Stories for July 2020

Thursday, July 9th 2020 - 09:13 UTC
Harvard and MIT challenge in court Trump's administration limiting of foreign students visas

US leading universities Harvard and MIT asked a court on Wednesday to block an order by President Donald Trump's administration threatening the visas of foreign students whose entire courses have moved online because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Thursday, July 9th 2020 - 08:59 UTC
Polynesian sweet potato mystery solved: epic transoceanic journey to South America

New genetic research shows that there was mingling between ancient native peoples from Polynesia and South America, revealing a single episode of interbreeding roughly 800 years ago after an epic transoceanic journey.
Thursday, July 9th 2020 - 08:55 UTC
Federal Reserve officials raise doubts about US recovery durability

Federal Reserve officials raised fresh doubts on Wednesday about the durability of the U.S. recovery, while new business surveys highlighted developing risks from the relentless coronavirus pandemic.
Thursday, July 9th 2020 - 08:49 UTC
Facebook suspends network of political messages from staff at Bolsonaro and his two sons' offices

Facebook on Wednesday suspended a network of social media accounts it said were used to spread divisive political messages online by employees of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and two of his sons.
Thursday, July 9th 2020 - 08:41 UTC
Surprise, surprise, Mexicans favor closer ties with United States

More Mexicans have warmed to the idea of closer ties with the United States just as President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador lines up his first meeting with US counterpart Donald Trump, a poll showed on Wednesday.
Thursday, July 9th 2020 - 08:34 UTC
Scotland exempts quarantine period for arriving travelers from 57 countries and 14 UKOTs. List excludes Latam and Spain

Passengers arriving in Scotland from 57 overseas destinations that have similar or lower levels of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection than Scotland will no longer need to quarantine. Travelers from the 14 UK overseas territories will also be exempt.
Thursday, July 9th 2020 - 08:30 UTC
Hate speech: Germany insists in regulating online social networks, despite Facebook's promises

Germany is determined to expand its attempts to regulate online hate speech even as Facebook promises to do more to clean up its site after a global advertiser boycott, with politicians saying the issue is too important to leave to self-regulation.
Thursday, July 9th 2020 - 08:16 UTC
Bayer's weed killer Roundup settlement delayed as new questions arise

Bayer has agreed to delay part of a proposed settlement of allegations that its widely used weed killer Roundup caused cancer after a US judge questioned its plan to deal with future claims.
Thursday, July 9th 2020 - 07:59 UTC
Campaign to stop Johnson&Johnson selling its talk Baby Powder worldwide

More than 170 nonprofit groups on Wednesday called for Johnson & Johnson to stop selling its talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder world-wide, citing concerns that it contains cancer-causing asbestos, according to a statement from advocacy group Black Women for Wellness.
Thursday, July 9th 2020 - 07:49 UTC
Can Brexit Britain keep its word to three million Hong Kongers

By Gwynne Dyer – ”We will grant British National Overseas (BNOs) five years' limited leave to remain (in the United Kingdom), with the right to work or study,“ British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the U.K. parliament on July 1. ”After five years, they will be able to apply for settled status. After a further twelve months with settled status, they will be able to apply for citizenship.”