DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ US military releases combat drone footage of a mysterious object — what looks like a silver orb. The Pentagon says it's not aliens.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The US Military released a video showing a mysterious silver orb flying in the Middle East. The head of the Pentagon office who reviews these incidents said there's no evidence of aliens. He added that his office is reviewing more than 650 incidents of UFOs reported by the military. The video released by the military shows a silver orb flying across the screen of a sensor located at a Middle Eastern military base. Correction: April 20, 2023 — An earlier version of this story's headline incorrectly identified who discussed the mysterious object.

☆ US government tracking more than 650 potential UFO cases, Pentagon says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Jeremy Herb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The US government is tracking more than 650 potential cases of so-called “unidentified aerial phenomenon,” commonly known as UFOs, according to the director of the office created last year to focus on the sightings. He played video from two of cases that had been declassified, one that had been resolved and the other unresolved. Kirkpatrick explained that this case was unresolved because there was no other evidence beyond the video. He said that in a small number of cases, he has concerns the episodes could be evidence of potential technological advancements. Those cases, he said, are handed off to the intelligence community to investigate further.

☆ Millennials Pay for a Dose of ’90s Nostalgia
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Madeleine Aggeler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The top floor of the sprawling complex looked like the pages of a ’90s issue of “Teen Beat” had come to life. Of course, it wasn’t exactly like “Teen Beat.” Mr. Fatone, 46, was talking about his children; Mr. Kirkpatrick, 51, was recovering from shoulder surgery; and Ms. Hart, 46, was filming TikToks. (Also, “Teen Beat” stopped publishing years ago.) The stars of the ’90s had grown up. “People are feeling nostalgic about better times,” said Liliana Kligman, 38, one of the founders of That’s 4 Entertainment, the company behind 90s Con.

☆ The FAA won't have to establish seating size and space rules despite all the complaints, US court rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

On Friday, a US court ruled against FAA having to establish minimum seat sizes and spacing for safety, Reuters reports. On Friday, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that advocacy group FlyersRights.org couldn't force the FAA to adopt seating dimension rules. That is why some passengers pay for wider seats and extra legroom," Walker wrote. There needs to be a minimum size established, and it needs to be larger than the current sizing," commenter Epiphany Pizor wrote. In 2018, Congress passed the FAA Reauthorization Act, directing the agency to issue seat dimension rules regarding passenger safety.

Circuit Court of Appeals said an advocacy group, FlyersRights.org, had no right to force the FAA to adopt seating rules because it was not "clear and indisputable" that tight seating, while uncomfortable, was also dangerous. Congress had in 2018 given the FAA one year to establish minimum seating dimensions including pitch, the distance between seatbacks, that were "necessary" for passenger safety. "To be sure, many airline seats are uncomfortably small. "But it is not 'clear and indisputable' that airline seats have become dangerously small. Circuit Court of Appeals, No.

☆ ‘The Hard Road Out’ Review: A Prison Break Across Borders
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Melanie Kirkpatrick | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Thanks to the testimonies of North Koreans who have escaped their prison of a homeland in the past 25 years, the world is aware of the Kim-family regime’s atrocities against its own people. It is quite another to read personal accounts. “The Hard Road Out” by Jihyun Park and Seh-lynn Chai is the latest in a series of searing memoirs by North Koreans who beat the odds and reached safety in free countries. Ms. Park and her South Korean co-author relate Ms. Park’s awful story in clear-eyed, unsentimental prose. It is a gripping read.

☆ Temu's low prices catapulted the Chinese app to the top of the US download charts. Here's what we know about it — and how it could avoid its competitors' pitfalls.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Temu, a new shopping app from Chinese e-commerce giant Pinduoduo, is making waves in the US. In December, Temu had 9 million US downloads, topping Amazon, which had 4.2 million downloads; Shopify's Shop app, which had 3.4 million downloads; and fellow Chinese player Shein, which had 3 million downloads. Like Shein, Temu also boasts a large selection of products, with its app description claiming that it offers thousands of new items a day. Shein was the most downloaded app globally in 2022, with 229 million downloads, while Amazon was the top app in the US. Notably, Pinduoduo was also a top downloaded app globally, ranking seventh with 79 million downloads.

☆ The 7 cities you 'must visit before you die,' according to 50 travel experts—only one is in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Sharael Kolberg | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

As travel journalist of over 20 years, I recently interviewed more than 50 travel enthusiasts, experts and agents. New York City, U.S.Jonathan de Araujo, owner of The Vacationeer Travel Agency, calls the Big Apple "a city of superlatives." Just a short walk from the 9/11 Museum, New York City tourists can take a ferry to visit the Statue of Liberty. "It's now as much a part of New York City history as the Statue of Liberty," he says. Cape Town, South AfricaTom Marchant, founder of luxury travel company Black Tomato, calls Cape Town "the perfect destination for thrill seekers."

[1/2] The Pentagon is seen from the air in Washington, U.S., March 3, 2022, more than a week after Russia invaded Ukraine. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - The Pentagon's new push to investigate reports of UFOs has so far not yielded any evidence to suggest that aliens have visited Earth or crash-landed here, senior military leaders said on Friday. However, the Pentagon's effort to investigate anomalous, unidentified objects -- whether they are in space, the skies or even underwater -- led to hundreds of new reports that are now being investigated, they say. But so far they have seen nothing that indicates intelligent alien life. We will go through it all," Kirkpatrick said, speaking at the first news conference since AARO was established in July.

☆ Three of the men involved in the plot to kidnap Michigan governor sentenced to prison
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Musico was sentenced to a minimum of 12 years in prison, followed by his son-in-law Morrison at 10 years and Bellar at seven. Judge Thomas Wilson presided over the first batch of convictions in state court, following the high-profile conspiracy convictions of four others in federal court. Bellar is clueless about any plot to kidnap the governor,” attorney Andrew Kirkpatrick said again in a court filing last week. Separately, in federal court in Grand Rapids, Fox and Croft face possible life sentences in two weeks. Two men who pleaded guilty received substantial breaks: Ty Garbin is free after a 2 1/2-year prison term while Kaleb Franks was given a four-year sentence.

☆ For the First Time, Two Women Will Have Their Signatures on U.S. Currency
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Eric Morath | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew proposed to place a woman on the $10 bill in 2015, with Alexander Hamilton taking a diminished role. That change never went into place. The musical “Hamilton” opened on Broadway that year, which renewed the first Treasury secretary’s place in popular culture. Ms. Yellen said the Treasury plans to design a $20 bill that replaces former President Andrew Jackson with a portrait of Harriet Tubman. T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty

☆ Twitter has grown under Elon Musk — mainly in the U.S., data shows
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( David Ingram | David Ingram Covers Tech For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Elon Musk has generated fresh interest in Twitter, and you don’t have to take his word for it. The growth was slower outside the U.S., though, with 14% growth from a month earlier and 4% growth from a year earlier, Apptopia data showed. Musk, who already had a huge following when he bought Twitter, has continued to add followers at a rapid clip. Those apps count their users in the billions, while Twitter has about 259 million daily users, according to Musk. But it may have already ended, with Substack downloads peaking Nov. 6, the firm’s data showed.

Republican Juan Ciscomani is running against Democrat Kirsten Engel in Arizona's 6th Congressional District. Republican Juan Ciscomani faces off against Democrat Kirsten Engel in Arizona's 6th Congressional District. 2022 General EmbedsArizona's 6th Congressional District candidatesCiscomani is a senior advisor to incumbent GOP Gov. Voting history for Arizona's 6th Congressional DistrictArizona's 6th Congressional District stretches from the northern and eastern ends of Tucson across much of Cochise County. His opponent, Engel, has raised $2 million, spent $1.8 million, and has $202,241 cash on hand, as of September 30.

☆ Republican Juan Ciscomani faces off against Democrat Kirsten Engel in Arizona's 6th Congressional District election
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Hanna Kang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Republican Juan Ciscomani is running against Democrat Kirsten Engel in Arizona's 6th Congressional District. Arizona's 6th Congressional District candidatesCiscomani is a senior advisor to incumbent GOP Gov. Voting history for Arizona's 6th Congressional DistrictArizona's 6th Congressional District stretches from the northern and eastern ends of Tucson across much of Cochise County. The money raceAccording to OpenSecrets, Ciscomani has raised $2.6 million, spent $2.2 million, and has $357,625 on hand, as of September 30. His opponent, Engel, has raised $2 million, spent $1.8 million, and has $202,241 cash on hand, as of September 30.

☆ As Ukraine plans its recovery, a climate group has a seat at the table
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Nidhi Sharma | Nidhi Sharma Is An Associate Producer With The Nbc News Climate Unit. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

These are goals that the group says would put Ukraine in a position to no longer be dependent on fossil fuels. In rebuilding, the nation must decide whether it wants to return to fossil fuels, or build a cleaner, greener economy, Ustenko said. For some climate activists, Russia’s war in Ukraine has served as a call to action in a decadeslong climate emergency. Romanko said many nations have failed to do what is necessary: halt the use of all fossil fuels, as quickly as possible. She cited the plans released in March by the International Energy Agency to cut reliance on Russian fossil fuels, and fossil fuels overall, in 10 steps; no government has implemented these strategies, she said.

☆ Accused of flirting, juror dismissed from Whitmer kidnapping plot trial
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

JACKSON, Mich. — A judge has dismissed a young woman from the jury hearing the trial of three men in connection with a 2020 plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer after attorneys accused her of flirting with one of the defendants. The three are charged in state court in Jackson, Michigan, with providing material support for a terrorist act. “Since the start of the trial ... there’s been non-verbal communication between one of the jurors — a female — and Mr. Bellar,” Rollstin said. Two other men, Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr., were convicted in August of federal crimes in connection with the plot.

☆ Accused of flirting, juror dismissed from Whitmer plot trial
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A judge has dismissed a young woman from the jury hearing the trial of three men in connection with a 2020 plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer after attorneys accused her of flirting with one of the defendants. William Rollstin, who is prosecuting the case for the Michigan attorney general, raised concerns about the juror before Wilson during a meeting in chambers Wednesday. "Since the start of the trial ... there's been non-verbal communication between one of the jurors — a female — and Mr. Bellar," Rollstin said. Two other men, Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr., were convicted in August of federal crimes in connection with the plot.

The most far-reaching of Mr. Trump’s ploys to overturn his defeat, the objections to the Electoral College results by so many House Republicans did more than any lawsuit, speech or rally to engrave in party orthodoxy the myth of a stolen election. Their actions that day legitimized Mr. Trump’s refusal to concede, gave new life to his claims of conspiracy and fraud and lent institutional weight to doubts about the central ritual of American democracy. While most House Republicans had amplified Mr. Trump’s claims about the election in the aftermath of his loss, only the right flank of the caucus continued to loudly echo Mr. Trump’s fraud allegations in the days before Jan. 6, The Times found. More Republican lawmakers appeared to seek a way to placate Mr. Trump and his supporters without formally endorsing his extraordinary allegations. His Republican critics called it a Trojan horse that allowed lawmakers to vote with the president while hiding behind a more defensible case.

Persons: Trump’s ploys, Trump’s, Mr, Trump, Mike Johnson Organizations: Trump Republican, Mr, Electoral, Republicans, Times, Republican Locations: Louisiana

☆ Fenomenele meteorologice extreme au cauzat în 2020 pierderi uriaşe în lume
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-28 | by ( ) www.jurnal.md time to read: +3 min

În SUA, uraganele şi incendiile de vegetaţie au cauzat pierderi de aproximativ 60 de miliarde de dolari. Un sezon musonic neobişnuit de ploios a fost asociat unora dintre cele mai devastatoare furtuni în Asia, unde au fost înregistrate unele dintre cele mai mari pierderi. Bilanţul deceselor a fost însă mai mic decât cel din India. Acesta a fost unul dintre cele mai puternice cicloane înregistrate vreodată în Golful Bengal în timpul sezonului pre-musonic. „La fel ca 2019, 2020 a fost plin de extreme dezastruoase”, a spus dr. Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick de la Climate Change Research Centre al University of New South Wales din Australia.

Persons: Ciclonul Amphan, Ciara, Christian Aid, . Sarah Perkins, Ea Organizations: ONU, University Locations: Asia, China, India, SUA, inundaţiile, Bengal, Golful Bengal, Africa, Orientul Mijlociu, Africii, Irlanda, Sudan, New South Wales, Australia

☆ Au împlinit visul fanilor! Britney Spears şi Backstreet Boys au lansat o piesă împreună
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-11 | by ( Publika.Md - Aici Sunt Știrile | ) www.publika.md time to read: +1 min

Britney Spears şi grupul Backstreet Boys au împlinit visul fanilor lor care le cereau o colaborare şi care vineri s-a realizat prin piesa "Matches", inclusă în albumului reeditat "Glory" pe artista l-a lansat pe toate platformele muzicale, relatează EFE, citat de agerpres.ro. Vreau să ştiu ce părere aveţi despre ea", a scris Britney pe contul său de Instagram. La rândul lor, Backstreet Boys, una din trupele definitorii ale sfârşitului anilor 90 şi care după o lungă despărţire au lansat un nou album în 2019, şi-au exprimat entuziasmul pe reţelele de socializare. Cu un sound molipsitor şi un ritm antrenant, capabil să-l transporte pe ascultător în urmă cu două decenii, Britney Spears şi Backstreet Boys şi-au unit vocile în această producţie care a devenit deja o tendinţă pe Twitter. La o săptămână după lansarea sa în format vinil, "Glory" s-a clasat deja în Top 10 iTunes.

Persons: Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Backstreet, Ian Kirkpatrick, Michael Wise Organizations: Backstreet, iTunes

With the term “personal taxes,” however, Mr. Garten appears to be conflating income taxes with other federal taxes Mr. Trump has paid — Social Security, Medicare and taxes for his household employees. Fragments of Mr. Trump’s tax returns have leaked out before. Mr. Agalarov’s father, Aras, a billionaire who boasts of close ties to Mr. Putin, was Mr. Trump’s partner in the event. Mr. Trump’s avoidance of income taxes is one of the most striking discoveries in his tax returns, especially given the vast wash of income itemized elsewhere in those filings. When they got to line 56, the one for income taxes due, the amount was the same each year: $750.

Search resuls for: "Kirkpatrick"

21 mentions found