Life

WHO chief says Ebola outbreak in DR Congo ‘not over’

KINSHASA, DR Congo (AFP) — WHO chief Tedros Adhanom on Tuesday called for tighter monitoring as he wrapped up a visit to Ebola-hit DR Congo, saying the outbreak was far from over despite the number of cases stabilising in recent weeks. The outbreak — the ninth in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 1976 — was declared on May 8 and has claimed 27 lives. “On the basis of statistics, we can say that the situation […]

Ubisoft sees blockbusters shaped by fans and stars

by Glen Chapman Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — French video game giant Ubisoft is teaming up with a firm founded by actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt to crowd source material for a forthcoming title, the companies announced Monday on the eve of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). Ubisoft has long tapped into feedback from players while designing games, but the latest step will allow some to make content woven into scenes. An invitation to collaborate […]

‘Shocking’ die-off of Africa’s oldest baobabs: study

by Mariëtte Le Roux Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — Some of Africa’s oldest and biggest baobab trees — a few dating all the way back to the ancient Greeks — have abruptly died, wholly or in part, in the past decade, researchers said Monday. The trees, aged between 1,100 and 2,500 years and some as wide as a bus is long, may have fallen victim to climate change, the team speculated. “We report that […]

Global warming will make veggies harder to find: study

TAMPA, United States (AFP) — Global warming is expected to make vegetables significantly scarcer around the world unless new growing practices and resilient crop varieties are adopted, researchers warned on Monday. By the end of this century, less water and hotter air will combine to cut average yields of vegetables — which are crucial to a healthy diet — by nearly one-third, said the report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. A […]

Thai turtle’s plastic-filled stomach highlights ocean crisis

BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Startling images of plastic shreds, rubber bands and other debris found jammed in the stomach of a green turtle in Thailand have highlighted the crisis of waste-strewn seas following the widely publicized death of a whale this month. Thailand is one of the world’s largest consumers of plastic, which kills hundreds of marine mammals and reptiles swimming off its coasts every year. The problem grabbed public attention in the first week […]

Microsoft looks past next-gen Xbox to cloud games

  LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The head of Xbox on Sunday said Microsoft is hard at work on a next-generation console along with a cloud service that would let players stream games to any device. Microsoft is adding five new game studios, one it is creating in Southern California and another four it is buying, Xbox team chief Phil Spencer said. “We are making one of our greatest single year’s investments in teams by […]

Foxconn unit becomes most valuable China-listed tech company

SHANGHAI, China (AFP)- A unit of electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn soared by the maximum allowable 44 percent in its stock debut in Shanghai on Friday to become the most valuable tech company listed in mainland China. Foxconn Industrial Internet, which makes electronic devices, cloud service equipment, and industrial robots, ended the day with a market value of $61 billion after the biggest IPO in China in nearly three years. The company closed at 19.82 yuan per […]

Blood test may predict premature birth

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US and Danish researchers said Thursday they have developed an inexpensive blood test that may predict with up to 80 percent accuracy whether a pregnant woman will give birth prematurely. While more research is needed before the test is ready for widespread use, experts say it has the potential to reduce fatalities and complications from the 15 million premature births per year worldwide. The test can also be used to […]

Facebook admits privacy settings ‘bug’ affecting 14 million users

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Facebook acknowledged Thursday a software glitch that changed the settings of some 14 million users, potentially making some posts public even if they were intended to be private. The news marked the latest in a series of privacy embarrassments for the world’s biggest social network, which has faced a firestorm over the hijacking of personal data on tens of millions of users and more recently for disclosures on data-sharing […]

Ashikaga flower park in Tochigi, Japan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQFuTJEj4KI&feature=youtu.be   If you are a wanderlust, try to embark on a Wisteria adventure for a tranquil experience. Ashikaga flower park in Tochigi, about three hours north of Tokyo by local train showcases the beauty of mainly wisteria (commonly known as “fuji” among locals) as well as azaleas, and many other flowers. Fuji is native to China, Japan and the eastern United States. It plays a vital role in Japanese culture. The kanji for fuji […]

Kim Jong Un lookalike set to make impression at summit

HONG KONG, China (AFP)- As the world awaits the historic summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, one man who has risen to prominence for his impressions of the North Korean leader is preparing for his own appearance in Singapore. The Hong Kong-based Kim impersonator, who goes by the name Howard X, will take part in an alternative summit on the sidelines of the meeting between the US president and Kim, scheduled for Tuesday. In […]

‘Ocean’s 8,’ a glamorous crime tale for the #MeToo age

by Thomas URBAIN NEW YORK, U.S (AFP)- They’re eight women, poised to take over from the men for an “Ocean’s” reboot full of glitz and glamor — a particularly #MeToo affair that does away with the saga’s traditional masculinity. “Ocean’s 8” is to be released Friday, more than 10 years after “Ocean’s 13,” the third volume following the escapades of Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and his casino-robbing gang. But to freshen up the latest installment, […]