Life

Avian flu hits bird paradise of Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos National Park said Tuesday that it had detected its first cases of avian flu on the remote islands, home to unique bird species that helped inspire the theory of evolution. Three positive cases of the H5N1 virus were detected after reports of visibly sick birds on the islands, the park said in a statement. The Galapagos archipelago is a bird-watchers paradise with scores of unique and colorful species, such as the blue-footed booby […]

‘Cybersecurity incident’ hits ICC

  THE HAGUE, Sept 19, 2023 (AFP) – The International Criminal Court said Tuesday it had been affected by what it called “anomalous activity” regarding its IT systems and that it was currently responding to this “cybersecurity incident.” The ICC, which among other things is investigating war crimes in Ukraine, declined to provide further details and said its priority was on ensuring it was able to continue its work. “At the end of last week, […]

Musk says X could charge all users ‘small monthly payment’ to combat bots

PARIS, Sept 19, 2023 (AFP) – Elon Musk has sparked outrage among fans of his social media platform X by suggesting he might introduce a monthly fee for all users, in what would be the biggest shake-up since he took over the site then known as Twitter last October. During a talk with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Musk said that introducing a small monthly payment for X would combat the “armies of […]

Black bear captured after shutting down Disney World rides

MIAMI, Sept 18, 2023 (AFP) – An apparently hungry black bear forced a brief shutdown of some attractions at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Florida until it was captured, officials said. Local television station Fox 35 said more than a dozen popular rides at the Orlando theme park were closed after the bear was sighted in a tree, including the “Haunted Mansion” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.” “During the fall, bears are more active as […]

Australia warns of worse fires, heat as El Nino kicks in

Australia’s weather bureau confirmed on Tuesday that an El Nino weather pattern is under way, bringing hot and dry conditions that risk a severe wildfire season and drought. The announcement, which follows similar confirmations from other weather agencies, came as the country bakes in unseasonal heat, with the weather agency warning of more to come. Government forecaster Karl Braganza said elevated surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean could impact the country until early next year. […]

Musk says X could charge all users ‘small monthly payment’

Online platform X could introduce a monthly fee for all users, its owner Elon Musk said Monday, citing the need to cut down on bots. The tech tycoon has made multiple changes since taking over the site for $44 billion in October last year, when it was known as Twitter. He has fired thousands of employees, introduced a paid premium option, cut content moderation and reinstated formerly banned accounts including that of former US president […]

Solar panels go into service near North Pole

By Viken KANTARCI Norway has installed solar panels in its Svalbard archipelago, a region plunged in round-the-clock darkness all winter, in a pilot project that could help remote Arctic communities transition to green energy. Neatly lined up in six rows in a field, 360 solar panels will on Thursday begin providing electricity to an old shipping radio station, Isfjord Radio, now converted into a base camp for tourists. The windswept archipelago — also known as […]

Water shortage drives elephant migration from Zimbabwe

Large numbers of elephants from Zimbabwe’s biggest national park are moving to neighbouring Botswana in a search for water, a spokesman said Monday. “Many animals have and are moving from Hwange National Park into Botswana” Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesman Tinashe Farawo told AFP. Hwange National Park covers an area of more than 14,600 square kilometres (5,600 square miles) and is home to about 50,000 elephants. “Water bodies have dried up and the […]

Marine heatwaves last longer in deeper water: study

Marine heatwaves may last longer and be more intense in deeper water, potentially threatening sensitive species as climate change makes the extreme events more frequent, researchers said on Monday. Oceans have absorbed 90 percent of the excess heat produced by the carbon pollution from human activity since the dawn of the industrial age. Marine heatwaves — episodes of abnormally high water temperatures — have become more frequent and intense. These can have a particularly severe […]

Scientists warn entire branches of the ‘Tree of Life’ are going extinct

By Lucie AUBOURG Humans are driving the loss of entire branches of the “Tree of Life,” according to a new study published on Monday which warns of the threat of a sixth mass extinction. “The extinction crisis is as bad as the climate change crisis. It is not recognized,” said Gerardo Ceballos, professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and co-author of the study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). […]

Too stealthy? US military jet disappears from skies

WASHINGTON, Sept 18, 2023 (AFP) – The US military scrambled Monday to locate a stealth jet that went missing after the pilot ejected — with the failure to track the aircraft drawing amazement and ridicule in equal measure. When the F-35 disappeared over South Carolina on Sunday, Joint Base Charleston (JBC) issued a plaintive call on social media asking for anyone who had information to call in. Flight tracking sites showed several search aircraft focused […]

Asian Games landmark for eSports fires Olympic dreams

NEW DELHI, Sept 18, 2023 (AFP) – ESports’ debut as a medal event at the Asian Games starting this week will change attitudes and be a major step towards Olympic recognition at last, gamers and experts say. Gaming was a demonstration sport at the 2018 Asian Games but gold medals will be up for grabs this time in Hangzhou in seven different games. Players will battle in EA Sports FC, PUBG Mobile, Arena of Valor, […]