OPEC and other oil nations meeting Thursday appeared set to extend their production cuts in an effort to shore up prices. But the intended impact could be short-lived. That’s due to U.S. shale producers. With crude prices above $50 a barrel from lows of last year, they are increasingly moving back into the market. Their output already is partially offsetting the cuts, and even more U.S. companies are poised to return if prices rise further. The upshot is that the price of oil — and derived products like fuel — is unlikely to increase much in coming months, analysts say. That will be welcome news to consumers and energy-hungry businesses worldwide but could continue to strain the budgets of some of the more economically-troubled oil-producing nations, like Venezuela and Brazil. The latest reductions have been in effect since November, when the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed to cut production by 1.2 million barrels a day. Non-OPEC countries led by Russia chipped in with a further 600,000-barrel reduction. Ahead of the meeting, the organization announced that Equatorial Guinea had joined, expanding OPEC membership to 14. With the deal due to expire at the end of June, OPEC oil ministers appeared ready to prolong it up to nine months even before they sat down to make a formal decision. Saudi Oil Minister Khalid A. al-Falih spoke of a “9-month straight” extension going into Thursday’s meeting. Iran’s Bijan Namdar Zanganeh floated possible extensions of three months, six …
Search for Kidney Cements Personal Cambodian-American Bond
Tony Chhim, a first-generation Cambodian-American, needs a kidney. Until a few weeks ago, his family thought a yearlong search among relatives in Cambodia and in Khmer communities throughout the United States had been fruitless. Then Taylor Tagg, an American friend of Tony’s dad, Tim, surprised everyone by turning out to be a match. The euphoria lasted until a few days ago, when doctors at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, New York, discovered a complication. That dashed what had been a feel-good, one-in-a-million, happy-ending kind of saga that transcended race, religion and national origin, as Tagg prepared to be the first American to donate a kidney to the son of Cambodian refugees. Painful dialysis 3 times a week Tony Chhim, 31, is Tim’s only son. Born in the United States, Tony is a football player and roots for the North Rockland Red Raiders football team in Thiells, New York. With only one functioning kidney, he’s in dialysis. “It’s painful. Imagine you go [for treatment] four to five hours every other day for the rest of your life,” Tony said. “How much of that is your life?” Now, once again, Taylor Tagg and Tim Chhim are supporting Tony during another search for a kidney match. Julie Kimbrough, senior director of marketing and communications for the National Kidney Foundation, told VOA Khmer the numbers are grim: About 19,000 people receive a transplant every year, and there are 120,000 people waiting for a kidney transplant. “Every year there are over 4,000 people who die …
Probiotics Show Promise as Mood Elevator
A new study suggests that probiotics, so-called “good” bacteria that aid in digestion, may also ease symptoms of depression. The finding adds to a growing body of evidence that what happens in the gut affects the brain. Some 300 to 500 bacterial species inhabit the human gut, many aiding in digestion and the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Experts say some of these bacteria produce proteins that communicate with the brain. Your gut, your mood The gut flora not only play a role in helping to orchestrate the neural responses that regulate digestion, scientists say, but evidence is emerging that gut bacteria can also affect a person’s mood. Premysl Bercik, a gastroenterologist at Ontario Canada’s McMaster University, researches what he calls the microbiota-gut-brain axis, or the communication between the gut and the brain through the millions of bacteria that live in the gastrointestinal tract. Bercik said between 40 and 90 percent of people with irritable bowel syndrome, a distressing intestinal disorder, also battle symptoms of anxiety and depression. Research led by Bercik suggests the gut bacteria themselves may have an effect on mood. In Bercik’s pilot study of 44 patients with irritable bowel syndrome and mild to moderate anxiety or depression, half of the patients received a daily probiotic — a beneficial gut bacterium called Bifidobacterium longum — and the other half were given a placebo. The participants were followed for 10 weeks. “What we found was that the patients that were treated with this probiotic bacterium improved their …
China Expands Globally Amid Concerns Over its Mercantilist Policies
Just as President Xi Jinping was launching the One Belt, One Road initiative to expand China’s geo-economic footprint, a former high-level U.S. trade official raised concerns that Beijing has been reversing its policies of reform and keeping the market to itself. Charlene Barshefsky, who worked as the U.S. Trade Representative under President Bill Clinton and witnessed China’s accession to the World Trade Organization, told a group of corporate executives gathered in Tokyo that “China has stopped the process of economic reform and opening, and instead has put in place a spate of measures that are zero-sum, highly mercantilist, and discriminate against U.S. and foreign companies.” Sinicizing the Chinese economy Barshefsky accuses Beijing of “Sinicizing” the Chinese economy, all the while taking advantage of other countries’ open markets. The former U.S. trade representative’s remarks echo sentiments revealed in the latest Business Climate Survey put out by the American Chamber of Commerce in China, which represents nearly 1,000 companies doing business there. Respondents to the survey said it seems “China has gone backwards … more regulations, taxes and local company market share protectionism.” Others noted that “despite a long track record of employing and training locals and investing in the local community, when the economy gets tough, the foreign firm is always seen as somehow not friendly to China.” Golden days over? William Zarit, head of AmCham China, tells VOA that “25 percent of our companies are either reducing investment or not increasing investment — that’s one out of four companies. Some …
China Expands Globally Amid Concerns Over its Mercantilist Policies
China recently rolled out a global economic initiative known as One Belt, One Road, named after the ancient Silk Road. Chinese President Xi Jinping says the initiative is aimed at promoting international cooperation, but former U.S. officials and some business executives are concerned that China is not keeping its doors as open as it claims. Natalie Liu has more from Washington. …
Using the Internet to Monitor the Elderly at Home
According to the National Institutes of Health, 17 percent of people around the world will be 65 or older by 2050. Currently it is just more than 8 percent. That expected flood of elderly people is prompting authorities to think about new ways to care for them, and no surprise, the internet is involved. VOA’s Kevin Enochs reports. …
Democrats in US Senate Urge Trump to Stick With Paris Climate Deal
Democrats in the U.S. Senate are urging President Donald Trump to remain committed to the 2015 Paris climate agreement. During his presidential campaign, Trump said he would withdraw the United States from the treaty signed by 195 countries, which Republicans claim is bad for the U.S. economy. Trump has promised to announce his decision after the G-7 meeting in Sicily at the end of the week. VOA’s Zlatica Hoke reports. …
Treasury Chief Says US Reviewing Iran’s Aircraft Licenses
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Wednesday that his department is reviewing licenses for Boeing Co and Airbus to sell aircraft to Iran, telling lawmakers he will increase sanctions pressure on Iran, Syria and North Korea. “We will use everything within our power to put additional sanctions on Iran, Syria and North Korea to protect American lives,” Mnuchin said in testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee. “I can assure you that’s a big focus of mine and I discuss it with the president.” He did not elaborate on the review of the aircraft licenses, which are tied to Iran’s compliance with a 2015 agreement with world powers to freeze its nuclear weapons development. IranAir has agreed to buy a total of 200 U.S. and European passenger aircraft worth a total of $35 billion — $37 billion at list prices, though such deals typically include big discounts. They include 80 passenger jets from Boeing, 100 from its European rival Airbus and 20 turboprop planes from Franco-Italian supplier ATR. All of the aircraft need U.S. export licenses. …
Treasury Chief to Congress: Raise Debt Limit Before August
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told lawmakers on Wednesday that they should vote to increase the government’s borrowing authority — and avert a disastrous economic default — before their August recess. Within hours, the conservative House Freedom Caucus said it would oppose such a vote unless certain conditions are met. The timeline is earlier than previous estimates. It had been expected that Congress wouldn’t have to act on the politically painful measure until sometime this fall, but tax revenues are coming in lower than previously estimated. Mnuchin also urged the House Ways and Means Committee to pass the debt limit legislation as a bill without controversial additions, such as spending cuts sought by conservatives, that could complicate its approval. “We can all discuss how we cut spending in the future and how we deal with the budget going forward but it is absolutely critical … that we keep the credit of the United States as the most critical issue,” Mnuchin said. Pelosi favors debt limit increase Democrats, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, have promised to support a debt limit increase provided it’s not weighed down by GOP policy changes. But such a vote is sure to be painful for conservative Republicans who opposed hiking the debt limit, presently set at almost $20 trillion. In a statement, the Freedom Caucus said it would oppose a “clean raising of the debt ceiling,” and “we demand that any increase of the debt ceiling be paired with policy that addresses Washington’s unsustainable …
New WHO Chief Stresses Health as Human Right
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the World Health Organization’s newly elected director-general, says health as a human right is at the core of his vision for the organization he soon will lead. The former Ethiopian health and foreign minister is the first African chosen to head the organization, which was created 69 years ago. After a long, bruising campaign that began in 2015, Tedros beat out two other contenders, David Nabarro of Britain and Pakistani physician Sania Nishtar, for the post by winning 133 of the votes cast by 185 WHO member states. “The outcome of the voting was very, very clear,” said Tedros. “Having confidence from the majority of member states gives me legitimacy to really implement the vision that I have already outlined.” Tedros’ goals That vision included five promises, which Tedros made to the World Health Assembly during a final campaign pitch preceding Tuesday’s secret ballot vote. He said that he would “work tirelessly” to fulfill the WHO promise of universal coverage and would ensure “a robust response for emergencies to come.” He promised to strengthen the frontlines of health, transform the World Health Organization into a world class force and lastly “place accountability, transparency and continuous improvement at the heart of WHOs culture.” At a news conference in Geneva, he said the concept of health as a human right would be at the heart of whatever he did. “Half of our population does not have access to health care,” he said. That, he said, could and should …
Instagram, Snapchat Rated ‘Worst’ Platforms for Young People
Instagram and Snapchat are the worst social media platform for young people’s mental health, and YouTube is the most positive, a new study suggests. The ranking comes in a report from the British Royal Society for Public Health, which ranked the sites’ impact on young people. “Social media has been described as more addictive than cigarettes and alcohol, and is now so entrenched in the lives of young people that it is no longer possible to ignore it when talking about young people’s mental health issues,” said Shirley Cramer, the chief executive of the RSPH. “It’s interesting to see Instagram and Snapchat ranking as the worst for mental health and well being, both platforms are very image-focused and it appears they may be driving feelings of inadequacy and anxiety in young people.” For the study, researchers surveyed about 1,500 young people age 14 to 24 from Britain, asking them to score the impact social media sites had on 14 “health and well-being” issues. Those include anxiety, depression, quality of sleep, body image, loneliness and real-world friendships and connections. According the RSPH, YouTube was the most positive, followed by Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram. “Social media has dramatically shifted how we socialize, communicate, and form relationships with each other,” said Laci Green, a professional health YouTuber with 1.5 million subscribers. “Its impact cannot be understated.” She added that since Instagram and Facebook “present highly curated versions of the people we know and the world around us, it is easy for our perspective …
Moody’s Cuts China Credit Rating One Notch
Moody’s Investors Service downgraded China’s credit rating Wednesday – from Aa3 (Double A-3) to A1 – saying it expects China’s economy to erode in coming years as growth slows and its debt burden continues to rise. The downgrade comes as the government faces new financial challenges after years of credit-fueled stimulus. Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at foreign exchange firm Oanda, said the credit downgrade comes as no surprise. “Because talk of Chinese debt and concerns about the size of Chinese debt has been going on for the last few years. They seem to be very reliant on these high levels of growth, which has been slowing,” according to Erlam. China’s economy, the second largest in the world, grew 6.7 percent in 2016, down from 6.9 percent the previous year, the slowest pace since 1990. Erlam says the next few years could be challenging. “They’ve [the Chinese government] talked about wanting to move away from an investment and export-led economy and focus more on domestic consumption and look at a more sustainable model. But, as we’ve seen over the last couple of years, as soon as it runs into any difficulties – it seems to revert back to where it was a couple of years ago and start spending more money on infrastructure.” Moody’s expects the government’s direct debt burden to rise to 40 percent of GDP by 2018 and closer to 45 percent by the end of the decade. That’s still well below the 60 percent debt to GDP …
Snakes Hunt in Groups, Study Suggests
One snake can be scary enough, but a new study suggests some of the slithering reptiles hunt for prey in groups. Researchers from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville say the Cuban boa, the “largest native terrestrial predator” on the island they are named after, coordinate their hunts in the island’s bat caves. Vladimir Dinets, who led the study, said the boas hang from the ceiling of cave entrances at dusk and dawn, when bats either enter or leave the cave. From that position, they are able to grab the bats in mid-air. Dinets said the snakes “coordinated their positions in such a way that they formed a wall across the entrance. This made it difficult or impossible for the bats to pass without getting within striking distance of at least one boa.” The hunts, he said, were always successful, and that the more snakes, the shorter amount of time is took each to grab a bat. Observing snakes hunting is difficult, with only a few of the 3,650 snake species having been seen hunting in the wild. “It is possible that coordinated hunting is not uncommon among snakes, but it will take a lot of very patient field research to find out,” Dinets said. Even the Cuban boa is getting harder to observe, because the snakes have been hunted for food and pets. “I suspect that if their numbers in a cave fall, they can’t hunt in groups anymore and might die out even if some of them don’t …
Луценко закликав Верховну Раду легалізувати діяльність копачів бурштину
Генеральний прокурор України Юрій Луценко закликав депутатів ухвалити закон, який легалізує діяльність копачів бурштину. Про це він заявив під час звіту за свою роботу у Верховній Раді. «Так, є постанова Кабміну, яка пропонує своє бачення. Але закон про старательство бурштинової галузі із подальшим екологічним відновленням природного балансу був би надзвичайно важливим. Більше того, за даними оперативними, які мені поклали на стіл, оплата бандитам від бурштинових копачів у день сягала 100 тисяч доларів США. Якщо це помножити на рік – то це оборонний бюджет країни», – заявив генпрокурор. Водночас, за його словами, слідство у справі так званої «рівненської бурштинової мафії» завершено, у цій справі проходить півтора десятка різних посадових осіб прокуратури, СБУ і МВС. 4 липня 2016 року керівники Генпрокуратури, СБУ та МВС заявили про здійснену на Рівненщині і в Києві спецоперацію з метою ліквідувати злочинну схему незаконного видобутку й реалізації бурштину, до якої були причетні понад три десятки осіб. Кількох із них відразу затримали. Також було здійснено понад сотню обшуків. Пізніше в ГПУ заявили, що серед підозрюваних – колишній керівник Сарненської місцевої прокуратури Рівненської області, колишній начальник Дубровицького відділу Сарненської місцевої прокуратури Рівненської області, колишній працівник управління з боротьби з організованою злочинністю Головного управління УМВС України в Житомирській області, відсторонена від посади слідча слідчого управління Головного управління Нацполіції в Рівненській області. …
More Robots to Take Over Humans’ Jobs
According to a recent analysis, in about 15 years, depending on the country, up to 38 percent of jobs performed by humans may be turned over to robots. Experts who gathered last week at a robotic expo in Paris say we have to prepare for the new reality if we want to avoid disruptive social changes. VOA’s George Putic reports. …
E-vision Glasses Enhance Vision for the Legally Blind
There are an estimated 39 million blind people in the world. Another 200 million, people like Julissa Marquez, are visually impaired. A knife attack left her with a less than 10 percent chance of having useful vision. But some new technology has literally opened her eyes. VOA’s Kevin Enochs reports. …
South Sudan State Partially Closes Border in Ebola Scare
State authorities in South Sudan closed part of their border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo last week in an effort to prevent the spread of the deadly Ebola outbreak, declared by the World Health Organization in a remote, northern part of the DRC two weeks ago. The WHO has confirmed that four people have died from the disease in the DRC. Lino Utu, deputy governor of Tambura state, said the movement of people and goods between the two countries at the border town of Ezo had been restricted until further notice. “We closed the border temporarily because of Ebola,” Utu said. “We have been told it has been found in DR-Congo. If we leave the border open, it can trickle down to Tambura state.” He said the area along the border with the DRC had been teeming with activity, “because it is where the people from the Democratic Republic of the Congo bring in their goods, and also the people from Tambura state bring in their goods. It’s a big market.” Uto said doctors have confirmed that Ebola can be found in bushmeat, so state officials have temporarily banned the sale of all bushmeat in the markets. “We cannot allow bushmeat to be sold any longer because people can easily contract Ebola from meat,” Utu said. The minister of health was informed about Tambura’s move to close the border at Ezo on Tuesday. Utu said international health workers, including those with the WHO, are partnering with local officials …
US Sues Fiat Chrysler Over Emissions Cheating Accusations
The U.S. government has filed a civil lawsuit against automaker Fiat Chrysler, saying the company has used illegal software to fake emission results on its diesel vehicles. The civil complaint filed Tuesday follows initial accusations from the Environmental Protection Agency released in January. The software reportedly hid emissions of nitrogen oxide, allowing the vehicles to appear to comply with regulations set forth in the Clean Air Act, while still emitting more of the gas than is allowed. At issue are the 2014 to 2016 models of Grand Cherokees and Dodge Ram 1500 pickup trucks with three-liter diesel engines sold in the United States, around 104,000 vehicles in total, the EPA said. In 2015, Volkswagen was caught using a similar device to cheat emissions standards. Volkwagen, however, admitted to having cheated, while Fiat Chrysler denies wrongdoing. The VW scandal eventually led to approximately $20 billion worth of fines levied against the company and indictments of seven company executives. Fiat Chrysler did not immediately comment Tuesday, but its shares fell 2.9 percent. …
Ethiopian Elected to Head World Health Organization
Ethiopian official Tedros Adhanom Gheybreysus has been elected director-general of the World Health Organization. Tedros won the post in two rounds of balloting Tuesday, defeating Dr. David Nabarro of Britain and Dr. Sania Nishtar, a Pakistani cardiologist. The vote by 185 member states took place by secret ballot after the candidates made last minute pitches. The candidates have been campaigning for this fiercely contested post for the past year-and-a-half. As they approached the final stretch, each in turn presented his or her most persuasive arguments for becoming the new director-general of the World Health Organization. Tedros, a former Ethiopian health minister, told the assembly that he has dedicated his whole life to improving health, reducing inequalities, and helping people everywhere to lead more productive lives. He noted that while the WHO has never had a director-general from Africa, no one should elect him just because he’s from Africa. “But, there is a real value in electing a leader who has worked in one of the toughest health environments and transformed the health system. I bring a fresh perspective, an angle with which the world has never seen before,” Tedros said. Others in the running Not to be outdone, the second candidate, David Nabarro of Britain, put in a vigorous performance. He touted his long experience in global health and described the work he has done in tackling infectious outbreaks and emergencies, such as the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. He said he was the best person to lead the fight …
Alcohol Increases, Exercise Decreases Breast Cancer Risk
One of the largest cancer prevention studies of its kind to date reached a sobering conclusion. Just one alcoholic drink per day can increase the risk of breast cancer in women. But researchers also concluded there are things women can do to decrease their risk of breast cancer. The study by the American Institute for Cancer Research was a review of 119 prior studies involving 12 million women, 260,000 of who had developed breast cancer. Lead author Anne McTiernan is a cancer prevention expert at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington. In 10 of the studies involving 4,000 women of childbearing age who developed breast cancer, McTiernan said investigators uncovered a connection between alcohol consumption and increased risk of breast cancer. “We found that those women who drank an average of just 10 grams of alcohol a day had a five percent increased risk of breast cancer. So, five percent is a small amount but it was statistically significant so it gives us more confidence that it’s probably real,” said McTiernan. She noted, “Ten grams of alcohol is like a small glass of wine.” In another subset of studies involving 35,000 post-menopausal women who developed breast cancer, McTiernan said alcohol was found to be a greater risk factor. According to McTiernan, “We found that there was a nine percent increased risk of drinking that same amount of alcohol, drinking 10 grams per day of alcohol. Again, small glass of wine, eight ounce of beer, one ounce …
Нацбанк хоче оскаржувати рішення судів щодо неправомірності націоналізації «Приватбанку»
Національний банк України заявив про намір оскаржувати судові рішення щодо неправомірності входження держави в капітал «Приватбанку» та процедури bail-in. Про це йдеться у повідомленні на сторінці НБУ в Facebook. «Національний банк наголошує, що всі рішення щодо «Приватбанку» були прийняті виключно в рамках спеціальної процедури, передбаченої статтею 41-1 Закону України «Про систему гарантування вкладів фізичних осіб»», – зазначається там. Окружний адміністративний суд Києва визнав націоналізацію «Приватбанку» частково незаконною, про що йдеться в постанові суду № 826/20239/16. 18 грудня минулого року уряд ухвалив рішення про націоналізацію «Приватбанку». Згідно з умовами націоналізації, єврооблігації «Приватбанку» підлягали процедурі bail-in (конвертації боргу кредиторів у капітал). Національний банк України розглядає їх як зобов’язання, пов’язані з колишніми власниками банку. Міжнародне рейтингове агентство Standard&Poor’s (S&P) 11 січня знизило рейтинг «Приватбанку» з рівня «R» (під наглядом регулюючого органу) до «SD» (вибірковий дефолт). …
Proposed Trump Budget: More Military; Less for Social Programs
U.S. President Donald Trump is proposing major changes in the way Washington’s $4.1 trillion budget is spent, with more money for the military, border security, and veterans. The just-published budget for next year also slashes money for programs that benefit the poor. Trump’s top budget official Mick Mulvaney says for the first time the budget looks at spending from the point of view of the taxpayers, rather than the people who get government help. The director of the Office of Management and Budget says the budget translates Trump’s campaign promises and priorities into practical plans. Mulvaney says the approach will balance the budget in 10 years, and boost economic growth to three percent. Former U.S. Treasury Secretary and World Bank Economist Larry Summers, calls the budget’s economic assumptions “ludicrously optimistic.” In an opinion article in the Washington Post he says the impact on low income Americans will be “dire.” A president’s budget has to be approved by Congress, so the final form may be quite different from what the chief executive submits. Democrats oppose many of Trump’s plans, and the president’s Republican allies in Congress are divided on some budget issues. Cuts in social programs The Trump budget includes $3.6 trillion in cuts over 10 years, with some of the largest reductions in programs that help the poor pay for health care and buy food. A nutrition program known as “food stamps” currently serves more than 40 million people. The budget proposal also follows Trump’s campaign promises to not to …
Man Dies in California After Being Sickened in Apparent Botulism Outbreak
A botulism outbreak linked to contaminated nacho-cheese dip sold at a Northern California gas station has killed one man and left at least nine other people hospitalized, health officials said. The San Francisco County coroner’s office identified the dead man as Martin Galindo-Larios Jr., 37. On Monday, Matt Conens, a spokesman for the California Department of Public Health, declined to release further information on the death, the condition of the other victims, or the status and extent of the investigation into the weeks-old outbreak. Family members of Galindo-Larios did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. An online fundraising page said the man had been married and the father of two small children. Tests have confirmed the botulism toxin was present in nacho-cheese dip sold at a gas station in the Sacramento suburb of Walnut Grove, the state health agency said Monday in a statement. The agency said last week the container and cheese dip were removed May 5, and that authorities believe the contamination posed no further risk to the public. Wisconsin-based food distributor Gehl Foods said in a statement that it had been notified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that the company’s nacho cheese was among the products that inspectors seized at the gas station. “We immediately retested samples from the relevant lot of cheese, and it remains clear of any contamination,” the company said. The manufacturer said an independent lab also found no sign of the toxin in the samples tested there. There is …
Google Aims to Connect Online Ads to Real-World Sales
Google already monitors your online shopping – but now it’s also keeping an eye on what you’re buying in real-world stores as part of its latest effort to sell more digital advertising. The offline tracking scans most credit and debit card transactions to help Google automatically inform merchants when their digital ads translate into sales at a brick-and-mortar store. Google believes the data will show a cause-and-effect relationship between online ads and offline sales. If it works, that could help persuade merchants to boost their digital marketing budgets. Google windfall The Mountain View, California, company already runs the world’s biggest online ad network, one that raked in $79 billion in revenue last year. That puts it in the best position to capture any additional marketing dollars spent on computers and mobile devices. Google plans to unveil the store-sales measurement tool Tuesday in San Francisco at an annual conference it hosts for its advertisers. The gathering gives Google a prime opportunity to woo advertisers – one that it surely welcomes, given that it’s still trying to overcome a marketing boycott of its YouTube video site . The boycott began two months ago over concerns that Google hadn’t prevented major brand advertising from appearing alongside extremist video clips promoting hate and violence. Google is also introducing several other features designed to help merchants drive more traffic to their physical stores and to gain a better understanding on how digital ads appearing across a variety of devices are affecting their sales. Smarter ad …