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☆ South Africa's naval exercise with Russia, China raises Western alarm
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Carien Du Plessis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"These exercises are going to be a lightning rod," said Steven Gruzd, of the South African Institute of International Affairs. "South Africa, like any independent and sovereign state, has a right to conduct its foreign relations in line with its ... national interests," South Africa's defence ministry said last month. Russia's defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment, and South Africa's National Defence Force has denied the TASS report. China is now Africa's top bilateral trading partner, but the EU is by far the largest market for South African exports. Domestic critics of South Africa's push to deepen ties with Russia and China say that economic reality alone should be enough to give the government serious pause.

☆ NBA roundup: Giannis' triple-double sparks Bucks to 7th straight win
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

Khris Middleton scored 24 points off the bench for the Bucks, who won their seventh straight game. Tyler Herro added 24 points despite shooting just 2 of 8 from 3-point range, and Bam Adebayo recorded a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds. Jalen Brunson scored 41 points, three shy of his career high, while Julius Randle posted 28 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks. De'Andre Hunter scored 20 points and Clint Capela had 12 points and 11 rebounds. DeMar DeRozan collected 27 points, seven assists and seven rebounds, and Nikola Vucevic had 23 points and 11 rebounds.

☆ VCs have swapped out tennis rackets and golf clubs for pickleball paddles. Here's why the sport has become one of the hottest hobbies in Silicon Valley.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Stephanie Palazzolo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Pickleball has exploded in popularity in recent years, becoming America's fastest-growing sport. From building relationships to escaping stress, here's why VCs are obsessed with the sport. In the background, pop music floated through the air as the group prepared for a trying battle of wits and athletic prowess — pickleball. Once reserved for the quiet neighborhoods of suburbs and 55-plus retirement communities, pickleball has exploded onto the tech and VC scene in recent years, investors say. A networking toolAnd other aspects of the sport make it an ideal pick for a hobby or networking tool, VCs added.

☆ NBA roundup: Mavs win game but lose Luka Doncic
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Knicks 120, Celtics 117 (OT)Julius Randle scored 37 points and Jalen Brunson added 29 as New York came back to win in overtime in Boston. Brunson added four rebounds, seven assists and two blocks, rejecting Malcolm Brogdon's potential game-tying 3 at the buzzer. Jayson Tatum had 35 points and 14 rebounds while Jaylen Brown added 22 points in Boston's third straight loss. Zach LaVine had 18 points and nine rebounds, Patrick Williams posted 15 points in his hometown, and Nikola Vucevic (nine rebounds) and Ayo Dosunmu each had 12 points. Norman Powell added 15 points for Los Angeles, with Robert Covington scoring 13 and Reggie Jackson and Ivica Zubac contributing 12 and 11 points, respectively.

☆ NBA roundup: Damian Lillard scores 60, moves up 3-pointer list
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Jerami Grant added 19 points and Anfernee Simons had 16 points and nine assists, which won its second game in a row. 76ers 137, Nets 133Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points, Joel Embiid added 26 points and 10 rebounds and host Philadelphia defeated Brooklyn. Rui Hachimura scored 12 points in his Lakers debut after he was acquired in a trade with the Washington Wizards on Monday. Pat Connaughton had 19 points and 12 rebounds and Khris Middleton added 10 points for the Bucks. Mathurin went for a game-high 26 points, but Banchero's Magic came out on top thanks to a strong start.

☆ NBA roundup: Thunder win on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's late shot
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Nnaji was fouled on an offensive rebound and hit two free throws to tie it at 99-all with 30.2 seconds left before Gilgeous-Alexander's late heroics. Clippers 112, Mavericks 98Kawhi Leonard had 30 points and nine rebounds, and visiting Los Angeles dominated the fourth quarter in a win over Dallas. Paul George scored 21 points and Norman Powell added 19 for Los Angeles, which outscored the Mavericks 33-19 in the final period. New Orleans' CJ McCollum took a 3-pointer with 7.6 seconds left that would've given the Pelicans a 99-98 lead, but the shot missed off the front of the rim. Dennis Schroder added 24 points, eight assists and six rebounds as Los Angeles won its second straight game.

☆ I tried to guess if Apple audiobooks were narrated by AI or real people. It was harder than you'd think.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I listened to a mix of human narrators and AI voices in a blind test to guess which ones were real. The voice sounded vaguely familiar to some more neutral voice actors I had listened to before. I thought this was AI too, but my colleague who also heard it was insistent it was a human voice. Overall, it was relatively easy to tell which ones were narrated by an AI voice, but I didn't find the synthesized voices off-putting. Although the human voices were nicer to listen to, I'd also be happy opting for an AI audiobook if there wasn't another option.

☆ NBA roundup: Lakers rally, end Grizzlies' 11-game win streak
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Ja Morant scored 22 points while Brandon Clarke and Tyus Jones added 20 points each for the Grizzlies. Paul George chipped in 16 points and 12 assists, Marcus Morris Sr. scored 15 points and Ivica Zubac racked up 12 points and 16 rebounds. Murray finished with 29, going 14-for-25 from the field and adding 12 assists to record his sixth double-double of the season. Domantas Sabonis contributed 18 points, 14 assists and 14 rebounds as Sacramento notched its sixth straight victory, one shy of its season high. Gilgeous-Alexander also had seven assists but couldn't prevent the end of the Thunder's four-game winning streak.

☆ NBA roundup: Celtics claim 8th straight with OT win over Warriors
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Williams added 11 rebounds. Damion Lee added 16 points and reserve Saben Lee had a season-best 15 as Phoenix won for just the third time in its past 15 games. Nic Claxton had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Joe Harris and Seth Curry scored 16 points apiece and Cam Thomas added 15. Anthony Edwards had 23 points and Kyle Anderson added 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for Minnesota. Hamidou Diallo tossed in 17 points, while Saddiq Bey and Jaden Ivey had 16 points apiece.

☆ Indonesia says BASF, Eramet near $2.6 bln deal to process nickel for EV batteries
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A logo is seen on the facade of the BASF plant and former Ciba production site in Schweizerhalle near Basel July 7, 2009. Indonesia's investment ministry cited BASF chief executive Martin Brudermüller as saying the project investment would be worth around 2.4 billion euros ($2.59 billion). Eramet spokeswoman Fanny Mounier said the project was subject to a final investment decision and further details would be disclosed if a decision was made. The planned plant would produce mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) from nickel through a high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) plant. Investment into MHP production in Indonesia has so far been dominated by Chinese companies such as Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Tsingshan Holding Group.

☆ BASF, Eramet near $2.6 bln Indonesia deal to process nickel for EV batteries
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

JAKARTA, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Germany's BASF (BASFn.DE) and French miner Eramet (ERMT.PA) are finalising a $2.6 billion partnership deal to invest in a facility in Indonesia to process nickel for use in batteries for electric vehicles, Indonesian officials said. The project investment would be worth around 2.4 billion euros ($2.59 billion), the investment ministry said, citing BASF chief executive Martin Brudermüller. BASF and Eramet's investment plan was in line with the government's "aspirations to set up Indonesia as world-class EV player," said Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia. Indonesia is also finalising agreements with Chinese automaker BYD Group and Tesla (TSLA.O) to invest in EV production facilities, a senior cabinet minister said on Tuesday. Investment into MHP production in Indonesia has so far been dominated by Chinese companies such as Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Tsingshan Holding Group.

☆ NBA roundup: Nets sneak by Heat in final seconds
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The Nets, who have won 14 of their past 15 games, also got 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks from Nic Claxton. 76ers 123, Pistons 111James Harden delivered a triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, Tyrese Maxey had 23 points and visiting Philadelphia rolled past Detroit. Gary Trent Jr. had 19 points, Fred VanVleet had 14 points and seven assists and O.G. Anfernee Simons added 22 points, Josh Hart had 18 points, Jusuf Nurkic had 14 points and 18 rebounds and Jerami Grant also scored 14 points for Portland. Luguentz Dort added 18 points for the Thunder.

☆ 'Mad Dog' Marcio Freire dies in surfing accident in Nazaré, Portugal
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

LISBON — Veteran Brazilian surfer Marcio Freire died on Thursday while practicing tow-in surfing on the giant waves in Nazaré on the central coast of Portugal, the local maritime authority said. Freire was one of the three Brazilian surfers who became known as the “Mad Dogs” after conquering the giant wave “Jaws” in Hawaii. Legend,” posted fellow big wave surfer Nic von Rupp. American Garrett McNamara put Nazaré on the map in 2011 when he set a world record for the biggest wave ever surfed at 78 feet. Brazilian Rodrigo Koxa bettered McNamara’s mark in 2017, also at Nazaré, and German Sebastian Steudtner broke the record again there in 2020, surfing an 86-foot wave.

☆ ‘First Contact: An Alien Encounter’ Review: The Age-Old Cosmic Question
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( John Anderson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Highly speculative while maintaining a tight orbit around reality, “First Contact: An Alien Encounter” supposes what would happen if—or, as many would say, when—humankind receives a confirmable signal of extraterrestrial life. No little green aliens. Just a radio message that we’re not alone. The program, which might have wandered into the cosmological weeds, occupies a well-traveled lane in the science-fiction tradition: The closer fantasy comes to truth, the more convincing it is. And writer-director Nic Stacey doesn’t wander far at all from hard science: The kickoff is the NASA Voyager I probe, 16 billion miles from Earth, picking up a signal.

Flood watches are in effect for 12 million people in Central and Northern California. The cyclone will send a pair of warm and cold fronts over Northern California, which is already rain-soaked. “When you have more water vapor in the air because the air is warmer — you can transport more water vapor quickly,” Ralph said. Although some smaller reservoirs in Northern California have filled up, larger reservoirs still have the capacity to absorb more. “I think we will have largely alleviated the short-term drought in Northern California," Swain said.

☆ China risks loom over U.S. tech giants Tesla and Apple as share prices plunge
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

But in October, the world's biggest iPhone factory in Zhengzhou, China, was hit with a Covid outbreak. Reuters reported on Tuesday that Foxconn's Zhengzhou factory is almost back to full production. In early November, after Foxconn imposed Covid restrictions at the factory, Apple said the plant was operating at a "significantly reduced capacity." The world's biggest iPhone factory, located in China and run by Foxconn, faced disruptions in 2022. Apple could report a 1% annual decline in revenue in the December quarter, according to Refinitiv consensus estimates.

"As counterintuitive as it may sound, this layoff left me in a really good position," the 24-year-old said. U.S. tech giants including Meta, Microsoft (MSFT.O), Twitter and Snap (SNAP.N) have purged more than 150,000 staff, according to Layoff.fyi, which tracks technology job losses. Day One Ventures, an early stage venture fund in San Francisco, launched a new initiative in November to fund startups founded by people who had been laid off from their tech jobs, touting the slogan "Funded, not Fired". Silicon Valley investor U.S. Venture Partners and Austrian VC firm Speedinvest have meanwhile earmarked a similar amount for newly founded companies. Fong told Reuters that experience in Big Tech firm gave founders a "strong brand that can be leveraged to meet investors, potential customers, and recruit team members".

☆ NBA roundup: Luka Doncic posts 51 in win over Spurs
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Keldon Johnson led the Spurs with 30 points, while Sochan added 20. Markkanen led the Jazz with 29 points and 14 rebounds, and Clarkson netted 22 points in Utah's fourth consecutive loss. Kevin Love added 20 points and nine rebounds for the Cavaliers, who survived a rough night from star Donovan Mitchell. Randle added 12 rebounds and six assists for the Knicks, who were without starters Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett. LaMelo Ball's 23 points and 11 assists and Mason Plumlee's 22 points and 10 rebounds led the Hornets.

☆ NHL roundup: Alex Tuch, Sabres knock off Bruins in OT
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 37 saves for Buffalo, facing 11 shots in the second period and 19 more in the third. Nic Dowd had a goal and an assist, while Dylan Strome, Anthony Mantha and Garnet Hathaway also scored. Emil Bemstrom and Kirill Marchenko also scored for the Blue Jackets in the comeback victory over the NHL's last-place team. They netted goals three times in the second, including Alex Killorn's go-ahead breakaway goal for a 4-3 lead. Stamkos scored his 498th career goal and had an assist, and Brayden Point notched a goal and a helper.

☆ NBA roundup: Nets sink Cavs for 9th straight win
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

While Garland made 14 of 20 shots and finished with his fourth 40-point game of his career, Donovan Mitchell was held to 15 points. Kevin Durant scored 32 points but fouled out for the sixth time in his career when he bumped Garland with 1:54 remaining. Isaiah Stewart had 21 points, Killian Hayes tossed in 18 with 10 assists and Jalen Duren added 15 points and 12 rebounds. Bennedict Mathurin put up 15 points and Myles Turner scored 14 to lead the Pacers, who finished a 2-1 road trip. Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 32 points and 12 rebounds.

☆ The year of the restaurant robot: Why chains are investing in automation and what it means for workers
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

This year brought a flurry of automation announcements in the restaurant industry as operators scrambled to find solutions to a shrinking workforce and climbing wages. Three-quarters of restaurant operators are facing staffing shortages that keep them from operating at full capacity, according to the National Restaurant Association. Many restaurant operators hiked wages to attract workers, but that pressured profits at a time when food costs were also climbing. "Automation is one word, and a lot of people go right to robotics and a robot flipping burgers or making fries. The labor questionAutomation often faces pushback from workers and labor advocates, who see it as a way for employers to eliminate jobs.

☆ NHL roundup: Blues' Jordan Kyrou nets first hat trick
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Jordan Binnington made 33 saves for the Blues, who have won the first three outings of a five-game road trip. It was the second consecutive game, and fifth on home ice this season, that the Canucks lost 5-1. Nic Dowd scored goals 11 seconds apart in the second period and had an assist on Orlov's game-winner. He remains at 800 career goals, one behind Red Wings legend Gordie Howe for second place on the all-time list. Jeff Skinner and Lawrence Pilut also scored goals for the Sabres, who won their fourth straight game and completed a sweep of a three-game Western road trip.

☆ Nonstop partying, lavish spending, and sexual-harassment accusations: Inside the self-destruction of Pollen, the music startup once worth $800 million
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Melkorka Licea | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +41 min

About 400 Pollen employees were camped out in Mendocino County, California, for five straight days of partying. Two former Pollen employees told Insider that they recalled the assistant telling them about Callum's inappropriate comments at the time. (The Pollen representative said Callum and Bedi didn't date at Pollen or at any other company connected to Pollen. Out of 360 events Pollen announced over the past 12 months, 39 were canceled, the Pollen representative said. (The Pollen representative said that "out of hundreds of thousands of customers, fewer than 100 people were moderated" online.)

☆ News outlets are embracing TikTok in an effort to reach younger audiences, survey shows
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —News publishers are getting in on the TikTok trend. That’s according to a brand new survey published Wednesday evening by the Reuters Institute and University of Oxford. The survey found that, from a global standpoint, about half of the world’s top newsrooms are now regularly posting on the ByteDance-owned app. The survey found that the rates of TikTok usage among news publishers is highest in Western Europe, Southeast Asia, and South America. “If you look at some of the storytelling going on TikTok, it is really different,” Newman told CNN.

Bankman-Fried could face a host of potential charges – civil and criminal – as well as private lawsuits from millions of FTX creditors, legal experts told CNBC. There are three different, possibly simultaneous legal threats that Bankman-Fried faces in the United States alone, Levin told CNBC. He told CNBC, "prosecutors would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Bankman-Fried or his associates committed criminal fraud." (Carter was not an FTX investor, and told CNBC that his fund passed on early FTX rounds.) "People should not jump to the conclusion that something is not happening just because it has not been publicly disclosed," Levin told CNBC.

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