Facebook said it had deleted hundreds of offensive posts since a law banning online hate speech came into force in Germany at the start of the year that foresees fines of up to 50 million euros ($58 million) for failure to comply. The social network received 1,704 complaints under the …
your ad hereFactbox: Impact of US Trade Tariffs on European Companies
Some European companies are rethinking their strategies to cushion the impact of trade tensions between the world’s two biggest economies, the United States and China. The focus will switch back to China after a truce on tariffs emerged from U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker …
your ad hereThe Latest: Facebook Market Value Plunges $119 Billion
The Latest on the aftermath of Facebook’s release of user growth and expectations for the company ahead (all times local): 4:50 p.m. The 19 percent loss in Facebook’s stock chopped $119 billion off its market value. It was the company’s worst trading day since going public in 2012, and among …
your ad hereSkywatchers Looking Forward to Complete Lunar Eclipse
Skywatchers around much of the world are looking forward to a complete lunar eclipse that will be the longest this century. The so-called “blood moon” Friday, when it turns a deep red, will be visible at different times in Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe and South America when the sun, Earth …
your ad hereDemand for Diversity in US vs. What Interests Chinese Fans
Whether it’s in movies, comic books or video games, fans say there is diversity in the superhero universe. At the international Comic-Con convention that ended July 22, Emmeline Ye, a Chinese-American from San Diego, is dressed up in a Wonder Woman costume. She said her next costume will be of …
your ad hereTom Cruise Does the Impossible in ‘Mission: Impossible Fallout’
Tom Cruise’s latest action installment of Mission: Impossible Fallout follows operative Ethan Hunt, the daredevil spy, on an extremely perilous quest to save the world. Cruise and the rest of the Mission: Impossible cast, along with the powerful visuals and the megastar’s mind-bending stunts, keep audiences on the edge of …
your ad hereTom Cruise Does the Impossible in Mission: Impossible Fallout
Tom Cruise’s latest action installment of “Mission: Impossible FALLOUT” follows operative Ethan Hunt, the daredevil spy on a mission impossible to save the world. VOA’s Penelope Poulou spoke with Cruise, inhabiting his character Ethan Hunt, along with the rest of the cast, about the powerful visuals and megastar’s mind-bending stunts …
your ad hereHow Superheroes Are Changing The Way Hollywood Handles Diversity
Superheroes in comic books and American popular culture have become increasingly diverse, but fans and creators say more work needs to be done, especially on the big screen to fully represent American society. But Hollywood is already looking beyond the U.S. as it tries to capitalize on the popularity of …
your ad hereLebanon Considering Legalization of Cannabis
A Lebanese lawmaker has introduced a draft bill in parliament that would legalize the use of cannabis for medical purposes. Speaking to the Associated Press, Antoine Habchi said he is proposing using the plant as alternative medicine to fight addiction and at the same time as a way to help …
your ad hereIn Rural Malawi, Medical Tips Just a Phone Call Away
In Malawi, pregnant women and new mothers who live in remote villages are getting medical help thanks to a toll-free hotline and text messaging service known as “Chipatala cha pa Foni” or Heath Center by Phone. Run by the nonprofit VillageReach, the program connects expecting mothers in rural areas with …
your ad hereCourt: Starbucks, Others Must Pay Workers for Off-Clock Work
Starbucks and other employers in California must pay workers for minutes they routinely spend off the clock on tasks such as locking up or setting the store alarm, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The unanimous ruling was a big victory for hourly workers in California and could prompt additional …
your ad hereJapanese City Fighting Off Would-Be Ninjas
The Japanese city of Iga is fighting off would-be ninjas after a news report suggesting the city wanted to hire the traditional assassins went viral. The confusion began last week, when a reporter for National Public Radio in the United States said Japan was suffering from a shortage of workers …
your ad hereBoxing Gym Challenges Parkinson’s Symptoms
Rock Steady Boxing NOVA gym opened in McLean, Virginia, outside Washington, D.C., last December. That was the good news for 75-year-old Neil Eisner, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s six years ago and finds boxing an effective way to fight back against the disease. Rock Steady Boxing (RSB) was designed especially for …
your ad hereFacebook Shares Sink; Further Growth Drops Expected
Social media giant Facebook, which has weathered storms about privacy and data protection, is now looking at cooler growth following a years-long breakneck pace. Shares in Facebook plummeted 19 percent to close at $176.26 Thursday, wiping out $100 billion. It was believed to be the worst ever single-day evaporation of market value …
your ad hereTaking a Jab at Parkinson’s
Rock Steady Boxing (RSB) is a fitness program designed for people with Parkinson’s, a neurodegenerative disorder that leads to tremors and balance problems. The Rock Steady Boxing nonprofit was founded in 2006. Since then, more than 500 boxing programs have been introduced in the U.S. and around the world. Faiza …
your ad hereGirl Scouts Stress ‘Girl Power’ in New Recruitment Efforts
As American women seek a larger role in politics, fairer wages and an end to sexual harassment, the Girl Scouts see an opportune time to show some swagger in promoting their core mission: girl empowerment. They recruited Queen Latifah to narrate a video featuring famous former Girl Scouts — Venus …
your ad hereFormer Trump Aide Omarosa Has ‘Explosive’ Book Coming
Former President Donald Trump aide and “Apprentice” contestant Omarosa Manigault Newman has a memoir coming that her publisher calls “explosive” and “jaw-dropping.” The book is called “Unhinged.” Gallery Books announced Thursday that it will be released on Aug. 14. Manigault Newman was a Trump ally who joined his administration in …
your ad hereGerman FA Boss Admits Mistakes in Ozil Affair but Rejects Racism Accusations
German Football Association (DFB) head Reinhard Grindel on Thursday said he should have made clearer that racism is unacceptable after midfielder Mesut Ozil quit the national team citing “racism and disrespect” over his Turkish roots. Ozil, who plays for English Premier League club Arsenal, was widely criticized for having his …
your ad hereGoogle Launches Free Wi-Fi Hotspot Network in Nigeria
Google launched a network of free Wi-Fi hotspots in Nigeria on Thursday, part of its effort to increase its presence in Africa’s most populous nation. The U.S. technology firm, owned by Alphabet Inc, has partnered with Nigerian fiber cable network provider 21st Century to provide its public Wi-Fi service, Google …
your ad hereFacebook Shares Dive on Weak Outlook, Weighing on Nasdaq
Facebook shares dived nearly 20 percent early Thursday after it signaled it expects weaker growth, pushing the Nasdaq decisively lower. About 25 minutes into trading, the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index was at 7,840.20, down 1.2 percent, falling from Wednesday’s record close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.6 percent to …
your ad hereEinstein Was Right: Astronomers Confirm Key Theory
A consortium of astronomers said Thursday they had for the first time confirmed a prediction of Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity by observing the gravitational effects of a supermassive black hole on a star zipping by it. The German-born theoretical physicist had posited that large gravitational forces could stretch …
your ad hereTrump Accuses Twitter of Targeting Republicans, Offers No Evidence
U.S. President Donald Trump accused Twitter Inc on Thursday of restricting the visibility of prominent Republicans on its platform, without providing evidence, and he promised to investigate. “Twitter ‘SHADOW BANNING’ prominent Republicans. Not good. We will look into this discriminatory and illegal practice at once!” the Republican president wrote in …
your ad hereStudy Suggests Your Dog Recognizes, Reacts to Your Feelings
Pet owners are always happy to share a memory about the time their dog responded to their distress by coming to them or trying to get their attention. But those seemed to just be stories, until new research in the journal Learning & Behavior found that dogs really do feel empathy …
your ad hereThe Healing Properties of Pineapples
Brazilian researchers are developing an innovative process using pineapples to speed the healing process for skin wounds. VOA’s Julie Taboh has more. …
your ad hereKentucky Drug Overdose Deaths up 11.5 Percent in 2017
Since 2011, a year when Kentucky was flooded with 371 million doses of opioid painkillers, state officials have cracked down on pain clinics, sued pharmaceutical companies and limited how many pills doctors can prescribe. The result is nearly 100 million fewer opioid prescriptions in 2017 — and an 11.5 percent …
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