Daily COVID-19 updates: Twitter starts fact-checking COVID-19 and 5G tweets



The coronavirus has spread to 188 countries around the world, and it shows no signs of abating . The pandemic has proved particularly devastating in recent weeks, with total confirmed cases crossing 7.2 million and fatalities of over 411,000 globally.

The virus has effectively shut down all sporting leagues around the world, major gatherings including tech events and music festivals, and closed down restaurants and malls. It has transformed how we live and work, and how we connect with our friends and families. Tech brands are doing their part to assist, with Google teaming up with Apple to build a coronavirus tracking tool .

Here's the latest on the coronavirus and how it's affecting not only the tech industry, but also the world at large.

June 9, 2020: Twitter adding a fact-check label next to COVID-19 and 5G tweets

In an attempt to curb misinformation, Twitter is now labeling COVID-19 and 5G tweets . Coronavirus 5G conspiracies have abounded in recent months, and Twitter is doing its bit to prevent misinformation from spreading.

June 4, 2020: CES 2021 currently scheduled to be an in-person event

CES 2021 will be an in-person event , with CTA (the governing body behind the event) setting out guidelines for the show. Unlike IFA 2020 in Germany, there won't be a limit to the number of attendees. But the CTA has mentioned that it will widen the aisles between booths to promote social distancing, and provide adequate sanitization stations throughout the venue.

June 1, 2020: Global phone sales take a nosedive in Q1 2020

We're continuing to see huge spikes in COVID-19 cases around the world. Brazil and Russia in particular have been hit hard in recent weeks, with cases in both countries rising over the last 14 days. The U.S. now has over 100,000 casualties due to COVID-19, with the virus claiming 372,000 lives globally.
With the world in lockdown and economies in turmoil, the smartphone industry isn't doing so well. Year-on-year sales have fallen by 20% in Q1 2020, leading to the lowest sales figures in six years.

May 28, 2020: Amazon offers full-time jobs to 125,000 temporary workers

Amazon is offering full-time jobs to 125,000 of the 175,000 seasonal workers it hired earlier this year to meet demand during the pandemic. Amazon is committing to a minimum wage of $15 an hour and training programs to allow workers to switch to other roles within Amazon or elsewhere.

May 27, 2020: Google plans to open offices starting July 6

Google has detailed how it will open its offices at various locations around the world . The first few offices will be back up and running starting July 6, with Google putting strict health and safety measures. Google is aiming to hit roughly 10 percent building occupancy, with the number going up to 30 percent by September. Google is also allocating $1,000 to let employees buy...

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