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☆ 'Sabotage' likely culprit for Brazil's Eletrobras towers collapse, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 13 (Reuters) - The collapse of two transmission towers operated by Brazilian power company Eletrobras (ELET6.SA) happened after someone cut the cables used to secure the towers, three sources with knowledge of the matter said on Friday. On one of the towers, "cut wires were found, in a sign of vandalism," said a second source. A third tower operated by power transmission company Evoltz had also collapsed on Monday. Another tower operated by transmission firm Taesa (TAEE11.SA) suffered a vandalism attempt on Thursday. However, the tower was not knocked down and there was no interruption in power transmission, Taesa said.

HONG KONG — On the first day of unimpeded travel between mainland China and Hong Kong, Olivia Gai was one of the first in line. On Tuesday, the Chinese embassies in South Korea and Japan said they would stop issuing short-term visas for travelers to China. The South Korean Foreign Ministry says its restrictions on travelers from China are based on science. According to some estimates, China’s Covid death toll could reach 1 million or more in the coming months. Nonetheless, more countries have begun requiring negative Covid tests for travelers from China, and at least one country, Morocco, has banned arrivals entirely.

SAO PAULO, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Brazilian power company Eletrobras (ELET6.SA) is investigating whether the collapse of two transmission towers is related to anti-government riots on Sunday after finding signs of sabotage, according to two people familiar with the probe. The towers - one of which fell on Sunday and the other in the early hours of Monday - were operated by Eletrobras subsidiaries Furnas and Eletronorte. Eletrobras, the mines and energy ministry and regulatory agency Aneel have set up a crisis committee to monitor potential threats to Brazil's power grid, according to a third source. A third tower operated by power transmission company Evoltz also collapsed, according to a report by Brazil's National Electric System Operator (ONS) on Tuesday. Eletrobras, Furnas and Evoltz did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

☆ 8 rowing machines to consider in 2023 for home workouts
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Justin Redman | Justin Redman Was Formerly A Reporter For Select On Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +12 min

This smart rower is highly adjustable. More affordable than other smart rowers, the Echelon Smart Rower is a good option for those who aren’t looking to splurge. Like other smart rowers, the Hydrow must be plugged into a wall to use. Yasmin Farooq is an American rowing cox and the head coach of the University of Washington women's rowing team. is an American rowing cox and the head coach of the University of Washington women's rowing team.

☆ Premarket stocks: Bonds are back, but for how long?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —Stocks soared on Friday to their best day in more than a month. But the big turnaround story during the short first week of the year isn’t just about equities, it’s also about bonds. Bonds are particularly sensitive to those increases — as rates are hiked, the price of existing bonds falls as investors prefer the new debt that will soon be issued with those higher interest payouts. This time around, investors are scooping up bonds as they anticipate the pace of Fed interest rate hikes will soon ease. Core bonds, or US investment grade debt, tend to perform well during Fed rate hike pauses.

There were new twists on foldable devices, cars that changed colors and smart ovens that live streamed dinners. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty ImagesBMW unveiled a wild color-changing concept car with 260 e-panels that can change up to 32 colors. During a demo, different parts of the car, including the wheel covers, flashed in varying hues and swirls of colors. A new look for foldable phonesSamsung's Flex Hybrid Display concept folds and slides SamsungSome companies offered a new twist on the foldable phone concept. The lock, which will cost $300, will be available for purchase late this spring, according to a company press release.

BENGALURU, Jan 6 (Reuters) - A budget that accelerates fiscal consolidation would give more support to the Indian rupee in the near term, according to a Reuters poll of FX analysts who forecast the currency would erase a fifth of last year's losses over the next 12 months. A majority of FX analysts, 11 of 17, said a Feb. 1 budget that focuses on fiscal consolidation would help the Indian rupee the most in the near term. None of the respondents expected the rupee to be stronger than 75 per dollar, where it started 2022, at any point this year. Abhishek Upadhyay, senior economist at ICICI Securities Primary Dealership, said the "fiscal deficit is still too high and needs to be reduced" for the rupee to find some support. "High fiscal deficit will hurt the savings-investment balance, curb improvement in current account deficit, and complicate the RBI's efforts to temper inflation pressures."

☆ Delta will start offering free Wi-Fi on its planes this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Delta Air Lines will be the first US global carrier to offer free Wi-Fi on most domestic mainline flights. JetBlue Airways, which is considered a low-cost airline, already offers free Wi-Fi on all of its planes. As of now, only Delta-operated aircraft will offer free Wi-Fi — this does not apply to its codeshare or regional partners. The new offering is in partnership with T-Mobile, which already offers free internet onboard many Delta flights to users of its cellular network. Delta, which has been regularly praised for its on-time performance, safety record, and cabin products, is bringing more than just free Wi-Fi to its planes this year.

☆ Fact Check-Video shows deepfake of Elon Musk
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Note - offensive language in paragraph 5A parody video created by artificial intelligence depicting billionaire Elon Musk is being shared by social media users as if it is authentic. It includes the watermark “@plattepus,” the username of a TikTok user who posted the original video (here) on Dec. 25, 2022. The user’s TikTok bio (here ) describes him as “The AI guy” and posts a variety of AI-generated content. The user’s YouTube channel includes similar videos, and the description in one parodying the Joe Rogan Experience podcast with Musk reads: “Subscribe for more AI parody videos.”The @plattepus user declined to provide a comment when contacted by Reuters. The video appearing to show Elon Musk was created by artificial intelligence as satire.

☆ Tech’s biggest show is set to kick off in Las Vegas. Here’s what to expect
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The Consumer Electronics Show, now in its 56th year, kicks off this week in Las Vegas with a familiar mix of cutting edge technology and oddball gadgets. And this year’s event, in particular, could show how companies are thinking about products as pandemic concerns recede for some consumers but recession concerns remain. This year, featured speakers will include executives from traditional tech companies such as Samsung, Sony and Amazon, as well as other brands like John Deere, Delta and BMW. Still, the topic of virtual reality products will remain a focus for some companies. HTC is expected to launch the Vive Focus 3 this week at the show, with an emphasis on the metaverse.

☆ This $500 at-home urine lab sits in your toilet and tests your pee — then sends results to your smartphone
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Withings' U-Scan is a new at-home urine-testing device. A thermal sensor detects urine after you pee on the device, and it syncs with an app on your phone. After four years of development and 13 patents, electronics company Withings announced on Wednesday U-Scan, an at-home urine lab that is placed in your toilet and sends results to an app on your smartphone. Withings said it plans to launch U-Scan in the US at a later time following clearance by the Food and Drug Administration. Two kinds of cartridges will be available in Europe: U-Scan Cycle Sync, focused on women's cycle tracking, and U-Scan Nutri Balance, focused on hydration and nutrition.

☆ Apple's upcoming headset will reportedly include auto-adjusting lenses and a dial to switch from VR to the real world
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Apple's anticipated mixed reality headset will have auto-adjusting lenses, The Information reported. It will also have a physical dial that the wearer can use to switch between VR and real life. The change to "xr," which stands for extended reality, signals that the headset will probably include both AR and VR capabilities. In December, noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo tweeted that mass shipment of the Apple headsets could be delayed to the second half of 2023 "because of software-related issues." As of early December, sales for VR headsets declined 2% from the previous year, CNBC reported.

To fix contacts not showing up on your iPhone, try restarting your phone or showing all contacts. You can also try to sync your contacts with connected email accounts or your iCloud contacts. When you add someone to your iPhone's Contacts app, you expect that person to forever be at your fingertips. While there are many reasons why this might happen, you can fix contacts not showing up on your iPhone in eight ways. Quick tip: The lists in the Contacts and Phone app are linked, so showing all contacts in one app will reveal them in the other as well.

☆ One third of world economy expected to be in recession in 2023, says IMF chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( Diksha Madhok | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New Delhi CNN —This year is going to be tougher on the global economy than the one we have left behind, the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) chief Kristalina Georgieva has warned. “Half of the European Union will be in recession,” Georgieva added. The IMF currently projects global growth to be at 2.7% this year, slowing from 3.2% in 2022. “For the first time in 40 years China’s growth in 2022 is likely to be at or below global growth,” Georgieva said. “Before Covid, China would deliver 34, 35, 40% of global growth.

☆ Keenan Cahill, YouTube creator who made videos lip-syncing with celebrities, dies at 27
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

Keenan Cahill, a popular YouTube creator who made lip-sync videos with celebrities like 50 Cent, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber and more, died on Thursday after open-heart surgery on Dec. 15. On his YouTube account, which has roughly 721,000 subscribers, Cahill’s videos have garnered more than 500 million views. He posted his first lip-sync video in August 2010 to Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” which has reached 58 million views. A year later, the pop star met up with Cahill in person and they filmed a video together. Cahill’s most popular video was with 50 Cent, where they lip-synced “Down on Me,” to the tune of 60 million total views.

☆ As China abandons zero-Covid, what will the economy look like in 2023?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

And with the global economy now facing significant challenges, including energy shortages, slowing growth and high inflation, China’s reopening could provide a much-needed and timely boost. China’s historic property downturn and a potential global recession could also cause more headaches in the new year, they added. They expect China’s economy to contract by 0.8% in the first quarter of 2023, before rebounding in the second quarter. Trade had powered much of China’s economic growth earlier this year, as exports were boosted by rising prices of the country’s goods and a weaker currency. “But a looming global recession means they probably have further to fall over the next few quarters.”

☆ U.S. House Bans TikTok on Phones of Representatives and Staff
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Eliza Collins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Bans on downloading TikTok onto government-issued smartphones and other devices have been in place in many executive branch agencies on the grounds that users’ data could be shared with China’s government. WASHINGTON—The U.S. House of Representatives is banning TikTok on all House-managed devices, moving to get in sync with a new law banning the app on executive branch government phones amid mounting national-security concerns. The Chief Administrative Officer advised House members and their staff that the social-media application was banned from phones for all House members and staff effective immediately. U.S. officials and lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns about the app’s owner, Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd.

☆ Meet 3 remote workers who negotiated for better pay, workplace flexibility, or the right to quiet quit — and won
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Jason Lalljee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Remote work has become increasingly popular, and make-or-break for many Americans when choosing jobs. Workers are using their current bargaining power to ask for better pay, flexibility, and work-life balance. Insider talked to three remote workers about how they did so. That's because remote work has changed his life for the better, he said. "Work was definitely a thorn in my side that really affected my entire life," she told Insider.

☆ I charge $1,000 to help couples write their wedding vows. I've seen some magical and devastating moments.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Perri Ormont Blumberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Her pricing starts at $995 for a consultation and help from conception to delivery of the vows. I offer help with vow creation and delivery, officiant services, speeches and toasts, ceremony planning, and public speaking. I consult with couples on how to creatively and lovingly write their vows in their own wordsPushkine marrying Dan and James. One cute story involved a lovely couple who had identical vowsThey had the exact same memories and vows, almost word for word. Once I was hired to help a couple with their vows and marry themIt was lovely working with them.

Among the most prolific rulemakers was the European Union, which began to roll out sustainability rules for asset managers as part of a series of dictates aimed at ensuring the bloc hits its climate targets and helps rein in global warming. Regulatory scrutiny also broadened to include investment ratings and the labeling of sustainable investment funds. In the United States, for example, both Goldman Sachs Asset Management and BNY Mellon Investment Adviser were fined over ESG failures. ESG rules will also fast become mandatory rather than optional in 2023 - with the EU expected to push out 200 pages of guidance in January alone to help market participants use its green taxonomy, a list of environmentally friendly activities, and other ESG rules. However, this is only likely to happen in stages from 2023 given there are no global taxonomies or rules on what constitute sustainable investments.

☆ Japan govt to consider revising joint statement with BOJ - sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Tetsushi Kajimoto | Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

TOKYO (Reuters) -The Japanese government will consider revising next year a joint statement it signed with the Bank of Japan (BOJ) in 2013 that commits the central bank to meeting a 2% inflation target as soon as possible, sources told Reuters. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File PhotoThe revision, if made, would be done after a new BOJ governor is appointed in April, they said, a move that may heighten the chance of a tweak to incumbent governor Haruhiko Kuroda’s ultra-loose monetary policy. There is no consensus within the government on what changes could be made, as much will depend on the views of the new BOJ governor, said four government and ruling party officials with knowledge of the matter. “Given we’ll have a new BOJ governor, there will likely be a new statement,” one of the government officials said. Kyodo news agency reported on Saturday that the government is set to revise the joint statement to make the BOJ’s inflation target a more flexible goal, with some leeway.

☆ Japan to consider revising Abe-era deflation fighting mandate - sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Tetsushi Kajimoto | Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan next year will consider revising its decade-old blueprint for fighting deflation, sources said, as financial markets bet that a weak yen and rising consumer prices will force the central bank to finally drop its ultra-loose monetary policy. The pledge has served as the backbone of Kuroda’s radical monetary stimulus and justification for keeping Japan’s interest rates ultra-low, even as other central banks tighten monetary policy to combat stubbornly high inflation. Kyodo news agency reported on Saturday that the government is set to revise the joint statement to make the BOJ’s inflation target a more flexible goal, with some leeway. SHIFTING FOCUSA revision to the joint statement would mark the final nail in the coffin for former premier’s Abenomics stimulus programme, which relied heavily on Kuroda’s massive stimulus to pull Japan out of deflation. Analysts say any revision that waters down the status of the BOJ’s 2% inflation target could serve as a trigger for phasing out Kuroda’s stimulus programme.

☆ Consumer Reports: Best Wireless Multiroom Speakers of 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Allen St. John | Consumer Reports | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

You can buy a wireless multiroom speaker system with great performance and unprecedented flexibility for surprisingly little money. Our top-rated multiroom speakers offer not only solid sound but also impressive flexibility. The following are some of the top multiroom speakers in CR’s ratings. The Studio can be integrated into a multiroom system with other Amazon Echo speakers. The Sonos One can also integrate with the company’s wireless models, adding smart speaker functionality to an existing Sonos system.

☆ Silicon Valley startup Actual made climate action into a SimCity-like game. Sheep farmers are the first players.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The startup modeled hundreds of sheep farms in New Zealand to show ways to reduce emissions. So how do you get hundreds of sheep farmers to adopt new practices to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and store more carbon in their land? Enter Actual, a Silicon Valley startup that's trying to make decarbonization efforts similar to playing the video game SimCity. Actual relies on a visual and interactive experience to help companies better understand how to take action on their climate goals. Brands like Allbirds, Helly Hansen, and Icebreaker have bought in, too, because they are trying to reduce emissions in their own supply chains.

Pantone recently announced its 2023 Color of the Year: Viva Magenta. SKIP AHEAD Viva Magenta home products | Viva Magenta kitchen products | Viva Magenta beauty products | Viva Magenta apparel and accessoriesAs many sought to do with the 2022 Color of the Year, Very Peri, you may be interested in incorporating Viva Magenta into your wardrobe or home. Viva Magenta home productsThis expert-recommended rowing machine from Hydrow has a Viva Magenta option available for pre-order that is set to ship in February 2023, according to the brand. Pets can get in on the Viva Magenta trend with this plush bed, available in a color close to the new Pantone Color of the Year. Viva Magenta apparel and accessoriesPantone offers a handful of products in Viva Magenta, including this long keychain.

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