COVID-19
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US brings back free at-home COVID-19 tests as cases continue to spike
Each household can request four tests starting September 25.
Meta rolls back COVID-19 misinformation rules in many countries
Meta is rolling back COVID-19 misinformation rules for Instagram and Facebook in countries that no longer deem the pandemic to be a national emergency. The rules will no longer apply in the US, along with some other territories.
Meta will require staff to be in the office at least three days a week
Meta will make workers return to the office at least three times a week starting September 5th.
Most states halt use of Google and Apple's COVID-19 exposure notification system
Mobile COVID-19 exposure alerts have shut down in the US now that the public emergency is over.
Amazon wants employees to return to the office in May
Starting in May, Amazon will require employees to work out of the office at least three days per week.
Twitter has stopped enforcing its COVID-19 misinformation policy
Twitter says it has stopped enforcing its COVID-19 misinformation policy.
Twitter spam obscures China COVID policy protest news
Twitter is struggling to deal with a surge in bot spam just as protests erupted in China.
Protests break out at a major iPhone factory in China
Foxconn's largest iPhone factory in Zhengzhou, China has been hit by worker protests including violent confrontations with supervisors and police.
Apple expects iPhone 14 shipments to be delayed by COVID restrictions in China
COVID-19 restrictions at Foxconn's primary iPhone 14 factory in Zhengzhou, China means shipments will be lower than anticipated,
Microsoft’s Presenter+ is a sleek PowerPoint remote for the hybrid work era
Microsoft's new Presenter+ remote is a sleek slide for hybrid work.
Japan pledges $2 billion in funding for pandemic vaccine research initiative
The country lagged behind other regions when it came to COVID-19 vaccine development and rollout.
Uber and Lyft ditch their mask requirement in New York
The move follows policy updates from the state and NYC's Taxi & Limousine Commission.
Apple no longer requires most corporate employees to wear masks
Apple will no longer require corporate employees to wear masks at "most locations," according to an internal email from the company.
Meta asks Oversight Board if it should soften COVID-19 misinformation policies
Meta has asked the Oversight Board if it should merely downplay COVID-19 misinformation instead of removing it.
Hitting the Books: COVID set off an exodus of urban artisans
In Return of the Artisan, Grant McCracken explores how a post-war America gradually rediscovered its home-spun roots as well as the accelerating effect the COVID pandemic has had on America's rejection of "smart city" living and embrace of a more pastoral lifestyle.
Meta's first human rights report defends the company's misinformation strategy
Meta has unveiled its first human rights report, and it focuses heavily on justifying Facebook misinformation policies.
Crosby, Stills and Nash return to Spotify after COVID-19 misinformation boycott
The music of Crosby, Stills and Nash is once again available to stream on Spotify.
FDA says updated COVID-19 Omicron boosters won’t require new clinical trials
The agency will use data from previous trials to assess vaccines targeting the BA.4 and BA.5 variants.
FDA asks COVID-19 vaccine makers to update boosters to target new Omicron variants
The BA.4 and BA.5 strains now account for over half of infections in the US, according to the CDC.
Google's latest Pixel feature drop includes a Teenage Engineering music app
Google has released a Pixel feature drop that includes a music maker and easier access to doorbell video and vaccination cards.