Boycotts Lead SXSW to, Drop US Military Sponsors, for 2025 Festival.
On June 26, South by Southwest (SXSW) announced that the
United States Army would no longer be sponsoring the
2025 festival after boycotts by artists and panelists occurred in 2024.
On June 26, South by Southwest (SXSW) announced that the
United States Army would no longer be sponsoring the
2025 festival after boycotts by artists and panelists occurred in 2024.
After careful consideration,
we are revising our sponsorship
model. As a result, the U.S. Army,
and companies who engage in
weapons manufacturing, will
not be sponsors of SXSW 2025, SXSW statement, via Fox News.
Fox News reports that over 80 artists and panelists pulled
out of the 2024 festival "in solidarity with Palestine,"
according to the Austin for Palestine coalition.
Fox News reports that over 80 artists and panelists pulled
out of the 2024 festival "in solidarity with Palestine,"
according to the Austin for Palestine coalition.
The group called for a boycott of SXSW
over the organization's ties to the U.S. military
and weapons-manufacturing companies. .
In 2024, the U.S. Army, Defense Department, , Raytheon and L3Harris , all sponsored the SXSW festival.
In 2024, the U.S. Army, Defense Department, , Raytheon and L3Harris , all sponsored the SXSW festival.
We appreciated the opportunity
to join South by Southwest in 2024.
With U.S. Army Futures Command
headquartered in Austin, we value
any opportunity to join with our
community to ignite discovery
and make new connections. , Lt. Col. Jamie Dobson, U.S. Army Futures Command Spokesperson, via Fox News Digital.
The Army will continue to
seek opportunities to meet
technology innovators and
leaders, explore new ideas
and insights, and create dynamic
industry partnerships because
tomorrow is worth protecting. , Lt. Col. Jamie Dobson, U.S. Army Futures Command Spokesperson, via Fox News Digital.
Bands and artists participating in the boycott,
including Squirrel Flower, Scowl and Okay Shalom,
explained why they protested the 2024 festival. .
There are many ways SXSW is harmful
to working musicians, but I am pulling
out specifically because of the fact
that SXSW is platforming defense
contractors including Raytheon
subsidiaries as well as the U.S. Army,
a main sponsor of the festival, Squirrel Flower, also known as
Ella Williams, via Instagram.
Genocide profiteers like Raytheon
supply weapons to the IDF, paid for
by our taxes. A music festival should
not include war profiteers. I refuse
to be complicit in this and withdrawl
[sic] my art and labor in protest, Squirrel Flower, also known as
Ella Williams, via Instagram.
Genocide profiteers like Raytheon
supply weapons to the IDF, paid for
by our taxes. A music festival should
not include war profiteers. I refuse
to be complicit in this and withdrawl
[sic] my art and labor in protest, Squirrel Flower, also known as
Ella Williams, via Instagram
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
McDonald’s Ends , AI Drive-Thru Test With IBM.
Fox News reports that McDonald's has decided to end its artificial intelligence drive-thru program. .
According to 'Restaurant Business,'
McDonald's Chief Restaurant Officer Mason Smoot said
the decision was made "after a thoughtful review.".
McDonald's has decided to end
our current partnership with IBM
on AOT [automated order taking]
and the technology will be shut
off in all restaurants currently testing
it no later than July 26, 2024, Mason Smoot, McDonald's Chief
Restaurant Officer, via Fox News.
The program, which started
in 2021, saw over 100 McDonald's
locations help test the new technology.
While there have been successes
to date, we feel there is an
opportunity to explore voice
ordering solutions more broadly, Mason Smoot, McDonald's Chief
Restaurant Officer, via Fox News.
According to Smoot, McDonald's will make
"an informed decision on a future voice
ordering solution by the end of the year." .
The goal of the test was
to determine if an automated
voice ordering solution could
simplify operations for crew
and create a faster, improved
experience for our fans, McDonald's statement, via Fox News.
The company echoed Smoot's sentiment in
a statement to Fox News, while also addressing
the future of AI programs at McDonald's.
After thoughtful review, McDonald’s
has decided to end our current global
partnership with IBM on AOT beyond
this year. IBM remains a trusted
partner and we will still utilize
many of their products
across our global system, McDonald's statement, via Fox News.
We see tremendous opportunity in
advancing our restaurant technology
and will continue to evaluate
long-term, scalable solutions that
will help us make an informed decision
on a future voice ordering solution
by the end of the year, McDonald's statement, via Fox News.
We see tremendous opportunity in
advancing our restaurant technology
and will continue to evaluate
long-term, scalable solutions that
will help us make an informed decision
on a future voice ordering solution
by the end of the year, McDonald's statement, via Fox News
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
George Strait Sets New , US Concert Attendance Record.
Strait played in front of 110,905 fans at Texas A&M's Kyle Field on June 15, Fox News reports. .
The feat broke the all-time concert attendance record in the U.S. which was previously held by the Grateful Dead. .
The feat broke the all-time concert attendance record in the U.S. which was previously held by the Grateful Dead. .
In 1977, the Grateful Dead played to
107,019 fans at New Jersey's Raceway Park. .
Breaking records isn't anything new for Strait.
He has the most No. 1 singles in any music genre, and he's the only musician to get a top 10 hit every year for the past three decades, Fox News reports. .
He's also had the most No. 1 country albums, selling over 120 million records globally.
Among those in attendance at Kyle Field on
June 15 were Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. Ted Cruz.
Among those in attendance at Kyle Field on
June 15 were Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. Ted Cruz
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Fed Holds Steady , With Interest Rates at , 2-Decade High.
On June 12, the Federal Reserve chose to hold
interest rates at a two-decade high while it
waits to see more signs of inflation going down.
'The Guardian' reports that officials at the United States
central bank expect to make a single rate cut
in 2024, according to the latest projections.
In previous projections,
policymakers expected the Fed
to make three cuts in 2024. .
At the latest meeting, the Fed chose to
keep rates at the same place they've been
for nearly a year, between 5.25% and 5.5%.
Despite recent data suggesting that inflation
may be easing, the Fed clearly doesn't see it moving
at a pace that would lead it to start cutting rates.
In May, inflation cooled slightly across the U.S.,
according to the latest consumer price index, however
consumers remain frustrated over skyrocketing prices.
In May, inflation cooled slightly across the U.S.,
according to the latest consumer price index, however
consumers remain frustrated over skyrocketing prices.
'The Guardian' reports that price growth has
slowed significantly since surging over 9%
in 2022, its highest level in a generation.
'The Guardian' reports that price growth has
slowed significantly since surging over 9%
in 2022, its highest level in a generation.
May saw prices for air fare and fuel go
down, inflation for grocery prices remained
flat, and shelter costs continued to rise.
May saw prices for air fare and fuel go
down, inflation for grocery prices remained
flat, and shelter costs continued to rise.
Overall, prices remained unchanged on a month-to-month
basis as the Fed emphasized that it would wait for
inflation to hit its previously-stated target of 2%.
The committee does not expect
it will be appropriate to reduce
the target range until it has
gained greater confidence
that inflation is moving
sustainably toward 2%, Federal Reserve statement, via Fox News
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
A 13-year-old boy apparently brandishing a gun was shot to death by police in New York – and the violence was all caught on video. The footage opened with.. TMZ.com
These Justin Bieber pics will rock your frickin' socks off, but do you think you've got what it takes to see the minor changes in the two shots?! There's only.. TMZ.com
TikToker Eva Evans' official cause of death is suicide ... TMZ has confirmed. A NYC medical examiner rep tells TMZ ... Eva died after hanging herself in her NYC.. TMZ.com
![Boycotts Lead SXSW to Drop US Military Sponsors for 2025 Festival [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20240627/1379820280-Boycotts-Lead-SXSW-to-Drop-US-Military-Sponsors.jpg)
![McDonald’s Ends AI Drive-Thru Test With IBM [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20240617/1378836034-McDonald-Ends-AI-Drive-Thru-Test-With.jpg)
![George Strait Sets New US Concert Attendance Record [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20240617/1378820332-George-Strait-Sets-New-US-Concert-Attendance-Record.jpg)
![Fed Holds Steady With Interest Rates at 2-Decade High [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20240612/1378403338-Fed-Holds-Steady-With-Interest-Rates-at.jpg)
