DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Explainer: What is the U.S. debt ceiling?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Jason Lange | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

WHEN WAS THE DEBT CEILING REACHED? IS THE DEBT CEILING GOOD FOR ANYTHING? Few counties in the world have debt ceiling laws and Washington's periodic lifting of the borrowing limit merely allows it to pay for spending Congress has already authorized. Others argue the debt ceiling itself violates the U.S. Constitution. In a 2011 showdown, House Republicans successfully used the debt ceiling to extract sharp limits on discretionary spending from Democratic President Barack Obama.

☆ Horrific World War II bunker where Japanese scientists experimented on prisoners with biological weapons, found by archaeologists, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Archaeologists found a bunker used by WWII Japanese scientists to conduct human experiments, says a report. The Japanese scientists captured by the US were granted immunity in exchange for their research findings. Japanese scientists exposed prisoners to pathogens and dissected them to learn about the effects on the human body. The researchers are yet to enter the bunkers, but the survey has revealed details about the underground structures, South China Morning Post reported. Most of the surface-level buildings at the Anda site were destroyed in 1945 to erase evidence of the experiments, but the underground structures remain, archaeologists said.

☆ North Dakota's Republican governor set to launch US presidential bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Burgum, who is serving his second term as the sparsely populated state's top official, is expected to launch his campaign with an announcement on June 7 in Fargo, the person said. Reuters/Ipsos polling conducted on May 9-15 showed Trump is backed by 49% of Republicans, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a distant second place at 19%. They were followed by former Vice President Mike Pence with 5% and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley on 4%, the poll showed. He also signed into law the largest income tax cut in state history. Reporting by Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut, and Jason Lange in Washington; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Explainer: How could a US debt ceiling default hit regular Americans?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Jason Lange | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Americans could quickly notice painful blows to their retirement accounts as stock markets swooned, and within days the lack of federal payments could weigh heavily on doctors' offices, retirees and workplaces throughout the country. At that point, Washington would be under severe pressure to keep making payments on U.S. bonds, which underpin the global financial system. Within days, the financial mayhem would be a principal force putting the economy on the path to recession, Zandi said. More Medicare bills would come due in subsequent days, and because Medicare funds about a fifth of U.S. healthcare, some doctors might not have money to pay staff and other bills. Payments could also stop going out to government contractors, including $1 billion due to defense contractors on June 5.

[1/2] People gather ahead of the "Festival of Fantasy" parade at the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom theme park in Orlando, Florida, U.S. July 30, 2022. Lawyers for DeSantis, who is being sued for allegedly targeting Disney for company leadership's political views, filed a motion on Friday in Tallahassee, Florida, asking U.S. District Judge Mark Walker be recused in the case. Disney sued DeSantis in April for allegedly "weaponizing" state government in retaliation for the company's criticism of a law that banned classroom discussion of sexuality and gender identity with younger children. DeSantis' lawyers argued on Friday that the judge overseeing that case demonstrated potential partiality while handling separate cases in which the judge mentioned Disney as an example of state retaliation. Considering Walker's statements, "the court's impartiality in this matter might reasonably be questioned," DeSantis' lawyers said in the their motion.

But he'll stay home on Election Day should Trump win his party's nomination to take on Joe Biden in 2024. In Pennsylvania and Michigan, the size of the Ukrainian-American community outstrips Trump's margin of victory in 2016, according to the analysis. During a CNN town hall last week, Trump refused to say if he wanted Ukraine to win its war with Russia, when questioned about the conflict. Neither politician responded to requests for comments about the Ukraine war, nor did the Republican National Committee. Democratic U.S. Representative Susan Wild, who won Stawnyczyj's district by less than 5,000 votes in 2022, said that courting the Ukrainian-American vote would be crucial.

The impoverished child of a single mother and the only Black Republican in the U.S. Senate, Scott often points to his personal story as proof that America remains a land of promise. As a Black conservative, Scott is a rarity in a country where politics are sharply divided along racial lines. Some 92% of Black voters backed Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, while 55% of white voters backed Trump. At the same time, the South Carolina senator has accused Democrats of exploiting racial tensions for partisan gain. Scott's entrance into the race puts him in direct competition with Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, who launched her campaign in February.

☆ Tim Scott, lone Black Republican in U.S. Senate, announces White House bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Senator Tim Scott, the sole Black Republican in the Senate, on Friday filed official paperwork launching his run for his party's presidential nomination in 2024. The impoverished child of a single mother Scott of South Carolina often points to his personal story as proof that America remains a land of promise. He filed his declaration of candidacy with the Federal Election Committee on Friday. On the campaign trail, his sunny disposition presents a major contrast with other declared and prospective candidates, including former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Reporting by Jason Lange and Gram Slattery; Editing by Scott MaloneOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Explainer: What happens if Washington falls behind on its bills?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Jason Lange | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The day's $26 billion in tax revenues would not be enough to cover about $101 billion in spending obligations promised by Congress. Pensioners and other Social Security beneficiaries wouldn't get $25 billion owed them. JUNE 6Weapons manufacturers and other companies supplying the U.S. military wouldn't collect $2 billion owed them. But more bills would keep coming due, and Americans expecting tax refund deposits on June 7 wouldn't get about $1 billion owed them. But revenues wouldn't cover all the other bills due June 15, such as military salaries.

☆ No, Immigrants Aren’t Stealing Jobs From Black Americans
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Jason L. Riley | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

He is also a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and provides television commentary for various news outlets. Mr. Riley joined the paper in 1994 as a copy reader on the national news desk in New York. He moved to the editorial page in 1995, was named a senior editorial page writer in 2000, and became a member of the Editorial Board in 2005. He joined the Manhattan Institute in 2015. Born in Buffalo, New York, Mr. Riley earned a bachelor's degree in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Baidu's revenue rose 10% to 31.14 billion yuan ($4.54 billion) in the quarter to March 31, surpassing analysts' estimates of 29.97 billion yuan, according to Refinitiv data. Revenue from Baidu Core, which includes search-based ad sales, cloud offerings and its autonomous driving initiatives, grew 8% to 23 billion yuan. Baidu reported net income of 5.83 billion yuan, compared to net loss in the year-ago quarter. The company's much-touted rival to ChatGPT, Ernie bot, has yet to be officially launched, despite having been partially unveiled to the public in mid-March. "During our testing of Ernie bot, we have engaged in close discussions with the regulators," Li said.

WASHINGTON, May 16 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden continues to hold an edge over potential Republican challengers Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis as the 2024 U.S. presidential election draws closer, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll. But there are potential hazards ahead for Biden should the situation at the U.S. southern border worsen, the poll shows. In a mid-March Reuters/Ipsos poll, Biden led Trump by five points after trailing him by three points in February. Sixty-three percent of registered voters - including 73% of independents - said they were less likely to support a presidential candidate who backs severe restrictions on abortion. In the poll, 64% of Democrats and 93% of Republicans said they favor a presidential candidate who supports tougher measures to secure the border.

☆ China sentences 78-year-old U.S. citizen to life in prison on spying charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Relations between Washington and Beijing are at their lowest in decades amid disputes over trade, technology, human rights and China's increasingly aggressive approach toward its territorial claims involving self-governing Taiwan and the South China Sea. Jason Lee | ReutersChina sentenced a 78-year-old United States citizen to life in prison Monday on spying charges, in a case that reflects the deterioration in ties between Beijing and Washington over recent years. Details of the charges against John Shing-Wan Leung, who holds permanent residency in Hong Kong, have not been publicly released. High-level government visits have been on hold and U.S. companies are delaying major investments amid mixed-messaging from Beijing. Now the world’s second-largest economy, China is expanding its footprint in ports, railways and other infrastructure from Europe to Southeast Asia and beyond.

☆ I'm a Gen Zer who bumped my salary up by 40% with a career pivot to data analytics — and I learned the skills for free on YouTube
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Jason Lalljee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A Gen Z worker was unhappy with his job, so he taught himself data analysis and switched careers. Two years ago — when I was 22 — I finally learned what someone with the title of "data analyst" did, while still working that first job. Switching to a career in data analytics changed my lifeIt wasn't costly for me to become a data analyst — and it changed my life. Upon entering the field, I was surprised to find out how many people were able to break into tech through data analytics, without needing a college degree. I used Khan Academy's free SQL course, for instance, one of the major tools for data analytics.

May 10 (Reuters) - Republican vulnerabilities on abortion policy are on display in Ohio, with the party playing defense against a surge in abortion rights activism that could help President Joe Biden and his Democratic Party in next year's elections. Abortion rights advocates have racked up electoral victories, lifting Democrats along the way, since the Supreme Court struck down the national right to abortion last year. Ohio Republicans passed a six-week state abortion ban in 2019, but that law is blocked while litigation proceeds. In Republican-leaning Kentucky, abortion rights activists are already knocking on doors ahead of November's gubernatorial election, when Democrat Andy Beshear is seeking another term. Senate President Matt Huffman has made clear the measure is aimed at the abortion rights amendment.

☆ Explainer: What's next for Trump after civil rape verdict?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Jack Queen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Here is a rundown of what could come next:WILL TRUMP WILL APPEAL THE VERDICT? Experts said Trump does not appear to have a strong appeal case, noting Kaplan's experience and that quality lawyering on both sides appeared to have ensured a fair trial. CAN TRUMP PAY THE $5 MILLION? WILL TRUMP PAY AND WHAT HAPPENS IF HE DOESN’T? Trump will likely obtain a court order stating that he does not have to pay Carroll while his appeal is pending.

☆ Biden's approval rating at 40%, Americans concerned about immigration: Reuters/Ipsos poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Jason Lange | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, May 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's public approval was at 40% in recent days, close to the lowest level of his presidency, with Americans unhappy about his handling of immigration and inflation, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll showed. The Reuters/Ipsos poll found 54% of respondents - including 77% of Republicans and 34% of Democrats - were against raising the number of immigrants allowed into the country every year. read moreThe president is seeking re-election next year and immigration is primed to be an important issue in the contest. Fifty-four percent of respondents in the Reuters/Ipsos poll said they were opposed to raising the debt ceiling, including 59% of respondents who don't have a college degree. The Reuters/Ipsos poll gathered responses from 1,022 U.S. adults, using a nationally representative sample.

☆ A 'Shark Tank' winner and stay-at-home dad who Mark Cuban called a 'compassionate capitalist' doubled down on his business when his wife's health took a sudden turn: 'There is no greater incentive to
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Jason Lalljee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Freya Williams was a CEO and her family's breadwinner before contracting long COVID. Her husband dove into his small business and landed an investment from Mark Cuban of "Shark Tank." But COVID led to "long COVID" for her. Thousands of Americans have likely left the workforce because of long COVID, and Williams is among them. Delaney added that his wife's suffering and his family's precarious position had changed his drive as a business owner.

So far this year, super PACs have spent more than $12 million, about three times as much as four years earlier, according to public disclosures. The outlays suggest an aggressive cycle ahead for spending by super PACs, who helped drive about $1 billion in independent spending in the 2020 presidential contest. TRANSFERS QUESTIONEDRegistered as a super PAC, MAGA Inc is allowed to raise and spend unlimited sums supporting candidates as long as it doesn't coordinate spending with their campaigns. Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign spokesman, dismissed the Campaign Legal Center's arguments, calling the organization "a Democrat group." Campaign finance law specialists say they fear DeSantis could emulate Trump by transferring some of those funds into a federally registered super PAC to support his expected presidential campaign.

☆ Royal Caribbean CEO on stress in banking sector, cruise demand and company earnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailRoyal Caribbean CEO on stress in banking sector, cruise demand and company earningsJason Liberty, Royal Caribbean CEO, joins 'The Exchange' to discuss company earnings as the stock sees a jump in shares, cruising demand and the banking sector.

☆ My family is trying to move to Canada to escape the anti-trans laws spreading in the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Jason Lalljee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The mother of a transgender teenager told Insider her family is trying to move to Canada. As anti-trans laws spread in the US, she's worried about the next presidential election. Her teenage son is transgender, and because of the rise of anti-trans legislation in the United States, her family is planning to move to Canada in the next year and a half. Even though anti-trans laws are ramping up in states like Tennessee and Florida, things are relatively stable where we are in Oregon — for now. I know a lot of parents of trans kids feel that the conversation of "Which state should I go to?"

☆ Canadian government says it gave striking union 'final offer'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Picketers march on Parliament Hill as approximately 155,000 public sector union workers with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) continue to strike, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Blair Gable/File PhotoApril 29 (Reuters) - Canadian government negotiators have presented striking public workers with a "final offer," the Treasury Board of Canada said on Saturday, aiming to end a dispute that has disrupted services ranging from tax returns to passport renewals. The head of the union representing some 155,000 striking public workers earlier this week accused the government of stalling and called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to get involved in negotiations. On Saturday, the Treasury Board, which oversees public administration, said it gave the union its offer on Friday. "This is a fair, competitive and reasonable final offer," the Treasury Board said in a statement.

☆ US says Chinese Coast Guard is harassing Philippine vessels
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, April 29 (Reuters) - The United States on Saturday called on China to stop harassing Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, pledging to stand with the Philippines at a time of simmering geopolitical tension. "We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct," the U.S. State Department said in a statement. The Philippines on Friday accused China's coast guard of "aggressive tactics" following an incident during a Philippine coast guard patrol close to the Philippines-held Second Thomas Shoal, a flashpoint for previous altercations located 105 nautical miles (195 km) off its coast. In February, the Philippines said a Chinese ship had directed a "military-grade laser" at one of its resupply vessels. China's foreign ministry on Friday said the Philippine vessels had intruded into Chinese waters and made deliberate provocative moves.

☆ Meet a teacher who quit her job to avoid returning in person — and found a position at a remote-only public school
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Jason Lalljee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A New York City teacher quit her job in March after 12 years at the school. She teaches music and describes the shift to remote learning at the beginning of the pandemic as one that triggered a professional change, too. Parkis is one of many Americans who prefer remote working, even as companies have attempted to entice — and in some cases, strong-arm — employees back to the office. She was teaching full time at a Brooklyn, New York, middle school for 12 years and said her school ended remote learning last year. When she did, she quit right away and began her post at a fully online public school.

☆ Royal Caribbean's CEO made over $10 million in 2022 — 705 times more than company's median worker
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty made $10.76 million in 2022, regulatory filings show. Meanwhile, crew members onboard Royal Caribbean's ships made a median annual wage of $15,264. Royal Caribbean Group's CEO Jason Liberty made over $10 million in 2022, approximately 705 times the median annual wage of the cruise giant's shipboard crew members, regulatory filings show. Meanwhile, crew members working onboard Royal Caribbean's ships took home a median yearly salary of $15,264 in 2022, according to the company's estimates. On a single cruise ship, crew members may represent over 100 countries around the world.

Search resuls for: "Jason L"

25 mentions found