SEC Approves Bitcoin ETFs

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

📢 Fed's Williams, Rates High Enough to Achieve Inflation Goal 📈🎯

New York Fed President John Williams stated that the current monetary policy is sufficient to reduce inflation to the Fed's 2% target, requiring a continued restrictive stance until inflation is "moving toward 2% on a sustained basis." Interest rates are expected to decline as inflation eases, with the pace dependent on economic trends. Policymakers may keep rates steady for now, despite market anticipation of easing. 

🚀 US SEC Approves Bitcoin ETFs, Revolutionizing Crypto Market

The U.S. SEC has approved its first Bitcoin ETFs, a milestone for cryptocurrency. Firms like BlackRock and Fidelity are among the 11 approved, despite risks. Andrew Bond, senior fintech analyst at Rosenblatt Securities sees it as "a huge positive for the institutionalization of bitcoin." Analysts predict up to $100 billion in 2023 inflows while SEC Chair Gensler remains cautious, calling Bitcoin "speculative, volatile."

WORLD

🤝 Blinken discusses Gaza's future with Abbas

U.S. Secretary of State Blinken met with Palestinian leader Abbas, discussing Israel's conflict with Hamas and Gaza's post-war governance. Blinken, advocating a unified Palestinian state, emphasized concrete steps towards peace. Abbas asserted, "The Gaza Strip is part and parcel of the state of Palestine," rejecting Israeli separation plans. The meeting, part of Blinken's Middle East mission, also focused on Palestinian Authority reforms.

🌐 2024's Ranking of the World's Most Powerful Passports

In the 2024 Henley Passport Index, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain join Singapore and Japan with the most powerful passports, offering visa-free access to 194 countries. The U.S. holds seventh place, a notable decline from a decade ago. Dr. Christian Kaelin, expert in the field of citizenship planning notes an unprecedented gap in travel freedom, with top countries accessing 166 more destinations than Afghanistan, the lowest-ranked.

SCIENCE & TECH

📺 LG Unveils World's First Wireless Transparent OLED TV

LG unveils the "world's first wireless transparent OLED TV" at CES, the Signature OLED T. This 77-inch transparent screen TV, blending into the environment when off, offers innovative placement options, including as a room divider. Powered by an AI processor, it supports both transparent and opaque settings. Features include wireless 4K transmission, custom widgets, and multiple installation choices.

🍏 Apple to Offer In-Store Vision Pro Demos During Release Weekend

Apple's Vision Pro launch includes limited U.S. in-store demos from February 2-4, with details on duration and reservations unclear. This first-come, first-served approach is seen as a preliminary phase before expanding the program. Challenges unique to XR headset demos, like sanitation and custom fitting, are heightened, as evidenced by Apple's need for vision prescription details during press demos.

SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

🎬 Hollywood Supports Bill to Protect Performers from Deep Fakes and Voice Clones

The bipartisan "No AI Fraud Act" aims to curb unauthorized AI-generated deepfakes and voice clones by granting individuals federal intellectual property rights over their image and voice. Endorsed by SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher for "protecting intellectual property from exploitation," the bill allows legal action and penalties for misuse, emphasizing the need for consent in AI-generated content.

🌟 Selena Gomez Cast as Linda Ronstadt in Biopic 🎤

In an upcoming biopic, Selena Gomez portrays 11-time Grammy winner Linda Ronstadt, with producers James Keach and John Boylan. Emphasizing Ronstadt's heritage and her quote, "It all started with a simple dream," the film explores her celebrated career and battle with progressive supranuclear palsy, resonating with Gomez's own Mexican roots.

OTHER NEWS

🤖 AI Misinformation Poses Top Short-Term Economic Threat 🌐

The World Economic Forum identifies AI-driven misinformation and disinformation as major threats to the global economy, particularly influencing upcoming major elections. With 30% of experts foreseeing a global catastrophe within two years, the report, involving 1,400 experts, underscores the urgent need for resilience against societal polarization, cyber insecurity, and climate change. Saadia Zahidi of the WEF states, "The future is very much in our hands."

🏛️ Congress Approaches $70B Tax Break Deal for Businesses and Children

US congressional leaders, including Democrat Ron Wyden and Republican Jason Smith, are nearing a bipartisan $70 billion deal to renew business tax breaks and enhance the child tax credit. Key elements include a retroactive research and development deduction and a debated fully refundable child credit. This crucial legislation, potentially boosting Biden's economy ratings, must navigate through imminent government shutdown threats.

THIS DAY THAT YEAR

On 11 January, 1935, Amelia Earhart made aviation history with the first solo flight from Hawaii to California, covering 2,408 miles (3,875 km) - a distance greater than from the United States to Europe. Departing from Honolulu and landing in Oakland 17 hours and 7 minutes later, she set a historic milestone in aviation.

Thanks for scrolling with us🤳

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, see you tomorrow🕺