The 10 New Books You Should Read in November

November, it seems, is a month for the memoir. It makes sense, given the season’s propensity for dreariness, which in turn sparks introspection. From writers (Hilton Als, Jerry Saltz, Haruki Murakami) and former First Ladies (Michelle Obama) to models (Paulina Porizkova) and artists (Patti Smith), everyone is reflecting this month. In A Book of Days, Smith reminds us that, despite …

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The History Behind Gyeongseong Creature

Netflix K-drama Gyeongseong Creature, which hits the streamer with its first seven episodes on Dec. 22, opens in 1945, as the Japanese imperial army rushes to destroy the evidence of the lethal human experiments they have been conducting in northeast China. As snow falls on the remote landscape known by the Japanese occupying force as Manchuria, corpses are thrown into piles t…

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Here Are the Most ‘Attractive’ Global Cities

Many major global cities saw a significant decrease in competitiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic, as governments tightened border restrictions and imposed tough social distancing restrictions, according to the 2021 Global Power City Index (GPCI).

It remains to be seen whether, in the post-pandemic world of work, these global hubs will retain their ability to attract the highest-caliber…

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Japan’s Digital Minister Is Waging War on Floppy Disks

Japan’s digital minister, who’s vowed to rid the bureaucracy of outdated tools from the hanko stamp to the fax machine, has now declared “war” on a technology many haven’t seen for decades — the floppy disk.

The hand-sized, square-shaped data storage item, along with similar devices including the CD or even lesser-known mini disk, are still required for…

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Elon Musk Reviving Vine is a Bad Idea

If there’s one thing Elon Musk should know, it’s this: Vine is dead; let it rest. On Sunday, Musk—who recently bought Twitter for $44 billion and is now the app’s owner—tweeted a poll asking if he should bring Vine back. With over four million responses, the vote resulted in 69.6% of people saying “Yes.” Popular YouTuber Mr. Beast replied to his tweet, …

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Robocalls Finally Have the U.S. Government’s Attention

Anyone with a mobile phone knows the unpleasant sensation of answering a call from an unfamiliar number only to hear a pre-recorded marketing or scam pitch from a company you have no interest in patronizing. Around 33 million robocalls are made each day to Americans, according to the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC)—more than 50 billion a year.

This is more than just an annoyance; in…

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The Tax Loophole That Helps Temu and Shein Keep Prices So Low

On Super Bowl Sunday, the e-commerce giant Temu flaunted their alluringly low prices in multiple ad spots during the game, encouraging customers to “shop like a billionaire.” Halsey Cook, the CEO of the South Carolina-based textile manufacturer Milliken & Company, was less than enthused. For the past couple years, he’s been watching as products similar to Milliken’s apparel lines ha…

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Elon Musk Takes Stand to Defend Controversial Tweets. Here’s What to Know About the Trial So Far

Elon Musk is on trial for a Twitter-related controversy dating back to 2018, and on Friday he defended his actions in a San Francisco court.

The trial revolves around Musk’s tweets from August 2018 where he claimed that he had secured financing to take Tesla private, spurring a stock frenzy that many of the automaker’s shareholders claim ruined their shares.

Musk said …

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Britney Spears Marries Partner Sam Asghari in Intimate Ceremony—But Not Without Ex-Husband Drama

Britney Spears married longtime boyfriend Sam Asghari in an intimate ceremony Thursday, according to multiple media reports including People and the BBC. The day, however, was not spared from drama.

According to the AP, earlier in the afternoon before the wedding, Spears’ ex-husband Jason Alexander crashed the wedding venue before authorities were called. Ventura County Sheriff&#821…

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Petrobras Head Resigns as Bolsonaro Rages About Fuel Prices

Petrobras’s chief executive officer Jose Mauro Coelho resigned following a fuel price increase that has angered President Jair Bolsonaro and prompted calls for a congressional inquiry.

Petroleo Brasileiro SA, as the company is formally known, announced his resignation in a statement on Monday. Bolsonaro had already fired Coelho in May and named a replacement, but he remained in the …

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