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Microsoft resolves European Union probe into Teams

Microsoft resolves European Union probe into Teams

By KELVIN CHAN

LONDON (AP) — European Union regulators have accepted Microsoft’s proposed changes to Teams, resolving a long-running antitrust investigation that targeted the company’s messaging and videoconferencing app.

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The European Commission said in a statement Friday that Microsoft’s final commitments to unbundle Teams from its Office software suite, including further tweaks following a market test in May and June, are enough to satisfy competition concerns.

The legally binding commitments will remain in force for up to 10 years and allow the company to avoid a potentially hefty fine. read more

OpenAI reaches new agreement with Microsoft to change its corporate structure

OpenAI reaches new agreement with Microsoft to change its corporate structure

By THALIA BEATY and MATT O’BRIEN

OpenAI has reached a new tentative agreement with Microsoft and said its nonprofit, which technically controls its business, will now be given a $100 billion equity stake in its for-profit corporation.

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The maker of ChatGPT said it had reached a new nonbinding agreement with Microsoft, its longtime partner, “for the next phase of our partnership.”

The announcements on Thursday include a few details about these new arrangements. OpenAI’s proposed changes to its corporate structure have drawn the scrutiny of regulators, competitors and advocates concerned about the impacts of artificial intelligence. read more

What’s in a name? Winter Park resident claims city is stealing Christmas

What’s in a name? Winter Park resident claims city is stealing Christmas

For decades, Winter Park has celebrated the winter holidays with popular events and decorations on Park Avenue, all of them branded by the broad “holiday” moniker.

Last year, the local group that received city funds to decorate for the holidays changed the name to “Christmas on Park.” This year, city officials, at the urging of some residents, want the more inclusive “holiday” name restored given that events begin in mid-November, run through New Year’s Day and acknowledge other holidays such as Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

Now, the toney city faces accusations that it’s attacking Christmas — and the name of the 2025 celebration remains uncertain.

Carina Sexton, the executive director of Park Avenue District, the nonprofit agency which supports downtown businesses, wouldn’t say this week what it’s calling festivities this year.

Sexton could not be reached by phone but when asked about the name by email Thursday her response didn’t address the issue. In a follow-up email Friday morning she said: “We have no further comments at this time.” read more

Thinking about getting an EV? Here’s why you need to move by Sept. 30

Thinking about getting an EV? Here’s why you need to move by Sept. 30

By Chloe Beaver, The Dallas Morning News

It’s a buyer’s market for anyone looking to charge up a used electric vehicle.

Amid record-high inventory, more than half of used EVs are listed under $30,000, according to recent data from Recurrent.

New electric car sales are spiking ahead of the expected death of the EV tax credit on Sept. 30, as buyers front-load EV purchases before tax incentives come to an end. After that, policy will shift its focus to incentivizing gas-powered vehicles, offering loan interest deductions up to $10,000 on qualifying new purchases.

The recent surge in car sales “are unquestionably inflated by shoppers accelerating their electric vehicle purchases to take advantage of Federal EV credits — but the sales pace for non-EVs remains robust, especially given the modest discounts available on those vehicles,” Thomas King, president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Power, wrote in August.

With policy changes afoot, the stakes have been raised for EV makers — particularly for industry leader Tesla, which is struggling to reverse slumping sales. For prospective owners, however, now might be the best time to buy an EV — or to resell one. read more

With Hyundai raid, Trump’s immigration crackdown runs into his push for foreign investment

With Hyundai raid, Trump’s immigration crackdown runs into his push for foreign investment

By DIDI TANG and PAUL WISEMAN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s push to revitalize American manufacturing by luring foreign investment into the U.S. has run smack into one of his other priorities: cracking down on illegal immigration.

Hardly a week after immigration authorities raided a sprawling Hyundai battery plant in Georgia, detained more than 300 South Korean workers and showed video of some of them shackled in chains, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warned that the country’s other companies may be reluctant to take up Trump’s invitation to pour money into the United States.

The detained South Koreans were released Thursday and most were flown home.

If the U.S. can’t promptly issue visas to the technicians and other skilled workers needed to launch plants, then “establishing a local factory in the United States will either come with severe disadvantages or become very difficult for our companies,” Lee said Thursday. “They will wonder whether they should even do it.” read more