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Japan's Kioxia and U.S. chipmaker Western Digital have been hit hard by plunging market demand and oversupply. Combining their flash memory businesses could boost competitiveness against rivals like South Korea's Samsung Electronics (005930.KS). Western Digital did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Kioxia, previously Toshiba Memory, was sold by Toshiba Corp (6502.T) in 2018 to a consortium led by Bain Capital for $18 billion. Kioxia and Western Digital were in merger talks in 2021 before the negotiations stalled over a series of issues including valuation discrepancies.

☆ Human DNA can now be pulled from thin air and sequenced
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Scientists have been able to collect and analyze detailed genetic data from human DNA from all these places, raising thorny ethical questions about consent, privacy and security when it comes to our biological information. Environmental DNA has been obtained from air, soil, sediment, water, permafrost, snow and ice cores and the techniques are primarily being used to help track and protect endangered animals. However, the ability to capture human DNA from the environment could have a range of unintended consequences — both inadvertent and malicious, they added. They termed this information “human genetic bycatch” and decided to study the phenomenon in greater depth. We cannot avoid shedding DNA in the public space,” Moreau, who was not involved in this study, said via email.

☆ Exclusive: Japan's Rakuten plans new share issue to raise around $2.2 bln -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Miho Uranaka | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The public offering is expected to raise roughly 300 billion yen ($2.2 billion) but the amount could change depending on Rakuten's share price, which will influence the pricing of its new equity issuance. Additionally, Rakuten plans to issue shares to founder and CEO Hiroshi Mikitani and a fund controlled by the entrepreneur, the person said. A Rakuten spokesperson said it was not something it could comment on. Rakuten shares erased gains and tumbled, closing down 9% after the Reuters report. The group has some 400 billion yen in bonds due by 2024 and a further 430 billion yen in 2025, Refinitiv data showed.

☆ G7 agreed global financial system resilient but needs vigilance, Japan finmin says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Japan's Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki, Germany's Finance Minister Christian Lindner, Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, Joachim Nagel, President of Germany's federal reserve... Read moreNIIGATA, Japan, May 13 (Reuters) - Finance ministers and central banks from the Group of Seven rich nations agreed the global financial system is resilient but the need for vigilance remains, Japan's finance minister Shunichi Suzuki said on Saturday. "We reaffirm that our financial system is resilient, supported by the financial regulatory reforms implemented after the 2008 global financial crisis, including considerable increases in the levels of bank capital and liquidity, an international framework for effectively resolving failing institutions, and strengthened cross-border regulatory and supervisory cooperation," it said. British finance minister Jeremy Hunt told reporters at a separate event that G7 finance chiefs in Japan had "very frank and open discussions" about the challenges they face, including banking regulation. The ministers have wrapped up a three-day meeting in the Japanese city of Niigata. Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto and Leika Kihara; Writing by David Dolan Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ The real reasons stores are closing in big cities
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

These big chains and others have closed stores in major US cities recently, raising alarm about the future of retail in some of the country’s most prominent downtowns and business districts. How policymakers remake their downtowns — with retail as a crucial attraction — will be crucial to cities’ fiscal health and regional economies. People who are being employed in those stores are losing their jobs” because of crime, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, said in February. San Francisco lost around 6% of its retail establishments from 2019 to 2021, according to the think tank’s research. For example, chain-store closures in New York City have correlated to the products most frequently bought online.

☆ G7 to vow diversifying of supply chains, filling bank regulatory gaps -draft
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

In the draft communique, the G7 central banks said they remained "strongly committed" to achieving price stability and ensuring inflation expectations stayed well-anchored. "Diversification of supply chains can contribute to safeguarding energy security and help us to maintain macroeconomic stability," the draft communique said. But it said G7 countries will work to ensure foreign investment in critical infrastructure "does not undermine the economic sovereignty of host countries." On banking-system woes, the draft communique said the financial system was resilient due to regulatory reforms implemented after the 2008 global financial crisis. "We will address data, supervisory, and regulatory gaps in the banking system," the draft communique said.

☆ How Meta is fighting off Apple's best shot and saving its ad business
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Lauren Johnson | Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Meta's AI tools has helped save its ad business, after Apple rolled out its ATT privacy feature. These AI tools have helped Meta regain the trust of some advertisers after ad performance declined. Knowing it would lose the user signals that made its ads business so lucrative, Meta heavily invested in artificial intelligence. "Meta's advantage in AI is its advantage in training data," said Adam Heimlich, CEO of Chalice Custom Algorithms. "Every advertiser who places a Meta tag on their site or app is contributing to Meta's advantage by contributing data.

Toyota's board on Wednesday recommended that shareholders vote against the resolution, to be put to the company's annual general meeting in June. On Wednesday Toyota said it expects a five-fold jump in pure electric vehicle (EV) sales this business year. "We need concrete policy changes and a better annual review drawing on independent data to calm international investors." LONG ENGAGEMENTIt will be the first time that Toyota faces such a climate-related resolution at its annual general meeting, the funds said. It first planned to submit a shareholder proposal in 2021, but withdrew that after it received assurances that Toyota would review its climate lobbying.

☆ Groves wins chaotic Giro stage five after dog causes Evenepoel crash
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

May 10 (Reuters) - Favourite Remco Evenepoel crashed twice on stage five of the Giro d'Italia on Wednesday, the first time after a dog strayed on to the road in treacherous conditions caused by driving rain, before Kaden Groves won the stage in a bunch sprint. The second crash did not affect Evenepoel's time as it happened inside the three-km mark, effectively neutralising the general classification times. But the crash left the Belgian world champion fuming while the rest of the bunch surged ahead and Alpecin–Deceuninck's Groves dominated the sprint to win the stage. The breakaway trio of Thomas Champion, Samuele Zoccarato and Stefano Gandin had built up a head of steam before they were absorbed by the peloton with seven km to go. Just super bad luck, with the second crash," he said.

☆ Ukraine wants F-16s to shoot down Russian strike fighters dropping bombs it can't beat. Airpower experts say give them the jets.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Its defenses struggle to counter the bombs, so Ukraine wants tools to take out the Russian strike fighters. "Guided bombs are tricky for air defense because they have short flight times and usually very little infrared signature," he said. "The air defense system with the longest distance available to us is the S-300, but it's Soviet-era weapons." That is absolutely unrealistic," he said, challenging the arguments against sending fighter aircraft. There are significant training, supply chain, and operational hurdles to overcome, making essential ground-based air defense a priority in the meantime.

☆ 7-Eleven spin-off would jeopardise growth, CEO says, pushing back at ValueAct
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Ritsuko Shimizu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, May 5 (Reuters) - A spin-off of 7-Eleven would jeopardise the convenience store chain's future growth by cutting it off from its parent's strength in the food business, the chief executive of Japan's Seven & i Holdings Co Ltd (3382.T) told Reuters. ValueAct has long been critical of Seven & i's conglomerate structure, calling for a spin-off of the 7-Eleven chain or for a sale of the entire company, but Isaka said that would not be in the chain's best interests. "The risk and probability of 7-Eleven Japan's growth coming to a halt would be very high if the company's product development resources were to be cut off," he said. In April, ValueAct ratcheted up the pressure on the company, calling for Isaka's departure and saying he was responsible for a "flawed strategy". Isaka said 7-Eleven is reliant on staff and know-how from Seven & i's supermarket businesses, such as Ito-Yokado, in developing products for its "Seven Premium" private brand.

☆ Ten Hag urges Man Utd to be more clinical after 'annoying' defeat at Brighton
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

United and Brighton both had opportunities early in the first half, with Antony firing wide in the second minute before Kaoru Mitoma hammered a fierce shot straight into the face of David De Gea. "Every defeat is a disappointment but in the end when you lose in the last second, that is of course annoying," Ten Hag told reporters. Asked if United's defeat was caused by fatigue, Ten Hag said: "I have seen our physical outputs in the last games, we still have high levels, performing really well. We have to be more clinical and stay focused until the end of the game." The defeat left United in fourth place on 63 points.

☆ Westinghouse announces a new small nuclear reactor — a notable step in the industry's efforts to remake itself
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Westinghouse is offering a smaller-scale nuclear reactor in an effort to expand access to nuclear power as demand for clean energy soars. The company announced the launch of a small version of its flagship AP1000 nuclear reactor on Thursday. Small nuclear reactors are also being eyed by industrial producers as carbon-free sources of heat, Merrifield told CNBC. But an AP300 nuclear reactor will produce roughly the same amount of electricity as what a typical coal plant produces, so replacing one coal plant with a small nuclear reactor would be simpler. "We have absolute confidence, because the NRC has already licensed every bit of this technology," Durham told CNBC.

☆ Late MacAllister penalty gives Brighton 1-0 win over Manchester United
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - May 4, 2023 Brighton & Hove Albion's Alexis Mac Allister scores their first goal from the penalty spot Action Images via Reuters/Paul ChildsBRIGHTON, England, May 4 (Reuters) - Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Alexis MacAllister fired the winner from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time to snatch a 1-0 win for his side over Manchester United in a pulsating Premier League clash on Thursday. The victory was some measure of revenge for Brighton, who lost to Manchester United on penalties in their FA Cup semi-final 11 days ago. Brighton continued to press forward looking for a winner, with substitute Solly March and MacAllister both forcing superb saves from De Gea as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes. "Really happy and delighted for the performance and result," Brighton coach Roberto de Zerbi told Sky Sports. "There is a God of football - we deserved to win the (FA Cup) semi-final but lost on penalties, but today we won with a penalty."

☆ The makers of Dispo are quietly building a new dating app that uses AI to spark romance — but David Dobrik isn't involved
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Amanda Perelli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The team behind photo-sharing app Dispo is building a new dating app called Teaser AI. Spotted on the Apple App Store, Teaser AI will incorporate AI into online dating. The team behind David Dobrik's photo-sharing app, Dispo, is up to something new: a dating app. Teaser AI, with the tagline "less talk, more action," is an unreleased dating app that will — you guessed it — incorporate AI into online dating. The app also pledges to "ward off catfishing and creeps" by verifying profiles, according to the app store listing.

☆ Snapchat just launched 'Creator Collab,' a new marketplace for top influencers to work with brands. Here's how it works.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Shriya Bhattacharya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Snapchat has introduced Collab Studio to help top influencers on the platform connect with brands. Snap is offering a new way for influencers to connect with brands to create sponsored content. Snapchat has become a creator favorite lately — its parent company Snap boasts of over 750 million monthly users on the app, most of whom open it almost 40 times a day. Snap's new Collab Studio offers brands the ability to work with four initial partners — Whalar, Beeline by Brat TV, Influential, and Studio71 — to produce video content. With thousands of creators on the platform, Collab Studio also helps companies identify the best talent for their campaigns, execute contracts, and track deliverables.

☆ France pension protests explained: France is still mad -- but can the protests last?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Joseph Ataman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

In 1995, weeks-long mass protests forced the government of the day to abandon plans to reform public sector pensions. For many in France, the pensions system, as with social support more generally, is viewed as the bedrock of the state’s responsibilities and relationship with its citizens. Nathan Laine/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesIn contrast, during the Yellow Vest protests, started in opposition to hikes in fuel prices, violence gradually soured public support. That these pensions protests continue to hold such popular goodwill is an ominous sign for Macron’s future plans. The size and violence of pensions protests spiked when Macron forced the legislation past the country’s lower legislative house without a vote.

☆ Japan's Nidec posts first quarterly loss in 10 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Nidec Corp FollowTOKYO, April 24 (Reuters) - Japanese electric motor maker Nidec Corp (6594.T) on Monday posted its first quarterly operating loss in a decade, of 24.3 billion yen ($181.01 million), hit by hefty restructuring costs and difficulty in procuring semiconductors and other components. The result for the January-March fourth quarter compared to an average estimate for a 11.75 billion yen loss in a survey of eight analysts by Refinitiv. It also compared to a 36.9 billion yen profit in the same period a year earlier. "The business environment surrounding Nidec continues to be severe," the company said in a statement. For the business year that began April 1, the Kyoto-based firm forecast operating profit of 220 billion yen, versus an average 210.87 billion yen forecast by 21 analysts.

☆ Ten Hag pleased with United response in FA Cup semi-final win
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, England, April 23 (Reuters) - Manchester United bounced back from a difficult week with a 7-6 shootout win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday that booked an FA Cup final spot to the relief of manager Erik ten Hag. It was the first-ever FA Cup semi-final shootout to go to sudden death. "He is quite cool when it comes to penalties and he's quite cool in general," Ten Hag said of Lindelof. MANCHESTER DERBYSunday's win set up the first all-Manchester FA Cup final, after City cruised past Sheffield United 3-0 on Saturday, and Ten Hag's second showpiece match in his first season at the helm after he guided United to a League Cup triumph in February. "Whether Manchester United win the cup or not it's going to be a fantastic season for them.

☆ Rakuten Bank shares face glut of buy orders in Tokyo debut after $625 mln IPO
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, April 21 (Reuters) - Shares of Rakuten Bank Ltd (5838.T) were untraded with a glut of buy orders in their market debut on Friday, after the internet bank raised $625 million in Japan's largest initial public offering (IPO) in more than four years. Shares were flooded with buy orders at 1,470 yen, Tokyo Stock Exchange data showed, a 5% premium to the IPO price of 1,400. Rakuten Bank priced its IPO at the top of its downsized range this month, raising around 83.3 billion yen ($625 million), excluding a "greenshoe" option of additional shares. Rakuten amended its IPO prospectus after investors pushed for details on the risks from its exposure to money-losing parent Rakuten Group Inc (4755.T), Reuters reported on Thursday citing two people with knowledge of the matter. The IPO marks a much-needed cash boost for e-commerce firm Rakuten Group, which has seen four years of losses from the costly build-out and struggles of its mobile phone business.

☆ Manchester United: Despite $800 million squad, reality hits home for Erik ten Hag after another 'unacceptable' Red Devils meltdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

In truth, Ten Hag will likely be counting himself lucky that his team only lost by three goals on a night United was second best in every department. “We have to face that we let ourselves down and we let the fans down,” Ten Hag told the club’s website. “We didn’t match the standards that you can expect from a team like Manchester United. Everyone can expect higher standards from Manchester United.”It was a night to forget for David de Gea and Harry Maguire. Erik ten Hag now turns his attention to a huge FA Cup semifinal against Brighton.

☆ Exclusive: In Rakuten Bank's downsized IPO, investors pushed for details on troubled parent, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Miho Uranaka | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Rakuten Bank declined to comment beyond what it has already disclosed. Rakuten Group directed Reuters to Rakuten Bank. Rakuten Bank also disclosed a 63.2 billion yen investment in securitised assets related to the struggling mobile business. It later priced the IPO at the top of the scaled-back range, valuing the bank at 238 billion yen. Demand from overseas investors was so strong at the lowered price that bankers ultimately increased the portion of IPO available to overseas investors, filings showed.

☆ Japan will keep calling for China to act responsibly, Kishida says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Yukiko Toyoda | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TOKYO, April 20 (Reuters) - Japan will keep calling for China to act responsibly on the world stage, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Thursday, a sign of Tokyo's deepening concern about stability in the Taiwan Strait following Beijing's recent military drills. The comments from Kishida, after China conducted drills in the waters off Taiwan earlier this month, highlight Tokyo's growing alarm about the possibility of an attack on nearby Taiwan. Japan would "continue to call on China to take the responsibility it should be taking as a major country on the world stage," Kishida said during a roundtable interview with members of the foreign media. Japan has joined the United States in putting export restrictions on chip-making tools but in doing so avoided mentioning China so as not to antagonise its neighbour. Kishida also said Japan was calling on China to allow for the return of a Japanese executive detained there.

☆ Soccer–Sevilla punish slapdash Man United to ease into Europa League semis
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - Europa League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - Sevilla v Manchester United - Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville, Spain - April 20, 2023 Sevilla's Youssef En-Nesyri celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Marcelo Del PozoSEVILLA, Spain, April 20 (Reuters) - Europa League kings Sevilla breezed past Manchester United into the semi-finals of their favourite competition as Youssef En Nesyri scored twice in a dominant 3-0 win on Thursday that secured a 5-2 aggregate triumph. En Nesyri opened the scoring in the eighth minute, netting a close-range shot after Erik Lamela challenged Harry Maguire on the edge of the penalty area. Sevilla extended the lead straight after halftime when defender Loic Bade scored with a towering header from a corner which went in off the crossbar. En Nesyri wrapped up the win in the 81st minute after United goalkeeper David De Gea failed to deal with a long ball over the top and the Morocco striker finished well to move the Spanish side closer to a record-extending seventh victory in the competition. Reporting by Fernando Kallas in Madrid, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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