Software giant reports $36.6bn in profit, beating Wall Street expectations, as Azure cloud computing division grows 48%

Microsoft gained billions of dollars in stock market value Wednesday afternoon after it reported better than expected revenue and profit, just days after it offered voluntary buyouts to some 60,000 employees.

The office software giant’s growth was fueled by its Azure cloud computing division, which grew by 48% in the September quarter.

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© Photograph: David Ryder/Reuters

© Photograph: David Ryder/Reuters

© Photograph: David Ryder/Reuters

Information released by Distributed Denial of Secrets is the third such government data disclosure in the last month

Data identifying more than 41,000 employees and contractors for the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was released on Wednesday in an unprecedented leak that reveals how the agency is organized. The records, which were made public by the transpaency nonprofit Distributed Denial of Secrets reference operation names, surveillance programs and information on undercover initiatives.

DHS did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

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© Photograph: Anadolu/Anadolu Agency

© Photograph: Anadolu/Anadolu Agency

© Photograph: Anadolu/Anadolu Agency

Nonprofit leaker collective Distributed Denial of Secrets (DDoSecrets) published data Wednesday on more than 40,000 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees, some of whom are working in the intelligence community. The collective did not identify the source who leaked the personnel information, referring to the unnamed individual instead as the “Department of Peace.” “This dataset…

Nonprofit leaker collective Distributed Denial of Secrets (DDoSecrets) published data Wednesday on more than 40,000 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees, some of whom are working in the intelligence community. The collective did not identify the source who leaked the personnel information, referring to the unnamed individual instead as the “Department of Peace.” “This dataset…

The Federal Election Commission’s (FEC) electronic filing system was restored and online Wednesday afternoon, nearly two days after the system initially went down with little explanation. In a post on social platform X shortly before 5 p.m. EDT Wednesday, the FEC announced the filing system was “back online and available to filers,” adding work is…

The Federal Election Commission’s (FEC) electronic filing system was restored and online Wednesday afternoon, nearly two days after the system initially went down with little explanation. In a post on social platform X shortly before 5 p.m. EDT Wednesday, the FEC announced the filing system was “back online and available to filers,” adding work is…

{beacon} Technology Technology   The Big Story  Meta, Snap head back to LA court in social media addiction trial Social media giants Meta and Snap, the company behind Snapchat, are heading back to court this week for the latest trial in a lawsuit alleging their platforms were intentionally designed to be addictive for young users. …

{beacon} Technology Technology   The Big Story  Meta, Snap head back to LA court in social media addiction trial Social media giants Meta and Snap, the company behind Snapchat, are heading back to court this week for the latest trial in a lawsuit alleging their platforms were intentionally designed to be addictive for young users. …

Apple has finally given in after two decades of fighting against the idea. It is one of its priciest laptops ever.

Apple has finally given in after two decades of fighting against the idea. It is one of its priciest laptops ever.

Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, said Wednesday that the use of paper ballots prevents hacking from tech mogul Elon Musk, who is supporting Republicans this election cycle. “Forty-nine of the 50 states have paper records of the ballots, right?” Himes said on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe.” “Except for…

Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, said Wednesday that the use of paper ballots prevents hacking from tech mogul Elon Musk, who is supporting Republicans this election cycle. “Forty-nine of the 50 states have paper records of the ballots, right?” Himes said on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe.” “Except for…

Russia plans to build own version of US billionaire’s satellite communications to help attack Ukraine

Vladimir Putin praised Elon Musk’s genius and said he was in touch with Starlink’s controlling shareholder as Russia develops its own satellite communications for its military to use against Ukraine.

The Russian president, speaking at a summit with African leaders in Moscow, was comparing the Earth-orbiting network built by Musk’s SpaceX with Russia’s gradual efforts to build its own Rassvet constellation.

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© Photograph: Maxim Shipenkov/Reuters

© Photograph: Maxim Shipenkov/Reuters

© Photograph: Maxim Shipenkov/Reuters

Russia plans to build own version of US billionaire’s satellite communications to help attack Ukraine

Vladimir Putin praised Elon Musk’s genius and said he was in touch with Starlink’s controlling shareholder as Russia develops its own satellite communications for its military to use against Ukraine.

The Russian president, speaking at a summit with African leaders in Moscow, was comparing the Earth-orbiting network built by Musk’s SpaceX with Russia’s gradual efforts to build its own Rassvet constellation.

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© Photograph: Maxim Shipenkov/Reuters

© Photograph: Maxim Shipenkov/Reuters

© Photograph: Maxim Shipenkov/Reuters

One major question remains: Will Instagram compensate creators for their videos the way YouTube does?

One major question remains: Will Instagram compensate creators for their videos the way YouTube does?

Conservative influencer James O’Keefe was charged Wednesday in Minnesota after he and fellow right-leaning commentator Cam Higby misrepresented themselves using registered voters’ names at polling places during the state’s primary election in August. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced during a press conference the two men are facing felony unlawful voting and identity fraud charges.…

Conservative influencer James O’Keefe was charged Wednesday in Minnesota after he and fellow right-leaning commentator Cam Higby misrepresented themselves using registered voters’ names at polling places during the state’s primary election in August. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced during a press conference the two men are facing felony unlawful voting and identity fraud charges.…

The social media giants Meta and Snap are heading back to court this week for the latest trial in a lawsuit that alleges their platforms were intentionally designed to be addictive for young users.  Jury selection begins in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday for a case brought by two teenage plaintiffs referred to as…

The social media giants Meta and Snap are heading back to court this week for the latest trial in a lawsuit that alleges their platforms were intentionally designed to be addictive for young users.  Jury selection begins in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday for a case brought by two teenage plaintiffs referred to as…