DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Here's how to spot gems in the junk bond market and earn income even if a recession hits in 2023, say the managers behind a top-rated fund
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Portfolio managers of the Buffalo High Yield Fund have crushed the market this year. Like nearly every fund without a tight focus on commodities, the Buffalo High Yield Fund (BUFHX) is down for the year, though its 6.3% loss year-to-date is modest compared to its index's 11.6% decline. But not all bonds with the same rating carry the same level of risk, the fund managers said. The fund managers said that avoiding landmines is the biggest key to success when picking non-investment-grade bonds. If that thesis is incorrect, spreads will widen considerably and much more downside will be ahead, but the fund managers are confident that they'd outperform again.

☆ Britain issues first spaceport licence ahead of maiden satellite launch
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Sarah Young | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Britain issued its first spaceport licence on Wednesday, paving the way for the country's maiden satellite launch later this year as it looks to become Europe's leading space industry player. The licence was issued to Spaceport Cornwall. The first UK launch is expected before the end of the year, the UK Space Agency's deputy chief executive, Ian Annett, said in a CAA statement. Virgin Orbit plans to use a modified Boeing 747 with a rocket attached under its wing. The CAA said Spaceport Cornwall had demonstrated it had met the appropriate safety, security and environmental requirements to become a spaceport.

☆ How Time magazine made more than $100 million with docuseries for Netflix, Amazon, and more by mining its 100-year-old archive
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Time Studios has become Time's biggest driver, generating more than $100 million, or 25% of its revenue. It's sold dozens of projects to the likes of Netflix, Amazon, and HBO, including "jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy." Time Studios has been developing some projects you might not expect from a 100-year-old legendary magazine brand. And of course there's "jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy," the doc series about now-disgraced Ye that sold to Netflix for a reported $30 million in 2021 after a robust bidding war. The Benioffs' support has allowed Time Studios to deficit-finance, or self-fund, about half its doc projects, enabling it to move at startup speed.

Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, said late Sunday that he was suspended from Instagram for 30 days. Ye posted a screenshot of an Instagram notification about the suspension on Parler, the conservative “free speech” social media platform, which recently announced Ye would acquire it. According to Ye’s posts on Parler, he attempted to post a screenshot of a text message exchange on Instagram. Ye also posted a screenshot of a notification he appears to have received from Instagram. Anti-hate groups like the American Jewish Committee have referred to Ye’s posts about Jewish people as “dangerous” and relying on antisemitic stereotypes about Jewish people.

☆ Patriots owner Robert Kraft urges people to 'stand up to Jewish hate' with ad during NFL games
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Chantal Da Silva | Chantal Da Silva Is A Breaking News Editor For Nbc News Digital Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft sponsored an ad that ran during broadcasts of NFL games on Sunday calling on viewers to "stand up against Jewish hate." “Antisemitism is hate. For being Jewish,” the 30-second ad released by the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism and the Robert K. Kraft Family Foundation said. "My hope is this commercial will continue to enhance the national conversation about the need to speak out against hatred of all types, and particularly to stand up to Jewish hate," he said. "Those who spread messages of hate, racism and antisemitism will not be able to change the heart of this city or her people.

☆ Officials condemn 'cowardly' and 'despicable' antisemitic messages displayed at University of Florida-Georgia football game supporting Ye
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Julianne Mcshane | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

The same antisemitic message appears to have flashed across at least one other nearby building soon after appearing at the stadium, another video shows. An antisemitic message referencing Kanye West was projected on a building in Jacksonville, Fla. He was also locked out of his Twitter account and restricted from posting on Instagram earlier this month after he posted antisemitic messages on the platform. As of Sunday afternoon, he had not made any public comments on the antisemitic message that appeared at the game. Jacksonville City Council President Terrance Freeman and state Rep. Angie Nixon (D) also denounced Saturday's message in statements they posted on Twitter.

☆ Elon Musk says he was not involved in Twitter lifting restriction on Ye's account following antisemitic post
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Minyvonne Burke | Minyvonne Burke Is A Senior Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

One user, however, questioned why Ye's account — which was temporarily restricted over an "anti-Jewish" comment — was "already restored." The Tesla CEO said in response that "Ye's account was restored by Twitter before the acquisition" and that he was not consulted about it. The tweet is no longer on Ye’s account, which has more than 31 million followers. Edward Berthelot / GC Images fileThe comment led to Instagram also restricting Ye's account. Ye's Twitter account was placed in a "read-only mode," which limits the user's ability to post tweets, re-tweets or like content.

☆ Nets owner says he is 'disappointed' after Kyrie Irving appeared to promote antisemitic film
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Minyvonne Burke | Minyvonne Burke Is A Senior Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai said he is "disappointed" after all-star guard Kyrie Irving appeared to promote a film deemed antisemitic. "I want to sit down and make sure he understands this is hurtful to all of us, and as a man of faith, it is wrong to promote hate based on race, ethnicity or religion," Tsai tweeted Friday. Irving tweeted a link Thursday to the 2018 movie "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America." The Nets said in a statement that it strongly condemns and has zero tolerance for the promotion of hate speech. We thank those, including the ADL, who have been supportive during this time," the Nets said.

☆ Ye mural in Chicago, where he grew up, covered after antisemitic comments
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Chantal Da Silva | Chantal Da Silva Is A Breaking News Editor For Nbc News Digital Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

A Chicago mural celebrating Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, and his roots in the city has been painted over as the artist continues to face backlash over his recent antisemitic comments. Video shared on social media appeared to show the West Loop mural being painted over with black paint. "Very crazy I’m witnessing this right now.. they’re painting over the Kanye mural in Chicago," the Twitter user who posted the video wrote. Later footage captured by NBC Chicago showed the final product, with Ye's image transformed into a silhouette. In addition to the Chicago mural being covered, the Wieners Circle, a local eatery famed for its mean customer service, made clear Ye was not welcome at the establishment.

☆ In the span of a month, Kanye West has destroyed his empire
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has lost deals to the tune of billions of dollars this month. Ye later sent a box of the shirts to homeless people on Los Angeles' Skid Row in a move one local advocate said made "a mockery and political prop of Black Angelenos." Adidas and Gap cut their ties with Ye this week. A day later, fashion magazine Vogue and its editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, said they had no plans to continue working with him. This week, famed talent agency CAA dropped Ye, and film and TV studio MRC shelved a finished documentary on him.

☆ Kanye West has a disturbing history of admiring Hitler, sources tell CNN
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Chloe Melas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Several people who were once close to the artist formerly known as Kanye West told CNN that he has long been fascinated by Adolf Hitler — and once wanted to name an album after the Nazi leader. The executive told CNN that West spoke openly about reading “Mein Kampf,” Hitler’s 1925 autobiographical manifesto and expressed his “admiration” for the Nazis and Hitler for their use of propaganda. Four sources told CNN that West had originally suggested the title “Hitler” for his 2018 album that eventually released as “Ye.” They did not want to be named, citing concern for professional retribution. TMZOne of the sources who spoke to CNN and was at the TMZ interview said West had favorably referenced Hitler. The revelation of West’s alleged history of admiring Hitler comes amid a wave of inflammatory actions by West that began earlier this month.

☆ Kanye West anti-Jewish posts lead Adidas to cut ties way too late
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Josh Levs | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

After weeks of inaction, Adidas on Tuesday finally dropped its partnership with the proud antisemite Ye, aka rapper Kanye West. But the delay fuels the antisemitic narrative by suggesting Adidas took this step reluctantly and only under pressure. As a company with its own Nazi history, Adidas had every reason to know the dangers of letting antisemitism grow and fester. As a company with its own Nazi history, Adidas had every reason to know the dangers of letting antisemitism grow and fester. It’s a fact that should make Adidas the first business to act against antisemitism on its watch.

Adidas shutting down its partnership with Kanye West is just the latest shoe to drop surrounding the artist's recent run of controversial public behavior. To Adidas, the reputational cost of maintaining ties with Ye ultimately outweighed those considerations, said Neil Saunders, managing director at the GlobalData Retail research group and consultancy. Adidas will stop the Adidas Yeezy business with immediate effect." Instead, it was likely the growing threat of an international boycott that pushed Adidas to sever ties, said Kenneth Anand, Goldstein's co-author of "Sneaker Law." "So they had to act very fast to sever ties given what had transpired," Anand said of Adidas.

☆ Ye's antisemitic comments show the risks companies face when they hook up with big-name celebs
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Rachel Durose | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The apparel company's decision to end its partnership with designer Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, shows the perils companies can face when they hand over the keys to impossible-to-control celebs. In some cases — such as in Ye's partnership with Adidas — the payoff of a relationship might not exceed the eventual cost. "A brand can spend hundreds of millions of marketing dollars building its brand and then see it all undone with a bad celebrity partnership." "The world was treating Ye a lot differently when the Yeezy deal was signed," said Monson. But he brought some of the allure and some of the danger with him that he infused into the Yeezy brand."

☆ People are urging Adidas to cut ties with Kanye West after his antisemitic comments
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Morgan Sung | Morgan Sung Is A Trends Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Adidas is facing increased pressure from people online to cut ties with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, after he made a string of antisemitic comments. Ye announced last month that he had terminated his collaboration with Gap over disagreements over the distribution of Yeezy Gap. But several people online pointed out that Gap appears to continue to market the Yeezy Gap collection. Gap told CNN last month that it will continue to sell its existing merchandise from Yeezy Gap in its stores and on its website. It said it will also continue to sell forthcoming collections from Yeezy Gap in the fall and into the first half of 2023.

☆ Adidas is cutting ties with Kanye West over his recent offensive behavior, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Adidas could announce plans to end its partnership with Kanye West as early as Tuesday, sources told Bloomberg. Ye wore a "White Lives Matter" shirt and has made multiple antisemitic comments in recent weeks. People familiar with the matter told the publication that the sportswear company could announce plans to end its partnership with the rapper as early as Tuesday because of his offensive behavior. Adidas said earlier this month that it was reviewing its partnership with Ye, without specifying a reason. Ye told Fox host Tucker Carlson that he wore the shirt because it's "funny" and because he thought the motto was correct.

☆ Adidas terminates partnership with Kanye West
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Adidas said it will take a €250 million hit ($246 million) to its fourth quarter sales. Adidas has partnered with West since 2013, when the company signed his brand away from rival Nike. In 2016, Adidas expanded its relationship with the rapper, calling it “the most significant partnership ever created between a non-athlete and an athletic brand.”But Adidas put the “partnership under review” in early October after he wore a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt in public. “In the end, Adidas’ action sends a powerful message that antisemitism and bigotry have no place in society.”Shares of Adidas fell about 5% in Frankfurt. Adidas said it will release additional information about the financial implications of dissolving its partnership with Ye in its upcoming earnings report on November 9.

☆ Time Studios made $100 million selling documentaries to Netflix and more. Now it's planning to mine the magazine's 100-year-old archives for fictional storytelling.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Time Studios has become Time's biggest driver, generating more than $100 million, or 25% of its revenue. In its most ambitious move yet, Time Studios is also making a push into fictional storytelling. Ian Orefice, president and COO, Time and Time Studios TimeIan Orefice, president and COO of Time and Time Studios, sees scripted as a "massive opportunity. The Benioffs' support has allowed Time Studios to deficit-finance, or self-fund, about half its doc projects, enabling it to move at startup speed. Time Studios also has a huge promotional advantage in Time's existing audience of some 100 million readers and followers on social media.

☆ Adidas terminates partnership with Ye following rapper's antisemitic remarks
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Kanye West at an event announcing a partnership with Adidas on June 28, 2016 in Hollywood, California. Adidas on Tuesday ended its partnership with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, after the musician made a series of offensive and antisemitic comments. Adidas said in a statement: "Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech. Adidas will stop the Adidas Yeezy business with immediate effect." Conservative social media platform Parler then announced Ye had agreed to buy the platform.

☆ Kanye West has reportedly been dumped by talent agency CAA, and a film studio has scrapped a finished documentary about the rapper in the wake of his antisemitic remarks
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Famed talent agency CAA is the latest company to cut ties with Kanye West following his recent antisemitic remarks. In addition, film and TV studio MRC said it's shelving a completed documentary about the rapper. Several brands have distanced themselves from West in recent weeks, including Balenciaga and Vogue, and others may follow suit soon. The same day, film and TV studio MRC said it's shelving a completed documentary on the rapper and Yeezy entrepreneur. On Monday, West's ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, appeared to address West's antisemitic remarks in a message of her own, writing on Twitter, "Hate speech is never OK or excusable.

☆ Adidas is on the hot seat to cut ties with Kanye West
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Jon Sarlin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Balenciaga and Vogue publicly cut ties last week, and on Monday talent agency CAA dropped West as a client, and production company MRC said that it’s shelving a documentary on West. Celebrities including Kat Dennings, Josh Gad and Meg Stalter condemned Adidas for sticking by West. We are waiting @adidas,” read Shannon Watts’ tweet in response to the incident that received more than 100,000 likes. Earlier this month after West wore a “White Lives Matter” shirt in public, Adidas said that it was reviewing its lucrative partnership with his Yeezy brand. With pressure mounting and West’s hate campaign against Jewish people continuing, it seems the question is when, not if, Adidas will cut ties.

☆ Talent agency CAA drops Ye, as film studio MRC ditches documentary because of his antisemitic remarks
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Kanye West attends the Givenchy Womenswear Spring/Summer 2023 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on October 02, 2022 in Paris, France. Major Hollywood talent agency CAA on Monday dropped Ye, also known as Kanye West, as the rapper and business mogul faces intensifying criticism over his recent antisemitic remarks. The film studio MRC also said it was dropping a documentary about the artist. The moves come as athletic apparel maker Adidas faces growing calls to end its relationship with Ye. At least three legal organizations have written letters to the German company to cut ties with Ye due to his recent antisemitic comments.

☆ Kim Kardashian condemns hate speech in midst of Kanye West controversy
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Days after a fellow celebrity called her out for remaining publicly silent in the face of antisemitic comments made by her former husband Kanye West, Kim Kardashian has released a statement condemning hate speech. Kardashian posted her statement on the Instatstories portion of her Instagram account on Monday. “Hate speech is never OK or excusable,” her statement read. The Anti-Defamation League categorizes that phrase as a “hate slogan” used by White supremacist groups, including the Ku Klux Klan. A spokesperson for the talent agency CAA confirmed to CNN on Monday that West is no longer a client.

☆ Flying taxi ordered by American Airlines successfully completes first test flight
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Stephen Jones | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The flying taxi that's been ordered by American Airlines has completed its first test flight. The piloted test of the VX4 is the first in a series of planned tests, Vertical Aerospace said Monday. No model has been certified by flight regulators, although Vertical Aerospace hopes to have the VX4 certified by 2025. Because the test flight was piloted, Vertical Aerospace had to apply for a permit from the UK's aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Vertical Aerospace plans to continue testing the VX4 for several months and increase the altitude and speed with each new test flight.

☆ How Bryan Lourd became one of the most powerful people in the history of Hollywood
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-25 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +18 min

Lourd, 61, isn't a household name, but he wields a stunning amount of influence in Hollywood. Lourd's Hollywood clients aren't just A-listers, they're A+-listers: Brad Pitt. An old-fashioned talent agent who loves discussing old movies and doesn't mind pointing out the flaws in his own clients' work, Lourd has become arguably the most powerful person in Hollywood. "He's one of the most powerful people in the history of Hollywood," said Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos. But Lourd's clients are such bankable stars that it's equally important for Hollywood executives to be friendly with him as it is beneficial for Lourd and CAA.

Search resuls for: "caa"

25 mentions found