Macao, the “Las Vegas of the East,” has transformed into a bustling gaming hub since its takeover by China in 1999. The city’s GDP per person has quadrupled to $68,000, surpassing Hong Kong’s $50,000, but at what cost? The city’s casino industry has brought ease and luxury to some, but it has also led to … Read more
Respiratory infections such as flu and RSV are on the rise, prompting hospitals in Monmouth and Ocean counties to reintroduce mask mandates. RWJBarnabas Health, which owns several hospitals in the area, has made this decision due to a surge in emergency room visits and hospital admissions associated with respiratory infections. According to Dr. Andy Anderson, … Read more
Japan’s ispace has confirmed that its second lunar lander mission will launch on the same SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost 1 mission in mid-January. The two companies have agreed to share a launch, with Firefly’s lander separating first from the rocket and performing another burn before ispace’s Resilience lander is deployed. … Read more
The US Commerce Department’s efforts to curb China’s and Russia’s access to American-made advanced computer chips have been deemed “inadequate” by a Senate report. The Biden administration imposed export controls after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but the agency lacks resources to enforce these rules. According to the report, the Bureau of Industry and Security relies … Read more
Companies that made big acquisitions during a boom period are now selling assets at significantly lower prices, according to recent deals announced by Alibaba Group and BlackBerry Ltd. Alibaba is selling Chinese department-store chain Intime for $1 billion, which is around 30% of its valuation when it was acquired in 2017. Meanwhile, BlackBerry is divesting … Read more
The US Federal Reserve has lowered interest rates for the third time this year, but market expectations were not met. In a surprise move, the central bank reduced the Federal Funds rate by 0.25%, or a quarter point, in an effort to combat inflation. Despite being widely anticipated, investors reacted negatively, signaling that their hopes … Read more
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) lowered its overnight borrowing rate to a target range of 4.25%-4.5%, marking the third consecutive reduction and one that comes with a cautionary tone about additional cuts in coming years. Chair Jerome Powell stated, “Today was a closer call but we decided it was the right call.” The Fed … Read more
A late-night rocket launch is set for December 20, with SpaceX launching Astranis satellites. The best views will be along the beach in Brevard County, where you can see liftoff and boosters returning to the pads. The launch window is from 10:39 p.m. to 2:58 a.m., and weather conditions may affect visibility. To watch the … Read more
Apple has abandoned its plan to launch an iPhone hardware subscription service, marking a significant retreat from an innovative approach that aimed to change the way consumers purchase its flagship device. The project, which began around 2022, sought to make owning an iPhone comparable to subscribing to an app – with monthly fees and new … Read more
Japanese gaming giant Sony has invested 50 billion yen (approximately $318 million) in Kadokawa’s parent company, becoming the largest shareholder with a 10% stake. The move comes as a full takeover appears to be on hold. The investment marks a strategic partnership between Sony and Kadokawa, aiming to boost the latter’s global intellectual property (IP) … Read more