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☆ Are they for real? South Korean girl band offers glimpse into metaverse
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Hyunsu Yim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] Footages of virtual girl group MAVE is played at the control room of MBC in Seoul, South Korea, February 28, 2023. Apart from backing MAVE:, Kakao launched a 1.25 trillion won ($960 million) tender offer last week to buy South Korean K-pop pioneer SM Entertainment (041510.KQ). SM is home to popular K-pop groups such as Girls' Generation, H.O.T., EXO, Red Velvet, Super Junior, SHINee, NCT Dream and Aespa. MAVE: is an "ongoing" project to explore new business opportunities and find ways to work around technological challenges, said Chu Ji-yeon, who heads Metaverse Entertainment. But South Korean technology has made much progress since then in creating virtual characters.

☆ This SoftBank-backed startup just launched smart glasses that enable surgeons to virtually observe and advise on procedures across the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The practicing surgeon is the founder of Proximie, an augmented reality startup that enables healthcare professionals to observe and advise on surgeries virtually. The wearable PxLens headset enables remote users to get a first-person view of surgeries or training procedures in 2D. Riddhi Kanetkar/InsiderThrough its 4K camera lens, the glasses enable surgeons and remote users to have a detailed view of the operating room. "It's almost as if you're standing over the shoulder of the surgeon in the operating room," said Hachach-Haram. "I see a world where every operating room in the world will be digital, and accessible to anyone."

☆ Inside Microsoft's plan to use the new OpenAI-powered Bing to steal share from Google and net billions of dollars in ad revenue
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Microsoft has begun to showcase ad formats within the OpenAI-powered new Bing search engine. A slide from a Microsoft Advertising roadshow event held in Amsterdam in March. Dennis WesterbeekAdvertisers can't currently buy ads specifically on the new Bing chatbot; their current Bing ad campaigns will extend to the chatbot automatically, agency sources said. Dennis Westerbeek, a senior digital advertising marketer at digital ad agency Adwise, was excited when he saw the new search ads. Westerbeek, who attended a Microsoft Advertising roadshow in Amsterdam, said he was also impressed that the new Bing had reached 100 million daily active users.

☆ 'Kim Kardashian of the cat world': Gacek draws tourists to Polish city
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SZCZECIN, Poland, March 10 (Reuters) - Cat lovers are heading to the Polish city of Szczecin to catch a glimpse of Gacek, a chubby black-and-white feline who has become an internet sensation. Having received scores of five-star reviews, the "Kot Gacek" (Gacek the cat) pin on the map, near a shop selling bags emblazoned with the cat's face, has beaten sights including a Renaissance castle to the top spot. "Gacek is the Kim Kardashian of the cat world," Karolina Nowak, manager of the official TikTok account for the Western Pomerania region where Szczecin is located, @pomorzezachodnie, said. Gacek is not the first animal to draw tourists to a Polish city. In 2021, a golden retriever became Gdańsk’s most highly rated tourist attraction on Google.

☆ The Justice Department investigated Jeffrey Epstein's death. Then it went silent.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +25 min

Jeffrey Epstein's death in a federal jail was seen as a shocking Justice Department failure. But more than three years later, the office still hasn't released its report into the circumstances of Epstein's death. "We all took it by surprise," Mark Epstein told Insider. Barr tasked the Justice Department's inspector general, Michael Horowitz, and the FBI with investigating "the circumstances of Mr. Epstein's death." Mark Epstein told Insider that he spoke to his brother about once a month in the years before his death.

☆ Why Everyone Is Moving to Florida: Jobs, Economy, Cost of Living, Taxes
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Emil Skandul | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

For other states to compete, they will need to pay attention to what Florida is doing right. Floridians pay no income tax and fewer taxes overall than people in states like New York, California, or Massachusetts. But a low tax rate isn't the only thing people care about. Despite having a budget half the size of New York's and a larger population, Florida, by many metrics, is able to do significantly more with the taxes it collects. Florida is also outshining New York and other major population centers in tackling the soaring cost of housing.

☆ Disney boss Bob Iger talks about the future of Marvel, ‘Star Wars,’ ESPN, and Hulu
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Bob Iger’s vision for Disney is coming into greater focus. The CEO touched on a broad range of subjects, including Disney+, Marvel, “Star Wars,” and Hulu, among others. “We’re going to turn back to the Avengers franchise, but with a whole set of different Avengers,” Iger said. ► Imperative to be “very careful” with “Star Wars”: Iger said that the company is also being “very careful” in its approach to the “Star Wars” franchise. “In our zeal to grow profits, we may have been a little bit too aggressive about some of our pricing,” Iger said.

☆ Google Offers Rare Glimpse of Restricted Areas Near Korean Peninsula’s DMZ
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Jiyoung Sohn | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The DMZ, which is about 2.5 miles wide and runs for some 160 miles, has stood as a testament to the longstanding tensions on the Korean Peninsula, which have had ups and downs in recent decades. The Dutayeon Ecological Trail still shows signs of the Korean War. Photo: DMZ Botanic Garden/Google Arts & Culture

☆ What the childhood homes of 33 US presidents looked like
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Talia Lakritz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Some US presidents, like Jimmy Carter, grew up on farms with no electricity or running water. Many of their birthplaces and childhood homes are now museums or national landmarks. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAll US presidents live in the White House during their terms, but the homes where they were raised have ranged from farms to mansions. Here's a glimpse into the way that 33 presidents grew up.

Persons: Jimmy Carter, Donald Trump, — Organizations: Service

☆ Bill Gates' Gen Z daughter Phoebe says the worst part about TikTok fame is 'misconceptions and conspiracy theories' about her family
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Phoebe Gates said the worst part of her TikTok fame is "misconceptions" about her family. The youngest Gates told The Information that people follow her “because of my family name.”Sign up for our newsletter for the latest tech news and scoops — delivered daily to your inbox. Phoebe Gates told The Information the greatest downside to posting on the platform was all the "misconceptions and conspiracy theories." And people probably find it funny to see my dad being a goof and playing Boxbollen," Gates told The Information in an email. She also uses her social media to speak about the need for sustainability in fashion.

Hong Kong CNN —China has set an official economic growth target of “around 5%” for 2023, as it seeks to revive the world’s second largest economy after a year of tepid growth because of pandemic measures. The new figure was released Sunday alongside the opening of the annual gathering of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the country’s rubber-stamp legislature, in a government work report. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks during the opening session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Sunday, March 5. Ng Han Guan/APMoody’s Investors Service has since raised its China growth forecast to 5% for both 2023 and 2024, up from 4% previously, citing a stronger than expected rebound in the short term. Global growth will likely slow from 3.4% in 2022 to 2.9% in 2023.

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried's parents' home has become a spectacle for Stanford students as the FTX founder serves house arrest there
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sam Bankman-Fried has been serving his house arrest at his parents' home, located on Stanford's campus. Students are joking about his presence and walking by the home to look for the FTX founder, the Washington Post reported. The Post spoke to several students about Bankman-Fried's presence on campus, which has recently become littered with party fliers emblazoned with Bankman-Fried's face. While some may see Bankman-Fried's presence as an embarrassing situation for university, others told the Post that it isn't as bad as other scandals associated with the school. Bankman-Fried's lawyers have claimed that he and his parents have received repeated threats since the collapse of his cryptocurrency exchange and subsequent arrest last year.

☆ This tea-making robot can mimic the movements of a human counterpart in real-time, giving a glimpse into the future of robotics
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Japanese tech firm Docomo showed off a small tea-making robot at MWC 2023. Japan's Docomo showed off a small tea-making robot at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week that was more impressive for its ability to mimic humans than its physical prowess. Docomo's robot relied on the company's motion-sharing technology that enabled it to follow the actions of its human counterpart in real-time. The ability of the robot to mimic human actions could eventually boast an array of real-life use cases that could see menial and repetitive tasks automated. The tea-making robot is just one way in which Docomo demonstrated human augmentation at MWC.

☆ Fearless Alcaraz can show next-gen how to topple Djokovic, say sports psychology experts
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Florida-based Patrick Cohn, who teaches mental skills and sports psychology techniques to professional athletes, said he was not surprised Djokovic was still dominating the next generation. Cohn believes young players must rely on better preparation, tactics and develop a stronger mental game to topple Djokovic. I suggest to younger players that they view opponents as nameless and rankless." Former tennis player Jeff Greenwald, now a sports psychology consultant, said the Spanish world number two possessed rare qualities required to excel at the elite level. He will be a contender and likely one of the players who begins to take a bite out of Djokovic."

☆ Dior spins 1950s styles into modern looks at Paris Fashion Week
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Mimosa Spencer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/6] Models present creations by designer Maria Grazia Chiuri as part of her Fall-Winter 2023/2024 Women's ready-to-wear collection show for fashion house Dior during Paris Fashion Week in Paris, France, February 28, 2023. REUTERS/Benoit TessierPARIS, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Dior designer Maria Grazia Chiuri dove into archives from the 1950s for the French fashion house’s fall women's catwalk show, adding a modern spin to the era's feminine mainstays. Chiuri sought to add a Parisian flair to the styles of the period, which are often associated with American Hollywood productions. Held on the second day of Paris Fashion Week, the show drew crowds of fans angling for a glimpse of Kpop singer Jisoo and actress Charlize Theron, who sat in the front row next to members of LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault's family. Reporting by Mimosa Spencer and Louise Dalmasso, editing by Deepa BabingtonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Florida's climate exodus
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Matt Turner | Dave Smith | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

On the agenda today:But first: Economy reporter Madison Hoff explains why "quiet" is the workplace word for 2023. This week's dispatchWhisper it, but "quiet" might just be the workplace word for this year, Insider's Madison Hoff writes. And although it doesn't use the word "quiet," there are related workplace terms floating around like "Bare Minimum Monday" and "Try Less Tuesday." But Arias Agencies is now at the center of an explosive lawsuit that alleges a pattern of unchecked sexual assault and harassment. What to know about Florida's climate exodus.

☆ New images offer rare glimpse of the DMZ between North and South Korea where wild animals find peace and flourish
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Isobel Van Hagen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

New images were released showing a "wildlife sanctuary" in Korea's demilitarized zone (DMZ). The project marks 70 years since the Korean armistice agreement split the nation between North and South. Photographs show many rare flowers and endangered animals living in the area. "After the Korean War, the DMZ had minimal human interference for over 70 years, and the damaged nature recovered on its own," the site said. The DMZ is home to plants and animals "completely unique to Korea" — 38% of which are endangered, Google said on the project site.

☆ Nikki Haley heads to fundraiser hosted by Wall Street executives
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Nikki Haley, a Republican who jumped into the 2024 presidential race this month, is set to attend a fundraising event for her campaign hosted by Wall Street executives in New York on Tuesday, according to an invitation first reviewed by CNBC. The Tuesday fundraiser for Haley's campaign is one of her first trips to New York as a candidate for president. Morning Consult's GOP primary tracker shows Haley has 6% of support from potential Republican voters. Former President Donald Trump garners support from about 50% of GOP primary voters, according to Morning Consult. Finance executives have played key fundraising roles for political campaigns of both parties for well over a decade.

☆ Morning Bid: War and PCE
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets from Mike DolanWith world headlines focussed on first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the inflationary consequences that pounded world markets last year still smoulder. Curiously, the initial energy shock from the Ukraine war is already less of a problem than the change in pricing behaviour that it seeded - especially in services still distorted by the pandemic, in corporate margin building and rising wage settlements. But it's the pickup and stickiness in underlying "core" prices, excluding energy and food, that is irking the central banks and the Federal Reserve most of all. Alongside another tight U.S. weekly jobs report, markets got another glimpse of those price pressures on Thursday. And increasingly buoyed by the still intense geopolitical fallout from a year of the war in Ukraine, the dollar pushed higher yet again.

☆ Asian markets breathe sigh of relief amid Ueda hearing
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] The Japanese government's nominee for the Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda attends a hearing session at the lower house of the parliament in Tokyo, Japan, February 24, 2023. Ueda's confirmation hearing in the lower house comes as markets renew their attack on YCC, taking bets on a near-term interest rate rise. Japan's five-year government bond yield fell a little to 0.235%, from the previous close of 0.240%. The yield on the benchmark 10-year government bonds eased as far as 3.8590%, compared with the previous close of 3.8810%. The two-year bond yield was hovering at 4.6810%, compared with the previous close of 4.6930%.

☆ Inside California's tiny-home takeover
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

For the state with the most dire housing shortage, the move could be a game changer — eventually. As the US grapples with a massive housing shortage, one possible solution is playing out in California right now — and the state may have struck gold. Oregon, Maine, and Nebraska, as well as cities like Miami, have enacted laws similar to California's. There's been opposition to ADUs from homeowners worried about the density of their neighborhoods and sometimes the aesthetics of the structures. Ultimately, the housing shortage could be alleviated, she said.

☆ Take Five: Strap in for no landing
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

1/ FED VS STOCKSReports on U.S. durable goods orders, home prices as well as manufacturing and consumer confidence threaten to cement expectations of more Fed rate hikes and to deal a knockout punch to the early-year stocks rally. Evidence of a stronger-than-expected economy has forced investors to recalibrate projections for Fed hawkishness, lifting bond yields and weighing on stock gains. Tuesday's consumer confidence data may be of particular interest, offering a glimpse into households' views on economic prospects and inflation expectations. The idea of "no landing," which upends a host of popular trades based on a the scenario of the global economy entering recession is gaining traction thanks to surprisingly upbeat data. A soft landing could still happen.

☆ Incoming BOJ chief Ueda to speak in parliament as yield cap comes under attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] A general view shows a parliamentary session at the Lower House of Parliament in Tokyo, Japan November 10, 2021. In a column issued last July, Ueda warned against raising rates prematurely but said the BOJ must eventually consider how to exit its ultra-loose policy. The government's deputy governor nominees - former banking watchdog head Ryozo Himino and BOJ executive Shinichi Uchida - will testify in the afternoon after Ueda. The upper house of parliament will hold the confirmation hearing for Ueda on Monday, and that for the two deputies on Tuesday. Under YCC, the BOJ guides short-term interest rates at -0.1% and the 10-year bond yield around 0% as part of efforts to sustainably achieve its 2% inflation target.

☆ Oil falls on fuel demand woes ahead of U.S. Fed comments
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Rowena Edwards | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Higher interest rates tend to lift the dollar, making dollar-denominated oil more expensive for holders of other currencies and reducing demand. Other economic reports from the United States, the world's biggest oil consumer, showed some troubling signs however. A preliminary Reuters analyst poll on Tuesday also showed a rise in U.S. crude inventories, exacerbating the demand worries. Analysts expect China's oil imports to hit a record high in 2023 to meet increased demand for transportation fuel and as new refineries come on stream. Morgan Stanley has raised its global oil demand growth estimate for this year by about 36%, citing growing momentum in China's reopening and a recovery in aviation, but flagged higher supply from Russia as an offseting factor.

☆ Indian shares fall on rate-hike worries ahead of Fed, RBI minutes
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Bharath Rajeswaran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Nifty 50 index (.NSEI) was down 0.86% at 17,674.50, while the S&P BSE Sensex (.BSESN) fell 0.85% at 60,150.93 as of 10:34 a.m. IST. Both the Fed and the Reserve Bank of India were due to release minutes of their latest policy meetings, giving investors a glimpse of their thinking on future rate-hike trajectories. "Fear of a hawkish Fed has gripped markets and kept investors on tenterhooks." Global markets fell after an unexpectedly strong reading of S&P Global's composite purchasing managers' index (PMI) showed that the U.S. economy was not cooling. ($1 = 82.8330 Indian rupees)Reporting by Bharath Rajeswaran in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane Venkatraman, Nivedita BhattacharjeeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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