Liz Hung supports a lot of the imaginative concepts being discussed to make Vietnam “greener” economically and in terms of urban planning. Consider traffic lights. Hung described how government authorities could collect smartphone data to see which streets are crowded, and then calibrate the stoplights to optimize traffic flow. …
your ad hereCarrie Underwood Wins at CMT Awards, Tanya Tucker Performs
Carrie Underwood extended her run as the most decorated act in the history of the CMT Music Awards with her 20th win Wednesday night. Underwood won two prizes at the fan-voted show, including video of the year for “Cry Pretty” and female video of the year for “Love Wins.” …
your ad hereAlgae Curtains Turn Buildings Into Carbon Eating Forests
They’re called biocurtains, and for one small firm they lie somewhere between environmental engineering and art. These unique installations are filled with algae that suck up carbon and emit oxygen, and could be one small element involved with engineering our way out of catastrophic climate change. VOA’s Kevin Enochs reports. …
your ad hereAli’s Hometown Names its Airport After the Late Champion Boxer
Muhammad Ali amazed the world as a champion boxer and political activist. After his death in 2016, Ali’s hometown of Louisville, Ky., is memorializing him by officially naming its airport after him on June 6. The move also highlights one of Ali’s most famous quirks. VOA’s Alam Burhanan reports from …
your ad hereAi-Da, Humanoid Robot Artist, Gears Up for First Solo Exhibition
Wearing a white blouse and her dark hair hanging loose, Ai-Da looks like any artist at work as she studies her subject and puts pencil to paper. But the beeping from her bionic arm gives her away – Ai-Da is a robot. Described as “the world’s first ultra-realistic AI humanoid …
your ad hereIn Double Whammy, Fitch Downgrades Mexico and Moody’s Lowers Outlook
In a double blow for Mexico, credit ratings agency Fitch downgraded the nation’s sovereign debt rating on Wednesday, citing risks posed by heavily indebted oil company Pemex and trade tensions, while Moody’s lowered its outlook to negative. The Mexican peso weakened as much as 1.3% on the news. Cutting Mexico’s …
your ad hereUS Refiners to Trump: Tariffs on Mexico Could Raise Gas Prices
U.S. refiners warned the Trump administration that tariffs on imports from Mexico could deliver a punishing blow to refiners and raise the cost of gasoline just as the U.S. driving season kicks into high gear, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Trump surprised Mexico last week with a threat …
your ad hereScientists Crack Secret of Fish’s Deadly, Transparent Teeth
A deep-sea fish can hide its enormous, jutting teeth from prey because its chompers are virtually invisible – until it’s too late. What’s the dragonfish’s secret? The teeth are transparent, and now scientists have discovered how the fish accomplished that trick. Findings were published Wednesday in the journal Matter. The …
your ad hereKenya Farmers Fight Drought with Biofuel from Cotton Waste
Kenyan farmer Abel Mutie Mathoka thought it must be a joke when he was told he could irrigate his drought-hit crops more cheaply, cleanly and efficiently using a pump fueled by cotton waste. “Who could believe it’s possible to make a fuel better than diesel from cotton seeds? I didn’t!” …
your ad hereCanada Details Plans for 5G Internet Rollout
Canada on Wednesday said it was preparing for the arrival of ultra-fast 5G internet service as it outlined plans to make more 5G spectrum available starting next year. The federal Innovation Ministry released a paper outlining changes to an auction expected next year, a decision on a higher frequency millimeter …
your ad hereKool & The Gang to Be Honored with Marian Anderson Award
Funk-soul band Kool & The Gang is being honored with an award named for pioneering opera singer Marian Anderson. Kool & The Gang, known for hits like “Get Down on It,” “Celebration” and “Ladies Night,” has earned two Grammy Awards and seven American Music Awards. The Marian Anderson …
your ad hereWorld Bank: Iran Likely to Suffer Worse Recession Than Previously Thought
This article originated in VOA’s Persian Service. WASHINGTON —The World Bank says Iran is likely to experience an even worse recession this year than previously thought, as U.S. sanctions largely choke off oil exports that have been Tehran’s main revenue source. In its latest Global Economic Prospects report published Wednesday, …
your ad hereAmazon Says Drones Will Be Making Deliveries In Months
Amazon said Wednesday that it plans to use self-driving drones to deliver packages to shoppers’ home in the coming months The online shopping giant did not give exact timing or say where the drones will be making deliveries. Amazon said its new drones use computer vision and machine learning to …
your ad hereYouTube Bans Holocaust Denial Videos in Policy Reversal
YouTube said on Wednesday it would remove videos that deny the Holocaust, school shootings and other “well-documented violent events,” a major reversal in policy as it fights criticism that it provides a platform for hate speech and harassment. The streaming service, owned by Alphabet Inc’s Google, also said it would …
your ad hereIn Haiti, World Environment Day Means Planting Trees
Ahead of World Environment Day, a group of Haitian young professionals put into practice a famous line uttered by former U.S. president John F. Kennedy in his 1961 inaugural address: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” With the help …
your ad hereIMF Warns US-China Trade War Could Cut Global Economic Growth
The trade war between the United States and China could cut world economic growth next year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned Wednesday. IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to tax all trade between the two countries would shrink the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) …
your ad hereNBA Legend Cultivates Young African Talents
The International Basketball Federation, known as FIBA, is expecting the professional African league due to launch in 2020 to be a showcase and breeding ground for new talents. With the support of Africa-born former NBA stars like Dikembo Mutombo, young talents are already getting support to move up to the …
your ad hereUS Officials: Arctic Thawing Poses National Security Concern
Senior U.S. and military officials are warning Congress about the potential threat to national security from melting ice in the Arctic. Officials from the Office of National Intelligence and the Pentagon say climate change will open the Arctic to more ship traffic and commercial activities by Russia and China …
your ad hereWHO: Fighting Air Pollution Key to Living Longer
Activists marking World Environment day are calling for action to tackle air pollution, which researchers say kills millions of people every year and impoverishes societies struggling to reduce its harmful effects. “We are walking on” is a World Environment Day song inspired by childhood memories of a Japanese town fighting …
your ad hereChina Launches 1st Rocket From Mobile Platform in Yellow Sea
China on Wednesday launched a rocket from a mobile platform at sea for the first time, sending a five commercial satellites and two others containing experimental technology into space. The Long March 11 rocket blasted off from a launch pad aboard a commercial ship in the Yellow Sea off the …
your ad hereVirtual Reality Films Pave the Way for Next-Gen History Lessons
At the Tribeca Film Fest in New York, filmmakers are mining current and historical events for inspiration. For tech-savvy youth, it’s one way to ensure the lessons of history won’t be forgotten. Tina Trinh reports. …
your ad hereAmerican Lawmakers Try To Balance Security Benefits of Facial Recognition Against Privacy Rights
Lawmakers in Washington DC met Tuesday to discuss facial recognition software. Law enforcement says the technology helps to identify and track suspected criminals. But privacy advocates say the technology intrudes on the privacy of average citizens who aren’t lawbreakers. Arash Arabasadi reports from Washington. …
your ad hereExperts: US-China Trade Tensions Could Impact Pyongyang Sanctions Support
The escalating trade dispute between the United States and China could distract Beijing from dealing with nuclear North Korea and undermine its efforts to enforce international sanctions, potentially hampering the U.S. attempt to denuclearize the country, experts said. Even as the Trump administration pursues its “maximum pressure” campaign to push …
your ad hereIn Cambodia, Politics Push Musicians Into Self-Censorship
Rapper Chhun Dymey seems to have struck a chord in Cambodia. He was somewhat of an unknown until his song, “This Society,” went viral last month, shared on social media platforms that included opposition leader Sam Rainsy’s YouTube channel. Since then, police have visited Chhun Dymey’s parents’ home and his …
your ad here10 Facts About Air Pollution on World Environment Day
Nobody is safe from air pollution, the United Nations warned on World Environment Day, with nine out of 10 people on the planet now breathing polluted air. This has led to a growing, global health crisis, which already causes about 7 million deaths per year, according to the World Health …
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