Life

Untouched ocean habitats rapidly shrinking: study

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Shipping, pollution and over fishing have reduced areas of “wilderness” to just 13 percent of the world’s oceans, a study showed Friday, warning untouched marine habitats could completely vanish within half a century. International researchers analyzing the impact of human activity, from fertilizer runoff to increased sea transport, on underwater ecosystems have mapped the dwindling zones considered pristine. The bulk of remaining ocean wilderness, classed as “mostly free of human disturbance”, […]

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‘Zika epidemic is not over,’ says Brazilian specialist

by Carola SOLÉ Agence France-Presse RIO DE JANIERO, Brazil (AFP) — Concern about the zika virus may have waned since the disease spiked in the months before the 2016 Rio Olympics, but the epidemic is not over, a Brazilian expert told AFP. Gustavo Correa Matta said government spending cuts in Brazil could hamper the ability to control the virus that caused panic, and a small number of deaths, after an outbreak starting in 2015. “Zika […]

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Bamboo canvass: Celebrating Israel-Philippine friendship

Caesar Vallejos, Eagle News Service The Philippine bamboo, a versatile material known for its variety of economic uses, from handicrafts to musical instruments, served as the centerpiece to celebrate Israel and Philippine friendship. Anat Heifetz, a Manila-based Israeli artist “combined ideas from two worlds, actually many worlds using bamboo,” Ambassador of Israel to the Philippines Ephraim Ben Matityau said. “This is unique,” the Ambassador stressed, also noting that the art using bamboo as canvass will […]

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Twitter curbs access for 143,000 apps in new crackdown

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Twitter said Tuesday it had removed more than 143,000 apps from the messaging service since April in a fresh crackdown on “malicious” activity from automated accounts. The San Francisco-based social network said it was tightening access to its application programming interfaces (APIs) that allows developers to make automated Twitter posts. “We’re committed to providing access to our platform to developers whose products and services make Twitter a better place,” said […]

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US park Yosemite partially closed as deadly fire rages

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — One of the most popular national parks in the United States announced its imminent partial closure on Tuesday as thick plumes of smoke drifted from a deadly wildfire raging in central California. Yosemite National Park said the Yosemite Valley, home to many of the cliffs and waterfalls that make the area famous, would shut at noon on Wednesday. Wawona, a settlement of around 160 people a 25-mile (40-kilometer) drive […]

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Red planet and ‘blood moon’ pair up to dazzle skygazers

by Mariette le Roux and Pascale Mollard Agence France-Presse The longest “blood moon” eclipse this century will coincide with Mars’ closest approach in 15 years to offer skygazers a thrilling astronomical double bill on Friday, astronomers say. For about half the world, the moon will be partly or fully in Earth’s shadow from 1714 to 2328 GMT — six hours and 14 minutes in all. The period of complete eclipse — known as “totality”, when […]

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Ivanka Trump announces closure of fashion brand

  by Jennie Matthew Agence France Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Ivanka Trump announced Tuesday that she was closing her eponymous fashion brand, following a firestorm of criticism about potential conflicts of interests and flagging sales fueled by a political backlash. The 36-year-old, who has been frequently photographed wearing shoes from her namesake label, stepped away from the company to work in the White House as an advisor to her father, President Donald […]

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Google parent Alphabet sees record highs despite EU fine

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)–Google parent Alphabet shares lifted Monday on a stronger-than-expected earnings report for the past quarter, as the tech giant’s results eased concerns over huge fines imposed by the European Union for antitrust actions. Profit dipped 9.3 percent to $3.2 billion in the second quarter after accounting for the EU fines, the company said. Revenues meanwhile jumped 26 percent from a year ago to $32.7 billion, better than most analysts expected. Shares in […]

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Japan reopens beaches hit by 2011 nuclear, tsunami disaster

TOKYO, Japan (AFP)  — Japan has reopened three beaches in regions devastated by the 2011 tsunami and resulting Fukushima nuclear disaster after years of reconstruction efforts, officials said Monday. Local officials in Fukushima said they hoped the opening of the Haragamaobama beach would help change perceptions of the region, which has become inextricably linked with the 2011 disaster. One of the reopened waterfronts is Haragamaobama beach in Fukushima prefecture, about 40 kilometres north of the […]

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Dangerous complacency’ looms over world AIDS meeting

  by Mariëtte Le Roux Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — Thousands of experts and activists descend on Amsterdam Monday to bolster the battle against AIDS amid warnings that “dangerous complacency” may cause a resurgence of the epidemic that has already killed 35 million people. Rather than closing in on the goal of “ending” AIDS, new HIV infections have surged in parts of the world as global attention has dwindled and funding levelled off, […]

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Boracay, Cebu and Palawan make it to the “Top 10 islands in Asia”

(Eagle News) — Despite its closure for a six-month rehabilitation, the island of Boracay still made it to the list of Top 10 Islands in Asia, according to the Travel+Leisure magazine. Boracay ranked no. 8 this year with a score of 86.14. Two other Philippine provinces, namely Cebu and Palawan, also made it to the “Top 10 Islands in Asia.” Cebu made it to the sixth place with a score of 89.10, while Palawan ranked […]

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Facebook cracks down on bogus posts inciting violence

MENLO PARK, United States (AFP)–Facebook on Wednesday built on its campaign to prevent the platform from being used to spread dangerous misinformation, saying it will remove bogus posts likely to spark violence. The new tactic being spread through the global social network was tested in Sri Lanka, which was recently rocked by inter-religious over false information posted on the world’s leading online social network. “There are certain forms of misinformation that have contributed to physical […]

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