News of Note—Azure helps push Microsoft shares to record high; U.K. board takes dim view of Huawei

Here are the other stories we're following today:

> Thanks in part to its Azure cloud computing services, Microsoft's bullish earnings report pushed its shares to a record high Friday morning. Reuters article

> A government-run oversight board has expressed concern over the use of Huawei's gear across the U.K.'s telecommunications infrastructure. The Register article

> While blockchain has reached mainstream buzzword status, attendance numbers at a recent conference provided a reality check. Mashable article

> Veon, formerly known as VimpleCom, is abandoning its digital transformation efforts and cutting some jobs as it goes back to a more traditional telecoms model. Reuters article