3. New from Apple
Apple is expected to unveil its first new major product line in nearly a decade on Monday, with speculation swirling that its long-awaited mixed-reality headset could anchor the company’s annual WWDC conference. A headset of the sort could feature high-definition screens in front of a user’s eyes, or it could allow the wearer to see and interact with the world around them through high-powered cameras. And hopes are high, despite waning interest in the metaverse. “Apple invents entire new categories that have the potential to disrupt existing markets and create entirely new markets,” Bank of America analyst Wamsi Mohan wrote in a recent note.
4. Friendly neighborhood box office hit
Sony’s latest Marvel extravaganza, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” caught millions of moviegoers in its web over the weekend, racking up $120.5 million in domestic ticket sales. It’s the second-biggest opening for a movie this year behind Universal’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” The “Spider-Verse” results come as Hollywood enters the important summer movie season, with domestic grosses trailing more than 20% behind 2019′s pre-pandemic totals up to this point. The next few weeks will be a test of whether potential blockbusters can help make up the difference. There’s a new “Transformers” movie coming this weekend from Paramount, while June 16 brings Disney-Pixar’s “Elemental” and Warner Bros. Discovery’s latest DC movie, “The Flash,” which seems like the only sure box office bet of those three. The fifth “Indiana Jones” movie is due at the end of June from Disney, too.
5. Tense times near Taiwan
U.S.-China tension over Taiwan escalated over the weekend, as Chinese and American warships got too close for comfort in the Taiwan Strait. The U.S. military released a video of the incident, which you can watch here. American officials said the Chinese vessel performed an unsafe maneuver, effectively cutting off the U.S. ship and forcing it to slow down. Chinese officials defended the ship’s actions. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory even as the island self governs. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, however, there’s been rising global concern that China may seize Taiwan through military action.
— CNBC’s Mike Calia and Sara Salinas wrote this newsletter. Tanaya Macheel, Lee Ying Shan, Kif Leswing and Sarah Whitten contributed.
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