The head of New York's mass transportation system, MTA Chairman Pat Foye, sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook asking for the tech company's help to boost mask compliance on public transportation.
"It's all about public health and we're looking forward to working with Apple on the issue," said Foye.
Right now the MTA says mask compliance on subways and buses is at around 90 percent on the average weekday, but Foye wants that number to be even higher and thinks a partnership with Apple could be the key. The companies have an existing relationship thanks to the MTA's new contactless OMNY payment system. Foye said his agency gave Apple "a heads up" before sending the letter and that he does expect a response.
Foye sees an opportunity for a partnership between the two organizations but doesn't expect the MTA to be in the developer's chair.
"We're not going to tell Apple what the technology is — we're a transportation company," Foye said on Cheddar. "They're one of the world's greatest tech companies."
One idea to encourage riders to keep their masks on while riding buses and trains is for Apple to prompt users to enter their passwords on their iPhones when Face ID isn't possible. Another idea would be for Apple to create a faster way for customers to use a passcode when wearing a mask. The MTA could support Apple in a partnership by alerting riders of the new update, said Foye.
"This is all about mask compliance and not requiring customers or not incentivizing customers to take their mask off to use facial ID."
Nvidia on Wednesday became the first public company to reach a market capitalization of $5 trillion. The ravenous appetite for the Silicon Valley company’s chips is the main reason that the company’s stock price has increased so rapidly since early 2023.
Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at S&P Global, breaks down September’s CPI print and inflation trends, explaining what it means for markets.
A big-screen adaptation of the anime “Chainsaw Man” has topped the North American box office, beating a Springsteen biopic and “Black Phone 2.” The movie earned $17.25 million in the U.S. and Canada this weekend. “Black Phone 2” fell to second place with $13 million. Two new releases, the rom-com “Regretting You” and “Springsteen — Deliver Me From Nowhere,” earned $12.85 million and $9.1 million, respectively. “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” is based on the manga series about a demon hunter. It's another win for Sony-owned Crunchyroll, which also released a “Demon Slayer” film last month that debuted to a record $70 million.
The Federal Aviation Administration says flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport were halted briefly due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic facility. The FAA issued a temporary ground stop at one of the world’s busiest airports on Sunday morning soon after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted that travelers would see more flights delayed as the nation’s air traffic controllers work without pay during the federal government shutdown. The hold on planes taking off for LAX lasted an hour and 45 minutes and didn't appear to cause continued problems. The FAA said staffing shortages also delayed planes headed to Washington, Chicago and Newark, New Jersey on Sunday.
Boeing workers at three Midwest plants where military aircraft and weapons are developed have voted to reject the company’s latest contract offer and to continue a strike that started almost three months ago. The strike by about 3,200 machinists at the plants in the Missouri cities of St. Louis and St. Charles, and in Mascoutah, Illinois, is smaller in scale than a walkout last year by 33,000 Boeing workers who assemble commercial jetliners. The president of the International Association of Machinists says Sunday's outcome shows Boeing hasn't adequately addressed wages and retirement benefits. Boeing says Sunday's vote was close with 51% of union members opposing the revised offer.
The stunning indictment that led to the arrest of more than 30 people — including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and other NBA figures — has drawn new scrutiny of the booming business of sports betting in the U.S. The multibillion-dollar industry has made it easy for sports fans — and even some players — to wager on everything from the outcome of games to that of a single play with just a few taps of a cellphone. But regulating the rapidly-growing industry has proven to be a challenge. Professional sports leagues’ own role in promoting gambling has also raised eyebrows.
