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On November 20, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a corrective proposal in federal court demanding Google sell its Chrome browser to resolve concerns regarding its monopolistic practices in search services. The browser's dominance in the market is a key factor for Google, which controls 90% of global web searches and 70% of browser usage.

If accepted, this proposal could lead to significant changes in the tech landscape, potentially dismantling a major player in the industry. Concerns mount over how such an outcome could enhance competition in the search market and expand consumer choice, although Google is expected to resist these changes fiercely.

After pausing interest rate cuts in the first half of the year, the Brazilian Central Bank is now considering accelerating the pace of monetary tightening. Market analysts believe the bank may need to raise the benchmark Selic rate by 0.75 percentage points at its next meeting in December, a faster pace than the previous hikes.

Microsoft has announced a game-changing feature for Microsoft Teams: an AI-powered real-time translator that can interpret conversations using your voice. This innovative tool promises to break down language barriers in international meetings, allowing colleagues from different countries and clients to communicate more effectively.

The translator, available in nine languages, will mimic the user's voice, tone, and style, providing a more natural and fluid experience. This feature aims to reduce misunderstandings and improve collaboration in global settings. While the initial release is expected in 2025, Microsoft plans to expand the tool's capabilities, including more languages and features, in the future.

This development aligns with Microsoft's efforts to make remote work tools more accessible and inclusive. By enabling people to work together more efficiently across language barriers, Microsoft is reaffirming its commitment to transforming global collaboration.

U.S. prosecutors have charged Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and other executives with orchestrating a $250 million bribery scheme to secure solar energy contracts in India. The indictment alleges they concealed the plan while seeking to raise money from U.S. investors. Adani Group has denied the allegations, but its stocks have plummeted in India. The case could have far-reaching implications, as Adani's conglomerate has a global presence and attracts capital worldwide. Prosecuting the case may take years, with the incoming Trump administration's Justice Department determining how to proceed.

Novartis, the pharmaceutical company, has announced changes to its medium-term strategy. The company aims to focus on its core businesses, streamline operations, and improve profitability. This includes divesting non-core assets, optimizing its portfolio, and enhancing its research and development pipeline. The goal is to position Novartis for long-term sustainable growth and better serve patients worldwide.

Following its acquisition of Motorola, Lenovo has released one of its most impressive financial reports for its smartphone division. The company has seen substantial growth in revenue and market share, showcasing its successful integration of Motorola's technology and brand into its portfolio.

This strong performance highlights Lenovo's strategic vision and ability to adapt in a competitive global market. The financial results not only reflect the effectiveness of its recent investments but also signal the company's commitment to innovation and expanding its influence in the mobile industry.

International media outlets are highlighting the global success of South Korean boy band BTS, noting their rise to fourth place in global music rankings. This achievement underscores the significant cultural impact of "K-Bangtan," or the BTS phenomenon, showcasing the power of Korean pop culture on a worldwide scale. The article likely details BTS's accomplishments and influence, emphasizing their contribution to South Korea's soft power and global cultural presence.

Emerging markets have faced a "lost decade" since 2010, underperforming developed markets. Factors like quantitative easing, a stronger US dollar, and China's slowdown have contributed. However, experts see growth potential in other emerging markets, especially those with favorable demographics and government investment, like India. While the US election outcome could impact emerging markets, they have significant long-term growth prospects and deserve a place in investment portfolios, though active management may be preferable to broad index exposure.

This article explores the Russian poet Fedor Tyutchev's poem "Po ravnine vod lazurnoy..." (Across the Azure Waters). The poem is analyzed as part of a series on the "Insufficiency of Thinking" and the "Brain Traps" series. The article delves into the themes and imagery present in Tyutchev's work, offering insights into the poet's perspective on the human condition and our relationship with the natural world.

Nissan, in collaboration with Dongfeng, has unveiled the N7, its first electric sedan designed exclusively for the Chinese market. Set to hit roads in mid-2025, the N7 aims to challenge tech giants Xiaomi and Huawei, which have disrupted the automotive industry with their SU7 and Luxeed S7 models.

The N7, built on a modular platform optimized for electric vehicles, promises advanced technology and aerodynamic design under Nissan's Epoch concept. With dimensions of 4.9 meters in length, 1.8 meters in width, and a 2.9-meter wheelbase, the N7 targets Chinese consumers seeking spacious, comfortable vehicles, driving the shift towards electric mobility.

Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P processor, the N7's infotainment system ensures a smooth, connected user experience. It also features Navigate on Autopilot, a collaborative effort with Momenta, China's leading autonomous driving company. These innovations position the N7 to compete with Xiaomi's SU7 and Huawei's Luxeed S7.

While direct competitors' pricing and range remain unknown, the N7 is expected to fall within the $29,900 to $34,800 range. To stand out, it must match or exceed the SU7's 700 km or the Luxeed S7's 816 km range, including high-performance versions for speed enthusiasts.

Through the N7, Nissan reaffirms its commitment to electrification via 'The Arc,' its mid-term plan to develop and export new energy vehicles from China. This model not only signals Nissan's evolution but also its intent to challenge tech giants reshaping the automotive industry in the world's largest market.

As part of its integration into the Google ecosystem, Gemini, a conversational AI, has now added support for the Italian language, joining six other languages, including German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and French. This expansion enables a broader user base to leverage Gemini's capabilities within Google Workspace.

Gemini can now work with email in Gmail, assisting users in finding specific content and crafting responses based on the message's tone and words. It also supports Google Documents, helping users create effective content, generate new ideas, and write for various social media platforms. Additionally, Gemini integrates with Google Drive to provide a summary of saved documents, identifying key information. Future integrations include Google Presentations.

Google has launched Gemini Live in Dutch, introducing a live speech version of its AI chatbot with ten new voices, featuring both Dutch and Flemish accents. Users can select their preferred accent through their phone settings. The chatbot is also integrated into various applications including Gmail, Maps, YouTube, Tasks, and Keep, though Dutch support for the Calendar app is expected later. Gemini Live allows continuous conversations without the need for users to constantly initiate interactions, and it retains conversational context, enabling topic changes and deeper discussions.

Nvidia's Blackwell GPU chips, designed for data centers and AI applications, are experiencing overheating issues in some server racks, particularly those housing up to 72 chips consuming 120 kW. Nvidia has advised partners to improve server cooling systems.

While the issue currently affects data center chips, concerns exist for the upcoming GeForce RTX 5000 series, sharing the same architecture. The RTX 5090, expected in January with a power draw of up to 600W, may require robust cooling solutions, especially in smaller PC cases. However, differing chip designs and cooling systems may alter the risk.

The overheating problem could potentially delay Blackwell chip deliveries to corporate clients.

A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Netflix alleging poor streaming quality during the highly-viewed Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight. Plaintiff Robert Denton claims buffering and access errors marred the event, breaching the contract with Netflix subscribers. While Netflix acknowledged "several technical problems" due to unprecedented viewership (over 65 million concurrent streams), Downdetector reports indicate at least 98,000 users experienced issues, including outages and poor audio/video quality before and during the fight. Despite Netflix's claim of a "huge success," the lawsuit seeks compensation for viewers' negative experiences.

Langflow is a Python-based, low-code app builder for Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and multi-agent AI applications. It's model, API, and database agnostic, offering a visual IDE for drag-and-drop workflow creation and testing. Key features include multi-agent orchestration, immediate testing with a playground, and observability integrations. It provides a free cloud service for quick setup and allows publishing as an API or exporting as a Python app. Enterprise-grade security and scalability are ensured with free DataStax Langflow cloud service.

Gaia Sky is a real-time 3D Universe application designed for Linux, Windows, and macOS, rooted in ESA's Gaia mission to chart over a billion stars. It offers installation instructions, minimum system requirements, and guides for utilizing pre-built packages or compiling from source.

The application includes features for VR compatibility, integrated dataset management, and detailed documentation. It supports OpenXR for VR experiences and facilitates dataset downloads directly within the application, enhancing user convenience for exploring celestial data. Gaia Sky is open-source under MPL 2.0, promoting contributions and community support.

Groww, after shifting its parent company from the US to India, experienced a valuation reduction to under $2 billion, resulting in a $160 million US tax payment. This represents a more than 30% decrease from its 2021 valuation. Razorpay, another fintech considering a similar move, anticipates a comparable valuation drop (30-40%).

This valuation decrease is attributed to US tax regulations allowing lower fair market values based on factors like stock issuance prices. The process involves complex calculations considering preferred and common stock, and total fundraising. Both companies are streamlining their Indian entities, with Razorpay aiming for a direct application to CCI and RBI, bypassing the NCLT.

The shift is driven by changes in Indian corporate rules and aims to minimize US tax burdens. While Groww reported a net loss due to the tax payment, it showed operational profit. Experts highlight the complexity of the valuation process, emphasizing the impact of preferred stock and intellectual property location on the overall tax implications.