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Tag: ABC News

  • Samsung Plans to Build World’s Largest Semiconductor “Mega Cluster”

    Samsung Plans to Build World’s Largest Semiconductor “Mega Cluster”

    Samsung is planning to invest $230 billion to build the world’s biggest semiconductor manufacturing “mega cluster.”

    As semiconductors become more important across industries, the chip supply chain is increasingly becoming an area of national security concern for countries around the world. According to ABC News, Samsung’s plan is part of a South Korean national project to help establish the country as the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturing site.

    The plan includes Samsung building the world’s single biggest chip-building base, and will take some 20 years to fully realize. Once the “mega cluster” is complete, in 2042, it will build a wide range of high-end chips, including both computer memory and logic chips.

    “(South Korea) has world-class manufacturing capabilities and technologies in various high-tech industries such as semiconductors, secondary batteries, and displays, but (government) support and regulatory conditions have been insufficient,” the Trade Ministry said in a statement.

    Samsung is already one of the world’s leading chipmakers. This expansion is sure to help it strengthen its position.

  • Multiple States Investigating TikTok’s Impact on Children

    Multiple States Investigating TikTok’s Impact on Children

    TikTok is the latest social media platform in the crosshairs, as multiple states are investigating its impact on children.

    TikTok is one of the fastest growing social media platforms, and has taken off during the pandemic. Despite its popularity, the platform has not been without controversy, especially in regard to minors.

    According to ABC News, TikTok is drawing all new scrutiny, with attorneys general for California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Vermont joining forces to investigate the platform.

    “Our children are growing up in the age of social media — and many feel like they need to measure up to the filtered versions of reality that they see on their screens,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release. “We know this takes a devastating toll on children’s mental health and well-being.”

    TikTok has repeatedly been under fire over privacy concerns and how the platforms handles information about minors. The company settled a privacy suit in the US for some $92 million, while the EU has warned it about its data practices. TikTok has repeatedly been accused of violating the privacy of children, or failing to protect it. The company was also accused of telling moderators to “suppress uploads from users with flaws both congenital and inevitable,” including “‘abnormal body shape,’ ‘ugly facial looks,’ dwarfism, and ‘obvious beer belly,’ ‘too many wrinkles,’ ‘eye disorders,’ and many other ‘low quality’ traits.”

    With that kind of history, combined with its popularity, it’s no wonder so many AGs want to better understand the impact the platform is having on minors.

  • Google Investing $1.2 Billion in Its German Cloud Infrastructure

    Google Investing $1.2 Billion in Its German Cloud Infrastructure

    Google is investing $1.2 billion to expand its cloud infrastructure in Germany, and has committed to using more renewable energy.

    Google is currently the number three cloud provider worldwide, but CEO Thomas Kurian has made it his goal to take the number two spot within the next few years. The company is preparing to expand its infrastructure in Germany significantly, investing $1.2 billion by 2030, according to ABC News.

    The company’s expansion will be centered in the Berlin region, as well as the town of Hanau, near Frankfurt’s DE-CIX data exchange.

    Google is also planning to purchase more than 140 megawatts of electric from Engie, and says 80% of the electricity will be generated using carbon-free sources. Ultimately, by 2030, Google wants 100% of its energy to be renewable.

  • Facebook Faces Fallout From Australian News Ban

    Facebook Faces Fallout From Australian News Ban

    Facebook is already facing fallout from its decision to block Australian news sources, with government sites impacted and calls of bullying.

    Facebook took the unexpected step of completely blocking Australian customers from posting any news articles as a result of proposed legislation that would force the company to pay for such links. Google is similarly impacted by the legislation, but has chosen to start working out deals with news publishers.

    The social media giant is already facing backlash as a result of its decision. ABC News reports that news posts started disappearing from various government agency sites, including the Bureau of Meteorology. Facebook says that was a mistake, as government agencies should not be impacted, and has restored some pages already.

    “As the law does not provide clear guidance on the definition of news content, we have taken a broad definition in order to respect the law as drafted,” a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement.

    The same ABC News report also highlights the Australian scientific community’s concern over Facebook’s actions.

    “For Facebook to block access to the feeds of trusted science and health organisations in Australia during a pandemic and bushfire season is irresponsible and dangerous,” said Science & Technology Australia chief executive Misha Schubert.

    “At a time when the company is taking steps to tackle misinformation on its platform, it’s concerning it has chosen to silence some of this nation’s leading scientific voices.”

    Meanwhile, at least one UK lawmaker is calling the company out for being a bully and says it’s time to get tough, according to Reuters.

    “This action – this bully boy action – that they’ve undertaken in Australia will I think ignite a desire to go further amongst legislators around the world,” said Julian Knight, chair of the British Parliament’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

    “We represent people and I’m sorry but you can’t run bulldozer over that – and if Facebook thinks it’ll do that it will face the same long-term ire as the likes of big oil and tobacco.”

    When we covered Facebook’s decision yesterday, we said: “Given the scrutiny Facebook is already under worldwide, playing hardball with the Australian government is a risky maneuver that may end up backfiring.”

    It would appear Facebook’s risky maneuver is, indeed, backfiring.

  • Biden Administration Reviewing WeChat Ban

    Biden Administration Reviewing WeChat Ban

    The Biden administration is reviewing an attempted ban of WeChat, amid a broader review of the previous administration’s actions against Chinese platforms.

    WeChat was one of a number of Chinese services the Trump administration tried to ban. Ultimately, a judge blocked the ban, in large part because of how important the app is to the Chinese community abroad.

    “WeChat is effectively the only means of communication for many in the community, not only because China bans other apps, but also because Chinese speakers with limited English proficiency have no options other than WeChat,” wrote U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler in her order, according to NPR. She also likened WeChat to “a virtual public square for the Chinese-speaking and Chinese-American community.”

    The Biden administration has been reviewing the actions taken against the various Chinese companies that the Trump administration accused of being a threat to national security. The current administration wants to make sure the purported threats warranted the actions taken.

    According to ABC News, that includes reviewing the attempted ban against WeChat, just a day after the administration put a hold on the attempted TikTok ban. The announcement is good news for the Chinese-American community who rely on WeChat as a communication lifeline to friends and family in China.

  • Google Search May Pull Out Of Australia Over News Content

    Google Search May Pull Out Of Australia Over News Content

    Google has taken the extraordinary step of threatening to pull its search engine out of Australia if it’s forced to pay for news content.

    Google has long been at odds with news publishers. Many have tried to get the company to pay for news, but the company has made it a practice to link to and use news content without paying. Google has always claimed that news publishers benefit far more than it does from the arrangement.

    In spite of that, the company has begun caving to pressure. France has ordered Google to pay for news and the company recently set aside $1 billion to help fund partnerships with publishers.

    Google seems unwilling to give into Australia’s demands, however, according to ABC News. According to the report, Google has said it will pull its search engine if Australia moves ahead with its plans to force the company to pay.

    “If this version of the code were to become law, it would give us no real choice but to stop making Google search available in Australia,” Mel Silva, the managing director of Google Australia and New Zealand, told a Senate inquiry. “And that would be a bad outcome not only for us, but also for the Australian people, media diversity, and the small businesses who use our products every day.”

    That stance did not go over well with the government, with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison saying “we don’t respond to threats.”

    It remains to be seen how things will eventually shake out, but it’s not looking good for Google Australia either way.

  • FBI Warns of Cyberattacks Against Online Learning

    FBI Warns of Cyberattacks Against Online Learning

    The FBI is warning that hackers are increasingly targeting online learning as students get back to class after the holidays.

    While the success of remote work and distance learning have exceeded many people’s expectations, it has also provided new opportunities for hackers and bad actors. Companies have had to take measures to ensure employees can connect remotely and schools have worked to protect their classes from Zoom-bombing and other hacks.

    Even so, the FBI is warning that hackers are increasing their attacks.

    “It’s of greater concern now when it comes to K-12 education, because so many more people are plugged into the technology with schooling because of the distance learning situation,” FBI Cyber Section Chief Dave Ring told ABC News. “So things like distributed denial of service attacks, even ransomware and of course, domain spoofing, because parents are interacting so much more with the schools online.”

    While Zoom-bombing may be one type of attack, ransomware is another common, more dangerous attack. According to the FBI, there has been a nearly 30% increase in ransomware attacks against schools.

    “The broader the move to distance learning, I think the more attacks you’re going to see, just simply because there are more opportunities for it and it’s more disruptive,” Ring said. “Not everybody’s looking to make money when it comes to criminal motivations for these attacks. A lot are they’re looking to steal information. They’re looking to use that for financial gain. They’re looking to collect ransoms.”

  • Solomon Islands Government Banning Facebook

    Solomon Islands Government Banning Facebook

    The Solomon Islands Government is preparing to ban Facebook to protect “national unity” and crack down on cyberbullying.

    Facebook may be experiencing record growth, thanks to the pandemic, but the Solomon Islands government is not a fan. The government has criticized the social media platform for its role in cyberbullying and online defamation.

    “Cyberbullying on Facebook is widespread, people have been defamed by users who use fake names, and people’s reputations that have been built up over the years [are destroyed] in a matter of minutes,” Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said, according to ABC News.

    The proposed ban is being called a temporary one while the government drafts laws to legislate online behavior. Temporary or not, the move has drawn intense criticism from the government’s opponents, as well as from Solomon Islanders abroad.

    “My mum was very sick, and she went downhill very quickly, within like 10 days, and then we lost her,” Nurse Margaret Tadokata told ABC News. “My last goodbyes with my mum were on a video call on Facebook, on Messenger … Without it, I wouldn’t have seen her or heard her for the last time.”

    “Even though I’ve been in Australia for more than 20 years, my connection and my culture and family are very important to me, and Facebook has made that easy for me,” continued Ms Tadokata.

    The backlash the Solomon Islands Government is experiencing illustrates the challenges governments around the world face in their efforts to regulate Facebook. On the one hand, there is no denying the damage the social media platform has done to the fabric of human society and societal norms. On the other hand, the platform has become a nearly irreplaceable method of communication for many across the globe.

  • Coronavirus: U.S. Internet Can Handle Increased Work-From-Home Load

    Coronavirus: U.S. Internet Can Handle Increased Work-From-Home Load

    Experts are saying the U.S. internet should be able to handle the increased stress of millions of Americans working from home as a result of the coronavirus.

    Some have feared that the sudden increase of individuals staying at home, using the internet for telecommuting and videoconferencing, would overwhelm internet providers’ capacity. According to ABC News, however, experts believe there is no danger of overloading the core network.

    “The core of the network is massively over-provisioned,” Paul Vixie, CEO of Farsight Security and an internet pioneer who helped design its domain naming system, told ABC News.

    At the same time, they do warn that individuals may experience issues if too many people in a single household engage in network-intensive videoconferencing or similarly demanding activities. Even in those situations, however, the issue is not with the core network, but with the “last mile” of connectivity, the last bit of cable that connects a household to their internet provider.

    As ABC points out, newer areas that have fiber are able to keep up with the demand, but older neighborhoods that have cable or DSL are likely to experience issues if several users are all trying to engage in intensive internet use. In such cases, if some users fall back to teleconferencing, rather than video, it should help alleviate the issues since audio takes far less bandwidth.

    Either way, the reassurance that the core network can handle the increased load is good news for workers trying to stay safe and do their part to help slow the spread of the virus.

  • Facebook Stock Takes a Beating Amid Legal Settlements

    Facebook Stock Takes a Beating Amid Legal Settlements

    Facebook released its quarterly results Wednesday and it was not good news for investors, according to ABC News.

    The company posted ongoing growth, slightly beating analyst predictions, but its earnings were plagued by high expenses and legal settlements. In particular, the company has tentatively agreed to a $550 million settlement in an Illinois class-action lawsuit.

    According to ABC News, CFO David Wehner said the expenses were “largely driven by higher legal fees and settlements.”

    “This includes charges related to a $550M settlement in principle we reached this month in connection with the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act litigation,” he continued.

    The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act stipulates that users must be informed when their data is stored, why it is being stored and for how long. Facebook was sued because accusers say its photo tagging feature violates the law.

    The stock price was down approximately 7% in Thursday morning trading following the revelations.

  • EU May Force Apple To Ditch The Lightning Connector

    EU May Force Apple To Ditch The Lightning Connector

    Anyone who has an entire box or drawer of discarded phone charging cables knows the frustration of multiple types of chargers and connectors. Evidently, European Union (EU) regulators feel the same way, as they are pushing for a universal mobile charger, according to ABC News.

    The move would especially impact Apple, given that it uses its proprietary Lightning connector for iPhones and some iPads. According to a statement issued by members of the European Parliament, previous attempts to encourage device makers to unify behind a standard were unsuccessful, leading to a mandatory solution being considered.

    “The Commission’s approach of ‘encouraging’ industry to develop common chargers fell short of the co-legislators’ objectives,” the statement reads. “The voluntary agreements between different industry players have not yielded the desired results.

    “A common charger should fit all mobile phones, tablets, e-book readers and other portable devices, MEPs will insist.

    “The debate on Monday will be wound up by a resolution in a forthcoming plenary session.

    “According to estimates, old chargers generate more than 51 000 tonnes of electronic waste per year.”

    Needless to say, Apple is not happy with prospect of being forced to eliminate the Lightning connector from its devices.

    “Regulations that would drive conformity across the type of connector built into all smartphones freeze innovation rather than encourage it,” the company argued, according to ABC News. “Such proposals are bad for the environment and unnecessarily disruptive for customers.”

    “We want to ensure that any new legislation will not result in the shipment of any unnecessary cables or external adaptors with every device, or render obsolete the devices and accessories used by many millions of Europeans and hundreds of millions of Apple customers worldwide. This would result in an unprecedented volume of electronic waste and greatly inconvenience users,” added Apple.

    While unification behind a single standard would be welcome, Apple does have a point that arbitrarily doing so would orphan countless existing devices, cables and peripherals, making them obsolete and incompatible with future devices.

  • Software Engineer ‘Biohacks’ His Body, Has Computer Chips Implanted

    Software Engineer ‘Biohacks’ His Body, Has Computer Chips Implanted

    Cyborgs may be a mainstay of science fiction, but at least one software engineer is bringing the future to the present.

    ABC News is reporting that Ben Workman, a 29 year-old software engineer, has implanted RFID and NFC computer chips in his hands. He also has a magnet implanted in one hand, which he uses for mainly for entertainment value, and a Tesla key implanted in the other.

    According to Workman, it was not easy finding someone willing to implant the chips. The process is relatively simply—similar to microchipping a pet—using a needle to insert the implant under the skin. Despite that, doctors, veterinarians and tattoo parlors all turned him down before his phlebotomist cousin finally agreed to implant the first two.

    Implanting the Tesla key was more challenging.

    “I had to send the valet key to a company called Dangerous Things,” Workman told ABC News. “They take the key, dissolve it in acetate, reshape it and then put a medical polymer on it.”

    While the insertion process is somewhat painful, due to the size needle required, once in the implants cause no discomfort. On the other hand, Workman can feel the magnet when he moves his hand, due to its size.

    The RFID and NFC chips allow Workman to control electronic devices and duplicate some smartphone technology. For example, he can copy a person’s contact info from their phone with his hand or configure a WiFi network. Thanks to his programming background, he can also program the implants to do different tasks.

    “Anything with home automation I can program into my chips,” he said.

    According to ABC News, he can also use “his hands to control his home’s smart devices, like turning on and off the lights, and programmed his hand to replace his work badge he uses to swipe open the door at work.”

    As Workman points out, one of the biggest benefits of this type of technology is security. It’s much easier to steal a phone, car keys or security badge than it is to hack a biochip. And, of course, there’s always the futuristic cool factor as well.

  • Amazon Cries Foul Over Microsoft’s $10 Billion Pentagon Contract

    Amazon Cries Foul Over Microsoft’s $10 Billion Pentagon Contract

    Microsoft made headlines several weeks ago when it beat out Amazon for a lucrative Pentagon contract worth some $10 billion. Now, according to ABC News, Amazon is protesting the decision, saying there was “unmistakable bias” in the selection process.

    Oracle and IBM were both eliminated during an earlier phase of the process, leaving only Microsoft and Amazon. Amazon was widely considered to be the front-runner to receive the Pentagon contract, in large part because of how far ahead it is in the overall cloud market. After President Trump, as well as its rivals, criticized Amazon, Microsoft won the bid.

    In response, Amazon has filed a protest with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, citing what it described as “clear deficiencies, errors, and unmistakable bias.” By filing with the Court of Federal Claims, Amazon will have access to government documents in an effort to make its case.

    Whether Amazon will be able to change the outcome of the decision remains to be seen, although experts are not optimistic. While Amazon has nothing to lose by challenging the results, and President Trumps comments have been labeled “inappropriate and improvident,” experts believe it will be difficult to make a case that the White House applied enough pressure to sway the final outcome.

  • Diane Sawyer: Husband Mike Nichols Dies at 83

    Diane Sawyer: Husband Mike Nichols Dies at 83

    Diane Sawyer is mourning the passing of her husband, Mike Nichols, who died suddenly on Wednesday night at the age of 83. The two had been married since 1988.

    James Goldston, the president of ABC News, announced Nichols’ passing on Thursday morning. He called him a “true visionary.”

    Mike Nichols was a prolific director, known for work including The Graduate and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? He won more Tony Awards for directing Broadway plays than anyone else–his most recent being Death of a Salesman just two years ago.

    He won a Grammy Award for his 1961 comedy album, An Evening With Mike Nichols and Elaine May. He won multiple Emmy Awards for directing TV movies, including Closer in 2004 and Charlie Wilson’s War in 2007.

    Nichols had recently been working on a new project for HBO to adapt Master Class, Terrence McNally’s Tony Award-winning play about opera legend Maria Callas. This reunited him with actress Meryl Streep, with whom he worked on multiple projects, including the 2004 HBO miniseries Angels in America.

    Mike Nichols was born Michael Igor Peschkowsky in 1931 in Berlin. He fled Nazi Germany for the United States when he was just seven years old. He is survived by his wife, Diane Sawyer, his three children from a previous marriage, and four grandchildren.

    Condolences are likely going out to Diane Sawyer from people in both the news industry–as well as family and friends–all around the world for the loss of her husband.

  • Oscar Pistorius Acted Out Of Fear, Expert Says

    The defense team of paralympian Oscar Pistorius sought on Thursday to show that the double-amputee sprinter acted out of fear rather than anger when he shot and killed his lover Reeva Steenkamp, and a leading sports doctor agreed.

    Dr. Wayne Derman testified on Thursday that he agreed with the court-ordered psychiatric report on Oscar Pistorius that stated there are “two Oscars,” one of the fastest runners in the world with his prosthetic legs on and the other a disabled, vulnerable man without them.

    Psychologist Jonathan Scholtz wrote the report after a 30-day mental health assessment of Pistorius, a report which stated, “You’ve got a paradox of an individual who is supremely able, and you’ve got an individual who is significantly disabled.”

    Derman, a team doctor for South Africa’s paralympic team in 2012 and someone who has treated Pistorius for a dozen years, said, “It is my considered view that it is probable that Mr. Pistorius experienced auditory stimuli which resulted in a significant startle [in the moments before he fired.]” When combined with his elevated fight or flight response, this “may have resulted in the tragedy,” Derman said.

    Prosecutor Gerrie Nel accused Derman of bias toward Pistorius after Derman refused to consider different hypothetical situation. Nel said to Derman, “An expert in his field would be able to do that—to give the court the benefit of his expertise without being so consumed by the facts.”

    Others agreed with Derman’s assessment of Pistorius as a disabled, vulnerable man, but expressed concerns as well.

    “I feel we are all being tainted with the same brush of vulnerability,” Ari Seirlis, chief executive of the lobby and disabled advocacy group, QuadPara Association of South Africa, told Yahoo Sports. “There are different levels of disability, and how you react is based on your agility. You can’t hold up gold medals in one hand and a pistol in the other and cry that you’re vulnerable.”

    Seirlis described the defense’s use of Pistorius’ vulnerability as an argument as “a selective excuse.”

    Pistorius faces up to 25 years in jail and an end to his sports career if convicted.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Barbara Walters Day to Be Celebrated May 16th

    Barbara Walters Day will be celebrated on May 16th in New York City. Mayor Bill de Blasio claimed the day for a celebration of the talk show host and long time TV personality, who will leave it all behind and retire on that very same day. The New York City mayor and his wife Chirlane McCray visited the ladies of The View on Monday and de Blasio handed Walters a proclamation announcing her very special upcoming day. The audience gave her a standing ovation when the proclamation was read.

    All this took place prior to the interview the panelists on The View had with Mayor de Blasio and his wife. Walters seemed far more interested in interviewing the couple than she did on lauding her upcoming retirement. The View will celebrate Barbara Walters for an entire week prior to her retirement on the 16th of May–also her final appearance on The View. All of the show’s prior and present co-hosts will be on hand as part of the celebration, as noted in the video clip above. It will be fun to see who turns up as surprise guests to help wish the beloved host well.

    In addition to The View’s week long celebration, ABC News has a huge one in store as well. They will name their New York City broadcast headquarters the Barbara Walters Building.

    Barbara Walters got her start writing “women’s interest stories” for The TODAY Show back in 1962. It was during these segments that it became quite clear to producers that she had a gift for interviewing.

    It is very exciting to hear about the upcoming Barbara Walters Day on May 16th. If anyone in broadcast journalism deserves a day of her own in New York City, Walters does. Will you be tuning in to The View that week as they bid adieu to this amazing journalist?

    Image via YouTube

  • Childhood ADHD: Under Or Over Diagnosed

    Childhood ADHD: Under Or Over Diagnosed

    In an ABC News segment titled Missing ADHD Diagnosis, Lost Childhood, interviewers talk to Andrea Frank, a 38-year-old nursing assistant from Wisconsin. While bright, she struggled in school and at work, where she never lived up to her potential. But when she married and had two boys, she noticed signs that they had behavior traits like her and wanted answers.

    The answer came up to be childhood Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD for short and that diagnosis gave Andrea Frank the answer she was looking for. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the characteristics of childhood ADHD focus around three factors: inattention, such as having difficulty focusing on one thing; hyperactivity, like talking nonstop; and impulsivity, such as blurting out inappropriate comments, showing emotions without restraint, and acting regardless of consequences.

    The National Institute of Mental Health goes on to say that that children with ADHD can have other similar disorders as well such as oppositional defiance disorder, bipolar disorder, or anxiety. ADHD can also be mistaken for other disorders or other disorders being mistaken for it, leading to false and incorrect diagnoses.

    In fact, according to an article published in MedPage in 2013, the rates of ADHD diagnosis among children has increased at a rate of 25 percent or from 2.5 percent to 3.1 percent. Diagnoses of ADHD among children are on the rise and that likely means that the number of children being put on strong medications for ADHD is on the rise as well.

    The medications, often stimulants such as Adderall, can cause numerous side effects such as loss of appetite, nausea, dizziness, or even mood changes such as irritation and agitation. Of course, there other medications that don’t act as stimulants and homeopathic methods of recovery as well, for parents who are leery about giving their child a stimulant or a pill with terrible side effects.

    For many like Andrea Frank, the diagnosis of ADHD is a blessing in that it enables patients and sufferers to find a solution for their ailments. But the diagnosis is just the start of the process, a process where medication (stimulant and non-stimulant) plays a role and where homeopathic methods can help a great deal as well.

    Note: The image is a visual of the percentage of children ever diagnosed with ADHD from ages four through seven. The survey was taken by the National Survey of Children’s Health in 2007.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Elizabeth Vargas: Did Husband Have Affair While She Was in Rehab?

    Elizabeth Vargas: Did Husband Have Affair While She Was in Rehab?

    Elizabeth Vargas was secure about her rehab stint and admitted she was an alcoholic when she returned to work with her colleagues at ABC News. Now a rumor says her husband, Marc Cohn, had an affair while she was away getting help for her problems with alcohol.

    Marc Cohn vehemently slams the rumors.

    “I have no comment regarding vicious rumors about a so-called ‘affair,’” the Grammy-winning songwriter said during a recent interview. “I have encouraged and supported Elizabeth’s recovery as her years of struggle have been hard on everyone. Out of deference to my family’s privacy, I will not comment further.”

    Page Six published a report saying Cohn had an affair with their friend and Flywheel instructor Ruth Zukerman.

    “Like so many people, I am dealing with addiction. I realized I was becoming increasingly dependent on alcohol,” Elizabeth Vargas said upon her return to ABC in January. “I am in treatment and am so thankful for the love and support of my family, friends and colleagues at ABC News.”

    Hopefully Marc Cohn didn’t stoop so low as to have an affair while his wife Elizabeth Vargas was in rehab battling alcoholism. That would definitely be the ultimate insult and could cost the couple their marriage. As with any kind of rumor, there will no doubt be more reports about these allegations, especially if there’s any truth to them. Hopefully that’s not the case as it could also result in serious repercussions regarding her sobriety.

    Things do sound rather questionable, however, because Us Weekly reports that multiple media outlets are saying that Elizabeth Vargas and Marc Cohn are presently separated. The couple has two children–Zachary, who is 11, and Samuel, who is 7. An affair and a separation could take their toll on these kids, too, and they have been through enough already.

    Image via YouTube

  • Elizabeth Vargas Speaks Out: “I Am an Alcoholic”

    ABC News anchor Elizabeth Vargas is embarking on a new journey, and its alcohol-free. On Friday, Jan. 24, the 51-year-old television journalist returned to TV for the first time since her stint in rehab last fall for alcoholism, says Hollywood Reporter. 

    In an interview with Good Morning America, Vargas publicly acknowledged her addiction, revealing how exhausting it has been to conceal the problem for so long.

    “I am. I am an alcoholic,” she told GMA co-anchor George Stephanopoulos. “The amount of energy I expended keeping that secret and keeping this problem hidden from view was exhausting,” she said.

    “Even to admit it to myself was admitting, I thought, that I was a failure,” said Vargas. “It took me a long time to admit that to myself,” she explained. “It took me a long time to admit it to my family, but I am.”

    She also mentioned that she’d personally conducted a number of “20/20” segments on alcoholism, but couldn’t acknowledge her own dependency.

    Vargas went on to reveal the very moment she realized she had a serious problem. The 20/20 anchor recounted one day where she was “in no shape” to even conduct an interview. She also admitted that she had a preference for wine, as a means of coping with stress levels and anxiety as her drinking “slowly escalated and got worse and worse,” she said.

    “At night I — that was a ritual,” she said.”I should’ve realized it was a problem way back when Zachary, my oldest son, was born. And he used to call my nightly glass of wine ‘mommy’s juice.’ You know, and I thought that was hysterical. It didn’t occur to me that that was a problem.”

    She also admitted to bargaining with herself as a means of justifying the problem. “I started thinking ‘Well, you know, I’ll only drink, you know, on weekends. I’ll only drink, you know, two glasses of wine a night. I won’t drink on nights before I have to get up and do Good Morning America,” Vargas recalled. “But those deals never work.”

    Back in November, Vargas announced that she would be seeking help and spent a number of weeks in a rehabilitation facility. She also tweeted that she had left rehab two weeks after the initial announcement. 

    She is proud that she’s been able to admit and deal with her problem. “I have a sponsor. I have great, great friends who I love and who love me,” she said. “Alcohol for me is no longer an option.”

    Vargas will resume her role as co-anchor on 20/20 tonight.

    Image via Facebook | Elizabeth Vargus

  • Drew Barrymore Has No Regrets, But Forbids Daughter From Posing For Playboy

    Drew Barrymore recently revealed that she’d definitely have some reservations about her daughter posing for the infamous Playboy magazine.

    On Jan. 14, the six-months pregnant actress sat down for an interview with ABC News’ Amy Robach. The two discussed a number of interesting topics from Barrymore’s upcoming projects, to her personal life and growing up in the film industry.

    Barrymore also shared her sentiments of motherhood, expressing how its changed her perspective on a number of issues and experiences had throughout her life. Although she has “no regrets,” the maternal role has made her re-evaluate some of the things she’s done in her life. However, when asked if she ever had any past experiences that now make her ‘cringe,’ she replied by simply saying, “No.”

    “I celebrate that I had any sense of freedoms at a certain point, because I don’t feel like that now,” she explained. I love the very exposed, humorous, imperfect, never trying to pretend to be perfect journey that I have been on in my life.”

    For those who aren’t familiar with Barrymore’s turbulent past, here’s the gist. The E.T. child star entered rehab at the age of 13 for alcohol and drug abuse. Then, she later attempted suicide and ultimately became emancipated from her parents at the age of 15. By 19, she had posed for Playboy and had married and divorced her first husband Jeremy Thomas. She is still estranged from her mother Jaid Barrymore. Her father John Drew Barrymore died in 2004.

    Then, the actress was asked if she’d allow her daughter Olive to one day pose Playboy. She adamantly declared that she would forbid it.

    “What if Olive comes to you at 18 or 19 and says, ‘Mom, I want to pose for  Playboy?’” Robach asked. “I would not let her,” Barrymore said. “I don’t think I would. I would  influence her not to, because my life choices are supposed to be the gateway to  somebody else’s. That’s my journey.”

    “I have no regrets in my life whatsoever,” the Big Miracle star  explained. “I’m psyched about it all. I’m just in such a different mind frame.  I’m in mom mode now.”

    Robach concluded by asking Barrymore if she’d ever “looked back on her past and wondered how she got to where she is today.” The 38-year-old actress said, “I love the wonderful, awkward journey that I’ve been on in my life. I never have to worry that, like, I didn’t get anything out of my system.”

    Barrymore married art consultant Will Kopelman on June 2, 2012. The couple has a 2-year-old daughter named Olive, with a second daughter on the way this spring.

    Image via Wikipedia | Drew Barrymore

  • Katie Couric Admits That Her Report On HPV Was Too Anti-Vaccine

    Having taken a fair amount of criticism from the media and the science community, Katie Couric says she regrets spending too much time talking about the rare adverse side effects from HPV vaccinations instead of acknowledging the HPV vaccine’s overwhelming success.

    On Tuesday the talk show host apologized in an opinion piece for the Huffington Post.

    “Last week we devoted several segments on my TV talk show to the issues surrounding the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine. Learning about this relatively recent preventive measure is tremendously important, and I felt it was a subject well worth exploring.” Couric wrote. “We simply spent too much time on the serious adverse events that have been reported in very rare cases following the vaccine. More emphasis should have been given to the safety and efficacy of the HPV vaccines.”

    Couric’s program had insinuated that the HPV vaccine was far from being safe and featured spine chilling stories from two mothers that attributed negative experiences to the vaccine. One mother claimed the vaccine killed her daughter while another mother claimed the vaccine caused her daughter to experience nausea and fatigue. Couric’s report featured only one pro-vaccine guest – Dr. Mallika Marshall and thus appeared lopsided in its critique.

    Some critics such as Politico’s Tara Haelle, claimed that Couric resorted to “scaremongering” in an effort to boost her program ratings, while Time’s Alexandra Sifferlin compared Couric to Jenny McCarthy. McCarthy is a former Playboy model and co-host of  “The View” who has also been criticized for her anti-vaccine reporting. Los Angeles Times’ Michael Hiltzik disparaged Couric’s anti-vaccination report, saying “Daytime talk shows like Couric’s thrive on conflict and controversy, but injecting doubt and emotionalism into important medical discussions and removing science from the arena is playing with fire.”

    However, Couric said that it was never her intention to misrepresent medical and scientific facts. In fact, Couric has been a strong advocate for research related to disease. She did, however,  feel that problems caused by the HPV vaccine had to be highlighted.

    “As a journalist, I felt that we couldn’t simply ignore these reports. That’s why we had two mothers on the show who reported adverse reactions after their daughters had been vaccinated for HPV,” she wrote.

    Nonetheless, Couric acknowledged that the benefits of the HPV vaccine far outweigh its risks. She also admitted that she had both her daughters vaccinated for HPV.

    Is HPV Vaccine Safe?

    (image via Wikipedia)