As part of its Project Premonition research program, which seeks to detect emerging infectious diseases, Microsoft has been deploying a new prototype mosquito trap in Houston, Texas. The trap is designed to collect only the specific type of mosquito a researcher wants to analyze and the company hopes it will help in the tracking of the mosquito-borne Zika virus. The current Zika outbreak was first detected last year in Brazil and has been linked to […]
Other News
Storms rip through parts of New Jersey
Storms as well as a possible tornado slammed parts of New Jersey on Tuesday (June 21), leaving a trail of damage in neighborhoods in the southern part of the state. A tornado warning was in effect for Cape May County, local media said, citing the National Weather Service. Aerial images showed streets littered with debris and downed trees that proved no match for the powerful storm system. Thousands of homes were left without power and […]
Japan landslides, floods death toll rises to six
TOKYO, United States (AFP) — The death toll from landslides and floods in an earthquake-battered region of southern Japan has risen to six, an official said Wednesday, with all missing now accounted for. A man in his 80s and a 53-year-old woman were confirmed dead after being found Tuesday by rescuers where landslides hit in the southern prefecture of Kumamoto. “We found the last person who had been missing yesterday… the woman was confirmed dead,” […]
NBA: Nowitzki, Howard opt out of deals to become free agents
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki and Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard will become NBA free agents on July 1 after opting out of contracts Tuesday. German star Nowitzki, who turned 38 on Sunday, had a $8.7 million offer for next season to stay with the Mavericks, with whom he won the NBA title in 2011. Howard informed the Rockets he will decline a $23.2 million player option. The 30-year-old […]
Two L.A.-area wildfires merge after forcing evacuations
Two rapidly growing wildfires merged in the parched foothills just northeast of Los Angeles on Tuesday (June 21), forcing the evacuation of more than 800 homes, officials said. The two fires erupted as California and other southwestern U.S. states baked in a heat wave. The so-called Fish Fire and the Reservoir Fire, which both broke out on Monday in the Angeles National Forest, and now jointly referred to by authorities as the San Gabriel Complex, […]
UK’s Leave and Remain campaigns clash in debate before EU referendum
UK’s Leave and Remain campaigners clashed in a televised debated on Tuesday (June 21) night in a last-ditched effort to persuade voters to stick with, or ditch, the European Union. On Thursday (June 23) Britons will vote to decide whether to quit the bloc they joined in 1973, a choice with far-reaching economic and political consequences for Britain and the whole of Europe. The Leave campaign, led by Conservative MP Boris Johnson, accused the opposition […]
Haitian lawmakers delay decision on extending interim president’s mandate
Haitian legislators on Tuesday (June 21) delayed a vote on whether to extend the mandate of interim President Jocelerme Privert. Dozens of demonstrators supporting the interim government of interim President Jocelerme Privert protested outside a heavily guarded National Assembly. Some reports indicated that some legislators could not reach the building because of the protesters. Other reports said legislators simply did not show up. The Caribbean nation held a first-round vote in October, but a second-round […]
Abe pledges to boost economy as upper house poll campaign begins
(REUTERS) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe began an upper house election campaign on Wednesday with a pledge to rev-up the economy as surveys showed his ruling bloc ahead, despite doubts over Abe’s economic growth recipe. Abe’s coalition is in no danger of losing power in the election but he needs a solid win to keep his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmakers in line and perhaps stay on another three years after his tenure as […]
North Korea fires second missile after first launch fails – South Korea
(REUTERS) North Korea launched what appeared to be a second intermediate-range Musudan missile on Wednesday morning after another launch hours earlier failed, South Korea’s military said. It was not immediately clear if the second launch, about two hours after the first, was successful. The first missile was launched from the east coast city of Wonsan, a South Korean official said, the same area where previous tests of intermediate-range missiles were conducted, possibly using mobile launchers. […]
Duterte’s inauguration to be held in Malacañang on June 30
MANILA, Philippines — President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s inauguration will be held, as scheduled, in Malacañang on June 30. This was despite the tradition of holding presidential inaugurals at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila’s Rizal Park. Incoming Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, after meeting with outgoing Presidential and Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma Jr., on June 21 confirmed that the inauguration would be held at Malacañang’s Rizal Hall. Reporters from newspapers, social media and other radio stations […]
Emergency powers for Duterte to solve traffic snarl
MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Sonny Belmonte is in favor of giving incoming President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers to resolve the traffic snarl in the country. The emergency powers will quicken the release of government funds aimed at declogging main roads that have hurt businesses and the overall economy. Transportation secretary Arthur Tugade, speaking on the sidelines of a business conference, cited the 2.4 billion pesos in potential daily income lost due to the traffic […]
Lawmakers divided on Duterte’s emergency powers
MANILA, Philippines — Some senators are warning that the emergency powers requested by incoming President Rodrigo Duterte to resolve the traffic in Metro Manila may be abused. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said he just wanted people to be knowledgeable on the strategy and what the Duterte administration wanted to do with it. Meanwhile, some senators are in favor of giving Duterte emergency powers. Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito said the proposal to grant emergency powers is worth […]
