Housing industry warns Powell

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🛢️ Exxon Mobil will acquire Pioneer Natural Resources for $60 billion in an all-stock deal

Exxon Mobil is acquiring Pioneer Natural Resources for $59.5 billion, doubling its Permian Basin production to 1.3 million barrels/day. The all-stock deal offers 2.3234 Exxon shares per Pioneer share. Closing in 1H 2024, Exxon's CEO Darren Woods highlighted, “The combined capabilities will...lower our environmental footprint, accelerating Pioneer’s net-zero plan from 2050 to 2035.”

🏠 Housing industry warns Powell against further rate hikes to avoid economic downturn

Top U.S. real estate and banking groups, including the National Association of Home Builders and the Mortgage Bankers Association, urged the Federal Reserve to halt further interest rate hikes amid a "historic shortage" of homes and escalating costs. They emphasized, “The speed and magnitude of these rate increases... is painful and unprecedented in the absence of larger economic turmoil.”

📦 US delivers weapons to Israel following Hamas attacks

The US has sent its first weapons shipment to Israel amidst the conflict with Hamas. This includes "advanced ammunition" and interceptors for Israel's Iron Dome missile system. Boeing expedited the delivery of 1,000 smart bombs following the terror attack. President Biden emphasized: "We stand with Israel... There's no justification for terrorism. There's no excuse.”

🌍 NATO will act if Baltic Sea pipeline damage is intentional: Alliance chief

NATO is investigating damage to a gas pipeline and telecom cable between Finland and Estonia, suspected to result from "outside activity". This follows last year's Nord Stream pipeline bombings. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO's Secretary General, warned of a "determined response" if deemed a deliberate attack. The incident raises concerns over regional energy security and potential state-sponsored sabotage.

🔍 Adobe introduces a symbol to encourage tagging AI-generated content.

Adobe and the C2PA, including Microsoft and Intel, launched an "icon of transparency" for content, especially AI-generated, detailing ownership and production. Described as a "nutrition label" for media by Adobe's Andy Parsons, it boosts transparency. Microsoft plans adoption, while Google uses SynthID, and Digimarc offers a digital watermark for AI content.

📱 iPhone 12 clearance for France imminent

After facing a ban in France because the iPhone 12 surpassed on-body emission standards, Apple has addressed the issue with the introduction of iOS 17.1. In response to the regulatory challenges, Apple emphasized, “ANFR's protocol requires meeting on-body SAR limits, even if tested off-body." With this software enhancement now approved, the iPhone 12 is poised for a comeback in the French market.

🔑 Google shifts from passwords to 'passkeys' as the default option

Google aims to replace passwords with passkeys, unlocked via fingerprints, face scans, or pins, promoting them as secure and efficient. Google stated, "[W]e’ll continue encouraging the industry to... make passwords a rarity, and eventually obsolete." Apps like YouTube, Maps, Uber, eBay, and WhatsApp are adopting passkeys, with Microsoft and Apple also backing the transition.

🎤 Taylor Swift's 'Eras' Tour Might have Injected $80 Billion into Global Economy

The "Swiftie Economy" from Taylor Swift's "Eras" tour might infuse a colossal $80 billion into the global economy, comparable to the impact of 55 Super Bowls, highlights economist Ed Tiryakian. Additionally, Swift's relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce has catalyzed substantial economic and viewership gains for the league. Tiryakian vividly summarizes: "She just dropped a golden goose into the NFL’s lap. It’s like they won the lottery."

🏅 Olympic star Mary Lou Retton in ICU

Gymnastics icon Mary Lou Retton, known for her 1984 gold and "perfect 10" vault, is critically ill in ICU battling a rare form of pneumonia. Her daughter, McKenna Kelley, disclosed that Retton is without insurance, urging the community for prayers and monetary assistance. Retton's feats had played a pivotal role in boosting gymnastics in the U.S. She also served under President George W. Bush post later in her life.

📸 Biologist Wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year with Ancient Species Shot

Laurent Ballesta captures the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year title with “The golden horseshoe,” an “astonishing” image of a tri-spine horseshoe crab, noted for its crucial role in vaccine development and current endangerment due to habitat threats. Notably, Ballesta became the competition's second-ever double-winner amidst a vast pool of 49,957 global entries from 95 countries, all narrating a range of compelling wildlife stories and emerging ecological concerns.

🚫 Utah Sues TikTok Over Addictive Effects on Children

Utah filed a lawsuit against TikTok for allegedly enticing and endangering children and misrepresenting its ties to ByteDance. Governor Spencer Cox asserted, "We will prevail in holding social media companies accountable by any means necessary." The state's Attorney General described TikTok's algorithms as a "cruel slot machine" targeting youth. Utah had already enacted laws to safeguard minors on social media.

🔒 Californians can now erase personal online data with pioneering US law

California's Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Delete Act, allowing Californians to request a single-page data deletion from all state data brokers. Introduced by Senator Josh Becker, who emphasized, “The Delete Act protects our most sensitive information,” it requires broker registration and threatens penalties for non-compliance. While enhancing privacy, advertisers worry about its impact. Full implementation is due by 2026.

On 11 October 2002, the US Congress approved a joint resolution authorizing President Bush to deploy military force against Iraq. The conflict, commonly referred to as the Iraq War commenced on 20 March 2003. The United States, alongside allies such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland, initiated the war with a "shock and awe" bombing strategy.

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