25 December - Netvibes - Breaking News

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Volkswagen to unveil new I.D. model, autonomous vehicle at Detroit auto show - MLive.com - MLive.comVolkswagen to unveil new I.D. model, autonomous vehicle at Detroit auto showMLive.comVolkswagen has released some teaser shots of an I.D. family model, multi-purpose vehicle to be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. In the three teaser photos, VW teases what looks to be a classic headlight above the ...VW Tiguan Allspace bows in DetroitWheels.caVolkswagen Releases Teaser Shots Of Its Electric Microbus Concept [Video]Auto World Newsall 3 news articles »14 min

Google's self-driving cars have driven over 2 million miles - but they still need work in one key area - Business Insider - Business InsiderGoogle's self-driving cars have driven over 2 million miles - but they still need work in one key areaBusiness InsiderWhen it comes to self-driving cars, an old adage still holds true: it's quality, not quantity. Google has been developing its cars since 2009 and one of its favorite stats to share about the project is that its self-driving cars have driven over 2 ...Waymo (Google/Alphabet) & Honda Collaborating On Self-Driving TechCleanTechnicaGoogle's Self-Driving Car Project Gets a New Name: WaymoSci-Tech TodayIs Honda Getting Ready To Enter The Autonomous Car Market?CarBuzzall 7 news articles »24 min

Faster Windows 10 Mobile Devices Promised by Microsoft, Qualcomm - Top Tech News - CIO TodayFaster Windows 10 Mobile Devices Promised by Microsoft, QualcommTop Tech NewsMicrosoft said yesterday that it is paving the way for easier, faster Windows 10 computing on mobile devices with new support from Qualcomm's Snapdragon ARM processors. The partnership, announced at a Windows hardware engineering event in China, ...How to get all set up on your brand-new desktop or laptop computerDigital TrendsMicrosoft Draws in Business Users with Windows 10 Creators UpdateCIO TodayBugs and Fixes on Windows 10 UpdateNeurogadgetAmazinessNet (blog) -Windows IT Proall 10 news articles »24 min

Broadband internet decision welcomed by indigenous groups - CTV News - CTV NewsBroadband internet decision welcomed by indigenous groupsCTV NewsWINNIPEG -- As grand chief of an organization representing northern Manitoba First Nations, Sheila North Wilson has a lot of experience dealing with spotty Internet and cell phone service. North Wilson carries two phones -- one which she says works ...and more »11:56

John Glenn, Astronaut, Hero and US Senator, Dies at 95 - Sci-Tech Today - Sci-Tech TodayJohn Glenn, Astronaut, Hero and US Senator, Dies at 95Sci-Tech TodayHe became a hero as the first American to orbit the Earth and then served as a longtime U.S. senator. But John Glenn, who died Thursday at age 95, continued to defy gravity decades after his initial flight. The last survivor of the original Mercury 7 ...Column: John Glenn just wanted to get out of OhioPrescott Daily CourierShaw: John Glenn, a hero for the agesBattle Creek EnquirerAstronaut John Glenn (right) undergoing training. (NASA)Fox5NYShelbyville Times-Gazette -Pueblo Chieftainall 7 news articles »11:32

Volkswagen to unveil new I.D. model, autonomous vehicle at Detroit auto show - MLive.com - MLive.comVolkswagen to unveil new I.D. model, autonomous vehicle at Detroit auto showMLive.comVolkswagen has released some teaser shots of an I.D. family model, multi-purpose vehicle to be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. In the three teaser photos, VW teases what looks to be a classic headlight above the ...and more »11:26

A Few Things Every iPhone Owner Should Know - MustTech News - MustTech NewsA Few Things Every iPhone Owner Should KnowMustTech NewsIf you just got an iPhone, you're probably enjoying it, but you're also probably struggling to master your phone's numerous features. Don't let the advanced features scare you. Instead, read the following article so that you can learn how to unlock the ...BBB helps bust myths about smartphone battery safetyMDJOnline.comall 4 news articles »11:12

BBB helps bust myths about smartphone battery safety - MDJOnline.com -

RCMP recover $30000 ATV reported stolen in Lewisporte - The Telegram - The TelegramRCMP recover $30000 ATV reported stolen in LewisporteThe TelegramRCMP recovered this ATV near Botwood and believe it's the machine reported stolen from a Lewisporte business in November. ©Submitted photo. A $30,000 all-terrain vehicle reported stolen on Nov. 10 was recovered on Christmas Eve, thanks to a tip given ...Mailboxes vandalized in Botwood, mail being held by RCMPCBC.caRCMP recover stolen generators on Tibb's EveAdvertiserall 5 news articles »4 min

Author Joseph Boyden defends indigenous heritage after investigation - TheChronicleHerald.ca - TheChronicleHerald.caAuthor Joseph Boyden defends indigenous heritage after investigationTheChronicleHerald.caA celebrated Canadian author who writes about First Nations heritage and culture is defending himself on Twitter after his ancestry was questioned. In a statement posted to his Twitter account, Joseph Boyden said he is of "mostly Celtic heritage," but ...Author Joseph Boyden responds to APTN article about his indigenous identityStraight.comall 2 news articles »59 min

Special Weather Statement: strong winds and snow on boxing day - CKNW News Talk 980 - CKNW News Talk 980Special Weather Statement: strong winds and snow on boxing dayCKNW News Talk 980While the weather looks good Christmas Day, its going to be a different story for boxing day. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley with strong winds and snowfall expected to impact land and ...What to do on Christmas Day in the Lower MainlandPeace Arch NewsCrisp Christmas Day, Boxing Day snow possibleVancouver Sunall 3 news articles »08:31

Flight diverted to Shannon Airport after woman becomes seriously ill on board - The Irish Sun - The Irish SunFlight diverted to Shannon Airport after woman becomes seriously ill on boardThe Irish SunA US-bound passenger flight turned around over the Atlantic in the early hours of Christmas Day and diverted to Shannon Airport with a seriously ill woman. The Israeli airline flight was travelling from Tel Aviv to Boston in the US at the time. Shannon ...and more »08:21

Toronto to London flight diverted to Ireland; 10-year-old passenger dead - CTV News - CTV NewsToronto to London flight diverted to Ireland; 10-year-old passenger deadCTV NewsAn Air Canada flight from Toronto to London, England was forced to make a stop in Ireland due to a passenger medical emergency Saturday evening. Air Canada has confirmed the 10-year-old child has died. Carrying 230 passengers, flight AC 868 landed at ...Could the cheap Boston - Cork flights hurt Shannon Airport?IrishCentralEL AL jet diverted to Shannon in medical emergencyRTE.ieAnother flight has been diverted to Shannon because of a "medical emergency"JOEThe Irish Sun -Bowling Green Daily Newsall 35 news articles »08:11

Girl, 10, dies after falling ill during Toronto to London Air Canada flight - CBC.ca - CBC.caGirl, 10, dies after falling ill during Toronto to London Air Canada flightCBC.caA 10-year-old girl died Saturday after falling ill aboard a transatlantic Air Canada flight. The airline says Toronto-to-London flight AC868 diverted to Shannon, Ireland, after the child suffered a medical problem. Air Canada says a doctor and a nurse ...Girl, 10, dies after Air Canada flight from Toronto to Heathrow divertsGlobalnews.caChild, 10, dies after medical incident on Toronto-London flightCP24 Toronto's Breaking NewsChristmas tragedy as ten-year-old girl dies after transatlantic flight to Heathrow gets diverted to IrelandIrish MirrorIrishCentral -thejournal.ie -JOE -Telegraph.co.ukall 35 news articles »08:01

Careful on the roads: Ottawa under freezing rain warning for Boxing Day - Ottawa Citizen - Ottawa CitizenCareful on the roads: Ottawa under freezing rain warning for Boxing DayOttawa CitizenThe freezing rain is expected to start late in the morning on Monday. Ottawa Citizen. Share Adjust Comment Print. You might want to get outside on Christmas Day and enjoy the clear skies while they last, because nasty weather is coming for Monday.Freezing rain warning for Boxing DayBayTodayFreezing rain expected in Parry Sound, Muskoka starting on Boxing Daywww.muskokaregion.com/Freezing Rain Warning Issued For the Sault and AreaSaultOnline.comall 4 news articles »07:51

Montreal man seriously injured after crashing car into concrete wall - CBC.ca - CBC.caMontreal man seriously injured after crashing car into concrete wallCBC.caA 26-year-old man is in hospital with serious injuries after he lost control of his car and hit a concrete wall early Christmas morning. Montreal police say a number of calls came in for a collision on Iberville Street just north of Mont-Royal Avenue ...26-year-old driver in critical condition after high-speed crash in Plateau-Mont-RoyalMontreal Gazetteall 3 news articles »07:51

Girl, 10, dies after falling ill during Toronto to London Air Canada flight - CBC.ca - CBC.caGirl, 10, dies after falling ill during Toronto to London Air Canada flightCBC.caA 10-year-old girl died Saturday after falling ill aboard a transatlantic Air Canada flight. The airline says Toronto-to-London flight AC868 diverted to Shannon, Ireland, after the child suffered a medical problem. Air Canada says a doctor and a nurse ...Girl, 10, dies after Air Canada flight from Toronto to Heathrow divertsGlobalnews.caGirl dies after falling ill on transatlantic Air Canada flightToronto StarToronto to London flight diverted to Ireland; 10-year-old passenger deadCTV NewsCP24 Toronto's Breaking News -Irish Mirror -IrishCentral -Metroall 36 news articles »07:41

Christmas morning brings power outages, weather statement for Nova Scotia - CBC.ca - CBC.caChristmas morning brings power outages, weather statement for Nova ScotiaCBC.caAbout 4,000 Nova Scotia Power customers woke Christmas morning to find they had no electricity. The bulk of households and businesses affected were in Antigonish County, where 2,229 customers had no power, and Cape Breton Regional Municipality ...Power outages, wind warnings for Cape BretonTheChronicleHerald.caCape Breton flood victims deserve more help from governmentCape Breton PostNova Scotians wake to sunny Christmas DayThe Hants Journalall 4 news articles »07:27

Death toll in Mexico fireworks explosion rises to 36 - MetroNews Canada - MetroNews CanadaDeath toll in Mexico fireworks explosion rises to 36MetroNews CanadaPeople accompany the coffin that contain the remains of Martina Almazan, a victim of the massive fireworks explosion, in Tultepec, Mexico, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016. A downtown Tultepec Catholic church hosted funeral Masses throughout the day Thursday ...Mexico firework blast death toll up to 36NEWS.com.auMexico Fireworks Death Toll Now 36FOX40Death toll rises to 36 in Mexico fireworks blastsTimes of IndiaMexico News Daily -Shahernama -Pulse Nigeria -MyStatesman.comall 17 news articles »7 min

Trump says closing charitable foundation - Shepparton News - Trump says closing charitable foundationShepparton NewsU.S President-elect Donald Trump says he intends to dissolve his charitable foundation, the Donald J. Trump Foundation, to avoid any conflict with his role as president. Trump said in a statement that he doesn't want "to allow good work to be ...and more »11:57

Putin, Rowhani welcome Aleppo 'victory' - Al-Arabiya - Al-ArabiyaPutin, Rowhani welcome Aleppo 'victory'Al-ArabiyaVladimir Putin and Iran's President Hassan Rowhani reportedly welcomed the 'Syrian army's victory against the terrorists in Aleppo.' (File photo: AFP). AFP, Tehran Sunday, 25 December 2016. Text size A A A. Iran's President Hassan Rowhani and his ...and more »11:47

Donald Trump Foundation to be dissolved, president-elect says - The Boston Globe - The Boston GlobeDonald Trump Foundation to be dissolved, president-elect saysThe Boston GlobePresident-elect Donald Trump said he plans to shut down his charitable foundation, a decision that comes after repeated controversies over how it collected and disbursed funds. In a statement Saturday, Trump offered no timeline for when his foundation ...and more »10:16

Queen's cold keeps her from traditional Christmas church service - CBC.ca - CBC.caQueen's cold keeps her from traditional Christmas church serviceCBC.caA heavy cold kept Queen Elizabeth from attending the traditional Christmas morning church service near her Sandringham estate in rural Norfolk, England. In the meantime, though, the Queen's annual Christmas message, recorded well before Dec. 25, was ...Queen Elizabeth II misses Christmas service due to 'heavy cold,' praises athletes in pre-taped addressOttawa CitizenWatch Queen Elizabeth's 2016 Christmas Day Address Celebrating 'Unsung Heroes'TIMEQueen Elizabeth II Sick On Christmas, Forced To Skip Sandringham ServiceHuffington Post CanadaThe Guardian -AOL News -9news.com.au -BBC Newsall 156 news articles »10:06

Michelle Obama answers calls from children tracking Santa on Christmas Eve - Daily Mail - Daily MailMichelle Obama answers calls from children tracking Santa on Christmas EveDaily MailMichelle Obama has helped make holiday wishes come true by helping children track how much progress Santa had made on his gift-giving journey on Christmas Eve. The first lady joined military personnel by answering phone calls and emails on Saturday ...Michelle Obama fields calls from kids checking in on 'NORAD Tracks Santa'Globalnews.caSanta's on his way: NORAD tracking Christmas Eve journeyCTV NewsIqaluit children hope Santa stops at their houses firstCBC.caKATU -ABC Online -KelownaNow -WBIR.comall 87 news articles »09:36

Obama's policies set table for catastrophe in Aleppo - Albuquerque Journal - Albuquerque JournalObama's policies set table for catastrophe in AleppoAlbuquerque JournalWASHINGTON – The fall of Aleppo just weeks before Barack Obama leaves office is a fitting stamp on his Middle East policy of retreat and withdrawal. The pitiable pictures from the devastated city showed the true cost of Obama's abdication. For which he ...and more »09:26

Magnitude 7.7 earthquake shakes chile - CTV News - CTV NewsMagnitude 7.7 earthquake shakes chileCTV NewsSANTIAGO, Chile -- A powerful earthquake shook southern Chile on Sunday, but there were no immediate reports of deaths and only minor known damage. The U.S. Geological Survey put the quake's magnitude at 7.6 and said it struck at 11:22 a.m. local ...Earthquake hits Chile: Tsunami warning issued after powerful 7.7-magnitude quake hits south of countryThe IndependentTsunami warning after magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes in southern ChileTelegraph.co.ukall 86 news articles »09:11

Updated: Let GSPS know you've checked your property for missing boy - Sudbury.com - Sudbury.comUpdated: Let GSPS know you've checked your property for missing boySudbury.comEnoch kim, 16, reported missing dec 21 2016 in west end of Sudbury, last seen on Kelly Lake Road, headed toward Lorne Street, 11:20 p.m. Dec. 20. Updated Dec. 24 at 2:40 p.m.. The search continues for missing 16-year-old Enoch Kim. Officers are in the ...and more »08:16

Animal shelter celebrates when all its dogs adopted in time for Christmas - WSB Atlanta - WSB AtlantaAnimal shelter celebrates when all its dogs adopted in time for ChristmasWSB AtlantaAll of the dogs at the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, a nonprofit animal shelter in Colorado Springs, have been adopted thanks to the shelter's "Bring Them Home for the Holidays" campaign. The shelter waived pet adoption fees for those ...600 rats removed from North Bay, Ont. apartmentCTV NewsColorado area Humane Society celebrates empty kennels during adoption eventWCVB BostonSix hundred rats taken from apartment in North Bay to be put up for adoptionCP24 Toronto's Breaking NewsCBC.ca -KHOU.com -KRON4.com -Daily Mailall 41 news articles »08:06

Mashable!

With the queen out sick for Christmas, everyone is wishing her well - The queen of England's Christmas plans were thrown off by a cold and everyone is worried about her. Queen Elizabeth II was unable to join the royal family at her traditional Christmas morning services near their country estate outside of Norwich, England. The 90-year-old queen was staying inside to recover from what Buckingham Palace called a "heavy cold," but was planning to join her family for holiday festivities later in the day. This is the first time in almost 30 years the queen hasn't gone to Christmas church services, so she really must not be feeling well. SEE ALSO: Prince George was so cute this year we can hardly bear it Read more...More about Church, Christmas, Prince George, Queen Of England, and Lifestyle12:04

'Fuller House' Season 3 confirmed in an appropriately cheesy Instagram - Did you really think Season 2 — which came to Netflix on Dec. 9 — would be the end of Fuller House? No way, Jose. After delivering a double-whammy of nostalgia with two seasons in 2016, the Netflix-produced revival of the hit '90s sitcom Full House will return in 2017.  SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'Fuller House' Mr. Bear toy is the shared-viewing experience we want The whole family — plus Kimmy — gathered together on Christmas Eve to announce the news via Instagram. This gift’s for you. 🎁Fuller House Season 3, coming 2017. A video posted by Fuller House (@fullerhouse) on Dec 24, 2016 at 4:05pm PSTRead more... More about Netflix, Full House, Fuller House, Tv, and Entertainment12:02

J.K. Rowling tweeted this heartwarming Christmas message to her fans - Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is spreading some Christmas joy and realness on Twitter this holiday season. Rowling dedicated part of her Christmas Eve to tweeting about the difficulties of the holiday season as represented on social media.  SEE ALSO: There's a hidden easter egg on J.K. Rowling's new website Instead of simply sharing a family photo and wishing her fans well, Rowling instead decided to be a little more honest about the holiday season, acknowledging that not everyone has everything they want or need this Christmas.  I’ve had so many lovely messages wishing me a merry Christmas. Thank you! 1/12 — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 24, 2016 Read more... More about Film, Entertainment, Books, Jk Rowling, and Harry Potter11:58

Being a human is rough, so here is my application to be a dog - To Whom it May Concern: Hello! I am writing to express my interest in transforming my human self into that of a dog. I was thrilled to come across the opening you advertised and am confident I would be an excellent choice for this position. First, I am a longtime fan of dogs, and have been very impressed with the dozens of good dogs I have met throughout my lifetime. It has been my longstanding belief that dogs are good and humans are bad. For example, dogs have never declined to release their tax returns, and are not weird about mixing different foods together. And to my knowledge, a dog has never cheated at Egyptian Ratscrew by constantly holding its paw above the deck even though its seat is already the closest to the middle of the table. Read more...More about Humor and Watercooler11:00

Snapchat pushing for more AR with latest reported purchase - If the reports are true, your next Snapchat filter could include an even better dose of augmented reality — and might make online shopping even easier. An Israeli business news site, Calcalist, reported on Christmas Day that Israel-based start-up Cimagine Media has been purchased by the disappearing photo app in a $30- to $40 million acquisition. Cimagine uses AR in the retail space by allowing customers to "place" a piece of furniture or an appliance in their home to see how it would look before purchasing. As VentureBeat reported, this could be a push for Snap to get into commerce and shopping through its app.  Read more...More about Augmented Reality, Snapchat, Business, Startups, and Apps Software10:57

Super Typhoon Nock-Ten hammers Philippines - This is not the Christmas gift people in the Philippines were hoping for. Super Typhoon Nock-Ten slammed into the eastern parts of Luzon on Christmas Day with 155-mile-per-hour sustained winds, becoming the strongest such storm to make landfall there so late in the year.  This is not the first typhoon to hit the disaster-prone nation on Christmas, but it is the most intense, by a considerable margin. Previous Christmas typhoons were Category 2 or 3 storms, according to Weather Underground, whereas Nock-Ten (known as Typhoon Nina in the Philippines) hit the equivalent of a high-end Category 4 storm.  Read more...More about Science, Typhoon, Manila, Philippines, and Typhoon Nina09:07

The latest Run the Jewels album is out now, three weeks early - Years from now, we'll look back on this year and think, "Ok fine, 2016 wasn't all bad." First it was Chance the Rapper and Jeremih's Christmas mixtape, and now it's Run the Jewels — the hip hop duo featuring El-P and Killer Mike — with a surprise early release for their latest album, Run the Jewels 3. The album was originally expected to drop on Jan. 13. SEE ALSO: When Run the Jewels meets Nintendo's eShop, magic happens A bona fide Christmas miracle if there ever was one. Listen right here, or through your own streaming music provider of choice. The duo's first and second albums — Run the Jewels and Run the Jewels 2 — arrived in 2013 and 2014, respectively. A remix album called Meow the Jewels followed in 2015, and singles from RTJ3 — "Legend Has It," "2100," "Talk To Me," and "Panther Like A Panther" — have been scattered across 2016. Read more...More about Run The Jewels, Music, and Entertainment08:53

These 4-year-olds learning to share is too real - If you've ever had to deal with a young child, you'd know about how it can be a challenging task trying to teach them how to share. But it does make for good — albeit slightly cruel — television. SEE ALSO: All parents of troublemakers will love this dangerous Christmas card Just look at this clip from British TV show The Secret Life of 4-Year-Olds, which has been getting shared around social media quite a bit. The show is set in a nursery, and five children have been given gifts which they all open on camera. One of them, Skyla, has an extra bar of chocolate in her present. She's then hounded by the other children to share it, even though she clearly doesn't want to.  Read more...More about Conversations, Tv, Television, and Watercooler08:00

Xenomorphs are back in the first trailer for 'Alien: Covenant' - Start your Christmas off right: with blood spatter and alien murder. Fox delivered the gift of an Alien: Covenant trailer late on Christmas Eve. After teasing audiences with a return to the Alien universe in 2012's Prometheus, director Ridley Scott appears to be going all-in this time.  There's a hatching egg, a facehugger, and yes, a brief glimpse of the series' iconic Xenomorph alien, which seems to remain true to the original design by H.R. Giger and Carlo Rimbaldi. This is a red band trailer, so keep the kids away as you watch itAlien: Covenant arrives in theaters on May 19, 2017. Chewbacca singing 'Silent Night' is what you need right now Beyoncé impressionist hits all the right notes in this brilliant Christmas song mashup Will Ferrell returns as an evil 'Elf' this holiday season This Christmas dance video is, well, you just need to see it for yourself Read more... More about Fox, Alien Covenant, Ridley Scott, Film, and Entertainment07:42

This brilliant iPhone device projects bedtime stories to your kids - Moonlite is a clip-on reel that uses your iPhone's flash to project bedtime stories. Read more...More about Mashable Video, Iphone Accessories, Kickstarter, Invention, and Projector07:00

TechCrunch

Will technology prevent the next food shortage crisis? -  According to scientists, the answer to an impending food shortage might be found in a new age of digital technologies that have proven their worth in different fields and have the potential to transform agriculture and food production and meet the consumption needs of the growing human population before we’re driven to eat cockroaches — or worse, each other. Read More 10:00

Snapchat has quietly acquired an Israeli startup for a reported $30 million to $40 million -  Snapchat sewed up its first acquisition in Israel this week, according to the outlet Calcalist News. It acquired four-year-old Cimagine, whose augmented realty lets consumers instantly visualize products they want to buy in their intended location, paying what Calcalist says was between $30 million and $40 million. According to its LinkedIn page, Cimagine currently works with brands like… Read More 07:26

Dear Air Canada: a systems analysis of a comically colossal cascading failure -  I’ll be blunt; I’m here to vent my fury. On your behalf, dear reader! Honest. When a corporation gets things terribly wrong, those of us with platforms need to turn our wrath upon them. It’s the only feedback that actually matters. But there’s a larger issue here: the way that poisonously rigid corporate software, when it meets reality, can cause whole companies to… Read More 07:00

Italian incubator H-Farm prepares for a new crop with a campus slated to open in 2018 -  There’s a farm outside of Venice, Italy, that cultivates tech talent the way that other farms grow crops. Read More 24 Dec

Technology and today’s vast and immensely underserved mental health population -  Someone in your life is suffering from a mental disorder right now. You may not know it, but it’s there. Indeed, one in five adults suffers from a mental disorder. Society has trained us to believe mental illness is something to be ashamed of, so a majority of the afflicted hide it and go untreated. I’d like to say we’re becoming more accepting as a society, but … Read More 24 Dec

After having its infrastructure shuttered, CyanogenMod will live on as Lineage -  The days leading up to the holiday have been a real roller coaster ride for Cyanogen fans. Yesterday, Cyanogen Inc. unceremoniously pulled the plug on its support for CyanogenOS in a short post declaring that “all services and Cyanogen-supported nightly builds will be discontinued” by the year’s end. In a post today titled “A Fork in the Road,” the team behind… Read More 24 Dec

The broken edtech ecosystem investors once avoided is changing -  Previously considered risky investments, it’s true that many edtech startups — commonly founded by “teacherpreneurs” hell bent on mending education through tech innovation — either tank or fail to achieve true scale. Why is this the case, when basic reasoning leads us to believe there is no other professional better placed to address the issues facing education… Read More 24 Dec

Tim Curry will read you ‘A Christmas Carol’ from your Amazon Echo -  It’s the time of year when we find ourselves together with our loved ones, gathered around the warming seasonal glow of our smart home devices. And for those who managed to snag an Echo before the device sold out seemingly everywhere, Amazon’s got a fun little Easter egg (nog). From now until Jan. 3, 2017, Alexa customers can listen to a holiday classic for free. #JustAsk… Read More 24 Dec

Fitbit ends one Jawbone patent case seeking to block device import -  It’s a minor holiday miracle. Wearable device leaders Fitbit and Jawbone have been locked in a prolonged legal battle for well over a year, and yesterday Fitbit dropped one of the key pursuits against its fellow fitness manufacturer, dropping a patent violation complaint filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission. Fitbit cited Jawbone’s recent financial woes as part of… Read More 24 Dec

The reality of VR/AR trial -  If you haven’t heard about VR/AR by now, your desert island must not have Wi-Fi. But there are millions of folks who know about VR/AR who haven’t seen it yet. User trial is on the critical path for VR/AR to go mass market. So what are the lessons from previous digital platforms about moving mass consumers from awareness to trial? Read More 24 Dec

Boing Boing

A Trump Christmas Carol - Roz Kaveney, Laurie Penny, John Scalzi, and Jo Walton: "Democracy was dead to begin with. There was no doubt whatsoever about that. The election proclaimed it and the electoral college confirmed it and Trump himself signed off on the note, vaguely annoyed that Clinton had somehow still gotten 2.9 million votes more than he had. Well, they were from California. Everyone knew California didn’t count." (more…)53 min

When up on Deck 9 there arose such a clatter - I sprang to the bridge to see what was the matter (via Atomic Chronoscaph) 11:32

Machine burns fades into denim with lasers - In the age of fast fashion, it's too slow and expensive to pay humans to hand-distress denim for impatient shoppers. Golden Laser makes machines that laser print fades onto jeans—as in literally burn off the dye with a goddamn laser—while playing epic orchestral music. 09:59

Save $114 on this washable pet furniture protector - While generally good for maintaining household cleanliness, banishing my pets from my furniture isn't realistic. With hopes of keeping my couch free from dirty paws, hair, and slobber, I picked up one of these Reversible Pet Furniture Protectors.This 21” x 34” water- and soil-resistant pad protects your upholstery while giving your pet a comfortable place to relax. The reversible black and silver lining provides a choice of color to cover vulnerable fabric without clashing with your decor.Easily cleanable in the washing machine, this furniture protector has been a necessary addition to my pet-friendly home. I highly suggest you get onboard and snag one for just $25.99, 81% off retail.03:00

Just in time for Hanukkah: Maccabees and Menorahs, a dreidel powered RPG - Randy sez, "Maccabees and Menorahs is a one page RPG played with a dreidel and gelt. Designed to run over 8 short sessions, one for each night of Hanukkah." (more…)24 Dec

Visualizing 24 hours of subway activity in New York City - Will Geary created this colorful and soothing data visualization of a day's worth of subway routes around the Big Apple. (more…)24 Dec

Decapitated santa head atop a Christmas tree - This is why I eat at Dennys.24 Dec

Are you really the universe itself? Alan Watts set to film clips - Many Alan Watts fans try to help others connect with his ideas by layering them with images and music. This worthy entry by David Lindberg examines the nature of the self and our relationship to the universe, set to a number of recent philosophically-minded films. (more…)24 Dec

Tribute album to help pay radical singer Anne Feeney's cancer bills - Evan Greer writes, "Anne Feeney has been raising hell with an acoustic guitar since you were in diapers. She's toured the world, rambling from protest to picket line with the likes of Pete Seeger and Billy Bragg. She was the first woman to become the president of a musicians union in the U.S. and has raised tens of thousands of dollars for striking workers. Anne has been battling cancer, and winning! for the past several years, prompting Anne's daughter, Amy Sue Berlin, to gather a notable lineup of musicians to contribute to a tribute album for Anne, with acts like punk icons Anti-Flag, Peter Yarrow (of Peter Paul and Mary), and Dan Bern covering her rabble rousing songs. With the fights we have ahead of us in the next four years and beyond, we're we're gonna need songs like these stuck in our heads." 24 Dec

Watch Saturday Night Live crew remove an entire set between bits - It only takes 100 seconds for a crack SNL crew in stage blacks to clear a multi-panel set from downstage between the Trump cold open and host Casey Affleck's monologue. The teamwork is incredible in this behind-the-scenes video. (more…)24 Dec

Gizmodo

The Only Comic You Should Read Today Features Santa Beating the Crap Out of Krampus

11 Netflix Picks You Can Watch With the Whole Family

Russian Military Jet Carrying Choir Crashes, No Survivors

Robot Phone Device Transmits Kisses to Your Loved Ones When You're Away

Fill Up Your New Kindle With Dozens of Discounted Ebooks, Today Only

Santa Claus Proves He's Not a Terrorist In Bizarre US Government Video

In the First Alien: Covenant Trailer, Everything Possible Has Gone Wrong

Hydraulic Press Crushes Christmas

Harry Potter Makes Comic Book Debut in LGBT Benefit Special Love Is Love

John Williams Hasn't Seen a Single Star Wars Movie

Obama Presses Major Overhaul on Cyberwarfare Leadership

Doctor Who Helps Save Wretched Holiday Song with "12 Doctors of Christmas"

Watch the Glittery Mirrored Alchemy of a Christmas Ornament Being Made

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Shyamalan's Tales From The Crypt Reboot In Peril Over Rights Issues

The Tesla Model X Unlocked One Hell Of An Awesome Christmas Easter Egg

How the Rhymes of Dr. Seuss Taught Us Language

Holy Wow, Oregon Looks Gorgeous From Up Above

Carrie Fisher In Critical Condition After Heart Attack

Save 20% On Anker's Brand New PowerCore II, the Sequel To Your Favorite Battery Pack

Here's a Bunch of Trippy Animated Twists on the Yule Log Video

Faraday Future's Top Listed Executive Ditches Company On Eve Of Its Big Break: Report

Ebola Vaccine Gives 100 Percent Protection Against Common Strain of Virus

Trump Aide Served on the Board of a 'Brain Fingerprinting' Company With KGB Spy

A Comprehensive Guide to the Worst Rogue One Takes on the Internet

This Discounted Aukey Surge Protector Can Also Charge Your Mobile Devices

The Surprising Reason Cardiac Deaths Spike Around the Holidays 

Voyager Probes Are Still Making Amazing Discoveries

YouTube Views Are Down Across The Board, Analysis Says

Foxtrot Alpha Donald Trump Now Asking For Impossible Magic Fantasy Jet | io9 I Have Problems With Ro

12/23/2016 ● 10:50 am

Foxtrot Alpha Donald Trump Now Asking For Impossible Magic Fantasy Jet | io9 I Have Problems With Rogue One | Lifehacker The Difference Between Confidence and Arrogance, Explained In One Video | Kotaku Streamer Faces The Challenges Of Coming Out As Transgender On Twitch |Read more...

There Was Almost a Jedi In Rogue One

CNET News.com

The one person you should contact on Christmas Day - CNET - Commentary: Everyone knows someone who is on their own on Christmas Day. Through technology, you can make them feel a little better.11:15

Fitbit drops case to block Jawbone imports to US - CNET - Friday filing puts an end to just one of the legal disputes between the fitness-tracker rivals. Meanwhile, Jawbone's failing finances may be the bigger issue.24 Dec

​Cyanogen to shut down services by year's end - CNET - Startup that promised a better version of Android will stop updating its OS on December 31 as part of an ongoing "consolidation."24 Dec

The cars owners most regret buying, according to Consumer Reports - Roadshow - Consumer Reports' annual Owner Satisfaction Survey tracks whether or not owners would buy the same car all over again. This is a list of the cars owners most regret purchasing, broken down by vehicle class, with the overall most regrettable purchase at the end.24 Dec

​Apple working with Consumer Reports on MacBook battery issue - CNET - ​After the reviews site dings the newest MacBook Pro models for their battery life, Apple's Phil Schiller tweets about test discrepancies.24 Dec

Megyn Kelly accuses Shutterfly of lying - CNET - Commentary: In a series of tweets, the Fox News anchor says the personalized photo and card service let her down badly over a Christmas card order.24 Dec

On Twitter, Trump supports Putin's mockery of Democrats - CNET - Commentary: The president-elect supports the notion of Democrats as sore losers, by tweeting the words of his alleged bromantic interest.24 Dec

4 reasons why 'Atlanta' was the best show of 2016 - CNET - Commentary: The surrealist comedy-drama starring Donald Glover was one of the most original TV series to debut this year and CNET Editor, Xiomara Blanco's personal favorite show of 2016.24 Dec

Here's what 1-percenters bought on eBay in 2016 - CNET - eBay gave CNET an exclusive look at some of the most expensive items bought on its website this year.24 Dec

The most expensive stuff sold on eBay in 2016 - CNET - Take a look at the priciest items sold worldwide on the site this year in a handful of categories, including the highest-priced car, watch and art.24 Dec

The Official Google Blog

Santa Tracker: ready for take-off - For the last 23 days the residents of the North Pole have been working day and night to help Santa Claus get ready for his big flight. And if you’ve stopped by Santa’s Village this month, you know the elves are coding, geography and dancing machines!Now the time has come to #TrackSanta on his round-the-world mission with Donner, Cupid, Comet and Vixen (Rudolph and the other reindeer too).  Starting today you can follow Kris Kringle around the world as he delivers presents to all the good boys and girls. Get a front-row seat to the show using Android, Google Maps or Google.com. You can also stream Santa’s journey on your TV using Chromecast. Happy holidays from the Google elves at the North Pole!24 Dec

Santa Tracker: ready for take-off - For the last 23 days the residents of the North Pole have been working day and night to help Santa Claus get ready for his big flight. And if you’ve stopped by Santa’s Village this month, you know the elves are coding, geography and dancing machines!Now the time has come to #TrackSanta on his round-the-world mission with Donner, Cupid, Comet and Vixen (Rudolph and the other reindeer too).  Starting today you can follow Kris Kringle around the world as he delivers presents to all the good boys and girls. Get a front-row seat to the show using Android, Google Maps or Google.com. You can also stream Santa’s journey on your TV using Chromecast. Happy holidays from the Google elves at the North Pole!24 Dec

High-speed Wi-Fi rolls into 100th railway station in India - Jaipur station in Rajasthan was among the first stations to be connected to Railwire Wi-Fi. “I visit [Jaipur station] every 3 to 4 days to get fast access to the Internet. I stop there for a few minutes, download apps, update them and get things my daughter wants. She is in 10th grade and uses my smartphone in the evenings to fulfill her educational needs. She also teaches my wife, her mother, to read and write using my smartphone.”  This is the story of Bhagwan Sahay, whom our team met at Jaipur Railway station, one of the earliest stations to be connected to Railwire Wi-Fi this year. It’s one of the many stories we’ve heard from people across India who are using this Wi-Fi in many ways, big and small, that improve their daily lives.  With Railwire Wi-Fi rolling into Udhagamandalam (Ooty) today, we’ve now brought high-speed Internet to 100 of the busiest railway stations across India. That means the 10 million people (think the entire population of Sweden) who pass through these stations every day now have access to fast enough Internet to stream (or offline) an HD video, research their destination or download a new book or game for the journey ahead. And for 15,000 people, every day, these stations connect them to the Internet for the first time. We’re really excited about how far we’ve come since announcing our partnership with Indian Railways and RailTel to provide Wi-Fi at 400 railway stations across India. But what has really inspired us are the stories of how people, like Bhagwan, are using this high-speed access to the full and open Internet to make their lives a little bit better. Somesh Singh, an engineering graduate, has been using the Wi-Fi at Hazrat Nizamuddin station in Delhi to search the web for job opportunities and prepare for interviews. The high-speed connection helps him save money and time since he doesn't have to wait for slow-loading pages or worry about the cost of browsing. Ajay Jain, a teacher, uses the Wi-Fi to get schoolwork done on his daily commute from Indore to Ujjain, so he can spend more time with his family once he gets home. And Sandesh Awasthi, an avid cricket fan, has been having a lot more fun while waiting at Churchgate station in Mumbai, since he can now stream his favorite games to his phone in HD. A traveler calls home while waiting for his train in Pune  “I am migrant worker from Bihar and I travel to Rajasthan for work. Traveling usually means I won’t have a good connection. I got so excited when I saw free Wi-Fi here at the station. I just called my wife, and the voice and picture clarity were so good. I haven’t seen her face this clear in so long, whenever I talk the image is blurred because the network isn’t great. She also got so excited to see my call, she was very surprised to see me. I feel so good after speaking to her. I can’t stop smiling.” —Bholu A look inside Churchgate station, one of Mumbai's busiest, which came online in August.  A traveler checks train timetables online A young boy keeps himself entertained using the station Wi-Fi while his family waits for their train in Jaipur.  Our team at Udhagamandalam (Ooty) station today. Ooty is also the terminus station of Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site.  What’s next? In September we announced Google Station, which gives partners an easy set of tools to roll-out Wi-Fi hotspots in public places. With all the possibilities that our partnership with Indian Railways and RailTel have created for 10 million Indians passing through 100 stations every day, we look forward to the many more opportunities that Google Station will open up to every Indian and the stories we hope to hear from them.22 Dec

High-speed Wi-Fi rolls into 100th railway station in India - Jaipur station in Rajasthan was among the first stations to be connected to Railwire Wi-Fi. “I visit [Jaipur station] every 3 to 4 days to get fast access to the Internet. I stop there for a few minutes, download apps, update them and get things my daughter wants. She is in 10th grade and uses my smartphone in the evenings to fulfill her educational needs. She also teaches my wife, her mother, to read and write using my smartphone.”  This is the story of Bhagwan Sahay, whom our team met at Jaipur Railway station, one of the earliest stations to be connected to Railwire Wi-Fi. It’s also one of the many stories we’ve heard from people across India who are using the Wi-Fi in ways that improve their daily lives.  With Railwire Wi-Fi rolling into Udhagamandalam (Ooty) today, we’ve now brought high-speed Internet to 100 of the busiest railway stations across India. That means the 10 million people (think the entire population of Sweden) who pass through these stations every day now have access to fast enough Internet to stream (or offline) an HD video, research their destination or download a new book or game for the journey ahead. And for 15,000 people, every day, these stations connect them to the Internet for the first time, ever. We’re really excited about how far we’ve come since we announced that we were partnering with Indian Railways and RailTel to provide Wi-Fi at 400 railway stations throughout the country. But what has really inspired us are the stories of how people, like Bhagwan, are using this high-speed access to the full and open Internet. They’re using Railwire Wi-Fi to be more productive with their time and to get things done more efficiently. Somesh Singh in an engineering graduate who logs on at Hazrat Nizamuddin station in Delhi to search the web for job opportunities and prepare for interviews without having to wait for slow-loading pages or worry about the cost of browsing. Ajay Jain is a teacher who uses the Wi-Fi to get schoolwork done on his daily commute from Indore to Ujjain, so he can spend more time with his family once he gets home. And there's Sandesh Awasthi, a cricket fan who no longer has to miss another game if he can stream matches live while waiting at Churchgate station in Mumbai. And because it's high-speed, quality Wi-Fi, travellers are now able to connect with their loved ones more regularly and can even see them using video calling apps. A traveler calls home while waiting for his train in Pune  “I am migrant worker from Bihar and I travel to Rajasthan for work. Traveling usually means I won’t have a good connection. I got so excited when I saw free Wi-Fi here at the station. I just called my wife, and the voice and picture clarity were so good. I haven’t seen her face this clear in so long, whenever I talk the image is blurred because the network isn’t great. She also got so excited to see my call, she was very surprised to see me. I feel so good after speaking to her. I can’t stop smiling.” —Bholu A look inside Churchgate station, one of Mumbai's busiest, which came online in August.  A traveler checks train timetables online A young boy keeps himself entertained using the station Wi-Fi while his family waits for their train in Jaipur.  Our team at Udhagamandalam (Ooty) station today. Ooty is also the terminus station of Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site.  What’s next? In September we announced Google Station, which gives partners an easy set of tools to roll-out Wi-Fi hotspots in public places. With all the possibilities that our partnership with Indian Railways and Railtel have created for 10 million Indians passing through 100 stations every day, we look forward to the many more opportunities that Google Station will open up to every Indian and the stories we hope to hear from them.22 Dec

Mantova, Italy's Capital of Culture 2016, on Google Arts & Culture - The City of Mantova, the Italian Capital of Culture 2016, unveils its story along with its finest cultural treasures and natural beauty on Google Arts & Culture.With your smartphone or computer, start exploring the wonders of the Palazzo Te: admire the lively details of the frescos of the Chamber of the Giants and use Google Cardboard to step in the room and visit all the other iconic places of Mantova, immersing yourself in its heritage in 360°. For the first time in Italy, the use of the Art Camera made it possible to bring online in ultra high resolution 50 paintings from the Palazzo’s collection including the enigmatic Portrait of Giulio Romano by Titian. Detail of the Portrait of Giulio Romano You will be amazed by the majestic ceiling of the Teatro Bibiena,  haunted by the spirit of Mozart who played the opening concert the 16th of January 1770. Leaf through the books of the Biblioteca Teresiana to find the verses of the Songbook for Isabella d'Este, a great Renaissance woman, or the illuminated pages of the invaluable manuscript from the library of the monastery of Saint Benedict in Polirone. Then, take a walk inside the Palazzo del Podestà, currently undergoing restoration, a work in progress that allows us to track the successive transformations and functions of the buildings. The majestic ceiling of the Teatro Bibiena Yet the treasures of Mantova are not limited to the inside of its palaces. The City is itself an open-air museum inviting the user for a walk to discover its magnificent sights, its story, tradition and tastes.  With the end of the year approaching, Mantova will soon pass on its title of Italian Capital of Culture to another Italian city, but its timeless artworks and wonders will remain accessible to anyone online on the Google Arts & Culture platform. Visit it at g.co/mantova201620 Dec

Celebrating women who are making an impact at Young Women’s Honors - What does it take to shift the conversation from “What if” to “I can”? When it comes to becoming a computer scientist, our research shows that girls need to see it to be it. Unfortunately, they’re about half as likely as boys to say that they often see someone like themselves doing computer science (CS) in the media. This is why we’ve teamed up with Young Women’s Honors — a global platform and the passion project of “Jane the Virgin” star Gina Rodriguez — which will host their first-ever award show tonight to honor and celebrate women who demonstrate confidence and leadership in their field. When you see someone following their dreams, it gives you allowance to follow your own. Gina Rodriguez Actor Of the 10 amazing women who will be celebrated tonight, Google’s Made With Code — along with YouTube star Lilly Singh and “Black-ish” star Yara Shahidi — will honor computer scientist Fereshteh Forough. After fleeing Afghanistan during the rise of the Taliban, Fereshteh followed her dreams of becoming a computer scientist. She then started Code to Inspire, a nonprofit that teaches female students in Afghanistan how to code, so that other girls from her hometown have a safe educational environment to develop their technical skills, build confidence, and challenge social norms. Fereshteh’s Code to Inspire is part of the Google RISE program, which supports not-for-profit organizations around the world working to increase access to CS education. Last week, we announced another cohort of RISE that will join Code to Inspire and 200+ organizations the program has supported since 2010. This round includes organizations from 16 countries who will reach a combined 130,000 youth from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the field of computer science. In the coming year we’re excited to see what these organizations do — from girls in Argentina developing apps to solve social problems, young entrepreneurs in India building technical and leadership skills, and schools in Romania launching free coding clubs across the country.Watch the show TONIGHT at 9/8c on YouTube and The CW to meet Fereshteh and more inspiring women like her!20 Dec

Reflecting on Google's GNI Engagement -  As the year comes to a close, we’re reflecting on Google’s Global Network Initiative (GNI) assessment and some of this year’s important developments in our work to protect the free expression and privacy interests of our users.Last week, in our continued effort to increase transparency around government demands for user data, we made available to the public the National Security Letters (NSLs) Google has received where, either through litigation or legislation, we have been freed of nondisclosure obligations. Our goal in doing so is to shed more light on the nature and scope of these requests. We’ve also supported policy efforts to ensure that the privacy interests of non-U.S. persons are addressed as U.S. policymakers consider government surveillance issues.Earlier this month, we highlighted our efforts to comply with the right to be forgotten in Europe. For much of the last year, we’ve worked to defend the idea that each country should be able to balance freedom of expression and privacy in the way that country sees fit, and not according to another country’s interpretation. One Data Protection Authority, the French Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés (the CNIL), ordered Google to delist French right to be forgotten removals for users everywhere. We agree with the CNIL that privacy is a fundamental right — but so, too, is the right to free expression. Any balance struck between those two rights must be accompanied by territorial limits, consistent with the basic principles of international law.These are some examples of Google’s public policy work that illustrate our commitment to the freedom of expression and privacy rights of our users. We know that pressing global issues are best addressed in partnership with with key stakeholders — and the GNI is critical to Google’s efforts.The GNI is at the core of our multi-stakeholder engagement on free expression and privacy issues. Google is proud to be a founding member of the GNI, an initiative that brings together ICT companies with civil society organizations, investors, and academics to define a shared approach to freedom of expression and privacy online. The GNI provides a framework for company operations, rooted in international standards; promotes accountability of ICT sector companies through independent assessment; enables multi-stakeholder policy engagement; and creates shared learning opportunities across stakeholder boundaries.Earlier this year, GNI released the second round of assessments, and announced the board’s determination that Google is compliant with the GNI framework. The assessment is an important tool for companies, NGOs, academics, and others working together to review how companies address risks to privacy and free expression.The assessment process includes a review of relevant internal systems, policies and procedures for implementing the GNI Principles (“the process review”), and an examination of specific cases or examples that show how the company is implementing them in practice (the “case review”).Our cases were selected for their salience to our approach to implementing the GNI Principles, taking into consideration Google’s products and services, geographical footprint, operating environments, and human rights risk profile. In addition, to the Google-specific cases discussed in GNI’s public assessment report, we wanted to provide additional examples to illustrate the types of non-U.S. cases reviewed.Request for user dataA request was made for Gmail user information by a federal police department. A key part of our process is making sure that the requests we receive are appropriately supported by legal process. In this case, we found that the initial request was inadequate due to failure to have a judicial stamp or signature, and we therefore pushed back, as we would not comply unless the request was judicially authorized. Once these items were obtained and, we determined that it was a valid legal request (including that it was not overbroad), we complied with the request.Request for removalA request for Blogger content removal was made by a regulatory agency. The requestor claimed that content was subject to removal under the country’s statute prohibiting appeals to mass riots, extremist activities, and mass actions against established order. In reviewing the request, we determined that the content did not violate our terms of service.  We then responded by requesting a copy of the decision citing specific URLs that are illegal. This would be evidence of an authoritative interpretation of the local law as applied to the content.  As there was no response from the requestor, and the content did not violate our company policies, the request was denied and we did not remove the material.RTBF: Push for Judicial Review; Careful Development and Implementation of Rigorous Removal Process for RequestsThis example describes how we responded to requests subsequent to the Google Spain v AEPD and Mario Costeja ruling, which presented risks to freedom of expression. In the Costeja case, we appealed through the court process, but were unsuccessful.  We pushed back on this ruling because we considered the requirement for Google to take down this information to be in conflict with freedom of expression. On appeal, the Court of Justice of the European Union found that people have the right to ask for information to be removed from search results that include their names if it is “inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant, or excessive.” In deciding what to remove, search engines must also have regard to the public interest, without additional guidance regarding what information constitutes “public interest.” The court also decided that search engines don’t qualify for a “journalistic exception.” We continue to fight court cases seeking to expand this requirement for takedowns globally.We also convened the Advisory Council to Google on the Right to be Forgotten to review input from dozens of experts in meetings across Europe, as well as from thousands of submissions via the Web. The Council included Frank La Rue, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression. The Council advised us on performing the balancing act between an individual’s right to privacy and the public’s interest in access to information.In response to the Costeja ruling, Google established a dedicated team to develop and implement a system to remove valid RtbF requests. We evaluate each request appropriately, complying with the law, but making sure that, if there is a legal basis for the content to remain available, we will assess how that applies. To address the ruling, we assembled a team to address the new category of requests arising from the rights articulated in Costeja. Our web removals site was updated to include information about and a portal for RtbF requests. Requests are reviewed by the legal removals team; after review, the requester is notified of the determination. Since implementing this system, we have delisted approximately 780,000 URLs. Our process responds to individual requests and carefully evaluates  each request against the criteria for removal. We also notify websites when one of their pages has been removed pursuant to a RtbF claim. In addition to removing URLs, we include information about RtbF requests and removals in our Transparency Report.Our assessors also provided us with recommendations for enhancing our implementation of the GNI Principles. These recommendations, combined with feedback and ongoing engagement with GNI stakeholders, will inform our policies and practices and strengthen our advocacy in 2017.20 Dec

Supporting nonprofits around the world this holiday season - From remote villages in India, to schools across the U.S., to refugee and migrant camps in Africa, technology can help people start a business, further their education, or access new — and sometimes vital — information.Google.org supports hundreds of nonprofits globally who are working to open up opportunities for the most vulnerable populations. As part of this ongoing work, this holiday season we’re donating $30 million in grant funding to nonprofits to bring phones, tablets, hardware and training to communities that can benefit from them most. This holiday giving brings our total grant funding for nonprofits this year to more than $100 million. Students in Tim Jones’ classroom in East Palo Alto during class time In the U.S., Google.org is supporting classrooms in need by funding projects that have requested Chromebooks and other technology via the educational giving platform DonorsChoose.org. For example, Mr. Jones, a teacher at Ronald McNair Academy in East Palo Alto, CA, where many students come from high-poverty communities, requested devices to help his students learn both inside and outside of the classroom. Our $5 million grant to DonorsChoose.org will provide more than 150,000 K-12 students across the United States — from Bunche Middle School in Atlanta, GA to Timberland Charter Academy in Muskegon, MI — with critical learning resources. We're also supporting nonprofits whose programs ensure that everyone has a chance to participate equally in society — from people experiencing homelessness to individuals disconnected from pathways out of poverty. In the Bay Area, Abode Services will help more than 1,200 re-housed homeless people receive laptop computers and related training as they move into their new homes in order to provide access to employment, social services and transportation information. Young adults completing applications during LeadersUp hiring event in South LA Across the nation, LeadersUp will increase access to opportunities for unemployed young adults to connect to careers that lead to family-sustaining wages 350 percent above the poverty line. By providing funding for thousands of devices to assist people being served by organizations like Defy Ventures and LifeMoves, we're ensuring that more people have a fair shot at opportunity. Defy Entrepreneur-in-Training Rudo C. and volunteer David R. at Business Pitch Competition in New York City Students of Mazahua  indigenous group explore learning materials on a tablet at an UNETE-supported school in San Felipe del Progreso, State of Mexico. In Latin America, we’re supporting UNETE to bring computers, tablets and charging stations to classrooms across Mexico — giving students access to new curriculum materials, videos, and learning games. UNETE is committed to helping teachers be successful, and we’ll pair funding for this technology with training and support services. And in India, our grant to Pratham Education Foundation will help them expand their work to help kids in rural communities learn. By using tablets across a range of their programs, from preschool through middle school, Pratham will be able to bring new, engaging content to kids and instructors. Children in Uttar Pradesh, India share what they’ve been learning on a Pratham-provided tablet with their family. For millions of people who have been displaced from their homes, the ability to start or continue an education can become a lifeline. As part of our refugee relief efforts, we’ve expanded our support of Libraries Without Borders for their “Ideas Boxes” — portable multimedia centers with Internet access and their own power source. This grant will help fund 14 additional Ideas Boxes, enabling more than 90,000 refugees to access educational resources in refugee camps in Europe and Africa.Around the world, we're funding NetHope to distribute and deliver devices through organizations working with the most vulnerable populations, including women and girls, who often struggle most to get the resources, education and opportunities they deserve. NetHope WiFi network helps refugees connect with family and friends and seek asylum In addition to these Google.org grants, every holiday season, we hold a "Giving Week" where our employees around the world can donate to the causes and organizations they want to support, and Google matches all donations. This year's Giving Week was our biggest yet. More than 50 offices participated, a third of the company pledged, Google matched, and the total impact will be $24 million to 750 nonprofits around the world. Causes ranged from supporting the victims and survivors of the Ghost Ship fire in Oakland, to helping vulnerable women in Mexico through VIFAC, to fighting hunger and malnutrition with Akshaya Patra in India. Other giving trends this year included causes like refugee assistance and transgender rights, and support for civil liberties and women’s health organizations.We hope the combined $54 million in grants for technology, employee donations and Google matching will help those in need around the world this holiday season. As we look ahead to 2017, we’ll continue our work to support nonprofits and communities around the world. 20 Dec

Supporting nonprofits around the world this holiday season - From remote villages in India, to schools across the U.S., to refugee and migrant camps in Africa, technology can help people start a business, further their education, or access new — and sometimes vital — information.Google.org supports hundreds of nonprofits globally who are working to open up opportunities for the most vulnerable populations. As part of this ongoing work, this holiday season we’re donating $30 million in grant funding to nonprofits to bring phones, tablets, hardware and training to communities that can benefit from them most. This holiday giving brings our total grant funding for nonprofits this year to more than $100 million. Students in Tim Jones’ classroom in East Palo Alto during class time In the U.S., Google.org is supporting classrooms in need by funding projects that have requested Chromebooks and other technology via the educational giving platform DonorsChoose.org. For example, Mr. Jones, a teacher at Ronald McNair Academy in East Palo Alto, CA, where many students come from high-poverty communities, requested devices to help his students learn both inside and outside of the classroom. Our $5 million grant to DonorsChoose.org will provide more than 150,000 K-12 students across the United States — from Bunche Middle School in Atlanta, GA to Timberland Charter Academy in Muskegon, MI — with critical learning resources. We're also supporting nonprofits whose programs ensure that everyone has a chance to participate equally in society — from people experiencing homelessness to individuals disconnected from pathways out of poverty. In the Bay Area, Abode Services will help more than 1,200 re-housed homeless people receive laptop computers and related training as they move into their new homes in order to provide access to employment, social services and transportation information. Young adults completing applications during LeadersUp hiring event in South LA Across the nation, LeadersUp will increase access to opportunities for unemployed young adults to connect to careers that lead to family-sustaining wages 350 percent above the poverty line. By providing funding for thousands of devices to assist people being served by organizations like Defy Ventures and LifeMoves, we're ensuring that more people have a fair shot at opportunity. Defy Entrepreneur-in-Training Rudo C. and volunteer David R. at Business Pitch Competition in New York City Students of Mazahua  indigenous group explore learning materials on a tablet at an UNETE-supported school in San Felipe del Progreso, State of Mexico. In Latin America, we’re supporting UNETE to bring computers, tablets and charging stations to classrooms across Mexico — giving students access to new curriculum materials, videos, and learning games. UNETE is committed to helping teachers be successful, and we’ll pair funding for this technology with training and support services. And in India, our grant to Pratham Education Foundation will help them expand their work to help kids in rural communities learn. By using tablets across a range of their programs, from preschool through middle school, Pratham will be able to bring new, engaging content to kids and instructors. Children in Uttar Pradesh, India share what they’ve been learning on a Pratham-provided tablet with their family. For millions of people who have been displaced from their homes, the ability to start or continue an education can become a lifeline. As part of our refugee relief efforts, we’ve expanded our support of Libraries Without Borders for their “Ideas Boxes” — portable multimedia centers with Internet access and their own power source. This grant will help fund 14 additional Ideas Boxes, enabling more than 90,000 refugees to access educational resources in refugee camps in Europe and Africa.Around the world, we're funding NetHope to distribute and deliver devices through organizations working with the most vulnerable populations, including women and girls, who often struggle most to get the resources, education and opportunities they deserve. NetHope WiFi network helps refugees connect with family and friends and seek asylum In addition to these Google.org grants, every holiday season, we hold a "Giving Week" where our employees around the world can donate to the causes and organizations they want to support, and Google matches all donations. This year's Giving Week was our biggest yet. More than 50 offices participated, a third of the company pledged, Google matched, and the total impact will be $24 million to 750 nonprofits around the world. Causes ranged from supporting the victims and survivors of the Ghost Ship fire in Oakland, to helping vulnerable women in Mexico through VIFAC, to fighting hunger and malnutrition with Akshaya Patra in India. Other giving trends this year included causes like refugee assistance and transgender rights, and support for civil liberties and women’s health organizations.We hope the combined $54 million in grants for technology, employee donations and Google matching will help those in need around the world this holiday season. As we look ahead to 2017, we’ll continue our work to support nonprofits and communities around the world. 20 Dec

Reflecting on Google's GNI Engagement -  As the year comes to a close, we’re reflecting on Google’s Global Network Initiative (GNI) assessment and some of this year’s important developments in our work to protect the free expression and privacy interests of our users.Last week, in our continued effort to increase transparency around government demands for user data, we made available to the public the National Security Letters (NSLs) Google has received where, either through litigation or legislation, we have been freed of nondisclosure obligations. Our goal in doing so is to shed more light on the nature and scope of these requests. We’ve also supported policy efforts to ensure that the privacy interests of non-U.S. persons are addressed as U.S. policymakers consider government surveillance issues.Earlier this month, we highlighted our efforts to comply with the right to be forgotten in Europe. For much of the last year, we’ve worked to defend the idea that each country should be able to balance freedom of expression and privacy in the way that country sees fit, and not according to another country’s interpretation. One Data Protection Authority, the French Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés (the CNIL), ordered Google to delist French right to be forgotten removals for users everywhere. We agree with the CNIL that privacy is a fundamental right — but so, too, is the right to free expression. Any balance struck between those two rights must be accompanied by territorial limits, consistent with the basic principles of international law.These are some examples of Google’s public policy work that illustrate our commitment to the freedom of expression and privacy rights of our users. We know that pressing global issues are best addressed in partnership with with key stakeholders — and the GNI is critical to Google’s efforts.The GNI is at the core of our multi-stakeholder engagement on free expression and privacy issues. Google is proud to be a founding member of the GNI, an initiative that brings together ICT companies with civil society organizations, investors, and academics to define a shared approach to freedom of expression and privacy online. The GNI provides a framework for company operations, rooted in international standards; promotes accountability of ICT sector companies through independent assessment; enables multi-stakeholder policy engagement; and creates shared learning opportunities across stakeholder boundaries.Earlier this year, GNI released the second round of assessments, and announced the board’s determination that Google is compliant with the GNI framework. The assessment is an important tool for companies, NGOs, academics, and others working together to review how companies address risks to privacy and free expression.The assessment process includes a review of relevant internal systems, policies and procedures for implementing the GNI Principles (“the process review”), and an examination of specific cases or examples that show how the company is implementing them in practice (the “case review”).Our cases were selected for their salience to our approach to implementing the GNI Principles, taking into consideration Google’s products and services, geographical footprint, operating environments, and human rights risk profile. In addition, to the Google-specific cases discussed in GNI’s public assessment report, we wanted to provide additional examples to illustrate the types of non-U.S. cases reviewed.Request for user dataA request was made for Gmail user information by a federal police department. A key part of our process is making sure that the requests we receive are appropriately supported by legal process. In this case, we found that the initial request was inadequate due to failure to have a judicial stamp or signature, and we therefore pushed back, as we would not comply unless the request was judicially authorized. Once these items were obtained and, we determined that it was a valid legal request (including that it was not overbroad), we complied with the request.Request for removalA request for Blogger content removal was made by a regulatory agency. The requestor claimed that content was subject to removal under the country’s statute prohibiting appeals to mass riots, extremist activities, and mass actions against established order. In reviewing the request, we determined that the content did not violate our terms of service.  We then responded by requesting a copy of the decision citing specific URLs that are illegal. This would be evidence of an authoritative interpretation of the local law as applied to the content.  As there was no response from the requestor, and the content did not violate our company policies, the request was denied and we did not remove the material.RTBF: Push for Judicial Review; Careful Development and Implementation of Rigorous Removal Process for RequestsThis example describes how we responded to requests subsequent to the Google Spain v AEPD and Mario Costeja ruling, which presented risks to freedom of expression. In the Costeja case, we appealed through the court process, but were unsuccessful.  We pushed back on this ruling because we considered the requirement for Google to take down this information to be in conflict with freedom of expression. On appeal, the Court of Justice of the European Union found that people have the right to ask for information to be removed from search results that include their names if it is “inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant, or excessive.” In deciding what to remove, search engines must also have regard to the public interest, without additional guidance regarding what information constitutes “public interest.” The court also decided that search engines don’t qualify for a “journalistic exception.” We continue to fight court cases seeking to expand this requirement for takedowns globally.We also convened the Advisory Council to Google on the Right to be Forgotten to review input from dozens of experts in meetings across Europe, as well as from thousands of submissions via the Web. The Council included Frank La Rue, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression. The Council advised us on performing the balancing act between an individual’s right to privacy and the public’s interest in access to information.In response to the Costeja ruling, Google established a dedicated team to develop and implement a system to remove valid RtbF requests. We evaluate each request appropriately, complying with the law, but making sure that, if there is a legal basis for the content to remain available, we will assess how that applies. To address the ruling, we assembled a team to address the new category of requests arising from the rights articulated in Costeja. Our web removals site was updated to include information about and a portal for RtbF requests. Requests are reviewed by the legal removals team; after review, the requester is notified of the determination. Since implementing this system, we have delisted approximately 780,000 URLs. Our process responds to individual requests and carefully evaluates  each request against the criteria for removal. We also notify websites when one of their pages has been removed pursuant to a RtbF claim. In addition to removing URLs, we include information about RtbF requests and removals in our Transparency Report.Our assessors also provided us with recommendations for enhancing our implementation of the GNI Principles. These recommendations, combined with feedback and ongoing engagement with GNI stakeholders, will inform our policies and practices and strengthen our advocacy in 2017.19 Dec