Bank of America CEO: ‘We Want a Cashless Society’
Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan kicked off Fortune’s inaugural Brainstorm Finance conference in Montauk, N.Y., on Wednesday by discussing the tech-driven strides made by one of the country’s largest financial institutions. Speaking with Fortune editor-at-large Shawn Tully, Moynihan touched on BoA’s embrace of artificial intelligence-driven technology via applications like Erica, a voice-activated virtual assistant […]
Maryland governor overturns directive delaying school opening
The Archdiocese of Washington and its Catholic Schools Office hailed the Aug. 3 emergency order by Maryland’s governor to override a Montgomery County Health Department blanket directive that would have kept nonpublic schools from reopening for in-person instruction through at least Oct. 1. The archdiocese said it was grateful for Gov. Larry Hogan’s action “that […]
China, Australia spar on Twitter over South China Sea
A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple territorial disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons. The waters are a major shipping route for global commerce and are rich in fish and possible oil and gas reserves. Chinese and Australian diplomats sparred on Twitter over Beijing’s actions […]
Netanyahu: Annexation still on the agenda
The prime minister said the matter is currently in the Trump administration’s hands. The coalition agreement between Blue and White set July 1 as the earliest possible date at which Netanyahu could bring extending Israeli sovereignty, in accordance with the Trump administration’s peace plan, to a vote. US President Donald Trump’s Special Representative for International Negotiations Avi […]
SpaceX says Starlink internet has ‘extraordinary demand,’ with nearly 700,000 interested in service
SpaceX said Starlink, its nascent satellite internet service, has already seen “extraordinary demand” from potential customers, with “nearly 700,000 individuals” across the United States indicating they are interested in the company’s coming service. Due to the greater-than-expected interest, SpaceX filed a request with the Federal Communications Commission on Friday — asking to increase the number of […]
EU stops funding to six towns that declare themselves ‘LGBT-free zones’
Following the announcement on Thursday, the European Commission said the EU stood for the equality of all its people. “EU values and fundamental rights must be respected by Member States and state authorities,” European Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, wrote on Twitter. “This is why six town-twinning applications involving Polish authorities that adopted ‘LGBTI free […]
Russian planes bomb rebel-held area in Syria’s Latakia, say opposition, war monitor
Russian warplanes bombed Syrian rebel-held mountainous areas in the western coastal province of Latakia on Monday as Syrian government forces hit the area with artillery and rocket fire, an opposition group and a war monitor said. The Syrian army and allied forces also clashed with rebel fighters while trying to advance on a frontline town […]
Top U.S. tech executives face grilling on China dealings
America’s technology giants came under fire from House Republicans last week, accused of working with China and in the case of Google, indirectly helping the Chinese military improve targeting for a new stealth fighter jet. Executives from Google, Amazon, Apple and Facebook told a House hearing they had not personally seen large-scale Chinese theft of […]
White House still mulling annexation, which could happen this month – source
Avi Berkowitz, the US administration’s envoy to the Middle East, is continuing to work on the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s peace proposal, including conducting meetings with interlocutors preparing for possible Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank, according to a well-placed source. More discussions between Jerusalem and Washington are needed for annexation […]
Netanyahu: West Bank annexation ‘not off the table’; issue ‘is in Washington’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday told his Likud faction meeting that Israel’s planned annexation of West Bank land is not off the table, but is being held up by the US administration. “The issue of applying sovereignty is in Washington. It’s not off the table, the option still exists,” he said. Netanyahu had declared […]