Life

SpaceX launches secretive Zuma mission

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — SpaceX on Sunday blasted off a secretive US government payload known as Zuma, a mission whose nature — and the agency behind it — remains a mystery. “Three, two, one, ignition and liftoff,” said a SpaceX commentator as the Falcon 9 rocket launched under cover of darkness from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 8:00 pm (0100 GMT Monday). The launch was initially supposed to take place in November but was postponed […]

Bahamians celebrate the new year with Junkanoo

By Tenny Tamulong EBC Florida Bureau NASSAU, BAHAMAS (Eagle News) — In the early morning of New Year’s Day, and previously on December 26 (Boxing Day), the locals of the Bahamas were out on Bay Street to celebrate Nassau’s largest festival parade, Junkanoo. Junkanoo is a street parade where Bahamians showcase extravagant and colorful costumes and floats. To create the costumes, locals use an assortment of materials, such as scraps of newspapers, feathers, colorful recycled […]

Pharmaceutical stirs outrage over price hike for brain tumor drug

by Leila MACOR Agence France-Presse MIAMI, United States (AFP) — A little known pharmaceutical company in Florida has found itself in the eye of a storm following disclosures it raised the price of an old drug used to fight brain tumors by 1,400 percent, from $50 a pill to more than $700. NextSource Biotechnology in 2013 bought the license for the drug Lomustine from Bristol-Myers Squibb, which sold a 100-milligram pill of the substance for […]

Samsung overtakes Intel as world’s biggest chip maker: study

PARIS, France (AFP) — South Korea’s Samsung has overtaken US rival Intel as the world’s biggest maker of semi-conductors as sales in the sector boom, a study published by consultancy Gartner showed on Thursday. Samsung Electronics “gained the most market share and took the number one position from Intel -— the first time Intel has been toppled since 1992,” said Gartner analyst, Andrew Norwood. The total global market for semi-conductors grew by 22 percent to […]

Tech firms rush out patches for ‘pervasive’ computer flaw

by Rob Lever Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Amid a frantic rush to patch a computer security flaw, experts struggled Thursday to determine the impact of a newly discovered vulnerability which could affect billions of devices worldwide. Cybersecurity researchers called for computer systems to urgently install updates a day after the release of details of the so-called Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities affecting the chips powering most modern PCs and many mobile devices. […]

Japan’s historic Tsukiji market holds final auction

by Natsuko Fukue Agence France Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo’s world-famous Tsukiji fish market held its last pre-dawn New Year’s auction on Friday before closing down for relocation, with the highest bidder paying more than $320,000 for a giant tuna. After more than 80 years in operation, the world’s biggest fish market, a popular tourist attraction in an area packed with restaurants and shops, will move to Toyosu, a former gas plant a bit […]

Tech firms rush out patches for ‘pervasive’ computer flaw

by Rob Lever Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Amid a frantic rush to patch a computer security flaw, experts struggled Thursday to determine the impact of a newly discovered vulnerability which could affect billions of devices worldwide. Cybersecurity researchers called for computer systems to urgently install updates a day after the release of details of the so-called Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities affecting the chips powering most modern PCs and many mobile devices. Researchers […]

Egg-preserving hysterectomy raises heart risks later: study

by Kerry Sheridan Agence France Presse MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Women who undergo hysterectomy before age 35 may face significantly higher long-term heart risks, even if their ovaries are preserved, a study found Wednesday. The research by experts at Mayo Clinic focused on more than 2,000 US women who had their uterus removed but left their ovaries intact — widely considered the most desirable option if possible because it prevents a woman from entering […]

Computer chip ‘flaw’ sparks security debate amid scramble for fix

by Rob Lever Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Technology giant Intel acknowledged a vulnerability Wednesday that could allow hackers to access stored data on most modern computer systems, but said the security risks were minimal. The computer chipmaker issued a statement amid a flurry of concerns voiced after researchers discovered what was described as a “flaw” which could allow privately-stored data in computers and networks to be leaked. Intel labelled as “incorrect” the […]

BlackBerry, Baidu announce autonomous vehicle partnership

MONTREAL, Canada (AFP) — Canadian telecommunications software company BlackBerry and China’s web giant Baidu on Wednesday announced a partnership for autonomous and connected vehicles. “The two companies will collaborate to accelerate the deployment of connected and autonomous vehicle technology for automotive OEMs and suppliers worldwide,” they said in a statement. BlackBerry’s operating system will be “the foundation for Baidu’s Apollo autonomous driving open platform,” the statement said. In September, Baidu announced a $1.5 billion investment […]

Race for ‘smart’ hits fever pitch at electronics show

by Glenn Chapman, Julie Charpentrat with Rob Lever in Washington Agence France-Presse SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Giving gadgets brains will be a hot theme at the Consumer Electronics Show set to open in Las Vegas, with device makers big and small touting hardware with “smarts.” Whether it’s a doorbell or refrigerator, a TV set or a toothbrush, chances are it will be connected to digital assistants powered by artificial intelligence aiming to anticipate […]