DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Inside the Wild World of Celebrity Keynote Speakers: Drugs, Alcohol
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( David Kushner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +31 min

"I never saw myself as a speaker, let alone a motivational speaker," Leonard tells me while his assistant irons his jeans. 'When I ramble," Hunter told me, "hit me in the leg!" Every plane had been grounded, including the one stuck on the tarmac with an increasingly inebriated Hunter Thompson trapped inside. But by far the most all-consuming task was booking gigs for Hunter Thompson. Just before a debate with G. Gordon Liddy at Brown University, Hunter demanded that Betsy Berg, whom I now worked alongside at GTN, score him some crystal meth.

☆ Deadly heat waves fueled by climate change are threatening India's development, study says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Deadly heat waves fueled by climate change are threatening India’s development and risk reversing its progress on poverty alleviation, health and economic growth, a new study has found. Since 1992, more than 24,000 people have died because of heat waves in India, the study said. And the impacts are expected to get worse as heat waves become more frequent, intense and lethal due to the climate crisis. More than 90% of the country could be severely impacted by heat waves, falling into an extreme heat “danger” zone, according to the heat index, the study found. The heat index is how hot it feels and considers both air temperature and humidity to assess the heat’s impact on the population.

☆ Scientists identify mind-body nexus in human brain
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The researchers called this system the somato-cognitive action network, or SCAN, and documented its connections to brain regions known to help set goals and plan actions. "Basically, we now have shown that the human motor system is not unitary. A second system, the SCAN, is more important for integrated, whole body movements, and is more connected to high-level planning regions of your brain," Gordon said. I'm not a philosopher, but one succinct statement I like is saying, 'The mind is what the brain does.' "Some neuroscientists think of the brain as an organ intended primarily to perceive and interpret the world around us.

☆ Young Thais who questioned monarchy look to win seats in parliament
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Panu Wongcha-Um | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

They are bringing the issue of the role of monarchy in society into the open. Changing - though not abolishing - those laws is part of the platform of Lookkate's progressive Move Forward party, which is campaigning on reducing the severity of punishments for royal insult and how it is applied. Kanokrat said the protests had put issues such as LGBT rights and the ending of the military conscription on the agenda. They had energised the progressive left while at the same time triggering the rise of a right-wing royalist party, Thai Pakdee, which is campaigning on toughening up the lese majeste law, he said. "We have a real progressive left that connects with street politics and a far-right party that rises as a response."

☆ Upfront's Mark Suster has become the star of LA's booming startup scene. Not everyone is a fan.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +29 min

"I have worked with more than 50 VCs and nobody comes close to what it is like to work with Mark Suster," said a founder backed by Suster. "Mark and the Upfront Summit helped put LA tech and investing on the map," said Jeffrey Katzenberg, the cofounder of DreamWorks and WndrCo. Several years ago, a founder whose startup Suster invested in was in a conference room rehearsing their presentation for the Upfront Summit. If you're going to put him on your board, you're letting the fox guard the henhouse. "If you're going to put him on your board, you're letting the fox guard the henhouse."

☆ The Middle East is the 'nexus' of energy and real estate capital markets, says venture capital firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe Middle East is the 'nexus' of energy and real estate capital markets, says venture capital firmBrendan Wallace, co-founder and managing director at Fifth Wall, says the Middle East is the "natural place" to think about when it comes to the "imperative" to decarbonize the real estate industry.

☆ How digital ecosystems can build a closer, more inclusive world
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With Tata Communications | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

How to build a world that looks after everyoneThe conference highlighted the need to embrace equity in all walks of life. Tata Communications’ Genius Wong pledges to build a more inclusive digital economy and work with Georgette Tan (pictured) and the team at United Women Singapore to bridge the digital divide. Adopting Tata Communications' remote broadcast solution helped his organization reduce its normal on-site staff count by over 30% without compromising content delivery. Tata Communications leadership along with SMS Tan Kiat How stand together to build a secure and inclusive digital economy. Find out how Tata Communications is hyperconnecting Formula 1 fans globally to the world-class track-side F1 experience.

☆ U.S. judge blocks Biden clean water rule in 24 states
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 12 (Reuters) - A federal judge in North Dakota on Wednesday temporarily blocked implementation of a Biden administration rule establishing protections for seasonal streams and wetlands in 24 states, according to court documents. U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Hovland granted the states' request for a preliminary injunction prohibiting enforcement of the Environmental Protection Agency's Waters of the United States rule, which was finalized in December. In the order, Hovland said the states would "expend unrecoverable resources complying with a rule unlikely to withstand judicial scrutiny." An EPA spokesperson said the agency is reviewing Wednesday’s ruling and called the Biden administration rule “the best interpretation” of the Clean Water Act. In Congress, Republicans led an effort to repeal the water rule last month, with limited support from across the aisle including four Senate Democrats and independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.

☆ Federal judge blocks Biden clean water rule in 24 states
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 12 (Reuters) - A federal judge in North Dakota on Wednesday temporarily blocked implementation of a Biden administration rule establishing protections for seasonal streams and wetlands in 24 states, according to court documents. U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Hovland granted the states' request for a preliminary injunction prohibiting enforcement of the Environmental Protection Agency's Waters of the United States rule, which was finalized in December. In the order, Hovland said the states would "expend unrecoverable resources complying with a rule unlikely to withstand judicial scrutiny." West Virginia and 23 other Republican-led states sued the EPA in February, alleging the rule violates the U.S. Constitution and sows confusion for landowners. Reporting by Clark Mindock and Nichola Groom; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Protesters shout down Macron on visit to the Netherlands
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Christian Levaux | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

THE HAGUE, April 11 (Reuters) - Anger against an unpopular pension reform in France followed President Emmanuel Macron to the Netherlands where protesters interrupted a speech he was giving on Tuesday at the start of a two-day state visit. Other protesters in the audience targeted the pension law and climate change, while one displayed a banner that read: "President of violence and hypocrisy". During his speech, he defended the pension law, which will delay retirement age by two years to 64. "I will pass (retirement age) from 62 to 64," he said, speaking in English. "When I compare, they (French protesters) should be less angry with me, because in your country it's much higher, and in a lot of countries in Europe, it's much higher than 64."

The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card is still available as an upgrade from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card . You can find Priority Pass lounges and restaurants by searching for your airport on the Priority Pass website or through the Priority Pass app. Priority Pass LoungesTypically, airport lounges in the Priority Pass network are off-limits to the general public unless you have access through a membership, airline ticket, elite status, or via a paid day pass. Priority Pass Restaurants, Cafés, Spas, and MoreIn addition to airport lounges, the Priority Pass network includes restaurants and cafés at airports like Houston (IAH) and San Francisco (SFO). Credit Cards With Priority Pass Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Is Priority Pass membership automatic when you open an eligible credit card?

If you have one of the Chase IHG Rewards credit cards, you'll earn an extra 10 points per dollar with the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, or 5 points per dollar with the IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card. Other ways to redeem IHG pointsOpt for airline miles instead of IHG Rewards pointsIf you'd rather receive airline miles for your stays instead of IHG Rewards points, that's an option, though redemption rates vary by airline. Transfer IHG points to a friendThere's also an option to transfer IHG points to a friend or family member at a cost of $5 per 1,000 points, or buying them through IHG's website. Some of these redemptions are as low as 100 IHG points, so if you haven't had any activity in your account recently, this is a good way to keep your IHG points from expiring. Use IHG points to attend special eventsThrough IHG Auctions, you can redeem IHG points for concerts, sports, special events, or other experiences.

Citi issues several credit cards for American Airlines, including the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Review: Is It the Best Airline Credit Card for You? How to earn miles with the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select cardThe Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a good choice for American Airlines purchases, as well as other everyday spending in popular categories. What credit score do you need for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card? Methodology: How we reviewed the Citi AAdvantage Platinum SelectInsider's experts compared the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® to other American Airlines and competitor airline credit cards.

Earn 2x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 2x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Other United℠ Explorer Card benefits include two single-visit passes to the United Club lounge per anniversary year, 25% back on United inflight purchases, and priority boarding. When looking for the card that best fits you, consider whether you'd prefer to earn on restaurant and US supermarket purchases (Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card), or dining and hotel bookings (United℠ Explorer Card). Here's our Platinum Delta Amex card review for all the details, and a comparison of the Delta Gold vs Delta Platinum cards to help you decide.

☆ Wall Street analysts love these emerging market stocks that all trade in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

While U.S. and European investors continue to navigate a banking crisis, high inflation and slower earnings growth, a host of emerging markets stocks beloved by Wall Street analysts are expected to surge higher. Emerging markets equities had an optimistic start to the year as China reopened its economy, and as high inflation showed signs of easing. In 2023, the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) is up 4.4% through Thursday's open. In fact, some emerging markets stocks that are also listed in the U.S. could be due for huge upside. These names are included in exchange traded funds such as the the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF, iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, the Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF or the SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF.

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). Chase is offering big elevated bonus offers on the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card, but they're only available until the end of the day on April 5, 2023. You can redeem IHG points at brands like Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites, Hotel Indigo, and Kimpton. Insider's Featured Credit Cards for Travel Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. You'll typically get the best return by using IHG points for stays at over 6,000 hotels across 18 brands worldwide.

☆ Central bank tests spur global instant payment hopes
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, March 23 (Reuters) - A year of tests run by central banks in Italy, Malaysia and Singapore have spurred hopes for a global instant payments network accessible at the tap of a mobile phone. Current transfers are slowed by the patchwork of more than 60 different instant payment networks, so central banks involved in the new tests have been working on ways to improve the process. The Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the central bank umbrella body, which helped oversee the "Nexus" trials, said the three countries involved had successfully sent payments between themselves using only mobile phone numbers. Looking ahead, the BIS said further trials would be run by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand with the hope that "Nexus could eventually be implemented globally." Reporting by Marc Jones Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ US House Republicans launch investigation of Manhattan DA in Trump probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

His fellow Republicans including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have accused Bragg, a Democrat, of abuse of power and using his office to pursue a political agenda. McCarthy had also said he would direct House committees to determine whether federal funds have been used in the district attorney's probe. The letter was signed by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil. "Congress has no jurisdiction to investigate the Manhattan DA, which receives no federal funding nor has any other federal nexus," added Goldman, who was lead counsel in a 2019 House impeachment of Trump. Trump, who is seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has said he would continue campaigning even if charged with a crime.

☆ Candice Beaumont of $1.5 billion family office says 'worst is yet to come' for stocks, real-estate
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Robert Frank | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Stocks and real-estate face the end of a nearly 20-year bull run and many family investors are poorly prepared for the "tough times ahead," said Candice Beaumont, chairman of the Salsano Group family office. Beaumont, who oversees more than $1.5 billion in assets from Miami, said surging interest rates are setting the stage for a prolonged correction in stocks, office real-estate and sectors of private equity. Like many family offices, Beaumont said she is holding "significant" amounts of cash to prepare for possible distressed sales — especially in real-estate. Family offices, like many large investors, are struggling to navigate the new financial landscape of higher interest rates. That's the best example of why family offices need diversification."

☆ Snap stock surges on report that Biden may ban TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Shares in social media companies Snap and Meta jumped in after-hours trading on Wednesday after the Biden administration was reported to be considering banning TikTok in the U.S. unless Chinese tech giant ByteDance divests its stake. Snap shares surged nearly 7% while Meta shares rose more than 2% after The Wall Street Journal reported that TikTok faces a possible ban in the U.S. if ByteDance fails to comply with the Biden Administration's proposition. Both Snap and Meta face fierce competition for user attention from TikTok, and have introduced their own short-form video products to compete. Last week, the White House voiced support for a recent Senate bill that would grant the Biden Administration the ability to ban TikTok in the U.S.U.S. lawmakers have expressed concern that TikTok, by virtue of its Chinese ownership, poses a potential national security threat, with U.S. Senator Mark Warner, D-Va., recently saying that "This competition with China around who dominates technology domains, that really is where the nexus of national security lies going forward."

Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders and up to two guests can access the space for free. The Sapphire Terrace isn't exactly a lounge — in fact, it's not at all part of the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club network. This isn't a short-term space; Chase says it will be a multiyear experience available at no charge to Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders and up to two guests. Hopefully, since it's only accessible to Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders, it will have a more elite feel. If you're not yet a Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholder, be sure to read our full Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card review for a close look at everything the card has to offer.

☆ California's 'zombie forests' are 'cheating death' as the climate has changed so drastically it's no longer able to support them
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A new study found some of the forests in California's Sierra Nevada no longer match their climate. About 20% of conifers in the Sierra Nevada are experiencing "vegetation climate mismatch." The lead author said the trees are "cheating death" but that they won't survive a major disturbance. When trees or other plants are no longer suited to the environment they are in, it's called a "vegetation climate mismatch." The conifers of the Sierra Nevada include ponderosa pine, sugar pine, and Douglas fir.

The six countries included in the bill are China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Cuba, Warner said. "This competition with China around who dominates technology domains, that really is where the nexus of national security lies going forward," Warner said. Warner said the bill is not solely meant to address TikTok, and rather should create a "systemic approach" that prevents the need for one-off actions. "A U.S. ban on TikTok is a ban on the export of American culture and values to the billion-plus people who use our service worldwide. We hope that Congress will explore solutions to their national security concerns that won't have the effect of censoring the voices of millions of Americans."

☆ Mapping California’s ‘Zombie’ Forests
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Elena Shao | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

NEVADA Sacramento Stable conifer forests San Francisco Mismatch Less than five percent of conifer forests historically occurred in current climate. Sacramento Stable conifer forests Mismatch San Francisco Less than five percent of conifer forests historically occurred in current climate. San Jose Fresno CALIFORNIA Pacific Ocean NEVADA Bakersfield Area of detail CALIF. 50 MILES Reno NEVADA Sacramento Severe mismatch Stable conifer forests Less than one percent of conifer forests historically occurred in current climate. Note: The data looks at changes in conifer forests across the Sierra Nevada between the 1930s and the 2010s. They found that during that time period, the Sierra Nevada’s conifer forests had, on average, shifted about 112 feet higher in elevation.

☆ Hong Kong court convicts 3 members of Tiananmen vigil group for security offence
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Jessie Pang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HONG KONG, March 4 (Reuters) - Three former members of a Hong Kong group that organised annual vigils to mark China's 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, were found guilty on Saturday of not complying with a national security police request for information. Prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and barrister Chow Hang-tung, 38, was among those convicted by the magistrate court. Chow is a former vice-chairperson of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China. The national security law, which punishes acts including subversion and collusion with foreign forces has been criticised by some Western governments as a tool to crush dissent. Chinese and Hong Kong officials say the law is necessary to restore stability to the city after the city's protracted anti-China protests in 2019.

Search resuls for: "NEXUS"

25 mentions found