A government leader opens his mouth, and listeners instantly know how much of the speech is provable. Science fiction? For the moment, but hopefully not forever. The state of technology and the maturity of fact-checking organizations today make it possible to take the first steps toward that goal. Chequeado, where I work as director of editorial innovation, started working on automated fact-checking just over a year ago. […]
newslide Amal Clooney expecting twins Reports have been swirling about a possible baby on the horizon but now, the actor Matt Damon has confirmed that Amal Clooney is expecting twins. The prominent human rights lawyer and wife of George Clooney will welcome their babies, reportedly a boy and a girl, in the summer, said Damon to Entertainment Tonight Canada. He said Clooney had told him the news […]
The four main US stock barometers all logged record closing highs on Friday, marking the first grand slam in two months as small capitalisation stocks have caught up to their larger brethren. The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite were already trading at all-time peaks before Friday, propelled higher by the relatively strong performance of large capitalisation stocks, leaving the Russell 2000 index lagging […]
New Yorkers march against Trump executive order on immigration. INQUIRER/Elton Lugay NEW YORK—When nurse practitioner Cristina Pajara saw a post on an alleged travel ban to include the Philippines, she wasted no time in canceling her scheduled trip to the homeland next month. “Nothing is certain under this new government, I don’t want to take my chances,” Pajara, a nurse practitioner based in Las Vegas told INQUIRER.net. She is among many Filipino Americans who are skeptical about traveling to the Philippines during these “uncertain […]
European stocks and S&P futures rose modestly ahead of January US payrolls data, along with the dollar, while Asian shares dropped after China returned from a week-long holiday. Bonds slid, oil rose while the JGB intervened in the bond market to prevent a bond rout, in one of two major surprises during the Asian session. As reported last night, having closed at 0.109% yesterday the 10y JGB […]
The Bank of England upgraded UK growth forecasts significantly for the second time in six months on Thursday in the latest indication the central bank’s once-dire outlook for the economy after June’s Brexit vote has been proven overly pessimistic. The bank said it now predicts gross domestic product will grow 2 per cent this year, the same as last year and up from 1.4 per cent forecast […]
In Cultural Amnesia, Clive James’s A-Z anthology of those responsible for moving and shaking the 20th century, we find in section “H” a sobering essay on a man who needs no introduction – Adolf Hitler – and an enlightening piece on a woman who does. Ricarda Huch (1864-1947) was a groundbreaking historian, novelist and philosopher. Thomas Mann called her the First Lady of Germany. James introduces her […]
Brooding sportswear was the inspiration behind Versace’s spring/summer 2017 menswear show. Courtesy Versace A tuxedo-sporting model was sent down the runway at the end of Versace’s spring/summer 2017 menswear collection. Courtesy Versace Oversized outdoor wear at the men’s show. Courtesy Versace A sports-inspired blouson jacket is nipped in at the waist with drawstrings. Courtesy Versace Fabric is gathered in tent-like swaths for spring/summer 2017 at Versace. Courtesy […]
Reckitt Benckiser, the maker of household goods including Cillit Bang and Dettol, is in advanced talks to acquire Mead Johnson in a deal that could value the maker of infant formula at about $16.7bn. The British-based company said on Wednesday evening it had offered to pay $90 per share in cash to acquire the US nutritional products maker, a near 30 per cent premium on Mead Johnson’s […]
AT&T announced on Wednesday that it’s rolling out so-called 5G “evolution markets” in Austin and Indianapolis this summer, as part of a broader push to upgrade its networks. This showcase markets will start out with theoretical peak speeds of 400Mbps. That’s five times faster than what AT&T currently offers in terms of wireless connectivity, AT&T CTO Andre Fuetsch noted at an event in San Francisco on Wednesday. […]
Considered the birthplace of Alpine tourism, St Moritz, host of two Winter Olympics and haunt of the rich and famous, packs in both chocolate-box charm and red-carpet luxury — as does this new penthouse apartment. Coming onto the market in February, the Grace St Moritz penthouse, along with 16 other apartments, is housed in a restored boutique hotel, formerly the historic La Margna in Switzerland. The hotel […]
Newsflash for American high school students — choose friends wisely, or they may end up costing you your education. In fact, new mathematical modeling from Arizona State University, Northeastern Illinois University, and the University of Texas at Arlington documents the exact statistical tipping point when positive parental influence — found to be the leading indicator of academic performance and whether or not a student will eventually graduate […]
In the past two months, the Islamic State has used more than 80 remotely piloted drones against Iraqi forces and their allies. About one-third of the aircraft, some as small as model airplanes, dropped bombs or were rigged with explosives to detonate on the ground, said Col. John L. Dorrian, the spokesman for the American-led operation against the Islamic State in Baghdad. Continue reading the main story […]
TOKYO Japan must make public places in Tokyo smoke-free by the time it hosts the 2020 Summer Olympics or risk falling afoul of International Olympic Committee (IOC) rules that call for a healthy games, activists said on Tuesday. Japan’s health minister has said the government is eager to stamp out smoking in public by the time the capital hosts the Olympics. But smoking remains so entrenched there […]
Microsoft was finalising plans to borrow at least $14bn Monday, in what will be the largest corporate bond sale of the year so far, as the US technology company joins a rush to tap debt markets ahead of expected interest rate rises later this year. The deal will rank as one of the largest ever corporate debt sales not to finance a takeover, and follows a bumper […]
By Lisa Lambert | WASHINGTON WASHINGTON House Republicans were set on Monday to begin the process of killing five Obama-era rules on corruption, the environment, labour and guns under the first real test of a law intended to keep regulation in check. Republicans put as much urgency on limiting what they consider overregulation that stifles economic growth as they do on overhauling the tax code and dismantling […]
Boris Johnson’s claim to have extracted concessions from Donald Trump over his travel ban was thrown into confusion on Monday after embassies around Europe, including London, issued statements contradicting the UK foreign secretary. Amid a public storm over the issue, the UK Foreign Office said on Sunday evening that the extreme vetting programme would apply to fewer than expected dual-nationality Britons going to the US. It said […]
European, Asian stocks and S&P futures all drop after traders were left with a sour taste from the potential fallout of Donald Trump’s order halting some immigration and ahead of central bank decisions from the U.S. and Japan. Markets in Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam are all shut due to the Lunar New Year public holiday, leading to a quiet Asian session. Oil […]
ABU DHABI // Donald Trump’s decision to impose swingeing restrictions on travel to the US is not only an effective ban for thousands, but also leaves many in a bureaucratic limbo. For Sudanese Lubna Hakim, whose mother Maryam has permanent residency in the US, the president’s executive order is effectively a locked gate. Her mother travelled home to Sudan to visit family for an extended holiday. But […]
DUBAI // As professional cycling teams power through the streets of Dubai this week, one group of riders will carry a special message of hope for the country’s many diabetics. Team Novo Nordisk is making its third appearance in the Dubai Tour, which begins from the Marina Club on Tuesday with a 181-kilometre opening stage. The team is the world’s first all-diabetic professional cycling outfit and was […]
He also called the United States a “haven” for many athletes hoping to train outside their home countries. Continue reading the main story “Most of our athletes from St. Lucia train in the States,” Mr. Peterkin said. “We don’t have an issue because we’re not on that list of seven, but if we were — there go hopes and dreams.” On Saturday evening, a federal judge blocked […]
They were among an estimated 110,000 people in line to be processed for resettlement in the United States during this fiscal year. In fact, they thought they had already made it through the rigorous vetting procedure and, after years of waiting, were on the verge of having their hopes realized. Continue reading the main story Now, all are suddenly, indefinitely waiting again, barred from entry to the […]
newslide Marvel’s Black Panther filming gets underway Marvel Studios has announced that filming has begun on its latest superhero epic which for the first time will feature a black actor, Chadwick Boseman, in the lead role. The news comes just after a record number of black actors were nominated for this year’s Oscars and as Hollywood pushes for more diversity. Boseman will play the lead role in […]
Six-year-old girls are less likely than boys to believe their gender is poised for brilliance, and they better tend to veer away from activities that require those smarts, a new study has found. It’s an attitude shift from when they were age 5, a time when they are just as likely as boys to deem their own gender brilliant and willingly take on relevant activities. These are the […]
