DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Australia Q1 GDP growth hits weakest pace in 1-1/2 years as consumers struggle
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday showed real gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.2% in the first quarter, easing from 0.5% in the previous quarter and under forecasts of 0.3%. Annual growth came in at 2.3%, also missing forecasts for 2.4% expansion. The report contained initial signs that domestic price pressures are easing and evidence that households are saving less to meet high costs of livings and rising mortgage rates. Household consumption rose only a meagre 0.2% in the March quarter, contributing 0.1% percentage points to GDP, mostly from spending on essential goods and services. Reporting by Stella Qiu Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Price, Philip Lowe, Stella Qiu, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: SYDNEY, Australian Bureau, Statistics, Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson

“I’m not doing that good,” Lt. Ridge Alkonis wrote in a letter dated April 30, which was shared with CNN. “The walls and bars seem to be making my cell even smaller as of late.”“I feel closer to an animal than a human being now,” Ridge Alkonis wrote. “That was the most dejected I’ve ever heard him,” his wife, Brittany Alkonis, told CNN on Thursday. As such, despite her hope for positive movement coming out the G7 trip to Hirsoshima, Brittany Alkonis said she does not have high expectations of a resolution. But based on Japan’s response, it doesn’t seem that they do think it’s a big deal,” Brittany Alkonis said.

REYKJAVIK, May 16 (Reuters) - European leaders will travel to Iceland on Tuesday for a two-day summit meant to show their support for Ukraine but also send a powerful message on core democratic values many feel are under threat in and outside Europe. The CoE's democratic values are upheld by the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights, where citizens can take governments to court in case of human rights violations. Even Russia didn't want to leave the Council of Europe, Turkey doesn't want to leave either." European leaders such as Germany's Olaf Scholz, Britain's Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron will attend the summit in Reykjavik, while Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy will address his counterparts via videolink. Macron's office said the Council is looking at how its little-known bank, the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), could help meet the needs of struggling Ukrainians.

☆ "We're being hounded" - French transgender sprinter decries Olympics ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Noemie Olive | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] French sprinter Halba Diouf, 21, a transgender woman athlete who dreams to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Games, attends a practice session on an athletics track in Aix-en-Provence, France May 3, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo FuentesAIX-EN-PROVENCE, France, May 9 (Reuters) - French sprinter Halba Diouf feels she is being marginalised and hounded after her dream of participating at next year's Paris Olympics was shattered when World Athletics (WA) banned transgender women from elite female competitions. "The only safeguard transgender women have is their right to live as they wish and we are being refused that, we are being hounded... In March WA's council cut the maximum amount of plasma testosterone for DSD athletes in half to 2.5 nanomoles per litre from five. The WA rules also stated the level must be maintained for at least 24 months before DSD athletes can compete in female competitions.

☆ Harnessing Earth and Fire to Create Natural Vessels
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Stephen Treffinger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

This article is part of our Design special section about making the environment a creative partner in the design of beautiful homes. Mitch Iburg, who lives in St. Paul, Minn., makes ancient-looking tableware, vessels and sculptures primarily out of clay that he digs from the earth with his own hands (and some tools). Driving his truck two and half hours to an open valley near the Minnesota River, he comes away with 1,000 or so pounds — a quantity that will last him roughly a year. Born in Wisconsin across the river from Minnesota and raised partly in Iowa City, Iowa, Mr. Iburg, 33, studied painting at Coe College in Iowa. In 2015, he applied for a residency at the Cobb Mountain Art and Ecology Project in California partly because the studio sat on top of a clay bed.

☆ Tesla is discounting its cars in Singapore by $3,000 to $3,800 to make them 'more affordable' — but they still cost upwards of $57,000
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Marielle Descalsota | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tesla recently slashed the prices of its cars in Singapore — but not by much. According to the press release, Model 3 and Model Y cars are now between 4.35% to 5% cheaper. This means that it's likely that a Tesla car's COE is more expensive than what it actually retails for. But Tesla cars still enjoy some discounts from the Singapore government, as local authorities are trying to incentivize the ownership of electric cars. The cost of Tesla cars can be rebated up to SG$45,000 in the EV Early Adoption Incentive and Vehicular Emission Schemes, Tesla said in the press release.

☆ CeCé Telfer: After a regulation change for transgender athletes, CeCé Telfer is determined to 'keep pursuing her dreams'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Interview Amanda Davies | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —CeCé Telfer calls it the moment her dreams seemed to be shattered as she questioned whether years of “blood, sweat and tears” were in vain. Last week, governing body World Athletics (WA) announced it would be prohibiting athletes who have gone through what it called “male puberty” from participating in female world rankings competitions. That includes Telfer, an American 400-meter hurdler who became the first out, transgender athlete to win an NCAA title in 2019. “The overriding feeling was definitely devastation for myself and for many around the world,” Telfer, speaking about her initial reaction to the announcement, tells CNN Sport in an exclusive interview. “I’m still going to keep pursuing my dreams and keep competing and keep running as much as I can, wherever I can, however I can,” Telfer adds.

☆ Sellers are targeting this bank because of its deposit mix, but Citi says it's a buy
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Jesse Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The fear of further bank woes has taken down some solid stocks that could rebound, including Comerica , according to Citi. Horowitz said the bank was likely sold by many investors because of its high percentage of uninsured deposits, at roughly 70%. That is higher than the average bank but well below the levels at SVB and failed Signature Bank. Comerica's high level of uninsured deposits is reflective of a business tilted toward commercial customers, Horowitz said, which was also the case at SVB and Signature. However, the bank's average account balance for deposits over the $250,000 insurance threshold was less than half of SVB's, Horowitz said.

A jump in air travel demand has driven up sales at its aerospace division, which makes and services engines for Boeing Co (BA.N) and Airbus SE (AIR.PA) jets. GE also reiterated its profit outlook for 2023 as booming demand in its aerospace business is expected to make up for the challenges in its renewable energy business. It expects adjusted earnings of $1.60 to $2.00 per share in 2023, with revenue growth percentage in high single digits. GE estimated that the aerospace business would generate double-digit revenue growth this year, translating into an operating profit of $5.3 billion-$5.7 billion. However, supply and labor shortages have hurt jet engine output, with CEO Culp saying it was a daily battle to meet jet engine demand.

☆ World sport leaders champion women on IWD
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Lori Ewing | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MANCHESTER, England, March 8 (Reuters) - FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samoura applauded the eight nations who are debuting at the Women's World Cup in celebration of International Women's Day on Wednesday, urging the players to take pride in their ability to inspire. Women they identify with, excelling on the pitch," Samoura said in a statement. "This will encourage a generation of young girls and women to aim high, to aim big. The ITF launched the Men as Allies programme, an element of the ITF Advantage All gender equality strategy. Sebastian Coe championed female leadership in a Twitter video, saying having women in positions of influence makes for a better organisation.

☆ World Athletics will address Russian doping before Ukraine - Coe
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Feb 17 (Reuters) - World Athletics will look at the issue of Russian athletes competing while the Ukraine war continues only after it has been decided whether the country has cleaned up its act on doping sufficiently to be reinstated, Sebastian Coe said on Friday. The Russian Athletics Federation (RAF) has been banned from athletics since 2015 as a result of the country's widespread doping, although some athletes from Russia were allowed to compete at the last two Summer Olympics as neutrals. World Athletics President Coe said doping would still take precedence when the governing council meets next month to decide whether the RAF has made sufficient progress along its "road map" to warrant reinstatement. "It was decided by the council it was inconceivable that Russia athletes (could compete) ... International Federations such as World Athletics, however, have the final decision on which athletes are allowed to compete in qualifying events and at the Olympic Games.

The suspect, identified by District of Columbia Metropolitan Police as 26-year-old Kendrick Hamlin, was charged with simple assault. Craig's chief of staff, Nick Coe, said that Democratic congresswoman from Minnesota was bruised but "physically OK" following the attack, which did not appear to be politically motivated. "When the victim defended themselves, the suspect fled the scene," police said. Craig defended herself by throwing hot coffee at the attacker before he fled the scene, according to the report. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, said he spoke to Craig and said she was doing fine.

☆ Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig assaulted in Washington, her office says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (Reuters) - U.S. Representative Angie Craig was assaulted on Thursday in the elevator of her apartment building in Washington, D.C., her office said in a statement. Her chief of staff, Nick Coe, said that the Democrat Minnesota congresswoman suffered bruising, but was "otherwise physically okay." The attack took place early in the morning and the lawmaker "defended herself from the attacker", Coe said. "Rep. Craig is grateful to the DC Metropolitan Police Department for their quick response and asks for privacy at this time," her chief of staff added. Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington, Editing by Franklin PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Rep. Angie Craig assaulted in apartment building elevator, her office says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., walks down the House steps at the Capitol on Friday, May 13, 2022. Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota was assaulted Thursday morning in the elevator of her apartment building in Washington, D.C., her office said. "Rep. Craig called 9-1-1 and the assailant fled the scene of the assault," which occurred around 7:15 a.m. "Rep. Craig is grateful to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department for their quick response and asks for privacy at this time," Coe said. Craig was seen with a security detail during votes later Thursday, NBC News reported.

☆ World Athletics proposes tighter rules for transgender women athletes
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

World Athletics on Saturday said it is consulting with member federations on a proposal that would impose more stringent testosterone limits on transgender women athletes competing in women’s track and field events. World Athletics stressed that no final decision has been made on the matter after the U.K.’s Telegraph newspaper reported on the discussions. In June, World Athletics and soccer’s governing body FIFA both said they were reviewing their transgender eligibility policies after swimming’s world governing body FINA passed rules banning transgender participation in women’s events. World Athletics president Sebastian Coe at the time praised FINA’s decision, which has been criticized by transgender rights supporters. Advocates for transgender inclusion say that there are relatively few trans women athletes and that not enough studies have been done on the impact of transition on physical performance.

☆ GE Healthcare Plans to Reduce Debt and Costs, Pursue Tuck-In Acquisitions
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Nina Trentmann | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

As a stand-alone company, GE Healthcare will also look to improve its working capital and lower logistics costs, Mr. Zodl said. GE Healthcare will also take a look at its real estate holdings and target over 100 sites, executives said. Ratings firms S&P Global Ratings, Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service have all given GE Healthcare an investment-grade rating. PREVIEWApart from reducing debt and costs, GE Healthcare will scout for potential tuck-in acquisition targets, Chief Executive Peter Arduini said. GE retains a 19.9% stake in GE Healthcare.

☆ Now is not the time to lift Russia, Belarus sanctions-IOC
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Nelson Acosta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Dec 5 (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has no immediate plans to lift sanctions on Russia and Belarus even though the qualifying process for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics goes into full swing next year, the Olympic body said on Monday. The IOC issued guidance to sports governing bodies in February to remove from competition athletes from Russia and Belarus, which Moscow used as a key staging area for the Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine that Russia calls a 'special operation'. While events that count towards qualification in some sports for the Paris Olympics have already been held, most sports will stage their continental or global qualification events in the coming 18 months. I would not want to comment on the state of qualification of athletes for Paris." While the IOC's position could change in the future, some federations have been clear that the only way to reinstate Russia and Belarus in their sport would be the removal of Russian troops from Ukraine.

☆ 7 times NASA's James Webb Space Telescope spotted something Hubble missed
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Paola Rosa-Aquino | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The James Webb Space Telescope can capture a more complete view of galaxies, stars, and planets. Before Webb, astronomers had another workhorse cosmic observatory: the Hubble Space Telescope. Webb is 100 times stronger than Hubble, which allows astronomers to peer even further into space. Webb spied countless galaxies that Hubble missedA side by side collage of the same area taken by the Hubble and the James Webb space telescopes. Where Hubble saw a faint dot, Webb resolved 2 distinct mystery objectsOne of the lensed images of MACS0647-JD, from the James Webb Space Telescope.

☆ Introducing Insider's 100 people transforming business
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Matt Weinberger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

It's my pleasure to introduce to you Insider's list of 100 People Transforming Business in 2022 — our annual celebration of the people who are bucking trends and upending convention across industries. Insider's annual list of the 100 People Transforming Business. 100 People Transforming Business. Twitter insiders worry that a crash is incoming. TCI, a major investor in Google's parent company Alphabet, sent a letter on Tuesday urging Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai to cut costs.

☆ Our list of top leaders transforming tech shows how transparency and productivity are more important than ever
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Katie Malone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Tech companies that proactively reacted to consumer and enterprise demands came out ahead this year. 100 People Transforming Business is an annual list highlighting people across industries who are changing the way the world does business. The emerging technology leaders featured on Insider's annual "100 People Transforming Business" list have stepped up to do just that. Virtual-whiteboard platforms are seen as an essential workplace tool that some predict are set to stay a popular tool in business tech. Tech transparency becomes a talking point across platformsAt home, this year showed that tech consumers wanted more transparency.

☆ Hubble vs. Webb: New NASA telescope reveals never-before-seen details from the early universe, within 400 million years after the Big Bang
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is 100 times stronger than the Hubble Space Telescope. Hubble showed astronomers a single galaxy in the early universe, but JWST revealed it was two mysterious objects. Dan Coe, a researcher with the Space Telescope Science Institute, first discovered it 10 years ago with the Hubble Space Telescope, which was previously NASA's most powerful space observatory. One of the lensed images of MACS0647-JD, from the James Webb Space Telescope. Two galaxies colliding and merging, as photographed by the Hubble Space Telescope.

☆ New infrared photos of the 'Pillars of Creation' from the James Webb Telescope reveal star-creating cosmic dust and massive galaxy clusters
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The new photos included a cluster of stars from 5.6 billion light-years away. The light from the MACS0647-JD system is bent and magnified by the massive gravity of galaxy cluster MACS0647. The massive gravity of galaxy cluster MACS0647 acts as a cosmic lens to bend and magnify light from the more distant MACS0647-JD system. It also triply lensed the JD system, causing its image to appear in three separate locations. SCIENCE: NASA, ESA, CSA, Dan Coe (STScI), Rebecca Larson (UT), Yu-Yang Hsiao (JHU) IMAGE PROCESSING: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)

☆ YouTube has a new 'rigid' culture as Google ad executives take over
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Tom Dotan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In the last 18 months, at least nine top YouTube executives left and were replaced by longtime Googlers. "It's becoming very operationalized at YouTube," said one former YouTube executive. Google ad executive takeoverYouTube's chief business officer role has marked a significant shift toward the rising influence of Google's sales culture. 2019 is also when Google began keeping a closer reign on YouTube and started to stock it with Google ad executives. The point person for YouTube Originals, Susanne Daniels, who came from MTV, left YouTube in January, shortly before YouTube shut down its entire Originals content group.

☆ How an $18-an-hour Amazon warehouse job cured one former tech exec's burnout
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Avery Hartmans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

It's been a wild week in tech, made even more wild by Elon Musk's Twitter deal closing last night. We've got a ton of news this morning, including an account from a longtime tech exec who took a job at an Amazon fulfillment center to help cure his burnout. How an $18-an-hour Amazon warehouse job cured one tech exec's burnout. He decided to quit his CEO job and, eventually, take on a seasonal role at an Amazon fulfillment center. How Elon Musk's "autocratic leadership" will change Twitter.

☆ Meet the 15 most powerful execs leading YouTube through a new era as it doubles down on podcasts and games, and battles TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Tom Dotan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

YouTube remains the most popular video site among teens even as the company faces TikTok's rise. Areas like YouTube TV that once seemed expensive mistakes have become key parts of the business. Some longtime YouTube executives have stepped down and been replaced by Google ads executives. Yet the company faces unique threats. Other areas, like its YouTube TV cable bundle, started slowly but now are a major part of the broader media landscape.

Search resuls for: "Coe"

25 mentions found