Before Donald Trump won the election, many analysts were sharply critical of his economic proposals. However, in Trump’s first month in office, U.S. stocks have hit a series of record highs and consumer confidence improved. Did analysts get it wrong? Economist Mark Zandi, an early critic of Trump’s economic plans, …
your ad hereAt Indian Observatory, Family Records Daily Life of the Sun
In the early morning darkness, Devendran P. walks up a hill to a solar observatory in India’s southern hill town of Kodaikanal, trudging the same path his father and grandfather walked in a century-old family tradition of studying the sun. Once inside, he pulls a rope to open shutters in …
your ad hereBrit Awards Pay Tribute to David Bowie, George Michael
The Brit Awards recognized big international stars, including Drake and Beyonce, and a cross section of homegrown talent Wednesday, but the ceremony was overshadowed by the much-missed David Bowie and George Michael. Bowie, who died in January 2016 at age 69, was crowned British male artist of the year …
your ad hereFrench Artist to Live Enclosed in Block of Stone for a Week
French artist Abraham Poincheval embarked on a new feat Wednesday by enclosing himself inside a block of stone for a week, adding to the two weeks he previously spent inside a sculpture of a bear. Poincheval is to live entombed in a body-shaped slot carved out from a limestone boulder …
your ad hereDavid Bowie, Emeli Sande Among Winners at Brit Awards
Britain’s music industry saluted chart-topping talent and departed icons at Wednesday’s Brit Awards, where nominees included Drake, Beyonce and David Bowie. Bowie, who died in January 2016, was named British male artist of the year and was also nominated in the album of the year category for valedictory release Blackstar. …
your ad hereSouth Africans Battle to Save Ancient Brew from Extinction
Traditional South African beer, brewed for centuries by peoples such as the Xhosa, is in danger of “disappearing.” That’s according to Slow Food International, an organization trying to revive local food cultures. It says growing numbers of South Africans are abandoning the brew — made from ingredients such as corn …
your ad hereGoogle Ventures Into Ride-sharing Service
Ride-sharing giant Uber is getting some stiff competition from a former ally, Google. The search giant is reportedly adding a ride-sharing component to its popular Waze navigation application, according to The Wall Street Journal. However, unlike Uber and Lyft, Google “wants to persuade regular drivers using its navigation app to …
your ad hereAstronomers Discover New Earths In Our Celestial Neighborhood
An international team of astronomers, using an array of ground and space telescopes, has discovered an astonishing seven Earth-sized planets in a system just 40 light years away. Water, water everywhere The seven planets, according to a press release, “all have masses less than or similar to the Earth.” According …
your ad hereUS Fed: Rate Hike May Come ‘Fairly Soon’
An interest rate hike may come “fairly soon” according to notes from the most recent meeting of top officials of the U.S. central bank. The assessment by Federal Reserve leaders assumes that data on the job market and inflation continues strengthening at its current pace or faster. Some Fed officials …
your ad hereStudy: Cats Not Linked to Mental Illness
There is some good news for cat lovers. Turns out those reports that people who grew up with cats have a higher risk of mental illness are not true. Writing in the journal Psychological Medicine, researchers from University College London say a common parasite associated with cats, Toxoplasma Gondii, which …
your ad hereSpaceX Aborts Approach to Space Station, Delivery Delayed
A navigation error forced SpaceX to delay its shipment to the International Space Station on Wednesday, following an otherwise flawless flight from NASA’s historic moon pad. SpaceX’s supply ship, the Dragon, was less than a mile from the orbiting outpost when a problem cropped up in the GPS system. …
your ad herePlaywright Who Inspired ‘Moonlight’ Wins PEN Award
The playwright who inspired the Oscar-nominated movie “Moonlight” has won a prize from PEN America, the literary and human rights organization. Tarell Alvin McCraney received an award for best mid-career playwright, PEN announced Wednesday. McCraney’s “In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue” is the basis for the acclaimed movie drama, …
your ad hereDeal to Streamline World Trade Takes Effect
The first multilateral trade agreement reached under the World Trade Organization since it was created over a generation ago has taken force, aiming to streamline cross-border trade to the benefit of the developing world in particular. WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo said Wednesday that the required two-thirds of member states …
your ad hereIndian PM Urges Farsighted, Balanced US View on Work Visas
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the United States to have a “balanced and farsighted” perspective on visas that enable thousands of skilled Indian professionals to work in the United States and sustain India’s booming $150 billion software industry. The Indian leader made his call for an open mind …
your ad hereLab on a Paper Card Can Test Drugs for Purity
Whether it’s brake fluid in Nigerian teething syrup, melamine in Chinese baby formula, or talcum powder in Kenyan antibiotics, contaminated food and medicine is a deadly problem. But a group of scientists, led by Notre Dame chemistry professor Marya Lieberman, hopes to eliminate the problem for millions of people in …
your ad hereLife Expectancy to Continue Rising; US Still Lags
South Korean women will be the first in the world to have an average life expectancy of 91 years, a new study predicts. Imperial College London and the World Health Organization analyzed lifespans in 35 industrialized countries. The study found all would see people living longer in 2030, and the …
your ad hereBlood Test Called Highly Effective in Detecting TB Risk in Children
A simple blood test is highly effective at identifying children infected with tuberculosis so they can be treated before it progresses to a life-threatening disease, according to research by scientists who say it is often difficult to diagnose TB in children. One of the biggest challenges in the global war …
your ad hereUS Treasury Chief Tells IMF He Expects ‘Frank and Candid’ Forex Analysis
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde on Tuesday that he expects the IMF to provide “frank and candid” analysis of exchange rate policies, a Treasury spokesperson said. In a phone call with Lagarde, the spokesperson said, Mnuchin also “noted the importance that the …
your ad hereUS Scientists Hope New Medicine Testing Improves Safety
Whether it’s brake fluid in Nigerian teething syrup, melamine in Chinese baby formula, or talcum powder in Kenyan antibiotics, contaminated food and medicine is a deadly problem. Now a group of U.S. scientists in Indiana have found an inexpensive way to test medicines before they cause harm. Erika Celeste reports …
your ad hereSupermarket Uses Lasers to Brand Fruits and Vegetables
A Swedish supermarket chain is offering shoppers some fruits and vegetables that are branded with their country of origin and code number, instead of being wrapped in plastic with that information. VOA’s Faith Lapidus reports. …
your ad hereLet Your Phone Pay for Your Car’s Fuel
Autonomous automobiles aren’t taking over American highways yet, but automation is becoming a bigger part of the driving experience. A mobile phone app called Shell allows drivers to pay for a fill-up of gasoline from their in-car touchscreens. No debit or credit cards are involved, so the process will work …
your ad hereStudy: Teen Suicide Attempts Fall After Same-sex Marriage Made Legal
Suicide attempts among teens, particularly those who are gay, lesbian and bisexual, declined in states that legalized same-sex marriage, according to a new study. Writing in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, researchers from Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health say their study showed that in states that legalized same-sex marriage …
your ad hereHollywood Actor Jamie Foxx Target of Racial Slur in Croatia
Croatian police have filed disorderly conduct charges against two people who allegedly used a racial slur to insult Hollywood actor Jamie Foxx in a restaurant. Police said they acted after receiving reports Sunday of “particularly arrogant and rude” insults made against restaurant guests, including “one of the guests on racial …
your ad hereSchool District Teams With Sandy Hook Mom to Teach Empathy
Nelba Marquez-Greene believes the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, which killed her 6-year-old daughter, could have been avoided if more had been done years earlier to address the social isolation and mental health problems of the shooter, Adam Lanza. To help other vulnerable youths, Marquez-Greene, a family therapist, is working …
your ad hereYemen Launches Polio Vaccination Drive Amid Fears Disease Could Reappear
Yemen has launched a major polio vaccination campaign amid fears the disease could reappear in the war-ravaged nation where the health system is on the verge of collapse and aid agencies are warning of famine. The World Health Organization (WHO), which is supporting the drive, said some 40,000 health workers …
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