Lifestyle

Disney closes US and Paris theme parks, delays ‘Mulan’ over virus

  by Andrew MARSZAL Agence France Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Disney will close its giant theme parks in Florida, California and Paris and pull the releases of major blockbusters including “Mulan” over the coronavirus, it announced Thursday. The resorts are among the largest theme parks in the world, each drawing tens of thousands of visitors each day. They will remain shut at least until the end of March. “In an abundance of […]

Honeywell unveils plan for ‘most powerful’ quantum computer

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US manufacturing and technology group Honeywell said Tuesday it will bring to market “the world’s most powerful quantum computer” aimed at tackling complex scientific and business challenges. The company said it had achieved a breakthrough in quantum computing, which uses subatomic particles to speed up processing, and would launch the new computers within three months. It released a scientific paper describing the accelerated quantum capability. Honeywell said it had entered […]

Twitter staff told to work from home over virus fears

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Twitter staff across the world were asked to work from home starting Monday in an effort to stop the spread of the deadly new coronavirus epidemic. At the same time, thousands of staff at Google’s European headquarters in Ireland were told to stay away for the day after one employee reported flu-like symptoms. The outbreak has spread across the world since emerging in central China late last year, killing […]

Philippine actor Richard Quan receives special recognition during EBC Films “Make it Reel” workshop

By Alfred Acenas EBC Hawaii Bureau QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) – Veteran Philippine actor Richard Quan made an appearance on day 2 of the filmmaker workshop “Make it Reel” sponsored by EBC Films and held at the EBC Main Studio in Quezon City, Philippines. Event organizers took the opportunity to congratulate him for his 26 years of success and contributions to the country’s film industry by presenting a certificate of recognition signed by EBC […]

Implications on PHL tourism industry of novel coronavirus crisis

(Eagle News) — In this interview on ASEAN in Focus weekend edition on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, Joyce Alumno, president of Health Core, talks about the implications on the tourism industry in the Philippines of the current novel coronavirus problem that has affected business not only in Asia, but all over the world. Alumno, a medical tourism advocate, noted that the COVID-2019 scare, would have an impact on the country’s economy, considering that about 12.7 […]

Samsung joins the fold with Galaxy Z Flip smartphone

by Glenn CHAPMAN SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Samsung on Tuesday unveiled its second folding smartphone, a “Z Flip” handset with a lofty price tag aimed at “trendsetters.” The smartphone flips open, like a case, opening into a 6.7-inch screen, and fits in a pocket when folded. The ultrathin glass used for the screen can be folded and unfolded more than 200,000 times and resists scratches, according to Samsung. The Galaxy Z Flip will […]

Google says glitch sent people’s videos to strangers

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Google on Tuesday said that a software glitch resulted in some Photo app smartphone videos being given to the wrong people. Google was notifying those who may have been affected. “We are very sorry this happened,” Google said in reply to an AFP inquiry. “We fixed the underlying issue and have conducted an in-depth analysis to help prevent this from ever happening again.” It was estimated that a small […]

Apple closes China stores until Feb 9 due to virus

  BEIJING, China (AFP) — Apple announced on Saturday the closure of its stores, corporate offices and contact centres in mainland China until February 9 due to the new coronavirus epidemic. The virus has prompted the government extend the Lunar New Year holiday through this weekend in a bid to contain its spread, but many provinces and cities have called on companies to delay their return to work. “Our thoughts are with the people most […]

BBC to axe 450 newsroom jobs

  by James PHEBY Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — The British Broadcasting Corporation on Wednesday said it will axe 450 newsroom jobs as part of plans to adapt “to changing audience needs” and meet its savings target. The job cuts come just a week after BBC boss Tony Hall said he would step down, and as the corporation grapples with a equal-pay demands and questions about its future funding model. “The BBC […]

UK fishermen angling for big catch post Brexit

NORTH SHIELDS, United Kingdom (AFP) – Roland JACKSON / William EDWARDS Just before dawn, the Good Fellowship trawler casts its nets deep into the North Sea’s cold swirling waters, fishing for prawns off England’s northeast coast. Britain finally departs the European Union on Friday but remains bound by the bloc’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) until the end of a transition period on December 31. The Good Fellowship’s captain, David Shiel, is cautiously hopeful that Brexit […]

Adidas bets on recycled material ‘to combat ocean plastic’

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany (AFP) – German sportswear giant Adidas said Tuesday more than half of the polyester used in its products this year would come from recycled material, including millions of shoes made from plastic waste. In 2020, the share of recycled polyester in Adidas products will “exceed 50 percent for the first time”, the company said in a statement. By 2024, Adidas “is committed to using only recycled polyester” across its entire range of […]

James Murdoch blasts dad Rupert’s firm over climate ‘denial’

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – Rupert Murdoch’s younger son James has called out his father’s media empire for “denial” of climate change, calling it a disappointment in light of wildfires in Australia, a report said Tuesday. The Daily Beast reported that James Murdoch and his activist wife Kathryn had harsh words for his family’s company, which operates US-based Fox News as well as newspapers in the US, Britain and Rupert Murdoch’s native Australia through its […]