US birth rate falls to its lowest since 1979 as pandemic-led stress rises
Americans had the lowest number of babies in more than four decades last year, mirroring a slump in European birth rates, as the COVID-19 pandemic forced more people to take care of sick family members or deal with job losses. Birth rate in the United States fell 4% in 2020 to about 3.6 million babies, […]
Facebook oversight board to rule on Trump’s return to Facebook
Facebook Inc’s (FB.O) oversight board on Wednesday will decide whether to uphold the company’s indefinite suspension of former U.S. President Donald Trump, in a much-awaited verdict that may signal how the company will treat rule-breaking world leaders in the future. Facebook indefinitely blocked Trump’s access to his Facebook and Instagram accounts over concerns of further violent unrest […]
Russia seeks extra fines against Twitter over ‘banned content’ -TASS
Russia is seeking an additional 24 million roubles ($321,586) in fines from U.S. tech giant Twitter (TWTR.N) for failing to remove content banned in Russia, the TASS news agency cited a court as saying on Wednesday. State communications regulator Roskomnadzor said last week that Twitter was complying with a demand to remove banned content, but taking too […]
Rival powers Turkey and Egypt try to mend ties after long rift
Turkey and Egypt will try to improve strained ties at talks starting in Cairo on Wednesday after an eight-year rift which led them to back rival factions in Libya’s war and put them at odds in a dispute over east Mediterranean waters. Relations between the regional powers have been tense since Egypt’s army toppled a […]
High-tech hunt for scarce COVID-19 vaccines in India raises fear for fairness
Indian tech experts have written software code and designed websites to help people book scarce COVID-19 vaccinations online, raising concern about an unfair advantage for the tech savvy and jeopardising chances of an equitable vaccine rollout. India has faced criticism for a slow vaccine campaign as it battles a second wave of coronavirus infections that […]
Analysis: Rail accident rattles Mexico’s presidential succession favorites
The dramatic collapse of a rail overpass in Mexico City that killed at least 24 people has dealt a blow to two of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s most senior aides, who are widely viewed as the leading candidates to succeed him. Monday night’s accident has stirred up concern about the city’s infrastructure, in particular […]
Prize winner? Welcome to Britain with relaxed visa requirements
Prize winners in the sciences and arts will have their applications to be able to live and work in Britain fast-tracked from Wednesday, the interior ministry said, pressing its post-Brexit pledge to attract only the “best and brightest”. Since completing its exit from the European Union, Britain has introduced a new system for work visas […]
Syria says Israeli raids target Mediterranean port region of Latakia
Syrian air defences downed several Israeli missiles during pre-dawn raids on the Mediterranean port city of Latakia, the Syrian army said on Wednesday, a rare attack on the ancestral home region of the Syrian leader and close to a Russian air base. A Syrian army statement said aerial strikes soon after 2am hit several areas […]
Starlink satellite internet service gets 500,000 preorders, Musk says
SpaceX has received more than 500,000 preorders for its Starlink satellite internet service and anticipates no technical problems meeting the demand, founder Elon Musk said on Tuesday. “Only limitation is high density of users in urban areas,” Musk tweeted, responding to a post from a CNBC reporter that said the $99 deposits SpaceX took for […]
Scottish nationalists unlikely to win a majority, poll indicates
Scottish nationalists are unlikely to win an outright majority in Thursday’s parliamentary election, a blow to their hopes of demanding an independence referendum that could split the United Kingdom, a Savanta Comres/The Scotsman poll indicated. The Scottish National Party (SNP) wants a majority in the devolved parliament to demand another referendum though British Prime Minister […]
