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☆ Can’t sleep? Blame the beaming bright glow of new technology
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Some manufacturers say indicator lights can sometimes serve a practical purpose. For example, an indicator light could show that a device is charging or plugged in and working properly. The light has a long lifespan and doesn’t generate excess heat — important qualities for a technology that’s used every day. “As a manufacturer, adding an LED light does cost something, so to add one just to add one seems quite wasteful. Linhares Jr. also said the lights can be helpful as night lights.

Persons: can’t, ” Steven Lockley, Paul Bogard’s, Kyle Moschen, Vincent van Gogh’s, Kyle Moschen “, Moschen, “, Jonathan King, ” King, —, Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano, Shuji Nakamura, ” David Loftus, ” Loftus, Manny Linhares Jr, Legrand, it’s, ”, Linhares, John Towfighi Organizations: Washington CNN, Harvard Medical School’s Division, Sleep, CNN, Logitech, Getty, Electronic Components Industry Association Locations: Seattle, New York, French

☆ Japanese people could all be called Sato by 2531, study warns. But they’d need to get married first
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Chris Lau | Mai Nishiyama | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Tokyo CNN —Everyone in Japan could one day have the same surname unless its restrictive marriage laws change, according to a new study. But the country’s dwindling marriage rate could buck that trend and a rapidly declining population might render it moot entirely. If the rules carry on, all Japanese people could have the surname Sato by 2531, according to Hiroshi Yoshida, an economist from Tohoku University in Sendai, who led the study. According to Myoji Yurai, a company that tracks Japan’s more than 300,000 surnames, Sato is currently the most common, followed by Suzuki. About 1.8 million people out of Japan’s 125 million population have the surname Sato, Myoji Yurai says on its website.

Persons: Sato, Hiroshi Yoshida, Myoji, Suzuki, Takahashi, Myoji Yurai, Yoshida –, Yoshida, ” Yoshida, ”, Fumio Kishida, Wang, Li, Zhang, Liu, Chen, Galton, Watson Organizations: Tokyo CNN, Tohoku University, CNN Locations: Japan, Sendai, East Asia, China

☆ After Ohtani and Kikuchi, Japan high school toasts latest baseball prodigy
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Hanako Montgomery | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Banners herald Los Angeles Dodgers megastar Shohei Ohtani and Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, their faces greeting every visitor. But now, Hanamaki Higashi High School celebrates a new prodigy in its midst – one whose high-school records beat even those of Ohtani and Kikuchi. “The presence of legends like Shohei Ohtani and Yusei Kikuchi were a huge factor as to why I got into baseball – I fell in love with the sport,” Sasaki told CNN. Now, with the emergence of three baseball stars from Hanamaki Higashi, Sasaki’s teammates swell with pride at the honor of walking the same corridors. Despite its status as a public school with a modest baseball budget, Hanamaki Higashi has impressively produced three outstanding athletes.

Persons: Shohei, Yusei Kikuchi, Hanamaki, Kikuchi, Rintaro Sasaki doesn’t, ” Sasaki, Sasaki, he’ll, ”, Hiroshi, Ohtani, Shohei Ohtani, “, Taichi Murakami, Hanamaki Higashi, it’s Organizations: Japan CNN —, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, School, baseball, CNN, Stanford University in, Stanford, Los Angeles Angels, Angel, Kyodo, baseball’s, Dodgers, American League Locations: Hanamaki, Japan, Iwate prefecture, Stanford University in California, America, “, Anaheim , California, Higashi, Hanamaki Higashi

☆ Japanese tech giant Rakuten plans to launch proprietary AI model
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-11 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Hiroshi "Mickey" Mikitani said the company is working on its own large language model, or LLM. Japan's Rakuten plans to launch its own proprietary artificial intelligence language model, its CEO told CNBC in an interview that aired Monday. The company plans to use the AI model internally to improve operational efficiency and marketing by 20%, Mikitani said. Telecommunications group NTT announced this month that its proprietary LLM will be available in March. Clarification: This story has been updated to clarify that a spokesperson from Rakuten says there is no timeline for the launch of its proprietary AI model.

Persons: Rakuten, Hiroshi, Mickey, Mikitani, Japan's Rakuten, SoftBank Organizations: Mobile, CNBC, Microsoft, Google, U.S ., Baidu, Telecommunications, NTT Locations: U.S, China, Rakuten

A padlock is seen in front of the word 'spyware' and binary code in this illustration taken May 4, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Lobby group Japan Association of New Economy has joined U.S. Big Tech to warn against proposed EU cybersecurity labelling rules that they said could hamper their access to the bloc's markets, according to a letter sent to the EU industry chief. A requirement that Amazon (AMZN.O), Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) Google, Microsoft (MSFT.O) and other non-EU cloud providers set up a joint venture with an EU-based company to qualify for the EU cybersecurity label has triggered criticism from some EU countries and foreign vendors. The Japan Association of New Economy also slammed these requirements. The Japan Association of New Economy is a business lobby group focused on e-business and developing new industries.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Hiroshi Mikitani, Thierry Breton, Mikitani, Foo Yun Chee, Dave Dolan, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Japan Association of New, U.S, Big Tech, European Union, Google, Microsoft, EU, Reuters, Japan Digital Partnership, Thomson Locations: EU, Japan, Japanese, Brussels, Tokyo

☆ Rakuten's mobile misadventure: from ambitious plan to millstone
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Anton Bridge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

By any measure, cash-bleeding Rakuten Mobile is deeply troubled. Rakuten is set for another tough year in 2024 with investors keen to see if it can achieve its goal of having the mobile unit break even. Those steps have raised some 800 billion yen ($5.4 billion). Then in October, SoftBank Corp (9434.T), Japan's No.3 mobile network provider, began offering a generous reward campaign for most mobile users using SoftBank Group's (9984.T) PayPay online payment system. Without profits, the mobile unit is not likely to entice would-be suitors and competition laws would probably prevent the likes of SoftBank and Docomo from bidding.

Persons: Japan's Rakuten, Hiroshi, Mickey, Rakuten, Mitsunobu Tsuruo, Rakuten's, NTT Docomo, Mikitani, Amir Anvarzadeh, Anton Bridge, David Dolan, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Citi, Amazon Japan, Rakuten Securities, Rakuten Bank, SBI Securities, GUNNING, Rakuten Mobile, Reuters, NTT, SoftBank Corp, Asymmetric Advisors, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, ARPU

☆ Rakuten Group's losses, debt burden and financing efforts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Anton Bridge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Here are some details about its deeply troubled mobile business, the group's operating losses, debt burden and its efforts to shore up its finances. It had 351 billion yen ($2.4 billion) in annual sales last year and accounts for 18% of Rakuten's overall revenue. Rakuten Group currently has total debt of more than 1.5 trillion yen, of which 800 billion yen is due to be redeemed by the end of 2025. Nov 2022 - sells 19.99% of Rakuten Securities to Mizuho Securities for 80 billion yen. Nov 2023 - sells a further 29% of Rakuten Securities to Mizuho Securities for 87 billion yen.

Persons: Miho Uranaka, Rakuten, Hiroshi, Mickey, Mikitani, Anton Bridge, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Rakuten, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters Graphics, Japan Post Holdings, HK, Walmart, Rakuten Securities, Mizuho Securities, Rakuten Bank, Thomson Locations: Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, Japanese

☆ BOJ to end negative interest rates in 2024, over 80% of economists say: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Satoshi Sugiyama | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

While none of 26 economists predicted changes in the upcoming December BOJ meeting, many foresaw the negative rate policy, which has set Japan's short-term deposit rate at minus 0.1%, would reach the end of the line next year. In the Nov. 15-20 poll, 22 of 26, or 85%, of economists said the BOJ would end the policy by the end of next year. Having watered down YCC, the BOJ's next focus is to end its negative interest rate policy and push short-term rates to zero, sources previously told Reuters. Close to 85% of poll respondents forecast the BOJ would end its YCC policy, while the rest said it would tweak the scheme again, the poll found. EYES ON NEXT YEAROf 22 economists in the poll who chose 2024 for the end of negative rates, more than a half, 12, opted for the April 25-26 meeting.

Persons: Issei Kato, Kazuo Ueda, Mitsubishi UFJ, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley, Hiroshi Namioka, Namioka, Fumio Kishida's, Chiyuki Takamatsu, Satoshi Sugiyama, Veronica Khongwir, Sujith Pai, Sam Holmes Organizations: Bank of Japan, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of, Reuters, Capital, Research Institute, Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, D, Management, Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Bank of Japan

China detained the executive, named in several media reports as Hiroshi Nishiyama, on suspicion of espionage in March, and he was formally arrested last month. Japan's then foreign minister protested the executive's detention with his Chinese counterpart on a visit to Beijing in April. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Half the respondents in a recent survey of Japanese companies doing business in China said they would cut investments this year. It's a very difficult point in time to be navigating that as a decision maker, in business or politics," he said.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Xi Jinping, Rahm Emanuel, Hiroshi Nishiyama, Japan's, Xi, Masashi Mizobuchi, Nishiyama, Takeshi Niinami, Niinami, Stefan Angrick, Yukiko Toyoda, Kiyoshi Takenaka, John Geddie, Sakura Murakami, Francis Tang, Laurie Chen, Antoni Slodkowski, Andrew Silver, Lincoln Organizations: Economic Cooperation, Kyodo, drugmaker Astellas Pharma, APEC, Reuters, Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Japan Association of Corporate, Suntory, Moody's Analytics, Thomson Locations: Asia, Bangkok, Thailand, TOKYO, BEIJING, China, San Francisco, Tokyo, U.S, Japan, Beijing, officialdom, Shanghai

☆ China Arrests Japanese Executive Despite Tokyo’s Appeals
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Miho Inada | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The arrested Astellas Pharma executive disappeared in late March. Photo: Akio Kon/Bloomberg NewsTOKYO—China formally arrested a Japanese pharmaceutical executive who had been detained since March, Tokyo said Thursday, in a move likely to further chill business travel to the nation. Hirokazu Matsuno , Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, said the Astellas Pharma executive, whom China has previously identified as Hiroshi Nishiyama , was arrested in mid-October. Matsuno said Tokyo had made strong appeals to Beijing for the early release of the executive and would continue doing so.

Persons: Astellas, Akio Kon, Hirokazu, Hiroshi Nishiyama, Matsuno Organizations: Astellas Pharma, Bloomberg News TOKYO Locations: China, Tokyo, Beijing

☆ IMF warning on China puts 'Japanization' risk in spotlight
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Under the Xi administration, China probably shifted its attention away from economics," he told Reuters. "What's fast emerging is the risk of China slipping into deflation, or the 'Japanization' of its economy," Bank of Japan (BOJ) board member Asahi Noguchi said on Thursday. In its World Economic Outlook, the IMF cut China's growth forecast for this year to 5.0% from 5.2% in April, and warned that its property sector crisis could deepen with global spillovers. To be sure, there are differences between what is happening in China and the experience of Japan. "Overall, we believe that China can avoid a prolonged period of sub-par growth with the right policies," Srinivasan said, when asked about the chance of "Japanization" in China.

Persons: Aly, Hiroshi Watanabe's, Hiroshi Watanabe, Japan's, Watanabe, Xi, Asahi Noguchi, Krishna Srinivasan, Srinivasan, doesn't, Leika Kihara, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Chizu Organizations: China Evergrande Group, REUTERS, Japan, Reuters, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Bank of Japan, Economic, Pacific Department, Thomson Locations: Danzhou, Hainan province, China, Japan, MARRAKECH, Morocco, Marrakech, Asia, Beijing, Tokyo

☆ Analysis: IMF warning on China puts 'Japanization' risk in spotlight
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Persons: Aly, Hiroshi Wanatabe, Watanabe, Xi, Asahi Noguchi, Krishna Srinivasan, Srinivasan, doesn't, Leika Kihara, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Chizu Organizations: China Evergrande Group, REUTERS, Japan, Reuters, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Bank of Japan, Economic, Pacific Department, Thomson Locations: Danzhou, Hainan province, China, Japan, MARRAKECH, Morocco, Marrakech, Asia, Beijing, Tokyo

☆ Apple has a stunning stranglehold over Gen Z — and it'll pay off for decades to come
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Researchers found many teens have the iPhone and the Apple Watch — and also use Apple Pay. Still, Apple Music doesn't lead the way: More teens use Spotfiy, the survey says. The report says 42% of teens were found to have used Apple Pay, the tech company's cash transfer app. And 34% of teen respondents said they own an Apple Watch. An incoming call on on Apple Watch, the most popular watch brand among teenagers.

Persons: Piper Sandler, Spotfiy, —, Gen, Piper, Max —, Hiroshi Lockheimer, Lockheimer, Thomas Haigh, doesn't Organizations: Apple Watch, Apple, Service, Casio, Garmin —, YouTube Music, Amazon Prime, Street Journal

☆ Japan's re-defined intervention trigger may slow, but not derail, yen bears
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] A man looks at an electric monitor displaying the Japanese yen exchange rate against the U.S. dollar and Nikkei share average outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan October 4, 2023. While money flow data suggest there was no intervention, the price action was enough to keep yen bears at bay. Rather, the remarks by Kanda were likely a fresh warning shot to markets that authorities could step in any time - even if yen moves were moderate, they say. Intervention isn't the best tool to arrest steady yen declines anyway, said former currency diplomat Hiroshi Watanabe. "There's no point intervening when yen moves are gradual," Watanabe told Reuters.

Persons: Issei Kato, Masato Kanda, that's, Kanda, Tokyo's, Atsushi Takeuchi, They're, Daisaku Ueno, Mitsubishi UFJ, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley, Hiroshi Watanabe, Watanabe, Leika Kihara, Tetsushi, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: U.S ., Nikkei, REUTERS, Tokyo, Authorities, Bank of, U.S . Federal Reserve, Treasury, Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, TOKYO, United States

☆ Tokyo’s Meiji Jingu Gaien redevelopment plan sparks protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Emiko Jozuka | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Last month the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a UNESCO advisory body, issued a “heritage alert” for Jingu Gaien. Nishikawa believes that the commercial nature of the redevelopment “breaks the promise” of keeping the Jingu Gaien as a public space. Protesters gather for a demonstration at Meiji Jingu Gaien on September 15, 2023. Work commenced at the Meiji Jingu Gaien site in March. “They need to go back to the drawing board and use a much more democratic process to decide the future of Jingu Gaien.”

Persons: Hiroshi Ono, Meiji Jingu Gaien, ”, Emperor Meiji, Emperor Naruhito, Babe Ruth, Daniel Campisi, Jingu Gaien, Naoko Nishikawa, Nishikawa, Shinji Isoya, Gaien, CNN Shinji, Mitsui Fudosan, Hajime Funada, Meiji Jingu, Kiyotatsu Yamamoto, Rochelle Kopp, Jingu, Mikiko Ishikawa, Ishikawa, Kopp, ” Daniel Campisi, CNN Yamamoto, ” Kopp Organizations: Japan CNN, Tokyo, CNN, Chichibunomiya Rugby, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Council, UNESCO, CNN Tokyo, Mitsui Fudosan, Japan’s, Protesters, Meiji, Liberal Democratic Party, University of Tokyo, Japan National, Co, World Cities Culture Forum, Properties, “ Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Meiji, Tokyo’s, Shinjuku, Minato, ”, New, New York, London

☆ Rakuten CEO touts Viber's ability to counter Russian 'fake news'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hiroshi Mikitani, CEO of Rakuten, attends the annual Allen and Co. Sun Valley media conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, U.S., July 10, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Hiroshi Mikitani, the founder and chief executive of Rakuten Group (4755.T), on Saturday touted the ability of his company's Viber messaging platform to counter Russian propaganda. "Unlike other social media, we've made it crystal clear we're going to block all these fake news and propaganda of Russia," Mikitani told Reuters in a Zoom interview during a visit to Kyiv. Viber, which launched in 2010 and was acquired by Rakuten in 2014, has a 98% market penetration rate in Ukraine. Asked if the app had faced attempts to breach it by Russia, he said there had not been any breaches.

Persons: Hiroshi Mikitani, Brendan McDermid, we've, Mikitani, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Viber, Rakuten, Max Hunder, Mike Harrison Organizations: Allen, Co, Sun, REUTERS, Rights, Rakuten, Saturday, Reuters, Access, Thomson Locations: Sun Valley , Idaho, U.S, Russia, Kyiv, Ukraine

☆ Japan foreign minister Hayashi to meet Ukraine counterpart - ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Japan's Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi speaks during a press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (not pictured) in Cairo, Egypt September 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi will meet his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv on Saturday, the Japanese foreign ministry said. In his talks with Kuleba, Hayashi will reiterate Japan's firm support of Ukraine and address its involvement in the international community to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine as soon as possible, the ministry said in a statement. Hayashi is accompanied by executives of Japanese firms, including Hiroshi Mikitani, founder and chief executive Rakuten Group (4755.T), the ministry said. Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a surprise visit to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy in March.

Persons: Yoshimasa Hayashi, Sameh Shoukry, Mohamed Abd El Ghany, Dmytro Kuleba, Kuleba, Hayashi, Hiroshi Mikitani, Fumio Kishida, Volodomyr Zelenskiy, Junko Fujita, Nobuhiro Kubo, Michael Perry Organizations: Japan's, Egyptian Foreign, REUTERS, Rights, Ukrainian, Rakuten Group, Thomson Locations: Cairo, Egypt, Kyiv, Ukraine

☆ Japan Foreign Minister Hayashi to Meet Ukraine Counterpart - Ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi will meet his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv on Saturday, the Japanese foreign ministry said. In his talks with Kuleba, Hayashi will reiterate Japan's firm support of Ukraine and address its involvement in the international community to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine as soon as possible, the ministry said in a statement. Hayashi is accompanied by executives of Japanese firms, including Hiroshi Mikitani, founder and chief executive Rakuten Group, the ministry said. Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a surprise visit to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy in March. (Reporting by Junko Fujita and Nobuhiro Kubo; Editing by Michael Perry)

Persons: Yoshimasa Hayashi, Dmytro Kuleba, Kuleba, Hayashi, Hiroshi Mikitani, Fumio Kishida, Volodomyr Zelenskiy, Junko Fujita, Nobuhiro Kubo, Michael Perry Organizations: Ukrainian, Rakuten Group, Japan's Locations: TOKYO, Kyiv, Ukraine

The mayor of Fukushima, Hiroshi Kohata, said on Saturday the city’s town hall alone had received about 200 such harassment calls in two days. Security officers in front of the Japanese embassy in Beijing, China, on August 26, 2023. In an echo of the Japanese embassy’s statement, it urged Tokyo to protect the safety of Chinese residents in Japan. Many countries, including China, release treated radioactive water from their own nuclear plants, sometimes at higher concentrations than in Fukushima. Other prefectures are considering similar programs, with the Osaka governor proposing Fukushima seafood be served at all government cafeterias.

Persons: China’s, Hiroshi Kohata, It’s, ”, Yasuhiro Matsuda, Yoon Suk Yeol, Han Duck, Yoon, Han, Yuriko Koike, Rahm Emanuel, Matsuda, Xi Jinping, Fumio Kishida Organizations: Tokyo CNN, NHK, CNN, Security, Kyodo, Chinese Foreign Ministry, University of Tokyo’s Institute, Advanced Studies, South, Osaka, US, East China, Reuters Locations: Fukushima, Japan, China, Tokyo, Fukushima prefecture, Beijing, “, Qingdao, China’s Shandong, Suzhou, China’s Jiangsu, Asia, East

Only one of 22 economists, or 5%, expected the BOJ to start unwinding its ultra-easy policy this year, the Aug 15-23 poll found, significantly down from 50% in a July survey. Four said the BOJ will start unwinding in January-March 2024, five chose April-June, six selected July-September and another six opted for October-December. A separate question showed 73% of economists expecting the BOJ to end YCC next year, up from 50% in July. A question about when the BOJ ends its negative short-term interest rate policy showed 41% of economists anticipating it in 2024, down from 54% in a May poll. Economists raised their projection for Japan's fiscal 2023 GDP growth to 1.8% from 1.1% in the previous poll.

Persons: Issei Kato, Takumi Tsunoda, YCC, Kazuo, Ueda, Hiroshi Namioka, Kantaro Komiya, Satoshi Sugiyama, Susobhan Sarkar, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Bank of Japan, REUTERS, Rights, Shinkin Central Bank Research Institute, D, Management, U.S, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan

☆ How Google's augmented-reality dream turned into chaos
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Hugh Langley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Google's AR glasses were beset by a messy strategy, company insiders say. Google's AR fumbles have proven frustrating for employees in the face of mounting competition from Apple and Meta. "They're dabbling," one insider said of Google's AR efforts. Ramin Talaie/Getty ImagesNorth leaders were told they would lead a new project under Google's hardware boss, Rick Osterloh, and Google's AR and VR leader, Clay Bavor. A small group inside the AR division is also exploring how artificial intelligence could be used with AR glasses, a source said.

Persons: Tim Cook, Iris, Google's, Clay, Ramin Talaie, Rick Osterloh, Clay Bavor, Mark Lucovsky, Lucovsky, Paul Greco, —, Google's Hiroshi Lockheimer, Samsung's, Bavor, Shahram, Hiroshi Lockheimer, Betty, Barry, Greco, Eddie Chung, Kurt Akeley, Akeley, Justin Sullivan, Meta, Sundar Pichai, it's Organizations: Samsung, Apple, Google, Meta, CBC, Insiders, Vision, SBS Biz, Labs, Pro, Bloomberg Locations: Raxium, Kitchen , Ontario

☆ Rakuten Group developing services with OpenAI
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Japan's Rakuten Group (4755.T) is working with the company behind ChatGPT, OpenAI, to develop services using AI, CEO Hiroshi Mikitani announced on Wednesday. The companies will soon sign a basic agreement, he said. Reporting by Anton Bridge; Editing by Jacqueline WongOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Hiroshi Mikitani, Anton Bridge, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Thomson Locations: TOKYO

☆ Some at Bank of Japan baulked at ex-chief Kuroda's 'bazooka' stimulus, 2013 meeting minutes show
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Haruhiko Kuroda speaks during a news conference after attending the Monetary Policy Meeting at BOJ headquarters in Tokyo, Japan January 18, 2023, in this photo released by Kyodo. TOKYO, July 31 (Reuters) - Some Bank of Japan (BOJ) policymakers baulked at former chief Haruhiko Kuroda's idea of deploying a "bazooka" massive stimulus a decade ago, unconvinced central banks had the power to jolt public perceptions, accounts of the meeting released on Monday showed. Former banker Koji Ishida said he would propose reviewing the stimulus programme if no tangible results were seen one year into its launch, the minutes showed. Since then, the BOJ has capped long-term borrowing costs at about zero and has pledged to maintain ultra-low interest rates until its 2% inflation target is sustainably met and accompanied by wage growth. After serving two, five-year terms, Kuroda stepped down from the top BOJ post in March.

Persons: Haruhiko Kuroda, baulked, Haruhiko, Shinzo Abe, Kuroda, Masaaki Shirakawa, Hiroshi Nakaso, Takahide Kiuchi, Takehiro Sato, Sato, Koji Ishida, Leika Kihara, Jamie Freed Organizations: Bank of Japan, Kyodo ., Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Kyodo . TOKYO

☆ Michelin starred hotels around the world, from Italy to Vietnam
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Chris Dwyer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +24 min

Courtesy CoteArgentinian maestro Mauro Colagreco was the first ever non-French chef to earn three Michelin stars in France, at Mirazur on the famed French Riviera. Gastronomic restaurant Plénitude by chef Arnaud Donckele marked an extraordinary debut by being awarded the pinnacle of three Michelin stars just six months after opening. Since 2021, they have held three Michelin stars for their cuisine, which celebrates peerless produce from their sustainable farm just seven miles away. Lung King Heen, Four Seasons Hong KongLung King Heen was the first Chinese restaurant to hold three Michelin stars. Capella Hotels & ResortsFinally to Vietnam, where Michelin published its first ever guide in June 2023.

Persons: Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, it’s, Heiko Nieder, carne ”, Ben Benoliel, Alex Nietosvuori, Ally Thompson, Hjem, morel, Cigliutti Enrico Crippa, Piazza, Crippa, Ferran Adrià, Mauro Colagreco, Côte, Raymond Blanc, Paul Wilkinson Chef Raymond Blanc, Lady Gaga, Queen Elizabeth II, ”, ” Blanc, Luke Selby, Plénitude, Cheval Blanc, France Plénitude, Sylvie Becquet, Blanc Paris, chef Arnaud Donckele, Chopin, Maxime Frédéric –, Aled Williams, Gareth Ward, Il Ristorante Niko Romito, Ristorante Niko Romito, Niko Romito, Romito, Giacomo Amicucci, Kyle, Katina, Michel Bras, Le Saint, Martin, Château Saint, France Le Saint, Chef Jean, Luc Lefrançois, Saint, –, sommelier Vincent Arhuro, King Heen, Hong Kong Lung King Heen, Heen, who’s, Chan Yan Tak, Rome Cavalieri, Pergola, Heinz Beck, Hatta, Ushikubo, Raby Hunt, Raby Hunt's Michelin, James Close, Maria, Chef Maria, Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer, Germany Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer, Lorenz, Young, Reto, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, John D, Waku, Ghin, Tetsuya Wakuda, There’s, Tetsuya, they’re, kinome, It’s, Denmark There's, Jean Marchal, Maria Coppy, Jakob de Neergaard, iberico, Sven Wassmer, “, Lumnezia, Douglas, Koki, Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Bill Bensley, Chris Dwyer Organizations: CNN, Michelin, Duomo, Capella, Rosewood, of, Notre Dame, Resorts, Dubai Michelin, Resort Dubai, Reale, peerless, ”, Le Saint, Hong, Hong Kong Lung, Seasons Hong, Rockefeller, Sands, Royal Suite, Royal, Swiss, Koki, Capella Hotels, Capella Hanoi Locations: Bangkok, Piedmont, Hanoi, Tokyo, Zurich, Switzerland, Northumberland, Hadrian's, Swedish, England, Wall, Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy, Japan, Spanish, Capella Bangkok, Thailand, France, Mirazur, Thai, Rosewood Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Chaat, Oxfordshire, ”, Cheval Blanc Paris, of Light, City of, Powys, Wales, Bulgari, Dubai, UAE, Italy’s Abruzzo, SingleThread, California, Healdsburg, Sonoma, Toya, Le, Provence, French, Vence, Marseille, Seasons Hong Kong, Yunnan, Peking, La, Rome, Eternal, County Durham, Darlington, romaine, Berlin, Germany, Brandenburg, Young Swiss, Europe, Marina, Sands, Singapore, Australia, Shizuoka, Hokkaido, d’Angleterre, Copenhagen, Denmark, Marchal, Hibana, Capella Hanoi, Vietnam

☆ The Days Were Long and the Years Were Longer
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Eleanor Henderson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

At the margins of “The Light Room,” the pandemic persists. We glimpse it in the colorful masks of the children in the park, in the Halloween candy chute, in attempts to schedule vaccines. Mostly, though, Covid is not the protagonist but the force that keeps the family indoors, that amplifies their isolation. “The Light Room” is ultimately, as Zambreno writes, “a collection of meditations.” Some may indeed find them “translucent” — light-catching, yes, but also insubstantial. Readers looking for sturdier insights into what the virus has meant for human history are unlikely to discover them here.

Persons: Covid, John, snot, Joseph Cornell, Natalia Ginzburg, Italo Calvino, David Wojnarowicz, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Yuko Tsushima, I’ve, Zambreno, “, Eleanor Henderson, ” Organizations: Cornell, Ithaca College Locations: naps

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