DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Monaco Grand Prix: Max Verstappen cruises to victory, avoiding rain-induced chaos
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Max Verstappen cruised to victory at the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday, his fourth win in six races this season as he extended his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings. A relatively straightforward race was transformed in the closing stages as it began raining in Monaco, causing chaos all through the field as the drivers fought to keep their cars from sliding on the wet track. Verstappen avoided any potential mishaps, while second-placed Fernando Alonso lost time when he had to pit twice after attempting to avoid using intermediate tires. The conditions changed late in the race when it began raining. That extra pit stop gave Verstappen a comfortable buffer, even as he clipped the wall, as he held on for the win.

☆ Lionel Messi breaks a Cristiano Ronaldo record as PSG wins Ligue 1 title
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —There was another landmark in the long rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on Saturday. As Paris Saint-Germain sealed an 11th Ligue 1 title, Messi scored his 496th goal in Europe’s top five leagues, surpassing Ronaldo’s previous record of 495 goals. Kevin Gameiro equalized for Strasbourg twenty minutes later, but PSG still coasted to the league title despite the match ended in a draw. It was a record-breaking day for PSG as well as Messi, as the club overtook Saint-Etienne’s haul of 10 Ligue 1 trophies to claim the outright record. Messi scored PSG's only goal of the night.

CNN —Boston Celtics guard Derrick White scored a miraculous putback to beat the buzzer and seal a dramatic 104-103 victory over the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday. The Celtics’ unlikely victory erased a 0-3 series deficit and left them on the verge of NBA history as no team (0-150) has ever won a playoff series after being 0-3 down. Derrick White hits the game winner for the Boston Celtics. Everybody was asking me, did you get it off, and I was like, yeah, I think so, but it was so close, you never know,” White told reporters afterwards. Basketball at its finest,” Butler told reporters afterwards.

☆ Roberto Firmino: Liverpool great in tears after final match at Anfield
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

But even a draw couldn’t dampen the emotion of the occasion as Firmino was reduced to tears by the crowd’s tribute to him. Liverpool fans waved jerseys and cries of “Si Senor” reverberated around Anfield while Firmino’s teammates formed a guard of honor for him and other departing players, including James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita. Peter Byrne/PA Images/Getty Images“Unfortunately, we didn’t get the win, it wasn’t the result that you want,” Firmino said afterwards, according to Liverpool’s official website. As for every player, it’s the same,” Firmino said, according to the club’s website. Without my teammates, my family, the manager, you cannot do this.

☆ Manchester City wins Premier League title as Arsenal suffers shock loss
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Manchester City sealed the Premier League title on Saturday, as Arsenal’s shock 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest ended any lingering mathematical probability of the north London team usurping Pep Guardiola’s side in the title race. It is a result that has appeared increasingly inevitable for weeks as City’s run of 23 unbeaten games coincided with and influenced Arsenal’s slow capitulation from its perch at the top of the table, which it had occupied for much of the season. Despite still holding an eight-point cushion just last month, Arsenal’s hopes of a first title since the 2003/04 season have been steadily extinguished following a run of three improbable draws and a 4-1 drubbing at Manchester City in April, compounded by a 3-0 defeat to Brighton last week and now this loss at Nottingham, a team fighting for its very survival in the Premier League. And so the idea of City winning the Premier League, its fifth title in six years, has had time to percolate and establish itself, almost normalizing an achievement so monumental it is matched by just one other team in the league’s entire history – Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United between 1995/96 and 2000/01. More to follow…

CNN —Vice President Kamala Harris was among those celebrating the return of Brittney Griner to the WNBA on Friday, five months after the Phoenix Mercury star was released from a Russian penal colony. Harris met with players from both teams before the game and thanked them for their support while Griner was in Russian custody for almost 300 days last year. “A team is a team, that’s family.”Harris addressed the players in their locker room before the game. Mario Tama/Getty ImagesIn return, Los Angeles star and players’ union president Nneka Ogwumike thanked Harris and the Biden administration for securing Griner’s release. “Just appreciating everything because tomorrow is not guaranteed.”Griner scored 18 points on her WNBA return.

☆ José Mourinho left in tears as Roma reaches Europa League final, giving him a chance to continue his perfect record
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The phrase “nobody’s perfect” just might not apply to José Mourinho when it comes to European soccer finals. “My concern isn’t marking my place in the Roma history books,” Mourinho told Sky Sports after the match. Roma will now face Sevilla in the Europa League final at Budapest’s Puskás Aréna on May 31. The Spanish team is likely to be a formidable foe – not least because Sevilla has won all six of its previous Europa League finals. Roma reached the Europa League following a 1-0 victory on aggregate against Bayer Leverkusen.

☆ Chelsea wins historic Women’s FA Cup final with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Chelsea won its third consecutive Women’s FA Cup in front of a record crowd at Wembley, triumphing 1-0 over Manchester United in the final thanks to a well-taken Sam Kerr goal in the 68th minute. But, ultimately, this was a day for Chelsea and Kerr who held on to win the FA Cup final in front of a record 77,390 fans at a sun-dappled Wembley. “Everyone stuck at it and we got the win.”It was a historic match in so many ways – the first time a women’s FA Cup match had sold out at Wembley, the first time Manchester United had reached the women’s FA Cup final, a world record crowd for a women’s domestic match, and the first time the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was used in this competition. VAR came into play almost immediately as Leah Galton found the back of the net after just 20 seconds following a sweeping Manchester United attack, but her effort was ruled out for offside. United was appearing in its first major cup final.

☆ British Prime Minister suffers another blow as he watches his club Southampton get relegated from the Premier League
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Rather than providing an escape, soccer only compounded British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s woes as he watched his team Southampton succumb to a 2-0 loss against Fulham, condemning it to relegation from the Premier League. Sitting in the stands at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday, Sunak watched two second-half Fulham goals – from Carlos Vinícius and Aleksandar Mitrovic – end his team’s 11-year stay in the Premier League. “It has been a very tough day for all of us,” Southampton manager Rubén Sellés said afterwards, according to the club’s website. “For the technical staff, for the players, but especially for our fans, who have been supporting Southampton their entire life. It’s not a one-day situation, we built it up and we have not been good enough.”Southampton's players on the pitch after the final whistle.

☆ Eton v Harrow: Why this centuries-old schoolboy match has been the cause of division and debate in England
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which owns Lord’s, sought to axe the match from the ground’s schedule before granting it a reprieve after some of its members protested. As a compromise, the MCC announced in March that it would host both the Eton vs. Harrow and Oxford vs. Cambridge fixtures for another five years, before another consultation with members. Schoolboys look on from the grandstand during the Eton vs. Harrow cricket match at Lord's on Friday. Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty ImagesThe club will also host the finals of the UK’s school and university cricket competitions, rather than only the historic fixtures. They took to the field on Friday and Harrow emerged victorious by just four runs.

☆ Players forced to run for cover as raging bull creates havoc at a rugby league match in France
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Chaos ensued before a rugby league match between the Catalans Dragons and St Helens on Friday when a bull escaped from a pre-match parade and rampaged around the field. Television cameras showed the bull breaking free of its handler, dragging him along the ground, and charging around the field. Scattering players dropped rugby balls as they ran for cover, while some players even jumped over the barriers into the crowd. It marked a significant win over the reigning Super League champion St Helens, sealed by tries from Arthur Mourgue, Matt Ikuvalu and two from Tom Davies. “It was a bizarre start to the match,” Dragons head coach Steve McNamara said afterwards.

London CNN —Britain’s Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, will walk to King Charles III’s coronation, in keeping with Shabbat laws as the ceremony takes place on a Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath and day of rest. “So (they) have invited us to be their guests in St. James’ Palace over the Sabbath.”St. James’ Palace is about 15 minutes’ walk from Westminster Abbey, where the coronation will take place. As well as refraining from using vehicles during Shabbat, Jews also observe a “digital detox,” as the Chief Rabbi put it. The Chief Rabbi spoke to CNN's Bianca Nobilo outside Buckingham Palace. Although the monarchy is steeped in Christianity – the sovereign is also the head of the Church of England – the Chief Rabbi praised Charles’ “wonderful sensitivity” and inclusion of other faiths.

☆ Michael Palin, 'Monty Python' star, announces death of wife Helen
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —“Monty Python” star Michael Palin announced the death of his “dearest” wife, Helen, on Tuesday, writing on his official website that she “was the bedrock of my life.”She “died peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday morning,” Palin wrote. “Two and a half weeks ago we celebrated our 57th wedding anniversary,” Palin wrote. “Her death is an indescribable loss for myself, our three children and four grandchildren. In September, he disclosed in an interview with The Telegraph that Helen had moved to respite care. She’s going to be 80 in October, I’m going to be 80 at the beginning of next year.

☆ Princess Anne: Slimmed-down royal family 'doesn't sound like a good idea'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —King Charles III’s sister Princess Anne has said that a slimmed-down monarchy “doesn’t sound like a good idea.”Comments by the Princess Royal, who is 16th in line to the British throne and is considered to be one of the hardest-working royals, were made during a wide-ranging interview Monday. In the years before Queen Elizabeth II’s death, the royal family’s advisers had been promoting the idea of a slimmed-down monarchy that saw senior family members like Charles and Camilla as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales take on more duties. “Well, I think the ‘slimmed-down’ [comment] was said in a day when there were a few more people around … [to] make that seem like a justifiable comment,” Anne told CBC News’ Adrienne Arsenault. “It doesn’t sound like a good idea from where I’m standing, I would say. King Charles III and Princess Anne pictured at their mother's funeral.

☆ Photo of Princess Charlotte released for her eighth birthday
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The Prince and Princess of Wales have released a new photograph of their daughter, Princess Charlotte, to mark her eighth birthday on Tuesday. Shared the evening before her birthday, the photo shows Charlotte sitting in a white chair wearing a white floral dress and smiling at the camera. “Wishing Princess Charlotte a very happy birthday! 8 tomorrow,” the Prince and Princess of Wales’ official Twitter account said, alongside a balloon and birthday cake emoji. Charlotte was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in west London and is third in line to the British throne, after her father Prince William and older brother Prince George, 9.

So there was extra attention around this year’s “Mr Irrelevant” – Desjuan Johnson, a defensive lineman out of the University of Toledo drafted by the Los Angeles Rams as the 259th and final pick. “Just be getting picked, final pick, first pick, middle pick, everything [is] unique,” Johnson said, according to ESPN. “My dad was on my mind today,” said Johnson, who was just four years old when his father died, according to his university website. “Just to learn from him, from watching film and now get to sit next to him and just take notes, I’m going to just be like a newborn,” he said. “I feel like I’m going to be like a newborn, trying to take as much in [and trying] to learn under him.”

☆ Lamine Yamal, 15, becomes Barcelona's youngest player in more than a century
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Back in 2007, in the months before Lamine Yamal was born, the first iPhone was released and Lionel Messi was already announcing himself as one of the greatest footballing talents ever. Fast forward to 2023 and smartphones have taken over the world, Messi has won the World Cup and it was Yamal’s turn to announce himself to the footballing world, becoming Barcelona’s youngest debutant in La Liga. Aged 15 years, 9 months and 16 days, Yamal entered the fray after 86 minutes as a substitute for Gavi during Barcelona’s 4-0 victory against Real Betis Saturday. Lamine Yamal turns 16 in July. “At 15 years old, just imagine it… He is special and he could have even scored tonight, but [Betis goalkeeper Rui Silva] saved.

☆ Sergio Perez wins sprint race at Azerbaijan Grand Prix as Max Verstappen and George Russell argue on track
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Behind them, Perez’s teammate Max Verstappen came to blows with Mercedes’ George Russell in the first three corners of the race as Russell overtook Verstappen before the Red Bull’s pace told later on and the Dutchman reclaimed his podium spot. “No, it’s not clarified,” Verstappen said afterwards, according to F1, when asked about his talk with Russell. Cameras captured Max Verstappen and George Russell's heated exchange. I’m not just going to wave him by because he’s Max Verstappen in a Red Bull. Once racing resumed on the sixth lap, Perez enabled his DRS and cruised past Leclerc in a further display of just how much extra pace the Red Bull carries.

☆ World record crowd watches England complete Grand Slam against France in Women’s Six Nations
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —When England’s women first played at Twickenham in 2003, the crowd was scattered about the vast stadium, almost imperceptible in the pictures taken that day. Twenty years later, in the latest historic occasion for women’s rugby, a world record crowd of 58,498 supporters watched England win the Women’s Six Nations by defeating France 38-33 in a thrilling finale at Twickenham, the home of English rugby union. The previous record for a women’s game was 42,579, set at the 2022 women’s rugby World Cup final in New Zealand. To produce a game like that on a stage like this is everything that is good about the game. Ultimately, however, it was too little too late – France’s last try arrived as the clock ticked into the red – and England clung on for victory.

☆ NHL: David Pastrnak scores outrageous goal but Florida Panthers stun Boston Bruins
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

By the second period it was clear that this was no ordinary playoff game when Bruins winger David Pastrnak tied the scores, steering a pass between his legs and into the goal in one spectacular motion. Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images“It’s a big win,” Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky said. The next game is the biggest game, so we have to be ready, be humble, but enjoy tonight. And I’d say it’s a great feeling for sure.”It had seemed unlikely that this playoff series would require a deciding game. It was that kind of game where there was just teams making great plays offensively.”Game 7 will be played in Boston Sunday.

☆ Microsoft's blockbuster Activision deal may be doomed. But the tech giant's future is still bright
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Microsoft 's (MSFT) proposed blockbuster acquisition of video-game publisher Activision Blizzard (ATVI) may be doomed thanks to British regulators. The U.K.'s top antitrust body — the Competition and Markets Authority — said Wednesday that it opposes Microsoft's $69 billion bid because of competition concerns in the budding cloud gaming market. Microsoft's multipart gaming business includes Xbox consoles, cloud-based Xbox Game Pass service and in-house titles, such as the long-running "Halo" series. The CMA's opposition centered on competition concerns in the burgeoning world of cloud gaming, which Jefferies analysts estimate is less than 2% of the overall gaming market. Cloud gaming enables players to, essentially, stream video games without having to buy a physical console.

CNN —The Mexican navy has seized almost 10 tons of liquid methamphetamine hidden in 11,520 bottles of tequila intended for export, it said in a statement on Monday. Already this year, the navy has seized and destroyed approximately 114 tons of meth, its statement noted. It is not the first time that authorities have seized meth hidden in creative ways. Australian border officials found $1 million worth of liquid meth inside snow globes in 2019. Meanwhile, US border officials found about $266,000 worth of liquid meth inside the gas tank of a truck in 2020.

☆ Jennifer Grey says anxiety stopped her reprising ‘Friends’ role
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Jennifer Grey has revealed that “bad anxiety” prevented her from reprising her role in “Friends,” as she opened up about her time on the show. Grey appeared in the classic 1987 film "Dirty Dancing," which catapulted her to fame. Emma McIntyre/WireImage/Getty Images“It’s very hard to be a guest star because you’re not a part of it, and you’re really trying to figure it all out,” she added. “They were trying to figure out what the character was, what the scene was, and it was changing, and changing, and changing. It makes me sad that I would say no to continuing on Friends…because of my anxiety.

☆ Newcastle vs Tottenham Hotspur: Magpies hammer closest top 4 rival 6-1 with five goals in opening 21 minutes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Joelinton scored Newcastle's second goal. Alex Dodd/CameraSport/Getty ImagesEvery attack seemed to yield a corner, an opportunity, a shot on goal and Newcastle continued to press while Tottenham’s defense continued to buckle. And then, barely two minutes after kickoff, there was another for Isak who made it five goals for the Tyneside club in 21 minutes. “It’s very embarrassing,” Lloris told Sky Sports afterwards. We didn’t show a good face and we could not match the performance of the Newcastle players.”

☆ Davis vs Garcia: 'Tank' earns knock out with vicious body shot in the 7th round
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis landed a vicious body shot to knock out Ryan Garcia in the seventh round of their non-title catchweight fight and settle one of boxing’s fiercest rivalries. It was the second time that Davis had forced Garcia to the mat following a left hook in the second round. And again in the sixth round Garcia seemed to make inroads, landing two right-handed blows to Davis’ face, before the decisive moment in the seventh round. “He just caught me with a good shot and I couldn’t recover,” Garcia said, according to PBC. He caught me with a good body shot, snuck under me and caught me good.

Search resuls for: "Issy"

25 mentions found