TOKYO (Reuters) – Sony Corp will join the race for virtual reality (VR) dominance on Thursday with the $399 PlayStation VR, a headset the Japanese electronics group hopes will beat pricier rivals and revive its reputation as a maker of must-have gadgets. Emerging from years of restructuring, Sony is reshaping itself to focus on lucrative areas such as video games, entertainment and camera sensors – rather than televisions or smartphones where demand is flat, competition […]
Other News
Enchanted Potter fans attend global ‘Fantastic Beasts’ event in London
(Reuters) — Enchanted “Harry Potter” fans lined up in London’s Leicester Square on Thursday (October 13) for a global fan event to get a sneak peek at the new spinoff movie penned by J.K. Rowling, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”. The British contingent of Potter-philes were part of a coordinated event to see early footage from “Fantastic Beasts” at select IMAX theatres in cities including Rome, Sao Paulo, Mexico City […]
The hybrid car
(AFP) In Norway, electric cars are exempt from taxes. In August, zero emission cars accounted for more than 15 percent of new car registrations, a market share which is unparallelled in the world but which is facing stiff competition from hybrid cars. A hybrid car runs on two forms of power, electricity and petrol. https://youtu.be/iQQS9yBap3A DAVID LORY / AFP VIDEOGRAPHICS / AFP
A brief history of Mars exploration
(AFP) The European Space Agency hopes that technologies tested during its ExoMars programme could pave the way for a return mission to the Red planet in the 2020s, as well as establish if Mars ever harboured life. A brief history of Mars exploration in videographics. JONATHAN RENAUD DE LA FAVERIE KATHERINE LEVY SPENCER / AFP VIDEOGRAPHICS / AFP In the 20th century US-USSR “Space Race”, NASA was the first to make it to Mars. In […]
Trump challenges Clinton to drug test, says vote ‘rigged’
Portsmouth, United States (AFP) — by Mary Schwalm Donald Trump has challenged his rival Hillary Clinton to a drug test before their next debate, suggesting the Democrat was “pumped up” on performance-enhancing drugs in a stunning new twist to the brutal White House race. The unsubstantiated attack from the Republican nominee came as a new poll out Sunday shows Clinton with a four-point lead over her Republican rival, suggesting that Trump still holds a solid […]
Thousands flee as typhoon flogs Philippines
Manila, Philippines (AFP) — Typhoon Sarika lashed the main Philippine island of Luzon on Sunday, ripping off roofs, toppling power pylons and forcing more than 12,000 people to flee to safer ground, officials said. Minor landslides and flooding were also reported a day after the cyclone brushed past a remote island and left one person drowned and three others missing, they said. “The roofs of some house were blown away and power was cut in some areas,” […]
UN chief set to visit hurricane-hit Haiti to highlight needs
Port-au-Prince, Haiti (AFP) — UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon travels to Haiti on Saturday to visit areas devastated by Hurricane Matthew and highlight the emergency needs of the Caribbean nation. Ban will conduct an aerial survey of the damage along with Prime Minister Jean-Charles Enex, then visit Les Cayes on Haiti’s southern coast — one of the cities hardest-hit by Matthew — the UN Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) said in a statement. During the visit, […]
Teens with celiac disease may be smaller than peers
(Reuters Health) By Kathryn Doyle – Girls diagnosed with celiac disease tend to be slightly shorter than their peers and boys to be underweight, but the size differences are not significant or concerning, Israeli researchers say. The study of more than 2 million teens who underwent medical exams over nearly two decades also found that celiac is being diagnosed more often now than in the past. Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder that damages the […]
Motorcycling: Zarco takes Moto2 Japan Prix pole
Motegi, Japan (AFP) — Defending Moto2 world champion Johann Zarco secured pole position for Sunday’s Japan Grand Prix for the category after earning a new circuit record in qualifying on Saturday. The French rider, who is also leading this season with 202 points, clocked 1min 49.961sec, the best ever lap at Twin Ring Motegi circuit, which was 0.067sec faster than Thomas Luthi and 0.356sec faster than Franco Morbidelli who will share the front row. Alex Rins, […]
Global deal reached to phase out super greenhouse gases
by Dave Clark and Stephanie Aglietti KIGALI, Rwanda | AFP | — In a major step toward curbing global warming, the world community agreed on Saturday to phase out a category of dangerous greenhouse gases widely used in refrigerators and air conditioners. Nearly 200 countries agreed to end production and consumption of so-called hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under an amendment to the 1987 Montreal Protocol on protecting the ozone layer. HFCs stoke climate change because they […]
Typhoon “Karen” makes landfall over Baler Saturday; expected to exit via Pangasinan Sunday afternoon
(Eagle News) – Typhoon “Karen”, international name Sarika, has made landfall over Baler, Aurora and was estimated to be in the vicinity of Nueva Vizcaya as of 5 a.m. Saturday, October 16. Ten areas remained under public storm warning signal number 3, namely Pangasinan, Northern Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Northern Quezon including Polillo Island, La Union, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. These areas are experiencing wind speeds of 121 to 170 kilometers per […]
Thais pay respect to late king at Grand Palace
Thais pay respects to late king Bhumibol Adulyadej outside the Grand Palace where his body has been taken after his death in hospital at the age of 88. (Video courtesy AFPTV)





