Comic strip artist Mort Walker, a World War II veteran who satirized the Army and tickled millions of newspaper readers with the antics of the lazy private Beetle Bailey, died Saturday. He was 94. Walker died at his home in Stamford, Connecticut, said Greg Walker, his eldest son and a collaborator. …
your ad hereCanada Hopes NAFTA Talks Proceed to Next Round; Some Progress Made
Officials trying to settle differences over how to update the North American Free Trade Agreement have made some progress and hope politicians decide the talks should continue, Steve Verheul, Canada’s chief negotiator, told Reuters on Saturday. The United States, Canada and Mexico are due to finish the sixth of seven …
your ad hereWozniacki Bests Halep to Win Australian Open
Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki won her first grand slam title Saturday at the Australian Open in Melbourne, besting Romanian Simona Halep, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4. “I have to take a second to hug Daphne,” Wozniacki told reporters after being awarded the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup at the prize ceremony. “It’s …
your ad hereItaly Joins Growing Number of Nations Banning Microplastics
The world has another ally in the war against microplastics. Just before Christmas, the Italian government voted to ban the tiny beads that show up primarily in beauty products by 2020. Italy joins a growing list of countries, the United States included, that have banned microplastic products. VOA’s Kevin Enochs …
your ad hereEPA Puts Brakes on Approval Process for Gold, Copper Mine
In a surprise move, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reversed itself Friday and stopped the approval process for the proposed Pebble Mine copper and gold mine project in southwest Alaska’s Bristol Bay region. “It is my judgment at this time that any mining projects in the region likely pose a …
your ad hereThe Iconic Building-Block of Our Childhoods Celebrates 60th Birthday
One of the world’s most famous toys turns 60 on Jan. 28. The Lego building block, a tool of innovation and cause of severe pain to anyone who’s ever stepped on one, celebrates a milestone. Arash Arabasadi reports. …
your ad hereWorld’s Coral Reefs Facing Increasing Pressure
All coral reefs go through bleaching episodes, and these episodes of drought or extreme heat can hurt even the healthiest of reefs. But climate change means more heat, more often, and new research is showing the world’s reefs do not have time to recover. VOA’s Kevin Enochs reports. …
your ad herePacific Trade Deal Will Move Forward Without the US
President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy on trade aims to reverse decades of lopsided exchange by withdrawing from international trade deals, renegotiating others and raising tariffs on foreign-made goods destined for the U.S. But, in a connected global economy, analysts warn the U.S. could find itself increasingly isolated as other …
your ad hereEnthusiast Builds a Steam-powered SUV
Although long replaced by more efficient types of engines, steam-powered machines still have a certain appeal, and not just for museum-goers. In Britain, the country that gave us both the steam engine and the legendary off-road vehicle the Land Rover Defender, one inventor combined the two, much to the amusement …
your ad hereAlaska Delegation Wants Some Waters Out of Drilling Plan
Alaska’s all-Republican congressional delegation three weeks ago praised Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke after he announced nearly all federal waters off the state’s coast could be offered for petroleum lease sales. But after hearing from critics who do not want drilling in their home waters, U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan …
your ad hereUS Trade Body Backs Canadian Plane Maker Bombardier Against Boeing
A U.S. trade commission on Friday handed an unexpected victory to Bombardier Inc. against Boeing Co., in a ruling that allows the Canadian company to sell its newest jets to U.S. airlines without heavy duties, sending Bombardier’s shares up 15 percent. The U.S. International Trade Commission’s unanimous decision was the latest twist in U.S.-Canadian …
your ad hereCasino Mogul Steve Wynn Denies Allegations of Sexual Harassment
Billionaire casino mogul Steve Wynn is denying allegations of sexual harassment after a report in the Wall Street Journal detailed allegations of misconduct and caused shares of his casino company to drop 10 percent Friday. Wynn said in a statement Friday “The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is …
your ad hereUS Flu Outbreak on Track to Be One of Worst in 15 Years
U.S. health officials say the flu outbreak this winter is on track to be one of the most severe in the past 15 years. In their latest weekly report Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the flu is now widespread in every U.S. state except for …
your ad hereMichigan State University Athletic Director Resigns Amid Nassar Scandal
Michigan State University Athletic Director Mark Hollis resigned Friday, two days after the school’s president stepped down amid a storm of criticism about how it handled the sexual assault scandal that led to the conviction of former school faculty member and USA Gymnastics physician Larry Nassar. Nassar was sentenced Wednesday …
your ad hereTrump Warns Rivals About Trade Practices in Davos Speech
President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will no longer tolerate unfair trade practices and will always put America first in future trade deals. Giving the closing speech at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos on Friday, Trump lauded the performance of the U.S. …
your ad hereTokyo-based Cryptocurrency Exchange Hacked, $530 Million Lost
Coincheck, a major cryptocurrency trading exchange in Tokyo, has been hacked into and has lost about $534 million worth of virtual money, national broadcaster NHK reported on Friday. Coincheck posted on its website on Friday afternoon that it had suspended withdrawals of almost all cryptocurrencies. The exchange has already reported …
your ad hereDefiant Moscow Cinema Shows Banned Stalin Comedy
A Moscow cinema has been warned after defying a government ban on showing The Death Of Stalin. (Please see related stories link for VOA story on “The Death of Stalin”) The black comedy was screened to a packed audience on January 25, and many said they didn’t find the satirical …
your ad hereStudy: Kids Often Get Incorrect Blood Pressure Screening Results
One in four children and teens who get their blood pressure screened at routine checkups may appear to have hypertension, but that result often doesn’t hold up in repeat tests, a U.S. study suggests. Researchers examined data from electronic medical records for almost 755,795 children and adolescents treated at Kaiser …
your ad hereTop 5 Songs for Week Ending Jan. 27
This is the Top Five Countdown! We’re punching up the five most popular songs in the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles chart, for the week ending Jan. 27, 2018. Some songs crawl up the chart while others fly … this week we meet one of the latter. Number 5: G-Eazy …
your ad hereHealth Officials: More Birth Defects in US Areas With Zika
The mosquito-born Zika virus may be responsible for an increase in birth defects in U.S. states and territories even in women who had no lab evidence of Zika exposure during pregnancy, U.S. health officials said on Thursday. Areas in which the mosquito-borne virus has been circulating, including Puerto Rico, southern …
your ad hereMass Yellow Fever Vaccination Under Way in Brazil, Nigeria
Two of the largest mass vaccination campaigns against yellow fever ever seen in the world have begun in Nigeria and Brazil. Both campaigns, which are supported by the World Health Organization, aim to prevent the spread of the disease. Nigeria plans to vaccinate more than 25 million people throughout the …
your ad hereAnalysts Skeptical of China’s Boast on Industrial Performance
The Chinese government recently claimed that 98 major state-run industries have turned in the best industrial and financial performance in 2017 compared to the past five years. These companies, which have assets totaling $9 trillion, produced a remarkable profit of $218 billion, an increase of 15.2 percent in profit in …
your ad hereEast Africa Art Exhibit Promotes Emerging Talent
Two African dancers in tribal costumes and painted faces — one man and one woman — alternate between strong, gyrating movements and slow, smooth motions before a small crowd at the opening of the 8th East Africa Art Biennale in Nairobi, hosted by the French cultural organization, Alliance Francaise. Halfway …
your ad hereEveryone is a Hostile in Scott Cooper’s Revisionist Western
Scott Cooper’s western, Hostiles, addresses the theme of reconciliation amid the racial divide between whites and Native Americans at the end of the 19th century. VOA’s Penelope Poulou spoke with Native American actor Wes Studi about his role in the film and its message in today’s America. …
your ad hereEast Africa Art Biennale Promotes Emerging Talent
A traveling exhibit by the East Africa Art Biennale has opened for the first time in Kenya’s capital. Titled “Moving Art Across East Africa Borders,” the show features works by 62 artists from 11 countries and aims to promote East Africa’s emerging artistic talent. VOA’s Daniel Schearf attended the opening …
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