Yuma, Arizona — As the world pivots from planet-warming fossil fuels to renewable energy, a new pollution problem is rearing its head: What to do with old or worn-out solar panels? Thousands of photovoltaic slabs are being installed across the United States every day, particularly in the sunny west and south …
your ad hereTom Smothers, Half of American Comedy Duo the Smothers Brothers, Dies at 86
India Demanded Apple Soften Impact of Hack Warnings, Report Says
New York City’s Times Square Prepares for New Year’s Eve
Every December 31, New Yorkers and tourists alike flock to the Big Apple’s Times Square for the New Year’s Eve celebration. Elena Wolf had a look at how the city prepares for the big event in this story narrated by Anna Rice. VOA footage by Max Avloshenko and Elena Matusovsky. …
your ad hereApple Wins Bid to Pause Apple Watch Ban at US Appeals Court
NY Times Sues OpenAI, Microsoft for Allegedly Infringing Copyrighted Work
NEW YORK — The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft on Wednesday, accusing them of using millions of the newspaper’s articles without permission to help train artificial intelligence technologies. The Times said it is the first major U.S. media organization to sue OpenAI and Microsoft, which created ChatGPT and other …
your ad hereCOVID-19 Effects Linger Among International Students in US
The COVID-19 pandemic affected students around the world, disrupting their studies and weakening their social skills. But the pandemic did generate some positive outcomes, say college counselors and international students who are back to in-person learning in the United States. VOA’s Laurel Bowman explores. Camera: Adam Greenbaum and Saqib Ul …
your ad hereHow Librarian Spies Helped Win World War II
Academics used their information gathering and organizing skills as weapons against the Nazis …
your ad here‘Parasite’ Actor Lee Sun-kyun Found Dead: Report
Seoul, South Korea — South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his role in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite”, was found dead Wednesday in an apparent suicide according to a police official. The actor was discovered inside a vehicle at a park in central Seoul, Yonhap news agency reported, citing police. …
your ad hereIsrael Grants Intel $3.2B for New $25B Chip Plant, Biggest Company Investment in Country
Jerusalem — Israel’s government agreed to give Intel a $3.2 billion grant for a new $25 billion chip plant it plans to build in southern Israel, both sides said on Tuesday, in what is the largest investment ever by a company in Israel. The news comes as Israel remains locked in …
your ad hereHigh Rice Prices Worldwide Likely to Continue Into 2024
WASHINGTON — Arnong Mungoei has farmed rice in Thailand’s Khon Kaen province for half a century. Working land some 500 kilometers northeast of Bangkok never made her rich, but it provided a dependable livelihood. But since February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, global geopolitical tensions and weather conditions elsewhere have upended the rice markets and by 2023, …
your ad hereApple Watch Import Ban Goes Into Effect in US Patent Clash
Washington — A U.S. import ban on certain Apple smartwatch models came into effect Tuesday, after the Biden administration opted not to veto a ruling on patent infringements. The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) decided in October to ban Apple Watch models over a patented technology for detecting blood-oxygen levels. …
your ad hereLogOn: Satellites, Lasers Help Estimate Snowpack in Drought-Stricken Regions
For water managers in drought-stricken regions, accurate forecasts of water availability are critically important. Matt Dibble shows how remote sensing technology is helping in the Rocky Mountains in this edition of LogOn. …
your ad hereWhy Are We Drawn to New Year’s Resolutions?
As the end of December approaches, millions of Americans will make pledges to lose weight, save more money or learn a new language, only for most of these promises to be forgotten in a few months. So, why do we make New Year’s resolutions in the first place? …
your ad hereJapan Moon Lander Enters Lunar Orbit
Tokyo, Japan — Japan’s SLIM space probe entered the moon’s orbit Monday in a major step toward the country’s first successful lunar landing, expected next month. The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) is nicknamed the “Moon Sniper” because it is designed to land within 100 meters (328 feet) of a …
your ad hereIn Photos: Christmas Celebrations Around the World
Insect Compasses, Fire-Fighting Vines: 2023’s Nature-Inspired Tech
Paris — Even as human-caused climate change threatens the environment, nature continues to inspire our technological advancement. “The solutions that are provided by nature have evolved for billions of years and tested repeatedly every day since the beginning of time,” said Evripidis Gkanias, a University of Edinburgh researcher. Gkanias has a …
your ad hereOn Weekend Before Christmas, ‘Aquaman’ Sequel Drifts to First at Box Office
As 2023 Draws to Close, Notre Dame’s Reconstruction Offers Light
Paris — With bleak December weather gripping the French capital and world attention dominated by the bloody conflict in Gaza, the slow reemergence of Paris’ fire-battered Notre Dame cathedral is a welcome Christmas present. A golden rooster — a potent symbol of light in Christianity and of France — once again …
your ad hereEl Nino and Climate Change Created Disastrous Weather in 2023
2023 demolished temperature records worldwide. It was the hottest year on record, and some scientists say the hottest in 125,000 years. Those supercharged temperatures helped drive a series of climate disasters around the world. VOA’s Steve Baragona has a look back. …
your ad hereBionic Prostheses Empower Wounded Ukrainian Soldiers
KYIV, Ukraine — When Alexis Cholas lost his right arm as a volunteer combat medic near the front lines in eastern Ukraine, his civilian career as a surgeon was over. But thanks to a new bionic arm, he was able to continue working in health care and is now a rehab …
your ad hereUS Investors See Value in Israeli Tech Firms Despite War
HERZLIYA, Israel — Nearly 7,000 miles away in Portland, Oregon, venture capitalist George Djuric said he was compelled to visit Israel during the country’s war with Palestinian militant group Hamas and to pledge support for the high-tech sector. Djuric, chief technology officer at yVentures who arrived in the United States as …
your ad hereArtists Use Tech Weapons Against AI Copycats
NEW YORK — Artists under siege by artificial intelligence that studies their work and then replicates their styles, have teamed with university researchers to stymie such copycat activity. U.S. illustrator Paloma McClain went into defense mode after learning that several AI models had been trained using her art, with no credit …
your ad hereContrary to Politicians’ Claims, Offshore Wind Farms Don’t Kill Whales
PORTLAND, Maine — Unfounded claims about offshore wind threatening whales have surfaced as a flashpoint in the fight over the future of renewable energy. In recent months, conservatives including former President Donald Trump have claimed construction of offshore wind turbines is killing the giant animals. Scientists say there is no credible …
your ad hereHeatwave Warnings Issued as Australia Faces Scorching Summer
SYDNEY — Australia’s national weather agency on Saturday warned of extreme to severe heatwave conditions over northern parts of the country through Sunday. A lower-intensity heatwave is expected for much of the east coast starting Tuesday. The heatwaves continue the scorching start of summer in Australia. In early December, a heatwave …
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