, 2023. KCNA via ReutersAlso pictured at last week's soccer match was Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, who is also rumored to be a potential successor to the dictator.

☆ Heineken sees 2023 profit increase despite Europe weakness
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Heineken alcohol free beers are seen in a refrigerator in Warsaw, Poland on 01 September, 2022. The world's second-largest brewer reported a higher-than-expected 2022 profit as beer demand recovered from the pandemic. Heineken , the world's second-largest brewer, repeated its forecast of a profit increase this year despite weakness in Europe, as it reported a higher-than-expected 2022 profit on the back of a recovery in beer drinking to pre-pandemic levels. Chief Executive Dolf van den Brink said beer sales in Europe had proven resilient, with a rise in the fourth quarter from a year earlier. "But given the price increases that will have to be taken due to the enormous increase in energy costs, particularly in Europe, we still expect declining volumes in Europe for the year 2023," he told Reuters in a telephone interview.

☆ Americans Are Buying Homes in Spain More Than Ever Before
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( J.S. Marcus | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Ron Hale ushered in 2023 by relocating from landlocked Orlando, Fla., to a primary residence in Marbella, on southern Spain’s Mediterranean coast. In January, the 59-year-old founder and CEO of Natural Tone Organic Skincare, a Florida-based beauty-supply company, closed on a 3,000-square-foot, three-story townhouse, with four bedrooms, spacious balconies, sea views and a sale price of $1.1 million. Mr. Hale, who wanted a base to better supervise his company’s diverse European interests, chose Marbella, a glamorous resort known for its balmy year-round climate, because of “the food, the golf and the international flair of it all,” he says. And his newly remodeled turnkey purchase—what he likes to call a place to lock and leave—has easy access to Málaga airport, the gateway to Spain’s Costa del Sol region, a 45-minute drive away.

☆ Daughter of North Korean leader Kim shares spotlight with nuclear missiles
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Josh Smith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SEOUL, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Sharing drinks, watching missile parades and dining with senior army commanders, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's daughter was centre stage with her father and mother at major military events this week. A day earlier, Ri and the daughter were once again with Kim as he wined, dined and flattered military commanders at a lavish banquet commemorating this week's army foundation anniversary. [1/3] North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, his wife Ri Sol Ju and their daughter Kim Ju Ae attend a military parade to mark the 75th founding anniversary of North Korea's army, at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea February 8, 2023, in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "The North Korean leadership probably has to make the case for why the country has to keep investing in national defence in spite of the deteriorating economic conditions," Lee said. "And no propaganda can be more potent than the leader’s young daughter to convey that message."

☆ Kim Jong Un showed off his rarely-seen daughter — a possible sign he's grooming her to be North Korea's next dictator
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's daughter is being prepared as his successor, analysts say. Kim Jong Un is believed to have three children, including a son who is older than Kim Ju Ae. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and daughter Kim Ju Ae at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea February 8, 2023. North Korea is a hereditary dictatorship, and Kim Jong Un was appointed successor to his father, Kim Jong Il, when he was 8, an expert told CBS News. In recent months, tensions between North Korea and US-ally South Korea have intensified amid a series of missile tests by North Korea.

"We have a nice little sign in front of our register that says 'Hey, credit card fees, they cost us a lot of money,'" Victor Garcia, longtime owner of Sol Dias, told CNBC. CNBC | Cait FredaThe swipe fees aren't new, but the worsening problem comes at a time when Main Street businesses across the country are increasingly struggling with changing macroeconomic conditions. Although the central bank does not conduct the same survey for credit card transactions, the processes used for debit and credit cards are similar. Meanwhile, credit card fees amount to the third-highest operating expense on average for restaurants, according to the Texas Restaurant Association. The European Union cracked down on similar increases, capping fees in 2015 at 0.2% for debit card purchases and 0.3% for credit card purchases.

☆ Once Under the Radar, Americans Are Buying Homes in Spain More Than Ever Before
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( J.S. Marcus | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Public Appearances by North Korean Leader’s Daughter Spur Succession Speculation
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Dasl Yoon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, in light tie, his daughter Kim Ju Ae and his wife, Ri Sol Ju, at a banquet with military officials. SEOUL—For three generations, the Kim family has ruled North Korea. Before taking power, leaders have been shrouded in mystery and kept out of the public eye as children. Now, one child has appeared alongside leader Kim Jong Un several times, raising questions about the Kim family’s succession plans. Mr. Kim was again accompanied by his daughter at a military banquet on Tuesday, state media reported on Wednesday.

☆ Kim Jong Un’s Daughter Appears Again in North Korea, Spurring Succession Speculation
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Dasl Yoon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ North Korea's Kim lauds army ahead of expected military parade
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Josh Smith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, his wife Ri Sol Ju and their daughter Kim Ju Ae attend a banquet to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Korean People's Army the following day, in Pyongyang, North Korea February 7, 2023 in this photo released February 8, 2023 by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA via REUTERSSEOUL, Feb 8 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for strengthening the country's military, state media reported on Wednesday, as he paid tribute to soldiers and met with troops amid expectations for a major military parade showcasing the latest weapons. According to international analysts, commercial satellite imagery has for months shown North Korean troops practicing for a major military parade that is expected this week. Despite United Nations Security Council resolutions and sanctions, North Korea has forged ahead with banned nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development. South Korea and the United States have stepped up their own military drills to counter the North, drawing condemnation from Pyongyang.

☆ Harvey Schwartz has his work cut out for him at Carlyle. Here's why.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But first, a Wall Street firm finally finds its CEO. Harvey Schwartz Goldman Sachs1. In many ways, Carlyle and Harvey Schwartz are perfectly imperfect for each other. Might as well call it "Carefree Carlyle," because that's the vibes I'm getting under the soon-to-be Schwartz era. Click here to read more about what'll be expected of Harvey Schwartz as CEO of Carlyle.

LIMA, Feb 4 (Reuters) - As deadly protests rage across Peru, a political battle is unfolding inside the halls of Congress, walled off from the streets by hundreds of police, armored vehicles and a maze of gates. Despite the violence, and despite polls that show the majority of Peruvians want the election brought forward, Congress appears to be in deadlock. Reuters spent the last week inside the 130-seat Congress in capital Lima, talking to lawmakers to ask why Peruvian politics seems to be in such a mess. "There is little agreement within political parties as to what to do," said Peruvian political analyst Andrea Moncada. "If we have elections in a year or by some miracle by the end of this year, the parties registered to participate are the same ones that are in Congress right now."

☆ A Mexico soccer icon entered politics. Prosecutors say narcos followed
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Cuernavaca | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +27 min

Regional politicians, officials and military officers gathered in the Morelos state capital of Cuernavaca for breakfast in February 2022 to mark Mexico’s annual Army day. Mexican drug lords have a long tradition of buying off politicians in exchange for government protection of their illicit trade. Attempts to reach two of the alleged drug traffickers in the photo – Figueroa and Irving Solano Vera – were unsuccessful. Prosecutors in April asked the Morelos state congress to impeach Blanco so that he could be stripped of that shield. “He likes me very much because I’m not a politician,” Blanco told Reuters, in reference to the president.

☆ Bed Bath & Beyond just missed another debt payment. See the full list of stores it will close, including Harmon and Buybuy Baby locations.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Avery Hartmans | Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

In addition to 87 more Bed Bath & Beyond stores, the company now says it will close all of its remaining Harmon health and beauty stores, and five Buybuy Baby stores. San Leandro: 15555 East 14th St., Suite 24015555 East 14th St., Suite 240 Burbank: 201 East Magnolia Blvd. Marina: 117 General Stilwell Drive117 General Stilwell Drive Vallejo: 105 Plaza Drive, Suite 107105 Plaza Drive, Suite 107 * Palm Desert: 72459 Highway 11172459 Highway 111 * Visalia: 3125 South Mooney Blvd. Arterial * Coralville: 2515 Corridor Way Suite 5Kansas:Lawrence: 3106 S. Iowa St., Suite 2153106 S. Iowa St., Suite 215 Manhattan: 425 3rd Place425 3rd Place * Olathe: 15335 W. 119th St.Kentucky:Elizabethtown: 1998 N. Dixie Ave.1998 N. Dixie Ave. New Hartford: 4805 Commercial Drive4805 Commercial Drive Kingston: 1187 Ulster Ave.1187 Ulster Ave. Plattsburgh: 73 Centre Drive, Suite 10073 Centre Drive, Suite 100 Farmingdale: 251 Airport Plaza Blvd.

Search resuls for: "Sol"

25 mentions found