Barbie's Iconic Phone Launches This Summer

Hey there scroller🤳

Ready for another day’s headstart with some fresh news?

If your pal sent this to you, then subscribe to stay the most informed person in the room😉

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

📉 Consumer Habit Shifts Contribute to Falling Inflation

Amidst inflation, U.S. consumers are shifting habits—opting for store brands over name brands and used cars over new—forcing companies to slow price hikes. This response is cooling inflation from a 9.1% peak in 2022 to 3.1%. President Biden criticizes corporate profit boosts from excessive price increases, emphasizing consumer pushback is key. Federal Reserve expects inflation to align closer to its 2% target, citing increased price sensitivity among consumers.

🚧 GOP Demands Halt Government Shutdown Deal Progress

Amidst a looming government shutdown threatening essential services, negotiations falter due to GOP policy demands. Deadlines on March 2 and 9 risk severe impacts on food and housing assistance. Allison Johnson's poignant statement, "A breastfeeding mother knows all too well the feeling of how hungry you get," highlights the dire consequences for families, especially infants and mothers. With President Biden engaging congressional leaders to find a resolution, the situation is intensified by internal GOP conflicts and allegations of extremism.

WORLD

🌍 ECOWAS Ends Niger Sanctions Despite West Africa Tensions

ECOWAS lifted most sanctions on Niger, imposed after a coup, to encourage dialogue amid regional crises. Sanctions, including a no-fly zone and border closures, are removed "on purely humanitarian grounds," according to ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray. The bloc aims to prevent fragmentation, urging suspended members Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to reconsider their withdrawal and not view ECOWAS as an adversary, per Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.

🎯 Israel to Pursue Hezbollah Targets Despite Potential Gaza Cease-Fire

Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant commits to intensifying actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon, irrespective of a Hamas cease-fire in Gaza, stating, "We will continue the fire" to push Hezbollah from Israel's border through diplomacy or force. Amid ongoing tensions, Israeli strikes have hit Syria and Lebanon, with diplomatic efforts, including a French proposal, seeking to negotiate Hezbollah's withdrawal and address border disputes.

💔 Zelenskyy, Over 31,000 Ukrainian Soldiers Fallen Since Russia's Invasion Begin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed 31,000 Ukrainian military fatalities since Russia's 2022 invasion, countering higher Russian claims. He emphasized, "Not 300,000, not 150,000... each of these losses is a great sacrifice for us.” He mentioned tens of thousands of civilian deaths in occupied areas, with precise post-war figures pending. This is Kyiv's first official casualty report, contrasting with lower Russian and higher Western estimates of Russian losses.

SCIENCE & TECH

📱 Barbie's Iconic Hot Pink Flip Phone Launches This Summer

HMD is launching a Barbie Flip Phone in collaboration with Mattel, aiming at the Barbie trend. This pink, "sparkle" adorned feature phone, reminiscent of the Motorola Razr, focuses on "style, nostalgia, and a much-needed digital detox." While specifics like pricing remain undisclosed, a reveal is expected at MWC.

👓 Lenovo's Transparent Laptop Offers Glimpse into Sci-Fi Future

Lenovo unveiled the ThinkBook Transparent Display Laptop at Mobile World Congress, featuring a 17.3-inch, 55% transparent MicroLED display. Aimed at digital artists, it allows users to interact with the environment behind the screen, described as a form of "augmented reality." Despite its innovative touch keyboard/drawing tablet, the concept seeks practical applications, with Lenovo predicting future integration into products.

🍏 Apple Vision Pro Costs Over $1,500, Nearly 30% Due to micro-OLED Panels

Costing Apple over $1,500 to produce, the Vision Pro's $3,499 retail price reflects the high expense of its dual-4K micro-OLED Sony screens, which make up a significant portion of the cost. With an eye on affordability, Apple explores cost-cutting measures for a less expensive model anticipated by 2025, though broader affordability might not be achieved until 2027.

SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

🌟 Kenneth Mitchell, Star of 'Star Trek' and 'Captain Marvel,' Passes Away at 49

Kenneth Mitchell, beloved for roles in “Star Trek: Discovery” and “Captain Marvel,” died at 49, enduring A.L.S., a fatal motor neuron disease for over five years. Famed for redefining Klingon perception in "Star Trek," he emphasized, "Whether someone is good or bad is all about perspective." Mitchell, diagnosed in 2018, adapted his career to his condition. He is survived by his wife Susan May Pratt, their children, and his parents.

🏆 'Oppenheimer' Wins PGA's Best Film Award

At the 2024 Producers Guild of America Awards, "Oppenheimer" was awarded Best Theatrical Motion Picture. "Beef" won for Best Comedy Series, "Succession" for Best Drama Series, and "The Bear" for Best Limited Series. "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" clinched Best Animated Feature, while "American Symphony" took home the prize for Best Documentary.

🏀 NBA Suspends Players After Heat-Pelicans Game

Following a Feb. 23 on-court brawl, NBA Executive VP Joe Dumars declared suspensions for several players, Jimmy Butler (Heat) and Naji Marshall (Pelicans) are sidelined for one game each, whereas Thomas Bryant (Heat) and Jose Alvarado (Pelicans) face three-game bans for their role in the fight and bench departure. Nikola Jović (Heat) also earns a one-game suspension. The fracas, triggered by a foul, resulted in immediate ejections and suspensions starting as early as tonight for the involved players.

OTHER NEWS

👶 Decline in Millennials' Birth Rates May Slow Economy Over Next Decade

The U.S. faces economic strain as millennials have fewer children, potentially cutting GDP growth by a third, mirroring declines in countries like Japan and China. A shrinking workforce threatens Social Security sustainability, with only two workers per retiree projected, down from 20. Todd Buchholz emphasizes, "It's a net negative to have fewer children when the choice is between having a child and investing in a new Sony PlayStation," highlighting the cultural shift needed to address this demographic challenge.

🔥 US Airman Self-Immolates at Israel Embassy in Washington

On February 26, 2024, an active-duty US airman self-immolated outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC, protesting Israel's Gaza war, critically injuring himself. Declaring on Twitch he wouldn't be "complicit in genocide," he shouted "Free Palestine!" before igniting. This follows protests against Israel's response to Hamas' attacks, highlighting deep-seated tensions over the conflict that has caused thousands of casualties.

📱 AT&T Gives $5 Credit for Service Outage Impact

AT&T's CEO John T. Stankey apologized for a widespread outage caused by technical issues during network expansion, affecting thousands across the U.S., including major cities. A $5 credit will be automatically applied to impacted consumer and small business accounts as compensation. Stankey emphasized, "crediting those customers for essentially a full day of service is the right thing to do," following the incident not linked to a cyberattack.

THIS DAY THAT YEAR

On February 26, 1815, Napoleon, who had been compelled to abdicate as the Emperor of France in 1814, made a daring escape from his exile on the island of Elba. Gathering support as he journeyed, he reclaimed power upon his triumphant return to Paris on March 20, initiating what became known as the Hundred Days period.

Thanks for scrolling with us! 

Catch up on what you missed by checking out our past issues here. And if you’re in the mood for more bite-sized, 60 words content nuggets? Check out our other daily newsletter.

Marketing Scroll: Get all the Marketing news that truly matters delivered to your inbox in 60-word quick reads, giving you everything in under 3 minutes a day! 

Want to share Daily Scroll with a Pal? Forward this email and invite them to join our community of savvy scroll-ers.

We'd love to hear your feedback on today's issue of Daily Scroll! Simply reply to this email and share your thoughts on how we can improve our content and format. 

Have a great day and see you tomorrow 🕺