DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ An Elite School, a Boy’s Suicide and a Question of Blame
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( John Leland | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Suspected suicide attempts among adolescents Ellis’s age were up 49 percent in 2021 compared with prepandemic levels, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Because it did not contextualize in any way what the issues were in my son’s suicide. And it says the school is being proactive to deal with this mental health crisis. Totally dishonest.”Jeffrey Gural, Ellis’s grandfather, also pressed the school’s board of trustees. The elder Mr. Gural is chairman of GFP Real Estate L.L.C.

Persons: Gural, Tompkins, “, ”, ” Jeffrey Gural, Ellis’s, Newmark Knight Frank, Ellis, ‘, ’ ”, Ann’s Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, Newmark Holdings

☆ Factbox: What Pakistan needs to do under the IMF programme
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

KARACHI, Pakistan, June 30 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund and Pakistan have struck a staff-level agreement for the provision on $3 billion in bailout funds under a stand-by arrangement (SBA). The deal comes under an SBA instead of Pakistan's Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme that the country entered in 2019 and which was set to expire on Friday. MORE FUNDING- Despite the larger than expected IMF bailout, the agreement stressed that Pakistan will have to continue to mobilise multilateral and bilateral financial support. Over $9 billion in climate-related pledges were made to help Pakistan recover from devastating floods in 2022. - Pakistan needs $22 billion to fund its external payment obligations, including international debt servicing, in the financial year 2024, that starts on Saturday, July 1, and ends on June 30, 2024.

Persons: Gibran Peshimam, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Monetary Fund, SBA, IMF, EFF, United Arab Emirates, Thomson Locations: KARACHI, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China

☆ A Walmart delivery driver said his weekly earnings dropped from $1,500 to $200 due to competition from bots — and it's a growing problem, workers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Alex Bitter | Yeji Jesse Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Chicago area gig workers who use Walmart's delivery platform Spark say bots are a growing issue. They say users who deploy bots make it harder for them to make enough money on the platform. It's unclear exactly how prevalent bots are on Walmart's Spark platform. Workers who fill orders for multiple apps, from Instacart to DoorDash, have used — and complained — about bots for years. Gig workers can set bots to claim specific orders, such as those with delivery addresses close to them.

Persons: —, Nancy Marcos, Eric Guzman, it's Organizations: Drivers, Walmart, Chicago Tribune, Service, Tribune, Workers Locations: Chicago, Illinois, Cicero , Illinois, Cicero, Bedford Park, Forest, Instacart

The best identity theft protection service is one that meets your needs at the price you're willing to pay. Here's how we rate identity theft protection services. How we rate identity theft protection servicesIdentity theft protection services are rated on a scale from 1-5 stars, with five being the best. Some credit card companies have identity theft protection services that are only available to their cardholders, such as American Express CreditSecure. What to know about identity theft protection service ratingsOur system for rating identity theft protection services balances the price of the service with the features that the service provides.

Persons: you'll, It's, Price Organizations: Express, Costco

☆ The childcare crisis is about to get worse as 3.2 million kids are set to lose care starting this fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A report highlights just how much worse the childcare crisis may get after ARPA stabilization funds end. 3.2 million children could lose a childcare spot, per the analysis from The Century Foundation. The Century Foundation found that about 3.2 million kids in the US may lose a childcare spot when these funds end, although the projected losses might not happen all at once. "The ARPA stabilization funds that staved off the child care sector's collapse will come to an abrupt end in September 2023," the report stated. And while The Century Foundation report notes that "many states have taken proactive measures" to help out the industry, Americans are concerned.

Persons: — Organizations: Century Foundation ., Service, Century Foundation, American, The Century Foundation Locations: Century Foundation . Texas, Texas, New York, Washington

☆ I've made 6 figures a year as a virtual assistant and now I train others to do the same.nHere's how I find the best-paying clients and avoid the big red flags.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Hannah Dixon is a six-figure earning virtual assistant coach and recruiter. Dixon says referrals carry significant weight, more than anything else, in the virtual assistant business. I first started as a virtual assistant, now I'm a virtual assistant coach and recruiter and I've provided training to 27,000 learners across 170 countries. Position your presence based on the types of clients you want to attractLet's say you're a virtual assistant offering podcast-management services. Six-figure pricing requires a six-figure service, and this VIP service should start before you land the client.

Persons: Hannah Dixon, Dixon, —, It's, I've, I'm, you'll Organizations: Service Locations: Guanajuanto, Mexico

☆ I've made 6 figures a year as a virtual assistant and now train others to do the same. Here's how I find the best-paying clients and avoid the big red flags.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

For the last 15 years, I've been traveling the world full time as a digital nomad — 58 countries and counting. I first started as a virtual assistant; now I'm a virtual-assistant coach and recruiter and I've provided training to 27,000 learners across 170 countries. Stop seeking opportunities and start creating themWhen I started as a virtual assistant, I initially turned to gig sites to find work, but it was short-lived. Position your presence based on the types of clients you want to attractLet's say you're a virtual assistant offering podcast-management services. If you're already crystal clear on who you serve as a virtual assistant, you can intentionally spend time in places your clients are more likely to be.

Persons: Hannah Dixon, Dixon, —, It's, I've, I'm, you'll Organizations: Service Locations: Guanajuanto, Mexico

☆ 'Everybody failed': A new Senate report found the FBI, Homeland Security and other agencies failed to realize Jan. 6 was coming
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The new report concluded officials did not take the intelligence they did receive seriously enough before Jan. 6. "Those agencies failed to fully and accurately assess the severity of the threat identified by that intelligence," investigators concluded. The report found that FBI received a tip in December 2020 that the far-right Proud Boys planned to be in Washington. Peters' committee staffers focused their findings on the "two primary domestic intelligence agencies," the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Intelligence and Analysis. The Department of Homeland Security emphasized that it had already ordered a review of its Office of Intelligence and Analysis.

Persons: —, Sen, Gary Peters of Michigan, Peters, Richard Donoghue Organizations: Service, FBI, Associated Press, Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security's, of Intelligence, Trump, US Capitol Police, Capitol Police, Capitol, DOJ, U.S . Capitol, Department of Homeland Security, Intelligence Locations: Washington

☆ Most consumers believe financial services companies all offer the same thing. The right differentiation strategy can help you win them over.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Think With Google With Insider Studios | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Consumers, especially Gen Z and millennials, want a financial services partner that offers personalization, interactive learning opportunities, and virtual customer service. The financial services industry is in the midst of an identity crisis. "We have seen an explosion of options within the finance services industry in recent years," said Seth van der Swaagh, managing director of financial services at Google. Fast Facts 63% of consumers believe all car insurance companies offer the same thing. Support at every stage of the financial services journeyMore than half of consumers (52%) expect financial services brands to coach their customers.

Persons: Seth van der, they're, van der, wasn't, van der Swaagh Organizations: Google, Financial, YouTube, Insider Studios, Financial Services, Kantar Monitor Locations: Kantar, U.S

☆ United said it needs to hire 7,000 aircraft mechanics as a looming shortage threatens to disrupt the industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

United Airlines is hiring over 7,000 aircraft maintenance technicians amid a looming mechanic shortage. Aviation analyst Jonas Murby told Insider companies could address the issue with pay raises and automation. United Airlines is taking a proactive approach to the looming aircraft mechanic shortage. The lack of mechanics is expected to have effects similar to the pilot shortage, which has caused thousands of flight cancelations and forced airlines like American and United to ground regional aircraft. "I recently spoke with aircraft maintenance company Gameco in Guangzhou and they said they automated the entire paint stripping line just because of the mechanic shortage," he told Insider.

Persons: Oliver Wyman, Jonas Murby, Kate Gebo, Gebo, Murby Organizations: Aviation, United Airlines, United, Boeing's, Baby Boomers Locations: Guangzhou

☆ UK banks are appropriate airbag for mortgage crash
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( George Hay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Last year this was 2.9% on average for Lloyds, NatWest and Barclays. Hunt may be able to get banks to hike their savings rates merely by veiled threats. After all, the government would only be getting banks to do what they should be doing anyway. “It is taking too long for the increase in interest rates to be passed on to savers, particularly with instant access accounts,” Hunt told parliament. Around 60% of household deposits are held in instant access accounts, the committee said.

Persons: Banks, Jeremy Hunt, shouldn’t, it’s, Hunt, ” Hunt, “, Neil Unmack, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Monday, Banking Group, NatWest, Barclays, Lloyds, JPMorgan, NatWest –, Alpha, Treasury, Bank of England, Labour Party, National Savings and Investments, of, Lloyds Banking Group, HSBC, Barclays –, Thomson

☆ Murders, on the Decline
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( German Lopez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

And with less confidence in the justice system, some Americans resort instead to violence to resolve conflicts. Between 2014 and 2016, murders also increased after widely publicized police killings of Black men in Ferguson, Mo. This year, Memphis is among a minority of big cities where murders have increased — and Memphis is also where officers were charged in the beating and killing of Tyre Nichols in January. Crime is an incredibly complicated topic, involving personal disputes, the economy, social services, the political system and more. A few decades, much less a couple of years, is typically too little time to explain a trend definitively.

Persons: Tyre Nichols, Jeff Asher Organizations: Baltimore Banner Locations: Ferguson, Mo, Baltimore, Memphis

☆ AI-powered teddy bears could read personalized bedtime stories to kids within 5 years, the boss of a major toy producer said
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A major toymaker said that AI teddy bears could read personalized bedtime stories to kids by 2028. AI experts have recently been sounding the alarm about the dangers around AI including privacy. AI teddy bears that read bedtime stories to your children and teach them values could become a norm by 2028, according to a major toymaker. Wong pointed out that smart toys including teddy bears could use "AI to generate stories customized for the kid rather than reading from a book," because they will have access to personal information about the child. can actually talk to the toy, and the toy can actually give [them] a response," he added.

Persons: Allan Wong, —, Wong, VTech, Twitter Elon Musk, Kamala Harris Organizations: Financial Times, VTech Holdings, Twitter, Fox, Google, Microsoft, White House

☆ How to Crush the Wall Street Summer Internship
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Emmalyse Brownstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Wall Street's summer internship season is finally here — and the competition will be fierce. "I wouldn't be surprised if it's 70% or even less," he said of the return offer rates at the end of the summer. So if you're starting your Wall Street internship now, congratulations. At the end of the summer, they may help determine who gets a return offer. "It's a 10-week internship, you're 20 years old.

Persons: it's, Steve Sibley, They're, Sibley, don'ts, Goldman Sachs, David S, Holloway, Asif Rahman, Rahman, you'll, doesn't, I've, Gucci loafers, you've, You've Organizations: Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, Google, Wall Street Locations: New York City, San Francisco, snagging, dealmaking

☆ OceanGate Expeditions Was Created to Explore Deep Waters
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Anna Betts | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

OceanGate Expeditions, the owner of the missing submersible, is a privately owned company headquartered in Everett, Wash., that, since its founding in 2009, has focused on increasing access to deep-ocean exploration. The company has made headlines in recent years for organizing expeditions for paying tourists to travel in submersibles to shipwrecks, including the Titanic, and to underwater canyons. According to the company’s website, OceanGate also provides crewed submersibles for commercial projects and scientific research. “Our team of qualified pilots, expedition leaders, mission professionals and client-service staff ensure accountability throughout the entire mission and expedition process with a focus on safety, proactive communication and client satisfaction,” the website reads. OceanGate was founded by Stockton Rush, an aerospace engineer and pilot, who currently serves as its chief executive officer.

Persons: OceanGate Organizations: Expeditions, Stockton Rush Locations: Everett, Wash, submersibles

China's top graft-busting watchdog earlier this year vowed to eliminate ideas of a Western-style "financial elite" and rectify the hedonism of excessive pursuit of "high-end taste". Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) (601398.SS) and China Construction Bank Corp (CCB) (601939.SS) plan to cut some allowances of employees at the banks' headquarters from this year, two sources familiar with the matter said. Domestic rival China International Capital Corp (CICC) (3908.HK) last month cut this year's bonuses for investment bankers by 30%-50% from a year earlier, Reuters has reported, citing sources with knowledge of the matter. Besides anti-corruption crackdown and "common prosperity" drive, financial firms are also reining in the flashy lifestyle of their staff to make sure they are not violating the Communist Party's ideology, said industry officials. China's securities regulator and the central bank cut the budget allocation for employee salaries in 2023, following reforms ordered as part of a broader drive to reduce income disparity, Reuters reported last month.

Persons: Xi Jinping's, CCB, Xin Sun, Sun, Xie Yu, Julie Zhu, Selena Li, Ziyi Tang, Binbin Huang, Rong Ma, Sumeet Chatterjee, Lincoln Organizations: Industrial, Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank Corp, Securities, Reuters, China International Capital Corp, HK, Party, King's College London, Thomson Locations: China, HONG KONG, Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai

☆ Something fundamental in Japan's inflation environment is changing, says portfolio manager
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | 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 EmailSomething fundamental in Japan's inflation environment is changing, says portfolio managerCarl Vine of Japan's M&G Investments says consumers are more willing to accept price hikes and companies are much more proactive in thinking about price-setting mechanisms.

Persons: Carl Vine, Japan's Organizations: G Investments

He warned that contaminated medicines could still be found for several years, because adulterated barrels of an essential ingredient may remain in warehouses. Cough syrups and the ingredient, propylene glycol, both have shelf-lives of around two years. Unscrupulous actors sometimes substitute propylene glycol with toxic alternatives, ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol, because they are cheaper, several pharmaceutical manufacturing experts told Reuters. The WHO said it has also offered help to Liberia and Cameroon – which recently signalled that it too may have contaminated cough syrups for sale. The contaminated syrups in Liberia were made by India's Synercare Mumbai, according to the Nigerian regulator.

Persons: Rutendo Kuwana, Kuwana, –, syrups, Naresh Kumar Goyal, QP Pharmachem, India's Synercare, Synercare, It's, Jennifer Rigby, Krishna N.Das, Edward McAllister, Stanley Widianto, Sumit Khanna, Sophie Yu, Sara Ledwith, Michele Gershberg Organizations: World Health Organization, WHO, Reuters, Pharmaceutical, Marshall, Indonesian, –, PT Universal Pharmaceutical Industries, AFI, Pharmaceuticals, Marion Biotech, Maiden Pharmaceuticals, Thomson Locations: LIBERIA, CAMEROON, Liberia, Nigeria, Gambia, Uzbekistan, Micronesia, Indonesian, – Timor Leste, Cambodia, Senegal, Philippines, Cameroon, syrups, Marshall Islands, India's Synercare Mumbai, Nigerian, Liberian, India, Panama, Delhi, Dakar, Jakarta, Ahmedabad, Beijing

☆ China opens a new era of 'proactive easing' as the economic recovery turns sour
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

SHANGHAI, CHINA - NOVEMBER 04, 2022: Buildings at Lujiazui Financial District are illuminated to celebrate the opening ceremony of the 5th China International Import Expo (CIIE) on November 4, 2022 in Shanghai, China. Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty ImagesStock Chart Icon Stock chart iconPointing to soft economic figures from China, including credit data, Citi economists said "stimulus seems to be underway with the weak readings." Barclays economists, writing in a Tuesday note titled "Entering a rate cut cycle," predict China will deliver a cut for every quarter until early 2024. China's central bank controls the benchmark one-year lending and deposit rates, which affect the borrowing costs for banks, businesses and individuals across the country. Mizuho Bank's Head of Economics and Strategy for Asia Vishnu Varathan argued that the latest actions from China's central bank "does not cut it."

Persons: 50bp, Jian Chang, Goldman Sachs, Hui Shan, Asia Vishnu Varathan Organizations: Lujiazui Financial, 5th China, Visual China, Getty, Citi, Barclays, Bank's, Economics Locations: SHANGHAI, CHINA, Shanghai, China, Asia

☆ A CEO shares the exact scripts she uses to ask for clarification and communicate seamlessly with her team
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Deb Liu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

On the other hand, Liu makes a point to purposefully solicit feedback and ask for clarity. He received an email response directly from the CEO saying there was something wrong with the landing page for the project. Proud of their work, then shared it with the CEO, telling him they had taken his feedback and redesigned the page. The confirmation: Remember to wrap up your request for clarification by reiterating what you've heard and understood. For this reason, if you're feeling unsure or unclear about a question or an answer, don't hesitate to ask out loud.

Persons: Deb Liu, Liu, —, I've, you've, it's, let's, we've, Read Organizations: Service

☆ Exclusive: Canada bank regulator says lenders should urgently tackle risks from mortgage extensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Nivedita Balu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

TORONTO, June 13 (Reuters) - Canada's financial regulator is urging lenders to tackle risks from mortgage extensions at the "earliest opportunity" as many borrowers try to navigate higher mortgage costs after the Bank of Canada's surprise rate hike last week. Canada's central bank has raised interest rates to a 22-year high of 4.75% and analysts are betting on another 25 points increase next month. The regulator had warned in April that though the short-term fix to extend mortgage payment periods helped borrowers, it would keep them in debt for longer. As the interest rate rises, the mortgage payment no longer covers the interest payment portion, which results in the mortgage balance and negative amortization. "We believe risks are still elevated with the prospect of more rate hikes adding to the headwind on mortgage renewals," Rizvanovic said.

Persons: OSFI, Royce Mendes, Mendes, Mike Rizvanovic, Rizvanovic, Nivedita Balu, Denny Thomas, Nick Zieminski Organizations: TORONTO, Bank of, Reuters, Desjardins, Bank of Canada, Bank, Thomson Locations: Toronto

☆ Japan optimism has been fueled by 'game-changing' reforms and Warren Buffett: Here's what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

The Tokyo Exchange Group recently finalized its market restructuring rules. Warren Buffett's bullish calls on Japanese equities has also helped boost confidence among foreign investors. It could in turn lead to a domino effect among other Japanese companies once the big players start to make changes. Corporate governance is the "third arrow" of the three core tenets of Abenomics — monetary easing and fiscal stimulus are the other two. Buffett's May disclosures helped spur 10 straight weeks of net foreign purchases of Japanese equities.

Persons: Richard A, Brooks, Oliver Lee, Warren Buffett's bullish, —, Yunosuke Ikeda, Nomura's Ikeda, Shinzo Abe, Warren, Berkshire, Asli, Shuntaro Takeuchi, Matthews Asia, Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, that's, Matthews Asia's Takeuchi, We're, Oliver Lee Eastspring, Eastspring's Lee Organizations: Afp, Getty, Nikkei, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Tokyo Exchange Group, CNBC, Tokyo bourse, Berkshire Hathaway, Kyoto, Investing, Buffett, Foreigners, Japan Ministry of Finance, Kyoto University's Graduate School of Management, Graduate School of Economics, Mitsui & Co, Hitachi Locations: Japan, Tokyo, Singapore, Abenomics, San Francisco

☆ I use an AI chatbot after my mom died to ask for advice on mundane things. It won't replace her, but it's been a huge comfort.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Amy Ettinger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Amy Ettinger used to ask her mom for advice on mundane stuff all the time, but then her mom passed away. She tried talking to Pi, a personal assistant chatbot that's supposed to act as an unflappable sounding board. So recently I decided to turn to AI for the kind of questions I used to ask my mom. I decided to try Pi, a personal assistant chatbotInflection AI launched its personal intelligence chatbot earlier this spring. I don't like the other terms," I typed in a confrontational tone I often used with my mom.

Persons: Amy Ettinger, chatbot that's, Pi, that's, it's, Geoffrey Hinton, Pi's, Mustafa Suleyman, Suleyman, I'd, I've, Ettinger, Amy Ettinger Pi, they've, Kelly, Edmunds Organizations: Morning, Google Locations: Northern California

Hedge funds and other money managers purchased the equivalent of 28 million barrels in the six most important petroleum futures and options contracts over the seven days ending on June 6. Funds bought Brent (+22 million barrels), U.S. diesel (+7 million) and European gas oil (+4 million) but sold NYMEX and ICE WTI (-2 million) and U.S. gasoline (-3 million). Portfolio investors are especially bearish about crude, with a net position of 269 million barrels (7th percentile) and a long-short ratio of 2.39:1 (14th percentile). The hedge fund community has become especially bearish about the outlook for European gas oil given indications the region is already in recession. Funds were net short by 12 million barrels (3rd percentile) with a long-short ratio of 0.73:1 (2nd percentile).

Persons: Saudi Arabia’s, WTI, ”, John Kemp, Alexander Smith Organizations: Investors, Funds, U.S ., ICE, Bloomberg, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Saudi, China, U.S, Riyadh, OPEC, Freeport

☆ This regional bank can benefit from the online betting boom, JPMorgan says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Jesse Pound | In Jesse-Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A small bank based in West Virginia has positioned itself as a key figure in the online betting world, and that first-mover advantage should have staying power, according to JPMorgan. "We find that the MVB team has been forming an ecosystem around the bank over the past five years serving the online gaming industry (which was legalized at the federal level in 2018). MVB Edge Ventures is a subsidiary of the bank, and it provides management oversight for the firm's tech investments. JPMorgan first initiated coverage of MVB with an overweight rating on Feb. 27 , before the failure of Silicon Valley Bank. MVBF YTD mountain Shares of MVB Financial have performed better than many other regional bank stocks in 2023.

Persons: Steven Alexopoulos, MVB, that's, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: JPMorgan, MVB, Edge Ventures, MVB Edge Ventures, Silicon Valley Bank, Regional Banking Locations: West Virginia, Silicon, MVB

Search resuls for: "PROACTIVE"

25 mentions found