#Microsoft support Texas

[justinspoliticalcorner]

David Ingram at NBC News:

President-elect Donald Trump has surrounded himself with a tight-knit group of wealthy tech barons whose ideas will help define his second term in the White House. 

Three key allies — members of a group known as “the PayPal Mafia” for their involvement in the money-transfer company two decades ago — seem to be shaping policy and staffing decisions in Trump’s incoming administration, and they are part of an expansive right-wing tech network that will accompany Trump back into power.  The network is highly interconnected, sharing not only a political alliance but also social ties, investment opportunities, anti-regulatory ideas and geographic proximity in Austin, Texas, or Northern California. Some of their friendships and professional connections go back decades, and almost all the members of the network are men.  Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has been called the “shadow president” or “first buddy,” and he wants to take a hatchet to the federal budget at Trump’s request as co-lead of the newly formed “Department of Government Efficiency” with biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.  David Sacks, a tech investor and podcaster, will have the role of Trump’s tech “czar,” advising him on artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency. 

Peter Thiel, a longtime Trump supporter, has given the incoming Trump administration a staffing pipeline filled with at least 10 of his former co-workers, employees or investing partners — including Vice President-elect JD Vance.  And dozens of other tech figures are now orbiting in Trump’s gravity, as either informal advisers, government officials-in-waiting or supporters pushing Trump’s agenda from outside Washington. While some converted to his side only recently, many of the tech figures know one another very well.  “They’ve turned profits into power,” said Rob Lalka, author of the book “The Venture Alchemists,” which came out this year and profiled many of the figures who are headed into the administration.  Lalka, a professor at Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business, said several characteristics define the technologists surrounding Trump, including their wealth and skepticism of institutions and the heavily online personas they’ve created. And he said they have a shared history, with many of them overlapping at Stanford University during and after Thiel’s time there.  “That contrarianism, it doesn’t come out of nowhere. It comes from real-life experiences they had as college students,” he said. 

In other words: A right-wing faction has coalesced within the usually progressive tech industry, and much of it is preparing to make Washington a second home for the next four years.  The Trump transition team describes it as a natural fit.  “President Trump’s agenda includes economic, energy and regulatory policies that will allow the US to reclaim its global dominance of innovation and technology,” Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the transition, said in a statement.   “President Trump is surrounding himself with industry leaders like Elon Musk as he works to restore innovation, reduce regulation, and celebrate free speech in his second term,” he said.  Musk, Sacks and Thiel didn’t respond to requests for comment on the transition.  Neil Malhotra, a professor of political economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, said it’s notable that many in the tech industry crowd that’s close to Trump don’t come from the biggest-name tech companies, such as Meta, Google, Apple and Microsoft. 

“This specific group is unique because it’s coming a lot from venture,” he said, referring to venture capitalists who invest in startups. “Venture is very different from Big Seven incumbent tech. The Big Seven incumbent tech, those people are trying to be very neutral.” The Magnificent 7 collection of tech companies includes Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA and Tesla.   Venture capitalists often are less interested in corporate initiatives such as diversity programs, he said. Instead, they have a reputation for ruthless competition, focusing in their most extreme moments on growth at all costs and upending the existing order.  “The contrarian culture of Silicon Valley and venture has pushed back against big corporate ideas coming out of the professional managerial class,” he said.  Trump’s second term won’t be the first administration to have strong influence from the modern tech industry. The Obama administration was closely tied to tech, especially to Google and its executives, such as former CEO Eric Schmidt. 

But there’s little overlap between the tech figures who advised President Barack Obama and those working now for Trump. And there’s a different dynamic this time around, said Nathan Leamer, a Republican consultant in Washington and CEO of Fixed Gear Strategies. “Obama was following Big Tech’s lead in 2008, and there was an excitement that the Obama administration’s approach to tech mirrored the blogosphere and early Twitter and how these companies saw themselves as fitting into the world,” he said.  “The difference now is that, with Trump, it’s following the Republican Party’s lead,” he said. “Tech is watching Republican leaders and realizing that they have to get in the game. Otherwise, they’re going to be left out.” 

Previously Trump-skeptical tech companies such as Meta, Amazon and OpenAI are each giving at least $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, donations that Trump can use for whatever purpose he wants.  Setting a tone near the top of the new administration will be Vance, who worked for one of Thiel’s venture capital funds, Mithril Capital, after law school and has benefited ever since from the association. Thiel was one of the main backers of Vance’s run for the Senate in Ohio in 2022.  “From the top, you see that connection with Silicon Valley,” Leamer said. (He noted that Trump himself now qualifies as a tech investor, with a majority stake in the parent company of Truth Social, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp.)  Leamer said that while some industries rely on Washington-based trade and lobbying organizations to be the faces of their businesses, figures such as Musk, Sacks and Thiel pursue a different model: cutting out the trade groups as middlemen and speaking directly to large audiences through social media and podcasts. 

NBC News has a report on Donald Trump’s connections to right-wing wealthy tech kingpins such as Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Vivek Ramaswamy, and David Sacks, not to mention his ticketmate JD Vance.

Read the full story at NBC News.

[mariacallous]

In the old ranchlands of South Texas, dormant uranium mines are coming back online. A collection of new ones hope to start production soon, extracting radioactive fuel from the region’s shallow aquifers. Many more may follow.

These mines are the leading edge of what government and industry leaders in Texas hope will be a nuclear renaissance, as America’s latent nuclear sector begins to stir again.

Texas is currently developing a host of high-tech industries that require enormous amounts of electricity, from cryptocurrency mines and artificial intelligence to hydrogen production and seawater desalination. Now, powerful interests in the state are pushing to power it with next-generation nuclear reactors.

“We can make Texas the nuclear capital of the world,” said Reed Clay, president of the Texas Nuclear Alliance, former chief operating officer for Texas governor Greg Abbott’s office and former senior counsel to the Texas Office of the Attorney General. “There’s a huge opportunity.”

Clay owns a lobbying firm with heavyweight clients that include SpaceX, Dow Chemical, and the Texas Blockchain Council, among many others. He launched the Texas Nuclear Alliance in 2022 and formed the Texas Nuclear Caucus during the 2023 state legislative session to advance bills supportive of the nuclear industry.

The efforts come amid a national resurgence of interest in nuclear power, which can provide large amounts of energy without the carbon emissions that warm the planet. And it can do so with reliable consistency that wind and solar power generation lack. But it carries a small risk of catastrophic failure and requires uranium from mines that can threaten rural aquifers.

In South Texas, groundwater management officials have fought for almost 15 years against a planned uranium mine. Administrative law judges have ruled in their favor twice, finding potential for groundwater contamination. But in both cases those judges were overruled by the state’s main environmental regulator, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Now local leaders fear mining at the site appears poised to begin soon as momentum gathers behind America’s nuclear resurgence.

In October, Google announced the purchase of six small nuclear reactors to power its data centers by 2035. Amazon did the same shortly thereafter, and Microsoft has said it will pay to restart the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania to power its facilities. Last month, President Joe Biden announced a goal to triple US nuclear capacity by 2050. American companies are racing to license and manufacture new models of nuclear reactors.

“It’s kind of an unprecedented time in nuclear,” said James Walker, a nuclear physicist and cofounder of New York-based NANO Nuclear Energy, a startup developing small-scale “microreactors” for commercial deployment around 2031.

The industry’s reemergence stems from two main causes, he said: towering tech industry energy demands and the war in Ukraine.

Previously, the US relied on enriched uranium from decommissioned Russian weapons to fuel its existing power plants and military vessels. When war interrupted that supply in 2022, American authorities urgently began to rekindle domestic uranium mining and enrichment.

“The Department of Energy at the moment is trying to build back a lot of the infrastructure that atrophied,” Walker said. “A lot of those uranium deposits in Texas have become very economical, which means a lot of investment will go back into those sites.”

In May, the White House created a working group to develop guidelines for deployment of new nuclear power projects. In June, the Department of Energy announced $900 million in funding for small, next-generation reactors. And in September it announced a $1.5 billion loan to restart a nuclear power plant in Michigan, which it called “a first-of-a-kind effort.”

“There’s an urgent desire to find zero-carbon energy sources that aren’t intermittent like renewables,” said Colin Leyden, Texas state director of the Environmental Defense Fund. “There aren’t a lot of options, and nuclear is one.”

Wind and solar will remain the cheapest energy sources, Leyden said, and a build-out of nuclear power would likely accelerate the retirement of coal plants.

The US hasn’t built a nuclear reactor in 30 years, spooked by a handful of disasters. In contrast, China has grown its nuclear power generation capacity almost 900 percent in the last 20 years, according to the World Nuclear Association, and currently has 30 reactors under construction.

Last year, Abbott ordered the state’s Public Utility Commission to produce a report “outlining how Texas will become the national leader in using advanced nuclear energy.” According to the report, which was issued in November, new nuclear reactors would most likely be built in ports and industrial complexes to power large industrial operations and enable further expansion.

“The Ports and their associated industries, like Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), carbon capture facilities, hydrogen facilities and cruise terminals, need additional generation sources,” the report said. Advanced nuclear reactors “offer Texas’ Ports a unique opportunity to enable continued growth.”

In the Permian Basin, the report said, reactors could power oil production as well as purification of oilfield wastewater “for useful purposes.” Or they could power clusters of data centers in Central and North Texas.

Already, Dow Chemical has announced plans to install four small reactors at its Seadrift plastics and chemical plant on a rural stretch of the middle Texas coast, which it calls the first grid-scale nuclear reactor for an industrial site in North America.

“I think the vast majority of these nuclear power plants are going to be for things like industrial use,” said Cyrus Reed, a longtime environmental lobbyist in the Texas Capitol and conservation director for the state’s Sierra Club chapter. “A lot of large industries have corporate goals of being low carbon or no carbon, so this could fill in a niche for them.”

The PUC report made seven recommendations for the creation of public entities, programs, and funds to support the development of a Texas nuclear industry. During next year’s state legislative session, legislators in the Nuclear Caucus will seek to make them law.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity for energy investment in Texas,” said Stephen Perkins, Texas-based chief operating officer of the American Conservation Coalition, a conservative environmental policy group. “We’re really going to be pushing hard for [state legislators] to take that seriously.”

However, Texas won’t likely see its first new commercial reactor come online for at least five years. Before a build-out of power plants, there will be a boom at the uranium mines, as the US seeks to reestablish domestic production and enrichment of uranium for nuclear fuel.

Texas Uranium

Ted Long, a former commissioner of Goliad County, can see the power lines of an inactive uranium mine from his porch on an old family ranch in the rolling golden savannah of South Texas. For years the mine has been idle, waiting for depressed uranium markets to pick up.

There, an international mining company called Uranium Energy Corp. plans to mine 420 acres of the Evangeline Aquifer between depths of 45 and 404 feet, according to permitting documents. Long, a dealer of engine lubricants, gets his water from a well 120 feet deep that was drilled in 1993. He lives with his wife on property that’s been in her family since her great-grandfather emigrated from Germany.

“I’m worried for groundwater on this whole Gulf Coast,” Long said. “This isn’t the only place they’re wanting to do this.”

As a public official, Long fought the neighboring mine for years. But he found the process of engaging with Texas’ environmental regulator, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, to be time-consuming, expensive, and ultimately fruitless. Eventually, he concluded there was no point.

“There’s nothing I can do,” he said. “I guess I’ll have to look for some kind of system to clean the water up.”

The Goliad mine is the smallest of five sites in South Texas held by UEC, which is based in Corpus Christi. Another company, enCore Energy, started uranium production at two South Texas sites in 2023 and 2024, and hopes to bring four more online by 2027.

Uranium mining goes back decades in South Texas, but lately it’s been dormant. Between the 1970s and 1990s, a cluster of open pit mines harvested shallow uranium deposits at the surface. Many of those sites left a legacy of aquifer pollution.

TCEQ records show active cases of groundwater contaminated with uranium, radium, arsenic, and other pollutants from defunct uranium mines and tailing impoundment sites in Live Oak County at ExxonMobil’s Ray Point site, in Karnes County at Conoco-Phillips’ Conquista Project, and at Rio Grande Resources’ Panna Maria Uranium Recovery Facility.

All known shallow deposits of uranium in Texas have been mined. The deeper deposits aren’t accessed by traditional surface mining, but rather a process called in-situ mining, in which solvents are pumped underground into uranium-bearing aquifer formations. Adjacent wells suck back up the resulting slurry, from which uranium dust will be extracted.

Industry describes in-situ mining as safer and more environmentally friendly than surface mining. But some South Texas water managers and landowners are concerned.

”We’re talking about mining at the same elevation as people get their groundwater,” said Terrell Graham, a board member of the Goliad County Groundwater Conservation District, which has been fighting a proposed uranium mine for almost 15 years. “There isn’t another source of water for these residents.”

“It Was Rigged, a Setup”

On two occasions, the district has participated in lengthy hearings and won favorable rulings in Texas’ administrative courts supporting concerns over the safety of the permits. But both times, political appointees at the TCEQ rejected judges’ recommendations and issued the permits anyway.

“We’ve won two administrative proceedings,” Graham said. “It’s very expensive, and to have the TCEQ commissioners just overturn the decision seems nonsensical.”

The first time was in 2010. UEC was seeking initial permits for the Goliad mine, and the groundwater conservation district filed a technical challenge claiming that permits risked contamination of nearby aquifers.

The district hired lawyers and geological experts for a three-day hearing on the permit in Austin. Afterwards, an administrative law judge agreed with some of the district’s concerns. In a 147-page opinion issued in September 2010, an administrative law judge recommended further geological testing to determine whether certain underground faults could transmit fluids from the mining site into nearby drinking water sources.

“If the Commission determines that such remand is not feasible or desirable then the ALJ recommends that the Mine Application and the PAA-1 Application be denied,” the opinion said.

But the commissioners declined the judge’s recommendation. In an order issued March 2011, they determined that the proposed permits “impose terms and conditions reasonably necessary to protect fresh water from pollution.”

“The Commission determines that no remand is necessary,” the order said.

The TCEQ issued UEC’s permits, valid for 10 years. But by that time, a collapse in uranium prices had brought the sector to a standstill, so mining never commenced.

In 2021, the permits came up for renewal, and locals filed challenges again. But again, the same thing happened.

A nearby landowner named David Michaelsen organized a group of neighbors to hire a lawyer and challenge UEC’s permit to inject the radioactive waste product from its mine more than half a mile underground for permanent disposal.

“It’s not like I’m against industry or anything, but I don’t think this is a very safe spot,” said Michaelsen, former chief engineer at the Port of Corpus Christi, a heavy industrial hub on the South Texas Coast. He bought his 56 acres in Goliad County in 2018 to build an upscale ranch house and retire with his wife.

In hearings before an administrative law judge, he presented evidence showing that nearby faults and old oil well shafts posed a risk for the injected waste to travel into potable groundwater layers near the surface.

In a 103-page opinion issued April 2024, an administrative law judge agreed with many of Michaelsen’s challenges, including that “site-specific evidence here shows the potential for fluid movement from the injection zone.”

“The draft permit does not comply with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements,” wrote the administrative law judge, Katerina DeAngelo, a former assistant attorney general of Texas in the environmental protection division. She recommended “closer inspection of the local geology, more precise calculations of the [cone of influence], and a better assessment of the faults.”

Michaelsen thought he had won. But when the TCEQ commissioners took up the question several months later, again they rejected all of the judge’s findings.

In a 19-page order issued in September, the commission concluded that “faults within 2.5 miles of its proposed disposal wells are not sufficiently transmissive or vertically extensive to allow migration of hazardous constituents out of the injection zone.” The old nearby oil wells, the commission found, “are likely adequately plugged and will not provide a pathway for fluid movement.”

“UEC demonstrated the proposed disposal wells will prevent movement of fluids that would result in pollution” of an underground source of drinking water, said the order granting the injection disposal permits.

“I felt like it was rigged, a setup,” said Michaelsen, holding his 4-inch-thick binder of research and records from the case. “It was a canned decision.”

Another set of permit renewals remains before the Goliad mine can begin operation, and local authorities are fighting it too. In August, the Goliad County Commissioners Court passed a resolution against uranium mining in the county. The groundwater district is seeking to challenge the permits again in administrative court. And in November, the district sued TCEQ in Travis County District Court seeking to reverse the agency’s permit approvals.

Because of the lawsuit, a TCEQ spokesperson declined to answer questions about the Goliad County mine site, saying the agency doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

A final set of permits remains to be renewed before the mine can begin production. However, after years of frustrations, district leaders aren’t optimistic about their ability to influence the decision.

Only about 40 residences immediately surround the site of the Goliad mine, according to Art Dohmann, vice president of the Goliad County Groundwater Conservation District. Only they might be affected in the near term. But Dohmann, who has served on the groundwater district board for 23 years, worries that the uranium, radium, and arsenic churned up in the mining process will drift from the site as years go by.

“The groundwater moves. It’s a slow rate, but once that arsenic is liberated, it’s there forever,” Dohmann said. “In a generation, it’s going to affect the downstream areas.”

UEC did not respond to a request for comment.

Currently, the TCEQ is evaluating possibilities for expanding and incentivizing further uranium production in Texas. It’s following instruction given last year, when lawmakers with the Nuclear Caucus added an item to TCEQ’s biannual budget ordering a study of uranium resources to be produced for state lawmakers by December 2024, ahead of next year’s legislative session.

According to the budget item, “The report must include recommendations for legislative or regulatory changes and potential economic incentive programs to support the uranium mining industry in this state.”

[pennsyltuckyheathen]

I asked Microsoft's new Bing chat AI about Texas and the gun lobby...

The gun lobby has been a powerful force in Texas politics for decades. The National Rifle Association (NRA) is one of the most influential gun lobbies in Texas and has spent millions of dollars on political campaigns and lobbying efforts1. The NRA has been successful in blocking gun control legislation in Texas and has helped elect politicians who support their agenda2. The gun lobby’s influence is so strong that even after mass shootings, such as the one at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, lawmakers have failed to pass any meaningful gun control measures2.

I hope this helps answer your question. Let me know if you have any other questions or if there’s anything else I can help you with.

Texas is the worst of the worst and is sacrificing children at the altar of the NRA and the gun lobby. Politicians are ok with the slaughter.

[davidsmith24]

Labor Union Recognized at 1 ZeniMax Studios by Tech Giant Microsoft

Employees at Microsoft’s ZeniMax Studios successfully voted to form the tech giant’s first union in the United States. The Microsoft-approved union was supported by an “overwhelming majority” of ZeniMax workers, according to the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union. Popular games like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout are produced by ZeniMax Studios, a video game development studio. Following a pattern of stepped-up unionization efforts in the US tech sector, ZeniMax decided to unionize.

Other companies such as Apple, Amazon, and Google have also faced industrial action and union organizing efforts in recent years as workers demand more from employers as the cost of living rises.

It is yet to be seen how the company’s future interactions with its employees will be impacted by the existence of a union.

In ZeniMax

Microsoft has recognized the WashTech (WashTech) Washington Alliance as the first alliance of one of the US studios, ZeniMax.

WashTech, which is affiliated with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), represents around 300 quality assurance workers at ZeniMax’s offices in Maryland and Texas.

Furthermore, the union will allow collective bargaining over issues such as pay and working conditions and aims to improve job opportunities and reduce overwork and unfair pay practices.

By voluntarily agreeing to bargain with unionized employees, Microsoft avoids a formal process overseen by the National Labor Relations Board, which can often lead to legal battles.

The CWA has also been involved in unionization efforts at gaming company Activision Blizzard, which has resisted the campaigns. Last year, Microsoft announced a deal to acquire Activision Blizzard, which prompted the government to sue to block the deal over competition concerns.

As part of its efforts to win support for the merger, Microsoft struck a pact with the CWA to remain neutral in labor disputes. It is still being determined how the new union at ZeniMax will affect Microsoft’s operations.

“We look forward to engaging in good faith negotiations as we work towards a collective bargaining agreement,” the spokesperson stated. Read More….

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

A Norfolk Southern Corporation train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed after an axle malfunction in East Palestine, Ohio. The 50-car train, which had been on fire for miles before it ran aground, produced clouds of noxious fumes that led to the evacuation of nearly 5,000 people, some of whom were extras in the film adaptation of White Noise, and the deaths of domestic and wild animals in the area. Norfolk Southern, which has paid its executives millions, spent billions on stock buybacks, and declined a shareholder demand to “assess, review, and mitigate risks of hazardous material transportation,” agreed to pay the city of East Palestine $25,000. 

Aid and rescue workers could not immediately reach victims of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks, some of which were nearly as big as the first quake, in Syria because of sanctions against the country, which were suspended by the U.S. government days after the disaster; more than 37,000 people across Turkey and Syria have died and tens of thousands have been injured by the quakes. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan—who came to power over 20 years ago after a previous administration’s mishandling of an earthquake response, and has himself been criticized for slow rescue efforts as he faces an election in three months—announced that he would allocate more than $5.3 billion to relief. “It’s an issue that will take a coalition to solve,” said Microsoft, a computer manufacturer and software company worth $1.9 trillion, in response to a report outlining changes to small-scale cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is plagued by fatal cave-ins and child labor. Thirty-three members of Congress pushed for the U.S. Labor secretary to punish automotive companies whose Alabama factories have been employing children as young as 12, while lawmakers in Iowa and Minnesota have introduced legislation to allow minors as young as 14 to work in slaughterhouses, demolition, roofing, and other jobs that require the operation of heavy machinery. Missouri’s state house voted against prohibiting children from open-carrying firearms unless under adult supervision.

Attorneys for Richard “Alex” Murdaugh, the third consecutive member of his family to serve as South Carolina Lowcountry solicitor, who is accused of murdering his wife, Maggie, and youngest son, Paul (who was implicated in the death of Mallory Beach in a drunken boating accident) and of diverting millions of dollars in damages-settlement money intended for his clients and their families, including the sons of the family’s maid, who died in a trip-and-fall accident at one of the Murdaughs’ residences, to a bank account he controlled, moved for a mistrial over hearsay, but were denied. The majority-white, Republican Mississippi House approved a bill that will create a new district court in the majority-black, Democratic city of Jacksonville, whose judges will be appointed rather than elected, and the mayor of Fort Worth, Texas, said she supported the police chief’s proposed community oversight board, whose members he would select. “People are scared, upset, & are believing crazy things being said on the internet,” tweeted Marjorie Taylor Greene, who carried a white balloon around the Capitol the day of the State of the Union address, as she questioned the timing of three downed unidentified aircraft over North America: “[T]here is a lack of transparency from the Biden admin and simple explanations are owed to the people.” The White House denied the existence of aliens and a report that the United States had blown up the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. A farmer advocacy organization said that record-high egg prices are being caused by collusion among egg producers, who are exaggerating the effects of avian flu on their industry, and the McDonald’s corporation agreed to remove an advertisement for its McCrispy sandwich inside a bus shelter in Cornwall that is opposite a road sign for the area’s crematorium.

A decade-long study revealed that instant noodles were responsible for nearly a third of all hospital cases of scalded children. Scientists found that female orcas who support their sons into adulthood suffer. Eighty-one bales of cocaine, weighing three and a half tons in total, were discovered floating off the coast of New Zealand. Members of Oregon’s liquor and cannabis commission were found to have abused their power in order to get deeply discounted bottles of Pappy Van Winkle’s 23-year-old whiskey. A 24-year-old man who abducted monkeys from the Dallas Zoo to keep as pets told police he would do it again, and a Nashville man resisted arrest by thrusting his cat into an officer’s face. A robot escaped a Pennsylvania supermarket. King Charles III wore a holey sock to an appearance at a Brick Lane mosque. 

—Violet Lucca  :: [Harpers Magazine :: Weekly Review]

[manageditserviceslosangeles]

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[gettoknowtexas]

Ever since Beyonce stepped onto the global platform and the pop charts their has been acclaim of her career in music, a little later on as an actress, and now as an icon and a personality. There are few who have the voice that Beyonce has, no pun intended. Without Beyonce their might not have been a presence for Vice President Kamala Harris west of the Delta. Where herewithstanding the tough race in the presidential election held cities like Houston very closely to the Nation's viewers, among other major cities not only in Texas but held captive voters attention across America. Today, Beyonce performed Christmas Day to the fans at NRG Stadium for the Christmas Day game that featured the Houston Texans taking on the Baltimore Ravens in what was one of the most creative musical performances I've ever seen. (Thank you, Netflix!!!) I wont mention the ratings, theres too much to mention when it comes to Beyonce! Perhaps a divergence to the attention of the country Beyonce is still making music! And without fanfare cross genre style and flavor unheard of to my ear... but in lieu of past Super Bowl performances, National Anthems, and holiday festivities and respect to all of the acclaimed artists who have gone before it, the NFL might not have ever done ANYTHING quite like it was done tonight!!! 😅🤣😂 The stars are bright in Houston 👀

However, I have to go back to Beyonces last cultural reconnaissance when Beyonce made her introductory oration for the Vice President elect. Ushering in the 'Next American Song' enlightened by Beyonce and the fandemonia that has become the acclaimed 'Bey Nation!'

Tensions of the race are still echoing the country. As I write I am remist to not cross the red tape in an attempt to follow a trail that is being blazed between pop culture and the lines of divide that decipher historical rhetoric for what the president of this country must consist of. I only have to go back, on one side, the first president that I could legally vote for, Barack Obama, an astute community leader who went back to a grassroots effort in his home state, Chicago, Illinois. Whose campaign closely resembled that of Vice President Kamala Harris in appeal and the usage of social media in order to campaign to reach 'passover' voters (please excuse me, Microsoft Copilot doesn't answer questions of political nature. How intrinsic and colloquial right, I know?) Still bound to inadequate news reporting and upon the nomination of the next president elect, Donald Trump there is still so far to go in philanthropic efforts, culture, and, society, I digress. However the election for the Vice President went to another level when it touched down at the rally in Houston. The reason behind that could be the consummate personality that of Beyonce Knowles support for presidential nomination of the first ever African-American woman Vice President and unprecedented seat as the nominee of the President of this country.

So, when I listen to Beyonce now, I won't be looking historically. I will be looking for the change. From her speech at the Democratic Presidential rally in Houston, to talk, country music (I am still stunned from the performance today that featured non other than the next generation of consummate artists and personality, in her oldest daughter, Blue Ivy, Texas might have found her voice of the future. No I cannot mention the hidden beauty withheld in her treasure! Lol #Texas Strong! 😀

Heres to the trailblazer, groundbreaking, and hometown future of America in music, pop culture, as well as philanthropy. This was exciting to watch this Christmas Eve. Lets all adjust our ears not our headsets for none other than the personality, however ground- breaking country music superstar that is the icon of Houston, Beyonce' ⭐️😎⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I can't wait to see what not only Beyonce has in store for the future, but all of the little 'new' country stars who are watching her whose taste of music got a chance to start with this new, and very good mind you, kind of style and breathtaking vocals. Its not about the Houston Texans loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The future will undoubtedly go through Houston, TX, into the American viewers, and worldwide. Ok, I think I'm done!

#HTOWNMADE

[bllsbailey]

Ted Cruz Demands Microsoft Answer on NewsGuard, Censorship

Microsoft's use of a left-wing censorship tool created by NewsGuard has gotten the serious attention of Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

On Monday, Cruz fired off a strongly worded letter to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella demanding to know answers about the Big Tech giant's partnership with one of the left's most notorious media monitors.

Cruz's letter addresses Microsoft's promotion and apparent funding of the online "Media Literacy" tool, which was created by NewsGuard to guide "learners of all ages through the overwhelming landscape of online news and information."

Conservatives say that NewsGuard's tool and its efforts are simply suppressing viewpoints and news reports using highly subjective ratings.

"Given growing concerns about NewsGuard's ideological bias and its efforts to manipulate young minds, I ask for transparency regarding Microsoft's involvement in and financing of this Orwellian censorship project," Cruz wrote to Nadella.

Cruz, the ranking member of the powerful Senate Commerce Committee, took issue with NewsGuard's blatant bias.

The senator pointed out that the media monitor claims such outlets as The Federalist, The Daily Wire, and Newsmax as "unreliable" while left-wing outlets like Jacobin, The Atlantic, and The New Republic are deemed reliable.

"Your company's financial support for NewsGuard is especially troubling given Microsoft's purported commitment to protecting free expression online."

Newsmax reached out to Microsoft for comment about Cruz's letter and did not receive a response.

A NewsGuard spokesperson issued a "no comment" when asked about the senator's missive.

Cruz also noted that NewsGuard "has found a willing partner in the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)" to spread the "Media Literacy" tool browser extension which the company says is used by educators and more than 800 public libraries worldwide.

"The organization's 'Media Literacy' program, which is actively marketed to schools, has faced criticism for pushing a left-wing ideological agenda while censoring conservative perspectives and news outlets," Cruz wrote.

"NewsGuard's marketing of its services to schools appears to be less about education and more about ideological conformity. Instead of encouraging critical thinking, NewsGuard's extreme bias limits young minds from questioning authority and forming independent opinions. This distorts media literacy by limiting the range of ideas to which students are exposed."

Cruz asked Nadella to supply specific information concerning the Microsoft-NewsGuard relationship and asked that a list of questions be answered by Jan. 10, when Republicans will be in control of the Senate.

Cruz asked Nadella to provide information about the funding and use of NewsGuard's products, and respond to concerns about his corporation's decision to engage with their obvious political bias.

Cruz is not alone in raising concerns about NewsGuard's growing influence with Big Tech, media outlets, and advertising agencies.

Last month, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, the commission's senior Republican and soon-to-be chair, wrote to the CEOs of Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and Alphabet demanding that they fess up about their censorship activities targeting conservatives.

Carr specifically identified NewsGuard, which exists to "censor free speech and conservative news outlets."

He asked Big Tech companies to detail how advertising agencies they work with use left-wing media monitors like NewsGuard.

Conservatives and others have complained that advertising agencies are taking political sides by using NewsGuard to determine what outlets get ad revenues.

NewsGuard was founded in 2018 by Steven Brill, a long-time Democratic activist, advocate, and donor who has backed many liberal candidates including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama.

In three comprehensive studies the Media Research Center found that NewsGuard consistently ranks conservative media outlets with lower ratings than liberal ones.

With low ratings from NewsGuard conservative media find themselves blocked on browsers like Microsoft's, see their search and social media traffic plummet and often get little ad revenue from advertising agencies.

The NewsGuard products effectively handicap conservative media by de-ranking and defunding them.

Brill's group is a for-profit organization that keeps secret who pays them for their activities.

But some government disclosures indicate NewsGuard received millions in federal grants from the Biden administration.

NewsGuard has come under fierce criticism for their censorship activities.

Independent journalist Matt Taibbi has castigated the group for taking government funds and says NewsGuard is nothing more than a "state sponsored bullying operation."

Elon Musk has called NewsGuard a "scam" with legal expert Jonathan Turley adding its work is both censorship and "blacklisting."

The use of left-wing media monitors like NewsGuard appears to be a high priority concern of the new Trump administration.

Earlier this month, FTC Commissioners Andrew Ferguson and Melissa Holyoak demanded a probe of efforts by online platforms to limit free speech and engage in censorship.

Ferguson, whom President-elect Donald Trump said he will appoint as FTC chair, specifically noted that NewsGuard has been used by major advertising agencies to block the flow of advertising and revenues to conservative media.

Charlie McCarthy ✉

Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.

© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

[tridentconsulting]

Streamlining Business Efficiency with IT and Data Solutions

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, businesses face numerous IT challenges that require expert oversight and strategic planning. Hiring a full-time Chief Information Officer (CIO) can be costly, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This is where Virtual CIO Services Dallas comes into play.

Virtual CIO (vCIO) services offer a cost-effective solution for companies that need expert IT guidance without the financial burden of a permanent hire. Acting as an on-demand IT strategist, a virtual CIO ensures businesses have a robust IT infrastructure, implements innovative solutions, and mitigates potential risks. From aligning technology with business goals to managing cybersecurity strategies, virtual CIOs empower companies to stay competitive in an ever-evolving market.

 

Why Choose Virtual CIO Services in Dallas?

Dallas is home to a thriving business ecosystem, with enterprises across industries embracing digital transformation. Local businesses require agile and efficient IT strategies to adapt to the competitive environment, making Virtual CIO Services Dallas highly sought after.

Virtual CIOs in Dallas bring the advantage of local expertise, a deep understanding of the regional business climate, and the ability to provide personalized solutions. These professionals help companies design scalable IT strategies, implement advanced technologies, and ensure compliance with local regulations, giving them a competitive edge.

 

Harnessing Business Insights with Power BI

In addition to IT leadership, businesses today require advanced analytics tools to make data-driven decisions. Microsoft’s Power BI has emerged as one of the most powerful business intelligence platforms, offering interactive dashboards, real-time analytics, and predictive insights. For businesses in Texas, Dallas Power BI Service provides customized solutions to help companies extract actionable insights from their data.

Power BI enables organizations to consolidate information from multiple sources, visualize trends, and improve decision-making processes. Whether it’s sales performance analysis, financial forecasting, or operational efficiency tracking, Power BI empowers businesses to unlock the potential of their data.

 

The Impact of Dallas Power BI Service

The Dallas Power BI Service goes beyond providing software solutions; it offers tailored analytics support to suit the unique needs of local businesses. By leveraging expertise in Power BI implementation and training, service providers help organizations create intuitive dashboards and reports that drive growth.

For example, retail businesses in Dallas can use Power BI to track customer behavior and optimize inventory, while healthcare providers can analyze patient data to improve outcomes. These insights not only enhance operational efficiency but also help companies anticipate trends and adapt strategies proactively.

 

The Synergy Between Virtual CIO Services and Power BI

Combining Virtual CIO Services Dallas with Dallas Power BI Service creates a powerful synergy for businesses aiming to thrive in the digital age. A virtual CIO ensures that an organization’s IT infrastructure can support advanced analytics tools like Power BI, while Power BI provides the actionable insights needed to refine IT strategies and business goals.

For instance, a virtual CIO might recommend integrating Power BI into a company’s existing systems to track IT performance metrics and identify potential bottlenecks. Similarly, insights generated through Power BI can guide a virtual CIO’s decisions on resource allocation, technology investments, and process optimization.

 

Tailored IT and Data Solutions for Dallas Businesses

In an era where technology and data drive success, businesses cannot afford to operate without expert IT guidance and data analytics. By investing in Virtual CIO Services Dallas and leveraging Dallas Power BI Service, companies gain access to strategic leadership and actionable insights that fuel innovation and growth.

Whether you’re a startup looking to establish a strong IT foundation or an established company aiming to harness the power of data analytics, these services provide the tools and expertise you need to stay ahead.

[solaranels322]

ELEVATE TECHNOLOGY LAUNCHES ‘ELEVATE FOR TEAMS ADVANCED’: A REVOLUTIONARY INTEGRATION WITH MICROSOFT TEAMS

Houston, TX—Elevate Technology, a leading provider of innovative IT solutions, announced the launch of Elevate for Teams Advanced today. This groundbreaking integration merges the robust capabilities of Microsoft Teams with the advanced features of Elevate’s cloud-based phone system. This development represents a significant leap forward in business communication and collaboration, offering a seamless, all-in-one solution to enhance productivity and simplify operations.

Elevate for Teams Advanced is tailored for businesses already utilizing Microsoft Teams in their daily operations. By embedding advanced calling features directly into the Teams app, Elevate Technology enables organizations to manage calls, SMS, and customer interactions within the platform for chat, meetings, and file sharing. This integration eliminates the need to switch between multiple apps and platforms, streamlining workflows and boosting efficiency.

Key Features of Elevate for Teams Advanced:

•Seamless Single-App Experience: Continue using Microsoft Teams for all collaboration needs while managing calls and SMS through the Elevate tab—no MS Teams Phone license or additional middleware required. •Advanced Calling Capabilities: You can access over 100 enterprise-grade calling features, including call queues, monitor, whisper, barge, and advanced hunt groups, directly within Teams. •Enhanced Efficiency: Streamline communications and increase productivity by consolidating tools into one platform. •Two-Way Presence Synchronization: Maintain aligned team statuses across Elevate and Microsoft Teams for uninterrupted communication. •Easy Access: Utilize existing O365 credentials for a simplified sign-in process to Elevate.

This integration supports the existing infrastructure of Microsoft Teams and enhances it with Elevate’s powerful telephony capabilities. It offers unlimited domestic and international calling to 33 countries, comprehensive business SMS, and robust call management tools.

"We are thrilled to offer Elevate for Teams Advanced, a transformative solution that reflects our commitment to delivering state-of-the-art technology to meet the evolving needs of modern businesses," said Donnie Rollins, CEO of Elevate Technology. "By combining the strengths of Microsoft Teams with Elevate’s powerful telephony features, we are setting a new standard for business communications."

For more information about Elevate for Teams Advanced or to schedule a demonstration, please visit https://elevatetechnology.com/voip/elevate-for-teams

About Elevate Technology

Elevate Technology is a premier provider of integrated IT solutions based in Houston, Texas. Specializing in customized technology services—including managed IT services, advanced cloud solutions, and comprehensive cybersecurity measures—Elevate Technology empowers businesses to achieve greater efficiency and growth.

Elevate Technology is a premier provider of integrated IT solutions based in Houston, Texas. Specializing in customized technology services—including managed IT services, business phone systems, advanced cloud solutions, and comprehensive cybersecurity measures—Elevate Technology empowers businesses to achieve greater efficiency and growth.

Contact Information:

Elevate Technology Press Relations Phone: 713-244-7744 Website: www.elevatetechnology.com

[babyawacs]

@wired @wireduk @debian .@debian @windowsdev .@windowsdev @intel .@intel @qnx @cnet .@cnet @techpow erup @pcwelt @california @texas i do suspect that windows #hyperv #virtualmachines using intel s cpu functions are f a r ‎less compatible to hardware near deep layer or microkernel software like qnx or linuxdebian as emulator in x64 itis possible that an exploit protection randomisation switch asl r feature etc interferese more with these than intended the ram intensive load mounting of virtual machines ofthese are a paininthearse and idonot think itis a cpu support feature on int el with microsoft ‎ sofar sonice but how incompatible does the virtual machine setup really get inthe s e r i o u s os systems 

@wired @wireduk @debian .@debian @windowsdev .@windowsdev @intel .@intel @qnx @cnet .@cnet @techpowerup @pcwelt @california @texas i do suspect that windows #hyperv #virtualmachines using intel s cpu functions are f a r ‎less compatible to hardware near deep layer or microkernel software like qnx or linuxdebian as emulator in x64 itis possible that an exploit protection randomisation switch aslr…

[rjzimmerman]

Occidental's 1PointFive secures funding of up to $500 mln from US DOE. (Reuters)

Excerpt from this story from Reuters:

Occidental Petroleum's carbon capture and sequestration unit 1PointFive said on Thursday that the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations has committed up to $500 million to support the development of its South Texas Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hub.

Occidental's first large-scale DAC facility represents a pivotal economic trial for a technology that the International Energy Agency says will play a key role for global industrial decarbonization, despite its high costs in initial tests.

The total award value from the OCED for the facility could be raised to $650 million for the development of an expanded regional carbon network in South Texas, according to a release from Occidental.

The hub's initial carbon dioxide removal capacity of 500,000 metric tons per year could be expanded to over one million metric tons per year, Occidental added.

Earlier this year, 1PointFive also said it would sell carbon credits to companies such as AT&T  and Microsoft.

[xllentech]

Our team at X'llenTech Solutions demonstrated the power of collaboration and cutting-edge technology! Our Field Engineer visit client site at Orange, Texas. We connected with remote support via a Microsoft Teams meeting, providing console access through a laptop to ensure seamless communication. Following their instructions, we carefully moved and connected the necessary cables, enabling effective troubleshooting. With the help of our onsite contact, we conducted thorough testing, confirming everything is operating flawlessly. ✅ Whether it's remote support or hands-on onsite assistance, XllenTech is committed to delivering exceptional IT solutions that keep your business running smoothly. Get in touch with us to see how we can support your IT needs! #RemoteSupport #TechCollaboration #MicrosoftTeams #OnsiteSupport #ITServices #XllenTech #SeamlessConnectivity #OrangeTX

[jcmarchi]

Amazon strives to outpace Nvidia with cheaper, faster AI chips

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/amazon-strives-to-outpace-nvidia-with-cheaper-faster-ai-chips/

Amazon strives to outpace Nvidia with cheaper, faster AI chips

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Amazon’s chip lab is churning out a constant stream of innovation in Austin, Texas. A new server design was put through its paces by a group of devoted engineers on July 26th.

During a visit to the facility in Austin, Amazon executive Rami Sinno shed light on the server’s use of Amazon’s AI chips. This development is a bold step toward competing with Nvidia, the current leader in the field.

The main reason Amazon is developing its own processor is this: it doesn’t want to rely on Nvidia and buy the company’s chips. The expensive Nvidia chips power a big part of the AI cloud business at Amazon Web Services. This business is the most significant growth engine of the company. Thus, the so-called “Nvidia tax” was pushing the company to look for a cheaper option.

Amazon’s chip development program has a dual purpose. Firstly, the project is meant to provide customers with more affordable opportunities for complex calculations and large data volume processing. Secondly, the initiative was developed to preserve Amazon’s competitiveness in the volatile cloud computing and AI industry. This move was also supported by the directions of tech giants such as Microsoft and Alphabet, which are developing custom-made chips to maintain their leadership in the market.

Rami Sinno, director of engineering for Amazon’s Annapurna Labs, a key element of the AWS ecosystem, emphasised that customer demand for more economical solutions to Nvidia’s products is growing. The acquisition of Annapurna Labs in 2015 was a savvy move by Amazon as it enabled the company to lay the groundwork to begin developing popular chips.

Although Amazon’s chips for AI are in their early days, the company has been making and refining chips for other mainstream applications for nearly a decade, most notably its general-purpose chip, Graviton, which is now in its fourth generation. Amazon has announced that its Trainium and Inferentia chips, the company’s latest and strongest, are still in their early days and are specially designed processors.

The impact is potentially huge because the impressive performance underscores the reports by David Brown, vice president of compute and networking at AWS. In this light, it should be acknowledged that Amazon’s in-house chips could deliver up to a 40-50% price-performance ratio improvement compared to Nvidia-based solutions. In turn, this potential improvement could mean considerable savings for AWS clientele deploying their AI workloads.

AWS’ significance to Amazon’s overall business cannot be underestimated. In the first quarter of this year, AWS made up a little under a fifth of Amazon’s total revenue, as its sales soared by 17 per cent year over year to reach $25 billion. At the moment, AWS holds about a third of the global cloud computing market, and Microsoft’s Azure covers about a quarter, or 25%.

Amazon’s commitment to its custom chip strategy was demonstrated during the recent Prime Day, a two-day sales event at Amazon.com. To handle the highly elevated level of shopping as well as streaming video, music, and other content, Amazon deployed an impressive 250,000 Graviton chips and 80,000 of its custom AI chips across its platforms. Adobe Analytics announced record Prime Day results of $14.2 billion in sales.

It seems that as Amazon intensifies its work on the development of AI chips, the industry leader, Nvidia, is not going to remain at the same level. Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, has presented Nvidia’s latest Blackwell chips, which are scheduled for release later in the year. Their performance has increased significantly, and Huang promised that the new chips are twice as powerful for AI model training and five times faster for inference.

Nvidia’s dominant position in the AI chip market is underscored by its impressive client list, which includes tech giants like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Meta. The company’s focus on AI has propelled its market value to a staggering $2 trillion, making it the third most valuable company globally, behind only Microsoft and Apple.

As the AI chip race intensifies, Nvidia is also diversifying its offerings. The company has introduced new software tools to facilitate AI integration across various industries and is developing specialised chips for emerging applications such as in-car chatbots and humanoid robots.

(Image by Gerd Altmann)

See also: Nvidia: World’s most valuable company under French antitrust fire

Want to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out AI & Big Data Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including Intelligent Automation Conference, BlockX, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.

Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.

Tags: ai, Amazon, Nvidia, processors

[newstfionline]

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Digital Disruption (Foreign Policy/Washington Post) International air travel, financial services, medical systems, personal computers, and television broadcasts briefly ground to a halt on Friday after CrowdStrike, a U.S. cybersecurity firm, pushed through a flawed software update that sparked a global technology outage. CrowdStrike may not have been a household name before Friday, but the firm plays an outsized role in operating many of the world’s digital services, as demonstrated by this incident. More than half of all Fortune 500 companies rely on CrowdStrike’s cybersecurity software. Friday’s disruption occurred after the firm deployed a software update that appeared to clash with Microsoft Windows, thereby wreaking havoc on computers that had been running that system. Marie Vasek, an assistant professor at University College London’s computer science department, said the widespread computer meltdowns showed how reliant global technology systems are on a small number of companies’ software. It’s being called the most spectacular IT failure the world has ever seen.

‘Our Nation Is Not Well’: Voters Fear What Could Happen Next (NYT) Before Saturday, when Butler, Pa., became the latest stunned backdrop for the nation’s political fury, Mayor Bob Dandoy thought of his town as a place that had learned to work around party lines. A Democrat in a Republican stronghold, he had campaigned on consensus. He was at dinner with his family on Saturday when he heard a spectator was dead at Donald J. Trump’s campaign rally on the farm show grounds, two more were critically injured. The former president’s right ear had been grazed by a bullet. The gunman, an isolated 20-year-old with an AR-15-style rifle, was fatally shot by the Secret Service. All this, in the town of about 13,000 where Mr. Dandoy has lived “all my life.” Since then, national discord has descended on Butler with such force that this week it crashed the town’s website. E-mailers charged that the city failed to protect Mr. Trump, maybe even wanted him to be a target. Callers demanded that the city admit that Mr. Trump’s supporters staged the shooting. The mayor has tried to remind everyone that Butler is a community that accomplishes good things, that has worked through disagreements together. And yet, he said, the trauma has been overwhelming. “People are in a state of shock,” he said. As the 2024 presidential election approaches, that unease is not limited to Butler. In interviews from the West Coast to the Deep South, Americans across party lines say they are deeply apprehensive, and not just because of last weekend’s attempt on a presidential candidate’s life.

Immigrants and crime (NYT) Throughout the first three days of the Republican National Convention, officials have highlighted a surge in what they call “migrant crime.” President Biden “has welcomed into our country rapists, murderers, even terrorists, and the price that we have paid has been deadly,” Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas claimed last night. The day before, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said, “Every day, Americans are dying” in crimes committed by migrants. Donald Trump has made similar remarks on the campaign trail. But there is no migrant crime surge. In fact, U.S. rates of crime and immigration have moved in opposite directions in recent years. After illegal immigration plummeted in 2020, the murder rate rose. And after illegal immigration spiked in 2021 and 2022, murders plateaued and then fell. Over a longer period, there is no relationship between immigration and crime trends.

Losing Hope, Venezuelans Vow to Leave Their Country if Maduro Wins (NYT) A young opposition activist planning to trek through seven countries and a perilous jungle to reach the United States. A journalist ready to abandon everything to build a new life abroad. A lawyer in her 60s, fearful that her last daughter is about to leave. For thousands of Venezuelans, the decision to remain or flee their homeland depends on a single date: July 28. On that day, the country will vote in a high-stakes presidential election. If the country’s authoritarian leader, Nicolás Maduro, declares victory, they say they will go. If the opposition candidate wins, they will stay. Roughly a quarter of Venezuela’s population has already left, with almost eight million people living in other countries, according to the United Nations, forming one of the largest migration crises in the world. So far, Mr. Maduro has shown little interest in relinquishing power, no matter what the vote shows. This week at a campaign event, he warned that Venezuela would fall “into a blood bath, into a fratricidal civil war” if he didn’t win.

New U.K. prime minister seeks a reset with Europe (Washington Post) The setting was a super-posh country estate, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, just outside Oxford. Forty-six leaders from Europe showed up. The word of the day was “reset”—as in Britain seeks to reset its relationship with the continent. New British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted this, the fourth meeting of the European Political Community, which includes the 27 members of the European Union and an outer-circle of like-minded democracies—like the United Kingdom. Starmer, who was against Brexit, has emphatically stated that Britain won’t be rejoining the E.U. in his lifetime. But he used Thursday’s prescheduled summit to begin patching things up after years of squabbling over the terms of the U.K. exit. European leaders offered warm words about rapprochement. French President Emmanuel Macron told broadcasters, “This is a great opportunity for a reset.”

Russian court convicts journalist Evan Gershkovich, imposes 16-year sentence (Washington Post) In a closed trial with secret evidence, a Russian court on Friday convicted American journalist Evan Gershkovich of espionage—charges that the U.S. government said were wholly fabricated—and sentenced him to 16 years in prison, according to Russian state media. Gershkovich was the first American journalist arrested in Russia since the Cold War and his case has grave implications for press freedoms. The trial proceeded with unusual swiftness—suggesting potential developments in negotiations for a prisoner exchange. Trials for espionage in Russia typically take months. In Russia’s highly-politicized legal system, where the courts routinely are used to jail journalists, democracy advocates, human rights activists and political opponents of the government, Gershkovich’s conviction had appeared inevitable since his arrest. Gershkovich’s arrest in March 2023 seemed to mark a brazen new chapter in hostage diplomacy, by which the Kremlin details foreigners on baseless charges only to use them to negotiate exchanges for Russians convicted of serious crimes in the West.

Bangladesh security forces fire bullets and sound grenades as protests escalate (AP) Police and security officials fired bullets and tear gas at protesters in Bangladesh on Friday, as internet and mobile services were cut off after days of deadly clashes over the allocation of government jobs. The protests, which began weeks ago but escalated sharply on Monday, represent the biggest challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina since she was won a fourth consecutive term in a January election that was boycotted by the main opposition parties. The fresh clashes follow the bloodiest day of the protests to date, with local media reporting 22 people killed as protesting students attempted to impose a “complete shutdown” on the country. The chaos has highlighted cracks in Bangladesh’s governance and economy and the frustration of young graduates who face a lack of good jobs.

Israel should evacuate settlements, pay reparations, ICJ says (Washington Post) The International Court of Justice, the top judicial arm of the United Nations, said Friday that Israel should bring an end to its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory, cease new settlement activity, evacuate existing settlements and pay reparations to Palestinians who have lost land and property. The court, based in The Hague, said Israel is responsible for “systematic discrimination” against Palestinians based on race or ethnicity and has breached the right of Palestinians to self-determination. “Israel has an obligation to bring an end to its presence in the occupied Palestinian territory as rapidly as possible,” said Nawaf Salam, the president of the court. The searing advisory opinion issued by judges is not legally binding, but the decision could have wide consequences in the international arena, including in trade and diplomacy. Israel declined to take part in the hearings and described the proceedings as biased and an “abuse of international law and the judicial process.”

Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim drone strike that kills 1 person, injures at least 10 in Tel Aviv (AP) Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a drone strike early Friday that hit part of central Tel Aviv near the U.S. Embassy, killing one person and injuring 10. The aerial strike rumbled through the streets causing shards of shrapnel to rain down and spreading shards of glass over a large radius. The Houthis have launched drones and missiles toward Israel throughout the Israel-Hamas war, in solidarity with the Palestinian people and against Israel. But until Friday, all were intercepted by either Israel or Western allies with forces stationed in the region. It blew out windows of a number of buildings and damaged cars in the neighborhood near the coastline. People thronged to the area as police helicopters hovered overhead.

‘I Divorce You’: Dubai princess’s Instagram declaration defies custom (Washington Post) One of the daughters of Dubai’s ruler announced her intent to seek a divorce in an Instagram post Wednesday, making Sheikha Mahra bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum the latest princess of the emirate to publicly counter the norms of her country—and of her father, the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai. “I hereby declare our divorce,” wrote Mahra, the daughter of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. “I divorce you, I divorce you, and I Divorce You. Take care. Your ex-wife.” In repeating the phrase “I divorce you” three times, the princess appeared to be referencing the controversial practice of triple talaq. Customarily, under Sunni Islamic law, triple talaq allows a Muslim man to divorce his wife by saying talaq—the Arabic word for divorce—three times. The man does not need to offer a reason or obtain his wife’s agreement. The princess suggested in her Wednesday post that her husband had been unfaithful to her, saying that he was “occupied with other companions.” Her apparent invocation of triple talaq broke from the practice’s typical implementation, as it is men who invoke talaq under Islamic law.

Ethiopia’s kidnapping epidemic (The Week) More than 100 people, mostly students, are being held for ransom by kidnappers in Ethiopia, the latest in an epidemic of abductions in the troubled country. The kidnappings are centred on the restive Oromia region. Buses travelling from a university in the area to the capital Addis Ababa in early July were attacked and passengers taken. Such incidents are nothing new. It is now “very rare” to find a family “who has not been affected by kidnapping,” one local told The Guardian in January. “The government has no control” over the problem. The gunmen are thought to have transported their captives to a remote rural area. Families of the victims have received ransom demands. The brother of one of the abductees was phoned and told that if he ever wanted to see his sister again, he needed to pay 700,000 Ethiopian birr (£9,400). On Friday, the Ethiopian Human Rights Council said that some students have apparently been released after their families paid ransoms, according to the Toronto-based Ethiopian news site Borkena.

Religion books (Publishers Weekly) The most vibrant genre in books right now is religion, with sales up 12.1 percent in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period of 2023. The original interconnected franchise, the Bible, has sold gangbusters, with the top five bestselling Bibles moving 365,000 copies in the first six months of the year.

[bhavanameti]

TOP 10 COMPANIES IN SPEECH-TO-TEXT API MARKET

The Speech-to-text API Market is projected to reach $10 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 17.3% from 2023 to 2030. This market's expansion is fueled by the widespread use of voice-enabled devices, increasing applications of voice and speech technologies for transcription, technological advancements, and the rising adoption of connected devices. However, the market's growth is restrained by the lack of accuracy in recognizing regional accents and dialects in speech-to-text API solutions.

Innovations aimed at enhancing speech-to-text solutions for specially-abled individuals and developing API solutions for rare and local languages are expected to create growth opportunities in this market. Nonetheless, data security and privacy concerns pose significant challenges. Additionally, the increasing demand for voice authentication in mobile banking applications is a prominent trend in the speech-to-text API market.

Top 10 Companies in the Speech-to-text API Market

Google LLC

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in California, U.S., Google is a global leader in search engine technology, online advertising, cloud computing, and more. Google’s Speech-to-Text is a cloud-based transcription tool that leverages AI to provide real-time transcription in over 80 languages from both live and pre-recorded audio.

Microsoft Corporation

Established in 1975 and headquartered in Washington, U.S., Microsoft Corporation offers a range of technology services, including cloud computing and AI-driven solutions. Microsoft’s speech-to-text services enable accurate transcription across multiple languages, supporting applications like customer self-service and speech analytics.

Amazon Web Services, Inc.

Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Washington, U.S., Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides scalable cloud computing platforms. AWS’s speech-to-text software supports real-time transcription and translation, enhancing various business applications with its robust infrastructure.

IBM Corporation

Founded in 1911 and headquartered in New York, U.S., IBM Corporation focuses on digital transformation and data security. IBM’s speech-to-text service, part of its Watson Assistant, offers multilingual transcription capabilities for diverse use cases, including customer service and speech analytics.

Verint Systems Inc.

Established in 1994 and headquartered in New York, U.S., Verint Systems specializes in customer engagement management. Verint’s speech transcription solutions provide accurate data via an API, supporting call recording and speech analytics within their contact center solutions.

Download Sample Report Here @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5473

Rev.com, Inc.

Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Texas, U.S., Rev.com offers transcription, closed captioning, and subtitling services. Rev AI’s Speech-to-Text API delivers high-accuracy transcription services, enhancing accessibility and audience reach for various brands.

Twilio Inc.

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in California, U.S., Twilio provides communication APIs for voice, text, chat, and video. Twilio’s speech recognition solutions facilitate real-time transcription and intent analysis during voice calls, supporting comprehensive customer engagement.

Baidu, Inc.

Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Beijing, China, Baidu is a leading AI company offering a comprehensive AI stack. Baidu’s speech recognition capabilities are part of its diverse product portfolio, supporting applications across natural language processing and augmented reality.

Speechmatics

Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Cambridge, U.K., Speechmatics is a leader in deep learning and speech recognition. Their speech-to-text API delivers highly accurate transcription by training on vast amounts of data, minimizing AI bias and recognition errors.

VoiceCloud

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in California, U.S., VoiceCloud offers cloud-based voice-to-text transcription services. Their API provides high-quality transcription for applications such as voicemail, voice notes, and call recordings, supporting services in English and Spanish across 15 countries.

Top 10 companies: https://meticulousblog.org/top-10-companies-in-speech-to-text-api-market/