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    Google, Facebook warn of moderation woes as coronavirus empties offices globally

    Major Silicon Valley players, including Google, YouTube and Facebook, warned this week that a larger number of videos and posts could be erroneously removed for policy violations, thanks to coronavirus emptying offices across the country.

    Big Tech will have to rely more on algorithms and automated tools over human moderators to flag content that violates its policies.

    This type of software is not always as accurate as humans, which leads to errors, the company explained in a blog post. And “turnaround times for appeals against these decisions may be slower,” it said.

    SEVERE CORONAVIRUS INFECTION RISK MAY INCREASE WITH SMOKING OR VAPING: EXPERTS

    Facebook followed suit, according to a Reuters report, saying it would work with contract vendors this week to send all content reviewers home indefinitely, with pay.

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    The social network, led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, also said the decision to rely more on automated tools, which learn to identify offensive material by analyzing digital clues for aspects common to previous takedowns, has limitations.

    “We may see some longer response times and make more mistakes as a result,” Facebook said.

    Alphabet’s Verily launches coronavirus trial website following confusion

    Alphabet’s Verily has finally launched the pilot for its COVID-19 screening website after President Trump announced on Friday that Google was working with the Trump administration on a project to aid in the coronavirus pandemic.

    The site, limited in scope and only available in the Bay Area, requires a user to use their Google log-in. The person must be at least 18 years old, speak English, be a resident of the U.S. and “willing to sign COVID-19 Public Health authorization form,” according to the website.

    “The tool will triage people who are concerned about their COVID-19 risk into testing sites based on guidance from public health officials and test availability,” Verily wrote in a blog post, accompanying the website.

    President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference about the coronavirus in the Rose Garden of the White House on Friday. Shortly after, he tweeted that he has declared Sunday, March 15 a National Day of Prayer. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

    CORONAVIRUS VACCINE DEVELOPMENT: WHERE DOES IT STAND?

    The post adds that Californians will be able to take an online COVID-19 screener survey through the website and then directed to a mobile testing site, where they will learn of their results “within a few days.”

    The questions that are asked include whether a person is experiencing a severe cough, shortness of breath and other symptoms generally associated with the virus. If a person answers “yes,” the website “based on your symptoms, in-person COVID-19 testing through this program is not the right fit” and suggests that they seek in-person medical attention.

    Fox News has reached out to Verily for a request for comment for this story.

    The website, which launched a day earlier than initially stated, came after confusion at a Friday press conference, where Trump said that Google and many of its engineers were working on a website. According to Wired, the tech giant did not expect Trump to say anything and had not planned to build a website.

    Following the confusion, Google Communications’ Twitter account posted a series of tweets in an attempt to clarify.

    “Statement from Verily: ‘We are developing a tool to help triage individuals for Covid-19 testing,” Google Communications wrote. “Verily is in the early stages of development, and planning to roll testing out in the Bay Area, with the hope of expanding more broadly over time.”

    Trump later retweeted those tweets, calling out the “fake and corrupt” news.

    Fox News has reached out to Google for comment for this story.

    In conjunction with Verily’s pilot website, Google CEO Sundar Pichai wrote a blog post on Sunday stating the tech giant would launch a website that would help people find information about COVID-19.

    WAYS THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK COULD END, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS

    “This includes best practices on prevention, links to authoritative information from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and helpful tips and tools from Google for individuals, teachers and businesses,” Pichai wrote in the post. “We’ll be rolling out an initial version of the website late Monday, March 16, and we’ll continue to enhance and update it with more resources on an ongoing basis.”

    There have been 164,470 reported cases of COVID-19, including at least 3,700 in the U.S.

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    WFH free tools, blocked number IDs, converting VHS and more: Tech Q&A

    (Kim Komando answers all of your tech questions. (iStock))

    Each week, I receive tons of questions from my listeners about tech concerns, new products and all things digital.

    Sometimes, choosing the most interesting questions to highlight is the best part of my job.

    This week, I received questions about changing ringtones, identifying anonymous phone numbers, how to find your favorite podcast and more.

    Do you have a question you’d like to ask me? I’d love to help you.

    Tap or click here to email me directly.

    Google, Microsoft free WFH tools

    Q: I have a small staff, only 6 people. Because of the pandemic, I need to have everyone work from home. What software do I use so we can still work as a team?

    A: Several different tech companies have announced that premium fees on their productivity tools will be waived in light of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. The companies, which include Microsoft, Google, Cisco, Zoom and LogMeIn, all feature different tools that enable businesses to take their operations off-site. This goes in line with the Center for Disease Control’s recommendation that workers stay home during the peak of the epidemic.

    Tap or click here to learn more about these free tools and how to sign up.

    Ringtone switch

    Q: My wife and I have the same ringtone. It’s so annoying because I never know if it’s my phone or her iPhone. Can I download a new ringtone?

    A: As more people turn off all sounds on their phones, the ringtone has started to vanish, replaced by the hum and buzz of devices vibrating in pockets. It does partially explain why users don’t download ringtones onto their mobile phones as easily as they might download podcasts and videos.

    There are several sites that are both trustworthy and ample suppliers of ringtones; however, you should know that iPhones require a little extra legwork because of Apple’s diehard security concerns. But you will find the unique tone you like. Tap or click here for the best ringtone sites.

    VHS conversion

    Q: I have a bunch of VHS tapes of my kids. I want the easiest way to get them online. Help me before I have grandkids!

    A: In the past, I have directed folks to box stores like Walmart and Costco, which usually have a special desk for media conversion. You can drop off your old tapes and have them converted and put on a DVD or USB drive, much the way we used to develop film into pictures.

    There is a new far more convenient service that I’ve used myself to preserve old home movies. The company is called iMemories. You send in your old tapes and photos, iMemories digitizes them and puts them in the cloud. This extra step makes it easy to watch and share. Tap or click here to digitize your old videos, slides, and photos.

    Smart speaker security

    Q: I’m freaked out about my smart speaker listening all the time. I do like what it does, though. How can I make it only listen when I want it to?

    A: A smart speaker is always listening for its “wake phrase,” which means you can’t use voice activation if the speaker isn’t listening. That may be a cold hard truth, but there are several ways to limit what your virtual assistant hears and retains. For example, you can use the “mute” feature very easily.

    After recordings are made and logged, you can dig into the system and delete them. Most developers will argue these recordings are benign, and they are required to help your smart speaker better understand your requests. But more and more users are erasing their recordings and I think it’s a smart practice. Tap or click here for private smart speaker security settings.

    ID blocked calls

    Q: I got a blocked call and an unknown call today. Can I find out who really called me? It’s annoying!

    A: Just because our phones don’t register the number doesn’t mean you can’t find out who called. In some cases, it’s as easy as dialing *69. For sneakier numbers, I recommend TrapCall, an app specifically designed to help you identify unknown numbers and block them for good.

    Remember: The vast majority of unlisted numbers are robocalls and solicitors, and many of those are actually scammers. If you find a way to learn that number and block it, you aren’t just saving yourself future headaches, you’re disrupting a corrupt system and possibly helping others as well.

    If all else fails, you can call your phone provider. The company can often find the real number in its records. Tap or click here to find out who’s calling from unknown numbers.

    What digital lifestyle questions do you have? Call Kim’s national radio show and tap or click here to find it on your local radio station. You can listen to or watch The Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet, television or computer. Or tap or click here for Kim’s free podcasts.

    Copyright 2020, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.

    Learn about all the latest technology on The Kim Komando Show, the nation’s largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando.com.

    6 gadgets to help you track your health amid coronavirus fears

    Your personal health has suddenly become incredibly important in light of coronavirus fears. Being able to check your own temperature is vital because going to the doctor can expose you to illnesses — and if you’re infected, you’ll expose everyone else. While these gadgets won’t prevent you from getting sick, they can help with personal health and will certainly give you more information before you head to the clinic for any reason.

    1. Withings Thermo ($99)

    This slightly older product is still worth considering. I trust the brand — which is now owned by Nokia. The digital thermometer connects to an app over Wi-Fi and takes quick temperature readings. You see a color-coding for the temperature level and the readout.

    2. Molekule Air Mini ($399)

    Let’s be clear: An air purifier will not prevent you from getting sick. However, if you catch the flu (any variation, including the coronavirus) then the Molekule Air Mini can keep the air clean around you to help with breathing. The Air Mini is meant for smaller homes and apartments.

    6 GADGETS FOR A MUCH SMARTER SMART HOME

    3. Garmin Venu ($350)

    The Garmin Venu smartwatch is extremely high-tech. It can give you stats for your stress and breathing/respiration, resting heart rate, and your pulse oximeter  (which measures your blood oxygen saturation levels). These features help you keep an eye on your stats, which makes it easier to notice any changes in your health.

    4. Speck Presidio Grip Smartphone Case ($40)

    Let’s be clear once again — a smartphone case that is protected from bacteria is not going to ward off the coronavirus entirely, but the Speck Presidio Grip case does reduce germ propagation. It’s at least an extra layer of protection (and it keeps your phone safe, too).

    10 USEFUL GADGETS FOR THE MODERN OFFICE

    5. Hidrate Spark 3 Smart Water Bottle ($60)

    If you do get sick with any illness, it’s important to stay hydrated. The Hidrate Spark 3 water bottle uses Bluetooth to connect to a smartphone app. You can keep track of your water intake and even find the water bottle if you lose it. Reports show the total hydration level.

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    6. Google Nest Hub ($129)

    Information is everything in the digital age. The Google Nest Hub has a bright, 7-inch touchscreen and responds to voice commands. You can ask about coronavirus news and even inquire about medical advice (answers are provided by WebMD).

    Fmr. Sen. Dean Heller: ‘We may be talking about Nevada on Super Tuesday’

    As 2020 Democratic presidential candidates make their final pitch to Nevada voters, a question hangs in the air: will this election be a continuation of Iowa’s caucus chaos?

    In an interview with “Cavuto LIVE” host Neil Cavuto, former Nevada Republican Sen. Dean Heller predicted there could be more of the same for the Silver State.

    “But, it’s amazing to me — and I’ll make this point and I’ve made it before — is that I think Bernie Sanders wins in Nevada today…if we get the results today,” he said, “I doubt that’s going to happen.”

    NEVADA DEMS HOPE TO AVOID CAUCUS CHAOS: HERE’S HOW THE PROCESS IS SUPPOSED TO WORK

    Under nationwide scrutiny on the eve of the caucuses, the state Democratic Party abandoned plans to use a Google application to report the results Saturday.

    Instead, the state party on Friday said it will rely on traditional reporting by phone amid fears of tech problems that led to the debacle earlier this month in the Iowa caucuses.

    In a memo sent to the presidential campaigns and reported by the New York Times, Nevada Democratic Party executive director Alana Mounce explained the reporting process.

    “After their precinct caucuses conclude, the precinct chairs will call a hotline to securely report their results to a trained operator, will submit via text a photo of their caucus reporting sheet to state party staff through an established MMS reporting hub, and then they will return their caucus reporting sheet and other materials to their Site Lead,” the memo read.

    The Nevada Democratic Party holds a caucus training session for precinct volunteers – at Silverado High School in Las Vegas, NV. on Feb. 21, 2020

    The Democratic National Committee (DNC) expressed confidence in the plan in a statement Friday.

    “Nevada Democrats have learned important lessons from Iowa, and we’re confident they’re implementing these best practices into their preparations,” wrote Xochitl Hinojosa, a DNC spokeswoman. “We’ve deployed staff to help them across the board, from technical assistance to volunteer recruitment.”

    Nevada Democrats were originally going to use an app made by the same developer that created the app used in Iowa that led to widespread chaos and the three-day delay in reporting complete results. But they scrapped that plan after what transpired in Iowa.

    At his 2020 campaign rally in Las Vegas on Friday, President Trump repeatedly mocked his Democratic opponents for their botched Iowa caucuses and predicted more technical trouble on Saturday when divided Democrats head to the Nevada caucuses to pick their 2020 nominee.

    “They can’t count the votes,” Trump said of the still contested Iowa caucuses, adding that Nevada Democratic Party caucuses also seem to have “messed up” computers and problems with vote tallying.

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    “I’m a former Secretary of State here in Nevada. I can’t imagine changing the process three times. Three times and the last time just within the last 48 hours and think you’re going to have results on that day,” Heller told Cavuto.

    “We may be talking about Nevada on Super Tuesday–” Heller said.

    “Oh, my goodness,” Cavuto exclaimed.

    Fox News Marisa Schultz, Jacqui Heinrich, Paul Steinhauser, Andres del Aguila, Tara Prindiville, and Madeleine Rivera contributed to this report.

    Father of slain journalist Allison Parker calls out Google, YouTube over videos of daughter’s killing

    Andy Parker, the father of a Virginia reporter who was shot and killed on live television in 2015 told Fox News Thursday he had filed a formal complaint against YouTube and Google with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over videos of the murder that continue to circulate on both platforms.

    Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, were shot on Aug. 26, 2015, by a disgruntled former colleague while conducting a live interview in Moneta, Va.

    The gunman recorded the shooting on a GoPro he was wearing and the footage quickly circulated on social media, sparking a rush by Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to remove the videos.

    YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF JOURNALIST ALISON PARKER’S MURDER STILL CIRCULATING, FATHER SAYS

    However, Andy Parker told “The Daily Briefing” host Dana Perino that videos of the murder of his daughter — as well as countless other killings — are still online.

    “They [Google] advertise to consumers that they will not see murder, hate speech, targeted harassment, and yet it happens daily. It has continued to happen,” Parker explained. “And, the videos of Alison’s murder have been up for years.”

    According to Parker’s complaint, YouTube — a subsidiary of Google — is “capitalizing on their [Parker and Ward’s] final moments for pure shock value and entertainment.”

    “The platform’s Terms of Service proclaim that violent content is not allowed, leading users to reasonably believe that they will not encounter it,” it reads. “In reality, these videos are commonplace on the platform, and many of them have remained there for several years.”

    WDBJ-TV reporter Alison Parker, left, and cameraman Adam Ward. (Courtesy of WDBJ-TV via AP, File)
    (The Associated Press)

    The complaint also alleged that some of the videos have been edited in numerous ways, in almost every case to increase their shock value, the filing says.

    “The users who perpetuate this type of entertainment continue to harass Mr. Parker by discounting his suffering as fake,” the filing says. “Yet to this day, Mr. Parker and his family have had only one tool available to defend themselves from such traumatic vitriol and the nightmare of seeing their daughter’s death: watch these videos one-by-one in order to report them.”

    “I want to see Google stop profiting from Alison’s murder. And, I think that the end result of this — this stands on its own. The complaint stands on its own,” Parker asserted. “I am hoping that this will kick-start legislation to either revoke or amend Section 230 [of the 1996 Communications Decency Act] which gives these platforms complete immunity from any liability.”

    A spokeswoman for YouTube told Fox News that the video-sharing site’s Community Guidelines are designed to protect its users, including those affected by tragedies.

    “We specifically prohibit videos that aim to shock with violence, or accuse victims of public violent events of being part of a hoax,” she explained, via email. “We rigorously enforce these policies using a combination of machine learning technology and human review and, over the last few years, we’ve removed thousands of copies of this video for violating our policies. We will continue to stay vigilant and improve our policy enforcement.”

    YouTube says that in the third quarter of 2019 it removed more than 1.3 million videos for violating its policies with regard to violent and graphic content.

    “Their response is a complete, utter, lie,” Parker told Perino. “They’ve lied from the get-go. They continue to lie to me … [and] to Congress. That’s what they do. And, the reason they can do it is, they get away it.

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    “And there are hundreds, if not thousands, of these people that have gone through the same thing I have, with Google just completely disregarding and abusing,” he said.

    Parker said he had met with a handful of Senate staff members on Capitol Hill on Thursday to start working on legislation to address Section 230.

    “And I think if there is such a thing as bipartisanship left in this country,” he concluded, “this is where we can do it.”

    Fox News’ James Rogers and The Washington Post contributed to this report.

    Dad of journalist Alison Parker blasts Google over videos of her murder spreading online, files FTC complaint

    The father of slain television news journalist Alison Parker blasted Google-owned YouTube for allowing despicable videos of her murder to proliferate on the popular video platform.

    Parker, 24, and her cameraman Adam Ward, 27, were shot by 41-year-old Vester Lee Flanagan during a live interview in Moneta, Va. Flanagan, a disgruntled former reporter who later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, recorded the shooting on a GoPro he was wearing.

    The horrific footage went viral on social media, forcing Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to take down videos as other versions kept getting posted. Parker recently filed a complaint and request for investigation with the Federal Trade Commission alleging that YouTube is violating its own terms of service by hosting videos that show people being murdered.

    PENTAGON WANTS TO DESIGN UNMANNED FLYING GUN

    A photo sits amongst flowers at a candlelight vigil for Alison Parker on Martinsville High School’s football field on August 27, 2015 in Martinsville, Virginia – file photo. Two employees of WDBJ TV were killed during a live broadcast at Bridgewater Plaza on Smith Mountain Lake on August 26, 2015.
    (Photo by Jay Paul/Getty Images)

    “The platform’s Terms of Service proclaim that violent content is not allowed, leading users to reasonably believe that they will not encounter it,” the complaint says. “In reality, these videos are commonplace on the platform, and many of them have remained there for several years.”

    “I want to see Google stop profiting from Alison’s murder,” said Andy Parker during a Thursday appearance on The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino. “If complaint stands on its own, I am hoping this will kickstart effort to revoke or amend Section 230.”

    Although Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act provides tech companies with broad immunity in terms of being responsible for what gets published on their platforms, in recent years lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have questioned whether it gives Big Tech too much power.

    A spokesperson for YouTube provided Fox News with the following statement via email: “We specifically prohibit videos that aim to shock with violence, or accuse victims of public violent events of being part of a hoax,” she explained, via email. “We rigorously enforce these policies using a combination of machine-learning technology and human review and, over the last few years, we’ve removed thousands of copies of this video for violating our policies. We will continue to stay vigilant and improve our policy enforcement.”

    YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF JOURNALIST ALISON PARKER’S MURDER STILL CIRCULATING

    COULD HACKERS TURN SATELLITES INTO WEAPONS?

    Parker said he has been meeting with Republican and Democratic senators to discuss what can be done about this issue.

    “Their response is a complete utter lie,” he said. “They’ve lied from the get-go.”

    Parker told Perino that he has been harassed by conspiracy theorists who label him an “actor.”

    “The users who perpetuate this type of entertainment continue to harass Mr. Parker by discounting his suffering as fake,” the filing says. “Yet to this day, Mr. Parker and his family have had only one tool available to defend themselves from such traumatic vitriol and the nightmare of seeing their daughter’s death: watch these videos one-by-one in order to report them.”

    YouTube, which sees over 500 hours of video uploaded every minute, says that it removed more than 1.3 million videos for violating its policies in the third quarter of 2019.

    “If there is such a thing as bipartisanship left in this country, this is where we can do it,” Parker said. “I’m doing this for the Sandy Hook families, the Parkland families, everyone who has been victimized.”

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    Fox News’ James Rogers contributed to this report.

    YouTube videos of journalist Alison Parker’s murder still circulating, father says

    The father of Alison Parker, a television news journalist who was murdered during a live broadcast in 2015, has slammed YouTube over sick videos of her slaying that continue to circulate on the video-sharing site.

    On Aug. 26, 2015, Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27 were shot by 41-year-old Vester Lee Flanagan during a live interview in Moneta, Va. Flanagan, a disgruntled former reporter who also went by the name Bryce Williams, later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

    The gunman recorded the shooting on a GoPro he was wearing and the footage quickly circulated on social media, prompting Facebook and Twitter, along with YouTube, to rush to remove the videos.

    SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS CLAMP DOWN ON SICKENING VIRGINIA SHOOTING FOOTAGE

    However, Parker’s father Andy Parker told the Washington Post that videos of the killing are still circulating on YouTube, which is owned by Google. “We’re flagging the stuff,” he said. “Nothing’s coming down. This is crazy. I cannot tolerate them profiting from my daughter’s murder, and that’s exactly what they do.”

    A photo sits amongst flowers at a candlelight vigil for Alison Parker on Martinsville High School’s football field on Aug. 27, 2015 in Martinsville, Va.
    (Jay Paul/Getty Images)

    Parker has filed a complaint and request for investigation with the Federal Trade Commission alleging that YouTube is violating its terms by hosting videos that graphically depict people being murdered. The video-sharing site is “capitalizing on their final moments for pure shock value and entertainment” according to the complaint, which was drafted with the Georgetown Law Civil Rights Clinic.

    “The platform’s Terms of Service proclaim that violent content is not allowed, leading users to reasonably believe that they will not encounter it,” the complaint says. “In reality, these videos are commonplace on the platform, and many of them have remained there for several years.”

    GOP SEN. JOSH HAWLEY INTRODUCES BILL FORCING YOUTUBE ‘TO STOP CATERING TO PEDOPHILES’

    In the complaint, Parker notes that videos of his daughter’s dying moments “continue to proliferate on YouTube nearly five years after her murder.” The videos have been edited in numerous ways, in almost every case to increase their shock value, the filing says.

    Andy Parker (L), the father of murdered TV reporter Alison Parker, speaks while flanked by Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe (D) (R), during an anti-gun rally on Capitol Hill Sept. 10, 2015, in Washington, D.C.
    (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

    Parker says that conspiracy hoaxers have posted raw TV and GoPro footage of the murder, spreading lies and subjecting him to harassment. Others have uploaded the videos to YouTube “for pure sadistic entertainment,” the filing adds.

    “The users who perpetuate this type of entertainment continue to harass Mr. Parker by discounting his suffering as fake,” the filing says. “Yet to this day, Mr. Parker and his family have had only one tool available to defend themselves from such traumatic vitriol and the nightmare of seeing their daughter’s death: watch these videos one-by-one in order to report them.”

    YOUTUBE: NO ‘DEEPFAKES’ OR ‘BIRTHER’ VIDEOS IN 2020 ELECTION

    A spokeswoman for YouTube told Fox News that the video-sharing site’s Community Guidelines are designed to protect its users, including those affected by tragedies. “We specifically prohibit videos that aim to shock with violence, or accuse victims of public violent events of being part of a hoax,” she explained, via email. “We rigorously enforce these policies using a combination of machine learning technology and human review and, over the last few years, we’ve removed thousands of copies of this video for violating our policies. We will continue to stay vigilant and improve our policy enforcement.”

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

    YouTube says that in the third quarter of 2019 it removed more than 1.3 million videos for violating its policies with regard to violent and graphic content.

    The Associated Press contributed to this article.

    Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers

    Google project manager facing murder charge after wife disappears in Hawaii, body found

    Hawaii police on Wednesday arrested a Google project manager on suspicion of second-degree murder following the disappearance of his wife a day earlier.

    Sonam Saxena, 43, of Bellevue, Wash., was taken into police custody following the discovery of a body near Aneahoomalu Bay, police said in a statement.

    SWEDISH WOMAN SWEPT OUT TO SEA BY WAVE IN HAWAII, COAST GUARD SUSPENDS SEARCH

    Saxena’s wife, Smriti, a 41-year-old Indian woman, was last seen at the Lava Lava Beach Club in Waikoloa on Feb. 18 around 10:30 p.m. She was wearing a black dress with a multicolored floral design and a black jacket, authorities said.

    Though police have not confirmed the identity of the body found in the bay, they said the location was “in the general areas where Smriti Saxena was reported as a missing person and last seen late Tuesday evening.”

    Prior to his arrest but before the body was found, Saxena told West Hawaii Today that he loved his wife and pleaded with the public to help find her.

    Saxena said he last saw Smriti, a business program manager for Microsoft, on the shoreline south of the bay. The duo, who was staying at the Marriott Hotel Resort with their two children, had been drinking at the Lava Lava Beach Club before deciding to take a stroll.

    “She got an asthma attack right there on the beach and she was feeling weak and she didn’t want to walk all the way back because it’s almost a 20-minute walk back from that beach to our room,” Saxena explained. “So I said, ‘Hey, you know what? You stay here, you have your phone with you and I’ll just go to the room, grab your inhaler and pump and come back.”

    Smriti Saxena went missing in Hawaii. Her husband, Sonam, has been arrested in connection to her disappearance. (Hawaii Police Dept)

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    Saxena told the newspaper that when he returned about 45 minutes later, his wife was nowhere to be found. Her purse, cellphone, credit card and driver’s license were where the couple had last been seen on the secluded beach but there was no sign of Smriti.

    “I was disturbed because why would she leave her purse and her phone on the beach and head back to the room?”

    — Sonam Saxena, arrested in connection to the disappearance of his wife Smriti

    “I was disturbed because why would she leave her purse and her phone on the beach and head back to the room?,” he said. “It just seemed really odd. So I rushed back to the room. I checked the room and I saw that she wasn’t in the room. So I went downstairs and that’s when I dialed 911.”

    Saxena said he and hotel security went and searched the beach for his missing wife before the cops showed up.

    “We called out to her, but there was nothing,” he said. “No response.”

    CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP

    The couple, who have been married for 17 years, have two children ages 8 and 13. They come to Hawaii’s Big Island every year to celebrate their eldest child’s birthday.

    Calls to the police department for additional comment were not immediately returned.

    Google marks Susan B. Anthony birthday, women’s suffrage with doodle

    Susan B. Anthony’s long fight for women’s right to vote and the suffrage movement are getting their moment in the spotlight on Google’s homepage.

    The search engine’s newest doodle honors Anthony on what would be her  200th birthday and the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in the United States.

    Anthony, born in western Massachusetts in 1820, had a passion for social reform at an early age, inspired by meeting prominent abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison.

    Google honors Susan B. Anthony and the women’s suffrage movement in a new doodle.
    (Google)

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    For more than 50 years, Anthony worked alongside reformer Elizabeth Cady Stanton to fight and advocate for women’s rights.

    On Nov. 5, 1872, Anthony reportedly walked into a voting station in Rochester, N.Y., and cast a vote for a presidential election – defying the law at the time, which denied women the right to vote.

    She was fined $100 – which is about $2,100 today. She proudly proclaimed: “I shall never pay a dollar for your unjust penalty.”

    In 1920, nearly 50 years after Anthony’s protest, women in America were finally granted the right to vote with the passage of the 19th Amendment. However, it wouldn’t be until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that women of color were included.

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    The Treasury Department honored Anthony in 1979 by placing her image on the dollar coin, marking the first time a woman was depicted on U.S. currency. A plan for famed abolitionist Harriet Tubman to adorn the $20 bill was tabled by the Trump administration.

    Former tennis player and an advocate for women’s rights, Billie Jean King, also honored Anthony on her birthday, tweeting a quote from the famed activist.