theverge--2020-03-10--Arlo and Blink cameras are boosting security to beat hackers

Owners of both Arlo and Blink camera systems have been notified recently of required changes to their accounts meant to enhance security .
Arlo users will be required to turn on two-factor authentication by the end of the year , while Amazon ’ s Blink is still taking baby steps towards enabling 2FA .
The changes follow the much-publicized hacking of Amazon ’ s Ring security cameras in December that allowed strangers to peer into homes and harass occupants .
Arlo users had the option to enable two-step verification since last year .
But a message sent to owners now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the end of 2020 , according to Android Police .
Arlo ’ s FAQ says that logins can be verified via push notification to a previously trusted device , or through SMS messages and emails .
Unfortunately , Arlo won ’ t initially be supporting the more secure choices of authenticator apps or physical tokens .
Owners of low-cost , battery-powered Blink cameras received emails recently telling them that 2FA was on the way , but owners first have to verify their email addresses starting on March 30th .
Some time after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2FA .
Given the issues Amazon had with Ring , you ’ d think this other Amazon-owned camera company would be a bit more aggressive with its timeline .

Owners of both Arlo and Blink camera systems have been notified recently of required changes to their accounts meant to enhance security. Arlo users will be required to turn on two-factor authentication by the end of the year, while Amazon’s Blink is still taking baby steps towards enabling 2FA. The changes follow the much-publicized hacking of Amazon’s Ring security cameras in December that allowed strangers to peer into homes and harass occupants.
Arlo users had the option to enable two-step verification since last year. But a message sent to owners now says that two-step verification will be required by the end of 2020, according to Android Police. Arlo’s FAQ says that logins can be verified via push notification to a previously trusted device, or through SMS messages and emails. Unfortunately, Arlo won’t initially be supporting the more secure choices of authenticator apps or physical tokens.
Amazon’s Blink makes cameras for inside and outside the home. Image: Blink


theverge--2020-03-10--Tesla just made its one millionth car

Tesla just made its one millionth car

Tesla has produced one million electric cars , the company ’ s CEO Elon Musk announced on Twitter .
Musk made the announcement by sharing a picture of the car , a red Model Y , and congratulated the Tesla team on hitting the milestone .
It ’ s a significant moment for an automaker that was only founded in 2003 .
Tesla released its first consumer car , the Roadster , back in 2008 , meaning it ’ s taken a little over twelve years to hit this million-car milestone .
However , it could end up hitting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on current targets .
In its January earnings report , the company said it hopes to ship over 500,000 cars worldwide in 2020 .
Established automakers like Toyota or the Volkswagen Group each produce over ten million vehicles a year .
Nevertheless , Tesla ’ s milestone is a tremendous accomplishment for an automotive startup that only produces electric vehicles .
The electric car company hit the milestone as it begins producing more of its cars outside of the US .
At the end of last year it delivered its first cars manufactured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company is also preparing the site for its fourth Gigafactory near Berlin in Germany , after a court ruled that its tree felling work could continue following a challenge from environmental groups .
This month , Tesla is expected to start shipping its latest car , the Model Y , months ahead of its original “ fall 2020 ” estimate .
Meanwhile , the company ’ s Cybertruck is due to go into production in late 2021 .

Tesla has produced one million electric cars, the company’s CEO Elon Musk announced on Twitter. Musk made the announcement by sharing a picture of the car, a red Model Y, and congratulated the Tesla team on hitting the milestone. It’s a significant moment for an automaker that was only founded in 2003.
Tesla released its first consumer car, the Roadster, back in 2008, meaning it’s taken a little over twelve years to hit this million-car milestone. However, it could end up hitting the two million mark a lot sooner based on current targets. In its January earnings report, the company said it hopes to ship over 500,000 cars worldwide in 2020. Established automakers like Toyota or the Volkswagen Group each produce over ten million vehicles a year. Nevertheless, Tesla’s milestone is a tremendous accomplishment for an automotive startup that only produces electric vehicles.
The electric car company hit the milestone as it begins producing more of its cars outside of the US. At the end of last year it delivered its first cars manufactured at its Shanghai Gigafactory. Meanwhile, the company is also preparing the site for its fourth Gigafactory near Berlin in Germany, after a court ruled that its tree felling work could continue following a challenge from environmental groups.


theverge--2020-03-10--Google, Adidas, and EA team up on a new smart insole that tracks soccer kicks for FIFA Mobile reward

Google, Adidas, and EA team up on a new smart insole that tracks soccer kicks for FIFA Mobile rewards

Google , Adidas , and EA have teamed up on a smart shoe insole that connects to your phone and can turn your kicks and movement on the soccer field into rewards in FIFA Mobile .
The smart insole is powered by Google ’ s Jacquard wearable technology , which was previously only available on two Levi ’ s jackets and on a Yves Saint Laurent backpack .
The product is called the Adidas GMR , and it ’ s on sale now .
For $ 40 , you ’ ll get two insoles , a Jacquard tag to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and a dummy tag that goes in the shoe of your other foot .
On the jackets and backpack , the Jacquard tag connects to your phone so you can use touch-sensitive fabric as a remote for calls , music , and more .
The tag that comes with the GMR is the same second-generation tag that comes with newer Levi ’ s jackets and the backpack , but it functions quite differently — it slips into a pocket on the insole and tracks your physical movements with on-device machine learning algorithms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while playing soccer can then be translated into in-game rewards in FIFA Mobile .
The idea seems similar to what Nike tried to pull off with its in-shoe Nike + iPod sensor , which connected to your iPod to track your runs , or its Nike+ Basketball program , which helped you up your basketball game by connecting certain pairs of shoes with the Nike+ iOS app .
The GMR tag connects to the new Adidas GMR app , and once you set that up , you ’ ll be able to link @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Once you do , you ’ ll unlock an Adidas GMR-exclusive event in FIFA Mobile that will offer new real-world challenges every week , such as kicking a ball a certain amount of times or running a certain amount of miles .
There will also be leaderboards where you can see rankings for things like who has kicked a ball the fastest .
However , the process to actually get your movement data into FIFA Mobile sounds a little clunky .
You ’ ll have to first open up the GMR app to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then open FIFA Mobile to have your movement data brought into the game .
You ’ ll also have to make sure the tag is charged if you want it to track your movements .
The battery is designed to last two or three full games of soccer , or about a week if you ’ re just using the tag for more moderate usage .
But every time you want to charge the tag , you ’ re going to have to take out the insole , take the tag out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over Micro USB , and then put the tag back in the insole and the insole back in your shoe .
But those potential frustrations could be worth putting up with if you ’ re an avid soccer and FIFA Mobile player — if you ’ re already playing a lot of soccer , the GMR seems like it could let you turn your on-the-field efforts into an advantage on the virtual field as well .

Google, Adidas, and EA have teamed up on a smart shoe insole that connects to your phone and can turn your kicks and movement on the soccer field into rewards in FIFA Mobile. The smart insole is powered by Google’s Jacquard wearable technology, which was previously only available on two Levi’s jackets and on a Yves Saint Laurent backpack.
The product is called the Adidas GMR, and it’s on sale now. For $40, you’ll get two insoles, a Jacquard tag to put in the shoe of your dominant foot, and a dummy tag that goes in the shoe of your other foot.
Photo by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge
On the jackets and backpack, the Jacquard tag connects to your phone so you can use touch-sensitive fabric as a remote for calls, music, and more. The tag that comes with the GMR is the same second-generation tag that comes with newer Levi’s jackets and the backpack, but it functions quite differently — it slips into a pocket on the insole and tracks your physical movements with on-device machine learning algorithms. The kicks and running you do while playing soccer can then be translated into in-game rewards in FIFA Mobile.
Photo by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge
The idea seems similar to what Nike tried to pull off with its in-shoe Nike + iPod sensor, which connected to your iPod to track your runs, or its Nike+ Basketball program, which helped you up your basketball game by connecting certain pairs of shoes with the Nike+ iOS app.
The GMR tag connects to the new Adidas GMR app, and once you set that up, you’ll be able to link it with your FIFA Mobile profile. Once you do, you’ll unlock an Adidas GMR-exclusive event in FIFA Mobile that will offer new real-world challenges every week, such as kicking a ball a certain amount of times or running a certain amount of miles. There will also be leaderboards where you can see rankings for things like who has kicked a ball the fastest.
Image: Adidas
However, the process to actually get your movement data into FIFA Mobile sounds a little clunky. You’ll have to first open up the GMR app to pull the data from the Jacquard tag and then open FIFA Mobile to have your movement data brought into the game.
You’ll also have to make sure the tag is charged if you want it to track your movements. The battery is designed to last two or three full games of soccer, or about a week if you’re just using the tag for more moderate usage. But every time you want to charge the tag, you’re going to have to take out the insole, take the tag out of the insole, charge the tag over Micro USB, and then put the tag back in the insole and the insole back in your shoe.
But those potential frustrations could be worth putting up with if you’re an avid soccer and FIFA Mobile player — if you’re already playing a lot of soccer, the GMR seems like it could let you turn your on-the-field efforts into an advantage on the virtual field as well.


theverge--2020-03-10--Latest iOS 14 leaks include new fitness app, expanded Pencil support, and more

Yesterday 9to5Mac posted details of several new features it found in supposed unreleased iOS 14 code , and now MacRumors is adding to the deluge of leaks in a series of posts .
It ’ s not clear that every one of these features pertains to iOS 14 specifically , but they do all sound like the sort of thing that could accompany a major software upgrade from Apple .
First up is a new fitness app codenamed “ Seymour ” and possibly to be called Fit or Fitness in its shipping form .
It ’ s said to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watchOS 7 , and tvOS 14 , rather than a replacement for the current Activity app .
The new app reportedly lets you download fitness videos with different workouts and activities that you can perform as the Apple Watch tracks your session , potentially expanding the types of exercise that the Watch is able to be used for .
iOS 14 is also set to include a new API called PencilKit that allows the Apple Pencil to be used in more situations .
It allows for handwriting recognition and conversion in regular text @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently a standard feature ; MacRumors says it ’ ll let you use the pencil to enter text in apps like Messages , Mail , Calendar , and others .
Third-party developers will apparently get some form of access to PencilKit , too .
iMessage may also get some new features in iOS 14 , though none of them sound like much more than what is already standard UI in many other chat apps .
Apple is reportedly testing features like @ -tagging contacts in group chats , unsending messages , a /me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mark messages as unread .
MacRumors cautions that these tweaks are only in testing and may not see release .
Finally , MacRumors has some details on Apple ’ s long-rumored object-tracking tags .
They ’ re set to be called AirTags , a name that has come up before , and are likely to use CR2032 button batteries .
Pulling a tab on the AirTag activates it , according to the report , and then it can be paired with an iPhone or iPad by bringing it close .
MacRumors notes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on an AirTag prototype , and points out that Apple Watch-style inductive charging has also been rumored .
9to5Mac ’ s Apple leaks , meanwhile , include details on new features for watchOS 7 , improved mouse support in iPadOS , blood oxygen monitoring for the Apple Watch , and further signs that Apple plans to release its own over-ear headphones .

Yesterday 9to5Mac posted details of several new features it found in supposed unreleased iOS 14 code, and now MacRumors is adding to the deluge of leaks in a series of posts. It’s not clear that every one of these features pertains to iOS 14 specifically, but they do all sound like the sort of thing that could accompany a major software upgrade from Apple.
First up is a new fitness app codenamed “Seymour” and possibly to be called Fit or Fitness in its shipping form. It’s said to be a standalone app targeting iOS 14, watchOS 7, and tvOS 14, rather than a replacement for the current Activity app. The new app reportedly lets you download fitness videos with different workouts and activities that you can perform as the Apple Watch tracks your session, potentially expanding the types of exercise that the Watch is able to be used for.
Handwriting recognition set for Apple Pencil?
iOS 14 is also set to include a new API called PencilKit that allows the Apple Pencil to be used in more situations. It allows for handwriting recognition and conversion in regular text input fields, which isn’t currently a standard feature; MacRumors says it’ll let you use the pencil to enter text in apps like Messages, Mail, Calendar, and others. Third-party developers will apparently get some form of access to PencilKit, too.
iMessage may also get some new features in iOS 14, though none of them sound like much more than what is already standard UI in many other chat apps. Apple is reportedly testing features like @-tagging contacts in group chats, unsending messages, a /me status update function, and the ability to mark messages as unread. MacRumors cautions that these tweaks are only in testing and may not see release.


theverge--2020-03-09--All of Italy is being placed on lockdown due to coronavirus

Italy will be placed on lockdown amid the ongoing spread of coronavirus , the country ’ s prime minister said .
That ’ s a massive expansion of yesterday ’ s lockdown order for Lombardy , a large region in northern Italy that includes Venice and Milan .
People shouldn ’ t travel unless necessary for work or family emergencies , Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said , according to the BBC .
People are no longer allowed to assemble in public ; movie theaters , gyms , and pubs will be closed ; and sporting events , funerals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Guardian .
And schools and universities will stay closed until April 3rd , says CNBC .
Previously , schools were due to reopen March 15 .
“ I am going to sign a decree that can be summarized as follows : I stay at home , ” Conte said , according to The Guardian .
“ The whole of Italy will become a protected zone.
” Italy trails only China in cases of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
There are more than 9,100 confirmed Italian cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 460 people are dead .
Cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in all 20 regions of the country , according to the BBC .
Italy has a population of more than 60 million .
Wuhan , China , the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak , has been under government-ordered lockdown since January 22nd .
One Wuhan resident described the lockdown as a “ living hell ” in a powerful essay on NPR .
There have been more than 113,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally and nearly 4,000 deaths .

Italy will be placed on lockdown amid the ongoing spread of coronavirus, the country’s prime minister said. That’s a massive expansion of yesterday’s lockdown order for Lombardy, a large region in northern Italy that includes Venice and Milan.
People shouldn’t travel unless necessary for work or family emergencies, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said, according to the BBC. People are no longer allowed to assemble in public; movie theaters, gyms, and pubs will be closed; and sporting events, funerals, and weddings will be canceled, reports The Guardian. And schools and universities will stay closed until April 3rd, says CNBC. Previously, schools were due to reopen March 15.
“I stay at home.”
“I am going to sign a decree that can be summarized as follows: I stay at home,” Conte said, according to The Guardian. “The whole of Italy will become a protected zone.”
Italy trails only China in cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. There are more than 9,100 confirmed Italian cases, up from 5,883 on Saturday. More than 460 people are dead. Cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in all 20 regions of the country, according to the BBC. Italy has a population of more than 60 million.
Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, has been under government-ordered lockdown since January 22nd. One Wuhan resident described the lockdown as a “living hell” in a powerful essay on NPR.


theverge--2020-03-10--Google advises all North America employees to work from home due to coronavirus

Google sent a memo to all of its North America-based employees recommending they work from until at least April 10th due to coronavirus , the company confirmed to Business Insider .
Google had previously told employees in the San Francisco Bay Area , Dublin , and Seattle to work from home in recent days .
Google offices will remain open to workers if they have to be physically present for their job , according to Business Insider .
CEO Sundar Pichai also urged people to “ contribute ” to social distancing in a Tuesday evening tweet : On Sunday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several of its global offices to work remotely “ if your job allows ” from March 9th to 13th .
And by the end of last week , Apple , Facebook , Microsoft , and many other tech companies asked their employees in the Bay Area and Seattle to work from home .
Google will also give its temporary staff and vendors around the world paid sick leave if they have to take time off because of COVID-19 , the novel coronavirus , through a new fund announced today .
“ This fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workforce will be compensated for their normal working hours ” if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or are quarantined , the company said in a blog post .
Last Friday , Google confirmed it would give its hourly workers their regular pay if they had to miss work due to coronavirus .

Google has advised all employees in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to work from home starting March 12th, expanding a recommendation sent Tuesday to North America-based employees to work from home until at least April 10th, Business Insider reported. Google confirmed to the The Verge that it has indeed sent this recommendation to its employees. Google had previously told employees in the San Francisco Bay Area, Dublin, and Seattle to work from home.
Google’s North America offices will remain open to workers if they have to be physically present for their job, according to Business Insider, and that guidance will also apply to its offices in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Google confirmed to The Verge.
Guidance for offices in Asia varies by site and region, though precedes the move to ask North American employees to work from home, Google tells The Verge. The company temporarily shut down its China offices at the end of January.
CEO Sundar Pichai urged people to “contribute” to social distancing in a Tuesday evening tweet:
On Sunday, Apple CEO Tim Cook encouraged employees at several of its global offices to work remotely “if your job allows” from March 9th to 13th. And by the end of last week, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, and many other tech companies asked their employees in the Bay Area and Seattle to work from home.
Google will also give its temporary staff and vendors around the world paid sick leave if they have to take time off because of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, through a new fund announced today. “This fund will mean that members of our extended workforce will be compensated for their normal working hours” if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or are quarantined, the company said in a blog post. Last Friday, Google confirmed it would give its hourly workers their regular pay if they had to miss work due to coronavirus.


theverge--2020-03-10--US insurance companies will cover costs of COVID-19 testing and treatment

US health insurance companies will waive copays for testing and cover the cost of treatment for the novel coronavirus , said Vice President Mike Pence during a press briefing today .
Medicare and Medicaid will also cover costs without copays .
The CEOs of major insurance companies , including Anthem , Cigna , Humana , and Aetna , attended a briefing at the White House today .
The companies also said that there would not be surprise billing for costs associated with COVID-19 , the illness caused by the new virus .
Details of those policies were not available .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we wanted to make sure the American people knew that testing was available to them and that cost would not be a barrier , ” Pence said .
While there are more tests available in the US than there were a few weeks ago , labs still can only conduct a limited number of tests each day .
So although there are more tests available , testing capacity is limited .
Analysis suggests only a few thousand people have been tested for the virus in the country , and it is still difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected to receive the test .
The major insurance companies also agreed to cover the costs of telemedicine .
Medicare is also covering costs associated with remote care , Pence said during the press conference .
There are currently nearly 1,000 cases of COVID-19 identified in the US , and public health officials expect that number will continue to rise .

US health insurance companies will waive copays for testing and cover the cost of treatment for the novel coronavirus, said Vice President Mike Pence during a press briefing today. Medicare and Medicaid will also cover costs without copays.
The CEOs of major insurance companies, including Anthem, Cigna, Humana, and Aetna, attended a briefing at the White House today. The companies also said that there would not be surprise billing for costs associated with COVID-19, the illness caused by the new virus. Details of those policies were not available.
“As the testing is expanding, we wanted to make sure the American people knew that testing was available to them and that cost would not be a barrier,” Pence said.
While there are more tests available in the US than there were a few weeks ago, labs still can only conduct a limited number of tests each day. So although there are more tests available, testing capacity is limited. Analysis suggests only a few thousand people have been tested for the virus in the country, and it is still difficult for people who think they may be infected to receive the test.
The major insurance companies also agreed to cover the costs of telemedicine. Medicare is also covering costs associated with remote care, Pence said during the press conference.


theverge--2020-03-10--Anonymous secret sharing app Whisper left sensitive profile data exposed for years

Whisper , an anonymous secret-sharing mobile app that rose to prominence more than half a decade ago , has been inadvertently exposing sensitive information about its users for years through a public online database , according to a new report from The Washington Post .
The app , while far from as popular as it was in the few years after its release in 2012 , is still used by more than 30 million people a month , some of whom are under the age of 18 and share confessions about teenage sexual encounters and information related to sexual orientation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was actively able to query the database in real time before Whisper took it down , a search for users who listed themselves as 15 years of age returned as many as 1.3 million results .
The database did not include real names , as Whisper was designed to protect users ’ identities and allow them to share secrets anonymously .
But the records left unprotected online included information like age , location , ethnicity , residence , in-app nickname , and membership in any of the app ’ s groups .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monthly users , some of whom are minors The records didn ’ t just include current users , either .
According to security researchers Matthew Porter and Dan Ehrlich , who run the firm Twelve Security , the database comprised nearly 900 million user records from the app ’ s release more than eight years to the present day , The Post reports .
Porter and Ehrlich said they notified federal law enforcement of the situation , as well as Whisper , prior to contacting The Washington Post .
Only when The Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the database made private .
“ This has very much violated the societal and ethical norms we have around the protection of children online , ” Ehrlich told The Post , adding that MediaLab ’ s actions here have been “ grossly negligent.
” MediaLab is disputing the researchers ’ findings , saying the information was meant to be public-facing and provided by the users themselves as a feature of the app .
In particular , location sharing was designed to add authenticity to posts in which someone ’ s location or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was relevant .
However , MediaLab told The Post the database was “ not designed to be queried directly , ” and it removed the information as a result .
The company has also found itself in hot water in the past over its handling of user data , like in 2014 , when it was revealed the company was gathering location data on users without their consent and even if they explicitly opted out .
The Post says the exposed database illustrates that MediaLab kept gathering user location data even after @ @ @ @ @

Whisper, an anonymous secret-sharing mobile app that rose to prominence more than half a decade ago, has been inadvertently exposing sensitive information about its users for years through a public online database, according to a new report from The Washington Post.
The app, while far from as popular as it was in the few years after its release in 2012, is still used by more than 30 million people a month, some of whom are under the age of 18 and share confessions about teenage sexual encounters and information related to sexual orientation. According to The Post, which was actively able to query the database in real time before Whisper took it down, a search for users who listed themselves as 15 years of age returned as many as 1.3 million results.
The database did not include real names, as Whisper was designed to protect users’ identities and allow them to share secrets anonymously. But the records left unprotected online included information like age, location, ethnicity, residence, in-app nickname, and membership in any of the app’s groups.
The app still has more than 30 million monthly users, some of whom are minors
The records didn’t just include current users, either. According to security researchers Matthew Porter and Dan Ehrlich, who run the firm Twelve Security, the database comprised nearly 900 million user records from the app’s release more than eight years to the present day, The Post reports. Porter and Ehrlich said they notified federal law enforcement of the situation, as well as Whisper, prior to contacting The Washington Post. Only when The Post reached out to Whisper parent company MediaLab was the database made private.
“This has very much violated the societal and ethical norms we have around the protection of children online,” Ehrlich told The Post, adding that MediaLab’s actions here have been “grossly negligent.”
MediaLab is disputing the researchers’ findings, saying the information was meant to be public-facing and provided by the users themselves as a feature of the app. In particular, location sharing was designed to add authenticity to posts in which someone’s location or status, like an active military member, was relevant.


theverge--2020-03-10--Coronavirus fears may affect how airlines curb their carbon emissions in 2021

Efforts to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus are changing the way people work and play — and those changes are temporarily curbing greenhouse gas emissions .
Fear of the outbreaks already led to a drop in passenger demand in January , according to the industry group International Air Transport Association ( IATA ) , which called it “ just the tip of the iceberg.
” Airlines continue to drastically cut flights as more people decide not to fly during the outbreak .
Airlines could continue to see between an 11 and 19 percent loss in global passenger revenues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IATA projects .
“ just the tip of the iceberg ” That dip in travel means less pollution from planes .
Aviation currently accounts for about 2 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions , but that number was expected to grow through 2050 .
Now , as both business and leisure travel get curtailed , airlines are facing a near future that is both cleaner and economically leaner .
“ The turn of events as a result of COVID-19 is almost without precedent .
In little over two months , the industry ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have taken a dramatic turn for the worse , ” Alexandre de Juniac , IATA director general and CEO said in a statement last week .
“ This is a crisis.
” This particular crisis is leading to an environmental backlash from some airlines .
IATA and airlines including Air France-KLM have called for relief from environmental taxes in Europe .
There are also concerns about how decreased air travel this year could affect standards for mandatory carbon offsets that go into effect next year .
The fate of those carbon offsets — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to be determined this week as the United Nations ’ aviation body , the International Civil Aviation Organization ( ICAO ) , meets in Montreal .
The body adopted a measure requiring airlines to offset their growth in carbon emissions from international flights between more than 190 countries starting in 2021 .
To meet that requirement , airlines need to spend money on renewable energy or tree-planting projects that help keep heat-trapping gases out of the atmosphere .
Back in 2016 , ICAO decided to cap aviation emissions at the average of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus outbreaks , this year ’ s baseline will be way lower than any of the airlines expected .
In order to keep their future emissions in line , airlines will need to funnel significantly more money into green projects to offset their excess emissions .
thanks to the novel coronavirus outbreaks , this year ’ s baseline will be way lower Some environmentalists worry that facing this increased pressure , airlines may backtrack on their climate pledges or push for more lax standards on the quality of carbon offsets they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect a decision on which carbon offset credits airlines are allowed to buy to come out of the Montreal meeting on Friday .
“ The sector is aware that while it has to deal with the very near-term disaster of coronavirus which is a huge public health issue with very important and very sad consequences for communities , it also has to keep its eye on the ball of the long term climate issue — which is not going away , ” says Annie Petsonk , international counsel for the Environmental Defense Fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Verge in an email that it was too soon to comment on the full impact of COVID-19 on the industry .
ICAO responded in an email that it used two years to set its baseline for capping emissions — 2019 and 2020 — in order to address any “ exceptional events ” ( like the spread of the novel coronavirus ) that might skew data .
Aviation has typically rebounded after big global shocks like the SARS outbreak in 2002 , which is why environmental groups are keeping the pressure on airlines to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it costs them more money in the short run .

Efforts to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus are changing the way people work and play — and those changes are temporarily curbing greenhouse gas emissions. Fear of the outbreaks already led to a drop in passenger demand in January, according to the industry group International Air Transport Association (IATA), which called it “just the tip of the iceberg.” Airlines continue to drastically cut flights as more people decide not to fly during the outbreak. Airlines could continue to see between an 11 and 19 percent loss in global passenger revenues through the end of the year, IATA projects.
“just the tip of the iceberg”
That dip in travel means less pollution from planes. Aviation currently accounts for about 2 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but that number was expected to grow through 2050. Now, as both business and leisure travel get curtailed, airlines are facing a near future that is both cleaner and economically leaner.
“The turn of events as a result of COVID-19 is almost without precedent. In little over two months, the industry’s prospects in much of the world have taken a dramatic turn for the worse,” Alexandre de Juniac, IATA director general and CEO said in a statement last week. “This is a crisis.”
This particular crisis is leading to an environmental backlash from some airlines. IATA and airlines including Air France-KLM have called for relief from environmental taxes in Europe. There are also concerns about how decreased air travel this year could affect standards for mandatory carbon offsets that go into effect next year.
The fate of those carbon offsets — which will affect international flights — is expected to be determined this week as the United Nations’ aviation body, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), meets in Montreal. The body adopted a measure requiring airlines to offset their growth in carbon emissions from international flights between more than 190 countries starting in 2021. To meet that requirement, airlines need to spend money on renewable energy or tree-planting projects that help keep heat-trapping gases out of the atmosphere. Back in 2016, ICAO decided to cap aviation emissions at the average of 2019-2020 levels. But thanks to the novel coronavirus outbreaks, this year’s baseline will be way lower than any of the airlines expected. In order to keep their future emissions in line, airlines will need to funnel significantly more money into green projects to offset their excess emissions.
thanks to the novel coronavirus outbreaks, this year’s baseline will be way lower
Some environmentalists worry that facing this increased pressure, airlines may backtrack on their climate pledges or push for more lax standards on the quality of carbon offsets they’re allowed to purchase. Environmental groups expect a decision on which carbon offset credits airlines are allowed to buy to come out of the Montreal meeting on Friday. “The sector is aware that while it has to deal with the very near-term disaster of coronavirus which is a huge public health issue with very important and very sad consequences for communities, it also has to keep its eye on the ball of the long term climate issue — which is not going away,” says Annie Petsonk, international counsel for the Environmental Defense Fund.
A spokesperson for IATA told The Verge in an email that it was too soon to comment on the full impact of COVID-19 on the industry. ICAO responded in an email that it used two years to set its baseline for capping emissions — 2019 and 2020 — in order to address any “exceptional events” (like the spread of the novel coronavirus) that might skew data.


theverge--2020-03-10--Google’s next streaming player will reportedly run Android TV and come with a remote

After trying to establish the Chromecast and later Chromecast Ultra as affordable , flexible streaming devices , the company is now focused on pushing Android TV into more living rooms .
According to 9to5Google , Google is currently working on a follow-up to the Chromecast Ultra .
But this time , Android TV will be the software that powers it .
And like its main competitors — Roku , Fire TV , and Apple TV — Google will now bundle a remote with the device .
Instead of presenting customers with menus and built-in streaming apps ( like Netflix ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chromecast has always relied on consumers taking the step to cast audio and video content from their mobile phones or computers to Google ’ s streaming dongle .
Apps were quick to add Chromecast support , so this strategy offered plenty of choice — and some appreciated its simplicity .
But there was a learning curve involved for those who were more accustomed to traditional TV interfaces .
The switch to Android TV shouldn ’ t result in any lost functionality ; you ’ re able to cast content to Android TV devices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
More importantly , the richer Android TV experience will allow Google to better integrate other services like Google Assistant voice search to help people find something to watch .
( That ’ s where the remote comes in . )
This sort of thing is table stakes for other streaming gadgets , but has gone ignored by Chromecast .
Aside from powering streaming players like the Nvidia Shield , Android TV is also built into many TVs from companies including Sony .
Verizon , AT & T , and other TV service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that run Android TV .
Google says over 160 TV providers are now using Android TV in some fashion .
Backing up 9to5Google ’ s report is the fact that a Google-made remote just passed through the FCC .
Credit to Protocol ’ s Janko Roettgers for spotting that one .
Late last year , Google announced its latest Android TV developer device , and it too comes with a remote control .
And there have been rumors of the company producing a flagship consumer device .

After trying to establish the Chromecast and later Chromecast Ultra as affordable, flexible streaming devices, the company is now focused on pushing Android TV into more living rooms. According to 9to5Google, Google is currently working on a follow-up to the Chromecast Ultra. But this time, Android TV will be the software that powers it. And like its main competitors — Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV — Google will now bundle a remote with the device.
Instead of presenting customers with menus and built-in streaming apps (like Netflix) as Roku and Amazon do, the Chromecast has always relied on consumers taking the step to cast audio and video content from their mobile phones or computers to Google’s streaming dongle. Apps were quick to add Chromecast support, so this strategy offered plenty of choice — and some appreciated its simplicity. But there was a learning curve involved for those who were more accustomed to traditional TV interfaces.
The switch to Android TV shouldn’t result in any lost functionality; you’re able to cast content to Android TV devices just as you can with a Chromecast. More importantly, the richer Android TV experience will allow Google to better integrate other services like Google Assistant voice search to help people find something to watch. (That’s where the remote comes in.) This sort of thing is table stakes for other streaming gadgets, but has gone ignored by Chromecast.
Aside from powering streaming players like the Nvidia Shield, Android TV is also built into many TVs from companies including Sony. Verizon, AT&T, and other TV service providers have also recently launched set-top boxes that run Android TV. Google says over 160 TV providers are now using Android TV in some fashion.


theverge--2020-03-10--Epic Games Store adds a wishlist so you can track games you want to buy

The Epic Games Store now allows you to add games to a wishlist , so you can save games you @ @ @ @ @ and eventually get notifications when they ’ re on sale .
You can add a @ @ @ @ @ logging into your Epic Games Store account , searching for a game , and clicking @ @ @ @ @ ” button — it ’ s the icon shaped like a heart and adjacent to @ @ @ @ @ price .
Epic Games says that it plans to add a feature that will email @ @ @ @ @ their wishlist goes on sale .
The addition of a wishlist has been a long-requested @ @ @ @ @ Store , which launched a little over a year ago as a direct challenger to @ @ @ @ @ .
The Fortnite developer is using various incentives to bring more people to the store @ @ @ @ @ users in January — such as offering free games , giving developers a generous 88 @ @ @ @ @ and striking one-year exclusivity deals on numerous high-profile games including Metro Exodus .

The Epic Games Store now allows you to add games to a wishlist, so you can save games you are interested in buying later and eventually get notifications when they’re on sale.
You can add a game to your wishlist by logging into your Epic Games Store account, searching for a game, and clicking the “Add to Wishlist” button — it’s the icon shaped like a heart and adjacent to the game’s retail price. Epic Games says that it plans to add a feature that will email users when a game on their wishlist goes on sale.


theverge--2020-03-10--Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden campaigns cancel Ohio rallies amid coronavirus outbreak

The Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden campaigns have canceled events in Cleveland , Ohio Tuesday after three cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the state .
Both campaigns said that they are considering whether to cancel future events as well .
On Tuesday , Ohio Governor Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency after the coronavirus cases were discovered and recommended against spectators attending large indoor sporting events .
The Sanders and Biden campaigns responded to the news by canceling their planned events in Cleveland only one week before the state is staged to hold its Democratic primary .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his regret to the thousands of Ohioans who had planned to attend the event tonight , ” Mike Casca , communications director for the Sanders campaign said in a statement .
“ All future Bernie 2020 events will be evaluated on a case by case basis , ” Casca continued .
Kate Bedingfield , the Biden campaign ’ s communications director said , “ Vice President Biden thanks all of his supporters who wanted to be with us in Cleveland this evening.
” Spokespeople for both campaigns said that they are evaluating whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s campaign said that it would make announcements “ about future events in the coming days ” and the Sanders campaign said that it would be evaluating canceling events “ on a case by case basis.
” At a press conference Tuesday evening , Vice President Mike Pence was posed a question on whether the Trump campaign would move to cancel rallies .
Pence said , “ I ’ m very confident the campaign will take the very best information and make the very best decision going forward ” Large events are being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues to spread across the globe .
SXSW , the Geneva Motor Show , and the Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle , Washington have all either been canceled or postponed .
Throughout past disease outbreaks and pandemics , when events were canceled , areas saw fewer cases of disease .
When communities continue to hold large events , those case numbers skyrocket .
Updated 3/10/20 at 6:12PM ET : Included statement from Vice President Mike Pence regarding Trump rally cancellations .

The Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden campaigns have canceled events in Cleveland, Ohio Tuesday after three cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the state. Both campaigns said that they are considering whether to cancel future events as well.
On Tuesday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency after the coronavirus cases were discovered and recommended against spectators attending large indoor sporting events. The Sanders and Biden campaigns responded to the news by canceling their planned events in Cleveland only one week before the state is staged to hold its Democratic primary.
“Sen. Sanders would like to express his regret to the thousands of Ohioans who had planned to attend the event tonight,” Mike Casca, communications director for the Sanders campaign said in a statement. “All future Bernie 2020 events will be evaluated on a case by case basis,” Casca continued.
Kate Bedingfield, the Biden campaign’s communications director said, “Vice President Biden thanks all of his supporters who wanted to be with us in Cleveland this evening.”
Spokespeople for both campaigns said that they are evaluating whether to hold future events. Biden’s campaign said that it would make announcements “about future events in the coming days” and the Sanders campaign said that it would be evaluating canceling events “on a case by case basis.”
At a press conference Tuesday evening, Vice President Mike Pence was posed a question on whether the Trump campaign would move to cancel rallies. Pence said, “I’m very confident the campaign will take the very best information and make the very best decision going forward”
Large events are being canceled every day as the novel coronavirus continues to spread across the globe. SXSW, the Geneva Motor Show, and the Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, Washington have all either been canceled or postponed. Throughout past disease outbreaks and pandemics, when events were canceled, areas saw fewer cases of disease. When communities continue to hold large events, those case numbers skyrocket.


theverge--2020-03-10--Airbnb introduces more flexible reservation policies due to coronavirus

In light of the novel coronavirus outbreak and its massive impact on the travel industry , Airbnb has tweaked its reservation policies to help hosts and guests cancel bookings without taking a loss .
Until June 1st , Airbnb will waive the standard 3 percent host fee that it collects if a host decides to cancel a booking .
Airbnb also says it will increase visibility of listings for hosts who take advantage of its new “ More Flexible Reservations ” tools .
If you ’ re a guest who needs to cancel a booking ( again , through June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be charged Airbnb ’ s 14 percent guest service fee for doing so .
In addition , Airbnb will gift you a travel coupon worth that amount for future use .
Hosts are still able to determine their own cancellation policies .
It ’ s a good idea to be mindful of that while booking ; if you want a flexible booking , look for listings that say “ Flexible ” in the cancellation policy section .
Another thing to remember : per Airbnb ’ s help page , you might be eligible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ extenuating circumstances ” claim — regardless of the host ’ s cancellation policy — if you ’ re traveling from or to an area that has been “ severely impacted ” by the novel coronavirus outbreak .

In light of the novel coronavirus outbreak and its massive impact on the travel industry, Airbnb has tweaked its reservation policies to help hosts and guests cancel bookings without taking a loss. Until June 1st, Airbnb will waive the standard 3 percent host fee that it collects for hosts who refund more of their would-be guests’ money than the Airbnb cancellation policy requires them to. Airbnb also says it will increase visibility of listings for hosts who take advantage of its new “More Flexible Reservations” tools.
If you’re a guest who needs to cancel a booking (again, through June 1st), you won’t be charged Airbnb’s 14 percent guest service fee for doing so. Guests who aren’t charged the service fee will get a travel coupon worth that amount for future use.
Hosts are still able to determine their own cancellation policies. It’s a good idea to be mindful of that while booking; if you want a flexible booking, look for listings that say “Flexible” in the cancellation policy section.
Another thing to remember: per Airbnb’s help page, you might be eligible for a 100 percent refund via its “extenuating circumstances” claim — regardless of the host’s cancellation policy — if you’re traveling from or to an area that has been “severely impacted” by the novel coronavirus outbreak.


theverge--2020-03-10--New York Auto Show delayed to August as coronavirus spreads

The New York International Auto Show is the latest big event to be postponed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak .
The show was supposed to open to press on April 8th and 9th and to the public from April 10th to the 19th , but organizers announced on Tuesday that they are now aiming to hold the event in August .
“ We are taking this extraordinary step to help protect our attendees , exhibitors and all participants from the coronavirus , ” Mark Schienberg , who is the president of the dealer association that runs the show , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that 173 people across the state are infected with the virus .
That number that is likely to go up as the state gets more access to approved test kits .
Of the 118,101 cases confirmed worldwide , 64,391 have fully recovered , and 4,262 people have died .
It ’ s the third big auto show to be canceled after the coronavirus began spreading from China to other countries .
China postponed the Beijing Auto Show , which was scheduled to begin on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Show , which was supposed to take place last week , was canceled after the Swiss government banned large gatherings of more than 1,000 people .
VW , Ford , and others were expected to reveal new cars A litany of other major events , from Mobile World Congress , to both Facebook ’ s and Google ’ s annual developers conferences , to SXSW have also been canceled in an effort to prevent further spread of the virus .
( Those conferences alone represent an economic hit of more than $ 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as March 9th that his plan was “ to hold the show as long as somebody doesn ’ t say we can ’ t do it.
” The show ’ s organizers announced on March 3rd that the Javits Center , where the event is held , was taking precautionary measures like adding hand sanitizing stations and increasing the cleaning of commonly touched areas .
It ’ s the first time the show has been rescheduled since World War II .
This year ’ s NYIAS was expected to feature the debut of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the production version of Saudi-backed California startup Lucid Motors ’ first EV , and Ford ’ s new revamped Bronco , among others .
Like many other auto shows , though , the New York Auto Show lost a bit of its luster , as big names like Mercedes-Benz and Audi previously decided to skip this year ’ s event , and BMW bowed out before the 2019 show .
Of course , many more abandoned last year ’ s annual auto show in Detroit , the home of the big three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved from January to June for this year , in some part as an attempt to reignite companies ’ interest in attending , and as of now is still supposed to take place .
Shortly after the New York show was officially delayed , a spokesperson for Volkswagen said the company is “ taking stock ” of its options .
Lucid Motors said it “ intend [ s ] to share our plans for the Lucid Air launch soon.
” It ’ s not immediately clear what other automakers who planned to attend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Geneva Motor Show was canceled , many simply live streamed their own press conferences or published information about their new cars on the internet .
Update March 10th , 5:46PM ET : Added information from Lucid Motors about its plans , and statistics about the number of cases in New York and around the world .

The New York International Auto Show is the latest big event to be postponed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. The show was supposed to open to press on April 8th and 9th and to the public from April 10th to the 19th, but organizers announced on Tuesday that they are now aiming to hold the event in August.
“We are taking this extraordinary step to help protect our attendees, exhibitors and all participants from the coronavirus,” Mark Schienberg, who is the president of the dealer association that runs the show, said in a statement.
The news comes after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that 173 people across the state are infected with the virus. That number that is likely to go up as the state gets more access to approved test kits. Of the 118,101 cases confirmed worldwide, 64,391 have fully recovered, and 4,262 people have died.
It’s the third big auto show to be canceled after the coronavirus began spreading from China to other countries. China postponed the Beijing Auto Show, which was scheduled to begin on April 21st. And the Geneva Motor Show, which was supposed to take place last week, was canceled after the Swiss government banned large gatherings of more than 1,000 people.
VW, Ford, and others were expected to reveal new cars
A litany of other major events, from Mobile World Congress, to both Facebook’s and Google’s annual developers conferences, to SXSW have also been canceled in an effort to prevent further spread of the virus. (Those conferences alone represent an economic hit of more than $1 billion.)
Scheinberg said as recently as March 9th that his plan was “to hold the show as long as somebody doesn’t say we can’t do it.” The show’s organizers announced on March 3rd that the Javits Center, where the event is held, was taking precautionary measures like adding hand sanitizing stations and increasing the cleaning of commonly touched areas. It’s the first time the show has been rescheduled since World War II.
This year’s NYIAS was expected to feature the debut of Volkswagen’s ID 4 electric SUV, the production version of Saudi-backed California startup Lucid Motors’ first EV, and Ford’s new revamped Bronco, among others. Like many other auto shows, though, the New York Auto Show lost a bit of its luster, as big names like Mercedes-Benz and Audi previously decided to skip this year’s event, and BMW bowed out before the 2019 show.
Of course, many more abandoned last year’s annual auto show in Detroit, the home of the big three US car companies. That show got moved from January to June for this year, in some part as an attempt to reignite companies’ interest in attending, and as of now is still supposed to take place.
Shortly after the New York show was officially delayed, a spokesperson for Volkswagen said the company is “taking stock” of its options. Lucid Motors said it “intend[s] to share our plans for the Lucid Air launch soon.” It’s not immediately clear what other automakers who planned to attend will do with their announcements. After the Geneva Motor Show was canceled, many simply live streamed their own press conferences or published information about their new cars on the internet.


theverge--2020-03-10--Mark Zuckerberg’s philanthropy groups will fund a quadruple increase in Bay Area coronavirus testing

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is funding a significant increase in coronavirus testing in the San Francisco Bay Area through two philanthropic groups he manages with his wife Priscilla Chan , the chief executive announced today on his personal Facebook page .
Chan and Zuckerberg are organizing the funding through their philanthropic groups , the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub .
The latter is dedicated to helping combat and research diseases and works in partnership with the University of California , Berkeley ; the University of California , San Francisco ; and Stanford University .
Chan and Zuckerberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative , which is the couple ’ s main philanthropic arm .
Effectively , the philanthropic groups are purchasing two diagnostic machines that are Food and Drug Administration approved for testing for diseases like COVID-19 , the illness caused by the novel coronavirus , according to the San Francisco Business Times .
UCSF will conduct the tests , while Stanford University will act as a secondary location for test requests when the city is overwhelmed .
Zuckerberg ’ s philanthropies are funding two new medical diagnostic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates ’ similar push to use private funds to make up for the severe limitations currently on federal government testing through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The CDC notably botched early testing kits and failed to issue more preemptive testing protocols that may have drastically reduced the spread of COVID-19 in the US in the first weeks of its discovery .
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced on Monday that it ’ s partnered with the University of Washington to fund at-home testing kits for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area where COVID-19 first surfaced in the US and where the highest number of domestic confirmed cases and deaths have been recorded .
The Gates Foundation will do this through its funding of the Seattle Flu Study , with the goal of reducing the exposure of health care and medical professionals to potentially infected individuals and more broadly providing testing resources to the hardest-hit area of the country .
There is no clear date for the Gates Foundation ’ s initiative , but a representative for the organization told The Verge , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actively explore ways that we can contribute to the local response through the application of this study.
” The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub is expected to start increasing the testing volume in the Bay Area as soon as March 16th .
Here ’ s Zuckerberg ’ s announcement in full : As part of our response to the coronavirus outbreak , our team at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is working with UCSF and Stanford to quadruple the Bay Area ’ s testing and diagnostics capacity .
We ’ re funding the acquisition of state-of-the-art @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significantly increase the Bay Area ’ s ability to test and diagnose new cases .
We ’ re also bridging connections between clinical labs at Stanford and UCSF to help distribute the testing load throughout the area .
And following up on my post last week about the IDSeq ( Infectious Disease Sequencing ) tool we developed at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative , researchers in Cambodia recently published how they were able to sequence the virus that causes COVID-19 and confirm the country ’ s first case .
You can view this data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ //public.idseq.net .
This new data is continuing to provide scientists with valuable insights into the transmission and spread of the virus , and could hopefully unlock new discoveries that could lead to treatments .

As part of our response to the coronavirus outbreak, our team at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is working with UCSF and Stanford to quadruple the Bay Area’s testing and diagnostics capacity. We’re funding the acquisition of state-of-the-art FDA approved COVID-19 diagnostic machines that will significantly increase the Bay Area’s ability to test and diagnose new cases. We’re also bridging connections between clinical labs at Stanford and UCSF to help distribute the testing load throughout the area.
And following up on my post last week about the IDSeq (Infectious Disease Sequencing) tool we developed at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, researchers in Cambodia recently published how they were able to sequence the virus that causes COVID-19 and confirm the country’s first case. You can view this data on the IDseq website at http://public.idseq.net. This new data is continuing to provide scientists with valuable insights into the transmission and spread of the virus, and could hopefully unlock new discoveries that could lead to treatments.


theverge--2020-03-12--Judge orders Chelsea Manning released from jail

A judge has ordered the release of former US Army analyst Chelsea Manning from a Virginia jail .
Manning has been imprisoned since May 2019 for refusing to testify before a grand jury .
Manning ’ s appearance before the jury was no longer needed , and “ her detention no longer serves any coercive purpose , ” Judge Anthony Trenga wrote in his order .
Under the order , Manning will be required to pay a total of $ 256,000 in conditional fines , which began accruing on a daily basis starting in May 2019 .
Manning attempted suicide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A hearing to consider her confinement was scheduled for tomorrow .
Manning was convicted in 2013 on espionage charges , for providing hundreds of thousands of government files to WikiLeaks .
She served seven years in military prison before President Barack Obama commuted the remainder of her 35-year sentence in 2017 .
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been charged in federal court in Alexandria , Virginia for violating the Espionage Act , and is accused of helping Manning try to access Department of Defense computers .
Assange is fighting extradition from London @

A judge has ordered the release of former US Army analyst Chelsea Manning from a Virginia jail. Manning has been imprisoned since May 2019 for refusing to testify before a grand jury.
Manning’s appearance before the jury was no longer needed, and “her detention no longer serves any coercive purpose,” Judge Anthony Trenga wrote in his order. Under the order, Manning will be required to pay a total of $256,000 in conditional fines, which began accruing on a daily basis starting in May 2019.
Manning attempted suicide yesterday, the New York Times reported. A hearing to consider her confinement was scheduled for tomorrow.
Manning was convicted in 2013 on espionage charges, for providing hundreds of thousands of government files to WikiLeaks. She served seven years in military prison before President Barack Obama commuted the remainder of her 35-year sentence in 2017.


theverge--2020-03-12--Disney delays Mulan and New Mutants over coronavirus fears

Disney is delaying Mulan ’ s release due to the coronavirus pandemic spreading across the world , according to Variety .
There is no new release date at this time .
The movie was originally scheduled to open on March 27th .
Disney is also delaying New Mutants , Fox ’ s newest entry in the X-Men franchise , that was set to be released on April 3rd .
New Mutants has already been delayed multiple times for an assortment of reasons .
There is no expected release date for it at this time , either .
The third movie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movie from Searchlight Pictures that Disney picked up following its acquisition of 21st Century Fox .
Mulan , New Mutants and Antlers are the latest films to be delayed because of the pandemic .
A Quiet Place II , No Time To Die , and Peter Rabbit 2 were all delayed over the last couple of weeks .
Other studios , like Magnolia , have canceled the theatrical release of certain titles , turning them into streaming and rental-only options .
Mulan is just the latest film to be delayed due to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s biggest movies of the year .
It follows Pixar ’ s Onward , which debuted to less than stellar box-office numbers .
Mulan was particularly important for Disney internationally — especially in hot regions like China .
Disney hadn ’ t announced a release date for Mulan in China , but considering the outbreak of coronavirus is most prevalent in China right now , it seems unlikely the movie will get a release date there anytime soon .
Coronavirus started spreading in Wuhan , China back in December 2019 .
Since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just about every country .
More than 130,000 cases have been confirmed , and more than 4,200 people have died .
Questions about how the coronavirus will affect Disney ’ s overall business are on executives ’ minds .
Executive chairman Bob Iger told shareholders at the company ’ s annual shareholder meeting on March 11th that “ it ’ s fair to say we ’ re all sobered by the concern that we feel for everyone affected by this global crisis , ” adding that “ these are challenging times for everyone.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disneyland park in Anaheim for the rest of March .
“ What we ’ ve demonstrated over the years is that we ’ re incredibly resilient , ” Iger told shareholders .
“ If you think about the world today , what we create has never been more necessary or more important.
” Disney ’ s next big movie is Black Widow — the first installment in Marvel ’ s Phase 4 .
It ’ s unclear if Black Widow , which is set to be released on May 1st , will hit @ @ @

Disney is delaying Mulan’s release due to the coronavirus pandemic spreading across the world, according to Variety. There is no new release date at this time. The movie was originally scheduled to open on March 27th.
Disney is also delaying New Mutants, Fox’s newest entry in the X-Men franchise, that was set to be released on April 3rd. New Mutants has already been delayed multiple times for an assortment of reasons. There is no expected release date for it at this time, either. The third movie Disney is postponing is Antlers, another movie from Searchlight Pictures that Disney picked up following its acquisition of 21st Century Fox.
Mulan, New Mutants and Antlers are the latest films to be delayed because of the pandemic. A Quiet Place II, No Time To Die, and Peter Rabbit 2 were all delayed over the last couple of weeks. Other studios, like Magnolia, have canceled the theatrical release of certain titles, turning them into streaming and rental-only options.
Mulan is just the latest film to be delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic
Mulan is one of Disney’s biggest movies of the year. It follows Pixar’s Onward, which debuted to less than stellar box-office numbers. Mulan was particularly important for Disney internationally — especially in hot regions like China. Disney hadn’t announced a release date for Mulan in China, but considering the outbreak of coronavirus is most prevalent in China right now, it seems unlikely the movie will get a release date there anytime soon.
Coronavirus started spreading in Wuhan, China back in December 2019. Since then, the coronavirus has spread to just about every country. More than 130,000 cases have been confirmed, and more than 4,200 people have died.
Questions about how the coronavirus will affect Disney’s overall business are on executives’ minds. Executive chairman Bob Iger told shareholders at the company’s annual shareholder meeting on March 11th that “it’s fair to say we’re all sobered by the concern that we feel for everyone affected by this global crisis,” adding that “these are challenging times for everyone.” The company decided to close its Disneyland park in Anaheim for the rest of March.
“What we’ve demonstrated over the years is that we’re incredibly resilient,” Iger told shareholders. “If you think about the world today, what we create has never been more necessary or more important.”


theverge--2020-03-12--AT&T is suspending broadband data caps for home internet customers due to coronavirus

AT & T is suspending data caps for broadband internet customers on Thursday , as waves of employees face new work-from-home policies from US companies trying to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus , according to Motherboard .
As it stands , some AT & T home internet customers , not to be confused with those who subscribe to an AT & T mobile data plan , have plans that cap the amount of monthly data they can use with devices like laptops , game consoles , smart TVs , and other devices .
Those caps can range from 150GB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going over the cap can result in fees as high as $ 10 for every 50GB over the limit .
AT & T says its broadband data caps will be suspended to help with work-from-home policies “ Many of our AT & T Internet customers already have unlimited home internet access , and we are waiving internet data overage for the remaining customers , ” a company spokesperson tells Motherboard .
The decision came in response to inquiries from Motherboard regarding the telecom ’ s plans for dealing with surges in at-home internet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close and people are being advised to avoid large gatherings and densely populated public spaces .
Earlier today , a group of 17 US Senators sent a letter to the chief executives of eight internet service providers — including AT & T , Comcast , T-Mobile , and Verizon — demanding they suspend broadband data caps ( or the fees associated with going over the limit ) and throttling due to the coronavirus crisis .
“ As organizations around the country formulate their responses to the recent outbreak and spread of the novel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to discuss the steps that your company is taking to accommodate the unprecedented reliance we will likely see on telepresence services , including telework , online education , telehealth , and remote support services , ” reads the letter .
“ Specifically , we ask that you temporarily suspend broadband caps and associated fees or throttling for all communities affected by COVID-19 and work with public school districts , colleges , and universities to provide free , or at-cost , broadband options for students whose schools close due to COVID-19 who don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of COVID-19 , the illness caused by the novel coronavirus , has led to a wave of event cancellations and , in just the past week , a more drastic series of responses from the federal government and municipalities throughout the country .
Major sporting leagues , including the NBA and NHL , have canceled their remaining seasons , while New York City announced today it would be declaring a state of emergency and shutting down Broadway , its largest tourism hub .
The Trump administration announced yesterday it would ban foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the next month .

AT&T is suspending data caps for broadband internet customers on Thursday, as waves of employees face new work-from-home policies from US companies trying to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, according to Motherboard.
As it stands, some AT&T home internet customers, not to be confused with those who subscribe to an AT&T mobile data plan, have plans that cap the amount of monthly data they can use with devices like laptops, game consoles, smart TVs, and other devices. Those caps can range from 150GB to 1TB, Motherboard says. And going over the cap can result in fees as high as $10 for every 50GB over the limit.
AT&T says its broadband data caps will be suspended to help with work-from-home policies
“Many of our AT&T Internet customers already have unlimited home internet access, and we are waiving internet data overage for the remaining customers,” a company spokesperson tells Motherboard. The decision came in response to inquiries from Motherboard regarding the telecom’s plans for dealing with surges in at-home internet use throughout the country, as offices close and people are being advised to avoid large gatherings and densely populated public spaces.
Earlier today, a group of 17 US Senators sent a letter to the chief executives of eight internet service providers — including AT&T, Comcast, T-Mobile, and Verizon — demanding they suspend broadband data caps (or the fees associated with going over the limit) and throttling due to the coronavirus crisis.
“As organizations around the country formulate their responses to the recent outbreak and spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, we write to discuss the steps that your company is taking to accommodate the unprecedented reliance we will likely see on telepresence services, including telework, online education, telehealth, and remote support services,” reads the letter. “Specifically, we ask that you temporarily suspend broadband caps and associated fees or throttling for all communities affected by COVID-19 and work with public school districts, colleges, and universities to provide free, or at-cost, broadband options for students whose schools close due to COVID-19 who don’t have access at home.”


theverge--2020-03-12--Comcast modestly raises slow internet speeds for low-income users because of coronavirus

Comcast is increasing the speed of its discounted internet service for low-income households to 25Mbps down , an increase from 15Mbps down .
Upload speeds will be increased to 3Mbps from 2Mbps .
Comcast is also beginning to offer a 60-day free trial of the service , which costs $ 9.95 per month .
The updates come in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
Comcast says the goal is to ensure customers “ will be able to use their Internet service for all their increased needs as a result of this health crisis.
” The speed increases will stay in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , started in 2011 as a requirement of Comcast ’ s purchase of NBCUniversal .
Comcast continued the service even once the requirement ended three years later , and it ’ s continued to expand access and increase offered internet speeds , although they 've remained fairly slow .
Comcast says the service connects “ millions ” of people .
These latest changes go into effect on Monday .
Comcast says the increased speeds will be standard going forward and that all existing customers will be upgraded automatically .
Customers have to apply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Internet Essentials .
Comcast says this process can take up to five business days if they receive “ auto ” approval , and up to 10 business days if not .
To be eligible , customers have to qualify for public programs like the National School Lunch Program , Medicaid , or SNAP .
The change comes as many people are being told to stay at home for quarantine purposes or to work from home due to office closures .
That makes fast home internet all the more important , and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staying in touch with others amid a pandemic that ’ s leading to rapid changes , such as school closures , across the world .
AT & T also announced this afternoon that , for its home internet service , it would temporarily suspend data cap overages , according to Motherboard .
Disclosure : Comcast is an investor in Vox Media , The Verge ’ s parent company .

Comcast is increasing the speed of its discounted internet service for low-income households to 25Mbps down, an increase from 15Mbps down. Upload speeds will be increased to 3Mbps from 2Mbps. Comcast is also beginning to offer a 60-day free trial of the service, which costs $9.95 per month.
The updates come in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Comcast says the goal is to ensure customers “will be able to use their Internet service for all their increased needs as a result of this health crisis.”
The speed increases will stay in place
The service, called Internet Essentials, started in 2011 as a requirement of Comcast’s purchase of NBCUniversal. Comcast continued the service even once the requirement ended three years later, and it’s continued to expand access and increase offered internet speeds, although they've remained fairly slow. Comcast says the service connects “millions” of people.
These latest changes go into effect on Monday. Comcast says the increased speeds will be standard going forward and that all existing customers will be upgraded automatically.
Customers have to apply for approval before they can sign up for Internet Essentials. Comcast says this process can take up to five business days if they receive “auto” approval, and up to 10 business days if not. To be eligible, customers have to qualify for public programs like the National School Lunch Program, Medicaid, or SNAP.
The change comes as many people are being told to stay at home for quarantine purposes or to work from home due to office closures. That makes fast home internet all the more important, and it’s necessary both for work and staying in touch with others amid a pandemic that’s leading to rapid changes, such as school closures, across the world.
AT&T also announced this afternoon that, for its home internet service, it would temporarily suspend data cap overages, according to Motherboard.


theverge--2020-03-12--Call of Duty League is shifting to online-only games

The city-based Call of Duty League is shifting to a new format amid the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic .
In a statement , the league said that upcoming matches will be played online as opposed to large events hosted by cities across North America and Europe .
“ Call of Duty League has seen firsthand the power of our live events in our inaugural season , and will return to city-based competition in front of live audiences as soon as it is safe and logistically possible , ” reads the statement .
The league says that upcoming games will still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watch , although it ’ s not clear when they will take place .
The CDL says that “ dates will be announced shortly.
” The CDL is a relatively new league , which is attempting to merge the city-based structure of traditional sports with high-level Call of Duty play .
So far , matches have been hosted in Minnesota , London , Atlanta , and Los Angeles .
The Atlanta Faze and Chicago Huntsmen currently sit tied atop the league standings after the first four events .
The news comes just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ league , the Overwatch League , also announced an end to live events in March and April .
Both leagues , which are owned by Activision Blizzard , operate under a similar city-based structure and were part of a joint broadcast deal with YouTube .
While the live OWL events have been canceled , the league says matches will still be played during that time in some format , though it ’ s not clear yet how that will look .
Other esports have been similarly effected .
Just today , the top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and North America announced that they would be playing games without fans present .
Late last month , the Chinese LPL also announced that it would be playing games online instead of in-studio .
While several traditional sports leagues have been forced to shut down entirely , the digital nature of esports like Call of Duty means that many leagues can still go forward with some adjustments .
“ In the interim , Call of Duty League is confident it will continue to deliver fans what they want : amazing competition between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level , for the right to be considered the greatest team on earth , ” the CDL said in a statement .

The city-based Call of Duty League is shifting to a new format amid the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic. In a statement, the league said that upcoming matches will be played online as opposed to large events hosted by cities across North America and Europe. “Call of Duty League has seen firsthand the power of our live events in our inaugural season, and will return to city-based competition in front of live audiences as soon as it is safe and logistically possible,” reads the statement.
The league says that upcoming games will still be broadcast on YouTube for fans to watch, although it’s not clear when they will take place. The CDL says that “dates will be announced shortly.” The CDL is a relatively new league, which is attempting to merge the city-based structure of traditional sports with high-level Call of Duty play. So far, matches have been hosted in Minnesota, London, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. The Atlanta Faze and Chicago Huntsmen currently sit tied atop the league standings after the first four events.
Additionally, the Overwatch League will be shifting its March and April matches online as well. (OWL and the CDL are sister leagues; they’re both owned by Activision Blizzard, operate under a similar city-based structure, and were part of a joint broadcast deal with YouTube.) OWL previously announced an end to live events in March and April, and the league says its new match schedule will be announced next week. As part of the new structure teams will be placed in three different groups based on geography, and matches are expected to begin on March 21st. “We plan to return to team-hosted homestand competitions in front of live audiences as soon as it is safe and logistically possible,” the league said in a statement.
Other esports have been similarly effected. Just today, the top professional League of Legends competitions in Europe and North America announced that they would be playing games without fans present. Late last month, the Chinese LPL also announced that it would be playing games online instead of in-studio.
While several traditional sports leagues have been forced to shut down entirely, the digital nature of esports like Call of Duty means that many leagues can still go forward with some adjustments. “In the interim, Call of Duty League is confident it will continue to deliver fans what they want: amazing competition between the best players, competing at the highest level, for the right to be considered the greatest team on earth,” the CDL said in a statement.


theverge--2020-03-12--A new Twitter client finally gives us the power to edit tweets — sort of

Brizzly , a Twitter client that first launched in 2009 , is back with a new goal to serve the needs of all the world ’ s Twitter power users .
The company is launching its Brizzly Plus service today , a subscription that costs $ 6 per month , or $ 60 annually , and gives people access to non-native Twitter features like an undo button and auto-deletion .
The undo button allows subscribers to set a delay between when they type and send their tweet and when it posts .
They can choose between no delay , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During that time , they can click “ undo , ” which cancels the tweet and gives them time to edit .
They can redo any tweet , too , which allows them to make changes , tweet again , and Brizzly will delete the old tweet .
It ’ s not technically an edit , but it streamlines the process because Brizzly copies the text from the offending tweet automatically .
Meanwhile , auto-delete allows users to choose between 24 hours , one week , or one month to have their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were sent through Brizzly .
If users do want to save certain tweets , they can do so with a feature called “ Fave to Save , ” which lets them set any number of likes as a threshold , and tweets that meet it will be saved from deletion .
Auto-deletion is a feature that other third-party services pioneered , and it ’ s one that people have seemingly enjoyed .
Still , Twitter doesn ’ t natively allow for it .
People have also asked Twitter to build an edit button @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ ll “ probably ” never happen .
He said it defeats the original purpose of Twitter .
“ We started as an SMS , text message service .
And as you all know , when you send a text , you can ’ t really take it back , ” he said in January .
“ We wanted to preserve that vibe , that feeling , in the early days.
” But that ’ s not stopping Brizzly from working around Dorsey ’ s wishes .
Is an edit button worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though ?
I guess it depends on how many typos you make on a daily basis .

Brizzly, a Twitter client that first launched in 2009, is back with a new goal to serve the needs of all the world’s Twitter power users. The company is launching its Brizzly Plus service today, a subscription that costs $6 per month, or $60 annually, and gives people access to non-native Twitter features like an undo button and auto-deletion.
The undo button allows subscribers to set a delay between when they type and send their tweet and when it posts. They can choose between no delay, a 10-second delay, or a 10-minute delay. During that time, they can click “undo,” which cancels the tweet and gives them time to edit. They can redo any tweet, too, which allows them to make changes, tweet again, and Brizzly will delete the old tweet. It’s not technically an edit, but it streamlines the process because Brizzly copies the text from the offending tweet automatically.
Meanwhile, auto-delete allows users to choose between 24 hours, one week, or one month to have their tweets deleted, regardless of whether they were sent through Brizzly. If users do want to save certain tweets, they can do so with a feature called “Fave to Save,” which lets them set any number of likes as a threshold, and tweets that meet it will be saved from deletion.
Auto-deletion is a feature that other third-party services pioneered, and it’s one that people have seemingly enjoyed. Still, Twitter doesn’t natively allow for it. People have also asked Twitter to build an edit button, but CEO Jack Dorsey has said it’ll “probably” never happen. He said it defeats the original purpose of Twitter.
“We started as an SMS, text message service. And as you all know, when you send a text, you can’t really take it back,” he said in January. “We wanted to preserve that vibe, that feeling, in the early days.”


theverge--2020-03-12--Juul co-founder James Monsees plans to leave the company

Juul Labs co-founder James Monsees is planning to step down as adviser and board member of the beleaguered e-cigarette company , Bloomberg reports .
“ Building this company alongside all of you has been the single most rewarding experience of my career and perhaps my life , ” Monsees reportedly wrote in an email to Juul employees .
According to Bloomberg , he was planning to spend more time with his family .
Formerly the company ’ s chief product officer , Monsees and Adam Bowen co-founded Juul in 2015 .
The company has faced intense scrutiny for how its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and claimed that its products help users quit smoking cigarettes .
New York announced in November it was suing Juul for deceptive advertising .
The company downplayed health risks , according to the lawsuit , and “ significantly contributed to the public health crisis that has left youth in New York and across the country addicted to its products , ” New York Attorney General Letitia James said .
North Carolina and California have also sued the company over its advertising practices , and the Federal Trade Commission is investigating Juul over its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEO K.C .
Crosthwaite , who joined the company in September , said in an email to employees that Monsees was “ instrumental in building this company from the ground up , ” according to Bloomberg .

Juul Labs co-founder James Monsees is planning to step down as adviser and board member of the beleaguered e-cigarette company, Bloomberg reports.
“Building this company alongside all of you has been the single most rewarding experience of my career and perhaps my life,” Monsees reportedly wrote in an email to Juul employees. According to Bloomberg, he was planning to spend more time with his family. Formerly the company’s chief product officer, Monsees and Adam Bowen co-founded Juul in 2015.
The company has faced intense scrutiny for how its products allegedly hooked kids on vaping, and claimed that its products help users quit smoking cigarettes.
New York announced in November it was suing Juul for deceptive advertising. The company downplayed health risks, according to the lawsuit, and “significantly contributed to the public health crisis that has left youth in New York and across the country addicted to its products,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said. North Carolina and California have also sued the company over its advertising practices, and the Federal Trade Commission is investigating Juul over its use of influencers in marketing.


theverge--2020-03-12--Disneyland will close for the month over coronavirus

Disney will close its Disneyland Resort in Anaheim , California following concerns about contributing to the spread of the novel coronavirus .
The company will continue paying cast members ( the company ’ s terminology for employees ) during the closure .
“ While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland Resort , after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the Governor of California ’ s executive orders , we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure beginning the morning of March 14th through the end of the month , ” a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in history the iconic Disney amusement park ’ s operations have ceased entirely , according to New York Times reporter Brooks Barnes .
Previous closures came after September 11th , the national day of mourning following President John F. Kennedy ’ s assassination , and the Northridge earthquake in 1994 .
It ’ s unclear if Disney is preparing to close its Disney World Resort in Orlando , Florida .
The Verge has reached out to Disney for more information .
It ’ s only the fourth time in history Disneyland has closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close its parks in recent weeks as the coronavirus outbreak has grown into a global pandemic .
On March 12th , California Governor Gavin Newsom told press that parks like Disneyland are exempt from the state ’ s ban on public gatherings because the “ complexity of their unique circumstances requires additional conversation , a different kind of engagement in real time.
” Other major public events , including SXSW in Austin and Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle , were postponed or canceled due to coronavirus .
Pamela Hymel , chief medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement just this week that Disney parks are exceptionally clean destinations , but acknowledged the company is keeping an eye on things .
“ As part of our commitment to the health and well-being of our cast , guests and the larger community , we are carefully monitoring the evolving coronavirus situation and are in regular contact with health agencies for information and guidance , ” Hymel said on March 10th .
“ Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort , are welcoming guests as usual and we continue to implement preventive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) and other health agencies.
” There are more than 134,000 confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide , and extreme precautions are being taken to contain the spread as that number is expected to rise .
More than 4,900 people have died from COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus .

Disney will close parks in its Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, and Disneyland Paris following concerns about contributing to the spread of the novel coronavirus. The company will continue paying cast members (the company’s terminology for employees) during the closure.
“While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland Resort, after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the Governor of California’s executive orders, we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure beginning the morning of March 14th through the end of the month,” a statement reads. Disney World in Orlando and Disney Paris will close beginning March 15th.
It’s only the third time in history Disneyland has closed
Disney has faced mounting public pressure to close its parks in recent weeks as the coronavirus outbreak has grown into a global pandemic. On March 12th, California Governor Gavin Newsom told press that parks like Disneyland are exempt from the state’s ban on public gatherings because the “complexity of their unique circumstances requires additional conversation, a different kind of engagement in real time.” Other major public events, including SXSW in Austin and Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, were postponed or canceled due to coronavirus.
Pamela Hymel, chief medical officer for Disney parks, said in a statement just this week that Disney parks are exceptionally clean destinations, but acknowledged the company is keeping an eye on things.
“As part of our commitment to the health and well-being of our cast, guests and the larger community, we are carefully monitoring the evolving coronavirus situation and are in regular contact with health agencies for information and guidance,” Hymel said on March 10th. “Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, are welcoming guests as usual and we continue to implement preventive measures in line with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health agencies.”
There are more than 134,000 confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide, and extreme precautions are being taken to contain the spread as that number is expected to rise. More than 4,900 people have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.


theverge--2020-03-12--A viral list of dubious coronavirus tips claims to be from Stanford — it isn’t

A list of dubious coronavirus tips is going viral on Facebook and Twitter , as well as spreading through email .
It falsely claims to be from the Stanford Hospital board and contains advice like “ take a few sips of water every 15 minutes at least , ” to kill the virus .
None of these tips have anything to do with reality ; it is dangerous misinformation .
Stanford confirmed the message did not come from the university .
In a statement emailed to The Verge , Lisa Kim , a media relations specialist at Stanford Health , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 that is attributed to a ‘ Stanford Hospital board member ’ contains inaccurate information .
It did not come from Stanford Medicine.
” “ Even if the virus gets into your mouth , drinking water or other liquids will wash them down through your throat and into the stomach .
Once there , your stomach acid will kill all the virus , ” one tip reads .
Loren Rauch , an emergency room doctor in Los Angeles who has a master ’ s degree in epidemiology , told Mother Jones this advice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tells people to check for the virus by holding their breath for 10 seconds .
“ If you complete it successfully without coughing , without discomfort , stiffness or tightness , etc.
, it proves there is no Fibrosis in the lungs , basically indicates no infection , ” it adds .
Unfortunately , this is also false .
“ That can check if you are anxious or have respiratory compromise , ” Rauch said .
The message also says the virus “ hates the sun ” and isn ’ t heat-resistant .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperature of just 26/27 degrees , ” ( roughly 78 degrees Fahrenheit ) .
This is not entirely true .
“ If something ’ s in sunlight , it ’ s going to get disinfected pretty quickly , because that ’ s ultraviolet light , just the same type of sanitation we use in hospitals , ” Rauch told Mother Jones .
“ But just , like , ‘ It ’ s gon na be a warm day today .
We don ’ t have to worry about coronavirus , ’ I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ na work.
” I received the tips firsthand , in an email from a friend who was sending them out in a sincere effort to keep people safe .
When I read that I didn ’ t have coronavirus if I could hold my breath for 10 seconds , I felt relieved .
Then I felt suspicious .
I remembered Adi Robertson ’ s advice for spotting fake news : if it sounds too good to be true , it probably is .
So I did what any of us should do if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of misinformation from a friend or loved one : I told my friend that the tips were fake .
The most reliable sources of information on the coronavirus continue to be the World Health Organization ’ s guidance on COVID-19 , or the Centers for Disease Control ’ s coronavirus page .

A list of dubious coronavirus tips is going viral on Facebook and Twitter, as well as spreading through email. It falsely claims to be from the Stanford Hospital board and contains advice like “take a few sips of water every 15 minutes at least,” to kill the virus. None of these tips have anything to do with reality; it is dangerous misinformation.
Stanford confirmed the message did not come from the university. In a statement emailed to The Verge, Lisa Kim, a media relations specialist at Stanford Health, said “A widely distributed email about COVID-19 that is attributed to a ‘Stanford Hospital board member’ contains inaccurate information. It did not come from Stanford Medicine.”
“Even if the virus gets into your mouth, drinking water or other liquids will wash them down through your throat and into the stomach. Once there, your stomach acid will kill all the virus,” one tip reads. Loren Rauch, an emergency room doctor in Los Angeles who has a master’s degree in epidemiology, told Mother Jones this advice was “totally bogus.”
Another tip tells people to check for the virus by holding their breath for 10 seconds. “If you complete it successfully without coughing, without discomfort, stiffness or tightness, etc., it proves there is no Fibrosis in the lungs, basically indicates no infection,” it adds.
Unfortunately, this is also false. “That can check if you are anxious or have respiratory compromise,” Rauch said.
The message also says the virus “hates the sun” and isn’t heat-resistant. It can be “killed by a temperature of just 26/27 degrees,” (roughly 78 degrees Fahrenheit). This is not entirely true. “If something’s in sunlight, it’s going to get disinfected pretty quickly, because that’s ultraviolet light, just the same type of sanitation we use in hospitals,” Rauch told Mother Jones. “But just, like, ‘It’s gonna be a warm day today. We don’t have to worry about coronavirus,’ I don’t think that’s gonna work.”
I received the tips firsthand, in an email from a friend who was sending them out in a sincere effort to keep people safe. When I read that I didn’t have coronavirus if I could hold my breath for 10 seconds, I felt relieved. Then I felt suspicious. I remembered Adi Robertson’s advice for spotting fake news: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.