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Pharmaceutical giant Purdue deceived WHO, says US Congressional report
A US government report has found that Purdue Pharma used sponsored research and front organisations to convince the World Health Organisation of the safety and non-addictive properties of potent opioids such as its own OxyContin (Ars Technica).
The report highlights verifiably false claims often used by Purdue that appear in WHO materials, as well as specific terms used within the pharmaceutical industry to promote the drugs and encourage doctors to prescribe them liberally. WHO guidance informs national health policy around the world. Purdue is closely linked to Napp Pharmaceuticals in the UK.
SpaceX has launched 60 Starlink internet satellites
SpaceX has successfully launched 60 broadband communications satellites: the first part of its Starlink constellation (WIRED). While the satellite network could ultimately number as many as 12,000 to provide global internet access, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says that the constellation can begin providing broadband services at around 400 satellites, reaching “significant operational capability” at around 800 satellites and becoming “economically viable” at 1,000.
Inside the unique crowdfunded court case against Boris Johnson
“Hello Boris Johnson, I am Marcus J. Ball: I am a private prosecutor, and I have a problem with lying politicians” (WIRED). The 2016 video outlined how Ball and his team think that Johnson “repeatedly, knowingly and deceitfully made incorrect claims to the British public concerning how our money is spent”, and how that could be an offence with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Amazon shareholders reject proposal to curb Rekognition
Amazon's investors have rejected a pair of proposals to restrict government sales and investigate the human rights implications of the company's highly controversial Rekognition facial recognition system (BBC News). Precise results of the vote have not yet been published.
Watch the first teaser for Star Trek: Picard
Patrick Stewart is returning to his iconic role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard – now retired after an implied catastrophe – in the first teaser for Star Trek: Picard (Gizmodo UK). The series will air on CBS All Access in North America and on Amazon Prime in the UK, but there's no release date as yet.
Minecraft's future is augmented reality
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This article was originally published by WIRED UK
