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☆ ByteDance is pushing a new app in the U.S. as TikTok faces a ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

While political scrutiny continues to intensify on the widely popular short video app TikTok in the U.S. and across the world, Lemon8 owned by ByteDance is going viral. Jakub Porzycki | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesChinese tech giant ByteDance is pushing another social media app in the U.S. — even as its flagship short video app TikTok faces a possible ban stateside. It seems like ByteDance is pushing Lemon8 as a potential alternative to TikTok," said Lindsay Gorman, senior fellow for emerging tech at the German Marshall Fund. But Lemon8's links to ByteDance and TikTok will come under the radar of U.S. regulators too, especially as the app continues to rise in popularity. Not a solutionCreating another app to replace TikTok is not a quick solution for ByteDance, the analysts said.

☆ This Skort Is the Best Summer Clothing Item I’ve Ever Purchased
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

By Madeline DiamondDressing for the summertime (especially in hot and sticky New York City) has always been a pain for me. For the past two summers, I’ve lived in the brand’s Sport Skort. Instead, I’m full of confidence when I wear it, thanks to the security of built-in bike shorts that have a compressive but not restrictive fit. Plus, the summer heat was no match for the skort’s soft, stretchy blend of RPET (a fabric sourced from recycled plastic bottles) and spandex. Up close, its texture looks like a typical pair of leggings, yet the fabric’s matte finish makes it blend nicely with dressier clothing.

☆ LGBTQ Ugandans live in fear as new law looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A British colonial-era law bans gay sex, and members of the community are often victims of violence and discrimination. One resident contrasted the current atmosphere with 2013, when parliament passed a bill that strengthened penalties for same-sex relations. After parliament passed the bill, she deleted her Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter accounts. Other LGBTQ Ugandans said they were taking security precautions like changing the routes they use to travel between home and work and carrying pepper spray. For LGBTQ Ugandans living abroad, the new reality is also clouding their prospects of coming home.

☆ Opinion | Will Biden Face a Democratic Challenger?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Ross Douthat | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Biden has also avoided the kind of gambits and defeats that might leave a large constituency ready to revolt. None of this eliminates the difficulty of imagining his campaign for four more years. But it’s outstripped by the difficulty of seeing how any serious and respectable force inside the Democratic Party could be organized to stop it. However, as the Trump era has taught us, the serious and the respectable aren’t the only forces in American politics; disreputability has potency as well. Right now there’s no clear opening for a major rival like Newsom to replace Biden as the Democratic nominee.

☆ Analysis: Bearish fundamentals, buoyant charts complicate outlook for US stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Saqib Iqbal Ahmed | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Technical indicators such as equity price movement largely show stocks are poised to continue a rally that has seen the S&P 500 climb 8% year-to-date, analysts who track them said. TECHNICALLY SPEAKINGThe S&P 500 (.SPX) has traded in a 9.7 percentage point range year-to-date, its narrowest range for comparable periods since 2017. Johnson, who has a year-end S&P 500 target of 4,625, is encouraged by the reversals in downtrends for many U.S. stock indexes. The S&P 500 has traded higher 83% of the time for the full year, returning an average 13.73%, when it hasn't dropped below the preceding year’s December low in the first quarter, a Piper Sandler analysis showed. The S&P 500 is trading at about 18 times 12-month forward earnings estimates compared to its long-term average P/E of 15.6 times, according to Refinitiv Datastream.

☆ The Champions League Ventures Down Memory Lane
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Rory Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Bayern Munich will not take this well. The club is unlikely to shrug its shoulders at being eliminated from not only the Champions League but the German cup, too, in the space of a few days. Thomas Tuchel, freshly installed as Nagelsmann’s replacement, should be safe for now, but all around him will be a blur of change. There was a sense, watching Manchester City hold Bayern at bay on Wednesday evening, of two clubs moving in opposite directions. Like Juventus and Barcelona before it, Bayern Munich will at some point bow to, or be bowed by, England’s economic primacy.

☆ Why this rusting industrial city could be Greece’s next tourism hotspot
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Elinda Labropoulou | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

For 2023, it’s been given the title as a Cultural Capital of Europe – a title it shares with Timisoara in Romania and Veszprem in Hungary. Sergio Tsitakis / Design Farm ProductionsFor the occasion, the city’s magnificent archaeological site has been overhauled, improving its accessibility. Being a Cultural Capital has helped dozens of cities that have previously held the title to foster urban regeneration and find a spot on the travel radar. Among upcoming highlights this summer is a play, “Ma,” by Italian director and playwright Romeo Castellucci, a performance specially created to be staged in Eleusis’ archaeological site. And with the majority of international flights landing in Athens, Eleusis is perfectly located as an easy-to-reach destination.

☆ We Tested Cold-Brew Coffee Makers—Here Are Our 3 Favorites
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Nick Guy | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +11 min

And many, including our top pick, the Oxo Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker, make a brew that easily rivals a barista’s best. Best overallBest for saving spaceBest for coffee on tapOthers you should know aboutHow we pickedBest overallbuy side top pick OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker $41 at Amazon $ 52 Save $ 11 $52 at OXO Making delicious cold brew does not get much easier than with this OXO coffee maker. Best for saving spaceOXO Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker $27 at Amazon $ 34 Save $ 7 $35 at Bloomingdales This is the best cold brew maker if space is at a premium and you don’t drink tons of coffee. GrowlerWerks’ uKeg Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Maker is a different kind of cold brew maker, pumping out a brew that has the consistency of a Guinness. Cold Brew Championships–winning baristas to better understand what it takes to make great cold brew coffee.

Persons: Nick Guy, it’s, You’ll, both.We, that’s, There’s, you’re, Takeya’s, there’s, Brew Kit, It’s Organizations: Amazon, System, Brew, Guinness, Cold Locations: Bloomingdales

☆ Worms get the munchies, too, study reveals
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

It turned out the worms did respond, and cannabinoids made them hungrier for their favored foods and less hungry for their non-favored food. The research ultimately revealed that the worms, like humans, engage in hedonic feeding — a phenomenon more commonly known as the munchies. Fluorescent wormsBy measuring the swallowing rate of the worms, Lockery and his team determined that the cannabinoids were increasing how much of a particular bacteria blend the worms ate, making them hungrier. At the molecular level, the cannabinoid system in these worms looks a lot like that in people and other animals. Despite having a small number of neurons (302 neurons versus 86 billion neurons in humans), the worms have a nervous system that includes a primitive brain.

☆ Healthy breakfast ideas: Start your day with these quick meals
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Casey Barber | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Because of the versatility and hands-off aspect of the preparation, these are some of my favorite breakfast options for road trip vacations and camping adventures — but they work for busy at-home mornings, too. Overnight oats are one of the most versatile breakfast options out there — and can easily be taken on the road or enjoyed at home. NelliSyr/iStockphoto/Getty ImagesTartines, AKA open-faced sandwiches — or as I like to call them, “things on toast” — comprise a catchall category of breakfast options that can skew savory or sweet. When I have a few minutes and am feeling famished, my go-to move is to grab eggs and tortillas for breakfast tacos or burritos. Eggs and tortillas pair well in the morning to make breakfast tacos or burritos.

LAUNCESTON, Australia, April 18 (Reuters) - There is an increasing disconnect between the forecasts for strong global oil demand growth this year, led by Asia, and the reality of weakening margins for refined fuels. The profit from turning a barrel of Dubai crude into refined products at a typical Singapore refinery dropped to $2.53 a barrel on Monday. The falling margins on refined fuels may result in refiners in Asia processing less, especially as crude costs continue to rise. Despite the current problems facing refiners, both OPEC and the International Energy Agency (IEA) are sticking to bullish forecasts for crude demand growth in 2023. OPEC is also maintaining a bullish view for 2023 oil demand growth, keeping its forecast for an increase of 2.32 million bpd in its latest monthly report.

☆ An artist who won an award at a world-renowned photography competition says the winning image was actually generated by AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

An artist says his image that won first prize in a photography competition was actually generated by AI. It had come top in the creative category in the open competition at the World Photography Organisation's Sony World Photography Awards 2023. "AI is not photography," Eldagsen, who has been a photographer for around three decades, wrote on his website. "For me, working with AI image generators is a co-creation, in which I am the director," he wrote on his website. Eldagsen told Insider that he wanted to start a conversation around the relationship between AI and photography.

☆ Takeaways from Biden's trip to Ireland
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Biden’s trip came as he nears a decision on running again for president. “I own property in Ireland, I’m not going to Ireland,” former President Donald Trump said during Biden’s trip. Patrick Semansky/APDiplomatic legacy: ‘Keep the peace’White House officials made little attempt at ascribing major policy objectives to Biden’s trip. Kevin Lamarque/ReutersBiden makes Ireland visit a family affairMore than anything, Biden’s trip this week had the feeling of a family spring break. Throughout the sometimes-rainy trip, Biden kept his head dry with a baseball cap from the Beau Biden Foundation.

☆ Edward Koren, 87, Whose Cartoon Creatures Poked Fun at People, Dies
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Robert D. Mcfadden | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Edward Koren, the New Yorker cartoonist who created a fantasy world of toothy, long-nosed, hairy creatures of indeterminate species that articulated the neuroses and banalities of middle-class America for six decades, died on Friday at his home in Brookfield, Vt. His wife, Curtis Koren, said the cause was lung cancer. In the gentle, affable kingdom of Koren, the beasts form a polite queue in the woods at a 24-hour banking A.T.M. With Charles Addams, James Thurber and Saul Steinberg, Mr. Koren was one of the most popular cartoonists in The New Yorker’s long love affair with humor. In a bed for three, a grimacing psychiatrist squeezed between battling spouses takes “couples therapy” notes.

☆ 19 Unique Gifts for Women Who Have Everything
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +10 min

“There’s something a little decadent about wearing a matching cashmere set when you’re traveling by plane, for example,” Deyette notes. Note: The earrings can also be purchased as singles if you or your recipient like to mix and match. Constructed of 100% Australian sheepskin upper and footbed, they feel incredibly luxe and confer the benefit of breathable, moisture-wicking materials. “I love lighting this candle when I take a bath or just want to relax with a good book,” she says. It comes with a 72-ounce pitcher and an ice-crushing blade, as well as two single-serve blender cups for beverages on the go.

☆ Inspired by Jane Goodall, Onscreen and in Real Life
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Laurel Graeber | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Jane Goodall is not a fan of television. In her limited free time, this renowned British primatologist and environmentalist may occasionally watch a wildlife documentary by her friend David Attenborough, or, after a hard day, “something mindless,” as she said in a recent video interview. But usually, she doesn’t tune in. But the high-spirited protagonist is Jane Garcia, a 9-year-old of Filipino and Mexican heritage with an insatiable curiosity. “I’m her hero,” Goodall explained, adding that young Jane, who adorns her walls with articles and photos, has “many bits and pieces from my life in her room.”

☆ Relativity goes ‘all in’ on larger reusable rocket, shifting 3D-printing approach after first launch
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Relativity Space is shifting its strategy in an attempt to accelerate work on the reusable rocket it's developing, the company announced on Wednesday. Chief among the changes: adjusting its manufacturing approach to blend its 3D-printing-first approach with traditional metal-bending techniques. The company is going "all in" on developing its larger Terran R rocket, CEO Tim Ellis told CNBC, effectively shelving its Terran 1 vehicle after one launch. "We're putting all energy and resources on getting Terran R to market as quickly as possible and then getting to a higher rate of reuse for scaling the launch volumes," Ellis said. "We have won 100% of the commercial contracts we've gone after to date against other competitors," Ellis emphasized.

☆ AI-Created Images Are So Good Even AI Has Trouble Spotting Some
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Ann-Marie Alcántara | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

AI-Created Images Are So Good Even AI Has Trouble Spotting Some Software tools can help you determine the origin of an image, but context is still keyIn this AI-generated image, some artifacts are easy to spot: 1) Her fingers are extremely long and flat. 2) Her mouth appears to be missing some teeth and sinks into her face. 3) Her hand is melting into the table. 4) His fingers are also long and flat. Illustration: The Wall Street Journal; Microsoft Bing Image Creator

☆ Britain's Sainsbury's offers lower prices to loyalty card holders
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( James Davey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Illuminated signage is seen at a branch of the Sainsbury's supermarket in London, Britain, January 7, 2022. Sainsbury's' "Nectar Prices" scheme offers discounts on items including household products, pet food and confectionary when members scan their Nectar app or swipe their card at the supermarket checkout, or if shopping online link their Nectar and Sainsbury's accounts. "We will keep refreshing Nectar Prices and increasing the variety of products on offer," said Sainsbury's CEO Simon Roberts. Nectar members will continue to earn points for purchases which can be spent either at Sainsbury's or with partners. The new initiative builds on a scheme launched in 2021 that saw Sainsbury's offer lower prices to Nectar members using its "SmartShop" self-scanner service.

☆ 12 Best Gifts for a First-Time Dad
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +7 min

Here are 12 of the best first Father’s Day gift ideas. For the stylish dadFew things are more adorable than teeny baby shoes—especially when they’re paired up with a practically identical pair of kicks for Dad to wear as well. For the sentimental dadGo ahead, pull on the heartstrings—a sentimental gift makes perfect sense, especially for an occasion like Father’s Day. The cap comes in 14 color combinations and can even be personalized with a different word or phrase of your choice. “It’ll make a great prop or photo opp, and you can’t have too many cute new parent pictures!” she says.

Persons: Sarah Grossbart, Rachel Simon You, ”, Paul Zahn, they’re, Adidas Stan Smith, Lindsay Roberts Schey, “ it’s, Alison Deyette, Josh McBride, Nick Guy, Steve Greenberg, it’s, Kimberly Wolf, Roberts Schey, Beau, —, Elisabeth Jones, Hennessy, GiftMeChic, Hannah Redmond, “, Comfort, Deyette, ” Wolf Organizations: Polaroid, Adidas Locations: Los Angeles, New York City, Houston, Kiehl’s

☆ Netflix expands its product ambitions in a clothing collab that mashes up the Lacoste crocodile with 'Bridgerton,' 'Stranger Things,' and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Netflix has teamed with Lacoste to create a clothing collaboration inspired by eight of its popular shows, including "Bridgerton," "Stranger Things," and "Lupin." For the pieces, Lacoste reimagined its iconic crocodile logo with elements of the Netflix shows on a collection of polos, caps, sweatshirts, and tracksuits. For "Stranger Things," a sweatshirt features the crocodile with the face of the Demogorgon, the feared creature from Season 1. Lacoste apparel inspired by "Stranger Things." NetflixThe items cost $30 to $210 and will be sold at select Lacoste stores and on Lacoste.com and Netflix.shop.

☆ Elon Musk painted over the 'w' on Twitter's sign at its San Francisco headquarters, changing it to 'Titter'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk painted over the "w" in Twitter's name on the sign outside its San Francisco headquarters. He said Twitter's landlord told the company that the sign was legally required to read as "Twitter." In a tweet on Sunday, the social media platform's CEO posted a picture of the sign with the "w" painted over in white to blend in with the background. "Elon Musk, in a remarkable show of maturity, has removed the "w" from Twitter's logo outside their San Francisco HQ," LeGate's caption read. Musk has made several drastic changes to the company's San Francisco headquarters since he took over Twitter.

☆ Meet the real-life manager of the luxury hotel in Sicily where 'The White Lotus' was filmed, with rooms starting at $2,000 a night
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-09 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Lorenzo Maraviglia is the general manager of the hotel where "The White Lotus" Season 2 was filmed. He told Insider what the show gets right about his job and where it embellishes reality. That's because the renovated 14th-century convent overlooking the Ionian Sea was the central filming location of the hit-TV drama — and it's all hotel guests want to talk about. "It's funny because in "The White Lotus," Jennifer Coolidge gets killed on the cruise — so I don't know how inspiring that can be." Sabrina Impacciatore plays the hotel manager Valentina in "The White Lotus" season 2.

☆ Sterling is the best performing G10 currency this year, and strategists remain cautiously optimistic
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The City of London is a blend of old and new, with St Paul's Cathedral close to skyscrapers as well as Roman ruins. Shomos Uddin | Moment | Getty ImagesLONDON — The British pound is the best performing G-10 (Group of Ten) currency of 2023, and some strategists believe the pound's rally can continue over the medium term. The currency has rebounded spectacularly from the record lows seen in September, after former Prime Minister Liz Truss' disastrous "mini-budget." Outlooks from the major economic forecasters have now been upgraded, with the OBR no longer projecting a technical recession — defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth — in 2023. The market is pricing around a 63% chance of a further quarter-point hike at the Bank's May meeting.

☆ Rob Arnott pioneered a stock investing technique that exploded into a trillion-dollar industry. He presents a new approach to help everyday investors beat the market, even in crises.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Marley Jay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Rob Arnott of Research Affiliates pioneered "smart beta" investing, which has gone global. Arnott and his firm say they've created a better way to index stocks than market cap weighting. Indexes have become the stock market's North Star, as passive investing turned into a global investment trend over the last decade. Meanwhile, Research Affiliates itself has grown to advise on $141 billion in wealth by the end of 2022. Arnott and his team at Research Affiliates suggest looking at the economic footprint of companies instead of their market capitalization.

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