Scientists and NASA officials who spearheaded development of a space-based missile defense system in the 1980s are urging its revival to counter emerging nuclear threats from North Korea and other rogue states. False alarms over a North Korean missile attack on Hawaii this month indicate how Pyongyang’s nuclear capability has …
your ad hereMnuchin ‘Not Concerned’ About Short-term Value of Dollar
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the U.S is “not concerned” about the value of the dollar in the short-term. At a press briefing at the World Economic Forum on Thursday, Mnuchin said the short-term value of the dollar is dependent on many factors in what is a very liquid …
your ad hereDavos Elite Brace for Trump’s ‘America First’ Agenda
Donald Trump arrived at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos on Thursday, the first serving U.S. president to attend since Bill Clinton in 2000. Analysts say many delegates are braced for a clash of competing visions for the global economy. Trump is expected to push …
your ad hereChinese Company Convicted of Stealing Trade Secrets From US Firm
A federal jury in Wisconsin on Wednesday convicted a Chinese wind turbine company of stealing trade secrets, which nearly destroyed a U.S. manufacturer. China’s Sinovel Wind Group does business in the United States. “The theft of ideas and ingenuity is not a business dispute. It’s a crime and will be …
your ad hereUS Safety Board to Probe Tesla Autopilot Crash
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation in an accident involving a Tesla car that may have been operating under its semi-autonomous Autopilot system. The board sent two investigators to Culver City, California, to learn whether the Autopilot was on and if so, how the car’s sensors …
your ad hereIn Davos, Gulf Arabs Slam an Absent Iran
Gulf Arab officials used the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday to slam Iran for what they said was its destabilizing behavior in the region, taking advantage of Tehran’s conspicuous absence at the annual event. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had been a regular presence at the annual forum that brings …
your ad hereFormer Pharma Exec Confirmed as New US Health Chief
The Senate has confirmed a former pharmaceutical industry executive as head of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department. Alex Azar, former president of the U.S. division of Eli Lilly & Co., was confirmed by a 55-43 vote on Wednesday. Azar, 50, will replace Tom Price, who resigned in September amid …
your ad hereElton John Retiring, Says Upcoming Tour Will Be His Last
Elton John is retiring from the road after his upcoming three-year global tour, capping nearly 50 years on stages around the world. He calls it a “way to go out with a bang.” “I’ve had a good run, I think you’d admit that,” John said Wednesday, adding that he wanted …
your ad hereToys R Us, Citing Holiday ‘Missteps,’ Will Close up to 182 Stores
Toys R Us, a nostalgic favorite even as many shoppers moved to Amazon and huge chains like Walmart, plans to close up to 182 stores, or about 20 percent of its U.S. locations. The company that once dominated toy sales in the U.S. has been operating under bankruptcy protection since …
your ad hereMove Over, Dolly: Monkeys Cloned; A Step Closer to People?
For the first time, researchers have used the cloning method that produced Dolly the sheep to create two healthy monkeys, bringing science an important step closer to being able to do the same with humans. Since Dolly’s birth in 1996, scientists have cloned nearly two dozen kinds of mammals, including …
your ad hereApple Will Give Users Control Over Slowdown of Older iPhones
Apple’s next major update of its mobile software will include an option that will enable owners of older iPhones to turn off a feature that slows the device to prevent aging batteries from shutting down. The free upgrade announced Wednesday will be released this spring. The additional controls are meant …
your ad hereProtests Roil Swiss Cities Ahead of Trump’s Davos Visit
Protesters have been pouring into the streets in several Swiss cities to express opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump’s attendance at this week’s World Economic Forum in Davos. Trump arrives Thursday in the Swiss ski resort and is slated to present his “America First” message in a speech Friday to …
your ad hereFilm About Kenya Terror Attack Up for an Oscar
A movie produced by a German film student about the 2015 Mandera bus attack in Kenya has just been nominated for an Oscar. The short film, Watu Wote, or Swahili for “All of Us,” tells the story of how average Kenyans resisted Al Shabab. The film premiered in Nairobi Tuesday …
your ad hereInternet Access Booming in Least Developed Countries
The International Telecommunication Union reports hundreds of millions of people in the world’s poorest countries now have access to the Internet and mobile devices. It is increasingly difficult to function in this modern digital world without access to the Internet, a smart phone or other digital device. A new report …
your ad hereSilicon Valley Moms Ease Child-care Shortage With Technology
The high cost of living makes finding affordable child care a challenge in Silicon Valley. Three moms have founded the online platform “Roovillage” to help ease the burden. VOA’s Calla Yu reports from San Mateo, California. …
your ad hereTouching Objects in Virtual Reality Is Now Possible
Virtual reality allows the user to enter a different world through sight and sound. Several researchers and companies are adding a third element to the virtual experience: the sense of touch. Researchers in haptics, meaning the feeling of touch, are incorporating this sense into virtual reality with real-world applications. French …
your ad hereTouching Objects in Virtual Reality Now Possible
Virtual reality allows the user to enter a different world through sight and sound. Now, researchers are adding a sense of touch to the experience, making the virtual world seem even more real. The ability to feel an object in the virtual world has quite a few real-world applications. VOA’s …
your ad hereLegendary Jazz Musician, Political Activist Hugh Masekela dies at 78
South African jazz trumpeter and anti-apartheid activist Hugh Masekela dies at the age of 78. Among his greatest hits were the anthem “Bring Him Back Home,” demanding Nelson Mandela’s freedom from jail. But he recorded countless other solos and worked with other big names, including Senegalese and American superstars Youssou …
your ad hereNew Nicotine Delivery System Part of FDA’s Anti-Smoking Campaign
The United States Food and Drug Administration will be talking about alternatives to cigarette smoking as it deliberates whether to approve a new product offered by tobacco companies that delivers nicotine to the user without burning tobacco. The American Lung Association reports that cigarette smoking rates in the U.S. are …
your ad hereCigarette Smoking Rates in US Reach Historic Lows
The American Lung Association says fewer Americans smoke cigarettes now than before tobacco control policies were put in place. In its annual report, the ALA says smoking rates among adults and teens are at historic lows. On average, just over 15.5 percent of American adults and eight percent of high …
your ad hereUrsula K. Le Guin, Best-selling Science Fiction Author, Dies
Ursula K. Le Guin, the award-winning science fiction and fantasy writer who explored feminist themes and was best known for her Earthsea books, has died at 88. Le Guin died suddenly and peacefully Monday at her home in Portland, Oregon, after several weeks of health concerns, her son, Theo …
your ad hereHollywood’s Oldest Working Actress, Connie Sawyer, Dies at 105
You may not know her name, but you know her face. Connie Sawyer, known in Hollywood as the oldest working actress in show business, has finally ended her career. Sawyer died late Monday at her home in Los Angeles at 105. She began her career as a singer and comedienne …
your ad hereTrump Administration Prepares Flurry of Trade Moves
The Trump administration is set to announce a raft of trade decisions over the next months, ranging from curbs on foreign imports of steel and aluminum to steps to clamp down on China’s alleged theft of intellectual property. U.S. President Donald Trump has stressed his “America First” agenda in his …
your ad hereAI Can Read! Tech Firms Race to Smarten Up Thinking Machines
Seven years ago, a computer beat two human quizmasters on a Jeopardy challenge. Ever since, the tech industry has been training its machines even harder to make them better at amassing knowledge and answering questions. And it’s worked, at least up to a point. Just don’t expect artificial intelligence to …
your ad hereEurope’s Recovery Rolls On — And So Does European Central Bank Stimulus
Europe’s economy is on a roll — raising the question of exactly when the European Central Bank will end its extraordinary stimulus efforts. Bank President Mario Draghi will be at pains this week to leave that point open. No changes in stimulus settings or interest rates are expected at Thursday’s …
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