Life

US, Japan duo win Nobel Medicine Prize for cancer therapy

by Pia OHLIN Agence France Presse STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AFP) — Two immunologists, James Allison of the US and Tasuku Honjo of Japan, won the 2018 Nobel Medicine Prize for research into how the body’s natural defenses can fight cancer, the jury said on Monday. Unlike more traditional forms of cancer treatment that directly target cancer cells — often with severe side-effects — Allison and Honjo figured out how to help the patient’s own immune system […]

Edmonton Expo costumes and memorabilia wow fans

  EDMONTON (Eagle News) — The three-day Edmonton Comic and Entertainment Expo, or Edmonton Expo for short, was a  successful and fun event not only for the kids but also for the adults who dressed up in their favorite science fiction, comic book, horror, fantasy, pop culture and animated characters. The annual event was held from September 22 to 24 at the Edmonton, Alberta Expo Center where many exhibitors and vendors displayed their crafts and specialties […]

Up to 50 million Facebook accounts breached in attack

By Glenn Chapman Agence France Presse Facebook revealed on Friday that up to 50 million accounts were breached by hackers, dealing a blow to the social network’s effort to convince users to trust it with their data. The social network is investigating the extent of harm done when hackers exploited a trio of software flaws to steal “access tokens,” the equivalent of digital keys that enable people to automatically log back into the social network. […]

Facebook admits phone numbers may be used to target ads

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Facebook on Thursday confirmed that advertisers were privy to phone numbers given by members of the social network for enhanced security. A study by two US universities, first reported by news website Gizmodo, found that phone numbers given to Facebook for two-factor authentication were also used to target advertising. Two-factor authentication is intended to enhance security by requiring a second step, such as entering codes sent via text messages, […]

McDonald’s says classic burgers no longer have artificial ingredients

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — McDonald’s USA on Wednesday announced that its iconic burgers, including the Big Mac and the Quarter Pounder with Cheese, no longer have artificial preservatives, artificial flavors or added colors from artificial sources. Only the pickle slices still contain an artificial preservative, the American fast food giant said, noting that “customers are able to skip it if they prefer.” The changes are going into effect in all 14,000 US restaurants, […]

Wooden library lures bookworms outside Beijing

BEIJING, China (AFP) — Deep in the heart of a valley surrounded by rocky hills, a wooden library sits just over a creek on the outskirts of Beijing, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Every weekend, hundreds of bookworms flock to Liyuan Library in Jiaojiehe village, a book sanctuary surrounded by chestnut, walnut and peach trees whose branches were used to decorate the building. The lush environment is what first drew architect Li Xiaodong to […]

Apple-1 computer fetches $375,000 at auction

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — An Apple-1, a rare model of the first computer produced by the now-iconic tech firm, fetched $375,000 in an auction this week, according to Boston-based RR Auction. The computer was among 175 of those sold by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak from their production in a garage in Silicon Valley in the early days of Apple in 1976 and 1977. The model originally went for $666.66 when it was […]

Facebook unveils upgraded wireless Oculus headset in VR push

SAN JOSE, United States (AFP) — Facebook on Wednesday unveiled an upgraded Oculus virtual reality headset with power to handle the intensive graphics of digital worlds in a wire-free experience. The new Oculus Quest headset unveiled at the Facebook unit’s developer conference is being aimed at gamers seeking immersion in virtual worlds, with other potential applications likely in the future. “This is the wireless virtual reality experience we have been waiting for,” Facebook chief executive […]

Things you should know about Tuberculosis

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — Videographic on tuberculosis. A global plan to tackle the killer disease will be formally adopted at the first-ever TB summit on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York. Meanwhile, The struggle to contain the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is facing a “perfect storm” of challenges, including rebel violence and pre-election manipulation, the UN said. https://youtu.be/BmS3j6Qmi_c

Europe’s Ariane 5 rocket blasts off for 100th time

PARIS, France (AFP) — A European-made rocket has blasted off from French Guiana for the 100th time, in a symbolic landmark for its manufacturer as it comes under increasing pressure from Elon Musk’s SpaceX program. The Ariane 5 spacecraft took off from the Caribbean launch site on Tuesday at 19:38 (22:38 GMT), propelling two telecoms satellites into orbit. In service for more than two decades and capable of blasting heavy payloads into the sky, the […]

Earthquake fear ends Dutch gas boom

by Charlotte VAN OUWERKERK Agence France Presse ZEERIJP, Netherlands (AFP) — The Dutch are proud of the way they have created a country by fighting back the ocean — but when they started making their own earthquakes it proved a step too far. The tiny village of Zeerijp in the northern Netherlands looks ordinary on the surface, yet closer inspection reveals cracks in homes, schools and historic buildings. A series of quakes caused by extractions […]