Twitter announced its decision Thursday to label the accounts of state-controlled media outlets. The new label will apply exclusively to “outlets where the state exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control over production and distribution,” according to a Twitter blog post. So far, … continue reading -> “Twitter Announces Labels for State-Controlled Media”
It depends on how widespread COVID-19 infections are in the community and the safety measures the school takes. In areas where the virus is poorly controlled, public health experts say in-person education would be too risky. In areas where the virus appears to be under control, experts say schools still need to make adjustments to … continue reading -> “Is It Safe to Reopen Schools During Pandemic?”
Facebook has deleted a post by President Donald Trump for violating its policy against spreading misinformation about the coronavirus. The post in question featured a link to a Fox News video in which Trump says children are “virtually immune” to the virus. Facebook said Wednesday that the “video includes false claims that a group of … continue reading -> “Facebook, Citing Virus Misinformation, Deletes Trump Post”
Canadian researchers have discovered the first known case of cancer in a dinosaur, according to a study published in the August issue of the scientific journal The Lancet Oncology.A leg bone from a Centrosaurus was discovered by paleontologists in 1989 in the Canadian province of Alberta.Experts initially believed that the deformed bone had suffered a … continue reading -> “A First Diagnosis of Cancer in a Dinosaur”
Conservationists in Australia are hoping infrared drones might help save the remaining koala population in New South Wales, one of the regions most affected by recent Australian bushfires. The infrared camera makes it easier to spot the iconic marsupials — not bears — which scientists say could be extinct by 2050. VOA’s Mariama Diallo has … continue reading -> “Drones with Infrared Cameras Help Track Elusive Koalas”
The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday asked a federal judge to block California’s net neutrality law, arguing that federal law preempts the state statute.In October, a U.S. appeals court largely upheld the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) repeal of landmark U.S. net neutrality rules. In 2018, California agreed not to enforce its own state net neutrality … continue reading -> “US Justice Department Asks Court to Block California Net Neutrality Law”
Fish and other marine life may have to flee thousands of kilometers to escape damaging heatwaves, according to research published Wednesday, highlighting the scale of disruption caused by these increasing surges in ocean temperatures. Hot spells can cause dramatic changes to ocean ecosystems, devastating coral habitats, killing large numbers of seabirds and forcing … continue reading -> “Study: Heatwaves May Force Fish to Flee Huge Distances”
British scientists say there are more emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica than previously thought based on evidence of bird droppings spotted from space. A study published Wednesday by scientists at the British Antarctic Survey counted 61 emperor penguin colonies dotted around the southernmost continent, 11 more than the number previously confirmed. … continue reading -> “Penguin Poop Spotted from Space Reveals Hidden Colonies”
Facebook launched a short-film product similar to the popular TikTok app in the United States and dozens of other countries Wednesday.The new product, called Reels, is embedded in the Instagram app and permits users to create 15-second videos set to music from a predetermined music library.The feature has been in production for at least two … continue reading -> “Instagram Launches Reels to Rival TikTok”
India has banned some mobile apps of Chinese companies such as Xiaomi Corp and Baidu Inc, three sources told Reuters on Wednesday, in New Delhi’s latest move to hit Chinese companies following a border clash between the neighbors. India in June outlawed 59 Chinese apps for threatening the country’s “sovereignty and integrity,” including ByteDance’s … continue reading -> “India Widens China App Ban to Cover More From Xiaomi, Baidu”
European Union antitrust regulators announced Tuesday they’ll launch an investigation into Google’s plan to buy Fitbit.Google, a U.S. tech giant owned by Alphabet, is hoping to break into the wearable technology market, and hopes to buy Fitbit for $2.1 billion. Fitbit makes wearable watch-like fitness devices. A variety of groups advocating for privacy and consumer … continue reading -> “EU to Investigate Google’s Proposed Fitbit Deal”
Entrepreneur Richard Branson’s aerospace company, Virgin Galactic, announced Monday that it is working with British engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce to develop an aircraft that can travel three times the speed of sound.According to a release, Virgin Galactic says its new aircraft will be designed to carry between 9 and 19 people and will be able to … continue reading -> “Virgin Galactic Plans to Build Next Generation Supersonic Commercial Aircraft”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says with schools being forced to shut their doors because of the coronavirus pandemic, the world is facing a “generational catastrophe.” Guterres made the comments Tuesday during a video briefing to launch a new U.N. campaign dubbed In this file photo taken on Feb. 8, 2020, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres … continue reading -> “‘Generational Catastrophe’ Possible as Pandemic Creates Education Crisis”
The World Health Organization says mothers’ milk is best for babies and that even goes for mothers who are infected with the novel coronavirus. As the world celebrates World Breastfeeding Week (August 1 to 7), health agencies are encouraging women to breastfeed their babies for a healthier planet. Breastfeeding advocates are concerned that support services for … continue reading -> “Should Mothers with COVID Breastfeed Their Babies?”
Microsoft confirmed that it has held talks with Chinese technology company ByteDance to acquire its popular social app TikTok in the United States. Microsoft said it will work with the U.S. government on a deal that they hope to wrap by September 15. Matt Dibble has the story. …
The Chinese company that owns popular video-sharing app TikTok is exploring all possibilities to ensure that its subsidiary can continue operating in the United States, according to a memo sent out Monday by Chief Executive Officer Zhang Yiming.Beijing-based ByteDance has come under pressure from Washington to sell off its U.S. TikTok operations over concerns that … continue reading -> “Chinese Executive: Forced Sale of TikTok May Be Inevitable Amid US Scrutiny”
The U.N. Secretary-General warned Tuesday that the coronavirus pandemic has caused the largest disruption to education in history and risks creating a “generational catastrophe” if governments do not make education a priority. “Now we face a generational catastrophe that could waste untold human potential, undermine decades of progress and exacerbate entrenched inequalities,” António Guterres said in a video message.In … continue reading -> “UN Chief: COVID-19 Risks Lasting Losses on Global Education”
The Chinese-owned social media app TikTok “is going to be out of business in the United States” on Sept. 15, unless Microsoft or another U.S. company concludes a purchase deal that satisfies the U.S. government, President Donald Trump said on Monday. The president also is insisting the U.S. Treasury should get a cut of the sale price for allowing … continue reading -> “Trump Gives Microsoft 45 Days to Seal TikTok Deal”
Egypt is reopening churches for the first time in nearly four months, after a major decline in the number of recorded coronavirus cases in recent days. The number of new cases is also down in Sudan, while Libya, Tunisia and Algeria have been witnessing an increase.Worshippers gathered for the first church service in nearly four … continue reading -> “Coronavirus Numbers Drop in Egypt and Sudan; Libya, Tunisia and Algeria See Increases”
Norway says it will stop all cruise ships with more than 100 people on board from disembarking at Norwegian ports after a coronavirus outbreak on a vessel left 41 people infected. Health Minister Bent Hoie announced the ban Monday, saying the new rules will apply for the next 14 days. He said ships that have … continue reading -> “Norway Bans Large Cruise Ships After Recent Coronavirus Outbreak”
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that he would ban the popular video app TikTok by Sept. 15 unless U.S company Microsoft acquires it before then. The Republican president said last week that he would ban the app, which is owned by Chinese company Bytedance, because of security concerns.Trump Sets Clock Ticking for TikTokUS president has threatened … continue reading -> “Trump Says Not Opposed to Microsoft Acquiring TikTok”
Egypt’s minister of international cooperation has extended an invitation to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk after a Musk post on Twitter that the pyramids were built by extraterrestrial beings. Musk tweeted Saturday: “Aliens built the pyramids obv.” Aliens built the pyramids obv— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) A camel in front of the Pyramids at Giza, Egypt, July 13, 2013. (A. Arabasadi/VOA)Egypt Today … continue reading -> “Egypt Fact Checks Elon Musk On Who Really Built Pyramids”
Microsoft Corp said Sunday it would continue talks to acquire popular short-video app TikTok from Chinese internet giant ByteDance. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to give ByteDance 45 days to negotiate the sale, two people familiar with the matter said Sunday. Microsoft, which is aiming to conclude talks by Sept. 15, released … continue reading -> “Microsoft, TikTok to Continue Talks; Trump Gives App’s Chinese Owner 45 Days to Reach Deal to Sell”
Two U.S. astronauts returned to Earth on Sunday, splashing safely into the Gulf of Mexico after a two-month mission to the International Space Station aboard the commercially developed SpaceX spacecraft Crew Dragon.Astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley landed at midafternoon off the western coast of Florida, avoiding the dangers of Tropical Storm Isaias moving along … continue reading -> “2 US Astronauts Return From International Space Station”
Who gets to be first in line for a COVID-19 vaccine? U.S. health authorities hope by late next month to have some draft guidance on how to ration initial doses, but it’s a vexing decision.”Not everybody’s going to like the answer,” Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, recently told one of … continue reading -> “Debate Begins for Who’s First in Line for COVID-19 Vaccine”