World News Issue 3

43

Brazil. Researchers in Rio de Janeiro set thousands of mosquitos free on Thursday in an attempt to fight dengue fever. The researchers claim that the mosquitoes carry a type of bacteria, Wolbachia, that will suppress the fever. Brazil has the highest number of dengue fever cases in the world, with 3.2 million people infected and 800 deaths from 2009 to 2014. Researchers claim the intracellular bacteria acts like a vaccine and stops the virus from spreading. The study began in 2012, when medics kept track of four targeted neighborhoods in the city, but researchers hope to expand the study to three more neighborhoods by the end of 2016.

BBC News

France. Netflix expanded its operations to France earlier this month, attracting criticism from national politicians and potential broadcast partners who want to protect French cinema. France is proud of its extensive cinematic history, and previously created a law requiring at least 40 percent of all programming on national television be made in France. “We want to say welcome to Netflix,” Dante Desarthe, a member of the French Guild of Authors, Directors and Producers, said. “But we want them to be respectful of the rules we have created here in France to protect our cinema.”

Los Angeles Times

Japan. The country’s popular pastime, pachinko—a mix of pinball and roulette—faces a dearth of young players. The pachinko industry is still relatively large in Japan, pulling in $180 billion last year, but most dedicated players have aged or passed away. To increase revenue and attract more fans, various pachinko parlors are upgrading to a more luxurious look. The pachinko machines now have liquid-crystal displays that play clips of either famous Hollywood films or Japanese teenage starlets. The industry is hoping that this overhaul will bring in more consistent, younger players.

New York Times

Germany. Kenyan runner Dennis Kimetto set a new record for shortest time for a Berlin Marathon on Sunday, finishing with a time of 2:02.57. The previous record-holder was fellow Kenyan runner Wilson Kipsang. He set the record one year ago on the exact same course with a time of 2:03.23. The 30-year-old runner credited cool weather conditions in helping him stay on pace throughout the race. He ran past Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai in the last three miles of the race and beat him with a fierce sprint to the finish line. Mutai, upset by the loss, believes he will complete a marathon in two hours one day.

BBC News

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