GENEVA, Dec 8, 2021 (AFP) – The Omicron variant appears to be no worse than other coronavirus strains, top scientists from the WHO and the United States told AFP, while cautioning that more research is needed to judge its severity. The hopeful assessments came as global concern grew over the heavily mutated variant, which has forced … Read more
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 7, 2021 (AFP) – Instagram announced new protections on Tuesday for young users, a day before the photo-sharing app’s CEO faces a grilling from US lawmakers on whether the platform is “toxic” for children. The app will be stricter about what it recommends to teen users and will suggest a break if they … Read more
MOSCOW, Dec 8, 2021 (AFP) – Russia’s media regulator said Wednesday it has blocked the Tor online anonymity service, as authorities press ahead with a campaign to bring the country’s segment of the internet under control. The internet is the country’s main forum for political debate and opposing voices, and rights activists have described government efforts … Read more
WASHINGTON, Dec 7, 2021 (AFP) – Google said Tuesday it has moved to shut down a network of about one million highjacked electronic devices used worldwide to commit online crimes, while also suing Russia-based hackers the tech giant claimed were responsible. The so-called botnet of infected devices, which was also used to surreptitiously mine bitcoin, was … Read more
Between Babilonia Hill and Urca Hill in Rio de Janeiro, a French daredevil travelled 500 metres at an altitude of 80 metres (264 ft). A French daredevil crossed Babilonia Hill and Urca Hill in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, surprising onlookers. Read more: French maritime freight group floats to record returns He was seen walking … Read more
A nasal vaccine is currently being tested in humans for the first time. It’s been a long wait (give or take 20 years), but at last Alzheimer’s disease sufferers may now have some hope. At the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) in Boston, Massachusetts, the first human study of an intranasal vaccination for the disease … Read more
BEIJING, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) — Chinese researchers have found that an extract from grape seed could selectively kill and clear senescent cells in mice and extend their lifespan. The polyphenolic extract, namely procyanidin C1, is expected to delay, alleviate or prevent age-related pathologies as a clinical intervention, said the study published Monday in the journal … Read more
Google added the ability for Pixel users to “lock away” images in a vault to keep them safe from prying eyes during the summer. The feature is already available for non-Pixel handsets, though iPhone users will have to wait. The feature is called Locked Folder, and everything you put in it is protected by the … Read more
KAMPALA, Dec 7, 2021 (AFP) – Uganda announced Tuesday that it had detected cases of the Omicron Covid-19 variant in travellers coming into the country, the first infections to be reported in East Africa. The cases were detected in people screened at Entebbe International Airport who flew in from five different countries, Ugandan medical authorities said … Read more
JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) — Chairperson of the South African Medical Association (SAMA) said most patients infected with Omicron COVID-19 variant got mild symptoms, while the unvaccinated patients showed relatively severe symptoms. Angelique Cootze, who has treated 70 patients diagnosed with the new variant, said she has seen most patients with mild symptoms such as … Read more
SHANGHAI, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) — Shanghai has rolled out a series of measures to support female talent in playing a greater role in sci-tech innovation. Launched by 17 local departments, these measures include recommending female talent to work in international sci-tech organizations, raising their retirement age and allowing them to have deadline delays during pregnancy … Read more
JIUQUAN, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) — China on Tuesday launched its CERES-1 Y2 carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The rocket blasted off at 12:12 p.m. (Beijing Time) from the launch site, sending five small satellites into the planned orbit. Developed by Beijing-based high-tech company Galactic Energy, CERES-1 is a small-scale … Read more
COPENHAGEN, Dec 7, 2021 (AFP) – The World Health Organization in Europe on Tuesday called for better protection of children against Covid-19, with five-to-14-year-olds currently the most infected group. Mandatory vaccines should also be “an absolute last resort and only applicable when all other feasible options to improve vaccination uptake have been exhausted,” regional director for WHO Europe, … Read more
HOUSTON, Dec 6, 2021 (AFP) – NASA announced Monday its 10 latest trainee astronauts, who include a firefighter turned Harvard professor, a former member of the national cycle team, and a pilot who led the first-ever all-woman F-22 formation in combat. The 2021 class was whittled down from a field of more than 12,000 applicants and … Read more
Locals in Mangaluru, Karnataka, took a swim in filthy, slushy water as they celebrated ‘Kesard Onji Dina’ with zeal. The celebration involves people having a good time in muddy water, and it was certainly a Sunday well spent for the local kids. Children can be seen taking a plunge in the slush and dancing to … Read more
HEFEI, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) — Chinese researchers have developed a planar photonic chip with tailored angular transmission to obtain high-contrast optical microscopic images. Researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China have discovered that using a planar photonic chip with tailored angular transmission as the sample substrate, a standard bright-field microscopy can provide … Read more
THE HAGUE, Dec 6, 2021 (AFP) – The European Union’s drug regulator on Monday cleared the arthritis treatment tocilizumab for use in patients hospitalised with severe Covid-19, saying it reduced the risk of death. The anti-inflammatory drug made by Swiss pharma giant Roche should be used with steroids for critically ill patients, the European Medicines Agency … Read more
JOHANNESBURG, Dec 6, 2021 (AFP) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday urged citizens to get vaccinated as the country battles an unprecedented surge in cases driven by the new Omicron variant. The number of daily infections rose five-fold in the space of a week, from 2,828 on November 26 to 16,055 last Friday. About … Read more
BEIJING, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) — A special lecture will begin at 3:40 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Thursday, given by the three Shenzhou-13 crew members aboard China’s space station, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Monday. The three astronauts, namely Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu, will interact with students on Earth. The … Read more
LONDON, Dec 6, 2021 (AFP) – The lead developer of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine warned the next pandemic could be “more lethal”, urging better preparedness in a speech set to be aired Monday. Sarah Gilbert, who is credited with saving millions of lives through her role in designing the jab, said the world must build on … Read more
BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan, Dec 6, 2021 (AFP) – Russia on Wednesday will send Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa to the International Space Station in a move marking Moscow’s return to the now booming space tourism business after a decade-long break. One of Japan’s richest men, Maezawa, 46, will blast off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan accompanied by … Read more
LONDON, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) — The United States could rebrand itself by helping overcome the global COVID-19 vaccine shortage, the Financial Times said recently in an opinion article. “The U.S. could show itself capable of giving the world’s poor what they need, as opposed to lecturing from a distance,” it said. According to the World … Read more
CANBERRA, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) — Australia’s national science agency has opened a purpose-built facility to test technology before it is sent to the Moon. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) on Thursday opened the In-situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU) Facility in Brisbane. The facility provides a Moon-like environment to test rovers and related equipment … Read more
BEIJING, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) — It is “entirely possible” for China to perform a crewed lunar landing before 2030, said a senior Chinese scientist in deep-space exploration. “I personally think that as long as the technological research for manned moon landing continues, and as long as the country is determined (to achieve the goal), it … Read more
ROME, Dec 6, 2021 (AFP) – People in Italy unvaccinated against Covid-19 can no longer go to the theatre, cinemas, live music venues or major sporting events under new rules that came into force Monday. Only those who have recently recovered from Covid-19 are exempt from the rules, which represent a significant tightening of restrictions in … Read more
LONDON, Dec 5, 2021 (AFP) – The UK government has announced that those travelling into the country will need to show a negative coronavirus test pre-departure as it reintroduces Covid-19 restrictions due to the Omicron variant. From 0400 GMT on Tuesday, anyone travelling to the UK will have to show evidence of a negative lateral flow … Read more
RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 4, 2021 (AFP) – Rio de Janeiro has decided “with sadness” to cancel its huge New Year’s celebration amid rising concerns over the spread of the new Covid-19 variant known as Omicron. The move also raises doubts about the city’s iconic Carnival in February. “We are going to cancel the official celebration … Read more
MANILA, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) — The Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) reported 517 new COVID-19 infections on Saturday, pushing the number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 2,834,294. The Philippines has recorded less than 1,000 cases for the 11th straight day. The DOH also reported that 243 more people died from COVID-19 … Read more
