The Swedish satire The Square has taken the top honors at the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival. The art world satire by Swedish writer-director Ruben Ostlund won the Palme d’Or in Cannes, France, Sunday. Dominic West, Elisabeth Moss and Claes Bang star in the movie. Bang plays the curator of …
your ad hereUS Considering Laptop Ban on All International Flights
The U.S. Homeland Security chief says he’s considering banning laptop computers from the passenger cabins of all international flights to and from the United States. John Kelly says there are signs of a “real threat” against civilian aviation from carry-on electronic devices. Speaking on the Fox News Sunday television program, …
your ad hereBritish Airways Is ‘Near-Full Operation’ After Computer Failure
British Airways passengers continue to face delays, cancellations, and overcrowding Sunday at Heathrow Airport as the airline reels from a computer failure. The airline said that all long-haul flights will continue Sunday, but to avoid further overcrowding, passengers will only be allowed to enter the airport terminal 90 minutes before …
your ad hereMedical Tourism on the Rise in Turkey
Turkey is fast becoming a top destination for medical tourism. Tens of thousand of people a year are flocking to Istanbul and other Turkish cities for procedures ranging from gynecology to orthopedics to plastic surgery. Tan Cetin reports for VOA’s Turkish service from Istanbul. …
your ad hereUS Military Veterans Trying to ‘Cultivate Peace’ in Afghanistan, Where They Served
Saffron has long been one of the world’s most expensive spices. The saffron crocus that produces the spice grows mostly in parts of Europe, Iran and India. Now, a U.S. company seeking to “cultivate peace” is attracting attention to this historic spice and trying to develop new markets for saffron …
your ad hereReport: Trump Tells ‘Confidants’ US Will Leave Paris Climate Deal
U.S. President Donald Trump has told “confidants,” including the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt, that he plans to leave a landmark international agreement on climate change, the Axios news website reported Saturday, citing three sources with direct knowledge. On Saturday, Trump said in a Twitter post he …
your ad hereLong Shunned By Foreigners, Iran Looks to Tourism to Boost Ailing Economy
Iran’s potential as a holiday destination is vast, with its stunning landscapes and numerous World Heritage sites, but foreign tourists have largely avoided the country ever since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The reasons are numerous. The visa process can be lengthy and complex. Some female visitors object to customary …
your ad hereGregg Allman, Star of Southern Rock, Dies at Age 69
Southern rock legend Gregg Allman has died in Savannah, Georgia, at age 69, according to his family. Allman, whose blues guitar and vocals became representative of an entire genre of country-and-blues-tinged rock music, had been in poor health. He announced in March 2017 that he was canceling all performances for …
your ad hereTwo Documentaries Tell Different Stories About Syrian Refugees
Two new documentaries have shed light on the plight of Syria’s refugees and how they are regarded by the world around them. Apo Bazidi’s “Resistance is Life” chronicles the siege of Kobane, a primarily Kurdish town in northern Syria that Islamic State militants seized in 2014, forcing many of its …
your ad hereWomen-only Screenings Planned for ‘Wonder Woman’
Take a seat, “Thor.” Scattered plans among Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas to host women-only screenings of the upcoming “Wonder Woman” movie have produced both support and some grumbling about gender discrimination. Various locations have taken to social media in response, including the operators of the Brooklyn theater promising on Twitter to …
your ad hereTwo Documentaries Tell Different Stories About Refugee Issue
Two documentaries shed light on the hardships Syrian refugees and how they’re regarded by the world. One tells the story of a town in northern Syria seized by Islamic State militants in 2014, turning its inhabitants into refugees. Another focuses on a Bulgarian village’s debate over what to do with …
your ad hereLong-Awaited Display of Restored Memphis Belle Set For 2018
The fabled World War II bomber Memphis Belle will finally go on public display next spring at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force alongside John F. Kennedy’s presidential plane, an early Wright Brothers flyer and other national treasures. The journey from the flak-ridden skies over occupied France and …
your ad hereFrom Bitcoin to Big Business, Blockchain Technology Goes Mainstream
Bitcoin, the controversial digital currency, recently made headlines for reaching a record high valuation of more than $2,700, but perhaps the bigger growth potential lies in blockchain. The technology behind bitcoin and similar cryptocurrencies is being explored by more conventional companies and businesses. VOA’s Tina Trinh reports from New York. …
your ad hereStudents Tackle Tough US Defense Problems
In their Hacking for Defense class, students at Stanford University in California don’t hit the books or work on problem sets in the library. They go out into the field, tackling real world problems given to them by the Department of Defense and the U.S. military. The unusual 10-week course …
your ad hereNew Book Helps Teach Teens About Islam
In a new book, “Amina’s Voice,” a Pakistani Muslim pre-teen girl deals with middle school and Islamophobia. VOA’s Yahya Albarznji spoke with young American students, teachers and the award-winning author about this book and the hope that it will help people understand Islam. …
your ad hereAlternative Therapy Uses Fish Skin for Burn Relief
It’s an old riddle: What is the human body’s largest organ? The answer, of course, is skin. And while it’s certainly tough, skin’s enemy is heat. Treating serious burns usually involves placing human or pig skin over the burn to help it heal. Doctors in Brazil are using a unique …
your ad hereFormula 1 Champion Alonso Looks for Success in First Indy 500
Fernando Alonso will be hoping to return to his McLaren Formula One day job next week with an Indianapolis 500 victory and another jewel in motor racing’s Triple Crown. For over a century, the Indy 500 has been a magnet to motor racing giants and thrill-seekers eager to test their …
your ad hereStudy: Too Little Sleep Doubles Mortality in Those With Heart, Diabetes Risks
People with a common cluster of symptoms that puts them at increased risk of heart disease and diabetes are two times as likely to die as people without those risk factors if they get less than six hours of sleep per night. That was the finding of a new study …
your ad hereConstruction Begins in Chilean Desert on World’s Largest Telescope
Construction began in Chile on Friday on the European Extremely Large Telescope, which when completed will be the world’s largest optical telescope, some five times larger than the top observing instruments in use today. The size of the ELT has the potential to transform our understanding of the universe, say …
your ad hereGenetic Testing Underway on Virus Behind New Ebola Outbreak
Tests are underway to determine the genetic sequence of the Ebola virus behind an outbreak in central Africa, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control researcher said Friday. Dr. Barbara Knust, an epidemiologist, told VOA’s Horn of Africa service that scientists are looking for “clues” about where this strain of Ebola …
your ad hereAriana Grande to Return to Manchester for Benefit Show
U.S. pop singer Ariana Grande says she will return to Manchester, England, to play a benefit show to raise money for the 22 victims and families of this week’s terrorist attack. Grande had just finished her show Monday night when a suicide bomber blew himself up in the crowded lobby …
your ad hereTop 5 Songs for Week Ending May 27
This is the Top Five Countdown! We’re sizing up the five most popular songs in the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart, for the week ending May 27, 2017. On the one hand, we don’t get any new songs this week…but on the other, the championship changes hands. So: is …
your ad hereStudy Finds Mixed News About Bee Populations
There’s a glimmer of hope for the American bee population. But, according to a new study, the outlook for this critical insect is mostly grim. Researchers report a slowing of the rate of decline in the bee population over the past year, dropping to its lowest since 2011-2012. But, both …
your ad hereResearchers Find Link Between Brain Health, Aging
Our brains have always been a marker for how we age. And for humans, that mental aging process starts in our 20s. But British researchers are now giving each brain an “age,” and discovering that the brain’s age may be affecting overall human health. VOA’s Kevin Enochs reports. …
your ad hereDespite Testy Ties, Bollywood Movie is Thriving in China
An Indian film that addresses social themes and stars actor Aamir Kahn has captivated audiences in China. The film is thriving, despite the fact that India was the only major country to boycott Beijing’s Belt and Road Forum earlier this month. But the irony and sharp contrast of those two …
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