Life

Striking Northern Light display over northern Finland

NORTH OF ROVANIEMI, Finland (Reuters) — Multicolored lights lit up the night sky in striking aurora displays over Finland earlier this week. The display took place on Tuesday (November 7) night and was filmed by travel magazine ‘All About Lapland’ in Rovaniemi, northern Finland. It was visible across a large swathe of the country and was also seen in southern parts of the country. The Northern Lights are a result of collisions between electrically charged […]

Psychedelic color storm takes over Washington art space

by Olivia Hampton Agence France Presse WATCH, United States (AFP) — It all began by accident. After hurting his wrist, artist Oilhack started mixing paints, oil and soap in a bowl, experiments that eventually morphed into brightly colored moving seascapes in a collaboration with fellow Frenchman Thomas Blanchard that Apple used to promote its iPhone X. In their US debut, the pair, who form the WeAreColorful collaborative, are bringing an immersive experience — filling the […]

Developing world says rich nations shirking on climate

 by Marlowe Hood Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — The failure of wealthy nations to deliver on short-term climate commitments could hinder the rollout of a landmark treaty, a bloc of 134 developing countries, including India and China, warned Thursday at UN negotiations in Bonn. The diplomatic spat has underscored the difficulty of reaching a consensus at the 196-nation talks. “If we do not respect decisions that we have made, then how can we build trust among the […]

Robot ANYmal takes the elevator

ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) —Meet ANYmal. ANYmal is an autonomous quadrupedal robot designed to navigate industrial sites, with the eventual aim of inspecting oil and gas sites without human help. The four-legged robot relies on compliant and torque controllable actuators and can run and also climb stairs at up to 45-degree angles. Laser sensors and cameras help ANYmal perceive its environment, and plan its path autonomously, helping it avoid obstacles that suddenly appear in its path. […]

UN labor body cuts ties with tobacco industry

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) – Bowing to public pressure, the UN’s labor body agreed Thursday to stop accepting funding from tobacco companies, a decision that cut the last remaining ties between the world body and the industry. The International Labor Organization (ILO) said it would adhere to a June resolution passed by United Nations Economic and Social Council “preventing tobacco industry interference.” The ILO’s governing body “agreed that no new funding shall be accepted by the […]

UPDATED: Isabel Granada’s remains arrive in PHL; showbiz personalities bid their goodbyes on social media

  By Jodi Bustos Eagle News Service (Eagle News) — The remains of Filipina actress, Isabel Granada, arrived in the Philippines from Doha, Qatar today, Thursday. They arrived via Philippine Airlines flight PR 685. Earlier, her cousin, Joseph Rivera who was also in Qatar with Granada’s partner, Arnel Cowley, said  they were processing the papers needed to repatriate her remains. Ten days after she suffered a brain hemorrhage due to aneurysm, Granada, 41, passed away […]

Twitter purists mourn end of 140-character limit on posts

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — It was a sad day for Twitter purists, dismayed that the 140-character limit restricting users on the social media platform to crisp, succinct posts had been doubled to a gaudy 280. And they have been expressing their outrage — how else? — with short tweets and hashtags like #140forlife. “Personally, I enjoyed the challenge of fitting my thoughts into 140 characters!” tweeted Weather Channel meteorologist Maria LaRosa, with the hashtag #lessismore. “Like […]

New Zealand mourns after ‘First Cat’ Paddles run over by car

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — New Zealand was mourning the loss of the nation’s “First Cat” Wednesday after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s pet puss Paddles was run over by a car in Auckland. The prime minister’s office confirmed that the ginger and white rescue cat, also described by Ardern as the PM (Prime Moggy), died in an accident on Tuesday. “To anyone who has ever lost a pet, you’ll know how sad we feel,” the […]

The guitar maker of Kinshasa: Father of a unique sound

by Marc Jourdier Agence France-Presse KINHASA, DR Congo (AFP) — In 2010, a group of Kinshasa street musicians, several of them left paraplegic by childhood polio, caused a sensation in Europe. Calling themselves Staff Benda Bilili, the penurious band wowed audiences with Congolese rumba, combining pounding rhythms with scintillating melodies and solos. As unique as the group’s tale of their rise from the streets was their gritty guitar sound — all the work of a […]

Twitter to double tweet limit to 280 characters

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Twitter announced Tuesday it would double the limit for tweets to 280 characters, in a bid to draw in more users and boost engagement at the social network. Giving users twice the space to voice their thoughts ushers in a new era for the online platform, whose hallmark 140-character cap had encouraged users to craft succinct missives. “We’re expanding the character limit! We want it to be easier and […]

Waymo cars hit the road without drivers

by Glenn Chapman Agence France-Presse SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Waymo on Tuesday said that its self-driving cars are hitting the road without anyone behind the wheel as the Alphabet subsidiary steers toward launching an automated ride service. The subsidiary of Google parent Alphabet has been testing autonomous cars for years, but with a driver behind the wheel to take over if needed. Waymo chief executive John Krafcik used the Web Summit in Lisbon to announce […]

The Color Factory supercharges senses

SAN FRANCISCO (Eagle News) – People have traveled near and far to experience San Francisco’s most “Instagrammable” museum in the city, The Color Factory. Originally opened in August 2017, the museum was extended twice due to popular demand. The exhibit is currently sold out through November but those who were able to experience it were in for a color treat. With 15 different color experiences come 15 unique photo opportunities to liven up anyone’s social […]