DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Esports made their 'tense and exciting' debut at this year's Asian Games
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Esports, or professional video gaming, were an official sport at the Asian Games for the first time. AdvertisementAdvertisementEsports, or competitive video gaming, debuted as an official event at this year's Asian Games in Hangzhou, China that concluded earlier this month. Due to the event's popularity, esports tickets were sold on a lottery basis, with more than five million entering the ballot, according to Hangzhou Asian Games data. We're excited to see the landscape of esports events around the world expand," said John Robinson, president of US esport organization 100 Thieves. The Olympic Esports Series is "a global virtual and simulated sports competition created by the IOC, and in collaboration with International Federations and game publishers."

Persons: —, esports, Chris Liu, Liu, Esports, JADE GAO, John Robinson, Kim Gwanwoo, WANG ZHAO, Matt Woods, AFK, Grant Rousseau, " Rousseau Organizations: Asian Games, of, EA Sports FC Online, Singapore, Service, Professional, EA Sports FC, South Korea, Team Malaysia, China, Xinhua News Agency, South, Associated Press, Fighter, Getty, Olympic, IOC, International Federations, Guardian, Team Falcons Locations: Hangzhou, China, Thailand, Wuxi, esports, Asia, Pacific, US, South Korea, AFP, Los Angeles

☆ What you need to know about Europe’s bedbug panic
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Blane Bachelor | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

“Since I am a dermatologist and I post a lot on my clinic account, I thought it would be nice to post a reel on bed bugs,” she told CNN Travel. “I was like, ‘I find that very hard to believe’,” Starkey told CNN Travel. Yet in Belgium, doctors in Antwerp are “sounding the alarm” about the spread of bedbugs from Paris, according to The Brussels Times. Colleen Oakley, a bestselling novelist in Atlanta, told CNN Travel she would “absolutely not travel” to Paris right now based on her “awful” experience with the creepy crawlies in 2006. It sounds silly to have panic attacks over bugs, but they are really invasive critters.

Persons: Zeina Nehme, bedbugs, Nehme, “, ” Cynthia Starkey, Starkey, texted Starkey, she’d, ” Starkey, Mikayla, I’m, ’ ” Starkey, ” Zach DeVries, ” DeVries, Stella McCartney, Marc Piasecki, Emmanuel Macron’s, Paris Emmanuel Grégoire, Aurélien Rousseau, bedbugs ”, hasn’t, Sadiq Khan, ”, Joe Rominiecki, I’ve, Richard Pollack, Pollack, Paris –, Apple bedbugs, “ Bedbugs, –, Naomi Campbell, “ bedbugs, Colleen Oakley, Oakley Organizations: CNN, City, CNN Travel, Paris, University of Kentucky’s, bedbugs, Fashion, French, Monde, Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance Party, French Health, France Inter, Eurostar, French Agency for Food, Occupational Health, Safety, Entomological Society of America, Harvard Campus Services, Apple, NL Times, Brussels Times, Air, World Health Organization, telltale, American Academy of Dermatology Association, Travelers, Orkin Locations: Paris, London, City of, Beirut, Lebanon, Phoenix, Europe, France, New York, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Antwerp, bedbugs, Air France, Orkin Canada, Atlanta, New, West Village

☆ I downsized from a southern house to a midwestern rental apartment. It was the best decision ever because now I have less responsibility.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Channing Muller, 38, purchased a three-bedroom home in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 2019. Now she rents a two-bedroom apartment in Chicago and feels freer not having to upkeep a house alone. In 2017, I moved from Washington, DC to Chattanooga, Tennessee. I had just gone through a bad breakup, and I thought the city would be the perfect change for me. An additional transition I noticed with downsizing is that I used to entertain a lot and have big dinner parties.

Persons: Channing Muller, —, Muller, Marie Kondo, it's, I'm Organizations: Service Locations: Chattanooga , Tennessee, Chattanooga, Chicago, Tennessee, Washington, DC, Muller's Tennessee, New York, In Tennessee, Washington ,

☆ TV presenter under fire for 'racist' comments, suggesting that bloodsucking bedbugs of Paris are linked to immigrants
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A right-wing TV host in France linked the Paris' bedbug outbreak to immigrants. A government minister called Praud's comments on CNews, likened to Fox News, as "hate speech." AdvertisementAdvertisementA right-wing pundit in France is under investigation by Arcom, the country's audiovisual regulator, for making "racist" comments about the current bedbug infestation in Paris, The Times reports. Pascal Praud, a TV host on right-wing channel CNews, asked Nicolas Roux de Bezieux, the founder of a pest control firm, whether immigrants had caused the onslaught of bedbugs. David Belliard, Paris' Deputy Mayor, called the comments "stupid and racist," and added that CNews' views could be summarized in the clip.

Persons: Pascal Praud, —, Arcom, Nicolas Roux de Bezieux, Praud, Roux de Bezieux, Le, Emmanuel Macron's, Bérangère Couillard, David Belliard, Euronews, CNews, Eric Zemmour, Louis, Ferdinand Céline Organizations: Fox News, Service, Times, Charles, Rugby, Agence France, AP, France Insoumise, Gender Equality Locations: France, Paris, Gaulle

Bedbugs go where you go, and they have become a nightmare haunting France for weeks. Still, bedbugs have plagued France and other countries for decades. The French public began moving into panic mode about a month ago after reports of bedbugs at a Paris movie theater. “All human population movements are profitable for bedbugs because they go with us, to hotels, in transport," said Berenger. Beaune, the transport minister, is hopeful that steps can be taken to ease the public's fear.

Persons: Elisabeth Borne, Clement Beaune, bedbugs, that's, ”, Jean, Michel Berenger, they’ll, Berenger, Ipsos, It’s, Kevin Le Mestre, Lutte Antinuisible, Lucas Pradalier, Emmanuel Macron’s, Mathilde Panot, “, Alex Turnbull Organizations: PARIS, Olympic Games, Metro, Mediterranee University Hospital, National Agency for Health, Food Safety, Paris Olympics, Associated Press Locations: France, Beaune, Marseille, Paris, New York

The ADP National Employment report showed private payrolls rose 89,000 in September, much lower than the expected 153,000. Focus now shifts to the more comprehensive non-farm payrolls data due on Friday. Separate data showed the U.S. services sector slowed in September as new orders fell to a nine-month low. Declining issues outnumbered advancers for a 1.02-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and a 1.10-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P index recorded no new 52-week high and 19 new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 4 new highs and 162 new lows.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Thomas Hayes, Kevin McCarthy, Helen of Troy, Rollins, advancers, Ankika Biswas, Shashwat Chauhan, Shounak Dasgupta Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Companies, Nasdaq, Treasury, Microsoft, Nvidia, Great, Capital LLC, Dow, Traders, Wednesday, Dow Jones, U.S . House, Point Capital Management, NYSE, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, HELE.O, Point, Bengaluru

☆ Bedbug fears grip Paris as French minister pledges action
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

This photograph taken on October 3, 2023 shows a product used to eradicate bedbugs at the Hygiene Premium, pest control shop in Paris. France's transport minister on Wednesday urged for calm amid widespread reports of bedbug infestations in the capital and other cities, as he said more could be done to tackle the scourge. "There is no [bedbug] resurgence, we must not fall into madness," he also said, according to French broadcaster BFM TV via a CNBC translation. The French environment ministry says bedbugs have made a resurgence since disappearing in the 1950s due to international travel and increased resistance to pesticides. They cannot jump or fly but spread on clothes and other items such as bags and suitcases.

Persons: bedbugs, Beaune, Charles de Gaulle Organizations: Hygiene, BFM, CNBC, Paris Metro Locations: Paris

[1/5] Bed bugs are seen in a sofa bed, in L'Hay-les-Roses, near Paris, France, September 29, 2023. At the Paris Gare de Lyon train station, travellers said they doubted whether authorities would be able to get on top of the problem. Once I get home, I'll have to wash all my clothes," Laura Mmadi, a sales worker heading to the south of France said. Deputy mayor Gregoire called on insurers to include bedbug cover in house insurance policies, as low-income people rarely had the means to call in pest control firms. Reporting by Antony Paone and Geert De Clercq; Editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Stephanie Lecocq, Charles de, Emmanuel Gregoire, Elisabeth Borne, Clement Beaune, I'm, Laura Mmadi, Sophie Ruscica, Anses, bedbugs, Sacha Krief, Gregoire, Antony Paone, Geert De Clercq, Andrew Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Paris Olympics, Paralympic, Transport, Gare de Lyon, Thomson Locations: L'Hay, Paris, France, Charles de Gaulle, Nice

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has vetoed Republican-sponsored bills intended to undo federal protections for two endangered species that have seen their populations plummet over the years: the lesser prairie chicken and northern long-eared bat. The two GOP measures would overturn “science-based rulemaking" that offers important protections for the once-abundant species and would undermine the Endangered Species Act, Biden said. Environmentalists have long sought stronger federal protections for the prairie bird, which they consider severely at risk due to oil and gas development, livestock grazing and farming, along with roads and power lines. Veto of the lesser-prairie chicken measure puts the bird "on a more certain path to recovery,” said Michael Parr, president of American Bird Conservancy. The American public, regardless of party affiliation, overwhelmingly supports the Endangered Species Act and believes it should be fully funded to protect species from extinction.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Bruce Westerman of, “, ”, Michael Parr, ” Jamie Rappaport Clark Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, GOP, Congress, U.S . Fish, Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Natural Resources, Republicans, Washington , D.C, Council, Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental, American Bird Conservancy, of Wildlife, American Locations: Midwest, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado , Oklahoma, Kansas, United States, Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, America, East, South America, Washington ,, Canada, U.S

Meanwhile, two indoor farming companies that attracted strong startup money — New Jersey's AeroFarms and Kentucky's AppHarvest — filed for bankruptcy reorganization. Advocates say growing indoors uses less water and land and allows food to be grown closer to consumers, saving on transport. Tom Kimmerer, a plant physiologist who taught at the University of Kentucky, has tracked indoor farming alongside his research into the growth of plants both outdoors and inside. He said some companies may be struggling to scale up, with problems that come from launching in spaces that aren't necessarily built specifically for indoor farming. Several of the companies say they're on the right track.

Persons: AppHarvest —, Jacob Portillo, Eden Green, that’s, ”, It's, they’re, Tom Kimmerer, “, Kimmerer, Hannah Burrack, you’re, ” Burrack, Evan Lucas, he's, Lucas, Eden, Eddy Badrina, Arama Kukutai, Matt Ryan, Curt Covington, isn't, “ It's, ” Covington, ___ Walling, Joshua A, Bickel, ___, Melina Walling Organizations: Eden Green Technology, Kroger, University of Kentucky, Michigan State University, Northern Michigan University, Eden Green, Walmart, AgAmerica, Associated Press, AP Locations: CLEBURNE, Texas, Dallas, Eden, Cleburne, California, Detroit, Elmwood, Farm, Lexington , Kentucky, Plenty, Chicago, Georgetown , Kentucky, Georgetown, ___

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: ChargePoint Holdings, Seagate Technology, C3.ai and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Seagate Technology — Seagate Technology shares dropped about 10.9% after Barclays downgraded the stock to equal weight form overweight. ChargePoint Holdings — Shares of ChargePoint Holdings plunged 10.9% after the electric vehicle charging infrastructure company missed fiscal second-quarter revenue estimates. ChargePoint posted $150 million in revenue, weaker than the $153 million forecast by analysts polled by LSEG, formerly known as Refinitiv. Meanwhile, C3.ai reported an adjusted fiscal first-quarter loss of 9 cents per share on revenue of $72.4 million. Verint Systems — Shares plunged 19.4% in midday trading after the analytics company reported weaker-than-expected second-quarter earnings and revenue.

Persons: Rollins —, ChargePoint, LSEG, StreetAccount, Roku, —, Alex Harring, Yun Li, Pia Singh Organizations: Europe's, Kappa, Wall Street, GameStop, Wall, — Semiconductor, Lam Research, Devices, Qualcomm, Nvidia, Intel, Apple, Bloomberg, Street Journal, Technology, Wednesday, Seagate Technology, Barclays, ChargePoint Holdings, LSEG, Buster's Entertainment, Loop Locations: China

☆ What’s Worse Than Record High Rent? Record High Rent, Plus Fees.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Will Parker | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The cost to rent a home or apartment has soared, and it isn’t just because of super high rents. Landlords are hitting tenants with an abundance of fees every month. Many are no more than five or 10 bucks each, but when stacked up they can amount to hundreds of dollars more each year. Some fees, such as those for parking and pets, have been around for years, but many renters now pay up for things they were rarely charged for in the past. That includes fees for trash pickup, pest control, the use of a mailbox, and for making routine maintenance requests.

Locations: Minnesota

☆ Opinion: Here are the jobs AI will impact most
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Bethany Cianciolo | Jessica Chia | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +42 min

Dan’s research and teaching focus is on using AI for legal services and the regulation of AI in society. For instance, we can develop AI tools to help individuals understand their responsibilities and rights, and preserve and enforce those rights. People in businesses, large and small, are already using chatbots, AI assistants and other AI tools to help them comply with laws, regulations and internal policies. Additionally, new roles are emerging in the legal industry, such as legal engineers who build systems, legal data scientists and legal operations professionals. AI tools will then quickly re-optimize decisions associated with inventory shipments, staffing and promotions.

Persons: ” That’s, Dropbox, Goldman Sachs, isn’t, Erich S, Huang, ” Erich S, Huang I’ve, Regina Barzilay, Barzilay, Geoffrey Hinton, radiologists, —, ’, Daniel W, Linna, Dan, …, ” Daniel W, Refik, Anadol, ”, Adam Elmachtoub, Nisreen, Theodore Kim, don’t, ” Theodore Kim Moreover, Janis Joplin, Jackie Jormp, We’re, Baz Luhrmann’s “, Gatsby, That’s, Leonardo DiCaprio, mockbusters, Eirini, GitHub Copilot, Ashok Goel, Jill Watson, ” Ashok Goel, Kristen DiCerbo, Alireza, Davis Organizations: CNN, CNET, International Association of Machinists, Aerospace Workers, Informatics, Verily, Duke Health, Biomedical Informatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Adobe, Apple, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science Department, MIT, Jameel Clinic, Machine Learning, MacArthur, National Academy of Engineering, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern’s Pritzker School of Law, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University’s CS, Center, Better Housing, UCLA’s Department of Design Media Arts, The Museum, Modern Art, Centre Pompidou, Walt Disney Concert, Department of Industrial Engineering, Research, Columbia University, NBA, Spice, Digital Organisation and Society, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK Academy of Information Systems, Yale, Pixar, Technical, Writers Guild of America, SAG, Hollywood, YouTube, Tech, Developers, Georgia Institute of Technology, National AI, Adult, Education, US National Science Foundation, Georgia Tech, Khan Academy, Systems, Studies, Agricultural Engineering, University of California, university’s, Agriculture, Labor Locations: outplacement, Iceland

☆ Invasive species cost the world $423 billion every year and are causing environmental chaos, UN report finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Scroll through the gallery to see more of the planet's most problematic invasive species. Sarefo / Wikimedia Commons In pictures: Invasive species around the world Prev Next‘Prevention, prevention, prevention’Along with invasive species, other key drivers of biodiversity loss include destruction of land and sea habitats, exploitation of organisms, climate change and pollution. As well as flammable invasive plants sparking and spreading wildfires, climate change is enabling invasive species to move north – even to remote areas such as high mountains, deserts and frozen tundra. Preventing the arrival of new species into new regions is the best way to manage threats from invasive species, according to the report. For invasive species that have already taken hold, eradication has been a useful tool, especially on islands, according to the report.

Persons: ”, Helen Roy, ” Roy, David Gray, Peter Stoett, Anibal Pauchard, Ian Hitchcock, Starling, MENAHEM KAHANA, Phil Mislinski, Jeff J Mitchell, SANJAY KANOJIA, MUNIR UZ ZAMAN, ” Stoett, Stoett, –, ” Pauchard Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UN, Services, billabong, Nile Virus, Ontario Tech University, Chile’s Institute of Ecology, Pacific, World Wildlife Fund, US Department of Agriculture, USA, Studies, New Zealand Government, European, Starlings, AFP, Getty, North, Wikimedia Locations: Darwin, Australia, Africa, Caribbean, Guam, North America, Hawaii, Maui, Antarctica, Pacific, North, South America, Azov, China, Japan, Europe, Bermuda, New Zealand, New York, USA, Australasia, South Africa, United States, AFP, East Africa, Western Asia, Americas, Kenya, India, Puerto Rico, Kunming, Montreal

☆ New York has tried poison, traps, and birth control to fix its pest problem. Rat researchers say the city should focus on its people instead.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

New York City has a pest problem so prolific, the mayor hired a dedicated rat czar earlier this year. Previous efforts to reduce the rat problem include brutal traps, poison, and birth control bait. The city has historically focused on population control methods, including brutal spring traps and hazardous poisons to keep the pests at bay. AdvertisementAdvertisementParsons previously told Insider the "real city rats" are "the men and women of bureaucracy and their two-and-a-half centuries of bad practice." To really have fewer rats, New York norms of takeout and eating outside would have to change."

Persons: Eric Adams, that's, Kathleen Corradi —, Department of Education —, Corradi, Jason Munshi, Michael Parsons, Parsons, Munshi Organizations: Service, New York City, Big Apple, Waste, Department of Education, New, New York Mayor's, Department of Sanitation, The New York Times, Fordham University, NYT Locations: York City, Wall, Silicon, New York

☆ My Student Loans Were Just Forgiven. This Is How It Happened
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Sunshine Flint | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

That’s how long it has been since I took out my first student loan. Though I received grants and held work-study jobs, I still needed around $60,000 in federal student loans to pay for my degrees. The only person possibly more upset about this than me was my accountant, who suggested I refinance into a private student loan. Having federal loans meant that I was eligible for the pause on student loan payments that began in 2020. (In general, if you took out a federal student loan or, like me, consolidated your loans on or after July 1, 2010, you have a federal Direct Loan.)

Persons: Sunshine Flint, Biden’s, I’d, “, Biden, hadn’t, Betsy Mayotte, servicer Organizations: State Department, Education Department, Institute of Student Loan Advisors, Loan

☆ Why Russia and India both crashed on the moon's south pole before India nailed the first soft landing there
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The feat comes just days after Russia crash-landed there, and four years after India's first attempt crashed into the lunar south pole. AdvertisementAdvertisementIt was the country's first bid at the lunar south pole, which is especially valuable space real estate because of its frozen-water reserves. Both the US and China also hope to land on the lunar south pole before the end of the decade. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe lunar south pole is uniquely hazardousThe very thing that makes the moon's south pole so desirable — the permanently shadowed regions that harbor water ice — also makes it more difficult to land on. AdvertisementAdvertisementAlso, nobody has ever been to the moon's south pole.

Persons: India's, Robert Braun, Braun, It's, Luna, Kailasavadivoo Sivan, Aijaz, it's, you've, Rajanish, landers Organizations: Service, Space Exploration, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, NASA, Vostochny, Space Corporation, AP, European Space Agency, Space Research Organization, ISRO, India, Soviet Union, Operation, India's Bharatiya Janata Party Locations: Wall, Silicon, Russia, India, Russia's Far, Soviet Union, China, Europe, Ukraine, Bangalore, Mumbai

☆ Roaches were found in a McDonald's frappé machine. It's not the first time the chain has had this problem.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Haley Tenore | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Roaches were found inside a McDonald's frappé machine in Jacksonville, Florida. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyAdvertisementAdvertisementHealth inspectors found roaches inside a McDonald's frappé machine. Health inspectors found three live roaches and a roach egg sac inside the frappé machine, as well as five dead roaches around and inside the machine, according to an inspection report viewed by Insider. There have been other reports of bugs in McDonald's coffee and its machines. This means the inside of a coffee machine may be the perfect environment for them.

Persons: Roaches, McDonald's Organizations: Service, TV, Jax, CBS4, Facebook, Mashable, Twitter Locations: Jacksonville , Florida, Wall, Silicon, Indianapolis, Thailand, Utah

☆ US trip pays off for Taiwan VP with China drills more 'thunder than rain'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Ben Blanchard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

China has a particular dislike of Lai, the frontrunner in polls ahead of January's presidential election, due to his previous comments about being a "worker for Taiwan independence". In his public events he talked about peace and dialogue, though he also said that Taiwan would not back down in the face of threats. "These drills were a lot of thunder, but less rain." 'NO SURPRISES'Lo Chih-cheng, a senior lawmaker for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, said Lai's trip was also about the broader process of showing him to the United States as a steady and trustworthy leader. China could take other, trade-related, steps to punish Taiwan, having previously stopped Taiwanese fruit and fish imports.

Persons: William Lai, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Lai, Ma Chen, Shen Dingli, Lai Ching, Lo Chih, cheng, Lo, Ko Wen, Xi Jinping, Ben Blanchard, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: International Airport, REUTERS, Rights, Taiwan, U.S, Liberation Army, National Defence University, United States, Relations, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwanese Public, National Taiwan Normal University's Graduate, of Political, Thomson Locations: United States, New York, Paraguay, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, China, U.S, United, Shanghai, Taipei, Beijing, Washington, Asia

☆ Leaked photos show a Dollar General store with rat-chewed products, a dead rodent, and fecal matter covering the stockroom floor.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Photos at a Dollar General store in Texas show evidence of a rat infestation. It's the latest Dollar General store to face problems with rodents — and resulting health hazards. Rat waste is seen on the floor of the stockroom at the Dollar General store in Texas. A worker said he found this dead rat at the Dollar General store in Texas. On Tiktok, Dollar General workers and customers have also complained about products contaminated by rodents.

Persons: Timothy Organizations: Service, Dollar, Cities Health District, Employees, US Food and Drug Administration, CNN, New York Daily News Locations: Texas, Wall, Silicon, East Texas, Hutto, Austin, Williamson County, Maryland, Massachusetts, Bessemer , Alabama, West Memphis , Arkansas, New York's Queens

☆ Rome’s Iconic Umbrella Pines Imperiled by Pests and the Ax
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Elisabetta Povoledo | More About Elisabetta Povoledo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The protesters who had gathered on an arid patch of lawn in Rome’s central Piazza Venezia hailed from neighborhoods all around the capital, but they had one concern in common: saving the towering umbrella pine trees that for centuries have adorned the city’s low-slung skyline but are disappearing in distressing numbers. Celebrated in music and art, and admired by the ancient Romans, the trees are as much a part of the city’s identity as its human-made landmarks. “They are in the hearts, photographs and memories of everyone,” said Jacopa Stinchelli, who is helping lead the defense of the pines, which in recent years have taken a mangy turn. An infestation of a pernicious and invasive pest, an insect known as the pine tortoise scale, which sneaked into Italy about a decade ago, has killed many trees.

Persons: ”, Jacopa Stinchelli Organizations: Piazza Venezia Locations: Rome’s, Italy

Seoul, South Korea CNN —Hundreds of teenage boy and girl scouts have fallen ill at a global event in South Korea as a sweltering heat wave sweeps the country, angering some parents who have called for the 12-day event to be canceled. Their visit came as South Korea recorded consistently high temperatures up to 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit), triggering nationwide heat wave warnings and posing a major headache for jamboree organizers. On Thursday alone, 1,486 people visited the on-site hospital at the World Scout Jamboree, held in Saemangeum, a few hours south of Seoul, according to Kim. Kim Hong-Ji/ReutersCNN has reached out to jamboree organizers for a response to the parents’ comments. The fire service has been operating the on-site hospital, with about 200 fire department personnel deployed every day to the event site.

Persons: Kim Hyun, Kim, commenter, ”, Kim Hong, ’, Yoon Suk, “, – Organizations: South Korea CNN, Jeonbuk, Service, Reuters CNN Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Saemangeum

☆ Scientists induce virgin birth in fruit flies in monumental first
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —In a historic first, scientists have used gene editing to induce virgin birth in fruit flies, a major step in unlocking the mysteries of the intriguing phenomenon known as parthenogenesis. The researchers used fruit flies because they’re considered “model organisms,” meaning the flies are among a list of organisms that scientists have long studied in depth to gain a better fundamental understanding of biology. Fruit flies’ short life spans of about 80 days have made it easy to observe changes throughout generations relatively quickly. And prior research into fruit flies is so extensive it’s possible to order genetic mutations for some flies online. “There’s just so many tools,” Sperling said, “and the tools are easily, cheaply available to all researchers” when it comes to fruit flies.

Persons: Alexis Sperling, Sperling, ” Sperling, “, we’d, they’re, “ There’s, ”, aren’t, Dr, Warren Booth, Booth, ” Booth, parthenogenesis Organizations: CNN, UK’s University of Cambridge, Pesticides, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, State University Locations: United Kingdom

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: SolarEdge Technologies, Humana, Starbucks, Robinhood and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

SolarEdge Technologies — The solar stock tumbled about 19% after the company reported $991 million in revenue, missing analysts' estimates of $992 million, according to Refinitiv. CVS Health — The retail pharmacy stock gained 4% during midday trading Wednesday after the company posted strong earnings and revenue for the second quarter. The company reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.29, topping the $1.10 expected from analysts polled by StreetAccount. Starbucks' adjusted earnings per share for the fiscal third quarter was $1, versus the 95 cents expected by analysts, per Refinitiv. Chinese tech stocks — Shares of Chinese technology stocks dropped after regulators in China proposed limits on smartphone use for minors.

Persons: SolarEdge, Norwegian's, Emerson Electric's, Pinterest, Generac, Freshworks, Genuity, Robinhood, CNBC's Hakyung Kim, Pia Singh, Alex Harring Organizations: SolarEdge Technologies, CVS Health, CVS, Wall Street, Cruise, Susquehanna, Emerson, StreetAccount, Revenue, Wall, FactSet's, Starbucks, Bank of America, JPMorgan, Scotts Miracle, Gro, Scotts, JD.com, Baidu, Tencent Locations: Refinitiv, China

☆ Invasive fruit flies have forced a 79-square-mile area of LA under quarantine. Residents are advised to not move any fruits or vegetables from their property.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A fruit fly invasion has led to the quarantine of a 79-square-mile region of Los Angeles County. Residents are free to come and go under the quarantine, but their produce is not. But this isn't a quarantine for people, like the COVID restrictions we're all used to — it's a quarantine of fruits and vegetables only. To prevent the flies from spreading, people living in the quarantined area cannot take any fruits or vegetables off their property, the agency advised. People are advised not to remove any produce from their property to avoid spreading the invasive Tau fruit fly.

Persons: John Coletti Organizations: Service, California Department of Food, Agriculture Locations: Los Angeles County, Wall, Silicon, Los Angeles, Asia, Stevenson, Santa Clarita, California

Search resuls for: "pest"

25 mentions found