Luglio, 2021

Google News Showcase, our new product and licensing program for news publishers, will begin rolling out in Austria today, building on our ongoing commitment to support journalism. Backed by our recent $1 billion global investment in news, Google News Showcase supports publishers by giving them a new way to curate their high-quality content on Google’s News and Discover platforms, connecting their readers with the news that matters to them. 

The Austrian publishers taking part at launch include, among others, Der Standard (derstandard.at), Wimmer Medien (nachrichten.at), Russmedia (vn.at, vol.at, vienna.at), Salzburger Nachrichten (sn.at, salzburg24.at) and Moser Holding (tt.com). These publishers represent a mix of local, regional and national news organizations around the country. 

When you hear Shakira’s name (or when her catchy lyrics inevitably get stuck in your head), you may think of her as an international pop sensation, Latin American icon or stunning performer. But there’s a fourth characteristic to add to that list: philanthropist and advocate for education.

Shakira has been a champion of this work for over 20 years, dating back to the creation of her charitable organization Fundacion Pies Descalzos, which expands access to education in Colombia and Latin America. And now, she’s bringing her passion for philanthropy to the Google.org Impact Challenge for Women and Girls. Shakira joins 28 other incredible women as expert panelists who will help us determine which organizations will receive a grant to continue their work supporting economic empowerment for women and girls.

We grabbed the mic to ask Shakira a few questions about why this cause is so important to her. Put on your favorite Shakira hit, and read on. 

Your amazing philanthropic work has focused on education for kids. What is the biggest barrier that young girls face in getting a quality education?

Girls are too often vulnerable to gender-based violence, relied upon to care for others in the household, or lack access to basic facilities like running water or proper bathrooms that would allow them to attend school during menstruation. The irony is that investing in girls’ education has one of the best returns on investment that a society could ask for, and it creates real economic impact. If every girl completed 12 years of education, their lifetime earnings could increase by $15 trillion to $30 trillion. It’s not only about lifting girls up — lifting them up will do the same for entire communities. 

Why did you get involved with the Google.org Impact Challenge for Women and Girls?

I think there’s no limit to what girls can achieve, and companies like Google can lead the way for girls —  particularly in fields where there is still a noticeable disparity such as STEM disciplines. 

When you envision a more equitable world for women and girls, what do you see?

I want to see a world where girls have the same amount of choices and opportunities at their disposal as boys. I want to see more women leaders, and policies made for women by women that acknowledge both the needs of women and their unique perspectives and ways of contributing to society at large. 

What’s one message that you would give to every woman around the world?

Don’t take no for an answer.

If there was a playlist for empowerment for women and girls, what song would you put on it?

Beyonce “Run the World (Girls)”

With the state of the pandemic varying around the world, keeping up with local restrictions, navigating day-to-day life and easing back into activities we enjoy can feel confusing and unfamiliar. 

To help with that, we’ve pulled together Google Maps tips — including new features and product updates — to help you safely plan your next outing, navigate how and when to get things done, and relive past adventures or plan for future ones when the time is right:

1. Plan ahead if you’re taking public transit: Before heading out, check to see how crowded your bus, train, or subway car is likely to be — so you’ll know if you’re likely to grab a seat or if you should wait for another train. You’ll be able to see transit crowdedness predictions for over 10,000 transit agencies in 100 countries around the world.
2. Find the latest information about COVID-19:Whether you’re staying close to home or taking a trip, use the COVID layer to see how cases are trending in an area. You can also access quick links to trusted local resources so you’ll know at a glance if there are specific guidelines or restrictions you need to follow.
3. Avoid crowds with live busyness information: Before you go, search for your destination on Google Maps, then scroll down on the Business Profile to see how busy a place typically is or how busy it is right now. With busyness information, you’ll know instantly you’re about to face a long line or a big crowd and can adjust your plans accordingly. 
4. Reserve your spot:Many places are now appointment only. You can reserve your spot ahead of time right from Google Maps with participating businesses. Simply search for the business, check upcoming availability, and book! If you need to change something, manage upcoming reservations and bookings within the Saved tab of the Google Maps app.
5. Tap and go with contactless payments: Pay for things likestreet parking or public transit right from Google Maps without having to pull out your wallet or touch a parking meter. For street parking, type in your meter number, hit pay and refill while you’re out and about. For public transportation, a payment option will pop up once you arrive at any public transit, then tap your phone to pay. 
6. Know before you go:Check out local places’ Business Profiles on Google Maps to see information like operating hours, current COVID-19 safety precautions, trending dishes and reviews. 
7. Leave a review: Support local businesses you love and leave a review on Google! Now you can tap on prompts to quickly share helpful information for any restaurant in the U.S. — like the average price range or whether you dined in or ordered takeout. 
8. Reminisce on past trips: Figure out where you want to go next by taking a look at where you’ve been with the Trips tab. Available to all Android users, you can now use the Trips tab to transport yourself back in time to that one dinner in Italy (you know the one) or that epic camping weekend in Big Sur. Become everyone’s go-to travel guide and export these places to a list to share.

With the state of the pandemic varying across the globe, the new normal looks different depending on where you go. But no matter your situation, Google Maps has your back with new tools to help you navigate and explore as safely as possible.

Keep your distance on mass transit

It’s no surprise that transit ridership took a drastic plunge during the early days of the pandemic. While people are returning to public transit — with transit directions on Maps increasing 50% compared to last year in the U.S. — safety remains top of mind. That’s why we’re expanding transit crowdedness predictions to over 10,000 transit agencies in 100 countries so you’ll know if your line is likely to have lots of open seats, hit full capacity, or be anywhere in between. With this information you can decide whether you want to hop on board or wait for another train. Because pandemic or not, no one likes standing in a jam-packed subway car. 

These predictions are made possible through our AI technology, contributions from people using Google Maps, and historical location trends that predict future crowdedness levels for transit lines all over the world. All these predictions were designed with privacy in mind. We apply world-class anonymization technology and differential privacy techniques to Location History data to make sure your data remains secure and private.