DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Nissan raises global EV targets; to increase U.S. localisation
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nissan now aims to have electrified vehicles - which include its advanced hybrid e-power cars - make up over 55% of global sales by fiscal 2030, from a previous goal of 50%, it said. The automaker plans 27 new electrified vehicles by that year, 19 of which will be all-battery EVs, it said in a statement. That compared with its previous plan of 23 electrified vehicles including 15 all-battery EVs. Nissan is confident it will be in compliance with the Act due to the localisation starting calendar year 2026, Gupta said in an online briefing. Reporting by Rocky Swift; Editing by David Dolan and Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Colombia, Bolivia to ask UN to remove coca leaf from narcotics list
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Claudia MoralesBOGOTA, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Colombia and Bolivia will jointly ask the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs to remove coca leaves from its list of prohibited substances and accept the plant's traditional uses, Colombia's government said on Wednesday. "Bolivia and Colombia consider it is the moment to once again put this issue on the table," she said. "To remove the coca leaf - the leaf, not cocaine - from the prohibited substances list." Coca leaves are widely used in different countries in Latin America, especially by indigenous groups, to treat stomach aches and altitude sickness, among other ceremonial uses. Bolivian President Luis Arce said in January his government would push for coca leaves to be removed from the list so they can be commercialized, after his predecessor Evo Morales decriminalized coca nationally.

☆ How to afford the big price tag of your lifetime 'bucket list'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Chris Taylor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The 36-year-old public relations professional has an opportunity to check something off his life 'bucket list': Seeing his favorite band, Metallica, play live. Whether Beyonce tickets, Super Bowl weekends or dream vacations after years of COVID restrictions, our bucket lists carry big price tags that seem to be rising every year. So how can we fund our bucket lists, without being totally irresponsible? One solution for this is to save for your bucket list item in a separate account. “There is one item I see on bucket lists that is actually getting less expensive – education,” says Brandon Welch, an investment advisor in La Mesa, California.

☆ After driving 22 electric cars, these are the 3 I'd steer clear of
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I've gotten behind the wheel of 22 different electric vehicles. I've enjoyed most of them, but I'd steer clear of three EVs if I was in the market for one. The GMC Hummer EV, Nissan Leaf, and ElectraMeccanica Solo have their pros, but they don't fit my personal needs. While my experiences have overall been positive, three vehicles stand out as ones I'd steer clear of. 2023 Nissan Leaf.

☆ These are the 10 best cars for every budget from Toyota, Ford, and Tesla
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The best cars you can buy include the Toyota Corolla, Ford Maverick, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Tesla Model 3. Under $25,000:Toyota Corolla HybridThe 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid. Toyota Corolla CrossThe 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross. $35,000-$45,000:Hyundai Santa Fe HybridThe Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. Doug Berger/NWAPAThe Kia Telluride has earned its place among Consumer Reports' Top Picks since its debut in 2020.

☆ Twitter owner Elon Musk says CEOs and politicians should take a leaf out of his book and be more authentic on social media
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk says other CEOs and leaders should run their own social media accounts. Musk is famed for his frequently wacky tweets and has sometimes gotten into trouble over his posts. Musk said criticism is "really not that bad" and encouraged others to be authentic on social media. Speaking at the World Government Summit in Dubai on Wednesday, the billionaire said he encourages CEOs, legislators, ministers, and other leaders to "speak authentically" on social media. Musk, who has often run into trouble over his tweets, said getting criticism is "really not that bad."

☆ Peru's Boluarte vows to crush 'narcoterrorism' after deadly police ambush
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/6] Police officers carry flag-draped coffins during a ceremony to honor their seven fellow troopers gunned down during an ambush last Saturday, in Lima, Peru February 13, 2023. "My government has ordered a frontal fight against this alliance of terrorism and drug-trafficking in the VRAEM and throughout the nation's territory," Boluarte said at the funeral. After Colombia, Peru is the world's largest producer of coca leaf and cocaine, according to U.N. estimates. Boluarte - herself under investigation for protest deaths - called for peace and said her government would continue to work on the "wellbeing of the population." Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ These are the startups to bet your career on, based on 3 key factors
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Diamond Naga Siu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

I'm Diamond Naga Siu, and a little more than a year ago, I bet my career on Insider. A few key factors molded my decision: the editor (AKA my boss), my team, the ability to have journalistic impact, and our company's trajectory. Although I made the jump in very different economic circumstances, these are integral factors to consider for anyone's next career steps. They found the 43 startups to bet your career on this year, looking at a variety of factors, including the founding team, the market, and its stature among investors. From left to right: Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, Nikhil Mathew, Jaleh Rezaei, and Anurupa Ganguly Promise; Mutiny; Prisms; Marianne Ayala/InsiderThese are the startups to bet your career on.

☆ From battery health to tax credits, there's a lot to consider when buying a used electric car. Here's how to shop smart.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Tim Levin | Nora Naughton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Driving habits can also impact which type of used EV you should shop for. Aside from wondering which car to buy, used EV shoppers might be wondering if their (used) battery can die. The good news is that an EV's battery is unlikely to fail completely or render the car useless. The used EV tax credit is your friendAt the start of the year, a new used electric vehicle tax credit went into effect as part of a larger EV incentive program in the Inflation Reduction Act. Vehicles that qualify for the used EV tax credit must have a sale price of $25,000 or less and must be at least two model-years old.

☆ About half a billion dollars worth of cocaine — enough to service the New Zealand market for 30 years — was found floating in the Pacific Ocean
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Felise Seah | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Half a billion dollars worth of cocaine was discovered floating around the Pacific Ocean. A total of 81 bales of cocaine, weighing 3.2 tonnes, were intercepted by the New Zealand Police. Some of the packages carried identifiable stickers like a four-leaf clover and a Batman logo. These show that some of the packages have identifiable stickers like a four-leaf clover, and one that stood out had a Batman logo. Cocaine bales with four-leaf clover stickers.

☆ Exclusive: Huge chunk of plants, animals in U.S. at risk of extinction
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Brad Brooks | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

REUTERS/Luisa GonzalezFeb 6 (Reuters) - A leading conservation research group found that 40% of animals and 34% of plants in the United States are at risk of extinction, while 41% of ecosystems are facing collapse. Importantly, the report pinpoints the areas in the United States where land is unprotected and where animals and plants are facing the most threats. Nearly half of all cacti species are at risk of extinction, while 200 species of trees, including a maple-leaf oak found in Arkansas, are also at risk of disappearing. The threats against plants, animals and ecosystems are varied, the report found, but include "habitat degradation and land conversion, invasive species, damming and polluting of rivers, and climate change." California, Texas and the southeastern United States are where the highest percentages of plants, animals and ecosystems are at risk, the report found.

☆ Electric cars are too expensive because Americans insist on having more car than they need
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But Americans love SUVs and trucks, and they're going to have to pay for them in the near term. A lot of prospective EV buyers just haven't yet found the types of EVs they're looking for. They don't necessarily need more luxury electric sedans — they want the trucks and SUVs they're used to. A recent study found most car-buyers don't want to spend more than $50,000 to go EV, but they also want electric trucks and SUVs that inherently cost more. Bigger vehicles are often just more expensive, largely because they require bigger batteries — the most expensive part of these new EVs.

☆ You don't need an electric vehicle with a long range — buy one you can afford instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Many prospective electric car buyers worry about an EV's range, or how far it goes on a charge. But with new battery tech and more available charging, range shouldn't be a prime factor. But some experts say that in picking the right electric car, that last question of range is becoming less important — and less helpful. That's because in reality, most drivers don't need long-range EVs. "You don't need batteries that go 800 miles when it's convenient and easy and quick to recharge every 300 miles.

GAZA, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Israeli aircraft struck in Gaza on Thursday in response to Palestinian rocket fire, days after the United States called for calm, but there was no immediate sign of a wider escalation in violence following days of tension. The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) said it had fired some of the rockets in response to the air strikes and the "systematic aggression" against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. In Gaza, activists rallied in support of women prisoners held by Israel after far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees prisons, said he would push ahead with plans to toughen conditions for Palestinian prisoners. Ben-Gvir has vowed a crackdown on "benefits and indulgences" offered to Palestinian prisoners and ordered amenities including prisoner-operated bread ovens in some prisons to be curtailed. Cairo has also invited Hamas chief, Ismail Haniyeh, who currently resides between Qatar and Turkey, for separate talks next week, said a Palestinian official familiar with Egyptian mediation.

☆ 80% of workers who quit in the ‘great resignation’ have regrets, according to a new survey
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Ashton Jackson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The "Great Regret" is the latest workplace trend to sweep the nation, with the majority of professionals who quit their jobs last year wishing they could get a do-over, according to a new survey. Now, 8 out of 10 professionals who left their jobs regret their decision, a new Paychex study finds. Paychex surveyed 825 employees who quit during the "great resignation" and 354 employers to analyze the impact of the quitting spree and gauge employees' job satisfaction. They found that mental health, work-life balance, workplace relationships and the chance to get rehired all suffered as a result. "Despite satisfaction with mental health and work-life balance influencing many resignations, only about half of respondents from our survey said they are satisfied with their mental health (54%) and work-life balance (43%) in their new workplace.

☆ I've tested 19 different electric cars. The technology is amazing, but you shouldn't buy one yet.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Testing well over a dozen new electric cars has convinced me that I want one someday. New electric cars are too expensiveThe Tesla Model Y costs close to $70,000. Today, you can't find a used EV with more than 250 miles of EPA-rated range for less than $24,000. Tim Levin/InsiderUnderdeveloped charging infrastructure is widely cited as one of the top reasons more people don't buy more electric cars. Did you recently buy an electric car, sell one, or trade it in for a different brand?

☆ In West Bank, Blinken presses for two-state solution
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Simon Lewis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Summary U.S. Secretary of State in West Bank after IsraelBlinken restates U.S. support for two-state solutionViolence surges in decades-old conflictRAMALLAH, West Bank Jan 31 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken shuttled from Israel to the Palestinians' West Bank on Tuesday, appealing for an end to resurgent violence and reaffirming Washington's backing for a two-state solution to the decades-long conflict. He took that message into a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, warning all parties against any action that could threaten a two-state solution, with an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. Netanyahu has reinforced troops in the West Bank and promised measures to strengthen settlements there, but has said Israel was not looking to escalate the situation. On Tuesday, Blinken met Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and discussed cooperation to stop Iran developing a nuclear weapon as well the situation in the West Bank. Hopes of achieving a two-state solution, with a Palestinian state based largely in the West Bank, have all but disappeared since the last round of U.S.-sponsored talks stalled in 2014.

☆ The generative AI boom is bringing San Francisco’s tech scene roaring back to life
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Diamond Naga Siu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Techies fled from San Francisco during the pandemic, and its resurgence stalled for a while. It's just south of Japantown, mere blocks from San Francisco City Hall, and north of the Mission District. Someone even said it would be "irresponsible" to not work on generative AI in San Francisco. There aren't any skeptics in the space yet, and the majority of generative AI investments land in the Bay Area. Email dsiu@insider.com or tweet @diamondnagasiu) Edited by Matt Weinberger (tweet @gamoid) in San Francisco and Hallam Bullock (tweet @hallam_bullock) in London.

☆ I followed Nancy Pelosi's diet of breakfast ice cream and hot dogs for a week, and I ping-ponged between euphoria and the depths of despair
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Sophie Kleeman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

My research found that Pelosi eats ice cream for breakfast, hot dogs for lunch, pasta, and chocolate. Chocolate ice cream for breakfast, rich and creamy pasta, and lots of snacking chocolate. She claims she does not exercise; her daughter once arrived home to find her mother eating chocolate ice cream while using a stationary bike. I save the ice cream for later to avoid a massive sugar crash and start out with a cup of black tea instead. However, I don't want to slack off after the ice cream episode, so I slather it on.

Review: Is the Chase Aeroplan card the best credit card for you? It's not often an airline credit card makes waves with a strong welcome bonus and completely unique benefits, but the Aeroplan® Credit Card has managed to do just that. As the first Air Canada-branded credit card offered by Chase (and the only Aeroplan card on the US market) the Aeroplan® Credit Card is packed with perks — and it's worth considering, even if you're not a regular Air Canada flyer. However, points transferred to your Aeroplan account from the Aeroplan® Credit Card won't expire as long as your card account is open. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightAeroplan credit card fees and costsThe Aeroplan® Credit Card charges a $95 annual fee, but you won't pay foreign transaction fees, which makes it a good card to use when you're traveling internationally.

☆ Nissan has a plan for used Leaf batteries: powering buildings
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Nissan is partnering with startup Relyion Energy to ensure its used Leaf batteries are put to good use. What happens when millions of used electric car batteries aren't useful in a vehicle anymore? Nissan will work with Bay Area-based startup Relyion Energy to retire batteries from its well-known Leaf EV, Relyion announced Monday. After all, used batteries are chock-full of valuable materials like lithium, nickel, and cobalt. Tim Levin/InsiderHow it works: Nissan will recover used Leaf batteries and supply them to Relyion.

☆ Blinken begins Middle East trip amid spate of violence
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Simon Lewis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

CAIRO, Jan 29 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the Middle East on Sunday, beginning a three-day visit as violence flares between Israelis and Palestinians, and with Iran and the war in Ukraine high on the agenda. There has also been a spate of deadly violence in recent days, heightening fears that already spiralling violence will further escalate. A Palestinian gunman killed seven people in an attack outside a Jerusalem synagogue on Friday. Blinken will also travel to Ramallah to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, other Palestinian officials, and members of civil society. Blinken will hear from people inside and outside of government on the reforms, she added.

☆ A mummy unearthed in Egypt wrapped in 'layers of gold' may be the oldest ever discovered, archeologists said
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Isobel Van Hagen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Archeologists uncovered what is likely the oldest mummy ever discovered in Egypt on Thursday. Archaeologists discovered the 4,300-year-old Hekashepes near the Step Pyramid wrapped in gold leaf. Saqqara, a "great masterpiece of architectural design," is located in Memphis, the first capital of ancient Egypt. This comes only a day after a different team of archaeologists discovered ruins of another ancient city called Luxor, south of Cairo. There has been a string of major archaeological discoveries across Egypt in recent years, highlighted as part of a growing push to promote the country's tourism industry.

☆ Nissan and Hitachi look to charge elevators with EV batteries
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] 2023 Nissan Pathfinder is unveiled at the 2022 New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 13, 2022. In what appears to be an early attempt in earthquake-prone Japan to make wider use of EV batteries, Nissan and Hitachi Building Systems Co Ltd are focused on keeping elevators running when the power supply is disrupted. The V2X system uses the CHAdeMO charging standard supported by Nissan, an Hitachi Building Systems executive said. That allows it to also draw power from larger Nissan EVs, such as the Ariya and Leaf models. Tatsunori Takahashi, a director in the domestic business management division of Hitachi Building Systems, said he hopes the firm will start providing the system to apartment buildings from the financial year starting in April.

☆ These are the 11 cheapest electric cars you can buy in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

We've found the 11 cheapest new EVs you can buy in 2023. Chevrolet Bolt EVThe 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV. ChevroletRetail price: $27,800EPA-estimated range: 247 milesQualifies for EV tax creditChevy recently introduced a big brother for the Bolt EV, the Bolt EUV. MazdaRetail price: $34,110EPA-estimated range: 100 milesMazda's first electric model disappoints in the all-important range department. KiaRetail price: $39,550EPA-estimated range: 253 milesThe Kia Niro gets bold new looks for the 2023 model year.

Search resuls for: "LEAF"

25 mentions found