Privacy and security concerns have surfaced regarding the upcoming launch of Microsoft’s controversial AI feature, Recall. This feature is a part of Copilot+ PCs, and the concerns have led to Microsoft making changes. Microsoft has reportedly made the feature opt-in rather than by default. Now, according to an X (formerly Twitter) thread, the company will also be providing Windows users with more control over which apps will be able to use AI. The new feature can be found by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Let app use Generative AI. The feature can be toggled on and off with one single click, and users can select which specific apps will get AI access. The other option allows the user to choose which apps get to use AI. Above is the option that allows anyone using a Windows computer to choose if the app can use generative AI when the option is toggled on. This new feature is a part of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26236 for Canary channel users. Apart from this new setting change, there are also several minor improvements, including bug fixes, performance improvements, and a Microsoft Wallet-integrated store. Some apps that are already available and use AI include Microsoft 365 Copilot and Bing Chat. Both offer AI-powered features, including Intelligent Recap, Live Translations, and Personalised Insights.
President Yoon Pledges Support for Young Tech Startups in Uzbekistan
President Yoon Suk Yeol has vowed to provide the government’s full support to promote cooperation and exchanges between young talents and startups in South Korea and Uzbekistan.
The president made the pledge on Thursday in a dialogue with young entrepreneurs at the U-ENTER Entrepreneurship Innovation Center in Tashkent after arriving in Uzbekistan for a three-day state visit.
The center was established through the Korea International Cooperation Agency’s(KOICA) Official Development Assistance program.
Yoon said that in the era of digital transformation, startups specializing in cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, will lead economic growth.
Yoon vowed to provide support to foster and train young talents through KOICA’s youth programs.
The president is set to hold summit talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Friday to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in the supply chains of core minerals.
Alibaba and YNAP Terminate Chinese Venture Amid Luxury E-commerce Shift, Italy
Yoox Net-a-porter’s China Joint Venture With Alibaba to End
LONDON — Fengmao, the China joint venture between Alibaba and Yoox Net-a-Porter, will be terminated soon, according to an internal memo seen by WWD. It was sent by Yating Wu, chief executive officer of Fengmao, to employees on Thursday night.
The dissolution of the joint venture is part of YNAP’s plan to exit China and focus on core, more profitable geographies. This move may also be related to Richemont’s intention to sell YNAP and streamline its operations.
In a challenging environment for luxury e-commerce, YNAP’s sales declined by 14 percent in fiscal 2024. The joint venture with Alibaba aimed to boost YNAP’s presence in the Chinese luxury market, but changes in the sector have altered the landscape.
Alibaba’s struggle to maintain post-pandemic growth, combined with evolving consumer behaviors in China, has led to a shift in the luxury e-commerce space. Other platforms like Xiaohongshu and JD.com have emerged as strong competitors, influencing the decisions of key players in the industry.
As YNAP prepares to exit China and potentially change ownership, the dynamics of luxury e-commerce in the region continue to evolve. The partnership between Yoox Net-a-Porter and Alibaba marked a significant moment in the sector’s history, but shifting market conditions are prompting strategic adjustments.
The termination of the Fengmao joint venture underscores the intricate and rapidly changing nature of the luxury e-commerce industry. With multiple players vying for market share and consumers seeking diverse shopping experiences, companies must adapt their strategies to remain relevant in this dynamic landscape.
Zelenskyy’s 10-Point Peace Formula for Ukraine Summit in Canberra
The Summit on Peace in Ukraine, hosted by Switzerland this weekend, is not a peace conference in the usual sense. Russia, which has dismissed it as irrelevant, won’t participate. And any summit aimed at ending the war can’t produce a final settlement without Russia’s involvement.
Rather, the summit stems from a push by Ukraine to build wider support for a path towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Specifically, it wants to build consensus around some basic principles for a future settlement.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace formula, first set out in November 2022, advocates some unobjectionable ideas. It also highlights the damage Russia’s invasion has inflicted on Ukraine, along with the dangers Russia poses to other countries.
The plan includes: Nuclear safety (underlining the risks posed by Russia’s occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, as well as Russian nuclear sabre-rattling) food security (addressing the disruption of global food supplies caused by the invasion and the need for freedom of navigation from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports) and energy security (highlighting Russia’s attacks crippling Ukraine’s energy infrastructure).
It also involves the release of all Ukrainian prisoners and return of Ukrainian children deported to Russia (the subject of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court against President Vladimir Putin), the restoration of Ukrainian territory to its pre-2014, internationally recognised borders, the full withdrawal of Russian military forces, and justice under international law, including a special tribunal to prosecute alleged war crimes and compensation for damage caused to Ukraine.
Finally, it includes addressing environmental destruction caused by the war, security guarantees for Ukraine against future Russian aggression, and a multilateral peace conference with a binding treaty to end the war.
New President of Connecticut Lottery Aims for Growth and Integrity, US
Frank Suarez, who oversees the lottery in Washington, D.C., was named Thursday as the president and chief executive of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, a quasi-public agency that produces about $400 million in annual profits for the state.
Suarez will begin on Aug. 1, taking over the lottery as it tries to recover from problems last year with a new point-of-sales system that wrongly invalidated a few winning tickets, as well as the departure of its sports-betting vendor.
He succeeds Greg Smith, who will remain as a consultant until the end of September.
I am honored and excited to join the Connecticut Lottery Corporation and to work with the talented team here to drive continued growth and success, Suarez said in a statement. Our focus will be on maximizing revenue for the state while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and responsible gaming.
Smith informed the lottery a year ago of his intention to retire in 2024. Despite recent problems at the lottery, Smith generally was seen as a stabilizing presence since being hired in 2018 as the organization struggled with turnover, staff dissension and other issues.
Rush Street Interactive, the Illinois company chosen to operate the lottery’s online sport book, PlaySugarHouse.com, and the Connecticut Lottery jointly announced an end to their partnership on March 27, 2023, offering little reason for the split.
In an earnings call, the company said it was not seeing appropriate return on investment. The lottery announced in December that its new sports book vendor was Fanatics Betting & Gaming.
Suarez was credited in a statement from the Connecticut Lottery for turning around a losing sports book.
During his tenure, Mr. Suarez directed a remarkable turnaround in sports betting operations, transforming a loss into profitability in less than a year and establishing the DC Lottery sports book as the largest in the District, the Connecticut Lottery said.
The Connecticut Lottery is struggling for market share in its sports betting operation, competing with two tribal casinos partnered with two industry leaders — FanDuel at Mohegan Sun and DraftKings at Foxwoods.
The lottery’s statement also credited Suarez with leading the conversion to a new mobile and online sports betting platform, resulting in an astounding 887% growth in gross gaming revenue within the first 30 days of operation.
Suarez was the deputy executive director in charge of brand management and communications at the North Carolina Education Lottery before joining the DC Lottery in August 2021.
He previous worked in marketing and brand management in consumer food and restaurant industries.
He has an MBA from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina.
The lottery board approved Suarez’s appointment Thursday. Its statement offered no information on his salary and benefits package.
Rob Simmelkjaer, the chair of the board, and Chris Davis, the lottery’s government affairs director, could not be reached for comment.
Trump Backs Off TV Duel with Biden, Biden-Zelensky Security Pact Signed, Ukraine
Donald Trump rarely meets a microphone he doesn’t like, but today the usually volatile former president backed off being bumped off TV by Joe Biden. Even more than ever this election year, it was definitely a tale of two presidents on cable news this morning. From the G7 summit in Italy and the corridors of power in Washington DC respectively, Biden and Trump almost went head-to-head with competing press conferences. Almost. We’ll go to either of those live events, which ever one starts first, said Fox News’ Sandra Smith as the Rupert Murdoch-owned outlet straddled the set ups on screen for Biden and Trump’s potentially competing press conferences. We set this up as a split screen because they were almost scheduled to speak at the exact same time, Smith later added with no metaphorical irony. Seeing which president went first, CNN, MSNBC and BBC World News also all leapt back and forth between the two empty podiums too. As they waited, CNN called the Trump appearance a press conference on the lower third of the screen In a rare display of discipline and likely aware of the current commander-in-chief’s looming joint appearance with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump declined to take questions from the media after giving remarks on his meetings in DC Thursday with GOP members of the House and Senate. Being that Trump’s remarks after meeting with Congressional Republicans today was branded as a news conference, the ex-Celebrity Apprentice host’s quick exit was mocked within minutes by the Biden campaign: Surrounded by Senators and Congressmen (though noticeably not Minority Leader Mitch McConnell), Trump started speaking at 10:44 am PT and mainly stayed on the teleprompter with a reiterated of his stump speech. We want to make America great again, Trump said as Republican leaders stood by their convicted and presumed third-time candidate. We want to make our country great again, we’re a nation that’s in decline. We’re declining nation. We’re a nation that has been left out all over the world. We have a leader that’s been left out all over the world. And we’re going to turn it around. We’re going to turn around fast the polls are looking like they’re very strongly for us. Though he threw in a few swipes at his rival, Trump did not mention Biden by name. He also did not bring up Taylor Swift, who it seems the former president brought up a lot behind closed doors earlier Thursday. Nor did Trump refer to the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision revealed earlier today ensuring access to the so-called abortion pill. Speaking for around 5 minutes, Trump exited to applause with a Thank You or two and a We appreciate you being here. About 45 minutes later, following a statement from the White House on the SCOTUS ruling, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke live from DC about the abortion pill decision. We must remain clear eyed about the threats to reproductive freedom in America and we must remain vigilant, Harris said, with MSNBC cutting live to her remarks around 10:36 am PT. With a 10-year security agreement to be signed by the leaders, the Biden and Zelensky event was set to start at 10:45 am PT. It did not begin until 11:47 am PT — or 8:47 pm in Apulia, Italy. Noting the big ticket deals and security agreement inked by the US and Ukraine on the sideline of the G7 summit, Fox News’ John Robert joked about the delay (which isn’t unusual for Biden events) and that things happen late in Italy. Minutes before the two president took the stage in Italy, the America Reports co-anchor added: so this is right within the sweet spot of still doing things official. While Biden was not interrupted by Trump, the President’s stint on the international stage today was paused for bit as a plane flew over the site of his and Zelensky’s presser. Unlike Trump, POTUS and the Ukrainian President did take a series of questions from the press. The AP kicked things off asking Biden about Ukrainian weapons firing into Russia and his son Hunter’s conviction on federal gun crimes in Delaware earlier this week. Though Biden griped about some reporters not playing by the rules, topics such as the war in Gaza and the consequences of the upcoming U.S. election were also brought up. Biden and Trump are set to meet face-to-face on June 27 in Atlanta on CNN for their first debate of the close White House race.
Georgia Man Arrested for Road Rage Shooting on Ohio Turnpike, US
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – A Georgia man is facing charges following a road-rage shooting incident involving the driver of a commercial vehicle. Curtis Brooks, 28, of Dallas, Georgia, has been charged with felonious assault, tampering with evidence, and discharging a firearm upon a highway. The Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to the scene on the Ohio Turnpike near the I-76 Austintown interchange. According to Sgt. Ryan Purpura, a road-rage altercation ensued between two commercial vehicles, leading Brooks, the driver of a Kenworth tractor-trailer, to fire shots at the other vehicle, striking its trailer. Brooks is currently detained at the Mahoning County Jail.
US Navy Submarine Arrives in Guantanamo Bay Amid Russian Warships’ Caribbean Drills, Cuba
A U.S. Navy submarine has arrived in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in a show of force as a fleet of Russian warships gather for planned military exercises in the Caribbean.
U.S. Southern Command stated the USS Helena, a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, made its presence known on Thursday near the U.S. base in Cuba, following the entry of a Russian frigate, a nuclear-powered submarine, an oil tanker, and a rescue tug into Havana Bay a day prior after conducting drills in the Atlantic Ocean.
According to Pentagon officials, the Russian drills are not considered a threat to the United States, with the U.S. maintaining a vigilant stance by tracking and monitoring the activities. While the exercises are in international waters, the U.S. anticipates the Russian ships to remain in the region throughout the summer, possibly making stops in Venezuela.
The arrival of the Russian warships comes shortly after President Joe Biden’s authorization for Ukraine to utilize U.S.-provided weapons against Russia, leading to President Vladimir Putin hinting at potential retaliatory actions. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh emphasized the importance of such global exercises and the possibility of increased Russian presence around the United States.
Russia, being an established ally of Venezuela and Cuba, has a history of maritime visits to the Caribbean region. Past occurrences included unannounced dockings in Havana, solidifying ties between Russia and the island nations.
These recent developments underscore a complex geopolitical landscape, with the naval activities in the Caribbean signaling a strategic play between global powers. It remains to be seen how this dynamic will unfold in the coming months, shaping international relations and security in the region.
Antisemitic Mob Threatens Jews on NYC Subway, Mayor Condemns Hate, US
Good-hearted Americans were horrified on Wednesday after new video surfaced of an antisemitic mob threatening Jews on a New York City subway, the same mob that had just held a rally where they flew a banner glorifying the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel. The story went untold during the Wednesday evening and Thursday morning newscasts of CBS and NBC. Only ABC called out the hate being directed at Jews in the liberal media’s backyard.
Instead of pointing out the far-left liberals behaving badly, CBS Evening News hyped President Biden signing a 10-year commitment to Ukraine and CBS Mornings questioned: Aliens living among us? Meanwhile, NBC Nightly News liked that the liberal ACLU was suing the Biden administration over his asylum executive order while NBC’s Today went to China to gush about Pandas.
Contrast that with ABC’s World News Tonight anchor David Muir who led into the segment by announcing: Here in New York City, authorities are describing that chilling anti-Semitic scene on the subway. Protesters asking, ‘Zionists to raise their hands and get off the train.’ Authorities say others defacing the home of a museum director who is Jewish.
Senior investigative correspondent Aaron Katersky highlighted this video shows a frightening moment on a New York City subway car, when protesters demanded riders raise their hands if they’re Zionists. And it was clear the mob was looking to hurt people:
ANTISEMITE 1: Raise your hand if you’re a Zionist!
ANTISEMITIC MOB: Raise your hand if you’re a Zionist!
ANTISEMITE 1: This is your chance to get out!
ANTISEMITIC MOB: This is your chance to get out!
ANTISEMITE 1: Okay. No Zionists. We’re good.
CBS and NBC were once aghast at flags being flown when they were innocuous and uncontroversial symbols being hoisted outside the homes of a U.S. Supreme Court justice. But they had no interest in covering what Katersky did. [The mob] had just come from a rally where the flags of terror groups Hamas and Hezbollah were waved. Another saying, ‘Long live October 7,’ he reported.
Come Thursday morning, those networks were still uninterested in the story even after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) condemned the antisemitism on the floor of the Senate:
KATERSKY: Majority Leader Chuck Schumer showed pictures on the Senate floor.
SCHUMER: This is not even close to free speech. It is intimidation, invasive attacks loaded with the threat of looming violence.
Katersky also noted that the anti-Semites were also responsible for Red paint and a threatening sign defaced the home of the director of the Brooklyn museum, who is Jewish. On the door they painted an inverted red triangle, a symbol used by Hamas.
[W]hat you heard on that subway car is no longer a matter of free speech, asking Zionists to identify themselves; the NYPD is now considering an implicit threat. They’re looking to charge the leader of the call-and-response with attempted coercion, he concluded.
US Consular Team in India Expects Surge in Student Visa Applications
New Delhi | After issuing a record 1,40,000 student visas last year, the US consular team in India is all geared up to meet the expected rise in number of applications from Indian students in 2024, with a senior official at the embassy here saying that the projected total number this year will be similar or in excess in comparison to last year.
The US Mission in India on Thursday held its eighth annual Student Visa Day countrywide with consular officers from New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai interviewing Indian student visa applicants.
At the US Embassy in Delhi, a long queue of students was seen since morning.
American universities attract a large number of Indian students, and last year, the US consular team in India issued over 1,40,000 student visas — higher than for any other country setting a record for the third year in a row.
Syed Mujtaba Andrabi, acting Consul General at US Embassy in New Delhi, in an interaction with PTI at the embassy, said, by the end of the day, we should have interviewed approximately 4,000 students.
It (student visas) is one of our top priorities. Academic exchange between the two countries is one of the top priorities of this administration, and our Mission here. Last year, we issued a record number of student visas, numbering 1,40,000, which has been a record…And, we will continue to focus on this area, as we go forward during this year, Andrabi told PTI.
We will continue to have the same focus, and maximise the number of students, he added.
Asked about the extent of the expected rise in student visas in 2024, he said, It will be similar or in excess to last year.
America gives high priority to student visas because it knows people-to-people ties last a lifetime, US envoy Eric Garcetti had told PTI in an interview here late April.
