Author: Alan Lorenz

Microsoft is Partly Discontinuing Internet Explorer 11
18Aug By Alan LorenzNo Comments
Technology, News

Microsoft is Partly Discontinuing Internet Explorer 11

In the coming year, Microsoft will gradually discontinue Internet Explorer 11. The browser will remain, but the light will gradually dim.   On August 17, 2021, IE11 will no longer be supported by Microsoft 365 apps. This includes Outlook, OneDrive, Word or Excel. Support in Teams will end on November 30 of this year. The company does point to the existence of an IE11 compatibility mode in Edge, and old, often very explicitly developed, applications for companies will still continue to work in Internet Explorer 11. Microsoft does not explicitly say whether the browser will receive additional security updates within a year or not. But presumably, that will still be the case. However, the signal is that Internet Explorer is a lot less useful in combination with other Microsoft appli...
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Facebook Also Complains About Commission Policy in Apple’s App Store
17Aug By Alan LorenzNo Comments
Technology, News

Facebook Also Complains About Commission Policy in Apple’s App Store

Facebook is also complaining about the commission policy in Apple's App Store. The social network is annoyed that the iPhone maker with a new service from Facebook simply wants to have the usual fee on so-called in-app purchases.   With Facebook, it is now also possible for companies to set up paid online events. Enterprises may charge Facebook users to access specific live streams, such as a yoga class or seminar. Usually, Apple always gets a 30 percent commission on payments made within the Facebook app. That's a rule for apps that can be downloaded from the App Store. However, CEO Mark Zuckerberg's company had this time asked Apple to waive the usual fee, also because it would involve transactions for smaller entrepreneurs. They would have it severe enough because of the coron...
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Apple and Google Removes Fortnite Shooting Game From Their App Stores
14Aug By Alan LorenzNo Comments
Technology, News

Apple and Google Removes Fortnite Shooting Game From Their App Stores

After Apple, Google has now also removed the popular cartoonish shooting game Fortnite from its app store.   That happened after developer Epic Games introduced its own payment method in the game - something that goes against the rules of the American tech giants. Apple and Google charge a commission on apps sold through their digital store. That amount can be as much as thirty percent of the purchase price, and that is an eyesore for more and more companies. For example, music service Spotify recently filed a complaint with the European Commission because it believes that Apple is guilty of unfair competition. Meanwhile, the maker of Fortnite, Epic Games, has also filed a complaint against the tech giants for abuse of their monopoly position.
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More Than 700 People Arrested During Demonstrations in Belarus
13Aug By Alan LorenzNo Comments
Belarus, News

More Than 700 People Arrested During Demonstrations in Belarus

More than seven hundred people were arrested during demonstrations in Belarus on Wednesday. The Ministry of the Interior has announced this.   It was the fourth consecutive day of protests against the election results. In recent days at least 6,700 people have been arrested by the Belarusian police. "The problems in the country will become massive in this way," said the ministry. "The degree of aggressiveness in the protests increases the police's readiness." The country's presidential elections were held last weekend. The incumbent president Alexander Lukashenko won it well against opposition leader Svetlana Tichanovskaya, according to the exit polls. The opposition says that fraud has taken place and that Tikhanovskaya is the actual winner. The opposition leader fled to Latvia...
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Russia Calls Allegations That Corona Vaccine is Unsafe to be Unfounded
12Aug By Alan LorenzNo Comments
Russia, News

Russia Calls Allegations That Corona Vaccine is Unsafe to be Unfounded

Russia calls allegations that Russia's corona vaccine is unsafe "unfounded and competition-driven." Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said this on Wednesday, Interfax news agency said.   President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Russia was the first country to legally approve a Covid-19 vaccine after less than two months of testing on humans. Moscow's decision to approve it has raised concern among some experts. Only about 10 percent of clinical tests are successful, and some scientists are concerned that Moscow puts national prestige over safety. In particular, German Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Wednesday that Russia's Covid-19 vaccine had not been sufficiently tested. He added that the goal is to have a safe product rather than just being the first to vaccinate ...
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EU Presidents Denounce Violence Against Belarusian Protesters
10Aug By Alan LorenzNo Comments
Europe, Belarus, News

EU Presidents Denounce Violence Against Belarusian Protesters

The Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council have criticized the violence against demonstrators in Belarus.   Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel call on the autocratic regime in Minsk to respect fundamental rights and freedoms. During and after Sunday's presidential elections, clashes between police and protesters took place in numerous places in Belarus. About 3000 protesters have been arrested. A protester would also have been killed and dozens injured. The Electoral Commission has declared incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko the winner. Opposition leader and rival candidate Svetlana Tichanovskaja do not recognize the result and calls for a recount of the votes. There is no place in Europe for the violent repression of peaceful protesters, Von de...
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Tensions Between the US and China Over Tech Companies Caused Reticence Among Investors
7Aug By Alan LorenzNo Comments
Business, China, News, US

Tensions Between the US and China Over Tech Companies Caused Reticence Among Investors

The mounting tensions between the United States and China over Chinese tech companies caused some reticence among investors.   Tech investor Prosus was therefore under pressure on the Damrak. Better-than-expected export figures from China and Germany kept losses limited. The essential American jobs report, which will be released later today, was also awaited. The AEX index on Beursplein 5 recorded 0.3 percent in the negative at 556.63 points around noon. The MidKap lost 0.7 percent to 782.10 points. The stock exchanges in Frankfurt and London fell to 0.4 percent. Paris fell 0.7 percent. Prosus (minus 4.8 percent) was the most significant drop in the AEX. US President Donald Trump has signed a presidential decree banning US companies' transactions with ByteDance, the Chinese compa...
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EU is Making Euro 33 Million Available for Emergency Aid to Lebanon
6Aug By Alan LorenzNo Comments
Europe, Lebanon, News

EU is Making Euro 33 Million Available for Emergency Aid to Lebanon

The European Commission is allocating 33 million euros for aid to Lebanon after the devastating explosion that hit the capital Beirut on Tuesday.   The money is intended, among other things, for basic needs, medical equipment and the restoration of critical infrastructure. This is the first amount, committee chairman Ursulavon der Leyen announced on Thursday after a telephone conversation with Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab. She conveyed condolences and expressed support to the Lebanese people. The two also discussed how the EU could help rebuild Beirut and the rest of the country. Von der Leyen suggested the possibility of charting damage with European expertise and equipment. She also suggested boosting trade relations by offering benefits to the affected country. The Pre...
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Voters in Belarus Can Vote for Presidential Elections From Tuesday
4Aug By Alan LorenzNo Comments
Politics, Belarus, News

Voters in Belarus Can Vote for Presidential Elections From Tuesday

Voters in Belarus can vote for Sunday's presidential elections from Tuesday. Then authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko (65) hopes to be re-elected.   The opposition fears fraud and calls on voters to wait a little longer to vote. Early voting is for people who don't have time this weekend, according to state media. Opposition candidate Svetlana Tichanovskaja does not trust the authorities and has asked supporters to vote only on the last day. Then there would be less time for tampering with ballot papers. 37-year-old Tichanovskaya has also called on followers to wear a white bracelet. In her opinion, independent observers can better estimate how much support there is for her candidacy. Observers also take into account cheating in the elections in the former Soviet state, whi...
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4 Ways to Make Money from Home in the UK
4Aug By Alan LorenzNo Comments
Business, UK

4 Ways to Make Money from Home in the UK

Two things are on most people’s minds right now: the coronavirus and their finances. COVID-19 cases continue to rise as medical researchers scramble to develop a vaccine. Meanwhile, experts predicted that the British economy has shrunk by as much as 10% for the first two quarters due to the pandemic. Regardless of the actual number, the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic can be felt across the UK. Though the unemployment rate remains the same, the BBC reports that 9.4 million workers have been furloughed from their jobs. That means only a portion of their usual wages is being paid by the government, which may not be enough to cover monthly expenses. As the pandemic drags on, earning an income is still a necessity. People still need to pay their bills and purchase goods and ser...
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