ul Formula 1 factory shutdown period doubled By www.bbc.co.uk Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2020 16:19:28 GMT Formula 1 almost doubles the shutdown period for teams as the coronavirus crisis continues to play havoc with the 2020 championship. Full Article
ul Highlights: Max Gunther wins action-packed second Formula E Race At Home Challenge By www.bbc.co.uk Published On :: Sat, 02 May 2020 16:41:40 GMT Watch highlights from the crash-filled second race of the Formula E Race At Home Challenge as Maximillian Gunther wins on the Electric Docks circuit. Full Article
ul Formula 1: Hungarian Grand Prix to be held without fans By www.bbc.co.uk Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 08:55:02 GMT Hungarian Grand Prix organisers announce the race be held without spectators this year as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Full Article
ul Formula 1 to create 'isolated environment' By www.bbc.co.uk Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 10:59:55 GMT Formula 1 plans to create an isolated environment for competitors when it starts racing again in July. Full Article
ul Vandoorne crashes off pole position twice in eventful esports weekend By www.bbc.co.uk Published On :: Sun, 03 May 2020 21:07:59 GMT In one weekend Stoffel Vandoorne manages to qualify on pole position in two races and crash out of both of them. Full Article
ul Formula 1 bosses make final budget offer to teams By www.bbc.co.uk Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 16:41:11 GMT Formula 1 bosses have made a final offer to teams of a sliding scale budget cap reducing from $145m to $130m over the next three years. Full Article
ul Coronavirus: WHO warns 190,000 could die in Africa in one year By www.bbc.co.uk Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 09:56:40 GMT Covid-19 could linger for years and "smoulder in transmission hot spots", the WHO warns. Full Article
ul Timeline: Bulgaria By news.bbc.co.uk Published On :: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:29:40 GMT A chronology of key events Full Article Country profiles
ul Country profile: Bulgaria By news.bbc.co.uk Published On :: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:24:38 GMT Key facts, figures and dates Full Article Country profiles
ul Coronavirus: Should I self-isolate and how do I do it? By www.bbc.co.uk Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 13:18:39 GMT Everybody should be avoiding non-essential contact, and you should stay at home wherever possible. Full Article
ul Coronavirus: Why washing hands is difficult in some countries By www.bbc.co.uk Published On :: Wed, 18 Mar 2020 01:10:03 GMT The World Health Organisation's advice is difficult to follow in some developing countries. Full Article
ul Coronavirus: What could the West learn from Asia? By www.bbc.co.uk Published On :: Sat, 21 Mar 2020 00:30:19 GMT Experts say the UK and US lost an opportunity to prepare for the outbreak - but that it's not too late. Full Article
ul Coronavirus: Should the public wear face masks? By www.bbc.co.uk Published On :: Thu, 30 Apr 2020 17:14:36 GMT There is growing discussion about the potential benefits of the general public wearing masks. Full Article
ul Coronavirus: Should I start taking vitamin D? By www.bbc.co.uk Published On :: Thu, 23 Apr 2020 01:34:35 GMT Some people might want to consider it during the pandemic. Here's why. Full Article
ul Social distancing and coronavirus: The science behind the two-metre rule By www.bbc.co.uk Published On :: Sun, 03 May 2020 20:01:19 GMT Ministers are reportedly considering relaxing the two-metre rule for social distancing in workplaces. Full Article
ul Climate change: More than 3bn could live in extreme heat by 2070 By www.bbc.co.uk Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 12:55:47 GMT Areas such as India, Australia and Africa are predicted to be among the worst affected. Full Article
ul Two Indians flown back from Gulf to Kerala test Covid-19 positive - Hindustan Times By news.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 15:16:47 GMT Two Indians flown back from Gulf to Kerala test Covid-19 positive Hindustan TimesView Full coverage on Google News Full Article
ul Ottawa deploying 'park ambassadors' to clear up confusion on rules in parks By ottawa.ctvnews.ca Published On :: Fri, 8 May 2020 15:11:00 -0400 The City of Ottawa is launching a “Parks Ambassador Program” to educate residents on the do’s and don’ts in parks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full Article
ul Picture time! NCC says ‘feel free’ to snap a photo of the tulips By ottawa.ctvnews.ca Published On :: Fri, 8 May 2020 11:27:00 -0400 As the tulips begin to bloom across Ottawa, the National Capital Commission now says you can stop and take a photo of the colourful flowers. Full Article
ul Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola bashed superhero movies, but why should we care what they say anyway? By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Tue, 22 Oct 2019 11:00:00 +0000 Even two filmmaking legends can cast the wrong villains amid massive industry change. Full Article
ul ‘Death Stranding’ game review: A stunning achievement that requires effort to truly appreciate By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Fri, 01 Nov 2019 20:39:41 +0000 “Death Stranding” is one of the oddest, and one of the best, games of 2019. Full Article
ul ‘Eliza’ game review: An insightful visual novel with a vision for self-care’s future By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Thu, 21 Nov 2019 19:57:28 +0000 Full Article
ul Republicans would have us going in circles on impeachment By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Fri, 06 Dec 2019 18:06:49 +0000 There is no end to it. Full Article
ul Cathy Yan’s rapid rise from journalist to ‘Birds of Prey’ director: ‘I didn’t think you could do this professionally’ By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Wed, 05 Feb 2020 23:56:50 +0000 Yan guided Margot Robbie's return to her character Harley Quinn, and is the first woman of Asian descent to direct a major Hollywood superhero movie. Full Article
ul Beautiful visuals and dreamy puzzles make ‘Luna The Shadow Dust’ an unusually enchanting game By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Thu, 27 Feb 2020 15:01:53 +0000 The beautiful hand-drawn visuals, dreamlike puzzles, and mysterious story line of 'Luna The Shadow Dust' -- which unfolds without a word of dialogue -- will draw you in and hold your interest from start to finish. Full Article
ul Bloomberg insulted Trump with a Darth Vader tweet. Here are six other times Star Wars converged with politics. By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Wed, 04 Mar 2020 21:38:39 +0000 From Ronald Reagan's "evil empire" to Mark Hamill battling Ivanka Trump. Full Article
ul How cartoonists are carefully satirizing the coronavirus epidemic — and Trump’s response to it By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2020 14:54:32 +0000 Three Pulitzer-winning cartoonists say covering the crisis requires careful aim. Full Article
ul Chinese American cartoonist finds satire in coronavirus crisis — with a perspective from both cultures By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Sat, 21 Mar 2020 11:00:36 +0000 Chen Weng was born in Wuhan and lives in Seattle. Both connections inspire her "Messycow Comics" strips about panic and hoarding. Full Article
ul The ultimate guide to your Star Wars binge By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2020 10:00:40 +0000 “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” is now available to buy, but we suggest you skip it and go in this order instead. Full Article
ul ‘The Clone Wars’ proves yet again that Darth Maul is the most tragic Star Wars character By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Mon, 27 Apr 2020 11:00:34 +0000 Darth Maul could have saved the galaxy in 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars," and lived on in the movies. Neither happened. Full Article
ul How cartoonists are ridiculing Pence’s Mayo Clinic visit without a mask By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Thu, 30 Apr 2020 14:43:21 +0000 The vice president's visit inspired reactions from cartoonists on both sides of the political aisle. Full Article
ul ‘Paper Beast’: A truly great PlayStation VR game By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 17:35:24 +0000 Don’t be surprised to see the visionary "Paper Beast" on the year’s best list. Full Article
ul News24.com | Covid-19: Man sentenced to death in Nigeria's first ever virtual ruling By www.news24.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 19:00:16 +0200 A Nigerian court sentenced a man to death in the country's first ever virtual ruling during a five-week coronavirus lockdown. Full Article
ul News24.com | Lesotho PM confirms plans to step down by July 31 By www.news24.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:56:22 +0200 Lesotho's Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has reiterated his intention to retire by the end of July "or earlier", despite risk of prosecution for his alleged involvement in the 2017 murder of his estranged wife. Full Article
ul News24.com | WATCH | Faithful undeterred at Ramadan, even as virus spreads in Somalia By www.news24.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 12:52:45 +0200 Adan Abdullahi knows that visiting the mosque for evening prayers is forbidden. There is a curfew in place in the Somali capital, and authorities have pleaded with worshippers to stay home as coronavirus infections rise. Full Article
ul 2,000 bars shut in Seoul as 17 new coronavirus cases linked to one man By news.sky.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 12:55:00 +0100 More than 2,100 nightclubs, hostess bars and discos in South Korea's capital have been shut after 18 new coronavirus cases - with all but one linked to a 29-year-old man. Full Article
ul A hit-and-run scooter crash nearly killed him. Now he’s fighting for the data that could reveal the rider’s identity. By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Wed, 10 Jul 2019 17:32:19 +0000 A Chicago cyclist was injured by an electric scooter rider who fled the scene. Now he's gone to court to get the city's scooter companies to turn over personal information about their riders and their history. Full Article
ul Three years ago it could barely walk. Now Atlas the humanoid robot is doing gymnastics. By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Wed, 25 Sep 2019 12:00:20 +0000 Three years ago it was barely walking. Now, Atlas, the humanoid robot from Boston Dynamics is performing gymnastic routines that mimic professional athletes. Full Article
ul Istanbul’s new airport is one of the world’s largest. A fleet of humanoid robots is helping passengers find their way around. By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Oct 2019 10:00:26 +0000 How do you help millions of passengers navigate one of the world's largest airports? In Turkey, the answer is a fleet of humanoid robots. Full Article
ul Caltech’s latest creation: A hovering, bird-like robot that could someday explore Mars By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Wed, 09 Oct 2019 18:20:21 +0000 Researchers at Caltech have unveiled a complex new robot with the ability move between flight and walking on two legs. The machine unique design was inspired by birds. Full Article
ul NFL Week 6 ATS picks: The Panthers should add to Redskins’ woes By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Thu, 11 Oct 2018 13:46:13 +0000 Cam Newton is 4-0 against the Redskins, with 11 touchdowns (nine passing, two rushing) and zero interceptions for his career. Full Article
ul NFL Week 8 ATS picks: Redskins’ pass rush should be a big problem for the Giants By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Thu, 25 Oct 2018 15:01:01 +0000 Giants' offensive line is allowing an adjusted sack rate of over eight percent, the eighth-worst in the NFL. Full Article
ul A World Series win would place 2018 Red Sox among MLB’s best teams ever By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Thu, 25 Oct 2018 18:39:09 +0000 Since 1969, only 12 teams have recorded baseball’s best record and gone on to win a championship that same year. Just seven of those 12 won 108 or more games during the regular season. The Red Sox are two wins away from joining that elite company. Full Article
ul New Coach Mike Budenholzer has the Milwaukee Bucks ahead of schedule By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Nov 2018 17:23:40 +0000 Milwaukee has embraced the modern NBA. Full Article
ul Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are going to get PAID. Machado should get paid more. By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Nov 2018 14:14:11 +0000 Harper has had one spectacular season — earning him a unanimous MVP award in 2015 — surrounded by some very good but not great years. Machado, on the other hand, projects more favorably and doesn't carry a significant liability. Full Article
ul Week 14 waiver wire tips: Pass-catching back, defense with weak schedule are available By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Mon, 03 Dec 2018 01:39:59 +0000 The Ravens' Ty Montgomery figures to take on a larger share of the workload in Baltimore over the remainder of the season. Full Article
ul Week 15 waiver wire tips: Two helpful defenses available for the fantasy football playoffs By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Sun, 09 Dec 2018 21:33:03 +0000 The fantasy football regular season has come to an end but that doesn’t make the waiver wire any less important, especially if you have been streaming quarterbacks and defenses to make it this far. Full Article
ul COVID-19 has ravaged ride-hailing companies, but an industry watcher says the crisis could make Uber stronger (UBER) By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 07:32:00 -0400 While ride-hailing has suffered from the impact of COVID-19, Uber is in a good position to survive the crisis, three analysts who cover the company told Business Insider. Uber is in no danger of running of out money anytime soon, said Mark Mahaney, a managing director at RBC Capital Markets. And a series of cost-cutting moves should make the company profitable by next year, said Dan Ives, a managing director of equity research at Wedbush Securities. Uber's food-delivery service, Uber Eats, gives the company an advantage over ride-hailing competitors, since it allows homebound consumers to keep using its app, said Tom White, a senior research analyst at DA Davidson. Are you a current or former Uber employee? Do you have an opinion about what it's like to work there? Contact this reporter at mmatousek@businessinsider.com. You can also reach out on Signal at 646-768-4712 or email this reporter's encrypted address at mmatousek@protonmail.com. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The ride-hailing industry has taken a major hit from COVID-19 as potential customers remain confined to their homes, but Uber is in a good position to survive the crisis, three analysts who cover the company said. "Their business model will be intact on the other side of this," said Dan Ives, a managing director of equity research at Wedbush Securities. A strong cash reserve will help. After ending the first quarter with $9 billion in cash and short-term investments, Uber has the resources to survive a scenario in which the prevalence of COVID-19 and its effect on consumer behavior last for the next two years, said Mark Mahaney, a managing director at RBC Capital Markets. On Thursday, Uber disclosed its first-quarter financial results, reporting an adjusted loss of $2.9 billion on revenue of $3.5 billion during the first three months of this year. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said on a call with analysts that the ride-hailing company would cut $1 billion in fixed costs. The company has recently removed its food-delivery service — Uber Eats — from eight unprofitable markets, folded its electric bike and scooter business into Lime (Uber recently led a $170 million investment round in the company), and announced it will lay off about 14% of its workforce. Those moves should help Uber become profitable in 2021 (the company predicted in February that it would turn a profit by the end of this year), Ives said. Uber's management, which had struggled in the wake of the company's 2019 IPO, has performed well in the current crisis by being transparent with investors and quickly moving to reduce expenses, Ives said. Investors signaled their approval of the company's strategy by sending shares up as much as 8% in after-hours trading on Thursday. Uber Eats was one of the highlights of the company's first-quarter results, said Tom White, a senior research analyst at DA Davidson, as gross bookings grew 52% from the first quarter of 2019 to $4.7 billion. Eats gives Uber an advantage over ride-hailing competitors that don't have a similar service, as it allows the company to keep homebound consumers using its app, White said. Even after the toll of COVID-19 begins to subside, demand for online food delivery could see continued growth, he added. But there are still challenges ahead for Uber. The company said rides fell by as much as 80% in April, and Ives projects that 30% of the customers for gig-economy companies like Uber, Airbnb, and Lyft won't use a ride-hailing service until there's a vaccine for COVID-19. Yet the pandemic could leave Uber better off in the long run, White said. "I saw and heard enough [during Uber's first-quarter earnings call] that makes it harder and harder for me to think that these guys don't emerge from this pandemic probably in a stronger competitive position and a healthier and leaner operating position," he said. Are you a current or former Uber employee? Do you have an opinion about what it's like to work there? Contact this reporter at mmatousek@businessinsider.com. You can also reach out on Signal at 646-768-4712 or email this reporter's encrypted address at mmatousek@protonmail.com. Read more: Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says drivers should receive tiered healthcare benefits based on how many hours they work, and that the company would pay for it SoftBank-backed companies laid off more than 3,700 people in 2020 and more than 7,000 in the past year Uber reveals first-quarter losses of $2.9 billion because of the coronavirus — but says business is starting to pick up again Lyft surges 17% after posting a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss as coronavirus hit the ride-hailing industry SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's theater of the absurd is a sign of the times for tech Join the conversation about this story » NOW WATCH: Why Pikes Peak is the most dangerous racetrack in America Full Article
ul As dating apps try to pivot to virtual events, some users are trying to get people to violate social distancing rules By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 08:50:00 -0400 Dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge have reported increased use amid the coronavirus pandemic, while touting virtual dating alternatives for users instead of meeting up in person. Swaths of users are still encouraging matches to break quarantine to have sex and go on dates, despite social distancing guidelines and fines to comply with them. An illustrator on Instagram has been collecting screenshots of these situations, and told Business Insider that users will brand themselves as "badasses," dispute the effectiveness of isolating, and lash out in anger and hurl abusive language when they're rejected. Spokespeople for Grindr, Tinder and Bumble told Business Insider they've informed users to adhere to social-distancing guidelines, but did not respond to inquiries about actions they're taking against users in places where violating lockdown orders can be against the law. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. As millions remain confined to their homes to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the desire for human contact and connection has risen dramatically and led some to search for ways to break those social distancing rules. Popular dating apps — including Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge — have reported significant increases during the outbreak of swiping activity, matches between users, and messages exchanged. It's also led to the introduction of a breed of users who are interested in shirking lockdown orders, and are encouraging their matches to join them in doing the same. Dating app users have shared stories across social media, and recently with Mashable, about messages they've received from matches who ask them to come over or want to hook up. Artist Samantha Rothenberg, who uses the handle @violetclair on Instagram, has been collecting these screenshots from followers, and told Business Insider she's received close to a thousand of such stories. "Because of how common it is, I can honestly say that anyone who is on a dating app right now has dealt with this," Rothenberg told Business Insider. "People are horny, and a lot of people are putting that ahead of the risk and the danger." For dating platforms whose end goal is inherently to bring its millions of users together in real life, the coronavirus outbreak has put them in a curious predicament. Dating apps are forced to balance a desire to keep people on their platform for the sake of business, with a moral responsibility to discourage users to engage in behavior with potential life-or-death implications. Since the start of the outbreak, apps have rolled out in-app virtual dating options and touted ways users can go on virtual dates. However, the prevalence of users who are trying to meet up in person, as documented by Rothenberg and screenshots across social media, raise questions about whether these dating platforms are doing enough to stymie such behavior in the time of coronavirus. Rothenberg has long collected screenshots of users' horror stories from dating app interactions, which she often will depict in illustrations she posts to her Instagram account. But ever since the pandemic led states to instill lockdown orders starting in March, nearly all of the screenshots she's received have had to do with coronavirus. These lockdown-violating users fall into a few general categories, according to Rothenberg. There's the users who try to paint themselves as "badasses" for breaking the rules, though Rothenberg says they're more like "a--holes." There are the matches who propose meeting up and, after getting rejected, reverse course to say they're were joking or "testing" you, she says. You'll also encounter the anti-quarantine user, whose reasoning is based on claims about herd immunity and the ineffectiveness of social distancing measures. The last group is made up of users who react to "no" with anger and verbal abuse, Rothenberg told Business Insider. Women told Mashable recently about encounters with men on dating apps who badgered and harassed them after they turned down in-person meetings, going to the point of gaslighting. These types of users are what led Rothenberg to launch a petition on Change.org to hold dating apps responsible for enforcing social distancing guidelines during the pandemic. She's also been active about calling out dating apps in her Instagram Stories she posts with screenshots she receives. "People are angry, they tell me, 'can you believe this, this is disgusting, this is wrong,'" Rothenberg said. "Because I have this platform, I feel I have a bit of a responsibility to put these [stories] out in the open and share, and bring some light into what's going on out there to people who may not know." In late March, platforms sent out various messages and alerts to their users that Rothenberg documented on Instagram. A message to Bumble users from CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd said: "Please don't meet your Bumble matches IRL for now." Hinge users were told to "stay safe and keep connected." Tinder, arguably the most well-know dating app, also discouraged users to meet up in a platform-wide message sent March 26. "We know there's a lot to stay to each other as we all do our best to stay healthy and prevent the spread of the coronavirus," the message from Tinder said. "We hope to be a place for connecting during this challenging time, but it's important to stress that now is not the time to meet IRL with your match." Dating apps' responsibilities to pivot from IRL to TXT As companies across industries adjust business to stay afloat, dating apps have transitioned to emphasize alternatives to in-person meetups. Although online dating success has long been measured by the amount of conversations that turn to real-life connections, platforms are forced to rethink their strategy as users continue turning to them en masse. A poll conducted by Hinge found that 70% of its users said they were open to going on dates on Zoom, FaceTime, and other video platforms. Some dating brands have introduced new features amid the pandemic. Hinge launched "Date from Home" in April, where users can indicate to a match they're ready to move their conversation off-app. Plenty of Fish started rolling out a livestreaming feature in March to users in the U.S. to allow matches to go on short virtual dates. Tinder, relatively late to the game, announced this week it was launching a video chat feature by the end of June. A spokesperson for Match Group — the parent company on Tinder, Hinge, Plenty of Fish, and other dating platforms — told Business Insider that it made updates to its products "to help users better navigate stay-from-home policies and date digitally via phone or video." Other apps that already enabled video chat and voice call, like The League and Bumble, are pushing these features to their users more than ever. But while users on these dating apps are swiping and messaging at new highs, the transition to virtual-only hasn't been as seamless for those on Grindr, the most popular dating app for gay men. Steve, a 26-year-old living in Washington, D.C., told Business Insider that activity on Grindr is "completely dead." He said he doesn't check the app nearly as often any more, but messages he does get on the app are largely from people who say they want to meet up despite the quarantine. Grindr, like other apps, has attempted to pivot to virtual dating: The platform recently introduced Circles, where groups of up to 20 users can join chats centered around certain topics and interests. However, Steve said he's seen these groups largely dissolve into "all d--k pics." "I dont think Grindr has the ability to rebrand itself honestly at this point for something other than hookups," Steve said. "They tried to take the opportunity to rebrand itself as something else, and it just right away became sexual." A Grindr spokesperson told Business Insider it had sent in-app notifications to all users asking them to "refrain from in-person meetings right now."Nonetheless, an app-wide message sent to users — and shared by users on Twitter — made no mention of asking users to social distance. For users across these dating apps who encourage the violating of social distancing guidelines, it's unclear how much responsibility platforms have to keep their users' indoors. In some states under lockdown, authorities have doled out fines and even arrested residents found failing to follow at-home guidelines. Grindr, Bumble and Match Group — the parent company of Tinder, Hinge, Plenty of Fish and others — told Business Insider in statements they have encouraged users to adhere to coronavirus guidelines from the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control. None of the companies responded to Business Insider's requests for comment about whether asking to violate social-distancing guidelines on the platforms is a breach of policy or would garner any ban or suspension on a user.SEE ALSO: What you need to know about Grimes, the Canadian musician who just had a baby with tech billionaire Elon Musk Join the conversation about this story » NOW WATCH: Why electric planes haven't taken off yet Full Article
ul Facebook's fight against coronavirus misinformation could boost pressure on the company to get more aggressive in removing other falsehoods spreading across the social network (FB) By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 09:12:00 -0400 Facebook is taking a harder line on misinformation related to coronavirus than it has on other health topics in the past. This decision may increase the pressure on the company to act more decisively against other forms of harmful falsehoods that spread on its social networks. Facebook is banning events that promote flouting lockdown protests, and is removing the conspiracy theory video "Plandemic." But false claims that vaccines are dangerous still proliferate on Facebook — even though they contribute to the deaths of children. Amid the pandemic, Facebook is taking a harder line on misinformation than it has in the past. That decision may come back to haunt it. As coronavirus has wreaked havoc across the globe, forcing lockdowns and disrupting economies, false information and hoaxes have spread like wildfire on social media. Miracle cures, intentional disinformation about government policies, and wild claims that Bill Gates orchestrated the entire health crisis abound. In the past, Facebook has been heavily criticised for failing to take action to stop its platform being used to facilitate the spread of misinformation. To be sure, coronavirus falsehoods are still easily found on Facebook — but the company has taken more decisive action than in previous years: For starters, Facebook is now displaying warning messages to people who have shared false information about COVID-19. They're imperfect — Stat reported that they may be too vague in their wording to have a major impact — but it's a step further than Facebook has taken on misinformation in the past. The company is also taking down event pages for events that reject mainstream science on coronavirus by calling on people to flout lockdown rules. And it is banning "Plandemic," a conspiratorial video about coronavirus that has been going viral on social media and contains numerous falsehoods. But Facebook's actions to combat COVID-19 misinformation may backfire — in the sense that it has the potential to dramatically increase pressure on the company to take stronger action against other forms of misinformation. The company has long struggled with how to handle fake news and hoaxes; historically, its approach is not to delete them, but to try to artificially stifle their reach via algorithmic tweaks. Despite this, pseudoscience, anti-government conspiracy theories, and other falsehoods still abound on the social network. Facebook has now demonstrated that it is willing to take more decisive action on misinformation, when the stakes are high enough. Its critics may subsequently ask why it is so reticent to combat the issue when it causes harm in other areas — particularly around other medical misinformation. One expected defence for Facebook? That it is focused on taking down content that causes "imminent harm," and while COVID-19 misinformation falls into that category, lots of other sorts of falsehoods don't. However, using "imminence" as the barometer of acceptability is dubious: Vaccine denialism directly results in the deaths of babies and children. That this harm isn't "imminent" doesn't make it any less dangerous — but, for now, such material is freely posted on Facebook. Far-right conspiracy theories like Pizzagate, and more recent, Qanon, have also spread on Facebook — stoking baseless fears of shadowy cabals secretly controlling the government. These theories don't intrinsically incite harm, but have been linked to multiple acts of violence, from a Pizzagate believer firing his weapon in a pizza parlour to the Qanon-linked killing of a Gambino crime boss. (Earlier this week, Facebook did take down some popular QAnon pages — but for breaking its rules on fake profiles, rather than disinformation.) And Facebook is still full of groups rallying against 5G technology, making evidence-free claims about its health effects (and now, sometimes linking it to coronavirus in a messy web). These posts exist on a continuum, with believers at the extreme end attempting to burn down radio towers and assault technicians; Facebook does take down such incitements to violence, but the more general fearmongering that can act as a gateway to more extreme action remains. This week, Facebook announced the first 20 members of its Oversight Board — a "Supreme Court"-style entity that will review reports from users make rulings as to what objectionable content is and isn't allowed on Facebook and Instagram, with — in theory — the power to overrule the company. It remains to be seen whether its decisions may affect the company's approach for misinformation, and it still needs to appoint the rest of its members and get up and running. For now, limits remain in place as to what Facebook will countenance in its fight against coronavirus-specific misinformation. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company would immediately take down posts advertising dangerous false cures to COVID-19, like drinking bleach. It is "obviously going to create imminent harm," he said in March. "That is just in a completely different class of content than the back-and-forth accusations a candidate might make in an election." But in April, President Donald Trump suggested that people might try injecting a "disinfectant" as a cure, which both has the potential to be extremely harmful, and will not cure coronavirus. Facebook is not taking down video of his comments. Do you work at Facebook? Contact Business Insider reporter Rob Price via encrypted messaging app Signal (+1 650-636-6268), encrypted email (robaeprice@protonmail.com), standard email (rprice@businessinsider.com), Telegram/Wickr/WeChat (robaeprice), or Twitter DM (@robaeprice). We can keep sources anonymous. Use a non-work device to reach out. PR pitches by standard email only, please.SEE ALSO: Facebook announced the first 20 members of its oversight board that will decide what controversial content is allowed on Facebook and Instagram Join the conversation about this story » NOW WATCH: A cleaning expert reveals her 3-step method for cleaning your entire home quickly Full Article