Inspired by the folding technique of origami, U.S. researchers said Monday they have crafted cheap, artificial muscles for robots that give them the power to lift up to 1,000 times their own weight. The advance offers a leap forward in the field of soft robotics, which is fast replacing an …
your ad hereGive Women Greater Role in Industry to Cut Poverty, Urges UN Executive
Women need to be given a greater role in industries in poorer nations to meet the global goal of cutting poverty by 2030, the head of the United Nations industrial development agency said on Monday after being voted in for a second term. Li Yong said empowering women will be …
your ad hereMigrating Birds Winter in Israel as Climate Change Makes Desert Too Dangerous
Climate change is turning Israel into a permanent wintering ground for some of the 500 million migrating birds that used to stop over briefly before flying on to the warm plains of Africa, Israeli experts say. The birds now prefer to stay longer in cooler areas rather than cross into …
your ad hereDiplomats Search for Way to Save Trade System After US Vetoes Judges
Diplomats are searching for ways to prevent the global trade dispute resolution system from freezing up, after the Trump administration blocked appointments to the body that acts as the supreme court for global trade. U.S. President Donald Trump has vetoed the appointment of judges to fill vacancies on the seven-member …
your ad hereBruno Mars Readies First TV Special
When Bruno Mars hit the stage for his first TV special, he could feel the music — in his bones and his veins — and it shows. Mars’ energetic and slick dance moves and smooth vocals are at the forefront of “Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live at the Apollo,” …
your ad hereNew Venezuela Oil Boss to Give Military More PDVSA Posts
A general appointed at the weekend to run Venezuela’s energy sector will name more military officers to senior management posts at state oil company PDVSA as part of a shakeup the government says is aimed at fighting corruption, two company sources told Reuters on Monday. In a surprise move, unpopular …
your ad hereHouston Arts Groups Working to Recover From Hurricane Harvey
Houston Ballet artistic director Stanton Welch looked flushed as he stood at the edge of the Hobby Center’s Sarofim Hall stage during a break in the company’s annual Jubilee of Dance performance. The Houston Chronicle reports his military-style jacket seemed apt for the warrior’s role he has played in recent …
your ad hereDictionary.com Chooses ‘Complicit’ as Its Word of the Year
Russian election influence, the ever-widening sexual harassment scandal, mass shootings and the opioid epidemic helped elevate the word “complicit” as Dictionary.com’s word of the year for 2017. Look-ups of the word increased nearly 300 percent over last year as “complicit” hit just about every hot button from politics to …
your ad hereTalk Show Host Seth Meyers to Host 2018 Golden Globes
Late night talk show host Seth Meyers will host the 2018 Golden Globe movie and television awards ceremony in January, organizers said on Monday. It will be the first Golden Globes hosting gig for Myers, 43, whose “Late Night with Seth Meyers” airs on NBC. The Golden Globes ceremony, an …
your ad hereAnalysts: US Cyber Monday Sales Could Set New Online Spending Record
In the United States, it’s Cyber Monday, a day when holiday shoppers could set a new spending record for online purchases from work, home or anywhere with their cellphones. With rising wages in the U.S., low unemployment and strong consumer confidence, research firm Adobe Analytics predicted shoppers could spend $6.6 …
your ad here‘House of Cards’ Production Crew Gets Another 2 Weeks’ Pay
The Maryland-based production crew for “House of Cards” will continue to get paid for at least another two weeks. The show has been on hiatus since October, when allegations of sexual harassment surfaced against star Kevin Spacey. The Baltimore Sun reported that production company Media Rights Capital has updated the …
your ad hereIndia’s Global Entrepreneurial Summit to Focus on Women
Startup founders, investors and tech leaders from around the world are heading to Hyderabad, India for the 8th annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit, co-hosted by the U.S. and Indian governments. Ivanka Trump, adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump and his daughter, will join host Prime Minister Narendra Modi in kicking off the …
your ad hereAmerican Actress Meghan Markle to be New Kind of Royal
She is an entertainment figure in her own right, and an outspoken woman comfortable talking about her background and her passions. American actress Meghan Markle will be a new type of royal when she weds Prince Harry in the spring. In some ways, Markle – a mixed-race American raised …
your ad hereBritain’s Prince Harry, US Actress Meghan Markle Officially Engaged
Britain’s Prince Harry is officially engaged to American actress Meghan Markle. Harry’s father, Prince Charles, made the announcement in a statement Monday. “His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle.” The statement said the wedding will take place …
your ad hereAdvocates say Texas Exploiting Day Laborers After Harvey
Guillermo Miranda Vazquez starts his day in a parking lot near the Home Depot where he easily finds work alongside other day laborers who are cleaning up Houston after Hurricane Harvey. Some days, he clears rotted drywall and hauls out furniture and carpet destroyed by Harvey’s floodwaters. Other days, he …
your ad hereNew Tattoo Exhibit’s Global Perspective Tries to Help Dispel Stigma
Chuey Quintanar has been creating art on living canvas for more than 20 years. A friend gave him a tattoo machine when he was 14 years old, and he has been tattooing ever since. “When I started tattooing, they were still looking at it (tattoos) as a bad thing, but …
your ad hereMobile App Connects Responders to Those Having Mental Health Crisis
Rickey pushes himself up slowly, grabs the leash tethered to the side of his walker and takes a few steps. His dog, a terrier named Madman, perks his ears up and follows him. Rickey pauses and looks across the street at a rundown building. “That was a Blues Club,” he …
your ad hereRwanda Ramps up STEM Education for Girls
In Rwanda, the number of schoolgirls studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the so-called STEM fields, is climbing steadily. It’s part of an ambitious government agenda to transform the economy. In the past decade, several STEM schools for girls have opened in Rwanda amid the rising demand. Chika Oduah reports …
your ad hereMuseum Exhibit Dispels Stigma of Tattoos Through Global Perspective
Having a tattoo is no longer just a symbol of being in a criminal gang. Famous celebrities showing off their inked bodies show tattoos are becoming more mainstream in many cultures, and an increasing number of people see tattoos as an art form. Tattoos have a history that spans thousands …
your ad hereWe Have the Tools to End AIDS Now
The United Nations reports remarkable progress in containing the virus that causes AIDS. AIDS still kills, but in its latest report, UNAIDS said access to treatment has risen significantly. The UN’s goal is to end the pandemic by 2030. VOA’s Carol Pearson spoke to one of the world’s leading scientists …
your ad hereFake Fecal Matter Could Help Improve Sanitation
2.3 billion people around the world have no access to flush toilets and use pit latrines or other rudimentary measures to dispose of their waste. Researchers at the University of Bath are using fake fecal sludge to determine a better way to safely dispose of raw sewage. Faith Lapidus reports. …
your ad hereMobile App Protects Mental Health Victims
More than 18 percent of American adults experience mental illness in a given year. It is among the top three causes of homelessness in the US as about 25 percent of America’s homeless suffers from mental illness. In San Francisco, one man is trying to make a difference using technology …
your ad hereContestant from South Africa Wins Miss Universe Crown
Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, who represented South Africa, won the Miss Universe crown Sunday. The 22-year-old, who recently earned a business management degree, was crowned at The AXIS Theater at Planet Hollywood casino-resort on the Las Vegas Strip. The runner-up was Miss Colombia Laura Gonzalez, while the second runner-up was Miss Jamaica …
your ad hereVeterans Key as Surge of States OK Medical Pot for PTSD
It was a telling setting for a decision on whether post-traumatic stress disorder patients could use medical marijuana. Against the backdrop of the nation’s largest Veterans Day parade, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced this month he’d sign legislation making New York the latest in a fast-rising tide of states to …
your ad hereDry Weekend Draws US Shoppers Even as Online Sales Boom
The driest Thanksgiving weekend in five years may have helped holiday shopping, despite an overall decline in foot traffic. But some shoppers just took notes in the hopes of finding an even better deal online. That’s a consequence of Amazon continuing to squeeze prices, exacerbating the “showrooming” practice of …
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