Month: February 2021

Ending the horror of seeing your face on Zoom | Brief letters

Describing cancer | Fatberg weight | Word wheel | Lockdown sceptics | Zoom With many years’ experience as a specialist oncology nurse, I have always felt strongly that it is not appropriate to describe a cancer experience with words associated with war (combat, battle, fight). Who has a choice with cancer? But what words should …

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Uber accused of trying to deter drivers from seeking compensation

Lawyers acting for claimants say firm’s statement after last week’s supreme court ruling is misleading Uber has been accused of trying to deter drivers from seeking compensation for missed holiday and minimum wage payments after a landmark court ruling. The taxi-hailing app may have to pay out more than £100m to more than 10,000 drivers …

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No 10 ‘concerned’ about Facebook news shutdown in Australia

Oliver Dowden expected to meet US company, as No 10 says UK will ‘defend free speech and journalism’ The UK government is “obviously concerned” at the repercussions of Facebook’s shutdown of large numbers of news and public information resources in Australia, Downing Street has said, confirming that the culture secretary will meet the US company …

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How a game about making zines helped me recapture my creativity in lockdown

A tongue-in-cheek game called Electric Zine Maker saved me from pandemic burnout – and gave me a new community When I sit down to play games, I am always more drawn to peaceful, low-pressure environments than high-pace adventure. I like those where I get to make a difference but not necessarily through violence. I spend …

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Listen to the world: Radio Garden app brings stations to millions in lockdown

Free app allowing access to 30,000 stations proves hit for audiences stuck at home Ever fancied listening to some pop music from Prague? Rock from Russia, or talk from Taiwan? With the pandemic limiting travel abroad, an online app has ignited the imagination of millions, allowing them to experience new sounds and travel the globe …

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Hybrid houses: could the UK parliament remain partly virtual?

House Lords has embraced Covid-safe representation more than Commons, but many MPs support change When the House of Lords began holding virtual proceedings during the first lockdown last spring, there was a spate of videos popular on social media showing peers struggling with mute buttons or interrupted by computerised voices. But, 10 months on, it …

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Charities condemn Facebook for ‘attack on democracy’ in Australia

Campaign groups say blocking access to reliable news sources leaves a void to be filled by misinformation and hate speech Members of Facebook’s oversight board, which some have likened to an internal “supreme court”, have been called on to speak out or step down after the platform shut down swathes of media and key public …

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Drug companies look to AI to end ‘hit and miss’ research

Technology that speeded the development of Covid vaccines has potential to transform the pharmaceutical industry The hunt for new medicines has often been more like a game of roulette than high-end science. But now the pharmaceutical sector is on the cusp of a transformation, as it delves into cutting-edge technology to come up with new …

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The social app Clubhouse is an invitation to trouble | John Naughton

The startup’s invitation-only model gives it a sheen of exclusivity, but privacy horrors lurk behind the buzz So, are you on Clubhouse, the social-media sensation du jour? No? Me neither. But – I hasten to add, lest there should be any doubt about my social status – that’s not because I wasn’t invited to join. …

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