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☆ Satya Nadella's first decade as Microsoft CEO was defined by cloud. What's next?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Jason Redmond | AFP | Getty ImagesWhen Satya Nadella replaced Steve Ballmer as Microsoft CEO in February 2014, the software company was mired in mediocrity. Many tech industry analysts and investors would say that, thanks largely to Nadella, Microsoft is now set up to be a powerhouse for the foreseeable future. In a 2020 interview, Pat Gelsinger, then CEO of VMware, said offering his company's software on Microsoft's Azure cloud was akin to a "Middle East peace treaty." Nadella is perhaps best known in the tech industry for pushing Microsoft deeper into cloud computing. While some in the younger generations have Microsoft software at work, it's not necessarily what they grew up using and may not be what they prefer.

Persons: Satya Nadella, Bing, Jason Redmond, Steve Ballmer, Aravind Srinivas, Jeff Bezos, Nadella, Aaron Levie, Levie, Larry Ellison, David Paul Morris, Pat Gelsinger, Michael Nathan, Nathan, he'd, He's, Nat Friedman, Friedman, Kevork Djansezian, Ballmer, Kevin Dallas, I've, Dallas, it's, Gen Z, OpenAI's, Commission's Lina Khan, Sam Altman, Altman, OpenAI isn't, hasn't, Jefferies Organizations: Microsoft, AFP, Getty, Apple, Google, Amazon, Oracle Corp, Oracle, Bloomberg, VMware, Intel, Linux, Ballmer, Los Angeles Clippers, Microsoft Corp, Nokia, Activision Blizzard, Adobe, Activision, Federal, U.S . Justice Department, CNBC Locations: Redmond , Washington, San Francisco, Microsoft's, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles , California, U.S, Europe

WHAT ARE LOCAL ‘CRIME-FREE’ OR ‘NUISANCE’ ORDINANCES? Photos You Should See View All 45 ImagesAnti-crime and nuisance ordinances have been around for years and are widespread in their usage. More than 2,000 cities nationwide have enacted such policies since the 1990s, according to the Chicago-based Shriver Center on Poverty Law. Critical studies and lawsuits indicate enforcement of nuisance laws frequently occur in poorer neighborhoods and communities of color. Other area cities have rewritten their ordinances, including Faribault in 2022 as it agreed to pay $685,000 to settle a federal lawsuit over the law.

Persons: ”, Corey Bernstein, Devon Orland, “ We’ve, ” Orland, Louis, ___ Hanna Organizations: U.S . Department of Justice, Shriver, Poverty Law, Crime Free Association, DOJ, Housing, National Disability Rights, American Civil Liberties Union, New, New York Civil Liberties Union, U.S . Department of Housing, Urban Development, Louis Park Locations: Minneapolis, Chicago, Anoka , Minnesota, Hesperia , California, Georgia, New York, Rochester, Troy , New York, Peoria , Illinois, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Norristown , Pennsylvania, Maryland, California, Illinois, California , Illinois , Ohio, Pennsylvania, Golden Valley, St, Bloomington, Faribault, Topeka , Kansas

Nearly half of all flash flood deaths are vehicle-related, experts say, which is why you should never drive into a flooded street. Here’s what to do in advance — and in the moment — to get through a flash flood safely. A “flash flood warning” means a flash flood is imminent or already occurring, and you should immediately move to higher ground if you’re outside or in a basement apartment. The most dire alert is a “flash flood emergency,” which indicates that not only is flooding occurring, but it’s posing a severe threat to human life. “People need to realize that most people who lose their footing in a flash flood don’t get out,” she said.

Persons: there’s, ”, Bonnie Schneider, Schneider, it’s, Hurricane Ida, You’ll, Ready.gov, David Markenson, ‘ It’s, Sabine Marx, I’m, Julie Munger, Munger, “, Dr, Markenson, you’re, don’t, they’re, Ms, Lynn Burttschell, Burttschell, Eugene Resnick, ’, ” Susan Shain Organizations: National Weather Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Cross Training Services, Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Sierra Rescue, FEMA, Wimberley, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York Times Locations: United States, New York City, New York, Madison, Wis

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a challenge to New York state’s licensing program to sell legal marijuana, a system two California applicants say unconstitutionally discriminates against out-of-state residents. The ruling Friday by Albany Judge Anne M. Nardacci may spur New York into issuing hundreds of licenses in a state where most marijuana is sold by unlicensed businesses. She said the main purpose of the dormant Commerce Clause plaintiffs argued should allow them to access New York's market doesn’t apply to the federally illegal cannabis trade. Critics blame New York’s slow retail growth partly on bureaucratic issues, like delays in setting up a $200 million “social equity” fund to help applicants open shops. The rollout also was hobbled by lawsuits on behalf of people and businesses excluded from the first wave of retail licenses.

Persons: Albany Judge Anne M, Nardacci Organizations: —, New York, Albany Judge, Lawyers, New Locations: ALBANY, N.Y, New, California, York, New York, Los Angeles

BOSTON (AP) — More than two dozen commercial drivers have had their licenses downgraded in the wake of a scandal involving State Police troopers allegedly taking bribes in exchange for passing test scores, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles announced Friday. The RMV said it identified 26 people who didn’t pass the test properly and changed them to Class D passenger licenses. The drivers, who were not named, will have to take and pass all the required permit and skills tests if they want to get commercial licenses. Calvin Butner, 63, of Halifax, and Perry Mendes, 63, of Wareham, both retired state troopers, were arrested in Florida on Monday. Cederquist is alleged to have conspired with Mathison, who worked for a spring water company that employed drivers needing commercial licenses, to give them passing scores; and with Camera, who worked for a truck driving school in Brockton, to help four state troopers get their commercial licenses.

Persons: Gary Cederquist, Joel Rogers, Calvin Butner, Perry Mendes, Eric Mathison, Scott Camara, Cederquist, Mathison Organizations: BOSTON, State Police, of Motor Vehicles Locations: Massachusetts, Stoughton, Bridgewater, Halifax, Wareham, Florida, Boston, Rehoboth, Brockton

☆ Digital consultancy Bounteous will merge with Accolite Digital, aiming to become a billion-dollar giant in 5 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Ryan Joe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThe digital consultancy Bounteous is merging with Accolite Digital, and together they plan to become a billion-dollar company in five years. Bounteous and Accolite Digital offer different, yet complementary services. Its clients include Coca-Cola, Caesars Entertainment, Domino's, and others, and it largely competes with other consultancies like Accenture and Deloitte Digital, Bounteous CEO Keith Schwartz told Business Insider. AdvertisementAccolite's clients include telecommunications and financial services companies, including Goldman Sachs, Prudential, and BT. For now, the merged company will be called Bounteous X Accolite, although Kaza said they will finalize its new name in May.

Persons: —, Keith Schwartz, Leela Kaza, Kaza, Goldman Sachs, Prasad Chintamaneni, Schwartz Organizations: Service, Accolite, New, Business, Cola, Caesars Entertainment, Accenture, Deloitte Digital, FedEx, Prudential, BT Locations: Chicago, North America, Dallas, India, Canada, Mexico, Europe, America, Eastern Europe

Tony Evers signed a package of bipartisan legislation aimed at expanding access to dental care and addressing dental workforce shortages across the state into law Wednesday. U.S. Health Resources Administration data released this month found shortages of dental care in 160 areas of Wisconsin, defined as geographic areas, facilities or populations experiencing a shortage of care providers. The package Evers signed includes five bills, including one that authorizes licenses for dental therapists who practice in areas experiencing shortages in care. Dental therapists are positions between a dentist and a hygienist — they can fill cavities but can't perform more complex operations like root canals. Evers signed the bills at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau.

Persons: Tony Evers, Evers Organizations: —, — Wisconsin Gov, Health Resources Administration, Marquette University, Northcentral Technical College Locations: MADISON, Wis, — Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Wausau

☆ Universal Music Group Threatens to Remove Music From TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Ben Sisario | Derrick Bryson Taylor | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music company, said it would revoke the licenses for its vast catalog of songs from TikTok after its current contract expires on Wednesday if the two companies could not reach a new deal addressing Universal’s concerns over artist compensation, artificial intelligence and other issues. In an open letter posted late Tuesday, Universal accused TikTok of responding to its requests with “indifference, and then with intimidation,” creating a public squabble in the remaining hours of the two companies’ existing contract. If the talks fail, TikTok users would be unable to use music by Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, U2, Bad Bunny and thousands of other artists in their videos. The company says it is used by more than 150 million Americans. For a majority of TikTok users, music is an integral part of the experience, with songs — often comically sped up — playing over the short clips that fill users’ feeds.

Persons: TikTok, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Universal, ”, A.I Organizations: Universal Music Group, Universal

☆ Fulton County government outage: Cyberattack brings down phones, court site and tax systems
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Alta Spells | Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —An ongoing cyberattack against Georgia’s Fulton County, which includes parts of Atlanta, has brought some of the government’s systems to a standstill, halting access to court filings, tax processing and other services. The office of the county’s District Attorney Fani Willis lost access to its phones, internet and the court system website, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter. The communication, court and tax systems have all been brought down, said Fulton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robb Pitts in a news briefing Monday. A source with first-hand knowledge in Fulton County told CNN the internet and Odyssey court access are down as well. “We at Fulton County take cybersecurity seriously and we place a high priority on the protection of sensitive information,” Pitts said.

Persons: Fani Willis, Willis, Donald Trump, Robb Pitts, Pitts, ” Pitts, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Georgia’s, county’s Department of Information Technology, FBI, Fulton, IT, The Atlanta, Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Locations: Georgia’s Fulton County, Atlanta, county’s, Fulton County, Baltimore, New Mexico’s, Albuquerque, US

☆ Licensing to Netflix has become a big business for studios again, but some insiders worry it could backfire
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Lucia Moses | James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewCash-hungry entertainment studios are back in the content licensing game, sending their valuable shows like HBO's "Sex and the City" and Disney's "Grey's Anatomy" back to Netflix. Licensing has historically been a mainstay of entertainment companies, except for a brief period when many hoarded content while they built up their own streaming services. "It's the future," said Dan Cohen, the chief content licensing officer at Paramount. Netflix and other entertainment companies that sought full ownership of content as they built up their streaming services are now becoming more agnostic about it. But, for now, the major entertainment companies don't have much of a choice.

Persons: —, Mike Pears, Pears, Jessica Reif Ehrlich, Dan Cohen, Reif Ehrlich, Mitch Metcalf, Metcalf, Meeka Bondy, Perkins, John Hodulik, Tim Nollen, Netflix's, it's, Nollen Organizations: Service, Netflix, Business, AMC, Apple, Warner Bros . Discovery, Paramount, Bank of America, ABC, NBC, Metcalf Entertainment Intelligence, UBS, CBS, Macquarie, Hulu

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina has joined a nascent nationwide effort to improve outcomes for more prisoners who return to society through an approach focused on education, health care and housing. More than 18,000 people are released annually from the dozens of North Carolina adult correctional facilities, the order says, facing obstacles to a fresh start from their criminal record. The council said that North Carolina is the third state to officially join Reentry 2030, after Missouri and Alabama. And Greg Singleton, a continuing-education dean at Central Carolina Community College in Sanford, is himself an ex-offender, having served four years in prison in the 1990s. “What if God didn’t give second chances — where would any of us be?” Singleton asked.

Persons: Roy Cooper, ” Cooper, “, Todd Ishee, Cooper, Joe Gibbs, Greg Singleton, didn’t, ” Singleton, ” Organizations: —, Gov, Council of State Governments, Transportation Department, of Health, Human Services, Republican, Assembly, NASCAR, Super Bowl, Life, Central Carolina Community College Locations: RALEIGH, N.C, — North Carolina, North Carolina, Missouri, Alabama, Carolina, Sanford

☆ Norway defends deep-sea mining, says it may help to break China and Russia's rare earths stronghold
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Ocean Rebellions protest The Deep Sea Says No Why the deep sea? (Photo by Charles M. Vella/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty ImagesNorway says its controversial decision to approve deep-sea mining is a necessary step into the unknown that could help to break China and Russia's rare earths dominance. "We have been looking into the seabed minerals opportunity for a long time. Campaigners fear that exploration and exploitation activities in the deep sea could permanently alter a home that is unique to known — and many as yet unknown — species. "The argument put forward by the Norwegian government — and the deep-sea mining industry — that 'deep-sea mining can be done in a sustainable way' goes against the large consensus of scientific literature," Roux said.

Persons: Luciana, Charles M, Anne, Sophie Roux, Terje Aasland, Aasland, Arild Hermstad, Camille Etienne, Lucas Bravo, Javad Parsa, Norway's Aasland, Roux, — Organizations: SOUTH, Getty, IEA, Energy, CNBC, Afp, European Commission, Ocean Alliance, Lightrocket Locations: ROTTERDAM, SOUTH HOLLAND, NETHERLANDS, Norway, China, Europe, Russia, Norwegian, Vietnam, Brazil, Svalbard, French, Oslo

☆ Earnings playbook: Your guide to the busiest week of the reporting season
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Fred Imbert | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

What history shows: GM beats earnings estimates 87% of the time, according to data from Bespoke Investment Group. Alphabet is set to report earnings after the close. What history shows: Alphabet averages a 1.45% gain after reporting earnings, Bespoke data shows. What history shows: Amazon exceeds earnings expectations 63% of the time, according to Bespoke. What history shows: Meta shares have risen in three of the last four earnings days, per Bespoke, including a 23.3% rally.

Persons: Bard chatbot, Gus Richard, David Palmer, Palmer, MSFT, Jordan Novet, bode, Leslie Josephs, Max, Alaska's, AAPL, AMZN, Mark Zuckerberg Organizations: Meta, Apple, ., Motors, CNBC, Tuesday, United Auto Workers, LSEG, Investment, AMD, Starbucks, Microsoft, Management, Wednesday Boeing, Alaska Airlines, FAA, Boeing, United Airlines, Web, Mizuho Securities, Nvidia Locations: Northland, China, Alaska

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A jury found Friday that celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D did not violate a photographer's copyright when she used his portrait of Miles Davis as the basis for a tattoo she put on the arm of a friend. “I'm obviously very happy for this to be over," Von D, who inked her friend's arm with Davis as a gift about seven years ago, said outside the courtroom. The 41-year-old Von D, whose legal name is Katherine von Drachenberg, was already a prominent young tattoo artist when she became a TV personality through her appearances on TLC's “Miami Ink” starting in 2005 on TLC. She was the central star of its spinoff, “LA Ink,” which ran from 2007 to 2011 and made her possibly the most famous tattoo artist in the country. Von D said that despite the victory, she’s not enthused about getting back to work.

Persons: —, Kat Von D, Miles Davis, Jeffrey Sedlik's, “, Von D, Davis, “ It's, ”, Von, We've, Allen B, Grodsky, Robert Edward Allen, ” Allen, “ It’s, Sedlik, ” “, Allen, Katherine von Drachenberg, she’s Organizations: ANGELES, Los, TLC, TLC's

☆ We Asked A.I. to Create the Joker. It Generated a Copyrighted Image.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Stuart A. Thompson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

It Generated a Copyrighted Image. image generator, to create an image of Joaquin Phoenix from “The Joker.” In seconds, the system made an image nearly identical to a frame from the 2019 film. Reid Southen Create an image of Joaquin Phoenix Joker movie, 2019, screenshot from a movie, movie scene Midjourney’s response Generated by A.I. Mr. Southen Create an image of Dune movie screencap, 2021, Dune movie trailer Midjourney’s response Generated by A.I. Mr. Southen Create an image of “The Last of Us 2,” Ellie with guitar in front of tree Midjourney’s response Generated by A.I.

Persons: Reid Southen, Midjourney, Joaquin Phoenix, ”, Southen’s, “ Joaquin Phoenix, Sega’s, Woody, watchdogs, Sarah Silverman, John Grisham, OpenAI, Southen, Keith Kupferschmid, Kupferschmid, Ellie, Gary Marcus, “ Marcus, ChatGPT, SpongeBob, chatbot, Kathryn Conrad, Marcus, Microsoft Bing, Mario, Conrad Organizations: Warner Bros, Marvel, The New York Times, Times, Microsoft, Copyright Alliance, New York University, Viacom, University of Kansas, Nintendo Locations: Michigan, A.I, Italian

☆ Publicis just laid down the gauntlet on the ad industry by pledging to invest more than $300 million in AI
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In an hour long video presentation, Publicis execs laid down the AI gauntlet to its competitors as Madison Avenue reckons with how AI technology will transform — and challenge — the ad business. It bought first-party data platform Epsilon in a $4.4 billion 2019 acquisition. "We're in such a fantastic position to leverage AI better than our competition," said Carla Serrano, Publicis Groupe global chief strategy officer in an interview. "There's no such thing as AI without great data and we have connected, proprietary data, and we're a platform company," she added. Publicis said it plans to invest 100 million euros, around $109 million, in building the AI platform in 2024.

Persons: Groupe, execs, Publicis, CoreAI, Sapient, Carla Serrano, Serrano, Michael Farmer Organizations: Business, Madison, reckons, Microsoft, Labs, Epsilon, WPP, Havas, Publicis Groupe, Google, Tech

☆ Humans are depleting groundwater faster than in the past 40 years, but places like Saudi Arabia and Thailand have figured out how to boost their freshwater reserves
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Suman Naishadham | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Humans in many parts of the world are pumping groundwater faster than it can be replenished. Places like Thailand and Saudi Arabia, however, have managed to slow groundwater depletion rates. USGSGroundwater is one of the largest freshwater sources anywhere in the world, making the depletion of aquifers a significant concern. AdvertisementGroundwater depletion is more severe now than a few decades agoFarms are responsible for much of the US's groundwater depletion. The Bangkok basin in Thailand is another example the study highlighted where groundwater levels rose in the early 21st century compared to previous decades.

Persons: Scott Jasechko, Upmanu Lall, Jasechko, Richard Taylor, Taylor, Hydrologists, Felicia Marcus, Marcus, you've Organizations: Service, University of California, Columbia University, Columbia Water Center, University College London hydrogeology, Stanford, Water, West Program Locations: Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Santa Barbara, drylands, Mexico, Iran, California, Bangkok, Thai, Tucson , Arizona, Colorado

☆ US Aims to Impose Tighter Curbs on Civilian Gun Exports: Bloomberg
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - The Biden administration is seeking to reduce the use of U.S.-made guns in foreign crimes and human rights violations by tightening oversight and rules governing commercial exports of semiautomatic weapons, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday.This follows a review by the U.S. Commerce Department of its support for American gunmakers after a Bloomberg investigation linked increasing civilian gun exports to higher rates of global gun crime, according to the report, which cited draft rules obtained by Bloomberg. Commerce Department officials described the proposed changes to advocacy groups and others last week, telling them that the U.S. State Department would have more influence over vetting exports to countries with poor human-rights records, the Bloomberg report said, citing people who were briefed. Under the draft rules, officials would create distinct trade categories for semiautomatic firearms - including pistols, rifles and shotguns, making it easier for federal regulators to scrutinize exports of those weapons, Bloomberg said. In October last year, the Commerce Department stopped issuing export licenses for most civilian firearms and ammunition for 90 days to assess the "risk of firearms being diverted to entities or activities that promote regional instability, violate human rights, or fuel criminal activities." (Reporting by Devika Nair in Bengaluru; editing by Mark Heinrich)

Persons: Biden, Devika Nair, Mark Heinrich Organizations: Reuters, Bloomberg, U.S . Commerce Department, Bloomberg . Commerce Department, U.S . State Department, Commerce Department Locations: U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Senator Warren, Other Democrats Ask Commerce to Extend Gun Export Pause, Increase Oversight - Letter
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Mike StoneWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, again asked the U.S. Commerce Department to curb assault weapon exports and increase oversight of gun exports after a Trump-era rule change eased firearms export laws, according to a letter sent on Tuesday and seen by Reuters. The Commerce Department began a 90-day pause in an October order to assess the "risk of firearms being diverted to entities or activities that promote regional instability, violate human rights, or fuel criminal activities." The Commerce Department could decide to make the halt on export licenses permanent, return to previous practices, or impose other permanent restrictions. The letter, which was signed by Warren and Senator Richard Durbin as well as U.S. It voiced support for returning export authority oversight to the Department of State from Commerce - something which changed under then-President Donald Trump's tenure.

Persons: Mike Stone WASHINGTON, Elizabeth Warren, Richard Durbin, Representatives Joaquin Castro, Norma Torres, Gina Raimondo, Donald Trump's, Mike Stone, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Congressional, U.S . Commerce Department, Reuters, The Commerce Department, Commerce Department, Warren, Representatives, Department of State from, Commerce Locations: Department of State from Commerce, Washington

☆ China Appears to Backpedal From Video Game Crackdown
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Vivian Wang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese regulators on Tuesday appeared to backpedal from a plan to reduce how much money people spend on online video games, after the proposal had tanked video gaming companies’ stocks and raised doubts about the government’s commitment to reviving China’s slowing economy. The draft rules disappeared from the website of the National Press and Publication Administration, the agency overseeing the proposal, after previously being posted there for public comment. The agency, which issues licenses to game publishers and regulates the industry, did not issue any notice of retraction. An employee who answered the phone said she was not clear on the circumstances surrounding the move. Even absent confirmation that the proposal had been killed, the stock prices of China’s two largest video game companies jumped on Tuesday, with Tencent rising 3.7 percent and Netease rising 6 percent, more than the overall market.

Organizations: National Press, Administration

He also signed an executive order to ban gender-affirming surgery for minors but vetoed a bill that would ban all gender-affirming care for minors. They would require psychiatrists, endocrinologists and medical ethicists to have roles in creating facility-wide gender-affirming care plans for patients of all ages. The big academic medical centers providing gender-affirming care already employ the required specialists. It’s not clear when the Ohio rules might take effect, or in what form if they are finalized. The measures were unveiled Jan. 5, the same day DeWine signed an executive order banning gender-affirming surgery for those under 18.

Persons: Mike DeWine, Ashton Colby, Columbus, Colby, ” Colby, ” DeWine, ”, Kellan Baker, Whitman, DeWine, Dan Tierney, Dara Adkison, “, Mimi Rivard, Rivard, Carl Streed Jr, ” Streed, “ I’m, It’s, Rhea Debussy, “ He’s, Erin Upchurch Organizations: Gov, Whitman - Walker Institute, Ohio Department of Health, state's Department of Mental Health, Addiction Services, World Professional Association for Transgender Health, Outreach Wellness, U.S . Professional Association for Transgender Health, Equitas, ” GOP, Department of Mental Health, Equitas Health, Kaleidoscope Youth Locations: Ohio, Washington, Columbus, Boston, Cleveland, Florida

☆ How unregulated radio stations out of Mexico fueled the country music boom in America
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Yoonji Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Known as "border radio," the unregulated American radio industry sprung up on Mexico's northern border in the 1930s. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesIn the years that followed, other border radio stations sprung up in Mexico. Hank Thompson, another country music star who grew up in Waco in the 30s, said border radio stations were the only stations where one could listen to country music most of the time. But the legacy of border radio stations continued to live on in the country music they helped popularize, as well as its cousin genres. According to American honky-tonk star Webb Pierce, country music "might not have survived if it hadn't been for border radio."

Persons: —, Bill Crawford, Crawford, weren't, Will Horwitz, Horwitz's, Jimmie Rodgers, Carter, Michael Ochs, Jesus Christ, Dallas Turner, John Romulus Brinkley, Brinkley, Pope Brock, Minerva, Minnie, Jones, Patsy Montana, Slim Rinehart, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Hank Thompson, Lydia Mendoza, Rosa Dominguez, Mexican Nightingale, Dominguez, Maybelle, Webb Pierce, It's Organizations: Service, Business, Amazing Broadcasters, American Airwaves, Keystone, Gamma, Getty Images, US, charlatans, Houston, Country, Michael Ochs Archives, Kansas he'd, The Kansas State Medical Board, Federal Radio Commission, Soibelman, Tejano, Getty, Thunderbirds, ZZ Locations: American, West, Mexico, Canada, United States, Mexican, France, Tamaulipas, KFKB, Kansas, New York, Waco, South Dakota

☆ Falling Domestic Fares and an A.I. Arms Race: What Travelers Can Expect in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +21 min

Arms Race: What Travelers Can Expect in 2024 At the start of what promises to be a very busy year, we look ahead at what you’re likely to encounter. With 2023 in the rearview mirror, we look ahead at what travelers will face in 2024. At United Airlines, for example, smarter software can offer rebooking options and issue food and lodging vouchers when a flight is canceled, rather than just rebooking a flight. United Airlines has suspended its flights indefinitely, said Josh Freed, a United spokesman. This year, travelers are expected to choose faraway places and board small ships, according to Virtuoso, the consortium of luxury travel agencies.

Persons: Chanelle, Hayley Berg, ” Ms, Berg, “, Robert W, Mann Jr, ”, Chad Burt, Oren Etzioni, Gilbert Ott, Hopper, Greg Forbes, Delta’s, Neville Pattinson, Mr, Pattinson, biometrics, Laura Lindsay, Joshua Smith, Smith, Laurel Brunvoll, Michael Zeiler, Airbnb, We’ve, Jamie Lane, ‘, ’ ”, Jan Freitag, “ We’ve, David Whiteside, Brian Kelly, Guy, Leigh Rowan, “ There’s, Kelly, Rowan, ” Mr, James Thornton, Sharm el Sheikh, Khaled Ibrahim, Harry Rubenstein, Rubenstein, Eyal Carlin, Josh Freed, Jack Ezon, Tom Marchant, Beth McGroarty Organizations: World Tourism Organization, International Air Transport Association, Analysts, Express Global, ”, airfare, University of Washington, United Airlines, Transportation, Administration, Salt Lake, International Airport, Denver International Airport, Delta Air Lines, U.S . Customs, Border Protection, La Guardia Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, biometrics, Thales, Air, American Airlines, Global, “, —, MidX Studios, LivSmart Studios, Hilton, Hyatt Studios, Accor Hotels, Boston University, Visa, Mastercard, Walmart, Target, Savanti, Chase, Intrepid Travel, Amisol Travel, East Travel Alliance, United, Consumers, Ki’ama, Wellness, Global Wellness Institute Locations: United States, Point.me, Salt, North America, London, Rome, Tokyo, Cancún, Las Vegas, Cayman Islands, Polynesia, Europe, Norway, Denmark, Air Canada, Bergen, Flam, Scandinavia, Italy, France, Malta, Slovenia, Maryland, Spain, Portugal, Britain, Egypt, India, Mexico ; Cape Girardeau, Mo, Niagara Falls, N.Y . Texas, Burnet, Sulphur Springs, New York, Vienna, Marriott, Israel, Jordan, Oman, Oman —, Tunisia, Northern Africa, Sharm, Cairo, Amisol Travel Egypt, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Ramle, Kimberley, Western Australia, Mitre, Patagonia, Ki’ama Bahamas, Bahamas, South Africa, Hudson, Tuxedo Park, N.Y, Malibu , Calif, Mexico

☆ Will Passports Be Replaced by Biometrics?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Christine Chung | More About Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In the year ahead, the use of biometrics — an individual’s unique physical identifiers, such as fingerprints and faces — will be expanded at airports in the United States and abroad, a shift to enhance security, replace physical identification such as passports and driver’s licenses, and reduce the amount of time required by travelers to pass through airports. Biometric technology will be seen everywhere from bag drops at the check-in counters to domestic security screening. This program is currently available at 30 airports nationwide, including Salt Lake City International Airport and Denver International Airport; the T.S.A. said it will expand to more than 400 airports in the coming years. The pilot program is now available at five airports, including La Guardia Airport and Los Angeles International Airport.

Persons: Greg Forbes, Delta’s Organizations: Transportation, Administration, Salt Lake, International Airport, Denver International Airport, Delta Air Lines, U.S . Customs, Border Protection, La Guardia Airport, Los Angeles International Airport Locations: United States, Salt

☆ Microsoft brings Copilot AI assistant to small businesses and launches a premium tier for individuals
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Microsoft said on Tuesday that small businesses can now subscribe to its Copilot virtual assistant in the company's productivity apps. And consumers who pay for the Microsoft 365 software can sign up for a new paid version of Copilot. But those who pay for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions haven't been able to use it in Word, Excel, Outlook and other apps. Those with Copilot Pro receive "priority access to the very latest models — starting today with OpenAI's GPT-4 Turbo," Mehdi wrote. "Whether you need advanced help with writing, coding, designing, researching or learning, Copilot Pro brings greater performance, productivity and creativity," Mehdi wrote.

Persons: chatbot, Satya Nadella, Nadella, Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's, haven't, OpenAI's, Mehdi, Melius, Ben Reitzes Organizations: Microsoft, Investors, Google, Apple, Microsoft's Ignite, Windows, Bing, Copilot Locations: Seattle, copilot.microsoft.com

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