US-born teen Gu wins freestyle gold for China at Beijing Olympics By: AFP/APP on February 8, 2022Beijing: Californian-born Eileen Gu won a spectacular gold for China at the Beijing Olympics on Tuesday as she triumphed in the inaugural women’s freeski Big Air at the Winter Games. After a strong opening jump, the 18-year-old saved her best for her last leap when she managed four rotations before grabbing the outside of her […]
Spinal cord implant helps paralysed patients walk again By: AFP/APP on February 8, 2022Tokyo: In 2017, Michel Roccati was in a motorbike accident that left his lower body completely paralyzed. In 2020, he walked again, thanks to a breakthrough new spinal cord implant. The implant sends electrical pulses to his muscles, mimicking the action of the brain, and could one day help people with severe spinal injuries stand, […]
Aussie researchers reveal decline of native bird habitats By: APP on February 7, 2022SYDNEY: Researchers at the Queensland University have shown how large numbers of Australia’s endangered native birdlife have been driven out of their historical habitats since the nation was first colonized nearly 250 years ago. The research, published in the Environmental Research Letters journal and released to the public on Monday, showed that 70 percent of […]
Three alive, seven missing after Nigeria oil vessel fire By: AFP/APP on February 7, 2022Lagos: Three crew members on board a Nigerian oil vessel that exploded and sank last week have been found alive while seven were still missing, the ship operator said. The Nigerian FPSO Trinity Spirit — a floating production, storage and offloading vessel — caught fire following an explosion on Wednesday, but the blaze was extinguished […]
World’s first malaria vaccine making inroads in western Kenya By: AFP/APP on February 3, 2022= Siaya, Kenya: Lucy Akinyi’s three children were infected with malaria so often she would be at their local health clinic in western Kenya every other week getting them treated. When offered the chance to protect her children with the world’s first vaccine against the deadly parasitic disease, Akinyi jumped at the chance. More than […]
Facebook parent Meta’s profit slips By: AFP/APP on February 3, 2022San Francisco: Facebook’s parent firm Meta on Wednesday posted a $10 billion quarterly profit that missed expectations alongside a downbeat forecast, sending shares plummeting some 20 percent in after-hours trading. The social media giant is investing heavily in its metaverse vision for the internet’s future, but all eyes are on how it will perform in […]
Travel groups call to stop pre-flight Covid tests for vaccinated passengers By: AFP/APP on February 3, 2022San Francisco: An international coalition of travel-related organizations called on the US government Wednesday to stop requiring vaccinated passengers to present a negative Covid test before boarding US-bound flights. “Travel and aviation’s recovery is dependent on the government taking steps to remove travel restrictions that are no longer justified by current circumstances,” the group argued […]
Pfizer seeks US approval of Covid vaccine for children under 5 By: AFP/APP on February 2, 2022Washington: Pfizer and BioNTech said Tuesday they began submitting a formal request to US health regulators for emergency use of their Covid vaccine for children aged over six months and under five years. The request is currently for two doses of a three-microgram shot, which will give parents “the opportunity to begin a Covid-19 vaccination […]
Top oil producers eye modest output boost as prices surge By: AFP/APP on February 2, 2022London: The 23 members of the OPEC+ oil cartel, who meet on Wednesday, are expected to stick to their guns and increase output modestly as the price of crude surges. As in January, analysts expect the taps to be opened slightly, to the tune of an additional 400,000 barrels per day, Tamas Varga, an analyst […]
Music industry wakes up to mental health crisis By: AFP/APP on February 1, 2022Paris: It was a highly original way to drop a new track: live in the studio on France’s evening news, Belgian star Stromae answered a question by launching into “L’enfer” (“Hell”). A cleverly choreographed moment for the millions-selling rapper, but also fitting as a news item since they had been discussing the dark side of […]