DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Gold steady as Fed remarks counter safe-haven demand
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold prices steadied on Thursday as a pushback from U.S. Federal Reserve officials on market hopes for early interest rate cuts offset safe-haven demand after Israel rejected a ceasefire offer from Hamas amid continuous talks to end the Gaza conflict. Gold prices steadied on Thursday as a pushback from U.S. Federal Reserve officials on market hopes for early interest rate cuts offset safe-haven demand after Israel rejected a ceasefire offer from Hamas amid continuous talks to end the Gaza conflict. Spot gold held its ground at $2,033.56 per ounce, as of 0427 GMT. Fed officials want to hold off on cutting interest rates until they have more confidence that inflation is headed down to 2%. Gold, considered a safe-haven investment, tends to gain during times of political and economical uncertainty.

Persons: Tim Waterer, Moody's, Waterer Organizations: U.S . Federal, Israel, KCM, U.S, Community Bancorp Locations: U.S, Gaza, New, Germany, China

Outside, the tornado had turned the farm’s 103-year-old barn to rubble and strewn debris across the fields for hundreds of yards. Patterson, the meteorologist, said the storm was like ones typically seen in Wisconsin in the late spring and summer. That comes after a 2018 study found that tornadoes were moving farther east, into states like Wisconsin. Conditions collided in Wisconsin late afternoon on Thursday creating the perfect conditions for tornadoes to form, Patterson said. Photos and video shot near Evansville, Wisconsin, that were posted on social media show a tornado with lightning flashing around it.

Persons: Taylor Patterson, Connie Arndt, ”, “, Matt Artis, Artis, ” Hunter Oller, Patterson, El, Dan Wagner, Andy, couldn’t, Andy Wagner, Carrie Antlfinger, Bauer, Brodhead Organizations: National Weather Service, Local, Atmospheric Administration, El Nino, Artis, Associated Press Locations: EVANSVILLE, Wis, Wisconsin, Madison, Iowa, Milwaukee, Evansville, family’s, Porter, Brodhead , Wisconsin, Magnolia, Washington, New Mexico, Upper Midwest, Maine, Evansville , Wisconsin

MADRID (AP) — Mirroring protests across Europe, thousands of farmers in Spain staged a second day of tractor demonstrations on Wednesday across the country, blocking highways to demand changes in European Union farming policies and measures to combat production cost hikes and severe drought. The protests, involving several thousand people on tractors and in other vehicles, haven't been backed by Spain´s three main farming organizations, which have called for separate protests in the coming days. Speaking in Spain's parliament on Wednesday, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pledged to help farmers and take their case to Europe. Agriculture Minister Luis Planas Puchades met with farmers’ unions on Friday, but failed to persuade them to halt the protests. There have been other protests in countries such as France, Poland and Greece in recent days.

Persons: Efe, Spain ´, Pedro Sánchez, Luis Planas Puchades, Hadja Lahbib, Maroš Šefčovič, Raf Casert Organizations: MADRID, Agriculture Ministry, Agriculture, European Commission, Foreign Locations: Europe, Spain, Union, Castellon, Jerez, State, Barcelona's, Spain's Catalonia, Madrid, Ukraine, France, Poland, Greece, Belgium, Brussels

☆ Renewables giant Orsted exits several offshore wind markets, pauses dividend after turbulent year
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Sam Meredith | Www.Linkedin.Com In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Burbo Bank, Liverpool Bay, England, viewed from the sea turbines on Burbo wind farm off the UK coast. Danish renewables giant Orsted on Wednesday announced plans to cut jobs, pause its dividend payouts to shareholders and exit several offshore wind markets after a tumultuous year of rising costs. Orsted, the world's largest offshore wind developer, said it planned to take steps "to become a leaner and more efficient" organization following a year marked by "substantial challenges." Nipper said the company's financial results had been "adversely affected" by impairments on U.S. offshore projects taken in the third quarter of 2023. Orsted canceled two major offshore wind farm projects in the U.S. late last year, citing high inflation, rising interest rates and supply chain bottlenecks.

Persons: Ørsted, Mads Nipper, Nipper, Orsted Organizations: Burbo Bank, Wednesday, Orsted Locations: Liverpool Bay, England, Danish, Norway, Spain, Portugal, London, Copenhagen, U.S

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — For the eighth straight month in January, Earth was record hot, according to the European climate agency. Even though it was record hot in January, the level above normal was lower than the previous six months, according to Copernicus data. This is the time of year that El Nino warming often peaks, said Texas A&M University climate scientist Andrew Dessler. Minneapolis has already set a record for the number of 50-degree days for a winter. “For maple trees to run, it needs to be freezing at night, above freezing during the day.

Persons: Copernicus, Andrew Dessler, ” Dessler, that's, Natalie Mahowald, ”, Kathie Dello, floes, “, Greg McKush, ” McKush, Theresa Baroun, ” Baroun, Ed White, Rick Callahan, Seth Borenstein, Steve Karnowski, @skarnowski Organizations: PAUL, European Space Agency, Nino, El Nino, Cornell University, United, North Carolina State, Minnesota, Montgomery National Golf Club, ”, Syrup Producers Association, Isle Royal, Metropolitan Mosquito Control, Associated Press Locations: United States, Minneapolis, Texas, United Nations, Paris, North Carolina, Minnesota, Harriet, ” In Wisconsin, U.S, Wisconsin, De Pere , Wisconsin, Green Bay, Lake Superior, Michigan , Minnesota, Canada, St, Paul , Minnesota, Borenstein, Kensington , Maryland, Detroit, Indianapolis, AP.org

“What we’ve seen with the Taylor Swift tour is something that we’ve not really seen before,” said Richard Clarke, an analyst at investment firm Bernstein. Taylor Swift performs at the Staples Center in Los Angeles in 2015. From Taylor Swift On her birthday in 2019, Swift shared this photo of herself as a child. From Taylor Swift A 13-year-old Swift sings the National Anthem before an NBA game in Philadelphia in 2002. John Mabangalo/Pool/Getty Images Swift performs during a sold-out show at New York's Madison Square Garden in 2009.

Persons: Tokyo CNN —, Taylor, Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift, we’ve, ”, Richard Clarke, Bernstein, “ It’s, TikTok she’d, curating, Kane Ishiyone, Swift, –, Ishiyone, Richard A, Brooks, Clarke, “, that’s, Christopher Polk, Scott, Andrea Swift, Jesse D, Tim McGraw, Kevin Winter, John Mabangalo, Chad Batka, Bryan Bedder, Larry Busacca, Miley Cyrus, Lucas Till, Hannah Montana, Sam Emerson, Everett, Jonas, Frank Masi, I'm, West, Beyoncé, Jeff Kravitz, Lucy Nicholson, Christopher Morris, Josh Haner, Kevin Mazur, James Taylor, Charles Sykes, Matt Sayles, Mark J, Terrill, Invision, Jimmy Fallon, Douglas Gorenstein, Nicholas Harvey, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Laraine Newman, Bill Hader, Taran Killam, Kristen Wiig, Keenan Thompson, Fred Armisen, Kerry Washington, Betty White, Bradley Cooper, Dana Edelson, Andrea, Ethan Miller, Tim Boyles, Selena Gomez, Jordan Strauss, Mike Coppola, John Shearer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Brandon Urie, Katy Perry, Republic Records Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner, Will Heath, Seth Wenig, Terence Rushin, David Eulitt, Mitsumasa Etou, Akazawa, haven’t, It’s, Michele Bullock Organizations: Tokyo CNN, People, Kansas City Chiefs, Taylor, Getty, Super Bowl, Chicago Bears, dateline, Vegas, Staples Center, NBA, of Country, Garden, New York Times, New York's Rockefeller Center, Walt Disney Co, Kanye, Madison, MTV, NBC, ACM, Academy of Country, New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, Universal Pictures, Coachella, Republic Records, New York University, Arrowhead, Chiefs, NET, Tokyo City University, Fuji, Tokyo, Reserve Bank of Australia, Reuters Locations: Tokyo, Las Vegas, Philippines, Fukuoka, Japan, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Shibuya, AFP, Asia, Washington, Las Vagas, Los Angeles, West Reading , Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, New York, Auburn Hills , Michigan, Newark , New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Frankfurt, London, Arlington , Texas, Tampa, Chicago, Atlanta, Kansas City , Missouri, Asia Pacific, Singapore, Australia, East Coast

☆ Renowned economist Claudia Sahm breaks down why her famous recession indicator won't be triggered this year — and why the last mile of the Fed's inflation battle could be the easiest
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( William Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewClaudia Sahm, the former Federal Reserve economist who developed the Sahm Rule recession indicator, believes the US economy will likely avoid a downturn this year. We solved the labor shortage by getting more labor," Sahm said. "The foreign-born labor force has made a disproportionate contribution to reducing the jobs-workers gap. This has been driven by two factors: above-trend immigration growth and greater foreign-born labor force participation," said Jan Hatzius, the chief US economist at Goldman Sachs, in an August 2023 client note. "Growth in the foreign-born labor force has accelerated by 50k to 160k per month this year, lifted by a surging foreign-born labor force participation rate," Hatzius added.

Persons: —, Claudia Sahm, Sahm, doesn't, Jan Hatzius, Goldman Sachs, Hatzius, Jerome Powell, Powell Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve, Business, National Bureau of Economic, US, Labor, Board, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Fed Locations: flatlining

☆ I'm a student at Cornell. From the teaching farm to the student-run hotel, here's what a day is like on campus.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Aurora Weirens | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I'm a student at Cornell University studying government, but one afternoon on campus was unique. I started my day at the on-campus farm, meeting the sheep, pigs, and cows. AdvertisementAs a government major at Cornell, I hadn't expected agricultural enrichment to be part of my college experience. However, my love of plants and animals consistently leads me back to the Cornell barns and fields — despite having no immediate relevance to my degree. As my friend was an animal-science major and researcher who worked there, she lifted the latch and led us inside, starting my unique day as a Cornell student.

Persons: I'm, —, Cornell Organizations: Cornell University, Service, Cornell

Senate Republicans blocked a major bipartisan border deal and foreign aid package with assistance for Ukraine and Israel in a key vote on Wednesday amid a torrent of attacks on the bill by former President Donald Trump and top House Republicans. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to force a procedural vote on an emergency aid package for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan — and drop the border deal. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Alex Padilla of California have both forcefully attacked the border deal. Schumer has harshly criticized Senate Republicans for opposing the package, accusing them of following Trump’s marching orders. “And instead of standing up to Donald Trump, Senate Republicans are ready to kill our best chance at fixing the border.”“They want amendments?

Persons: Donald Trump, – James Lankford of, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Schumer, Mike Johnson, McConnell, Johnson, – Lankford, Sen, Kyrsten, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy, Sinema, Lankford, Democratic Sens, Bob Menendez, Alex Padilla, Menendez, ” Padilla, “, ” Schumer, ” McConnell, CNN’s Kristin Wilson Organizations: House Republicans, Republicans, White, Republican, Senate GOP, Trump, Democratic, Israel, West Bank, Bob Menendez of New, Senate Republicans, CNN Locations: Ukraine, Israel, – James Lankford of Oklahoma, Trump, Taiwan, Arizona, Connecticut, Russia, Gaza, Bob Menendez of, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, California, America

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — “Beer For My Horses” singer-songwriter Toby Keith has died. “The money to be made was unbelievable,” Keith told The Associated Press in 1996. “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” his breakout hit, was played 3 million times on radio stations, making it the most played country song of the 1990s. “They were trying to get me to compromise, and I was living a miserable existence,” Keith told the AP. “I always felt like that the songwriting was the most important part of this whole industry,” Keith told the crowd of fellow singers and writers.

Persons: NORMAN, Okla, Toby Keith, Keith, “, ”, Beer, Willie Nelson, ” Keith, I’ve, I’m, ” ‘, Harold Shedd, Shedd, “ Should’ve, Shania Twain, That’s, “ I’ve, Bobby Braddock, “ They’re, He’s, George W, Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, We’ll, Singer, Steve Earle, Natalie Maines, Maines, Saddam Hussein, FUTK, Ethan Hawke, Kris Kristofferson, Hawke, Vince Gill, Scott Borchetta, Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, Josh Thompson, Clay Walker, Phil Vassar Organizations: Associated Press, Oklahoma City Drillers, United States Football League, Mercury Records, Alabama, AP, DreamWorks Records, Academy of Country, “ Billboard, Arts, “, Universal Music Group, DreamWorks, Universal, Songwriters Hall of Fame, BMI Locations: Oklahoma, Texas, Nashville, Mercury, Oklahoma City

☆ Elanco's $1.3 billion deal may give the animal health company more flexibility as product launches ramp up
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Christina Cheddar Berk | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Elanco Animal Health's decision to sell its aqua division will narrow its focus on pet health and livestock sustainability, as management prepares to launch several new products this year. ELAN 1Y mountain Elanco stock over the past year. One area it identified is pet health, a $15 billion market that has benefited from increasing pet ownership, especially among people who see their pets as family and value their animals' health care. 'Flexibility' to invest behind launches The product launches will also give Elanco a chance to prove itself. The pet health business is very competitive and, once approved, Zenrelia will compete directly with rival Zoetis' Apoquel.

Persons: Elanco, Jeff Simmons, Simmons, Credelio, Cornell University's Richard P, FactSet, Chris Schott, ELAN, Schott, Jefferies, Glen Santangelo, Eli Lilly, Jasper Hellweg, Hellweg, Zenrelia, Zoetis, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Merck, CNBC, ELAN, Riney Canine Health, JPMorgan, Argus Locations: U.S

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Marijuana retailers in Connecticut say a dearth of licensed growers in the state’s fledgling legal pot industry has left them with a shortage of product to sell. The supply problem has appeared after slow retail growth in neighboring New York last year left growers there struggling with the opposite: an excess of supply. So each state that legalizes marijuana is left with its own process for licensing growers and sellers, and trying to create a balance between the two within state borders. When recreational sales became legal in Connecticut in January 2023, he said, there were seven dispensaries in the state and four producers. New York belatedly hastened the pace of retail openings, and the state listed 61 adult-use dispensaries open statewide Monday.

Persons: Benjamin Zachs, Fine, ” Zachs, ”, Kaitlyn Krasselt, Gail Hepworth, “ It’s, Brittany Carbone, Zachs, “, he's, ___ Organizations: —, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Retailers, New, Farmers, Hepworth, Tricolla, Cannabis Association of New Locations: HARTFORD, Conn, Connecticut, New York, we're, ” New York, Hudson, Cannabis Association of New York, Altamont, N.Y

☆ Storms in California hit homeowners already facing an insurance crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington, DC CNN —The storms pummeling California this week hit a part of the US already being battered by a home insurance crisis. With insurers strained by climate change and inflation, many are demanding higher premiums, making it much harder to find affordable (or any) home and fire insurance. But it is not just California; homeowners in other areas prone to weather events like Florida, Louisiana, and Texas are also facing challenges. Meanwhile, in hurricane-battered Florida, Farmers Insurance deemed it too risky to continue insuring homes and pulled out of that market entirely. “This isn’t just climate change, it is climate-change-plus,” Bach said.

Persons: ”, Amy Bach, United, Michael Monaghan, Sellers, you’ve, Jennifer Branchini, Bach, Hurricane Andrew, ” Bach, mitigations Organizations: DC CNN, Allstate, Farmers Insurance, Coldwell, California Association of Realtors, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Hurricane, FAIR, California Department of Insurance Locations: Washington, California, Florida , Louisiana, Texas, San Francisco, California’s, Golden State, Florida, Vermont, Colorado, Pleasanton, United, “ Florida, Louisiana

☆ EU Commission unveils a plan to slash emissions by 90%. Can it deliver?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Angela Dewan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The announcement will kick off months of talks that could take up to a year before the European Parliament rubber stamps the target. The European Greens — a faction of environmentally conscious lawmakers from several countries — are expecting big losses in the vote, after making sweeping gains in the 2019 election. “We’re looking at a European Parliament that is more in favor of regulatory freedom for member states,” Dufour said. The Greens had been successful in achieving a strong climate agenda through the EU parliament, he added. She said new conservative or even far-right lawmakers may also back some ambitious climate policies because so many make sense in terms of economics and security, as well.

Persons: —, Wopke Hoekstra, Andreas Solaro, Manon Dufour, ” Dufour, Dufour, Bas Eickhout, ”, Eickhout, Olivier Chassignole, ” Eickhout, I’m, Linda Kalcher, Kalcher Organizations: CNN, European Commission, EU, Parliament, European Greens —, Getty, Conservative, European People’s Party, EPP, Deal, European Greens, Greens, European Greens Party, ”, Green Locations: Lugo , Italy, AFP, Brussels, Bas, Dutch, Lyon, France, Brussel, Ukraine

☆ Thanks to Taylor Swift, ads aimed at women are taking the Super Bowl by storm
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | Alexandra Peers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Women watch the Super Bowl, too, right? In a bigger shift, several longtime Super Bowl advertisers, like M&M’S, have spots featuring women who, for a change, aren’t just sipping soda in tight pants. So Cardi B plugs Duck Plump lip gloss for L’Oreal NYX Professional Makeup, the first time the brand has advertised on the Super Bowl. cosmetics, also a first-time Super Bowl advertiser, reunites (some of) the cast of “Suits” in its spot as the lawyers haul various celebrities into court. As for at least one of the potential stars of the show, despite performing in Japan the previous day, Swift will likely attend the Super Bowl.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, “ Taylor, Paul Hardart, New York University’s, “ Swift, Kelce, ”, it’s, Bud Light, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Kate McKinnon, “, Jenna Ortega, Swift Organizations: New, New York CNN, Super Bowl, Kansas City, New York, New York University’s Stern School of Business, CNN, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Super, CBS, Anheuser, Budweiser, “ Mayo, Embassy of Locations: New York, Kansas, Las Vegas, Hellman's, Japan, Embassy, Embassy of Japan

☆ Nikki Haley goes after Trump and Biden as ‘grumpy old men’ even as she courts older voters in South Carolina
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Aaron Pellish | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

But the Haley campaign is also courting the support of South Carolina retirees, a growing portion of the Republican primary voter pool. She said on Twitter that this was her first Christmas card when she announced she would be running for the South Carolina state legislature. Nikki Haley/Twitter Haley celebrates with her family after being elected governor of South Carolina in November 2010. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Haley and her family walk back into the South Carolina State House after her inauguration in 2011. Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post/Getty Images Haley visits a farm during a campaign stop in Grand Mound, Iowa, in September 2023.

Persons: Hilton, Nikki Haley, ” Haley, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Joe Biden, Haley, Maureen Bulger, intently, ” Bulger, “, ”, Biden, NBC’s, Ron DeSantis, Anna Memmo, it’s, ” Memmo, Ray Makalous, he’s, ” Makalous, Laura Holtzman, “ Trump, ” Holtzman, ” ‘, ’ Haley, aren’t, Larry Greenwold, ” Greenwold, Greenwold, he’d, Travis Dove, Michael, Nalin, Rena, Twitter Haley, Gerry Melendez, AP Haley, Chip Somodevilla, Tim Dominick, Getty Images Haley, Mitt Romney, Justin Sullivan, Alex Wong, Michael Haley, Rainier Ehrhardt, Jaswinder Singh, Narinder Nanu, Bobby Jindal, Jindal, Win McNamee, Sean Rayford, Saul Loeb, Mike Pence, Drew Angerer, State Rex Tillerson, Matthew Rycroft, Boris Johnson, Bryan R, Smith, Raad Adayleh, Brendan Smialowski, Spencer Platt, Evan Vucci, Kevin Lamarque, Don Bolduc, Brian Snyder, Jonathan Ernst, Jake Tapper, Will Lanzoni, Demetrius Freeman, Rachel Mummey, Jonathan Newton, Ed Spears, Spears, ” Spears, Carol Carty, ” Carty, “ It’s, that’s, “ I’ve, Trumper Organizations: , South Carolina CNN, South, Republican, Census Bureau, Biden, Hilton Head, New, Democratic, Republican Party, Trump, Florida Gov, Washington Post, Monmouth University, United Nations, CNN, State House, New York Times, Twitter, AP, Capitol, South Carolina State House, Getty Images, Conservative Political, Conference, Army National Guard, Getty, Louisiana Gov, National Governors Association, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, United Nations Security Council, UN, State, British, Norwegian Refugee Council, Gali Tibbon, UN Security, West Bank, The United States, Anadolu Agency, Republican National Convention Locations: , South Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, United States, New Hampshire, Trump, Iowa, Virginia, Hilton Head, Kansas, New York, CNN’s New Hampshire, Columbia , South Carolina, Afghanistan, Amritsar, India, AFP, Charleston , South Carolina, Columbia, State, Syrian, Jerusalem, Gali, Kuwait, Gaza, Londonderry , New Hampshire, Des Moines , Iowa, Grand Mound , Iowa, Miami

☆ Factbox-Policy Pledges of Indonesia's Presidential Candidates
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

(Reuters) - Three candidates are running in Indonesia's presidential election on Feb. 14. The following is a summary of policy objectives they have pledged while campaigning. ANIES BASWEDAN- Target 5.5%-6.5% average annual economic growth from 2025-2029- Create 15 million jobs, including 'green' jobs- Raise the tax-to-GDP ratio from 10.4% in 2022 to 13%-16% by 2029- Target annual inflation of 2%-3% from 2025-2029- Offer incentives for renewable energy projects- Impose a carbon tax with proceeds to be used as an endowment fund to finance development of renewable energy- Increase the 'village fund' to 5 billion rupiah ($317,965) for each village, from the current 1 billion rupiah. - Widen access to global markets for palm oil farmers- Strengthen free trade agreements and Indonesia's role in international financial institutions- Minimise imports of staple foods- Create 2 million new affordable housing units, including for informal workers, youth- Expedite forest conservation and rehabilitation projects- Limit new construction of, and retire existing coal-fired power plants, especially in Java, Bali islands- Review debt of state-owned enterprises, continue debt restructuring programme- Revise Jobs Creation Law with goal to ensure fair wages for workers- Evaluate the $32 billion new capital city project- Evaluate food estate programme, replacing it with contract farming, a scheme to ensure farm products will be sold- Impose a wealth tax on Indonesia's 100 richest people- Audit the nickel industry with focus on its impact on the environment and ensuring welfare of domestic workers- Strengthen the anti-corruption agency by revising the law that regulates it- Ease permitting requirements for building places of worshipGANJAR PRANOWO- Continue programmes of outgoing President Joko Widodo's administration- Target average annual economic growth of 7%- Create 17 million new jobs- Expedite construction of new capital city- Increase the defence budget as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) to between 1%-2%, from about 0.8% presently. Modernise military hardware- Target 30% share for renewable sources in energy mix by 2029- Allow more renewable energy producers to use electricity grids of state utility firms to boost green energy adoption- Set up a dedicated ministry for the palm oil sector- Maintain moratorium on deforestation, accelerate reforestation programmes- Create digital tax collection system under the new tax agency separated from finance ministry- Limit permit issuance of new nickel smelter to avoid a further oversupply- Expand social welfare to cover 15 million families, up from 10 million currently- Provide funding to ensure at least one member of a poor family receives education until college- Strengthen national anti-corruption agency- Maintain foreign policy of non-alignment- Strengthen Indonesia's commitment to support fight of Palestinian people- Revitalise the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its decision-making process, especially regarding South China Sea disputes.

Persons: ANIES, GANJAR, Joko Widodo's, PRABOWO, Joko, Stanley Widianto, Ananda Teresia, Stefanno Sulaiman, Bernadette Christina Munthe, Martin Petty Organizations: Reuters, Association of Southeast Asian Nations Locations: Java, Bali, South

Fewer than 24 hours after a long-awaited, bipartisan border deal and foreign aid package was unveiled in the Senate, opposition is rapidly mounting in the chamber – making it increasingly possible the bill will not survive a key vote expected this week. The grim odds facing the bill in the Senate come as former President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson have continued to attack the deal, ratcheting up pressure on Senate Republicans to oppose it or risk facing a conservative backlash. So far, 18 Republican senators have publicly criticized the bill, including Montana Sen. Steve Daines, a member of Senate GOP leadership. For all of these reasons I will vote no when the bill is brought to the Senate floor this week,” he said. It’s unclear, however, whether a foreign aid package would be able to pass on its own as many Senate Republicans have demanded tighter border security in exchange for aid to those allies.

Persons: Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Johnson, hasn’t, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy of, Sen, Kyrsten, James Lankford of, Montana Sen, Steve Daines, Texas Sen, John Cornyn, ”, New Jersey Sen, Bob Menendez, California Sen, Alex Padilla, Menendez, ” Padilla, Bernie Sanders, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Lankford, CNN’s Kristin Wilson Organizations: Republicans, Israel, West Bank, Democratic, GOP, Republican, National Republican Senatorial, House Republicans, California, Trump, ICE, Border Patrol Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Gaza, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Arizona, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Montana, Texas, New Jersey, America, Vermont, United States, Israel

☆ Therapists Trade the Couch for the Great Outdoors
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Christina Caron | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Sometimes a pine cone is just a pine cone. “Growing up, I had some challenges,” Ms. Oppenheimer said, referring to her prickly teenage past, “some struggles with managing my emotions.”But her grandmother, who died four years ago, was soft like the feather, and gave her unconditional love that reminded Ms. Oppenheimer how important it was to treat herself with “soothing tenderness,” especially when she became self-critical. Ms. Oppenheimer and her clinical supervisor, Heidi Schreiber-Pan, were visiting Talmar, a nonprofit farm that offers therapeutic programs and vocational training — a short drive from the busy road and nondescript strip malls near their office. At the farm, the only sounds were a burbling stream, trilling birds and several inches of snow crunching beneath their feet. It was the perfect location to teach Ms. Oppenheimer therapeutic techniques that make use of the natural world.

Persons: Rachel Oppenheimer, ” Ms, Oppenheimer, Ms, Heidi Schreiber Organizations: Chesapeake Mental Health, “ Locations: Towson, Md

☆ Gold slides as US jobs data dampens bets of early rate cut
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold prices fell on Monday, as the U.S. dollar and Treasury yields surged after a robust jobs report crushed expectations of near-term interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. Spot gold was down 0.5% at $2,029.03 per ounce by 0556 GMT. Traders are betting on four quarter-point Fed rate cuts for 2024, down from six last Monday, according to LSEG's interest rate probability app IRPR. Investors are awaiting remarks from a host of Fed speakers this week for further clues on rate cuts. Spot silver fell 0.5% to $22.56 per ounce, palladium dropped 0.8% to $939.26, while platinum rose 0.5% to $894.99.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Matt Simpson, Simpson Organizations: U.S ., Treasury, Federal Reserve, Index, Traders, U.S . Labor, Reuters, Fed Locations: Singapore

The leading Democrat in the primary is George Whitesides, a former NASA chief of staff supported by the campaign arm of House Democrats. A STRONGLY DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT THAT VOTES REPUBLICANThe Central Valley farm belt is a political conundrum. Gray, who is backed by the campaign arm of House Democrats, argues that his party can’t reclaim the House majority without winning his district. Rollins, who is backed by the campaign arm of House Democrats, says it's time for new leadership and has depicted Calvert as an extremist. “House Democrats are ready to find common ground and a bipartisan path forward.”

Persons: Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, hasn’t, Joe Biden, —, Gavin Newsom, Donald Trump, Newsom, ” Newsom, Trump, Mike Garcia, Garcia, — Garcia, George Whitesides, He's, “, Katie Porter, Scott Baugh, Porter, Sen, David Min, Joanna Weiss, David Valadao, Democrat T.J, Cox, Rudy Salas, Valadao, Salas, Chris Mathys, Melissa Hurtado, Republican John Duarte, Democrat Adam Gray, Gray, Ken Calvert, Will Rollins, Calvert, Rollins, Michelle Steel, Kim Nguyen, Derek Tran, Steel, Mike Levin, Levin, ” Organizations: ANGELES, —, Republican, Democratic, GOP, White House, LA COUNTY, District, Navy, Trump, California’s, Los Angeles, NASA, Democrats, REAGAN, Orange, “ Reagan, U.S, Senate, Central, Republicans, Democrat, CENTRAL, ANGELES Rep, SOUTH, Republican Rep, Capitol, Steel, Democratic Party, Hamas, American, DEMOCRAT, DISTRICT, Biden, Marine, Base, Congress, “ Locations: California, Southern California, rematches, Washington, Democratic Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, Mexican, Central, Salas, Palm Springs, Korean, Capitol Hill, Orange County, Israel, Orange, San Diego, Coastal California, Pendleton

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Hundreds of angry farmers took to the streets in Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, on Monday to complain of what they called “the total failure” of the government to meet the mounting challenges of the agricultural sector. They called on Agriculture Minister Kiril Vatev to step down for not keeping his promises to ease the administrative burden on the farming sector, to seek state compensation for high costs and falling incomes. Ventsislav Varbanov, who chairs the Association of Agricultural Producers, complained that the government is adding more undue burdens, instead of seeking some relief for the farmers. The association expressed discontent with a statement made by Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov in response to their demands for compensation that only grain producers who can prove a loss for 2023 will receive financial support. The association wants some form of compensation for all grain producers.

Persons: Kiril Vatev, Ventsislav Varbanov, Varbanov, Nikolay Denkov Organizations: Agriculture, of Agricultural Producers Locations: SOFIA, Bulgaria, Bulgaria’s, Sofia, Europe, Ukraine

☆ Before He Was George Orwell, He Was Eric Blair, Police Officer
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( William Boyd | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

BURMA SAHIB, by Paul TherouxGeorge Orwell died of tuberculosis in 1950, at the age of 46. The word “Orwellian” is as omnipresent as “Kafkaesque.” His two dystopian novel-allegories — “Animal Farm” and “1984” — have sold in the millions around the world. Almost everything that Orwell wrote seems to be in print. But there is one area of his life that is relatively unexplored and full of baffling gaps, not to say mystery. He was still several years removed from becoming “George Orwell” by adopting the nom de plume that would carry his legacy.

Persons: Paul Theroux George Orwell, Shakespeare, Winston Churchill, ”, Albert Camus, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Tolstoy, Orwell, Eric Blair, “ George Orwell ”, Paul Theroux Organizations: Eton College Locations: BURMA, Britain, British, Burma, Myanmar

☆ Insurers such as State Farm and Allstate are leaving fire- and flood-prone areas. Home values could take a hit
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Lindsey Jacobson | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

What happens when a homeowner can't get insuranceDarlene Tucker and Tom PinterWithout insurance, many homeowners can find themselves in big financial trouble. Darlene Tucker, 66, and Tom Pinter, 68, are longtime homeowners in Sonora, California. Darlene Tucker and Tom Pinter's home in Sonora, California. Dogs play at Darlene Tucker and Tom Pinter's home in Sonora, California. Darlene Tucker and Tom Pinter

Persons: Darlene Tucker, Tom Pinter, Tucker, Pinter, Tom Pinter's, — that's, Porter, That's, Kevelighan Organizations: Allstate, CNBC, Insurance, homebuyers Experts, Insurance Information Institute Locations: Sonora , California, California

☆ Bring Office Cubicles Back; Improve Employee Productivity, Hybrid Work
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Kelli María Korducki | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

In a memorable montage from the 1999 workplace satire "Office Space," Peter Gibbons, a fed-up office drone, decides to take a stand. For years, the office cubicle was the four-walled avatar of corporate disaffection. Late '90s films like "Office Space," "Fight Club," and "The Matrix" enshrined its detested status. The tech boom arrived, bringing with it open office plans and a Silicon Valley-led gloss of egalitarianism, epitomized by Google's high-profile headquarters redesign in 2005. The top comment on the "Office Space" cubicle clip on YouTube captures the irony of this shift: "I would have killed for a cubicle," the commenter wrote.

Persons: Peter Gibbons, Google's, weren't, Nikil Saval, Slack, hasn't, Joseph Country, Heather Chapman, Chapman, Sydney Baker, there's, Baker, Thomas Roulet, Roulet, somethings, it's, Kevin Kelley, Shook Kelley, Kelley, cubicles, hewing Organizations: Toyota Corolla, Porsche, Workers, YouTube, Research, Harvard Business School, Environmental Psychology, University of Cambridge Locations: Silicon, Michigan, Louisville , Kentucky, —, Charlotte , North Carolina

Search resuls for: "Farm"

25 mentions found