DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Opinion | ‘Wicked’ Revels in the Glory of Female Frenemies
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Jennifer Weiner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When Glinda and Elphaba, the leads of the new movie adaptation of “Wicked,” clap eyes on each other, it’s loathe at first sight. Glinda, short for Galinda, played by Ariana Grande, is pale and pretty in pink. Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, is glowering in glasses and green skin. “No, I am not seasick; yes, I have always been green; and no, I did not eat grass as a child,” she says. And right then, you know where you are: Act One of a classic frenemy love story.

Persons: Glinda, it’s, Glinda shrieks, Elphaba smirks, she’s, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, ”, —, Vivian Kensington, Woods, Cher Horowitz, Tai Frasier, “, you’ve Organizations: Harvard, Beverly

☆ Your Heart’s Desire
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Melissa Kirsch | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

I’m not a huge fan of musicals, nor of action movies. I’m a cultural omnivore, personally and professionally, so I knew I would eventually see these movies. But I would be seeing them as a sociologist, a curious outsider rather than the ideal audience member. I wasn’t going to be mouthing every word to “Defying Gravity” or comparing Lucius’s performance in the arena to that of his father. It’s the reward for a life discerningly lived — you know who you are.

Persons: It’s, ” Jon M, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, ” Ridley Scott’s, Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer ”, it’s, pleasurably, discerningly

☆ Activist Ananym has a list of suggestions for Henry Schein. How the firm can help improve profits
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Kenneth Squire | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Henry Schein is a leading global distributor of health-care products and services primarily to office-based dental and medical practitioners. Health care distribution covers Henry Schein's distribution of dental and medical products, such as laboratory products, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, surgical products, dental specialty products and diagnostic tests. While Henry Schein has successfully carved into the office-based physician niche as the No. Henry Schein is a great company that has gotten sleepy and been allowed to coast when it could have been soaring. Several directors have been in their seats at Henry Schein for over a decade and the board lacks best-in-class distribution expertise.

Persons: Henry Schein, Charlie Penner, Alex Silver, Schein's, Henry Schein's, Patterson, Benco, Schein, Stanley Bergman, Ananym, Ken Squire Organizations: Ananym Capital Management, Jana Partners, P2 Capital Partners, Cardinal Health, 13D Locations: New York, EBITDA ., EBITDA

☆ Pregnant Georgetown law student’s exam accommodations were denied by university officials
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Michelle Watson | Rebekah Riess | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“I asked if I could take the exam early.”The law center’s fall exam schedule runs from December 6-13, with a window of December 16-18 listed as possible deferral exam dates. Both options, which the Title IX official gave to the registrar and the Office of Academic Affairs, were denied, Lovely said. Lovely asked the Title IX official if she could meet with the officials who denied the request. In her meeting, officials cited the university’s honor code and a school-wide policy prohibiting anyone from taking exams early, Lovely said. She said the dean responded, saying he did not handle pregnancy adjustments, and pointed her back to the Title IX official.

Persons: Brittany Lovely, “, ” Lovely, ”, Lovely, They’re, Georgetown Organizations: CNN, Georgetown University Law Center, US Department of Education, Academic Affairs, ”, Georgetown, Academic Resource Center Locations: Washington ,, breastfeed

☆ Novak Djokovic announces former rival Andy Murray will join his coaching team
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Novak Djokovic announced on social media Saturday that Andy Murray will be joining his coaching team for the offseason and Australian Open. Murray, who retired following the 2024 Olympic Games, will team up with his former on-court competitor in this new role. We had some of the most epic battles in our sport,” Djokovic said in the video posted to social media. Welcome on board coach Andy Murray.”Andy Murray returns a backhand to Novak Djokovic during a practice session in 2021. “I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the offseason, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open,” Murray said, per AP.

Persons: CNN — Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Murray, “, ” Djokovic, ” Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Clive Brunskill, Djokovic, ”, Andy, ” Murray, “ I’m, Novak Organizations: CNN, Associated Press, Novak’s Locations: Australia

☆ 12 tactics America's wealthiest use to save big on taxes, from putting mansions in trusts to stashing fortunes for a 1,000 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Currently, individuals and married couples can gift or bequeath $13.61 million and $27.22 million, respectively, before a 40% federal estate tax kicks in. AdvertisementThe heirs don't own the trust assets but rather have lifetime rights to the trust's income and real estate. Any payout is also protected from estate taxes, even if the insured's estate and death benefit exceed the exemption. AdvertisementThis tactic can also be used to save on estate taxes by ultra-rich entrepreneurs who have already used their exemption but have less-wealthy parents who haven't. When the children inherit the assets, the federal estate tax doesn't kick in as long as the grandparents' estate does not exceed $27.22 million.

Persons: Trump, Robert Strauss, Weinstock Manion, Uncle Sam, Wrigley, Jeff Bezos, Jackie O, Edward Renn, Tyler Le, remarries, Jenny Chang, Rodriguez, Sam Walton, haven't Organizations: Republican, Getty, IRS, Federal Reserve, Walmart Locations: Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Washington, Florida, Wyoming, Plenty

☆ Opinion | Flattery as Trump Management Strategy
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Katherine Miller | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

One of the things that has been clear with Donald Trump’s win this time is how different it is: no shock wave jolting society. This is, according to polling, one of the presidential election outcomes most widely accepted as legitimate of the past 25 years. On the public level, we’re back in business in some way, back to an earlier pre-Trump era of normal relations, strategic silence, public deference and an antiseptic corporate friendliness — a bit of flattery, at times, for Mr. Trump. Tim Cook, the Apple C.E.O., wrote on X on Nov. 6: “Congratulations President Trump on your victory! “We didn’t see eye-to-eye on a lot of issues and we told him so,” Joe Scarborough said.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Biden, Tim Cook, ” Phil Murphy, he’ll, Joe ”, “, Joe Scarborough, ” Mika Brzezinski Organizations: Mr, Apple, Democratic New Locations: United States, Democratic New Jersey

☆ The Latest FAFSA Form is Available. It Works Fine.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Ron Lieber | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Last year, in a fit of masochism, I tried to become the first person in the United States to fill out a FAFSA (short for Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form at the precise moment the Department of Education unveiled a long-delayed overhaul. I failed in my New Year’s Eve quest because the site wasn’t working, and the experience was a harbinger for millions of others. The rollout of the new FAFSA was one of the most epic digital fiascos of our time, right up there with the Obamacare website’s disastrous debut and the Equifax breach. At one school’s FAFSA completion event, only 20 percent of students finished. This week, the department tried again, opening the gates to the FAFSA website after months of additional revisions and multiple rounds of beta testing.

Persons: didn’t Organizations: Federal, of Education Locations: United States

☆ What’s Behind Ukraine and Russia’s Missile Brinkmanship?
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Andrew E. Kramer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The low-lying clouds over the city lit up for a split second, video footage showed, then streaks of dozens of glowing warheads plummeted out of the sky. The main contours of the attack on Thursday morning soon came to light: President Vladimir V. Putin said Russia had test fired an intermediate-range missile from its arsenal designed to deliver nuclear weapons, though without the nuclear warheads aboard. The Russian strike caused little damage, but it capped a dizzying week of tit-for-tat moves in the war in Ukraine, shifting focus from the ground assaults on the battlefield to a Cold War-style missile brinkmanship. In the previous two days, Ukraine had fired longer-range missiles provided by the U.S. and Britain at military targets inside Russia. Mr. Putin made clear that the Russian missile test was a response to those strikes — a warning to the West to reconsider military aid for Kyiv.

Persons: Vladimir V, Putin Organizations: U.S, Russian, Kyiv Locations: Dnipro, Ukrainian, Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Britain

☆ Elon Musk teases potential MSNBC offer: 'How much does it cost?'
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

AdvertisementElon Musk teased the idea of buying the TV network MSNBC. Elon Musk has teased the idea of buying the liberal TV network MSNBC. Musk floated the idea on social media, responding to a post on X shared by Donald Trump Jr. that said Comcast was putting the network up for sale. AdvertisementWhile there's no formal indication that Musk intends to go ahead with an offer for MSNBC, the idea has already sparked some concerns. President-elect Donald Trump.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, Donald Trump Jr, Trump, Elon, Thomas Whalen, Whalen, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Chip Somodevilla, Donald J Organizations: MSNBC, Comcast, TV, Twitter, Boston University, Telegraph, Getty, Radical Left Democrats, Trump, Business Locations: Russia

☆ I wanted to have kids but my wife didn't. I chose my relationship over becoming a mom.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Brooke Havrilla | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementWhen we started dating eight years ago, my now-wife said she didn't want kids. I wanted to have kids, but I chose to put my focus on our relationship and it paid off. When starting a relationship, the topic of kids will come up at some point. I wanted to have a child, but she didn't. It was then up to me to decide if I wanted a child more than I wanted to continue loving her.

Persons: they've, That's

☆ Airbus' A321 jets are reshaping transatlantic travel. I've toured 3 airlines' business classes — here's how they compare.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

AdvertisementAirlines are increasingly using Airbus A321neo family planes for transatlantic flights. JetBlue, La Compagnie, and Iberia offer lie-flat business class on these narrow-body planes. More airlines are flying single-aisle Airbus A321neo family planes across the Atlantic. I've seen three examples of these transatlantic premium Airbus cabins: JetBlue Airways, French boutique airline La Compagnie, and Spanish flag carrier Iberia. Iberia is nice, but it and La Compagnie lack a flyer-favorite perk, while JetBlue offers the most amenity-heavy business experience.

Persons: I've Organizations: Airlines, Airbus, JetBlue, La Compagnie, JetBlue Airways, Compagnie Locations: Europe, Iberia, Spanish

☆ Hezbollah Said to Be Using Copy of Israeli Missile Against Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Lara Jakes | Ronen Bergman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has been using an advanced missile against Israel that was reverse-engineered from an Israeli weapon it captured in a past war, according to Israeli defense officials. Hezbollah fighters are believed to have seized the original Israeli Spike anti-tank missiles during the 2006 Israeli-Hezbollah war in Lebanon and shipped them to their main state backer, Iran, for cloning, Israeli and Western defense officials and weapons experts say. Eighteen years later, Hezbollah is firing the rebranded Almas missiles at Israeli military bases, communication systems and air-defense launchers with enough precision and power to pose a significant challenge for Israeli military forces. The missiles have a range of up to 10 miles and carry advanced guidance seekers to track and lock onto targets. That Iran and its proxy forces have cloned weapons systems to use against the very adversaries who designed them is not new.

Organizations: Hezbollah Locations: Lebanese, Israel, Lebanon, Iran

AdvertisementPresident-elect Donald Trump has started making picks for key cabinet positions and other White House jobs. He started by naming Susie Wiles his chief of staff, making her the first woman to hold the role. Here's a running list of those Trump has tapped for his administration. Now that President-elect Donald Trump has secured another four years in the White House, he's beginning to staff his administration. AdvertisementHere's a running list of Trump's staff picks, who will determine everything from his daily schedule to the ins and outs of finance, defense, and education.

Persons: Donald Trump, Susie Wiles, Here's, Trump, Trump's, Matt Gaetz Organizations: White Locations: Florida

☆ First-of-its-kind saber-toothed kitten mummy find is covered in soft fur
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Woolly mammoths, giant sloths and saber-toothed cats were a fact of life for early humans. Fantastic creaturesScientists compared the mummified saber-toothed baby cat (top) with a modern lion cub (bottom). courtesy Prof. Alexey V. LopatinPaleontologists excavating in Russia’s Yakutia region uncovered the first known mummy of a saber-toothed cat. The well-preserved remains, uncovered in Siberian permafrost, are nearly intact, including surprisingly soft fur and even the “toe beans” — as cat lovers call feline footpads — on its front paws. The red supergiant star, called WOH G64, is about 160,000 light-years from Earth in the Large Magellanic Cloud, which orbits the Milky Way.

Persons: Alexey V, Homotherium latidens, Amelia Earhart’s, Earhart, ”, Tony Romeo, “, Ohnaka, Jacco van, Kelly, Zach Weinersmith, Elon, Blain, we’ve, Aviv, —, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt, Jackie Wattles Organizations: CNN, Lockheed, ESO, Keele Observatory, UK’s Keele University, Institut, la Vision, HCL, Human Cell, SpaceX, CNN Space, Science Locations: Russia’s Yakutia, Asia, Homotherium, Howland Island, Jacco van Loon, Mars, Paris, Lyon, England

☆ Bluesky is growing so fast it's racing to get hold of more servers, its chief operating officer says
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementBluesky's user base surged to 21 million, prompting the company to race to get more servers. Its growth follows users leaving X, with over 280,000 closing their accounts on Election Day. Bluesky has "blown past" its user growth projections so much that it's racing to get more servers to keep the site running smoothly, the social media platform's chief operating officer has said. AdvertisementThe social media network has surpassed 21 million users, up from 13 million in October, as X users have left in droves and flocked to the platform. The US election appears to have triggered a migration of X users to Bluesky, which has been praised because of its similarity to the "old Twitter."

Persons: Rose Wang, Bluesky, Wang, Gordon MacMillan, X's, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Jack Dorsey, Jay Gruber, Dorsey, Musk, Elon Organizations: Twitter, Wired

☆ 3 charts that help explain fluoride in drinking water
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Soph Warnes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

According to CDC figures, as of 2022, 72% of the US population receives fluoridated drinking water. There are 36,767 water systems in 36 states with publicly available information on the CDC‘s website, a small slice of the estimated number of drinking water systems in the US. In Kentucky, 93.8% of these reported water systems are fluoridated, and at the bottom end, only 3.7% of water systems reported in Alaska are fluoridated. From the publicly available data on water system fluoride levels, two water systems, both located in South Carolina, reported fluoride concentration levels above WHO guidelines. A 2010 Nevada study found that living in a community with fluoridated drinking water was associated with lower incidences of decayed, missing or filled teeth.

Persons: Donald Trump, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, won’t, John Fawell, Fawell Organizations: CNN, Human Services, Senate, US Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, WHO, World Health Organization, Blackpool, Research, Cranfield University Locations: United States, America, Hawaii, Washington , D.C, Kentucky, Alaska, South Carolina, Nevada, Canadian, Calgary, Edmonton, Manchester, Iceland, Japan, Italy

☆ I'm a wedding planner. Here are 8 trends I think will be huge in 2025 — and 3 that are going out of style.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Elisabeth Kramer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

More couples are having their first dance kick off the reception. Some couples are having their first dance before the first course is served at the wedding. Yauheni Rak/Getty ImagesSeveral of my recent clients chose to do their first dance as soon as guests sat down for a main meal. It's a good choice for a couple who's put some time into practicing a first dance or really just want people to pay attention to it. (An announcement works great as does a particularly beloved song.)

Persons: Yauheni

☆ These key 401(k) plan changes are coming in 2025. Here's what savers need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Enacted by Congress in 2022, "Secure 2.0" ushered in sweeping changes to the U.S. retirement system, including several updates to 401(k) plans. 'Exciting change' for catch-up contributionsFor 2025, employees can defer $23,500 into 401(k) plans, up from $23,000 in 2024. Shorter wait for part-time workersSecure 2.0 has also boosted access to 401(k) and 403(b) plans for certain part-time workers. Starting in 2024, employers were required to extend plan access to part-time employees who worked at least 500 hours annually for three consecutive years. "That's a very good thing for long-term part-time workers" who may have struggled to qualify for 401(k) eligibility, said Stinnett.

Persons: Tang Ming Tung, Dave Stinnett, Jamie Bosse, Dave Stinnett Vanguard's, Alicia Munnell Organizations: Getty, CNBC, Workers, CGN Advisors, America, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, Center for Retirement Research, Boston College Locations: Manhattan , Kansas, That's

☆ Stock for Sale by Cabinet Members
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Lauren Hirsch | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As President-elect Donald Trump takes an unconventional approach to stocking his cabinet, he’s also embracing one candidate pool that has plenty of precedent: Wall Street chief executives. On Friday, Trump picked Scott Bessent, a top economic adviser and the founder of Key Square Group, a hedge fund, to be his Treasury secretary. He previously tapped Howard Lutnick, the chief executive of the financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, for commerce secretary. Executives appointed to government positions are often required to make extensive stock divestitures, so the path from Wall Street to Washington can be particularly complex (while also offering an opportunity to avoid certain taxes). Bessent’s potential departure from Key Square may trigger “key man provisions” that often protect clients of hedge funds if top executives leave.

Persons: Donald Trump, he’s, Trump, Scott Bessent, Howard Lutnick, Cantor Fitzgerald Organizations: Wall Street, Key Square Locations: Washington

☆ Trump’s Trade Agenda Could Benefit Friends and Punish Rivals
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Ana Swanson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The sweeping tariffs that President-elect Donald J. Trump imposed in his first term on foreign metals, machinery, clothing and other products were intended to have maximum impact around the world. They sought to shutter foreign factories, rework international supply chains and force companies to make big investments in the United States. But for many businesses, the most important consequences of the tariffs, enacted in 2018 and 2019, unfolded just a few blocks from the White House. In the face of pushback from companies reliant on foreign products, the Trump administration set up a process that allowed them to apply for special exemptions. The stakes were high: An exemption could relieve a company of tariffs as high as 25 percent, potentially giving it a big advantage over competitors.

Persons: Donald J, Trump Organizations: United States Trade Representative, Commerce Department Locations: United States, China

☆ I got an in-store Apple Intelligence demo. Here are some useful features I hadn't spotted.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementI visited an Apple store to get a rundown of all that Apple Intelligence is offering. I visited an Apple store on Thursday morning for an Apple Intelligence tutorial. Jordan Hart/BII was impressed by Math Notes when Apple first demonstrated it at WWDC, but it was unclear which phase of Apple Intelligence it would be included in. There's also the Tips appIf you can't make it to an Apple store for a rundown, there's always the Tips app with a section on Apple Intelligence. I went through it while first exploring Apple Intelligence, but the hands-on demo in a store gave me some more details.

Persons: I've, aren't, Max isn't, you've, might've, Jordan Hart, There's, there's Organizations: Apple, Apple Intelligence, Worldwide, Conference

☆ Sara Duterte: Philippine vice president says she would have Marcos assassinated if she is killed
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

I said, if I get killed, go kill BBM (Marcos), (first lady) Liza Araneta, and (Speaker) Martin Romualdez. Speaker Romualdez, a cousin of Marcos, has slashed the vice presidential office’s budget by nearly two-thirds. The two families are at odds over foreign policy and former President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly war on drugs, among others. In the Philippines, the vice president is elected separately from the president and has no official duties. Many vice presidents have pursued social development activities, while some have been appointed to cabinet posts.

Persons: Sara Duterte, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos ’, Duterte, Marcos, “, BBM, Liza Araneta, Martin Romualdez, ” Duterte, ”, Romualdez, Rodrigo Duterte’s, Benigno Aquino Organizations: Philippines Reuters, Philippine, Presidential Communications, Presidential Security Command Locations: Manila, Philippines, Philippine

☆ Number of PwC partners taking early retirement jumps amid consulting slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

AdvertisementDozens of UK partners at PwC will take early retirement in December, Sky News reported. More PwC partners than usual will take early retirement at the end of this year, marking another shake-up at the firm's UK division since the appointment of a new boss, Marco Amitrano, in Spring. PwC's 1,030 UK partners were informed this week via a voice memo from Amitrano that dozens of partners would take early retirement next month, Sky News reported. AdvertisementThe jump in partners taking early retirement follows a series of changes following Amitrano's elevation to senior partner for the UK and Middle East in April. UK partners at PwC took home an average of £862,000 (about $1.1 million) this financial year, 5% less than they did in 2023.

Persons: PwC, Marco Amitrano, —, Amitrano Organizations: PwC, Sky News, Big, — Deloitte, EY, KPMG, East, Deloitte, Labour Locations: Spring

☆ Horse’s head and pregnant cow used in ‘barbaric’ mafia threat in Sicily
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-23 | by ( Barbie Latza Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The discovery of a severed horse head, and a cow quartered with its bloodied dead calf on top, have rattled a Sicilian town, with authorities treating the incident as a mafia threat. “I can’t comprehend such barbarity,” she told local media outlets. It is a tactic that has been used by the notorious Sicilian Cosa Nostra crime syndicate for decades. Organized crime in Sicily has been a problem since the 19th century when the Cosa Nostra was first identified. In 2023, Matteo Messina Denaro, a Sicilan Cosa Nostra mafia boss who had been on the run for 30 years was captured while seeking cancer treatment in Palermo, underscoring the level of complicity that continues to protect and enable criminal enterprises.

Persons: Mafia Directorate’s, Maurizio de Lucia, “, ”, Angela De Lucia, Paolo Borsellino, Giovanni Falcone, Tony Gentile, Ndrangheta, Matteo Messina Denaro Organizations: CNN, Mafia, Nostra, Cosa Nostra, Reuters Locations: Altofonte, Palermo, Sicily, Sicilian, Cosa

Search resuls for: "Foundation for Art

25 mentions found