Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from March, 2018

Bringing new languages from around the world to Gboard for Android

From the busy city streets of India to the remote islands of Samoa, Gboard helps people all over the world get their point across—whether that's through a spot-on GIF, a cute emoji or a regular text. We’re always working to improve Gboard for people wherever they are, no matter which language they’re typing in. Best VPN:click here Today, we’re bringing Chinese (both traditional and simplified Chinese) and Korean—plus twenty additional languages—to Gboard for Android. We heard from our users that these were the top two languages we needed to add to the keyboard, and now, Gboard for Android supports over 300 language varieties (covering 74% of the world’s population). You can see the full list of supported languages here, and the new ones will be rolling out worldwide over the next few days. Gboard Chinese Though today’s update includes some of the world’s most widely-spoken languages, we’re equally focused on making sure lesser-known languages, like Manx and Maori, are repres

Find out how journalists across the world use technology today

How do journalists use technology around the world? A new interactive explorer produced by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and Google News Lab makes it easy to dig into a wealth of new survey data from hundreds of newsrooms worldwide. Best VPN:click here Aimed at gauging how well journalists are keeping pace with the tech revolution, the survey report garnered responses from more than 2,000 newsroom managers and journalists across 130 countries. The data explorer allows you sift through this unprecedented dataset and surface new findings that shed light on trends in your region and around the world. You can filter by variables such as job position and newsroom type, as well as download the aggregated, anonymized survey data for further analysis. Best VPN:click here

Getting off the beaten path in Paris

Most tourists visiting Paris make a beeline for the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, but if you want to feel like a local, there are countless other places to go. Here are a three of my favorite spots. Best VPN:click here Canal Saint-Martin You may have strolled along the Seine River, but have you explored the Canal Saint Martin? Here, you’ll find people sitting along the banks of the canal strumming guitars, drinking wine, and picnicking. There are also plenty of shops and restaurants to check out right off of the canal. La Coulée Verte (La Promenade Plantée) This is a former railroad line that has been transformed into a peaceful greenway. This 2.8 mile/4.5 km pedestrian route starts at the Opéra Bastille (Bastille opera house) and ends at the Bois de Vincennes, Paris’s largest park. You’ll walk on footbridges, traverse tunnels, and pass under arcades covered in greenery. Bois de Boulogne The Bois de Boulogne is a large public park in western Paris that once served as a hunti

Hiking Yosemite’s Four-Mile Trail

Yosemite is one of America’s great national parks. And one of the park’s best features is its waterfalls. On my last trip to Yosemite, I hiked up the Mist Trail to see Vernal and Nevada Falls. On this trip, I decided to do the Four-Mile Trail for views of Yosemite Falls. Best VPN:click here The Four-Mile Trail’s name is a little deceptive, as it’s about 4.8 miles one-way. After soaking in vistas of Yosemite Falls and El Capitan, you end up at Glacier Point, where you can finally see Half Dome. Glacier Point can be crowded, as many visitors drive here instead of hiking.  If you have energy after your ascent, you can return to your starting point for a 9.6-mile hike. Or, if you’re tired, you can take the free park shuttle back to the Valley (open seasonally). I loved this hike and seeing the waterfall from this vantage point. Next time, I’ll try the Yosemite Falls Trail for even closer waterfall views. Best VPN:click here

I’m a San Franciscan, but I still love New York

I’ve lived in San Francisco for nine years, and I lived in NYC for four years before that. While I enjoy my new home, here are some things I miss about the Big Apple. Best VPN:click here 1. The energy.   The second I arrive in New York, I’m energized by the size of the buildings, the number of people (~10x more than in San Francisco), and the seemingly unlimited number of things to do. New York truly is a city that never sleeps. Whether you’re up at 6 am or out until 4 am, you can find something exciting to do. 2.  The summers.   San Francisco weather is mild and pleasant most of the year, but I really miss warm summer days (and nights). While it rarely reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius) in San Francisco, New York summers are sweltering. Since New Yorkers know their warm weather isn’t going to last, people also make the most of the season with outdoor movie screenings, alfresco dining, rooftop get-togethers, and more. 3. The public transportation system.  

Exploring Beyond the Skyscrapers: Hiking in Hong Kong

When people think about Hong Kong, they often picture a megalopolis with endless skyscrapers. When I think of Hong Kong, I picture something totally different—nature!  Best VPN:click here On a recent trip to the island, I learned that the Hong Kong is a true hiker’s paradise, with four major hiking trails and many other ones, too. The four major trails are The Hong Kong Trail (31 mi/50 km, 8 sections), the Maclehose Trail (62 mi/100 km, 10 sections), the Lantau Trail (43 mi/70 km, 12 sections), and the Wilson Trail (48 mi/78 km, 10 sections). After hiking over 70 miles/110 km on these trails, my favorite hike of all was section 3 of the Lantau Trail. On this hike, you climb Hong Kong’s second highest peak, Lantau Peak (3,065 feet/934 meters). You then descend into the village of Ngong Ping, where you can see the Tian Tian giant Buddha (34 meters or 111 feet tall) and visit the Po Lin Monastery. For people wanting to hike a little closer to the city center, Victoria Peak is another g

Summer days in Santorini

I had always wanted to go to Greece, and when I finally went, it was better than I could have imagined. The first part of my trip was to Santorini, and the island’s beauty was breathtaking. If you’re lucky enough to find yourself on this small dot in the Aegean Sea, here are some fun activities to make your trip memorable: Best VPN:click here 1. Visit a volcano.  Take a quick boat cruise to Nea Kameni, an uninhabited island just off the coast of Santorini. You can climb about 425 feet (130 meters) to view a crater and walk around its rim. 2. Swim in hot springs.  Just next to Nea Kameni is Palea Kameni, another island where you can experience natural hot springs. But don’t worry, the water isn’t scalding—it feels just like a bath! 3. Rent a scooter or quad bike.  If you have an adventurous side, rent an alternative form of transportation and feel the wind whip through your hair as you explore the island. 4. Visit black and red beaches.  Most of Santorini’s beaches are made of dark v

White House Communications Director Hope Hicks resigning

White House communications director Hope Hicks, one of the President Donald Trump's most trusted and longest-serving aides, abruptly announced her resignation Wednesday, leaving a void around a president who values loyalty and affirmation. Hicks, the president's communications director, was among his longest-serving aides and seen as extraordinarily loyal  Hicks, the president's communications director, was among his longest-serving aides and seen as extraordinarily loyal The departure of Hicks, who worked as a one-woman communications shop during his campaign, came as a surprise to most in the White House — and cast a pall over the West Wing at a trying time for the president. It leaves Trump increasingly without support of the familiar aides who surrounded him during his campaign, and marks the latest in a string of high-level departures in the administration's second year. Hicks, 29, had a seemingly untouchable role in the West Wing, often viewed more as a surro

Trump says U.S. to impose tariffs on steel, aluminum imports

WASHINGTON, March 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump saidhere on Thursday that he would impose tariffs on imports of steeland aluminum products, in a move he said would protect U.S.industry, but which experts said could hurt U.S. producers and facelegal challenges from trade partners. The United States is set to impose 25 percent of tariff on steelimports and 10 percent for aluminum, Trump said after a meetingwith business executives. "We'll be signing it next week. And you'll have protection for along time in a while," said Trump. News of the tariffs immediately hit sentiment on the WallStreet, with the Dow slumping over 500 points, more than 2 percent,in late trading. Daniel Ikenson, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, said onThursday that trade restrictions could hurt U.S. producers byexposing them to competitions from foreign rivals with lowerproduction costs capable of offering lower prices in the U.S.market. Best VPN:click here U.S. action

Trump suggests heavy penalties on drug dealers to fight opioid crisis

WASHINGTON, March 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested "the ultimate penalties" against drug dealers in a bid to fight the country's rampant opioid crisis. Best VPN:click here "Some countries have a very, very tough penalty, the ultimate penalty," Trump said at a White House opioid summit. "The answer is you have to have strength, and you have to have toughness," the president added, suggesting launching lawsuits against opioid dealers. However, the Trump administration's efforts to address drug addiction and opioid abuse "are focused on education and prevention, treatment and recovery, and law enforcement and interdiction," said a White House press release. Opioids, including prescription opioids, heroin and fentanyl, killed more than 42,000 Americans in 2016, more than any year on record, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Best VPN:click here

Waves surging, fights cancelled, power out as windstorm hits U.S. East Coast

WASHINGTON, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Strong winds, heavy rain,surging waves and sporadic snow are wreaking havoc across the U.S.East Coast on Friday, already leaving thousands of flightscancelled, power knocked out in part of Washington D.C. and over 22million residents under a coastal flood warning. Best VPN:click here "Take this storm seriously!" the National Weather Service inBoston warned via Twitter on Friday morning. "This is a LIFE &DEATH situation for those living along the coast, especially thoseocean-exposed shorelines." With the moon full, the tide is at its highest point of themonth, and the storm surge could drive as much as 4 feet (about1.22 meter) of water into coastal neighbourhoods, CNNmeteorologists said, noting more than 22 million Americans are nowunder a coastal flood warning. "Do not ride out the storm if you are told to evacuate,"Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker called for residents to beready, saying he has called in the

Man dead after shooting himself in front of White House

U.S. Secret Service agents stand guard on the north side of the White House after a man shot himself in front of the White House, Washington D.C., the United States, on March 3, 2018. The man who shot himself in front of the White House on Saturday was dead, said local police. The man, who was not identified yet, was in a large crowd when he fired the gun, the Washington Post reported, citing witnesses. (Xinhua/Yang Chenglin) WASHINGTON, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The man who shot himself in front of the White House on Saturday was dead, said local police. Best VPN:click here The man, who was not identified yet, was in a large crowd when he fired the gun, the Washington Post reported, citing witnesses. One video posted on social media showed hundreds of people running away as sirens blared in the background and emergency vehicles sped toward the scene. Secret Service spokeswoman Cathy Milhoan said the male suffered a single gunshot wound and that Secret Service personnel didn't

U.S. planned steel tariffs prompt global anger, threats of retaliation

WASHINGTON, March 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to levy tariffs on steel and aluminum imports has received worldwide criticism and retaliatory intentions from some of its closest allies. On Thursday, Trump announced his plan to impose penalties of 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on imported aluminum, which will come into effect next week. Trump's planned tariffs have sparked anger from Canada and the European Union (EU). Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Trump's plan will have "significant and serious" economic ramifications on the two nations. "The United States has a two-billion Canadian dollar surplus on steel with us, so we regard the imposition of any new tariffs or any tariffs on steel or aluminum between our two countries as absolutely unacceptable," Trudeau told a news conference on Friday. "Should restrictions be imposed on Canadian steel and aluminum products, Canada will take respons

Bloomberg appointed as UN envoy for climate action

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (R) shakes hands with former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the UN headquarters in New York, on March 5, 2018. Michael Bloomberg has been appointed as special envoy of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for climate action, the UN press service said on Monday. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has been appointed as special envoy of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for climate action, the UN press service said on Monday. Best VPN:click here Bloomberg will support the UN chief's climate strategy and efforts toward the planned 2019 Climate Summit at UN Headquarters in New York, it said. The 2019 Climate Summit will mobilize stronger and more ambitious action toward 2020 climate targets. Bloomberg will leverage efforts in key areas of the Climate Summit to encourage rapid and enhanced implementation of the Paris Agreement in the context of sustainable d

Ex-Trump campaign aide says he won't comply with Mueller subpoena

WASHINGTON, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Sam Nunberg, a former campaign aide of U.S. President Donald Trump, said Monday that he won't comply with a subpoena issued by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team over Russia investigation. Best VPN:click here "When I got the subpoena it was ridiculous to me. Why should I hand them over every email I've had with Steve Bannon or Roger Stone since November. Since November of 2015?" Nunberg said in an interview on MSNBC. "I think it would be really really funny if they wanted to arrest me because I don't want to spend 80 hours going over emails with Steve Bannon and Roger Stone." he said on MSNBC, adding that he made the decision on his own. Nunberg was summoned to appear before the grand jury on Friday and also received a two-page subpoena for documents tied to Trump and nine others, he told the Washington Post earlier. "Let him arrest me," Nunberg told the Post. "Mr. Mueller should understand

Guatemala to move embassy to Jerusalem in May: president

Guatemala will relocate its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem this May, two days after the United States shifts its mission, the Latin American country's president has announced. Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales told a cheering crowd on Sunday that "as a sovereign decision, we recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel." Speaking at the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), an influential pro-Israeli lobbying group, he said: "Under my instructions, two days after the United States moves its embassy, Guatemala will return and permanently move its embassy to Jerusalem. "I would like to thank President Trump for leading the way." Trump's decision in December to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the disputed city of Jerusalem has drawn widespread condemnation, with critics saying it damages hopes for a negotiated Middle East peace. Best VPN:click here Morales nevertheless soon followed Trump, making

Brazil files WTO protest over U.S. tariff plans

RIO DE JANEIRO, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Brazil filed a protest Monday with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the U.S. tariffs plan on steel imports and urged the White House to reconsider its decision, authorities said. Best VPN:click here Brazil told a WTO meeting that the global trading system is "not living normal times" and that the institution is "facing serious challenges, including existential" ones, said the country's foreign ministry in a statement. For Brazil, "protectionism is at the center of the threat. This recent unilateral announcement, by an important member of the WTO, takes this threat to a new level," the statement said. Brazil's protest came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced last week that he wants to levy an extra 25-percent tax on steel imports and a 10-percent tax on imported aluminum. "We have deep preoccupations on the systematic implications (of this threat), which could have severe conseque

EU warns Trump of tit-for-tat tax on U.S. icons Levi's, bourbon, Harley-Davidson

BRUSSELS, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Monday threatened to take retaliatory action by charging duty on American products if U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on European steel and aluminum. EU Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom said U.S. Levi's jeans and bourbon could be hit with a 25-percent import tax. Harley-Davidson motorcycles are also on a draft list of American goods to be taxed, according to the EU. Malmstrom said the U.S. measures would have a negative impact on transatlantic relations and global markets. Best VPN:click here Levi Strauss & Co., known worldwide for its iconic jeans, said it was strongly against trade barriers. "We support open markets and free trade where everyone plays by the rules. Unilateral tariff impositions risk retaliation and destabilizing the global economy, in which case American brands, workers and consumers will ultimately suffer," a spokesperson told the media. Trump announced last T

Trump Administration Sues California Over Immigration Laws

Gov. Jerry Brown was named in a lawsuit that seeks to block three California laws that may hinder the federal immigration agenda.CreditJim Wilson/The New York Times By Katie Benner and Jennifer Medina Best VPN:click here March 6, 2018 WASHINGTON — The Trump administration escalated what had been a war of words over California’s immigration agenda, filing a lawsuit late Tuesday that amounted to a pre-emptive strike against the liberal state’s so-called sanctuary laws. The Justice Department sued California; Gov. Jerry Brown; and the state’s attorney general, Xavier Becerra, over three state laws passed in recent months, saying they made it impossible for federal immigration officials to do their jobs and deport criminals who were born outside the United States. The Justice Department called the laws unconstitutional and asked a judge to block them. The lawsuit was the department’s boldest attack yet against California, one of the strongest opponents of the Trump administration

Gary Cohn, Trump’s top economic adviser, to resign amid differences on trade policy

Gary Cohn, President Trump’s top economic adviser, announced on March 6 that he is resigning amid disagreements over trade policy. (Video: Bastien Inzaurralde/Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Best VPN:click here By Damian Paletta and Philip Rucker March 7 at 5:57 AM Email the author Gary Cohn, the White House’s top economic adviser, announced Tuesday that he was leaving the administration amid a major internal clash over President Trump’s sharp and sudden pivot toward protectionist trade policies. The departure of Cohn, a former president of Goldman Sachs who had been an interlocutor between the Trump administration and the business community, is the latest jolt to a White House that has been especially tumultuous in recent weeks and unable to retain some of its top talent. His resignation as National Economic Council director will leave the White House without a financial heavyweight who business executives and foreign leaders believed had served as a counter to Tru

Stocks are set to tank after Wall Street-friendly Cohn resigns

Dow Jones industrial average futures indicated an open of more than 300 points lower. Industrials stocks Caterpillar and Boeing fell more than 2 percent in extended trading. Gary Cohn, former Goldman Sachs president and COO, was seen as supporting more business-friendly policies. Evelyn Cheng | @chengevelyn Best VPN:click here Published 12 Hours Ago Updated 4 Mins Ago CNBC.com People walk outside of the New York Stock Exchange in New York City. FM Final Trade: Now that Cohn's gone, what's next 11 Hours Ago | 01:00 U.S. stock index futures pointed to a sharply lower open on Wednesday after news that White House chief economic advisor Gary Cohn has resigned. Dow Jones industrial average futures indicated a drop of more than 300 points at the open, while the S&P 500 futures implied a decline of about 1 percent. Industrials stocks Caterpillar and Boeing fell more than 2 percent in extended trading. Cohn, former Goldman Sachs president and COO, was seen as suppor