Life

Study challenges ‘healthy but obese’ theory

  PARIS, France (AFP) — Being overweight or obese does pose a risk of heart disease, despite claims to the contrary, a study of nearly 300,000 British adults suggested Friday. While it is generally accepted that being overweight increases a person’s disease risk, some researchers have recently suggested that carrying extra weight does not actually boost death rates for some, particularly the elderly. A number have even suggested that being overweight may protect against disease, […]

China to see driverless cars “in 3 to 5 years” — Baidu

BEIJING, China (AFP) — Self-driving cars will hit the roads in China “within three to five years,” the founder of Chinese internet giant Baidu, one of the world’s leading designers of driverless cars, said Thursday. That is a lot sooner than predicted by China’s information technology minister, who last week said it would only be a reality in 8-10 years, citing constraints related to security. “I’m more optimistic than him, I think it will come […]

Woman who shot boyfriend dead in YouTube stunt jailed 6 months

CHICAGO, United States (AFP) — A judge in the US state of Minnesota sentenced a YouTube prankster to six months in prison Wednesday for fatally shooting her boyfriend in a botched video stunt they hoped would go viral. Monalisa Perez, a 20-year-old mother of two children, believed her boyfriend Pedro Ruiz would be shielded by a thick book as she shot him at close range last June in front of onlookers. Ruiz, 22, died at […]

Top bottled water brands contaminated with plastic particles: report

by Kerry Sheridan Agence France Presse MIAMI, United States (AFP) — The world’s leading brands of bottled water are contaminated with tiny plastic particles that are likely seeping in during the packaging process, according to a major study across nine countries published Wednesday. “Widespread contamination” with plastic was found in the study, led by microplastic researcher Sherri Mason of the State University of New York at Fredonia, according to a summary released by Orb Media, […]

Finland is world’s happiest country, Burundi least content: UN

  ROME Italy (AFP) — Finland is the world’s happiest country while troubled Burundi is the most discontent, according to a new UN report released Wednesday. In addition to its joyful locals, Finland is also home to the happiest immigrants, the study found. The Nordic nation headed up the 156-country ranking, followed by last year’s winner Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Switzerland. The United States and the United Kingdom were in 18th and 19th place respectively. […]

EBC holds feeding program in Culiat Elem. School as part of EBC’s 50th anniversary activities

  (Eagle News) – Eagle Broadcasting Corporation successfully conducted a feeding program for schoolchildren in Culiat Elementary School in Quezon City on Wednesday, March 14, 2018. This was in line with the activities of the network, including public service programs, meant to commemorate its 50th anniversary this year, specifically this April. The EBC feeding program for schoolchildren in Culiat Elementary School is just one of the programs this year conducted under the theme EBC Cares: […]

France to take legal action against Google, Apple for ‘abusive’ practices

  PARIS, France (AFP) — France will take legal action against Google and Apple for “abusive business practices”, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Wednesday as transatlantic ties threaten to be riven by a trade war. “I believe in an economy based on justice and I will take Google and Apple before the Paris Commercial Court for abusive business practices” against French start-ups, Le Maire said on RTL radio. He said start-ups face conditions imposed […]

British scientist Stephen Hawking dead at age 76 — family spokesman

  LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Renowned British physicist Stephen Hawking, whose mental genius and physical disability made him a household name and inspiration across the globe, has died at age 76, a family spokesman said Wednesday “We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today,” Professor Hawking’s children, Lucy, Robert, and Tim said in a statement carried by Britain’s Press Association news agency. “He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose […]

China plans panda park that will dwarf Yellowstone

SHANGHAI, China (AFP) — China will create a bastion of giant pandas three times the size of Yellowstone National Park to link up and encourage breeding among existing wild populations of the notoriously slow-reproducing animal, state media reported Thursday. At least 10 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) has been secured over the next five years for construction of the Giant Panda National Park in mountainous southwestern China for the nation’s favorite creature, the China Daily reported. […]

2018 Sebring Vintage Classic kicks off SVRA racing season

SEBRING, FL (Eagle News) — Competitive racing is no stranger to the State of Florida. Racing fans get to enjoy the NASCAR Rolex 24, Coke Zero 400, and the world famous Daytona 500. On March first to the fourth, racing fans witnessed the 2018 Sebring Vintage Classic (SVC) in Sebring, FL. Hosted annually by the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), the SVC serves as the season opener to the 2018 racing season. This endurance race […]

New Zealand summer heatwave sets all-time record

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — New Zealand has sweltered through its hottest summer on record and can expect more of the same if climate change continues unabated, the government’s scientific agency said Tuesday. Daily temperatures averaged 18.8 Celsius (65.84 Fahrenheit), 2.1C more than normal, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) said. With the mercury reaching as high as 38.7C in the South Island, NIWA said it was the hottest summer since records […]

SpaceX poised for 50th launch of Falcon 9 rocket

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — SpaceX is poised for the 50th launch of its signature Falcon 9 rocket early Tuesday, marking a swift ascent to a milestone many aerospace giants take far longer to attain. The launch of the Falcon 9 carrying the Hispasat, Spanish telecommunications, and broadband satellite, is scheduled for 12:33 am (0533 GMT) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. “At six metric tons and almost the size of a city […]