Raul J. Gomzalez, Author at Theo 5

Jun

26

2024

Kenyan Parliament approves tax law amid controversy

Breaking news

More news - News 24 hours Kenyan lawmakers passed a controversial finance bill on Tuesday, sparking outrage from thousands of people who marched on parliament in Nairobi. Protesters have called on the government to reject the proposed tax increases, arguing they would disproportionately burden Kenyan citizens. Clashes broke out as police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. Footage captured by international media showed the chaotic scene, including the use of force against protesters. Reports of human rights activists being kidnapped ahead of the protest also emerged, raising concerns about freedom of expression. The proposed legislation has set off a…

Jun

26

2024

By Raul J. Gomzalez

EU targets Microsoft Teams bundling, saying it stifles competition

Economy

Related media - Recent news The European Union (EU) accuses Microsoft of foul play after regulators accused the tech giant of unfairly bundling its popular Teams video conferencing software with its Office suite. This practice, the EU says, gives Teams an unfair advantage over competitors like Zoom and Slack. The issue centers on how Microsoft packages Teams within its Office 365 and Microsoft 365 subscriptions, which include programs like Word, Excel, and Outlook. Regulators believe this bundling essentially forces companies to adopt Teams if they want Microsoft's other widely used programs. This, they argue, harms competition by limiting customer choice.…

Jun

26

2024

By Raul J. Gomzalez

The mind is available, so the body doesn’t have much choice

Breaking news

More news - Latest news Mike Duggan and his hockey buddies were strapping on their gear one recent morning when their banter turned, as it often does, to the topic of joint replacement surgeries. Duggan, 74, the proud owner of an artificial hip, marveled at the sheer number of titanium body parts in the locker room. He nodded toward Mitch Boriskin, who was putting on a pair of skates along the opposite wall. “I don't think there's an original part to you,” Duggan said. Boriskin, 70, smiled. “Two fake knees, a spinal cord stimulator, 25 surgeries,” he began, as if…

Jun

26

2024

By Raul J. Gomzalez

AI-Powered Phones and Computers: A Convenience Boon, But a Privacy Challenge?

Science and Technology

Related media - Recent news Tech giants like Apple, Google and Microsoft are racing to develop smartphones and computers powered by artificial intelligence (AI). These devices promise to make our lives easier by automating tasks like editing photos or scheduling meetings. But there's a problem: they require a lot of data from us. More data, more convenience, less privacy? These new AI capabilities come at the cost of increased data collection. The companies envision Windows PCs taking screenshots every few seconds, iPhones merging data from various apps, and Android phones analyzing calls in real time to detect scams. This raises…

Jun

26

2024

By Raul J. Gomzalez

Rising Drug Costs: Are Pharmacy Benefits Managers to Blame?

Breaking news

Related media - Recent news For many Americans, the rising tide of prescription drug prices seems like an unstoppable force, threatening to drown family budgets and access to health care. While pharmaceutical companies often shoulder the brunt of public blame, the web of influences on drug costs is much more intricate. Today, we shine a spotlight on a critical, but usually hidden, player in this system: pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. Rebecca Robbins, a leading investigative journalist specializing in pharmaceuticals for the New York Times, will take us on a deep dive into the world of PBMs. We will explore…

Jun

25

2024

By Raul J. Gomzalez

How architecture became one of Ukraine’s essential defenses

Breaking news

More news - Latest news The Ukrainian government and army have already started major reconstruction projects. Bucha and Irpin, the devastated suburbs of Kiev, have become important construction sites. Architect Norman Foster has been hired for a new master plan for Kharkiv, whose extraordinary density of modern architecture is exposed to almost daily bombing. But this exhibition continues to focus on informal, bottom-up efforts in Ukrainian architecture. It showcases the work of architects inside and outside the country, but also some of Ukraine's most notable artists, not to mention the ravers and DJs from Kiev's world-leading electronic music scene, who…

Jun

25

2024

By Raul J. Gomzalez

A Hungarian rapper’s caravan finds an unlikely new driver

Breaking news

More news - News 24 hours “I'm in the middle of this whole thing, and even I find it hard to explain what happened,” Mr. Toth said. “People cheer for him as if they were cheering for the Hungarian national football team.” Politics, however, dashed Azahriah's chances of representing her country in Europe's musical equivalent of the World Cup, the Eurovision Song Contest. Authorities, alarmed by Eurovision's reputation as Europe's biggest gay event, in 2020 ended Hungary's participation in the annual competition. “It would have been amazing if I could have won Eurovision as a straight white guy,” Azahriah said.…

Jun

25

2024

By Raul J. Gomzalez

Passenger restrained with duct tape during flight risks a fine

Economy

More news - Breaking news An American Airlines passenger who kicked and spit at flight attendants and passengers and attempted to open the cabin door before being secured to his seat with duct tape is being sued by the Federal Aviation Administration for $81,950 , the largest fine ever issued by the agency for unruly behavior. behavior. The passenger, Heather Wells, 34, of San Antonio, was traveling first class from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Texas to Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, on July 7, 2021, when About an hour into the flight she ordered a Jack…

Jun

24

2024

By Raul J. Gomzalez

A Swiss court condemns the richest family in the United Kingdom for exploiting domestic staff

Breaking news

Related media - News 24 hours Prosecutors had said the Hinduja family confiscated the domestic workers' passports and told them not to leave the villa, where they slept in bunk beds in a windowless basement. The workers should have been available at all times, the indictment alleges, including during trips to France and Monaco, where they worked under the same conditions. Mr Jordan, the Hinduja family's lawyer, had rejected what he called "exaggerated and biased allegations". “Members of the Hinduja family vigorously deny these allegations,” he said in a statement before the verdict. According to the Swiss press, a civil…

Jun

24

2024

By Raul J. Gomzalez

Crisis in the Middle East: Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza City; The victims are reported

Breaking news

More news - Latest news A UN-run school in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, in May. Most of these schools are now used as shelters.Credit…Haitham Imad/EPA, via Shutterstock Karim al-Masri was due to start his final exams on Saturday morning, a few weeks after graduating. Instead, he spent the morning filling bags of water to freeze into ice, which he sold to support his family.“I was supposed to study and prepare for final exams,” said al-Masri, 18. But, more than eight months into the war, “I spend my days working to provide for my family to cope with the situation.”Al-Masri was…