DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Apple has another iPhone update coming on Monday. Here's what's new
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Sofia Pitt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

It will launch for iPhone users with an iPhone 8 or newer models, and it adds quite a few features that weren't available when iOS 16 launched back in September. Access Apple Fitness+ without Apple WatchApple Watch Fitness Source: Apple Inc.IPhone users with iOS 16.1 will be able to subscribe to and access Apple Fitness+ even if they don't have an Apple Watch. Apple is offering three months of Fitness+ free with the purchase of a new iPhone, iPad or Apple TV. Clean energy iPhone chargingClean Energy Charging will be available with iOS 16.1 Sofia PittThe iOS 16.1 update will also include Clean Energy Charging. Clean Energy Charging is an option you can select in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.

☆ Gas prices are heading down, with or without Biden’s help
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN Business —It’s not at all clear if President Joe Biden’s latest announcement that he’s releasing oil from the nation’s emergency stockpile will help bring gas prices down. The national average stood at $3.85 a gallon Wednesday, down 2 cents from Tuesday and 7 cents in the last week. But a number of West Coast refineries that had been offline have returned to operations, and that has sparked a plunge in gas prices west of the Rocky Mountains, driving down the national average. “As it started selling off [Tuesday], it triggered some liquidation [of oil futures].” Oil and gas prices both rebounded modestly in Wednesday trading. Correction: A previous version of this article misidentified the day of the week the national gas price average stood at $3.85 a gallon and the prior day.

☆ Syrah Resources to explore graphite supply to LG Energy Solution, shares soar
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 20 (Reuters) - Australia's Syrah Resources Ltd (SYR.AX) said on Thursday it will evaluate supplying a key lithium-ion battery component to South Korea's LG Energy Solution Ltd (373220.KS), sending its shares to a more than four-year high. Graphite anodes' popularity has soared as companies race to secure supplies of battery materials used in electric vehicles amid a global push towards cleaner transportation and fuel. The company added that it was developing the facility as a natural graphite AAM supply alternative for U.S. battery supply chains, with production targeted to start in the September 2023 quarter. Shares of Syrah jumped as much as 17.6% to A$2.21, their highest level since October 2018. Last month, the South Korean battery maker inked cobalt and lithium supply deals with three Canadian miners.

☆ Australia promises billions for renewable projects to 'rewire' power grid
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Praveen Menon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Australia on Wednesday announced plans to build renewable energy zones, wind projects and underwater electricity interconnectors, as it looks to build its renewable power capabilities and bring more clean energy into its national grid. The announcements come ahead of the annual budget announcement next week by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's centre-left Labor government, which won power this year promising climate reforms. The state of Victoria, which will have an election next month, will get A$1.5 billion ($947.85 million) of concessional financing for Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) and offshore wind development projects, the government said in a statement. The announcements were the first in Labor's A$20 billion "rewire the nation" policy to modernise and rebuild Australia's national power grid. The government also announced a $1 billion loan for Tasmania’s Tarraleah Power Station redevelopment and Lake Cethana Pumped Hydro project.

☆ India to pitch for global biofuels alliance at G20 - oil minister
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Mohi Narayan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Gary McWilliamsNEW DELHI, Oct 19 (Reuters) - India plans to pitch for a global alliance on biofuels among members of the group of 20 major economies, oil minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Wednesday, as the world's third biggest oil consumer bids to boost use of cleaner fuels. India will take over the presidency of the group, also called G20, from Indonesia in December. "We will utilise our G20 presidency to try and set up an international biofuels alliance," Puri said at the International Conference on Biofuels. I think we are on our way to setting up an international alliance," he said. India, also the world's third-biggest oil importer, ships in about 85% of its crude needs, but is gradually building capacity to increase its output of biofuels.

And demand for the greener fuel has dried up, according to Reuters interviews with nine LNG market analysts, industry officials and traders. Several gas drillers, including in the world’s top gas producer the United States, told Reuters they have invested in finding and plugging greenhouse gas emissions associated with production, transport and processing. Since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, gas prices have soared about 25% in the United States and 32% in Europe . To export gas, the fuel must be supercooled into LNG and then shipped across the sea, a process that produces substantial additional greenhouse gas emissions. Other U.S. LNG suppliers, like Cove Point LNG and Cameron LNG, also told Reuters they are not certifying their cargoes.

☆ 8 best vacuums to shop in 2022, according to experts
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Mili Godio | Mili Godio Is An Associate Reporter For Select On Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +18 min

Best bagged upright vacuum: KenmoreThis bagged upright vacuum from Kenmore — a Consumer Reports favorite — is pet-friendly thanks to its powerful inducer motor. Canister vacuums also have fewer moving parts than upright vacuums, which means they typically require less maintenance and fewer repairs. However, canister vacuums can often be more difficult to store due to their hose, wand and bulkier base, she said. UprightUpright vacuums are great for homeowners who have large, wide-open spaces, since they are typically easier to maneuver than canister vacuums. He noted that these models are best for people with smaller spaces to clean, since they’re not as powerful as canister vacuums.

☆ Sasol, ArcelorMittal to jointly explore green hydrogen, carbon capture projects
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 18 (Reuters) - South African petrochemicals company Sasol (SOLJ.J) on Tuesday said it was partnering steelmaker ArcelorMittal South Africa (ACLJ.J) to explore carbon capture technology and steel production using green hydrogen. ArcelorMittal South Africa is Africa's biggest steel producer, with a significant carbon footprint. In a statement, Sasol said the two firms would jointly advance a green hydrogen and derivatives study on the Saldanha region's potential as an export hub for green hydrogen and derivatives, as well as green steel production. They will study the use of renewable electricity and green hydrogen to convert captured carbon from ArcelorMittal's Vanderbijlpark steel plant into sustainable fuels and chemicals, it said. "These studies are anchored by the local need for green hydrogen and sustainable products, cementing Sasol as the leading contributor to the development of southern Africa's green hydrogen economy," said Priscillah Mabelane, Executive Vice President for Energy.

☆ Shares of this bioenergy play could rally more than 50%, Raymond James says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Wood pellet producer Enviva' s environmental attributes are being misunderstood – and that's unfairly harming its share value, Raymond James said. The company makes wood pellets that can be burned for energy instead of coal. That has made the entry point even more attractive as it stands to gain value with the value of wood pellets becoming increasingly understood. He also clarified wood pellets are cleaner-burning than coal, thus making their use better for air quality compared to coal. Molchanov pointed to wood pellets' role in Europe's clean energy transition, while calling Enviva "the world's largest player in this space."

☆ Baristas in San Francisco went on strike. Their robot co-workers went right on serving
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

For three days last month, 1,000 food-service workers at SFO went on strike over wages and working conditions. For decades, robots have been replacing, or at least nudging aside, human labor. But at SFO, robot baristas didn't simply replace humans — they crossed a picket line. Cafe X robot baristas stayed on the job when food-service workers went on strike at San Francisco International Airport last month. The short version is: Every new robot per thousand human workers reduces employment by 0.2 percentage points and decreases wages by 0.42%.

☆ Lyft Battles Gavin Newsom Over California Measure to Fund EVs
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( Preetika Rana | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Lyft Inc. is leading the fight for a new green tax in California, pitting the ride-sharing company against the governor over who should pay for the shift to electric vehicles. San Francisco-based Lyft is the biggest financier of efforts to pass a November ballot measure that seeks to make the wealthiest Californians pay some of the costs of transitioning to greener forms of transportation and fund wildfire prevention. Lyft and other supporters are proposing an additional 1.75% tax on income earned over $2 million for the next 20 years, arguing that more money is needed to engineer the state’s shift to cleaner energy.

Mahathir Mohammad, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, during a press conference in Putrajaya, Malaysia on August 4, 2022. Mahathir, as well as opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim who leads the Pakatan Harapan party, both opposed conducting early elections due to the monsoon and flood season which could affect voter turnout or put voters in harm's way. Additionally, many voters had received bribes from the government to vote, Mahathir told CNBC in an exclusive interview last Thursday. watch nowThe government should be focused on weeding out corruption and fine-tuning its economic management of the country, Mahathir said. watch nowLike Mahathir, he said the government should be focusing on problems such as record-high food inflation.

☆ Australia's Lake Resources to supply lithium to S. Korean battery maker
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 12 (Reuters) - Australia's Lake Resources (LKE.AX) said on Wednesday it had signed a deal with South Korean battery maker SK On Co Ltd to supply lithium from its flagship Kachi project in Argentina. SK On, a unit of SK Innovation (096770.KS), will acquire a 10% stake in New South Wales-based lithium developer Lake Resources as part of the agreement. Automobile and battery makers have been signing deals with Australian miners for supply of lithium, a key ingredient in electric vehicle batteries, amid a global push towards cleaner sources of energy. read moreThe agreement allows SK On to secure a stable lithium supplier for its U.S. supply chain, said Jinsuk Ryu, SK On's vice president. Last month, Lake Resources said operations at its Kachi project were proceeding, after a dispute with Bill Gates-backed Lilac Solutions over certain performance milestones to get a 25% stake in the project.

The Amazon Prime Early Access Sale has entered its second and final day and deals are still going strong. In fact, we're seeing excellent all-time low prices that beat out the best deals we found during the first Amazon Prime Day in July. For more deals, check out our main Prime Day deals liveblog, deals under $50 roundup, and up-to-the-minute Prime lightning deals coverage. Currently down to just under $100, this is the best price we've seen for it in months. Amazon Luna ControllerAmazon$39.99 from Amazon Originally $69.99 Save 43%Amazon's Wi-Fi-enabled controller is designed for the Amazon Luna cloud gaming service.

☆ Amazon Prime Early Access Sale: 20+ deals under $25
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Mili Godio | Mili Godio Is An Associate Reporter For Select On Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

For the first time in Prime Day’s history, Amazon is hosting two Prime Day-like events in the same year. SKIP AHEAD Prime Day sales under $25 on Amazon | Prime Day sales at other retailersWhether you’re upgrading your skin care routine or looking for new tech accessories, Amazon is offering notable discounts on thousands of items during the Prime Early Access Sale, many of which are affordably priced at under $25. Prime Early Access Sale: The best deals under $25Below, we’re sharing the best deals under $25 from the Prime Early Access Sale based on our previous coverage and reporting. Prime Early Access Sale: The best sales under $25 on AmazonHere are the best October Prime Day sales under $25 on Amazon right now that we think you’ll want to know about. Prime Early Access Sale: The best sales at other retailersIn addition to Amazon, the following retailers are offering Prime Day sales we recommend.

You can narrow your search by checking out our guides to the best cordless vacuums, robot vacuums, cheap vacuums, handheld vacuums, and vacuum cleaners. We're also rounding up the best deals on tech devices, style and beauty, and more on our liveblogs for the best Prime deals and bargains under $25. Deal Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI Robot Vacuum The Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI Robot Vacuum has powerful suction, an effective mopping system, and even features HD video for home surveillance. Lightning Deal iRobot Roomba i4+ (4552) Robot Vacuum The Roomba i4+ is iRobot's newest robot vacuum that comes with automatic dirt disposal so you don't have to empty the dustbin. Prime Early Access Sale Vacuum deals FAQsHow we vet Amazon Prime Early Access Sale vacuum dealsVacuum discounts happen year-round, but they tend to be more prevalent around Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Prime Day.

☆ Toshiba India to supply batteries for EVage's electric vans
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, Oct 11 (Reuters) - The Indian unit of Japan's Toshiba (6502.T) will supply its SCiB rechargeable lithium-ion cells for 10,000 electric delivery vans made by Indian start-up EVage, the companies said on Tuesday. This is the first deployment of lithium titanium oxide (LTO) cells into commercial delivery vans and will help EVage vehicles with battery safety and performance, the companies said. Chandigarh-based EVage had raised $28 million from U.S.-based venture capital firm RedBlue Capital earlier this year, to help complete its factory in northern India and begin delivery of vehicles. read moreRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterLike electric vehicle (EV) makers Rivian in the United States and Arrival in the UK, EVage is betting on delivery companies globally to shift to cleaner mobility. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Meenakshi Maidas in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'SouzaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

For Love & Money is a biweekly column from Insider answering your relationship and money questions. This week, a reader who gets an "allowance" from her husband asks how to tell him it's unfair. Write to For Love & Money using this Google form. Your use of the word "allowance" tells me this is not the underlying assumption of the financial system your husband currently has in place. Rooting for you,For Love & Money

☆ How laser cleaning deep cleans 40 years of rust on cars
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Anthony Dinardo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Laser cleaning is a process in which a specific frequency of light is used to target surface rust. TikToker Workshop Rebuild shares his process for laser cleaning a car covered in 40 years of rust. Laser cleaning is a process where a laser beam gets emitted from a laser-cleaning machine. And this handheld device will always be pointed towards a metal surface with any surface contaminants. So how does laser cleaning actually work?

SKIP AHEAD Best early Prime deals | Exclusive promotions for Prime membersWhile you’re browsing early deals, keep in mind that Amazon is not the only retailer hosting a mega sale this week. Below, we rounded up a handful of early Prime Early Access Sale deals we think you’ll want to know about leading up to the official sale, which takes place Oct. 11-12. Best deals ahead of the Prime Early Access SaleAs you're sifting through Amazon’s early Prime Early Access Sale, you’ll notice that some deals are available for a limited time period, meaning once the product sells out, the deal is over. Early Prime Early Access Sale Day promotions for Prime membersBeyond deals on products across categories, Amazon is also offering a few promotions Prime members can take advantage of leading up to its October sale. During the Prime Early Access Sale, Prime members can get 20% off (up to $10) on Grubhub orders using the code PRIME20.

☆ Stellantis, GME Resources seal nickel and cobalt deal for battery production
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Carmaker Stellantis (STLA.MI) has signed a non-binding preliminary agreement with GME Resources (GME.AX) to secure supplies of nickel and cobalt sulphate for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, the two companies said on Monday. read moreEarlier this year the Franco-Italian group signed a lithium supply agreement with developer Vulcan Energy Resources (VUL.AX) and said it would invest 50 million euros ($48.6 million)to buy an 8% stake in it. read moreRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterStellantis and the GME mining company said in a statement on Monday that the memorandum "represents the first step toward a potential long-term partnership,". The supply will come from a nickel and cobalt advanced mining project in Western Australia called "NiWest", which GME is currently developing, with a planned production of around 90,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade nickel and cobalt sulphate. Stellantis Chief Purchasing and Supply Chain Officer Maxime Picat said that securing the raw material sources and battery supply would strengthen the group's value chain for EV production and support its decarbonisation target.

☆ I was one of those Airbnb hosts who made guests do chores before checking out — then I realized it was a ridiculous ask. Here's where I landed on who cleans what.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Melissa Forrest is an Airbnb host who makes $35,000 a month in revenue. So we have in our rules that if the house is left excessively dirty, we charge an extra cleaning fee on top of our standard cleaning fee. We've only once charged an extra cleaning fee because of the amount of trash and unusually hard stains the guests left. An Airbnb home will have a full kitchen but charge a one-time cleaning fee. A hotel will have just a bed and not charge a cleaning fee, but may charge a daily resort fee.

Whether Mozambique and its allies can stamp out the insurgency altogether is a question that has global repercussions as countries hunt for new sources of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Mozambique has huge natural gas reserves which, if managed effectively, could transform its fortunes. With already more than 100 trillion cubic feet of proven offshore natural gas reserves, one industry insider likened its future potential equal to Russia – a natural gas giant. The Mozambican forces, as had happened multiple times in smaller towns, were unable to stop them. Fighting between the terrorist group and the Mozambican army and Rwandan Security forces has left its mark on the town.

☆ Meet a Gen Z remote worker who told her boss she was quiet quitting for the sake of her health: 'I need to do my role as defined, but also not apologize for who I am'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-09 | by ( Jason Lalljee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

That's why she's quiet quitting, doing only her job as described and no more. Cobb told Insider her autoimmune illness and a concurrent ADHD diagnosis made her a completely different type of employee. "It was the cycle of getting up, working evenings, working weekends, and that combined stress with the fatigue that I was feeling. And I found ways to make sure I'm logging off at 5 pm, making sure I'm doing those quiet quitting things. I need to do my role as defined, but also not apologize for who I am."

☆ New money is pouring into Singapore, but a series of recent multimillion-dollar real-estate transactions show the old status symbols are as popular as ever
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-07 | by ( Nidhi Pandurangi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Good Class Bungalows, or GCBs, are powerful status symbols for old and new money alike in Singapore. With land this scarce, the most elite level of property on the island is the Good Class Bungalow, or GCB. New money, old status symbolWith new money pouring into Singapore, a series of recent multimillion-dollar real-estate transactions show these old status symbols are as popular as ever. And in 2019, British billionaire inventor James Dyson purchased an SG$50 million bungalow opposite Singapore's Botanic Gardens, per the Straits Times. Moreover, some prospective Good Class Bungalow renters are not even living in these properties.

Search resuls for: "Cleaner"

25 mentions found