Zika Virus is “Spreading Explosively”: Here Are Today’s Most Interesting Reads
The Daily 5 is Sharp’s essential reading list for what’s happening in the world today. Make sure to follow us on Twitter or subscribe to the Sharp Insider newsletter to stay up to date.
1. 3 to 4 million people in the Americas could become infected with the Zika virus, World Health Organization officials are estimating.
Because it’s transmitted by the common mosquito, the virus could potentially spread from northern Argentina to the southern U.S. WHO officials said today that Zika was “spreading explosively” through the Americas. They’re working to determine if the outbreak is an international health emergency.
+1: Vox explains the Zika virus in 6 simple charts and maps.
2. Why is the flat-earth conspiracy still a thing?
After B.o.B. and Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s feud this week, Motherboard’s Rachel Pick does a deep dive into the history of the flat-earth conspiracy. “Though it makes me grit my teeth,” Pick writes, “I understand the mental mechanisms behind conspiracy theories about Sandy Hook and the Paris attacks. Senseless violence just hurts too much; and conspiracies try to make sense of it as a kind of relief. But belief in a flat Earth defies all other models.”
3. Amazon is reportedly building a ‘Spotify-killer’ music platform.
While currently a thing, the Seattle company is seeking to expand its Amazing Prime Music library and bundle the service with its Amazon Echo smart speaker. Buy a speaker and get 70 per cent off your Prime Music subscription. A teaser for Amazon’s Super Bowl ad for the Echo was released yesterday, featuring Alec Baldwin and Dan Marino. It’s pretty funny.
+1: While the rest of the world clamours over our streaming subscriptions of choice, in Japan, CDs still make up 85% of all music sold.
4. Conservatives are threatening to block the Liberal government’s attempts to repeal controversial anti-union legislation.
Conservative leaders say they may use their majority in the senate to keep the legislation from passing. Put in place under Stephen Harper’s majority government, the bills require unions to disclose how they spend members’ dues and makes it harder for unions to organize in federally regulated industries.
5. The Raptors are going for a franchise-record 10th straight win tonight.
With the Raptors second in the Eastern Conference, just two games behind the Cavs, Sharp’s Alex Nino Gheciu asks if it’s time the Raps start making some moves?
