Here are some of today’s top stories.
A gas found on Earth that signifies life has been detected in the clouds on Venus
Phosphine, a stinky, toxic and flammable gas found on Earth, has been detected in the atmosphere of Venus. On Earth, this gas signifies life. On Venus, it could suggest the presence of aerial life — but it’s not likely.
Biden says Trump’s ‘climate denialism, his disdain for science and facts’ is ‘unconscionable’
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Monday that President Donald Trump’s refusal to acknowledge the scientific reality of the climate crisis is “unconscionable” and that he has failed to protect the United States from the “ravages of climate change.”
Putin faces tough choice on Belarus: How to sort out Lukashenko without giving ground
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko visited Sochi in southwest Russia on Monday for one-on-one talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, seeking reassurances of Russia’s support after weeks of protests in Belarus.
US Ambassador to China stepping down as tensions with Beijing rise
Terry Branstad will be stepping down as United States Ambassador to China after more than three years in Beijing, a source confirmed to CNN Monday.
‘I thought I was going to die.’ Inside Venezuela’s mandatory quarantine motels
Doctors say Venezuela’s government has been using motels and other makeshift facilities to quarantine patients suspected of having the novel coronavirus, in a bid to keep them from overburdening the country’s already crumbling hospitals.
Does TikTok’s deal with Oracle avert a US ban?
TikTok’s US partnership with Oracle comes days before the Trump administration is expected to ban the popular short-form video app from the United States. But despite the two companies reaching a deal before Trump’s Sept. 20 deadline, it’s far from clear whether the agreement can successfully stave off the ban.
Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli given nine months’ community service for tax evasion
An Israeli court sentenced supermodel Bar Refaeli to nine months of community service for tax evasion Sunday, and handed her mother 16 months in prison, concluding a years-long case against the national celebrity.
Neymar makes racism allegation as game ends with five red cards
Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar has said he was the target of a racist slur by an Olympique Marseille player during the French champions’ 1-0 defeat in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
A chunk of ice twice the size of Manhattan has broken off Greenland in the last two years
A 44-square-mile chunk of ice, about twice the size of Manhattan, has broken off the Arctic’s largest remaining ice shelf in northeast Greenland in the last two years, leaving scientists fearful over its rapid disintegration.
Is there life floating in the clouds of Venus?
It’s an extraordinary possibility – the idea that living organisms are floating in the clouds of Planet Venus. But this is what astronomers are now considering after detecting a gas in the atmosphere they can’t explain.
Nigeria’s slave descendants prevented from marrying who they want
In a tragedy reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, a couple in Nigeria killed themselves earlier this month after their parents had forbidden them from marrying because one of them was a descendant of slaves. “They’re saying we can’t get married… all because of an ancient belief,” the note they left behind said.
Paul Rusesabagina: Hotel Rwanda hero charged with terrorism
Paul Rusesabagina declined to enter any pleas in court but his lawyers denied the charges against him.
Daimler to pay $1.5bn over emissions claims in US
German carmaker Daimler, which owns Mercedes-Benz, has agreed to pay $1.5bn (£1.2bn) to resolve US government claims that it designed its diesel vehicles to cheat air pollution tests. The firm was investigated for installing software to evade emissions laws in 250,000 Mercedes cars and vans.
TikTok: Oracle confirms being picked by Bytedance to be app’s partner
By Leo Kelion Technology desk editor US tech firm Oracle has confirmed that TikTok’s owner has formally proposed it become a “trusted technology partner” to the video-sharing app. Full details of the tie-up have yet to be disclosed, but the aim is to avoid President Trump’s threat to shut down the Chinese-owned service in the US.
ARM: UK-based chip designer sold to Nvidia
Until now, it has specialised in high end graphics processing units (GPUs). These are commonly used by gamers to deliver more detailed visuals, as well as by professionals for tasks including scientific research, machine learning, and cryptocurrency “mining”.
Swiveling LG Wing 5G takes dual-screen phones in a new direction
LG finally took the wraps off its new smartphone and it’s certainly … different. The LG Wing 5G comes with two displays: a main display on top that swivels to reveal a second screen underneath. If you’re wondering why LG decided to suddenly experiment, it’s all part of the company’s new Explorer Project, which it announced earlier this month.
Possible life on Venus prompts a whole bunch of alien memes
Hey! Have you heard the news? In an extremely 2020 plot twist, aliens might be real after all. Yeah, yeah. We know that alien theories are usually easily squashed. Heck, in 2017 we even published an article titled, ” It’s not aliens. It’s never aliens. Stop saying it’s aliens.”
Nvidia makes record-breaking $40 billion deal to buy Arm from SoftBank
Nvidia has announced the biggest, most expensive semiconductor deal in history on Sunday, agreeing to purchase British company Arm Holdings from Japanese conglomerate SoftBank for $40 billion. SoftBank previously bought Arm for $32 billion in 2016 – its largest ever investment at the time, and one that seems to have paid off massively.
Walmart to start using autonomous drones for 1-hour delivery
Starting next year, certain Walmart orders will literally fly to your door. The retailer announced a trial run with medical supply drone delivery company Zipline early Monday. Only medical and health and wellness products from Walmart will be part of the pilot program and it’ll only be in Northwest Arkansas in early 2021.
‘Wonder Woman 1984’ moves to Christmas
The theatrical release of Wonder Woman 1984 has once again been delayed, this time for a scheduled premiere on Dec. 25, 2020. The sequel to 2017’s Wonder Woman was originally meant to release more than a year earlier on Dec. 13, 2019 and has had its date moved five times since that initial announcement.
TikTok will reportedly sell to Oracle after Microsoft bid rejected
Oracle has beat out Microsoft to win the bid for TikTok’s U.S. operations, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal . The B2B database software company isn’t exactly the first name you think of when you think “meme-filled video sharing app for teens,” but we’re all extending ourselves a bit more these days.
