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Literacy for All: Equitable Practices for Reading and Dyslexia

Teaching students to read is the first job of our schools. How can we help all students become strong, confident readers? Literacy for All: Equitable Practices for Reading and Dyslexia was held on February 20, 2020 in Annapolis, Maryland. The event was hosted by National Center on Improving Literacy (NCIL), Decoding Dyslexia Maryland (DD-MD), and community partners. Reading experts from NCIL shared best practices in early screening and interventions supported by decades of reading research.




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How can I teach RAN to improve my students' reading?

Teacher’s question: Our school psychologist tests all of our boy and girls for RAN. He says it is the best predictor of reading ability. How can I improve my students’ RAN performance? Shanahan’s response: If someone tells you that you can teach RAN, run!












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AllVideos v5.0.0 released - now with web-native media playback

We have just released a major update to AllVideos, version 5.0.0, for Joomla versions 1.5 to 3.x.

It introduces web-native media playback with no 3rd party dependencies.

Here's what's been added or changed in this new release of AllVideos:

  • AllVideos now supports web-native media only (for self-hosted files) and uses browser-native playback controls, without a single 3rd party dependency. AllVideos will now load a single CSS file for its template and a single JS file to assist in self-hosted media playback - a total of less than 7KBs. As such, both Clappr and JW Player have been removed from AllVideos, as well as any helper JS files that were previously utilized for media playback (e.g. for QuickTime).
  • Modern media playback includes video and audio formats like H.264/MPEG-4 (.mp4/.m4v/.m4a), WebM (.webm), Ogg Theora Vorbis (.ogg/.ogv/.oga), MP3 (.mp3), WAVE PCM (.wav) & FLAC (.flac). AllVideos will also playback .avi and .mkv files as they are used as container formats for H.264/MPEG-4 most of the times. Every other format that was previously supported by AllVideos (e.g. Flash Video, QuickTime or Windows Media), will now appear as a link to download the file as browsers no longer support playback directly or require plugin activation to do so. By utilizing modern media playback only, we ensure that AllVideos can be used as your go-to solution for media embedding across any device.
  • By using web-native media formats in AllVideos, we can now do cool stuff like auto-generate poster/preview images for videos, without the need for server-side software (like FFMPEG). If you already uploaded your own poster/preview images, well, don't worry as they will still take precedence over the auto-generated ones.
  • Added support for custom poster/preview images for both video and audio utilizing the .webp format. This means you can now use all 4 web-native image formats for previews (jpg/png/gif/webp). For added fun, try using animated GIFs as your media preview :)
  • Support for small 3rd party video providers has been dropped, as most are now either defunct or using a service like YouTube for serving content (e.g. Funny or Die or GodTube). This means that AllVideos will now support only the 6 major media providers: YouTube, Vimeo, DailyMotion, Facebook (videos), Flickr (videos) and SoundCloud.
  • All 3 templates in AllVideos have been re-configured and tested across all device types. The "Responsive" template is of course still the default template when you install AllVideos for the first time.
  • A new option has been added that allows you to limit the maximum width responsive media can occupy. This will come handy with sites that extend beyond 1200px in width as media can be limited to a percentage of the page's width or to a fixed pixel size (e.g. no more than 1000px width for media playback).
  • You can now allow your visitors to directly download a self-hosted video file (previously possible for audio files only).
  • The options have been significantly simplified with the removal of Clappr & JW Player as well as the removal of QuickTime support.
  • AllVideos continues to be PHP 5 to 7 compatible, for Joomla 1.5 to 3.x. There is really no reason to ditch support for PHP 5 and/or Joomla 1.5/2.5 when it's easy to maintain support for them. Neither security nor performance are sacrificed either way.

 

DEMO

The JoomlaWorks demo site has been updated to use the latest AllVideos release. See here: http://demo.joomlaworks.net/allvideos

DOWNLOAD

You can download this version by visiting the extension's page at: https://www.joomlaworks.net/allvideos/

UPGRADING

If you use the latest Joomla 3.x releases (or Joomla 2.5), this new update will appear in the Joomla extension updater. If you're using Joomla 1.5, you can simply upload the new version and it will overwrite the old one. After that step, visit the plugin's parameters page, check if everything is OK or adjust as needed and save the parameters.




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AllVideos v5.1.0 released - now with Twitch support

Version 5.1.0 of AllVideos is now available, adding support for Twitch and fixing a couple of bugs introduced in v5.0.0.

Here's what's been added or changed in this new release of AllVideos:

  • AllVideos now supports Twitch as a 3rd party video provider. You can use the full URL inside {twitch}...{/twitch} tags.
  • When you disable media downloading, AllVideos will also make sure that the native download option is also turned off in supporting browsers (Chromium based).
  • Fixed audio playback in K2 forms and content when using the Media tab in K2 to embed an audio file.

Additionally, the documentation page for AllVideos has been updated to reflect the changes introduced in v5.

DEMO

The JoomlaWorks demo site has been updated to use the latest AllVideos release. See here: http://demo.joomlaworks.net/allvideos

DOWNLOAD

You can download this version by visiting the extension's page at: https://www.joomlaworks.net/allvideos/

UPGRADING

If you use the latest Joomla 3.x releases (or Joomla 2.5), this new update will appear in the Joomla extension updater. If you're using Joomla 1.5, you can simply upload the new version and it will overwrite the old one. After that step, visit the plugin's parameters page, check if everything is OK or adjust as needed and save the parameters.




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Simple Image Gallery Pro v3.7.0 released

Simple Image Gallery Pro v3.7.0 is now available to download for subscribers. This new release introduces 2 additional popup engines (modals) and improves compatibility with K2 v2.10.x.

Here's what's been added or changed in Simple Image Gallery Pro with the release of v3.7.0:

  • Added Strip & Lightbox2 to the list of supported popup engines (modals). Strip allows for displaying your galleries on the right side of the available viewport and it's ideal for product display/presentation or e-commerce websites. Lightbox2 is the original Lightbox script updated for the modern web by its original author, Lokesh Dhakar.
  • Updated Fresco.js to its latest release. Additionally, the Fresco.js specific attributes on each gallery layout link are now removed as they are appended dynamically using JS (so older gallery layouts can work fine as well, without any modifications). Fresco.js is now also fully open source which means there is no watermark on the popup/modal.
  • LightView now supports captions as well.
  • Improved compatibility (and performance) with K2 v2.10.x which was released mid November 2019. Especially for anyone still on Joomla 1.5 and K2 v2.10.x, we highly recommend you update to resolve JS conflicts between K2 and SIGPro in the item edit form.
  • Fixed a bug where SIGPro's K2 plugin would accidentally trigger upon saving a K2 category in K2 v2.10.x.
  • In the backend component, SIGPro's media manager (elFinder) has been updated to the latest release (v2.1.50).

 

DEMO

The JoomlaWorks demo site has been updated to the latest Simple Image Gallery Pro release. See here https://demo.joomlaworks.net/simple-image-gallery-pro.

 

DOWNLOAD

If you have an active Simple Image Gallery Pro membership, just head over to the Member Dashboard at https://www.joomlaworks.net/members and grab your copy from your "Subscriptions" page.

Or purchase this latest release from just 19.90 EUR. More info at: https://www.joomlaworks.net/extensions/commercial/simple-image-gallery-pro

 

UPGRADING

Just upload the new version and it will overwrite the old one.

For more help, please visit the updated documentation page for the extension at: https://www.joomlaworks.net/support/docs/simple-image-gallery-pro

For support questions please use our Ticket Support System inside the Member Dashboard at https://www.joomlaworks.net/dashboard (active product membership required).




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AllVideos v5.2.0 released

Version 5.2.0 of AllVideos is now available. This is a bugfix release and it also improves compatibility with PHP 7.4.

Here's what's been added or changed in this new release of AllVideos:

  • Improves PHP 7.4 compatibility.
  • Fixes the "loop" control for HTML5 media (local or remote) as it was previously entirely broken.
  • Fixes the path overrides for audio files when rendered in K2 forms & content in the recent K2 v2.10.x updates.
  • Updated iframe embeds (from 3rd party provides) with the attribute value "autoplay" (allow="autoplay; fullscreen").
  • Code cleanups.

Additionally, the documentation page for AllVideos has been updated to reflect the changes introduced in v5.

If you use K2 v2.10.x, we highly recommend you upgrade to this new version of AllVideos.

DEMO

The JoomlaWorks demo site has been updated to use the latest AllVideos release. See here: https://demo.joomlaworks.net/allvideos

DOWNLOAD

You can download this version by visiting the extension's page at: https://www.joomlaworks.net/allvideos/

UPGRADING

If you use the latest Joomla 3.x releases (or Joomla 2.5), this new update will appear in the Joomla extension updater. If you're using Joomla 1.5, you can simply upload the new version and it will overwrite the old one. After that step, visit the plugin's parameters page, check if everything is OK or adjust as needed and save the parameters.




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SocialConnect v1.10.0 released

SocialConnect v1.10.0 is now available to download for subscribers. This new release improves compatibility with recent API changes in Facebook and LinkedIn.

Here's what's been added or changed in SocialConnect with the release of v1.10.0:

  • Facebook authorization in SocialConnect's settings will now render both your personal account as well as all Facebook Pages that you have access to (for posting content). Listing pages broke due to a recent change in Facebook's API. Additionally, all API calls will now use v2.12 of their API.
  • LinkedIn login and auto-posting now both use version 2 of the LinkedIn API - this also resolves auto-posting to LinkedIn failing because of the deprecation of version 1 of their API. Please keep in mind that posting directly to LinkedIn company pages is not yet allowed by the LinkedIn API.

To refresh your integration with either Facebook or LinkedIn, simply re-authorize your accounts from the SocialConnect settings.

As a reminder, 2 new options were added in the previous release (v1.9.0) under "Advanced Settings" ("Enforce HTTPS" & "Enforce absolute URL when posting to social") which address edge cases where social login failed (namely in sites behind CloudFlare that utilize "Flexible SSL") or auto posting failed (the shared URL was rendered relative instead of absolute).

 

DEMO

The JoomlaWorks website as well as the K2 website both utilize the latest release of SocialConnect.

 

DOWNLOAD

If you have an active SocialConnect membership, just head over to the Member Dashboard at https://www.joomlaworks.net/members and grab your copy from your "Subscriptions" page.

Or purchase this latest release from just 19.90 EUR. More info at: https://www.joomlaworks.net/extensions/commercial/socialconnect

 

UPGRADING

Just upload the new version and it will overwrite the old one.

For more help, please visit the updated documentation page for the extension at: https://www.joomlaworks.net/support/docs/socialconnect

For support questions please use our Ticket Support System inside the Member Dashboard at https://www.joomlaworks.net/dashboard (active product membership required).

 




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RadioWave v1.2.0 released

RadioWave v1.2.0 has just been released. This is a bugfix and feature-improvement release.

Here's what's been added or changed in RadioWave with the release of v1.2.0:

  • Fixed time parsing for the OnAir template override (K2 Content module) which caused the module's output to break under certain circumstances. The info displayed has also been extended to the name of the show and the start/end times of the show.
  • Added update server reference so you can be notified on future updates of RadioWave.
  • Improved compatibility with PHP up to v7.4. Additionally, any PHP notices that may have appeared in the frontend or backend have now been resolved.
  • References to IE have now been entirely removed (this includes both HTML and CSS code).
  • Massive CSS cleanups & updates. Browser specific syntax (e.g. -moz-*, -webkit-* etc.) has also been removed. Invalid CSS has been fixed (3 rules related to CSS background gradients).
  • Updated all JS libs to their latest compatible versions.
  • The RadioWave Generic Player module (installed separately) has also been updated to v2.1, which now includes an option to autoplay your custom radio streams (among other minor improvements). You can get it for free at: https://github.com/joomlaworks/radiowave-generic-player
  • QuickStart package updated to use the latest Joomla (3.9.14) and K2 (2.10.2) releases.

If you are using Joomla v3.8+ and K2 v2.10.0+ we highly recommend you update to this newest version.

 

DEMO

The RadioWave demo site has been updated to the latest release.

 

DOWNLOAD

If you have an active RadioWave (or Template Bundle) membership, just head over to the Member Dashboard at https://www.joomlaworks.net/members and grab your copy from your "Subscriptions" page.

Or purchase this latest release from just 24.90 EUR. More info at: https://www.joomlaworks.net/joomla-templates/commercial-templates/radiowave

 

UPGRADING

When upgrading, use the relevant update zip file to avoid losing changes in your index.php and custom.css/js files. For more, please visit the related documentation page here: https://www.joomlaworks.net/support/templates/general-resources/installation/item/211-installing-vs-upgrading

For support questions please use our Ticket Support System inside the Member Dashboard at https://www.joomlaworks.net/dashboard (active product membership required).

 




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Simple Image Gallery (free) v4.0.0 released - now Joomla 4 compatible!

Simple Image Gallery (free) version 4.0.0 is now available to download. This marks our first extension update that supports the upcoming Joomla version 4 (currently in "beta").


Here's what's been added or changed in Simple Image Gallery (free) with the release of v4.0.0:

  • Fully compatible with the upcoming Joomla version 4 (currently in "beta"). As with every beta software, Joomla 4 should not be used on production websites, but rather for preparing your skills for when it's officially released as the next "stable" Joomla version. You can download the nightly build of Joomla 4.0.0 "Beta 1" here: https://developer.joomla.org/nightly-builds.html
  • Fancybox has been updated to its latest release (v3.5.7) and it's now loaded off the jsDelivr CDN (which is also "GFW" friendly).
  • Localization has been extended to support all language strings used by the plugin as well as Fancybox. So it's now possible to fully translate Simple Image Gallery (free) to your language of choice.
  • Updated the plugin's default parameter values to use larger thumbnails by default and longer caching.
  • Still rocking Joomla 1.5, 2.5, 3.x and now 4.x compatiblity, for PHP 5 and 7 (tested up to PHP 7.4 to be exact).

In the coming weeks we wil gradually roll out updates for our smaller extensions (e.g. AllVideos, Simple RSS Feed Reader etc.) to also support Joomla 4.

DEMO

The JoomlaWorks demo site has been updated to use the latest Simple Image Gallery (free) release. See here: https://demo.joomlaworks.net/simple-image-gallery

DOWNLOAD

You can download this version by visiting the extension's page at: https://www.joomlaworks.net/extensions/free/simple-image-gallery

UPGRADING

If you use Joomla 2.5 and 3.x releases, this new update will appear in the Joomla extension updater. If you're using Joomla 1.5 or have started to test out the beta releases of Joomla 4, you can simply upload the new version and it will overwrite the old one. After that step, visit the plugin's parameters page, check if everything is OK or adjust as needed and save the parameters.

 




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AllVideos v6.0.0 released - now Joomla 4 compatible!

Version 6.0.0 of AllVideos is now available. This is a feature release, which also introduces full support with the upcoming Joomla version 4 release.

Here's what's been added or changed in this new release of AllVideos:

  • Fully compatible with the upcoming Joomla version 4 (currently in "beta"). As with every beta software, Joomla 4 should not be used on production websites, but rather for preparing your skills for when it's officially released as the next "stable" Joomla version. You can download the nightly build of Joomla 4.0.0 "Beta 1" here: https://developer.joomla.org/nightly-builds.html
  • Added new "muted" option for initial playback of video files. This option allows you to use AllVideos to embed background videos without sound, either hosted files or videos from YouTube, Vimeo etc.
  • Need a simple way to have random preview images for your hosted audio files? Enable the new Unsplash.com integration and your audio files will use random music/audio related images as previews from the popular stock image service.
  • AllVideos plugin parameters now follow a new unified design (inspired by K2's recent re-design) across all supported Joomla versions.
  • Various code cleanups and improvements.

If you use K2 v2.10.x, we highly recommend you upgrade to this new version of AllVideos.

DEMO

The JoomlaWorks demo site has been updated to use the latest AllVideos release. See here: https://demo.joomlaworks.net/allvideos

DOWNLOAD

You can download this version by visiting the extension's page at: https://www.joomlaworks.net/allvideos/

UPGRADING

If you use the latest Joomla 3.x releases (or Joomla 2.5), this new update will appear in the Joomla extension updater. If you're using Joomla 1.5, you can simply upload the new version and it will overwrite the old one. After that step, visit the plugin's parameters page, check if everything is OK or adjust as needed and save the parameters.

 




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Simple Image Gallery (free) v4.1.0 released

Simple Image Gallery (free) version 4.1.0 is now available to download. This is a maintenance release.

Here's what's been added or changed in Simple Image Gallery (free) with the release of v4.1.0:

  • Allow the plugin to accept WEBP images as source images (along with JPEG, PNG and GIF).
  • Replaced cdnjs.com with jsDelivr.com (for serving Fancybox)
  • Removed any remaining references to IE. Going forth, Simple Image Gallery will only support modern browsers.
  • General code restructuring & cleanups.

Simple Image Gallery is (as of v4.0.0) fully compatible with Joomla versions 1.5, 2.5, 3.x and the upcoming 4.x.

DEMO

The JoomlaWorks demo site has been updated to use the latest Simple Image Gallery (free) release. See here: https://demo.joomlaworks.net/simple-image-gallery

DOWNLOAD

You can download this version by visiting the extension's page at: https://www.joomlaworks.net/extensions/free/simple-image-gallery

UPGRADING

If you use Joomla 2.5, 3.x & 4.x (beta) releases, this new update will appear in the Joomla extension updater. If you're using Joomla 1.5 you can simply upload the new version and it will overwrite the old one. After that step, visit the plugin's parameters page, check if everything is OK or adjust as needed and save the parameters.

 




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Elon Musk threatens to pull Tesla operations out of California and into Texas or Nevada

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Saturday the company will file a lawsuit against Alameda County and threatened to move its headquarters and future programs to Texas or Nevada immediately, escalating a fight between the company and health officials over whether its factory in Fremont can reopen. Tesla had planned to bring back about 30% of […]




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How to do Keyword Research for SEO

Keyword research is the backbone of your online presence. It’s common knowledge that this practice determines your rankings and visibility in the organic search. However, the way keyword research is done has changed over time. Today, using Google’s Keyword Planner to find phrases with a high search volume and optimizing your site for them is not […]

The post How to do Keyword Research for SEO appeared first on ReadWrite.




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The Challenges and Opportunities for Automation in the Real Estate Industry

According to Ascend2, 71% of businesses use marketing automation. The benefits of marketing automation are significant across all industries, including real estate. Even better, marketing isn’t the only process that real estate agents can automate in their business.  Managing a real estate business can be time-consuming. Numerous, repetitive tasks can prevent agents from maximizing their […]

The post The Challenges and Opportunities for Automation in the Real Estate Industry appeared first on ReadWrite.




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How Founders and CEOs Can Raise Early Checks (With Pavel Cherkashin)

I’m excited to speak with Pavel Cherkashin in today’s episode of the How To CEO podcast!. Pavel is a co-founder and managing partner at Mindrock Capital. Pavel is also a managing partner at GVA Capital. I spoke with him about what founders and CEOs need to know about raising early checks. When Should Founders Try […]

The post How Founders and CEOs Can Raise Early Checks (With Pavel Cherkashin) appeared first on ReadWrite.





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Secret to Getting Leads with Digital Marketing Technology

Nowadays most companies are doing SEO, PPC, and Content Marketing. Yet sometimes the company’s are not getting the leads they need. Some businesses get leads — but not quality leads, or they don’t get the leads that fit their expectations. The main reason a company doesn’t get the leads they need is that they are […]

The post Secret to Getting Leads with Digital Marketing Technology appeared first on ReadWrite.




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Trade Secrets Claimed by Prolacta to Steal Founders’ Company – Again

Elana Medo has dedicated many decades of her life to making mother’s milk available to premature babies. Now a questionable trade secret lawsuit threatens to destroy her life’s work and leave preterm infants without access to life-saving milk. The cost of a Corporation Stealing from an Individual has been the loss of human lives — […]

The post Trade Secrets Claimed by Prolacta to Steal Founders’ Company – Again appeared first on ReadWrite.




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The Automation Boom is Coming. Will the Internet Be Ready?

We live in an increasingly connected world. It’s estimated that there will be about 260 million internet-connected devices in the U.S. by 2020, and the next wave of these devices will push our data demand even further. New Bluetooth advancements, for instance, enable devices to perform within a range that’s four times greater, twice the speed, and eight times the […]

The post The Automation Boom is Coming. Will the Internet Be Ready? appeared first on ReadWrite.




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Google surfacing more local COVID news content to satisfy massive search demand

Local news publishers have struggled to monetize spike in consumer interest.

Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.




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Google Search Console now supports SpecialAnnouncement schema

The Rich Results Test tool now also supports SpecialAnnouncement markup.

Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.




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Is it an algorithm update or is Google adapting to new search intent? [Video]

‘The idea that what’s happening with searcher behavior is not causing these shifts means that Google is in there writing that code for every intent, every day, and I can’t believe that’s what’s happening,’ said Dr. Pete Meyers on Live with Search Engine Land.

Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.




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Google’s Martin Splitt to join Live with Search Engine Land today

If you are having indexing issues with your HTML or JavaScript-based website then you won’t want to miss this chat.

Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.




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Less than essential: Why smart speakers are like smartwatches, not smartphones

The devices have reached 50% of US homes, but fallen flat as a channel

Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.




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Oops, LinkedIn temporarily drops out of Google Search

Even the biggest sites on the internet can have problems with their SEO and Google.

Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.




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Pro Tip: How to find and fix 404 errors that really matter to win your traffic back

External sources link to your website with the wrong URLs, here’s how you can fix that.

Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.




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Google is suggesting searches based on users’ recent activity

The suggestions surface for multiple intents for logged-in users.

Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.




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New Google ‘Rising Retail Categories’ tool exposes fast-growing product searches

This is the first time Google says it has provided this kind of data to the public.

Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.




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Google’s May 2020 core update was big and broad, search data tools show

This update was an “absolute monster” said Mordy Oberstein from RankRanger.

Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.




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News24.com | US rocked by another unarmed black man being shot dead

Politicians, celebrities and people speaking out on social media are angrily demanding the arrest of two white men in the shooting death of an unarmed black jogger in Georgia.




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News24.com | International Covid-19 update: UN pleads for more funding, Japan approves treatment

All the latest Covid-19 news from around the world.




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News24.com | Brave new world: could pandemic lead to positive change?

Major social advances have often emerged from the depths of disaster: the Black Death brought an end to serfdom, and Britain's welfare state emerged from the ruins of World War II.




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News24.com | Covid-19 wrap | India boosts output of anti-malarial drug, Australia launches 3-stage plan to reopen, Hong Kong begins to ease social distancing measures

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis.




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News24.com | 'Enemies remain enemies': N Korea hits out at South, lauds China

North lashed out at neighbour for holding military exercises, as Kim Jong Un sent message of praise to Xi Jinping.




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News24.com | Italy virus death toll passes 30 000

The number of deaths from coronavirus in Italy now exceeds 30 000, officials have said.




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News24.com | International Covid-19 news: Germany to reimpose lockdown, Italy death toll tops 30 000




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News24.com | International Covid-19 wrap: Pakistan expats test positive, boy, 5, dies from 'disease caused by Covid-19'

Here is the latest news from around the world.




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Easy Weeknight Chicken Ramen

A warm bowl of ramen need not be a big ordeal of time or fuss, as this weeknight chicken ramen attests. Boost store-bought chicken broth with some flavor enhancers and assemble your bowls in under 30 minutes.

Continue reading "Easy Weeknight Chicken Ramen" »






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Cream Cheese Banana Bread

Thought banana bread couldn't get any better? Try this riff on our original banana bread recipe by adding cream cheese in big, bold swirls.

Continue reading "Cream Cheese Banana Bread" »