Oil flows out of Iraq suggest that the Middle East country is complying, at least in part, with OPEC’s plan to curb production. Observed shipments in January were 109,000 barrels a day below October’s level, the month used as a baseline for the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ reductions plan.
Category: World News
Apple snaps out of iPhone slump, but for what’s next?
In this Friday, May 13, 2016, file photo, a man uses his mobile phone near an Apple store in Beijing, China. Apple Inc. reports financial results Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017.
Link between human body clock and breast cancer risk discovered
Biologists in Britain have discovered a link between the human body clock and the risk of breast cancer, the University of Manchester announced Tuesday. Chinese-born Dr. Qing-Jun Meng and Professor Charles Streuli have discovered that breast tissues have 24-hour body clocks, and that several hundred genes are regulated in a daily cycle.
Galaxy Tab S3 tipped for February launch and depressingly high price
A February launch for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 looks increasingly likely as a new report appears to reveal pricing and an imminent release date. South Korean tech giant Samsung is set to debut its next flagship tablet – the Galaxy Tab S3 – on February 26, 2017.
Most Googled car brand in the world is…
Ever wondered which are the most Googled car brands in the world? British parts company Quickco has just answered those questions and Toyota enjoys a dominant lead, although it must be noted that the ranking is based on the number of countries rather than the actual number of people that searched for that particular brand. While most of Africa searched for Toyotas more than any other brand, South Africans didn’t get that memo, rather opting to type Mercedes-Benz into their search engines, as did our neighbours in Namibia and Botswana.
Nintendo Co Ltd cut its operating profit forecast for the year ending March to 20 billion yen from 30 billion yen, though a weaker yen and revenue from mobile gaming helped the videogames maker to its first quarterly profit in a year. October-December profit reached 32.3 billion yen from 33.5 billion yen a year earlier, the Japanese firm said on Tuesday.
Adjustable flaps for wind turbines
Researchers at the University of Oldenburg have developed a flap for wind turbine generators which is mounted parallel to the main rotor blade and is considerably smaller in its size and mass than the main blade. The core piece of the invention is the adjustable pitch of the flap.
NZ scientist discovers huge undersea eruption
The vast plume measures 30km long and 20km wide, not far from a newly-formed island and just 33km off the coast of Tonga’s main island Tongatapu . Photo / Nasa A Kiwi scientist has unexpectedly discovered what appears to be a huge undersea volcanic eruption near the main island of Tonga.
Gift Design Company Unveils Innovative Caricature-Based Valentine’s Day Presents
Dezains.com, a gift-design firm based in Hyderabad, India, introduced a new concept for Valentine’s Day gifts in the form of romantic and well-done cartoons. These adorable items are already available in its e-commerce site so potential patrons will not find it difficult to choose and place their orders right away.
Siemens chairman to nominate Snabe as successor: Manager Magazin
Siemens logo is pictured on a CT scan in the manufacturing plant of Siemens Healthineers in Forchheim near Nuremberg, Germany, October 7, 2016. Siemens’ chairman plans to put forward ex-SAP co-Chief Executive Jim Hagemann Snabe as his successor at the company’s annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday, German business monthly Manager Magazin reported.
Could supplier jobs move back to America?
Suppliers are waiting to see whether President Donald Trump will challenge the fundamental assumption that some auto parts can’t be profitably produced in the U.S., even with a 35 percent tariff. Products with high labor content, such as wire harnesses, small motors, cut-and-sew seat components and electronics, typically are produced in low-wage countries such as Mexico.
The balance sheet on – America First’
President Donald Trump believes an “America First” foreign policy would save Americans income and jobs and would help rebuild the country. Putting aside the moral and diplomatic dangers in Trump’s brazen assertion of American self-interest above global well-being, there is one economic truth in Trump’s ideas but several dangerous myths.
Military: First-known combat death since Trump in office
In this Jan. 27, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, in Washington. FILE – In this Jan. 27, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, in Washington.
Tackling the challenge of brain drain
Malaysia must focus on retaining the existing talent at home instead of wooing those who have left the country in search of greener pastures Brain drain seems to be an obstacle in Malaysia’s development. Malaysians continue to leave their homes in search of greener pastures abroad.
Princess Diana statue to mark 20 years since car crash death
In this Jan. 4, 1993 file photo, Princess Diana and sons Harry and William at Banana Bay Beach, St. Kitts. Harry and William said on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017, that they plan to build a statue to mark the 20th anniversary of Diana’s death in a Paris car crash in 1997.
Android 7.0 Nougat update for HTC 10 put on hold in Europe
HTC 10 was launched in India back in March at Rs 52,990, the first smartphone to feature OIS for both front and rear cameras. HTC 10 has started receiving Android Nougat update.
Two young Ivorian inventors light up the night for rural Africa so students can study
According to the United Nations, 700 million Africans don’t have access to electricity most of the time in rural regions, far from urban zones. The “Fondation Energie,” founded by French political personality Jean-Louis Borloo, and the “Energy for Africa” project sponsored by Guinea President Alpha Conde are inspiring inventors to solve the problem.
Nalanda University Chancellor Vijay Bhatkar defends links with RSS arm
BARELY a few hours after Pune-based computer scientist Vijay Bhatkar was appointed as the Chancellor of Nalanda University, he has drawn flak due to his association as president of Vigyan Bharati – an arm of the RSS which promotes “swadeshi” science. While much is being spoken on the social media and academic circles about the saffronisation of one of India’s most promising universities, Bhatkar claims that he is unfazed by the criticism and agrees that he is facing a perception battle.
Surgical robot makes highly precise eye injection possible
For the first time ever, a team of eye surgeons were able to inject a thrombolytic drug directly into a patient’s retinal vein to dissolve a blood clot. It was a success despite the fact that the vein is as thin as human hair thanks to a surgical robot developed by researchers from KU Leuven , a university in Belgium.
Space station moon
The International Space Station flying in front of the moon on January 14 as seen from the European Space Agency’s space science center near Madrid, Spain. Michel Breitfellner, Manuel Castillo, Abel de Burgos and Miguel Perez Ayucar work at ESA’s European Space Astronomy Centre and are members its astronomy club.
Life in the slow lane: Why supermarkets should rethink the need for speed
As a full-time parent to two young children, Aaron Saltzman’s ‘real’ day job provides practical, hands-on experience for the position of CBC’s Senior Reporter, Consumer Affairs. Nearly 20 years experience in television, radio and online news also helps.
Using Eyes in the Sky to Map Biodiversity
Take the Amazon rainforest , an area that covers about 7 million square kilometers. It lies within the borders of nine South American countries: Brazil, with 60 percent of the rainforest, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.
New future forged in the kilns of China’s Forbidden City
Fine goods: Visitors browsing products on display at a souvenir shop inside the Palace Museum at the Forbidden Cityi i . – Bloomberg BEIJING: For 600 years China’s emperors brought the finest porcelain vases and cups from the imperial kilns to Beijing’s Forbidden City, stamped with the royal seal.
Big telcos may take wi-fi away from rural families: provider
A small internet provider helping to end the data drought in regional southern Queensland says it could soon be outbid by larger internet companies on digital spectrum access, thanks to a review by the Australian Communications and Media Authority . Toowoomba-based company Red WiFi has been using elevated positions on silos, water tanks and sheds to install dishes that stream wireless internet across rural communities, offering unlimited data to hundreds of families.
New Work by Photographer Abelardo Morell Launches Concord…
Concord Museum is launching the 2017 celebration of the bicentennial of the birth of Henry David Thoreau, one of America’s most thought-provoking writers and thinkers, with a deeply personal exhibition by photographer Abelardo Morell. Walden: Four Views Abelardo Morell will be on exhibit in the Concord Museum’s Wallace Kane Gallery from February 10 through August 20, 2017.
Out of this world
Two Scottish sites are fighting hard to be the UK’s first designated spaceport but is the idea pie in the sky or will there actually be lift-off? Prestwick Airport in South Ayrshire and Machrihanish, near Campbeltown on the Kintyre peninsula, have recently stepped up their attempts to move into the space age. They have been liaising with the UK government and the UK Space Agency over the possibility of licences being issued to break out of commercial airspace into orbit.
Astronaut to return to space with the help of Oxfordshire scientists
British ESA astronaut Tim Peake speaks during his first public appearance after returning to Earth from the International Space Station, ISS, at the European Astronaut Center, the home base of all ESA astronauts in Cologne, Germany, Tuesday, June 21, 2016 Major Peake has confirmed he will be visiting the International Space Station for a second time following his successful six-month Principia Mission last year. This will be the 44-year-old’s second mission with the European Space Agency , based at Harwell Campus.
With this photo-based VR, you are (almost) there
Jim Schoonmaker had rented the place with his family last June, and by taking a few 360-degree digital photos inside, then linking them together, he had created a tour that included the roof deck, the bathroom, and the expansive living room with three big windows overlooking the Grand Canal not far from Piazza San Marco. It was a sunny day in the Italian city, and I wanted to walk out the front door and head for the closest gelateria.
Skyscanner reveals Top 10 Emerging Domestic and International Destinations Favored by Thais in 2016
Skyscanner, the leading online travel search engine, has put together data to show emerging destinations gaining popularity among Thai travellers in 2016. Japan is Thai’s favorite travel destination with 4 Japanese cities dominating the top 10 emerging international destinations list; Searches to Fukuoka has grown 93.3%, Nagoya at 50%, Sapporo at 41%, and Osaka at 33.4%.
Nonprofits closing doors as India cuts access to funds
A nonprofit running schools for children from India’s lowest caste may run out of money to pay teachers in just months. A health institute in Bangalore is taking the government to court so it can continue its work, including antitobacco campaigns.
EU asks China to open markets following free trade support
European Union ambassador to China Hans Dietmar Schweisgut speaks at a press conference in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017. The Schweisgut has welcomed its endorsement of free trade in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump’s promise to restrict imports and appealed to Beijing to lower its own market barriers.
National Intellectual Property policy in the offing
WIPO project officer Ikuku Elangi Botoy interacts with Japanese Ambassador Kazuaki Kameda during the conference. Looking on is URSB registrar Bmanya Twebaze.
Oil Rises Near $53 as Iraq Says Close to Full OPEC Cut Pledge
Oil advanced to trade near $53 a barrel as Iraq said it’s close to implementing its share of pledged output curbs agreed with OPEC to trim bloated global inventories and stabilize the market. Futures rose as much as 0.6 percent in New York after dropping 0.9 percent on Monday.
Alibaba’s billionaire founder Jack Ma is returning to Australia
An employee is seen behind a glass wall with the logo of Alibaba at the company’s headquarters on the outskirts of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. The internet giant is ramping up its presence in Australia and New Zealand, opening its regional headquarters in Melbourne on February 4. It is understood that Ma will be the guest of honour when the Melbourne office is launched.
Protesters take control of Mexican border crossing with US
Protesters took control of vehicle lanes at one of the busiest crossings on the U.S. border Sunday to oppose Mexican gasoline price hikes, waving through motorists into Mexico after Mexican authorities abandoned their posts. Motorists headed to Mexico zipped by about 50 demonstrators at the Otay Mesa port of entry connecting San Diego and Tijuana, many of them honking to show support.
Trump Set for – Antagonistic’ China Relations, Citigroup Says
Donald Trump’s administration may be on course for a fraught relationship with China amid disputes over trade policy, according to Citigroup Inc., which warned the new U.S. government could introduce more protectionist measures against manufactured goods from Asia’s top economy. “There are growing signs that the Trump administration is heading for antagonistic relations with China,” the bank said in a report that examined how commodities including metals and farm goods may fare in the upcoming lunar year.
Amazon launches Aussie jobs bonanza
Amazon is setting up shop Down Under, with local warehouses set to open in September, allowing customers to get items delivered in lightening speed. The company is officially on a hiring spree, with more than 100 roles advertised in IT, marketing, sales and HR – and that’s just the beginning.
Cycle in paradise
This file photo shows a cycling route in central Taiwan’s Sun Moon Lake area that was chosen by global travel search engine Skyscanner recently as one of the world’s top 8 cycle paths. “You can bring your family members to ride slowly on the smooth bike path to experience the Sun Moon Lake’s paradise-like view from a whole new perspective; or you can challenge yourself to complete the 33-kilometer-long round-the-lake path,” according to a Jan. 17 article on the Skyscanner website.
Dubai has new rules after high-rise fires, but few details
The Address Downtown, a 63-story building that caught fire on Dec. 31, 2015, is seen as it undergoes repairs in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. Dubai authorities announced Sunday the city-state had new fire safety regulations, but offered few details on how they would be enforced after a series of skyscraper fires.
Sabic Buys Out Shell in Saudi Petrochemical for $820 Million
Saudi Basic Industries Corp., the Middle East’s biggest petrochemicals producer, agreed to buy out Royal Dutch Shell Plc’s 50 percent stake in a Saudi joint venture for $820 million. The Saudi Petrochemical Co.