Taipei, Taiwan — China’s top leaders set an ambitious economic growth target of 5% for 2024 Tuesday, vowing to “seek progress while maintaining stability” amid a sluggish economy and weak confidence among investors and consumers. Delivering his first work report since assuming the second-most powerful position in China last October, Chinese …
your ad hereChina Unveils 5% Growth Target During Ceremonial Meeting of Parliament
China kicked off its annual session of parliament Tuesday in Beijing. VOA’s Bill Gallo, who attended the event, says Chinese leaders are trying to put a positive spin on the many economic problems they face. …
your ad hereNigeria Takes Bold Steps to Erase Digital Gender Gap
The World Bank says digital entrepreneurship is paving the way for economic empowerment across Nigeria and reducing poverty through internet access. In a January report, the Bank says internet access reduced extreme poverty by 7% in the West African country. But it noted a digital gender gap where women are …
your ad hereAI’s Newest Advance: Realistic High-Definition Video From a Few Words
The latest innovation in artificial intelligence is photo-realistic video created from just a few words. Deana Mitchell has the story. …
your ad hereSinead O’Connor’s Estate Tells Trump: ‘Stop Playing Her Music at Rallies’
LONDON — The estate of Sinead O’Connor asked Donald Trump Monday not to play her music at campaign rallies, saying the late singer considered the former president a “biblical devil.” Trump has played O’Connor’s biggest hit, “Nothing Compares 2 U,” at events as he campaigns for the Republican presidential nomination. In …
your ad hereApple Fined Nearly $2 Billion by European Union Over Music Streaming Competition
London — The European Union leveled its first antitrust penalty against Apple on Monday, fining the U.S. tech giant nearly $2 billion for breaking the bloc’s competition laws by unfairly favoring its own music streaming service over rivals. Apple banned app developers from “fully informing iOS users about alternative and cheaper …
your ad hereSouth Korea Takes Steps to Suspend Licenses of Striking Doctors
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s government began steps Monday to suspend the medical licenses of thousands of striking junior doctors, days after they missed a government-set deadline to end their joint walkouts, which have severely impacted hospital operations. Nearly 9,000 medical interns and residents have been on strike for two …
your ad here‘Dune: Part Two’ Brings Spice Power to Box Office With $81.5 Million North American Debut
Indonesia Grapples With Obesity Issues
March 4 is World Obesity Day. Indonesia is facing a disparity in obesity rates among adults. Almost half of the country’s women are overweight or obese, nearly double the rate of Indonesian men according to data from the country’s Ministry of Health. Dave Grunebaum looks at the issue. (Camera: Dave …
your ad hereIsrael to Revise Eurovision Entries Said to Allude to Hamas Attack
Jerusalem — Israel on Sunday said it had asked lyricists to revise its proposed Eurovision Song Contest entries, potentially heading off a dispute with organizers over political content. Authorities last week said Israel would not be able to participate in this year’s edition of the popular competition if organizers rejected the …
your ad hereChina Prepares for Annual Legislative Meetings Amid Economic Headwinds
Norovirus Illnesses Rising; Here’s What You Need to Know
Number of Abortions in US Remains Steady, Report Finds
Weather Delays SpaceX Launch Taking US, Russians to ISS
Raye Sets Record at BRIT Awards, Britain’s Pop Music Honors
LONDON — Singer-songwriter Raye was the big winner Saturday at the BRIT Awards, the biggest night in British music, setting a new record for most prizes in one night at the annual ceremony. Raye won six awards, including for artist of the year, album of the year for My 21st Century …
your ad herePope Francis Asks Aide to Read Ceremonial Speech Due to Bronchitis
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis, who has been suffering from influenza, said he delegated the reading of a speech at a ceremony Saturday to an aide because he was unable to read it due to bronchitis. “I have prepared a speech but as you can see, I am unable to read …
your ad hereCDC Relaxes COVID Guidelines; Will Schools, Day Cares Follow Suit?
BOSTON — Four years after the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools and upended child care, the CDC says parents can start treating the virus like other respiratory illnesses. Gone are mandated isolation periods and masking. But will schools and child care centers agree? In case you’ve lost track: Before Friday, all Americans, …
your ad hereIris Apfel, Fashion Icon Known for Her Eye-Catching Style, Dies at 102
NEW YORK — Iris Apfel, a textile expert, interior designer and fashion celebrity known for her eccentric style, has died. She was 102. Her death was confirmed by her commercial agent, Lori Sale, who called Apfel “extraordinary.” No cause of death was given. It was also announced on her verified Instagram …
your ad hereAs DR Congo Seeks to Expand Drilling, Some Worry Pollution Will Worsen
MOANDA, DR Congo — The oil drills that loom down the road from Adore Ngaka’s home remind him daily of everything he’s lost. The extraction in his village in western Congo has polluted the soil, withered his crops and forced the family to burn through savings to survive, he said. Pointing …
your ad hereAlaska’s Iditarod Dogs Get Neon Visibility Harnesses After Crashes
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Iditarod, the annual sled dog race celebrating Alaska’s official state sport, is set to get under way Saturday with a new focus on safety after five dogs died and eight were injured in collisions with snowmobiles while training on shared, multiuse trails. For the first time, mushers …
your ad hereCVS, Walgreens Stores to Start Dispensing Abortion Pill Mifepristone
Rooted in Nature, Washington Festival Explores Ideas About Forests, Conservation
Exploring the relationship between humanity and nature, the Reach to Forest international festival brings artists together to plant ideas among viewers about the environment and conservation. From the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, VOA’s Cristina Caicedo Smit has the story. Camera: Phillip Datcher …
your ad hereFirst US Moon Lander in 50 Years Goes Silent
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — The first U.S. spacecraft to land on the moon since the Apollo astronauts fell silent Thursday, a week after breaking a leg at touchdown and tipping over near the lunar south pole. Intuitive Machines’ lander, Odysseus, lasted longer than the company anticipated after it ended up on …
your ad hereUkrainian YouTuber Finds Her AI Clone Selling Russian Goods on Chinese Internet
washington — Speaking Mandarin and promoting love for China, countless videos of foreign-looking women made with artificial intelligence started popping up on Chinese social media platforms around the Lunar New Year earlier this month. The avatars in the videos are created with online images that are stolen, reproduced and repurposed so …
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