Nigerian health authorities say the country’s life expectancy is among the worst in the world, with influenza and pneumonia leading causes of death. In southern Nigeria’s Cross River state, severe air pollution is increasing the cases of respiratory diseases. Port Harcourt resident David Tolu-Adamu knows. Before leaving for work each …
your ad hereFighting Taliban and Mistrust, Pakistan Marks One Year Polio-Free
Bathed in crisp morning light, Sidra Hussain grips a cooler stacked with glistening vials of polio vaccine in northwest Pakistan. Watching over Hussain and her partner, a policeman unslings his rifle and eyes the horizon. In concert they begin their task — going door-to-door on the outskirts of Mardan city, …
your ad hereAstronomers Predict SpaceX Space Junk Will Crash into Moon
A chunk of a SpaceX rocket that blasted off seven years ago and was abandoned in space after completing its mission will crash into the moon in March, experts say. The rocket was deployed in 2015 to put into orbit a NASA satellite called the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR). …
your ad hereAfrica Cup of Nations (AFCON) – Day 16
Wednesday, January 26, 2022 Ivory Coast vs Egypt | 0-0 (4-5) Mali vs Equatorial Guinea | 0-0 (5-6) …
your ad hereOnly 14 Cases of Guinea Worm Infection Reported Globally in 2021
The Atlanta-based Carter Center is making dramatic progress in the eradication of Guinea worm disease. VOA’s Kane Farabaugh reports that if the remaining endemic countries in Africa – Chad, South Sudan, Mali, Ethiopia and border areas of Cameroon – rid the parasite completely, it would become the first disease in …
your ad hereCalifornia Hotels Use Robots to Do Service Jobs
The current difficulty in filling many service jobs in the U.S. is leaving hotels scrambling to provide room service. But with a bit of ingenuity and a little high-tech help some American hotels are finding a way. Angelina Bagdasaryan has the story, narrated by Anna Rice. …
your ad hereNigerian Language Advocates Seek Inclusion of African Languages in Tech Devices
Voice-activated virtual assistant technologies, such as Siri and Alexa, are becoming increasingly common around the world, but in Africa, with its many languages, most people are at a digital disadvantage. To address the problem, some African researchers are creating translation tools to recognize and promote indigenous languages, such as Yoruba. …
your ad hereSolar-Powered Oxygen Saving the Lives of Somali Children
The installation of a solar-powered medical oxygen system at a hospital in central Somalia is proving effective in saving lives, Somali and World Health Organization doctors said. The innovative solar oxygen system, the first of its kind in Somalia, was installed at Hanaano hospital, in the central town of Dhusamareb …
your ad hereExplainer: What’s Known About ‘Stealth’ Version of Omicron?
Scientists and health officials around the world are keeping their eyes on a descendant of the omicron variant that has been found in at least 40 countries, including the United States. This version of the coronavirus, which scientists call BA.2, is widely considered stealthier than the original version of omicron …
your ad hereMekong Region Sees 224 New Species, Despite ‘Intense Threat,’ Report Says
A devil-horned newt, drought-resilient bamboo and a monkey named after a volcano were among 224 new species discovered in the Greater Mekong region in 2020, a conservation group said on Wednesday, despite the “intense threat” of habitat loss. The discoveries listed in a report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) …
your ad hereUganda Ends COVID Curfew, and Nightlife Reopens
Uganda on Monday lifted its two-year COVID-19 curfew, allowing bars and nightspots to re-open. Excited revelers celebrated the end of one of the world’s longest lockdowns. A reveler who only identified herself as Peace said she has been drinking every night of the lockdown. Uganda imposed the nighttime curfew in March …
your ad hereAfrica Cup of Nations (AFCON) – Day 13
Sunday, January 23, 2022 Burkina Faso vs Gabon | 1-1 ~ (7-6) Nigeria vs Tunisia | 0-1 …
your ad hereDelay in Creating New US Cybersecurity Board Prompts Concern
It’s a key part of President Joe Biden’s plans to fight major ransomware attacks and digital espionage campaigns: creating a board of experts that would investigate major incidents to see what went wrong and try to prevent the problems from happening again — much like a transportation safety board does …
your ad hereReport: Anti-corruption Fight Is Stalled, COVID Not Helping
Most countries have made little to no progress in bringing down corruption levels over the past decade, and authorities’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic in many places has weighed on accountability, a closely watched study by an anti-graft organization found Tuesday. Transparency International’s 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index, which measures the …
your ad hereSouth Sudan Holds Peace Olympics to Foster Reconciliation
South Sudan has held a peace Olympics to help reconcile communities divided by conflict. The “Twic Olympics” this year marked its 20th anniversary in Twic County. At this Olympics opening ceremony, a spiritual leader blesses athletes to protect them from injury while a goat represents the belief that power comes …
your ad hereAt Least Eight People Dead in Stampede at Cameroon Sports Stadium
Several people are dead in Cameroon after football fans crammed the gates of a new stadium to watch the home country play a match in the African Cup of Nations tournament. State broadcaster CRTV says eight people were killed as thousands of fans attempted to enter Yaounde Olembe Stadium in …
your ad hereFDA Limits Use of Regeneron, Lilly COVID-19 Antibody Treatments
The U.S. health regulator on Monday revised the emergency use authorizations for COVID-19 antibody treatments from Regeneron and Eli Lilly to limit their use, as the drugs are unlikely to work against the omicron variant. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the treatments are currently not cleared for use …
your ad hereWHO Chief: World Will Live with COVID for Foreseeable Future
The head of the World Health Organization warned Monday that COVID-19 will be around for the foreseeable future, and everyone will have to learn to live with it. The WHO chief issued the warning at the opening of the agency’s weeklong executive board meeting. Two years ago, the World Health …
your ad hereFrom Alaska to Washington DC – Theatre Director Molly Smith Has Seen it All
Molly Smith, who is the artistic director of the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., has been highlighting American plays for over 20 years. Liliya Anisimova has her story, narrated by Anna Rice. Camera: Yuriy Zakrevskiy …
your ad hereTo Stream or Not to Stream? COVID Turns Film Industry Upside Down
Just as studios were resuming theatrical releases at the end of last year, the omicron variant of the coronavirus rolled in, forcing a return to streaming or a theater release-streaming hybrid. Now that the traditional way of viewing new releases has changed, the film industry faces a crucial question: In …
your ad hereGhanaian Football Team Scores Against Sea Turtle Poachers
The coast of Ghana is home to five of the world’s endangered sea turtles, which are threatened by fishing nets and poachers who sell their meat and eggs. To help revive the turtle populations, a young footballers have taken it upon themselves to guard turtle nests and rescue turtles captured by …
your ad hereCalifornia Nursing Homes Use Robotic Pets to Help the Elderly
In a California senior care community, very special pets are helping residents keep their spirits up, fight anxiety and feel loved. Officials say these animals are therapeutic, low-maintenance and never get moody. Angelina Bagdasaryan has the story, narrated by Anna Rice. Camera: Vazgen Varzhabetian …
your ad hereFrench Fashion Designer Thierry Mugler Dies Aged 73
French designer Thierry Mugler, who reigned over fashion in the 1980s and died on Sunday, was as famous for his fantastical couture as for his blockbuster fashion shows. He was 73. Mugler’s daring collections came to define the decade’s power dressing, with his clothes noted for their structured and sophisticated …
your ad hereUNESCO Lists Viking-Era Wooden Sailboats on Heritage List
For thousands of years, wooden sailboats allowed the peoples of Northern Europe to spread trade, influence and sometimes war across seas and continents. In December, the U.N.’s culture agency added Nordic “clinker boats” to its list of traditions that represent the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway …
your ad hereUS Anti-Vaccine Activists to Rally at Lincoln Memorial
Anti-vaccine activists are set to rally Sunday in Washington at the Lincoln Memorial.The anti-vaccine argument has taken hold among various American groups, including politicians, school officials, professional athletes and health care workers. Public health officials say about 20% of U.S. adults are unvaccinated. COVID vaccine passport protests were held in …
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