DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Europe's royals, in Athens, bids farewell to Greece's last king
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/7] A person holds a flag as people queue to pay respects to former King of Greece Constantine II at Saint Eleftherios chapel, where he lies at rest before the funeral service, in Athens, Greece, January 16, 2023. REUTERS/Louiza VradiATHENS, Jan 16 (Reuters) - European royalty gathered in Athens on Monday for the funeral of former King Constantine of Greece, born a prince but spurned by his country which abolished the monarchy in 1974. He died at the age of 82 last week in an Athens hospital. Royals from Europe, including Britain's Princess Anne, sister of King Charles, and her husband and Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, were expected to attend the funeral, at the Metropolitan Cathedral in central Athens, under tight security. In a referendum after the fall of the junta in 1974, Greece rejected monarchy again.

☆ Philippines c.bank hopes to cut rates in 2024, flags RRR reduction
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Neil Jerome Morales | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"By 2024, when pent-up demand is gone, then monetary policy hopefully at that time will be much looser than what we have now," he said. Another easing measure could involve banks' reserve requirement ratio, with a high probability of it being cut in the first half, Medalla told reporters. The BSP stands ready to take further monetary policy actions to bring inflation back to within a target-consistent path, Medalla said. The figure brought the average full-year inflation rate to 5.8%, also a 14-year high and above the official 2%-4% target band. "If the U.S. is increasing policy rates, we need not match it but if it's 50 (basis points), it's hard not to respond, at least partially," Medalla said.

☆ Philippines c.bank flags 25 or 50 bps rate hike next month
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Neil Jerome Morales | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"The pressure on us to match U.S. increases will be much lower," Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Felipe Medalla told reporters. Inflation will likely fall below the midpoint of the target range by end-2023 or early 2024, he said. The central bank's main concerns, for now, are inflation and, to some extent, a strong dollar and Medalla said he could not rule out further rate hikes until inflation pressures ease. What I am worried about is we are late and there will be a greater sacrifice of output later on," he said. Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales Editing by Ed DaviesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Classified documents from Biden's vice presidency found at think tank
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Steve Holland | Kanishka Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Henry RomeroWASHINGTON (Reuters) -Classified documents from Joe Biden’s vice-presidential days were discovered in November by the U.S. president’s personal attorneys at a Washington think tank, a White House lawyer said on Monday. He added the White House was cooperating with the Justice Department and the National Archives. The Justice Department, the National Archives and the think tank did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Sauber’s statement did not mention the number of the classified documents or what they contained or their level of classification. The Justice Department is separately probing former President Donald Trump’s handling of highly sensitive classified documents that he retained at his Florida resort after leaving the White House in January 2021.

☆ I'm a writer for "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." It was an incredibly difficult road to get here — here's my advice for other immigrants who want to break into a creative industry.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Eboni Boykin-Patterson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

He says that while being a comedy writer helps him make light of it, the system could be better. Being an immigrant comedy writer or comedian is so absurd. I recently got married to an American comedy writer, and she writes for "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver." Applying to be a late-night writer is a pretty secretive processMost late-night shows will invite you to submit a sample. That spun up "The Colbert Report," and then all the other late-night shows after that always had an opinion on politics.

I started picking stocks and pouring money into crypto when I was bored during the pandemic, and haven't touched my portfolio since. Financial advisors told me I should diversify my investments and bring in professional help. Diversify your investmentsWhen I first started investing in 2020, I made the mistake of buying individual stocks that were mostly in the same sectors (technology and travel). "A financial advisor can help the person understand their options and advise them on the best way to move forward," says Marquardt. If you're looking into the tax implications of your investments, consult a tax professional for the details on your specific situation.

[1/3] A general view of hydrogen electrolysis plant called 'REFHYNE', one of the world's first green hydrogen plants, during a launch event at Shell's Rhineland refinery in Wesseling near Cologne, Germany, July 2, 2021. REUTERS/Thilo SchmuelgenLONDON, Dec 22 (Reuters) - The green hydrogen express is gathering pace, but it may have a worrying problem with leaks. At least four studies published this year say hydrogen loses its environmental edge when it seeps into the atmosphere. The United States included billions of dollars of green hydrogen tax credits in its Inflation Reduction Act and the European Union approved 5.2 billion euros ($5.5 billion) in subsidies for green hydrogen projects in September. While potential leakages of hydrogen are not expected to be on a scale that could derail all green hydrogen plans, any seepage would erode its climate benefits, they say.

☆ Colombia's central bank set for December rate hike, under pressure for more
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Nelson Bocanegra | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BOGOTA, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Colombia's central bank is set to raise its key interest rate this week at its final meeting of the year and will be under pressure for another hike starting in 2023 as inflation expectations keep rising and economic growth remains at potential, a Reuters poll showed on Monday. In the poll, 13 out of 14 analysts said the central bank would raise benchmark interest rates by 100 basis points to 12% this month, while one projected a rise of half a percentage point to 11.5%. Both the central bank and analysts believe that inflation will return to its long-term target of 3% only by the end of 2024. "Our prevailing forecast is for BanRep to deliver a final 50bp hike in the January meeting". According to the poll's median, the benchmark interest rate is expected to stand at 9.75% at the end of next year and to decline further to 6.25% by the end of 2024.

☆ 6 Uber and Lyft drivers share their wildest holiday work tales, from drunk passengers to extreme tips
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Jenny Powers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Christmas can be a busy season for Uber and Lyft drivers taking passengers to their families' homes. Shelly Castle, 43, a Lyft driver in Houston, Texas: 'They wound up inviting me in and treating me to breakfast'Shelly Castle. Jonathan Gaurano, 29, an Uber driver in Los Angeles, California: 'I hatched a plan and set out to create an epic compilation video'Jonathan Gaurano. While this wasn't the first video I'd created incorporating Uber passengers, it was certainly my most popular. Bunny Rivera, 35, an Uber driver in Washington, DC: 'They refused to not give up and began chanting'Bunny Rivera and her son.

☆ Lawsuit against doctor who defied Texas' abortion law is dismissed
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

SAN ANTONIO — Lawyers for a doctor who intentionally defied a Texas abortion law that the lawyers called a “bounty-hunting scheme” say a court has dismissed a test of whether members of the public can sue providers who violate the restrictions for at least $10,000 in damages. Dr. Alan Braid published an opinion piece in the Washington Post last year revealing that he intentionally violated the Texas law shortly after it took effect in September 2021. The dismissal was announced from the bench, and no formal written opinion had been published as of Friday morning. He has said that he wasn’t aware he could claim at least $10,000 in damages if he won his lawsuit, and that if he had received any money, he likely would have donated it to an abortion rights group or to the patients of the doctor he sued. Braid has closed his clinics in Texas and Oklahoma, where abortion is also outlawed.

☆ Colombia's Ecopetrol to invest up to $6.2 bln in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BOGOTA, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Colombia's majority state-owned oil company Ecopetrol will invest up to around 30 trillion pesos ($6.2 billion) in 2023, it said on Friday, with the main focus on energy security rather than energy transition. Third-quarter net profits more than doubled to 9.51 trillion pesos, Ecopetrol reported last month. Ecopetrol plans to invest between 25.3 trillion pesos and 29.8 trillion pesos. Of that, between 15.8 trillion pesos and 18.9 trillion pesos will ensure Columbia's energy security and financial stability and boost the country's trade balance, it said. Other investments include some 3.6 trillion pesos to 4.1 trillion pesos will go towards ensuring Colombia's self-sufficiency in gas, while 5.9 trillion pesos to 6.8 trillion pesos will fund the company's energy transition, it said.

☆ Philippine economic managers back bill creating sovereign fund
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MANILA, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Philippine economic officials have thrown their support behind the creation of a sovereign wealth fund backed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr amid opposition from some groups due to concerns over the risk of corruption and transparency. The economic managers "strongly support" the proposed sovereign wealth fund to generate additional income for the government, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno told a media briefing, as he called for the speedy passage of the bill creating the fund. "Direct benefits of the (fund) include increased investments in and funding of big ticket infrastructure projects, high return on green and blue projects, and countryside development including agriculture," Diokno said, reading a joint statement. Authors of the bill have agreed to remove that contentious provision, and instead proposed utilising the profits of the Philippine central bank to bankroll the fund. The plans come as neighbours like Malaysia and Singapore and more recently Indonesia have established sovereign wealth funds, with mixed results.

☆ BP doubles down on hydrogen as fuel of the future
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Ron Bousso | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/2] The BP logo is seen at a BP gas station in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., November 24, 2021. But grey hydrogen becomes "blue hydrogen" if the polluting emissions are captured. The IRA offers a $3 per kilogramme tax credit for clean hydrogen, which brings green hydrogen to par or even below the cost of grey and blue hydrogen, according to analysts. "With the hydrogen production tax credits that are now in place, it has ... allowed green hydrogen to be a lot more competitive," McLeod said. Subsidies will initially allow green and blue hydrogen to compete with grey hydrogen, allowing consumers to switch to cleaner fuel, McLeod said.

☆ Prominent Guatemalan investigative newspaper “El Periódico” halts print edition
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

GUATEMALA CITY — The prominent Guatemalan investigative newspaper “El Periódico” announced Wednesday that it is stopping its print edition, after the government arrested the paper’s president. Zamora has overseen dozens of investigations into corruption during his leadership at El Periódico since the paper was founded in 1996. All of the paper’s reporters have been let go, and it is not clear how it can continue with digital editions only. Giammattei has been dismissive of U.S. officials’ criticism of his attorney general and what they see as Guatemala backsliding on battling corruption. His administration has silenced independent press outlets, driving journalists into exile and taking television stations off the air.

☆ 'It's a work in progress.' How Covid has changed the life insurance marketplace
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

But for the life insurance industry, experts say the long-term effects aren't yet known. Faced with a staggering loss of life, insurance firms saw payouts soar during the pandemic. The demand for life insurance policies also jumped as consumers rushed to protect loved ones. Individual U.S life insurance application activity increased by 3.4% in 2021, following a record-breaking year-over-year growth of 3.9% in 2020, according to the MIB Life Index's 2021 annual report. However, the life insurance industry is still wrestling with mortality changes and how these shifts may affect the underwriting process.

The Cuban restaurant Versailles has been a fixture in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood for the last 50 years. Courtesy VersaillesIt's also drawn celebrities, including Beyoncé and Jay-Z, and has been a destination for international tourists looking to eat a Cuban meal or just hang out outside la ventanita, sipping a Cuban coffee, nibbling a guava pastry and absorbing the surrounding culture. Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain drinks a Cuban coffee with Felipe Valls Sr. during a campaign visit to Versailles in 2011. “This is kind of their ground zero, the epicenter of the Cuban American community. On its website, Versailles calls itself “the world’s most famous Cuban restaurant.”

☆ Mexican unicorn Bitso sets out transparency roadmap amid FTX crash
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Valentine Hilaire | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MEXICO CITY, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Mexican cryptocurrency exchange unicorn Bitso laid out a transparency roadmap, as pressure from users mounted following the high-profile collapse of crypto exchange FTX, a top Bitso executive told Reuters on Thursday. In a spectacular crypto blowup, FTX filed for protection in the United States earlier this month after traders pulled $6 billion from the platform in three days and rival exchange Binance abandoned a rescue deal. FTX's crash has created a sense of urgency to regulate crypto, the chair of global securities watchdog IOSCO Jean-Paul Servais said in an interview published Thursday. Brazilian lawmakers are speeding up crypto regulation, and in the United States, Congress is expected to make progress next year on regulating its sprawling crypto sector. While Bitso's growth could suffer in the near-term as it implements the new transparency methods, Vallejo said non-crypto services, such as remittances to Mexico, could help offset the blow.

☆ The Philippines will experience "low growth" in 2023: Central bank
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe Philippines will experience "low growth" in 2023, not recession: Central bankFelipe Medalla, Governor of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, discusses the macroeconomic outlook for the Philippines next year, and says "the question is not a recession but the extent to which growth is declined."

☆ Virginia McLaurin, who famously danced with the Obamas in White House visit, dies at 113
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

— Virginia McLaurin, the centenarian who danced excitedly with President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama during a 2016 White House visit, has died. “We know you’re up there dancing.”McLaurin visited the White House for a Black History Month reception in February 2016, when she was 106. “I thought I would never live to get in the White House,” she said. Shortly after the White House visit, Menkart suggested they contact the mayor’s office and the Washington Post, which interviewed her and published a story. According to the Obama White House archives, she was a foster grandparent and a mentor to special-needs students, helping children with reading and social skills.

☆ Degrowth: A dangerous idea or the answer to the world's biggest problems?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Julia Horowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“An innocent 2 or 3% per year, it’s an enormous amount of growth — cumulative growth, compound growth — over time,” said Giorgos Kallis, a top degrowth scholar based at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Action Press/ShutterstockThe UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently cited degrowth in a major report. Investment bank Jefferies said investors should consider what happens if degrowth gathers steam, noting “climate-anxious” younger generations have different consumer values. She’s criticized “fairy tales about non-existent technological solutions” and “eternal economic growth.” And she’s touched on another point degrowthers raise: Is our current system, which has produced rampant inequality, even working for us? Gates, the Microsoft co-founder who’s prioritized investing in climate innovations, admits that overhauling global energy systems is a Herculean task.

☆ Suspect in custody following fatal shooting of 12-year-old, 14-year-old also injured in Colorado shooting
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Erick Mendoza | Mirna Alsharif | Mirna Alsharif Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

Police in Colorado arrested a man in connection to a shooting that left a 12-year-old dead and a 14-year-old injured on Saturday. Rolando Felipe, 18, was arrested Saturday night at around 10:30p.m. The 12-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later while the 14-year-old "remains hospitalized with serious injuries." Later that night, Felipe, who is known to the victims, was arrested by the police department. Charges against Felipe will be filed with the Arapahoe County 18th Judicial District, who did not immediately return requests for comment.

☆ 'Now I'm one of you,' Hamilton tells Brazil as he becomes honorary citizen
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] British Formula One racing driver, Lewis Hamilton gestures, after he received the title of honorary citizen of Brazil at the Chamber of Deputies in Brasilia, Brazil November 7, 2022. REUTERS/Adriano MachadoNov 7 (Reuters) - Seven-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton was made an honorary citizen of Brazil on Monday by the country's lower house of Congress and dedicated the honour to his boyhood idol, the late Brazilian triple world champion Ayrton Senna. The lower house passed in June a bill to make the 37-year-old an honorary citizen that was proposed by congressman Andre Figueiredo after the British driver won the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix for the third time. "I have so many amazing memories of Brazil," Hamilton said. Hamilton pledged to continue pushing for diversity and said that visiting the Amazon rainforest was one of his dreams.

☆ Philippines October inflation at highest since December 2008
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MANILA, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Philippine annual inflation accelerated to 7.7% in October (PHCPI=ECI), the highest since December 2008 and up from the previous month's 6.9%, the statistics agency said on Friday. Last month's inflation rate was above the 7.1% median forecast in a Reuters poll, and near the top end of the central bank's 7.1% to 7.9% forecast for the month. Inflation in January-October averaged 5.4%, well outside the official full-year target range of 2% to 4%. Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and fuel items, increased to 5.9% in October from an upwardly revised 5.0% in September, the Philippine Statistics Authority said. Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Writing by Enrico Dela Cruz Editing by Ed DaviesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

"(The Fed hike) supports the BSP's stance to hike its policy rate by the same amount in its next policy meeting on Nov. 17," Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe Medalla said in a statement. "The BSP deems it necessary to maintain the interest rate differential prevailing before the most recent Fed rate hike, in line with its price stability mandate and the need to temper any impact on the country's exchange rate of the most recent Fed rate hike," he said. Ruling out an off-cycle policy move, Medalla said the hike would be effective after the Nov. 17 meeting. Economists welcomed the rate hike signal, viewing it as intended to reassure markets. Roces expects rate increases of 75 bps this month and 50 bps on Dec. 15, the last policy meeting this year.

MEXICO CITY, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Mexico is making progress towards recovering its Category 1 aviation rating, but the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not yet approved its plan as claimed earlier by the Mexican government, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday. Mexico's foreign ministry said earlier in a statement that U.S. authorities approved Mexico's government plan to recover its Category 1 aviation rating, revoked roughly a year and a half ago. Mexico expects to complete its action plan in December as part of its bid to recover the U.S.-issued aviation rating, the statement said. It added the FAA will visit Mexico and set a final audit date in January, in order to recover the Category 1 status before mid-2023. The FAA downgraded Mexico's aviation safety rating in May 2021, saying it fell short of regulating its air carriers "in accordance with minimum international safety standards."

Search resuls for: "Felipe"

25 mentions found