As It Is - Voice of America: Recent Episodes
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In 2024, the number of babies born in South Korea increased for the first time in nine years. The change is welcome news for a country that is dealing with serious population problems.
An Australian warship has rescued a Lithuanian rower who ran into a tropical cyclone while attempting to cross the Pacific Ocean from California. The Royal Australian Navy said 44-year-old Aurimas Mockus had been trapped for three days in the Coral Sea.
Buck turned her life experience as a religious worker in China into stories and books about poor Chinese farmers. The American public liked her work, and she produced many bestsellers. Her success led to a Nobel Prize in 1938.
Since pistachios require little water, farmers have been using more land for the crops in California. And, in the past ten years, the United States has gone beyond Iran to become the world’s top exporter of the nut.
Hundreds of years ago, native Aztecs built islands in the lakes that surrounded their capital. Today, farmers grow crops on the islands although most of the lakes disappeared a long time ago. The farmers want to save their way of life.
A national symbol of Japan, the respected Mount Fuji usually has a cap of snow by early October. This year, weather experts said snowfall on the top of the mountain took place later than it has since records have been kept.
Early Wednesday, news media reported that former President Donald Trump had secured at least 277 Electoral College votes, enough to win the U.S. presidency. Trump becomes only the second president to serve a second term that did not follow his first.
It is estimated that more than 77 million people have voted in the U.S. election already, one day ahead of Election Day. Public opinion studies say Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have about equal support.
At 2.4 meters tall, Olivier Rioux has a place in the Guinness World Records as the world’s tallest living teenager. Soon, he will make basketball history when he plays for the University of Florida.
A rare dime bought by an Ohio farm family in the 1970s was recently sold for just over $500,000. In 1975, the United States Mint in San Francisco produced the coin, which has a face value of one-tenth of one U.S. dollar.
Japanese ramen restaurants are famous for providing high-quality food at a reasonable price. But continuing inflation, affecting things like food and fuel, is making it difficult for ramen sellers to keep costs down.
An airport in New Zealand has gotten a lot of comments about a new policy that limits people to three-minute goodbyes in a drop-off area. Airport officials say it is a nicer policy than British airports.
The United States said on Wednesday that it had seen evidence of North Korean troops in Russia. And South Korean intelligence officials told lawmakers that about 3,000 soldiers had been sent to support Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Finding people to enter the city shelter is not an easy job. There are more shelter beds than ever before. San Francisco’s mayor, London Breed, has said she will no longer permit people living outdoors when they know there is a place to stay indoors.
The tall corn along the roads in the Midwestern United States might soon be only half as tall. The short corn will be stronger in windstorms and can grow closer to other plants.
Local election officials across Pennsylvania are testing the machines people will use in the coming weeks to vote. It will be important to know how the machines will perform under the pressure of the hard use they will experience during the election.
Former president of the United States Jimmy Carter is turning 100 on October 1. The 39th president is celebrating the century mark at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he was born in 1924. He is currently in hospice care.
A bakery near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is selling special cookies with the names of either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump on them. The bakery says the sale of the cookies is a kind of fun, informal election poll. Begun in 2008, sales greatly increased in 2020 and even more so this year.
The head of the People’s Liberation Front party, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has been elected president of Sri Lanka.
The U.S. Justice Department has brought a legal case against the financial services company Visa. It accuses Visa of using illegal methods to block competition in the debit card market that cost Americans billions of dollars each year.
Alcohol-free beer is becoming more popular in Germany. One brewer says that it has the same taste as usual beer but has fewer calories.
A reservoir in Poland built to prevent flooding is being praised for doing its job after major floodwaters hit. Heavy rains made it difficult to contain parts of the rising Oder River. But people living in the cities of Opole and Wroclaw credit the reservoir with saving areas from major destruction.
The FBI says that violent crime decreased in the United States in 2023. The U.S. government agency said violent crime levels have almost returned to levels reported before the COVID-19 pandemic.
China and Japan have reached an agreement over the release of wastewater from Japan’s destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant. The deal prepares the way for China to restart seafood shipments it banned because of concerns about the wastewater.
After severe flooding in many areas, the bacterial disease cholera is spreading in Sudan. Millions of people who have been displaced by civil war and who are seeking shelter in camps are a risk.
Government officials in Nigeria recently announced rules for adding iron, zinc, folic acid and vitamin B12 to bouillon cubes. Public health officials hope such fortified foods will be a cost-effective way to fight malnutrition.
Britain’s last coal-fired power station is set to close at the end of this month. The closure will end all coal-linked burning for electricity production. The Conservative-led government announced in 2015 it would close all coal-fired power stations by 2025 in an effort to reduce carbon emissions.
China’s legislature announced it is raising the retirement age for citizens. Starting soon, men will be able to retire at 63 instead of 60. Women will be able to retire at either 55 or 58 instead of 50. The change will take place over 15 years.
Chinese migrants are going all over the world. They are starting businesses in Mexico or becoming students in Thailand. But one country has become increasingly popular among Chinese migrants: Japan.
Once an illegal hunter, the man now calms villagers angry over losing farm animals to wildlife. Dry conditions in Zimbabwe have forced wildlife closer to humans and conflict is common.
As the population grows in central Nigeria and development grows into rural areas, herders must move into the city center in search of grass for their animals.
Thousands of pythons live in Florida without natural predators. Controlling this invasive species falls to snake hunters.
Miners in Botswana recently unearthed what officials say is the second-largest diamond in mining history. The 2,492-carat gem is the biggest diamond to be discovered since 1905. The diamond weighs around a half-kilogram.
Hundreds of California sea lions have taken over San Carlos Beach in Monterey, California, causing local officials to close the area to people.
China announced an effort to build a "birth-friendly society." It seeks to establish measures long-called for by population experts, such as lowering childcare and education costs. But, the same experts are concerned that China’s new effort also promises to try to get more people into urban areas.
In the American state of Kansas, a group of religious women have been calling on large companies to change the way they do business.
For tens of thousands of men in Kampala, driving a motorcycle taxi is a job. The vehicles are known as boda-bodas. But they cause a lot of disorder in the city by not obeying traffic rules. Some are involved in carrying out crimes.
Australia is planning to build a huge solar farm in the country's north. The $19 billion project is expected to produce up to 6 gigawatts of electricity.
Mongolia wants more tourists to visit its open spaces and cultural activities. The nation aims to grow its tourism industry that, before the COVID-19 pandemic, accounted for a big part of its economy.
Officials in Zimbabwe are pushing programs to teach children how to deal with dangerous wildlife. They want children to learn ways to coexist with wild animals that they say are important to the community.
China has proposed a new law to make it easier to register marriages, but more difficult to divorce. Officials said the measure aims to help build a “family friendly society” as Chinese officials struggle to get young couples to marry and have children as the country’s population falls.
The U.S. government plans to reduce the amount of Colorado River water several states are permitted to use next year. The river supplies water to seven Western states, more than 20 Native American tribes, and two states in Mexico.
The United States Navy has recently deployed new long-range air-to-air missiles in the Indo-Pacific area. The move could take away China's lead in the area, experts say.
An agency of the Japanese government issued its first-ever "megaquake advisory" recently after a powerful earthquake struck off the country’s southeastern coast. But the warning has caused public unease about what to do.
In the green hills of central Bosnia and Herzegovina, Halim Zukic has recreated a nature park in the form of Vincent van Gogh's famous painting, "The Starry Night." The park will show art programs and promote Bosnia’s cultural heritage.
Student protests in Bangladesh helped to bring about a change in the country’s leadership. Their efforts follow a history of students in other countries involved in bringing changes to government policies or leadership.
The secretive artist, Banksy, has never confirmed his official identity. Banksy has been announcing new art works on his Instagram social media page after he has placed them in public places.
Usually, bananas are grown in tropical areas. Now, farmers in South Korea are having some success in growing tropical fruit.
A study from New York University says some small counties in places like Kentucky and Vermont are hit by disasters again and again. The study tracks federal aid money going to local governments.
Sport and city officials have delayed the swimming part of the triathlon competition at the Paris Olympics. They are concerned that levels of bacteria in the water are unsafe for the competitors.
People in Nigeria and other African nations want systems to cool buildings. But some people are concerned this is making pollution there worse. Some say a lack of effective education and training about the possible harms of cooling refrigerants is to blame.
The chief of the social media service X shared a parody video that used AI-generated sound to make fun of Vice President Kamala Harris. That has some concerned about the use of AI to influence people’s election decisions.
A small insect is hurting Tunisia’s prickly pears, an important source of money for the North African country's economy. The pears cover approximately 600,000 hectares and are an important source of money for thousands of people, particularly women who harvest and sell the fruit.
Cuba’s capital, Havana, is famous for its colorful vintage cars. They fill the streets and are often popular subjects for visitors' photographs. But these days, Cubans are just as likely to be found traveling around town quickly and quietly on electric scooters made with Chinese parts.
On Sunday, President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race. Many in the Democratic Party are now supporting Vice President Kamala Harris to be the party’s presidential nominee.
A new report says the world’s population is expected to reach 10.3 billion in the 2080s. The United Nations document suggests that after reaching the peak, the population will then decrease to about 10.2 billion by the end of the century.
A gunman fired at former President Donald Trump during a campaign speech in Butler, Pennsylvania, killing another man and injuring two more. The attack was the latest in the history of attempted killings of presidents in America. Here is a partial list.
The leaders’ meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will try to strengthen its partnerships among Indo-Pacific countries. But China sees the move as a threat to its own influence and development.
Aircraft manufacturer Boeing admitted it had lied to the government about a problem that caused two passenger plane crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people.
Near Jammu, India, the smell of burning garbage, or waste material, spreads out for kilometers across the city. Experts say the air is dangerous to breathe. The extremely high summer temperatures add to the danger. But a small number of people work at the site through the smoke and intense heat.
The United States Supreme Court on Monday ruled that American presidents have "immunity" from prosecution over what the ruling calls "official acts." The ruling also declared that presidents do not have such immunity for “unofficial acts.”
Public officials and others have to decide whether they should keep the places where shooting tragedies happened or to tear them down. Experts say such decisions can be complex.
A few cities in the United States are building groups of small housing structures to deal with the problem of homelessness. These “micro communities” provide support services and aim to move homeless people to permanent housing.
A mysterious rising structure has been discovered in a rural desert area of Nevada. Las Vegas police officers recently spotted what they described as a “mysterious monolith” while on a search and rescue operation in an area popular with hikers.
A married couple from Missouri keeps a summer home in a small town in Maine. To see the ocean better, they poisoned trees belonging to their neighbors. Now they are paying the price for their actions.
A candidate for Britain’s parliament, Steve Endacott, is using an AI system in an effort to connect with voters and gather their ideas on campaign issues. He thinks the process supports democracy and hopes more politicians will start using AI in this way.
Researchers have made what they call a “spectacular” finding at the Mount Vernon home of America’s first president: almost 30 bottles of preserved fruit.
For several hundred years, people have gathered in the town of San in southern Mali for Sanké mon, a collective fishing rite. The event celebrates the town’s founding and marks the beginning of the rainy season. But some people say climate change and heat waves are interfering with the tradition.
The board and shareholders first approved the plan, which gives Musk special shares of stock, in 2018. But a Delaware judge halted the plan. With the re-approval vote, Tesla is expected to ask the judge to reconsider her decision.
The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has announced a program that would give an estimated 500,000 people who are not in the country legally a way to gain legal status.
Greek officials recently announced the discovery of a 4,000-year-old-stone building on the island of Crete. The historical find could block progress on a big airport project.
A famous cow in Brazil is being used to start a genetic line that might feed people for a long time. Viatina-19 is an example of Brazil’s agricultural strength.
From China, to India, to Canada, to Greece, officials are reporting high temperatures, closing schools and watching for wildfires.
A group of children searching for dinosaur remains found a young Tyrannosaurus rex in North Dakota. The rare find is now at Colorado museum.
Companies like Nexans are increasingly reusing copper to provide the important material for electrical wire and devices. The need for copper is only expected to increase.
A family-run workshop is making remote-controlled stretchers. They are used to rescue wounded troops as Russia's invasion continues and Kyiv seeks new battlefield solutions.
The U.N. children's agency says 181 million children younger than 5 live in severe food poverty. That is more than a quarter of the world’s youngest children.
The leaders of some of the largest companies in the world saw their pay increase by 13 percent last year. For average private workers, the increase was 4.1 percent.
Nigeria is making an effort to regulate its mining operations. The country also aims to deal with illegal activity and to profit from its mineral resources. Demand for lithium, tin, and other minerals has increased.
President Joe Biden issued a proclamation that put limits on the number of people permitted to enter the country illegally. The restrictions go into effect if the average number of illegal immigrants reaches 2,500 per day.
A 101-year-old man from California will be in France this week to honor those who were lost during the D-Day invasion 80 years ago.
Steinbaum has promised to continue the policies of outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
A jury in New York found leading Republican Party presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump guilty in the first criminal trial of former U.S. president.
A Hong Kong court found 14 democracy activists guilty of national security crimes. Reuters told the story of just one: Own Chow.
In the American state of California, researchers recently climbed the world’s largest tree to check on its health. The tree is a giant sequoia named General Sherman.
A North Korean official said the balloons were a direct reply to the spread of anti-North Korean messages by South Korean activists.
Soon, climbers will need to pay a fee and request permission to climb up a popular path to Mount Fuji. New rules to control crowds and waste will limit the number of climbers to 4,000 per day at a fee of $18.
A landslide in Enga Province Friday might have buried as many as 2000 people. Estimates remain unclear. Bad weather and tribal unrest have hurt aid efforts.
Melinda French Gates, the ex-wife of Bill Gates, announced plans to give money to many charities that support women’s rights around the world.
Human Rights Watch said in a recent report that the Chinese government should be investigated for its urbanization campaign involving rural Tibetans. The group said 3 million Tibetans have been affected.
Japan is undergoing a major military build-up. But it is struggling to fill its ranks with the women that its forces need and its policymakers have promised to recruit.
The Associated Press reports that an environmental group said at least 138 monkeys died during the recent heat wave. Veterinarians and rescuers tried to save several animals. They said heat and other causes played a part in the deaths.
The helicopter crashed on Sunday in bad weather in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. Search crews found the wreckage Monday.
Trade information shows that, in recent years, the value of China’s exports to Vietnam closely matches the value of Vietnam’s exports to the U.S.
The U.S. says it will not use airplanes in war without human pilots, but it is practicing with AI just in case.
Displaced people have fled their homes but remain within the borders of their own country. A Geneva-based migration research group reports that conflicts and natural disasters left a record 76 million people internally displaced.
The U.S. administration announces plans to increase tariffs on $18 billion worth of Chinese imports. The goods facing new taxes include electric vehicles, computer chips, batteries, critical minerals, medical products, steel and aluminum.
In China, many older workers are continuing to work because they say government payments offered to retirees are not enough to live on.
The Japanese town of Fujikawaguchiko has decided to take action against misbehaving tourists who come to take photos with nearby Mount Fuji in the background. City workers are building a large black screen to block views of the famous mountain in an effort to reduce the number of visitors.
Officials of the administration of President Joe Biden have repeatedly said the U.S. will not support an invasion unless Israel provides a plan on how it would protect civilians.
Financial support for climate technology startups in Africa from the private sector is growing. Businesses have raised more than $3.4 billion since 2019, but the continent requires $277 billion each year to meet its climate goals for 2030.
Heavy rains and severe flooding have been hitting Kenya since March. They are among the most disastrous rainstorms to hit the East African country in recent years.
More foreigners are visiting the country because violence has decreased. The numbers are not large, but there is a notable increase in Afghan tourism.
An immigrant from Laos who has lived in the U.S. for 30 years won half of a $1.3 billion Powerball prize. Cheng Saephan, who has two young children, said he wanted to provide for his family.
Officials have been dealing with high temperatures in Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, public schools were cancelled. In Vietnam and Thailand, heat is increasing demand for electricity and air conditioning.
Farmers in Vietnam are growing rice using a new method thought to reduce emissions of methane gas and labor costs. The method is called alternate wetting and drying. It uses about 30 percent less water than traditional ways of growing rice.
A new study finds nearly half of Chinese cities show signs of sinking. The study suggests 45 percent of land in the biggest cities suffers “moderate to severe” levels of sinking. Experts say the situation puts millions of people at risk of flooding, especially as sea levels continue to rise.
Petrobras, Brazil’s state-run oil company, is facing resistance to its drilling plan. The company wants to search for oil in the country’s northeast. But native people there say their concerns are not being heard.
In 2020, India suddenly banned the popular app, alongside dozens of other Chinese apps, following a military conflict along the India-China border.
The group bringing the legal action said South Korea’s climate plans are not enough to keep the world’s average temperature from increasing more than 1.5 degrees Celsius past pre-industrial levels.
Delegates from the United Nations and people involved in the plastics industry are meeting in Ottawa, Canada. They are negotiating a proposed treaty on plastics. The treaty aims to control production, use and banning of products linked to plastics.
Tensions over strong opinions about Israel’s war in Gaza are spreading at some universities around the United States.
Earth Day celebrates its 54th anniversary on Monday, April 22. On this date each year, millions of people around the world mark the importance of protecting the environment.
Experts say the contributions of immigrant workers have helped prevent a downturn in the United States economy.
The World Bank recently released a report on 75 of the world’s poorest countries. It said, for the first time in the 2000s, half those countries were falling behind rich nations in economic growth.
Record rainfall in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) flooded streets in the desert nation and closed Dubai International Airport on Wednesday.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Russia’s far eastern spaceport to discuss arms and rockets.
Severe flooding in Libya leaves thousands of people missing after Mediterranean Storm Daniel dropped heavy rain on the country’s northeast.
Drug traffickers find containers filled with bananas the perfect vehicle to smuggle their product.
Five years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for legalized sports betting. Now, almost three-fourths of states have moved to permit it, but there has not been much funding for problem gambling services.
A group of technology investors recently released its plans to create a new “green” city between San Francisco and Sacramento in California. The leader is Jan Sramek, a former trader for the financial services company Goldman Sachs.
The sport of tennis has a problem with waste. Tennis balls are not recyclable. Almost all of the 330 million balls manufactured each year end up in waste, or garbage, landfills. Once there, it can take as long as 400 years for the balls to decompose.
Australia has one of the world's highest rates of language loss in the world, because of discriminatory policies toward Aboriginal people. Some are leading efforts to revive the almost-dead languages.
Difficulty with immigration documents is common for many Afghans who were resettled through Operation Allies Welcome. Their path to legally living in the U.S. permanently is not simple.
The Indian government project destroyed thousands of homes and business in poor areas of the capital city. As many as 300,000 people have been displaced and are homeless, one report says.
The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden announced that it is extending temporary protection from deportation to migrants from six countries.
Knoxville, Tennessee is attempting to use research-based methods to reduce gun violence. These include efforts to teach youth and families to work through conflicts, change policing practices and increase trust between community members and the police.
The U.N. human rights office says criminal groups have forced hundreds of thousands of people in Southeast Asia into unlawful online scam operations.
Indonesia has been a close U.S. partner since 2015. But Vietnam is only now ready to officially strengthen diplomatic relations after 10 years. President Joe Biden will visit Vietnam on September 10.
At least 14 large U.S. cities are using mental health teams to respond to some emergency 911 calls. The aim is to reduce possible violent interactions between mentally troubled people and police.
The Brazilian Amazon has long been home to small businesses use forest nuts, fruits and other products. A new term has come about to describe these kinds of businesses: “bioeconomy.”
The military takeover occurred after a vote that was set to extend the Bongo family's more than 50 years in power.
The ocean storm struck parts of the southern state of Florida bringing rain, high winds and forcing seawater onto land.
A group says thousands of babies were taken from Chilean families in the 1970s and 1980s. Nonprofit groups aim to reunite these people with families.
India placed restrictions on some kinds of rice exports. But the move, aimed at keeping prices at home down, has resulted in tight markets in Asia and Africa.
As China’s supply of earthworms used for medicine falls, Vietnamese hunters are attempting to catch them to fill Chinese demand. Many hunters are now digging for earthworms in Vietnam, but their harvesting is hurting farming operations.
An event showing war stories and artwork from Ukrainian children recently opened in Amsterdam, the city where Anne Frank wrote her World War II diaries. The exhibition shows the experiences of children caught in the war in Ukraine.
Iran and Saudi Arabia are among six countries set to join Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa in the BRICS economic group starting next year. Some experts think the expansion of BRICS could bring more attention to China’s political power in the Persian Gulf.
The head of the paramilitary Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, might be among those who died when a small plane crashed near Moscow on Wednesday.
Satellite images of Triton Island show a new structure that experts believe is a part of China's military expansion in the South China Sea. The images have created protests from the U.S., Vietnam and Taiwan.
Japan’s government confirmed on Tuesday that it will start releasing treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant this week.
Srettha Thavisin is the wealthy leader of one of Thailand’s best-known property companies. He was selected prime minister just nine months after joining a political party known for supporting the poor.
The rights group Human Rights Watch has accused border guards in Saudi Arabia of killing Ethiopian migrants trying to cross into the kingdom from Yemen.
Lake Maracaibo has been a center of Venezuela’s oil industry for many years. But weak efforts to keep the body of water clean have resulted in pollution and waste damaging its environment.
As thousands of visitors come to a city in Alaska to see glaciers, some wonder how long the natural beauty will last.
West African leaders from the ECOWAS group of nations are concerned that time is running out to intervene in Niger.
China’s exports fell by 14.5 in July compared to a year earlier. Others signs also show China’s economy is cooling off.
Shares of Vietnam's electric car company VinFast started publicly trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange on Tuesday. By the end of the first trading day, investors had pushed the market value of stock in the new company higher than the market value of Volkswagen and Ford.
The indictment is the fourth set of criminal charges against Trump, the leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.
After two years in power, the Taliban are still the clear rulers of Afghanistan. Here is a closer look at their time in power.
Top officials in Hawaii say death totals will continue to grow as Maui works to put out and recover from the fires that rushed through Lahaina last week.
The United States has launched a competition for developing artificial intelligence (AI) to find and fix security issues in U.S. government infrastructure. Officials say the goal of the competition is help increase America’s cyber defenses.
Wildfires on Hawaii’s island of Maui have killed at least 55 people and destroyed a historic town. The number of deaths is expected to rise even higher. Officials said it will take years to rebuild Lahaina, the one-time capital of the former kingdom of Hawaii.
Researchers studied the genes of 27 individuals found in a burial site for an iron industrial area. Their research provides knowledge into the history of enslaved African Americans.
Representatives from Asia and Africa joined a meeting of Amazon rainforest nations in Brazil to discuss preservation.
Data shows American health care workers now have more injuries that do not result in death from workplace violence than workers in any other profession, including law enforcement.
China wants the Philippines to move a warship parked on a small piece of land in the South China Sea. The Philippines says the ship is in its area of control.
ECOWAS leaders are preparing for a meeting Thursday to discuss their situation with the Niger junta. The junta did not follow an August 6 deadline to put back in power ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
Single women in Taiwan are freezing their eggs although they cannot use them unless they are married to a man. The women are hoping the self-ruled island will one day lift a ban on single women using the frozen eggs to get pregnant unless they marry a man.
China has proposed placing limits on the time children can use smartphones. The new limits would add to restrictions already in place for games and video services.
Many plans designed to deal with climate change depend on the use of clean energy from the sun, or solar power. But the equipment necessary for solar power sometimes gets damaged or wears out. These solar panels end up as waste in landfills.
A nonprofit in Geneva called Free-Go is fighting food waste by letting business and people drop off food at publicly available refrigerators for people to take home for free.
Some carmakers want to stop providing radios that receive AM radio signals. But people, especially in rural areas, say that would harm and limit the information available to them.
The charging document called an indictment, accuses Trump of four crimes: conspiracy to defraud the government, blocking an official meeting of Congress and plotting to do so, and threatening people’s right to vote.
From truck drivers to Hollywood actors, many workers in the United States are complaining about low pay and long hours. The unhappiness is a result of changes in technology and the economy. And worker’s jobs have changed as companies try to meet customer expectations for speed and ease.
At about summer's halfway point, the world’s record-breaking heat and weather extremes are both unprecedented and unsurprising.
Bhutanese youth are moving to Australia for education and business as their country now has a struggling economy and high youth unemployment. They think Australia offers better possibilities at a lower cost than other places.
The United Nations has launched an operation to empty the oil from a tanker off the coast of Yemen. The ship has not been used for eight years but has 1 million barrels of oil that could leak out.
A Pakistani mountaineering official says a Norwegian woman and her Nepali Sherpa guide have completed the fastest climb of the world's 14 highest mountains.
Famous Christian religious places in southern Europe are seeing record numbers of visitors. But not everyone is happy about the large crowds. Church leaders are finding it difficult to balance the needs of tourists and the people who come to pray.
The plan makes it the first Group of 20 country to follow through on a 2009 promise to end government support for the industry.
Chinese spy ships are closely monitoring the US-Australia military drills "Talisman Sabre," raising concerns about possible threats. The drills involve 30,000 troops from 12 countries.
On Wednesday, a group of soldiers detained the Niger’s democratically elected president and said they were taking over the government. Now, it is unclear what will happen with French and U.S. forces there.
A device that sends information to the U.S. weather agency, NOAA, recorded the high temperature. Scientists saw the number and were concerned for sea life in the area.
The European Union approved the $47 billion Chips Act to increase semiconductor production in Europe. The EU aims to double its share of world chip production to 20 percent.
South Korea’s top court has overturned a parliamentary vote that removed the country’s public safety minister over a deadly incident in October. Lee Sang-min was serving when 159 people were crushed in a densely packed crowd during a celebration last October in Seoul.
Agricultural emissions are getting more attention from U.S. officials, researchers, and industry professionals. One big area of debate is the connection between carbon storage measurements and carbon markets.
Asian Americans mostly favor the US (75%) over China (20%). Chinese Americans' view of China decreases with time in the US, 53% choose the US as the future top economic power.
Jill Biden, President Joe Biden’s wife, is in Paris to announce the return of the United States to UNESCO. The U.S. left the United Nations’ cultural organization in 2018.
The Swan Island project would become the Western Hemisphere’s only island prison. Honduran officials say they plan to use the prison to house the country’s most violent criminals.
Native American people in Minnesota say they have been making smoking pipes for thousands of years. They make the pipes out of a special, sacred rock.
The United States and North Korea do not have diplomatic relations. But they still have ways to communicate with each other. Here is a look at possible ways the nations could discuss Private Travis King.
Nissim Kahlon carved his home into the rock along the side of a beach in Israel starting over 50 years ago. Now he is worried he may need to leave.
The Women’s soccer World Cup is going on in Australia and New Zealand until August 20. The teams from the host countries won their first matches on Thursday.
In Hanoi, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says the U.S. will seek to develop stronger economic and security ties with Vietnam. Yellen held talks with Vietnamese officials Thursday after making earlier visits to China and India.
Panmunjom was once a small farming village inside the DMZ that now hosts a “Joint Security Area.” It has become one of the world’s strangest tourist sites.
The USDA is calling for a partnership with 31 states and the District of Columbia to increase competition and ease food prices.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media that he has received a letter suggesting he will soon be charged by federal lawyers over the events of January 6, 2021.
Morocco’s national women’s team will make its first appearance this month at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. It is the first team from the Arab world where many follow the men’s game. After years of being largely hidden, Moroccan women’s soccer is gaining new ground at home and beyond.
U.S. citizen is being held in North Korea after crossing the border illegally. UN Command is working to resolve as intense relations between South Korea and North Korea rise as U.S. nuclear submarine arrives in South Korea.
Even as temperatures continue to climb, visitors are still coming to see Death Valley National Park on the California-Nevada border.
Russia halted on Monday the U.N.-negotiated deal which lets Ukraine export grain through the Black Sea. Russia ended the deal just hours after Ukraine struck Russia's bridge to Crimea.
Japan is facing a future lack of workers in fields like IT and other STEM-related fields due to a lack of female workers in the field. The government is supporting programs that aims to decrease the stigma for women working in those fields and to create more opportunities for them to do so.
Ukrainians are traveling thousands of kilometers to escape Russian-occupied territory after homes were lost due to the flooding after the Kakhovka Dam collapsed.
Many Ukrainians fled in February 2022 when Russia invaded their country. They thought they would be away for a short time. However, as the war continues, many are thinking about setting up homes in their new countries.
Flooding causing death and damage has been reported in India, Japan, China, Turkey, and the U.S. Scientists predict that bad weather will get worse if the atmosphere’s temperature increases.
A group of workers in Kenya say they are suffering after viewing violent content posted by Facebook users.
The Worcester family wants to build a flagpole about 445 meters tall surrounded by places of interest as a vacation spot in northern Maine. People living there are not sure about the idea.
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is the United Nations body that makes rules about the world’s ocean floor. It is preparing to continue negotiations that could open the international seabed for mining, including for materials central to the move to green energy.
The U.S. citizenship test is being updated, and the changes are expected to start late next year. Some immigrants and advocates worry the changes will hurt test-takers with lower levels of English skills.
Officials on the Orkney Islands, a part of Scotland, recently voted to explore ways of seeking more self-governance — or even independence — from United Kingdom governments.
Two organizations that track the world’s temperatures said this week had two of the hottest days for average world temperature recorded since satellite measurements started around 1979.
An American researcher has been following a small group of monkeys in Brazil for 40 years. She has helped keep them safe and grow their numbers.
In Dubai, one of the United Arab Emirates, an environmental agency is supporting efforts to rescue sea turtles. People taking part want to find out how the turtles are affected by climate change.
The Wagner Group helps provide security for leaders in Africa and the Middle East. The paramilitary group’s recent troubles mean opponents of those leaders might see a chance to gain power.
Many South Koreans are now one or two years younger after the nation changed the way it counted ages on Wednesday.
Dahaghin once watched an American television show that showed how old cars are made to look new. Now he looks to restore Cadillac Sevilles that were once made in Iran
Mexico City's Abeja Negra SOS saves bees from extermination during hive removals, in hopes to save decreasing bee numbers. They have re-homed 510 hives, and others groups have started after seeing their efforts.
The armed rebellion of the paramilitary Wagner Group against the Russian government lasted less than 24 hours. But Ukrainian forces feel hope as they see their enemy in trouble.
A European business group says foreign companies are increasingly pulling investments and operations out of China. The changes are linked to government rules for foreign businesses, a slowing economy and rising operating costs.
For 2,000 years, the Catholic Church’s teachings have barred women from becoming priests or church leaders. Some women now feel more hopeful under Pope Francis and possible changes from the synod. However, conservatives in the church worry it could weaken the tradition of male leadership.
The visit was meant to establish stronger defense and economic ties between the two countries. The visit was also seen as an effort to counter China’s worldwide influence.
There has been a small but rising number of cases of neo-Nazism in Brazil. Critics blame the administration of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
In Vietnam, electricity outages can leave homes and businesses without power for hours at a time. However, a new national energy plan, called Power Development Plan 8, or PDP8, aims to increase Vietnam’s energy production.
Rescuers are searching for a submarine that was traveling to the shipwreck of the Titanic in the North Atlantic Ocean. Five people are believed to be on the ship.
Some animal activists are leading a social media campaign to “Save Benito,” a giraffe living at a small zoo in Mexico. The activists seek to have the animal moved somewhere easier to live.
In the U.S., military service is not required. And it has been difficult for the military to get enough people to volunteer. As a result, the Army and Air Force have reached out to immigrants, offering a pathway to citizenship for those who join.
The port in Long Beach, California is one of the busiest in the U.S. Its owners are using funds from the U.S. government to reduce pollution and improve performance, but workers are concerned about their jobs.
The Kakhovka Dam's destruction caused widespread floods, pollution, and displacement. The long-term effects involve environmental damage, poisoned land, and the need to rebuild.
Local people and government officials in Uganda are concerned about the environmental effects of tree-cutting for charcoal production. Now, people are attacking charcoal producers.
UNESCO officials announced that the United States would rejoin the U.N. cultural and educational agency. They said the U.S. agreed to pay more than $600 million on its return.
The move is Russia's first deployment of nuclear weapons outside the country after the fall of the Soviet Union. The shorter-range less powerful nuclear weapons could possibly be used on the battlefield.
The United Nations said conflicts in Sudan and Ukraine pushed more people from their homes, adding to a record number of displaced people from last year.
Former President Donald Trump told a judge in federal court he is not guilty of charges he unlawfully held government documents after he was president.
Four native children survived a plane crash and 40 days alone in the Amazon rainforest. Now, a custody battle has started among their relatives.
South Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission said last week it will investigate the cases of 237 more South Korean adoptees. The adoptees suspect their family history records were changed to make their adoptions possible in Europe and the United States.
Japan’s damaged Fukushima nuclear center began testing a process to release treated wastewater into the sea. The treated water is to be mixed with seawater before being released into the Pacific Ocean about 1 kilometer from the coast.
Venezuela faces power cuts again because of poor supervision and changing conditions at power-producing dams. Reports say hospitals in Maracaibo were told to operate their own plants because local officials could not guarantee power.
Years of conflict have left many unexploded landmines around South Sudan. Now groups are working to clear the mines as people who fled the fighting are returning home.
Zambia's Kafue National Park is seeing a comeback of lion and leopard populations due to improved protection measures. They include a vulture early-warning system that informs a team of big cat protectors of poisoned dead animals left for the cats to eat.
City officials say some of the companies’ vehicles have a design problem that makes them easier to steal.
Nestle says it has offered money to about 3,000 coffee farmers in developing countries to help them change to sustainable farming practices.
Justice Department special council Jack Smith announced the 37 charges against Trump Friday. The former president is to appear in court on Tuesday.
The PGA Tour and Saudi-supported LIV Golf had been involved in a court case. Now they have decided to join into a single organization.
About 3.8 million hectares of forest have already burned across Canada. The fires are in the western and eastern parts of the country.
Two large insurance companies say they will not offer new insurance policies in California because of fire risk and high costs.
A new report estimates that the first 12 months of the war will create an increase of 120 million metric tons of planet-heating gases.
The Kakhovka dam in the Russian-controlled Kherson area of Ukraine failed Tuesday. Both sides blame the other for the disaster, which is causing flooding and is likely to cut off some water to Russian-controlled Crimea.
Winds are pushing smoke from Canadian wildfires into major cities across the U.S. Midwest and East Coast. The smoke is causing dangerous air quality levels in both countries.
The study released Wednesday says Earth has pushed past seven out of eight scientifically established safety limits. Not only are the planet’s ecosystems in trouble, but people are in danger too.
Military veterans and regular people came to northern France on Tuesday to remember the landing that changed World War II in Europe.
Keiko Kawano leads classes that teach students how to smile better. In Japan, face coverings and COVID-19 restrictions have added to a reduced ability to smile in public.
A Norwegian woman is trying to be the fastest climber to make it to the top of the world’s 14 highest mountains.
The United States military released video on Monday showing what it called an “unsafe” move by a Chinese ship in the waters between Taiwan and China over the weekend.
The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) cut its monthly food rations for the group from $10 for each person to $8 last month. The agency said it was forced to take the action because it did not have enough money to support additional aid.
India launches an official investigation into a crash involving two passenger trains that killed at least 275 people and injured about 1,200 others.
India has a growing population of working age people, but many are having trouble finding good jobs. Economists call it a “crisis.”
In Zimbabwe, an all-female rugby team provides a safe space to keep girls off the street and out of sex work.
North Korean state media said the new satellite launch rocket failed because of engine and fuel system problems. The flight was North Korea’s sixth satellite launch attempt, and the first since 2016.
With the weight of its tall buildings, homes, streets and people, New York is sinking at an average rate of 1 to 2 millimeters each year, a new study says.
South America’s government leaders met Tuesday in Brazil’s capital city for the first time since 2015.
The Russian government has increased efforts to the internet. Activists say Russia also is using technologies like artificial intelligence and facial recognition to follow and watch citizens.
A study by the Associated Press (AP) found that 12 countries may face economic collapse if they fail to repay foreign loans. The countries borrowed a lot of the money from China.
Some farmers in Kansas, one of the top grain-producing states in the U.S., are killing or plowing over their winter wheat crop.
“I only operate,” trauma surgeon Petro Nikitin said. “I do nothing else in my life now."
The U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest warship, arrived in Oslo, Norway on Wednesday to take part in NATO exercises while tensions between NATO and Russia are high.
The U.S. government is nearing its legal borrowing limit. Some experts are worried what would happen if the U.S. fails to pay its debt. However, there is no clear choice for replacing the U.S. dollar around the world.
Brazil’s environmental agency rejected an application for offshore oil drilling from Petrobras, the state energy company.
Critics say the redevelopment plan for a public park, that also has sports stadiums, represents a conflict of interest between the parties pushing for it. Those involved include a major Tokyo builder, a religious organization and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike.
International aid groups say solar energy can help millions of people who are not connected to normal electricity services. An off-grid solar energy system in Indonesia promises to help villagers.
An 85-year-old Japanese woman who survived the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima learned English so she could tell the story of what happened in 1945.
The report said war, in places like Ukraine, and flooding were among the reasons why last year had a record number of people displaced from their homes.
More Iranian women are choosing not to wear the head covering called the hijab. Since the early years of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, women have been required to cover their heads by law. In recent weeks, the government has increased efforts to enforce its law requiring women to wear the hijab.
One of Ukraine’s Air Force leaders said that his soldiers shot down one of Russia’s advanced missiles using a U.S.-made system.
Cambodia is making plans to finish developing large tourist areas along its coast on the Gulf of Thailand. Five years ago, Chinese investors began turning Sihanoukville, a small coastal city, into a large gambling center. But that ended with a ban on online gambling and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Food prices around the world remain high even with falling global prices of agricultural products. Core inflation, energy costs, processing, transportation, and labor costs, along with mergers in the food industry and a strong dollar, are factors that are creating high food prices.
Indian Railways is getting closer to finishing work on a new rail line connecting Indian-controlled Kashmir to the rest of India. Officials say the line could bring big changes to the area. They say it will permit faster movement of people, goods, and security workers.
A new study has found that about 25 percent of jobs are going to change in the next five years. About 69 million jobs will be created and 83 million removed by 2027, it said. That will result in a total decrease of 2 percent of current employment, the Future of Jobs report said.
Barbara Humbert dreams she will be able to take part in the special long-distance running event, the Marathon for All, at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
An old nuclear power plant in Michigan was set to be taken apart. But a new program has the owner thinking about bringing the center back to produce clean energy for the state.
Editor-in-chief Antero Mukka said the paper has hidden stories about Russia's war in Ukraine in the game Counter-Strike. The game is popular worldwide and among young Russian men.
Three women who work to report from Iran, two of whom who covered the death of Mahsa Amini, won an important UNESCO award on Tuesday.
The American Library Association (ALA) reported in March that attempts to ban books in libraries and schools in the United States set a record last year. And one town in the state of Texas is considering going a step further — closing the public library.
If it passes, a new bill from state lawmakers in Wisconsin would limit the way young people can use social media services such as Twitter and TikTok.
From Asia to the Middle East, to Europe, workers of all types rallied for better pay, more protection and time off on May 1.
Iran recently launched a new surveillance program for enforcing its mandatory hijab law. But many women appear to be ignoring it.
Officials in many American cities say they want companies to turn empty office buildings into housing. These housing plans, known as office-to-housing conversions, can help downtown business areas that became empty as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
People in California’s Island District, in the Tulare Lake Basin, are preparing for possible floods as snow from this year’s heavy winter storms begins to melt.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol spoke to U.S. lawmakers on the last day of his state visit. The trip marks the 70th anniversary of U.S.-Korea relations.
Chinese President Xi Jinping recently called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offering to help negotiate an end to Russia conflict with his country. Experts are wondering what that could mean.
Information from the Associated Press and USA Today suggests mass killings happen once every 6.53 days. But they represent a small part of the deadly violence that takes place yearly in America.
The man was sentenced to death for being involved in the selling of 1 kilogram of marijuana. Singapore executed 11 people last year for drug crimes. Critics say the death penalty violates human rights.
Six environmental activists from around the world were named winners of the Goldman Prize on Monday.
A group that trains giant rats for useful jobs is sending some to zoos as ambassadors. Not everyone agrees that rats are good, especially in New York City.
Tunisian officials have ordered water from the state-owned water supplier to be cut off for seven hours a day. Those caught illegally using water will face fines and even jail time.
Such offices have been reported across North America, Europe and in other countries. China says they exist mainly to provide citizen services like providing driver's licenses.
In a period of six days, four young people across the United States were shot — one of them to death — for making ordinary mistakes: arriving at the wrong place.A man shot and wounded two cheerleaders outside a Texas supermarket early Tuesday after one of them said she mistakenly got into his car thinking it was her own.Last Saturday, a group of young people looking for a friend’s house in upstate New York arrived at the wrong property. One of them was shot to death, officials said.And in Missouri last Thursday, a boy was shot twice after going to the wrong home in Kansas City to pick up his younger brothers. The shooting has raised questions about a Missouri law known as “stand your ground” and racial tensions in the area.The shooting in MissouriIn Kansas City, 16-year-old student Ralph Yarl mixed up street names when he went to get his two younger brothers. He arrived instead at the nearby home of 84-year-old Andrew Lester.Lester, who is white, told police he had just gotten into bed when he heard the doorbell ring. He said he took his gun to the door. Lester told police he then saw Yarl, who is Black, pulling on the storm door.Lester’s police statement says he thought the teen was attempting to break into the home and it made him frightened. Without saying a word, Lester fired his gun two times, the statement continues.Yarl disputes Lester’s claim that Yarl was pulling on the door.He said the first shot struck him in the head, knocking him to the ground. As he lay there, the second bullet hit arm in the arm. Yarl told police he fled as the homeowner yelled, “Don’t come around here,” the statement said.Lester was charged with first-degree assault Monday and turned himself in Tuesday.The wounded teen is recovering at home.Legal experts believe Lester’s lawyers will claim self-defense under Missouri’s “stand your ground” law. It permits the use of deadly force if a person fears for his or her life. Missouri is one of about 30 states with such laws.The shooting in New York Kaylin Gillis, a 20-year-old woman, was traveling through the rural town of Hebron, New York with three other people Saturday night. The group turned their three vehicles onto a property that was not the friend's house they were looking for, law officials said. They were met with gunfire.The group was trying to turn their vehicles around when the homeowner, Kevin Monahan, came out of his house. He fired two shots, said Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey Murphy. One hit Gillis. She was killed.Monahan, who is 65 years old, was charged with second-degree murder. Unlike Missouri, New York does not have a “stand your ground” law.The shooting in TexasA man in Texas shot and wounded two teenagers outside a large food store just after midnight Tuesday. One of the victims said the gunman acted after she mistakenly got into his car, thinking it was her own.The shooting in Elgin happened in a store parking lot. The athletes use the parking lot to meet and share rides to cheerleading events, said team owner Lynne Shearer.Heather Roth said she got out of her friend’s car and into a vehicle she thought was hers, but there was a stranger in the passenger seat, news media reported. She said she quickly got back into her friend’s car. The man got out of his vehicle and came toward their car, she said, and she tried to apologize to him through the window. But the man pulled out a gun and opened fire, Roth reported.Roth was hit by a bullet and treated on site, police said. Her teammate, 18-year-old Payton Washington, was shot in the leg and back. Washington is in critical condition at a hospital.Police arrested a suspect, 25-year-old Pedro Tello Rodriguez Jr. He has been charged with “deadly conduct,” a third-degree felony.I’m Caty Weaver.The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English._____________________________________________________________Words in this Storyknock –v. to set in motion by a forceful hitassault –n. a violent physical or verbal attackmidnight –n. The hour of 12 at nightconduct –n. behaviorfelony –n. a serious crime punishable by a heavy sentence We want to hear from you. Here is how our comment system works: Write your comment in the box.Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google.Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with “D” on it. It is free.Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.
The United Nations estimates India will pass China as the world’s most populous nation sometime later this year with about 1.4 billion people.
The small Spanish company Ekonoke wants to grow a crop indoors that is needed for the alcoholic drink beer. They are using science and indoor lights to grow hops outside its normal climate.
For years, these regulators have been accused of undemocratic practices that favor large, industrial fishers. But now several conservation groups are working together to call for a change.
St. Augustine, found in the far northeastern corner of the United States, is often looked over when it comes to America’s history. But the city is the United States’ oldest continuously occupied settlement founded by non-Native Americans and the city wants to welcome more visitors.
Over the weekend, fighting broke out between the armies of Sudan's two most powerful generals. Here is a look at how Sudan, a country with a long history of military overthrows, reached this point.
The World Health Organization says an estimated 9.6 million people in Ukraine could be affected by mental health problems.
The three countries announced a campaign to control illegal migration through one of the busiest routes in the world. The route is known as the Darién Gap in Colombia and Panama.
For many years, the Seine River in Paris was too dirty to swim in. But for the 2024 Olympics, city officials have cleaned up the famous river so it can be a big part of the international sporting event.
Nanuq the dog belongs to an Alaskan island family who lost him for over one month. He was found hundreds of kilometers away in the town of Wales.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, under President Joe Biden, announced a proposal on Wednesday. It would require most new vehicles in the U.S. to be electric by 2032.
Restaurants are using robots to serve food more and more. Some say the use of electronic help will only increase.
Chinese navy ships reportedly remained in waters around Taiwan Tuesday, a day after China said it had ended military exercises in the area. Chinese state media reported the ships continued to carry out “combat training” in the area.
"Fedha" appeared on the Twitter account of the Kuwait News website Saturday as an image of a woman. “What kind of news do you prefer? Let's hear your opinions," she said in traditional Arabic.
James Smith used to grow lots of apples in Kent. But he is pulling up his apple trees because low prices and high costs mean he cannot make a profit.
Hawaii lawmakers are considering legislation that would require visitors to pay for a yearlong license or pass to visit state parks. The policy would be a first of its kind for any U.S. state.
Ukraine says Russia has taken thousands of children during the war. One humanitarian organization is working to bring them back.
In the Chellanam area of India on the Arabian Sea, residents struggle daily with finding fresh water.
A new study suggests that horses were present in the American West by the early 1600s. The new finding came from examinations of horse bones gathered from museums across the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain areas of the U.S.
Community members in Charleston, South Carolina are using DNA to learn about the roots of 36 American slaves who lived in the late 1700s.
The images taken by a robot showed metal structures unprotected and uncovered by building material. Some officials are concerned about the center’s ability to withstand another earthquake.
Voters in Paris decided recently to ban electric scooters but the companies that provide them said they are going to look for a compromise.
Presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump faced criminal charges in a court in New York City on Tuesday. Trump promised to fight the charges calling them political.
A migrant who survived a recent fire at a detention center in Mexico says his cries for help went ignored as officials kept his cell door locked.
Former President Donald Trump is not the first president to face legal problems. Here is a short history of presidents who faced investigations and impeachment.
In the early part of his life, Seiichi Sano was a busy business owner. Later in life, he took on other difficult activities. At the age of 80, he climbed Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain. Soon after, he started surfing.
The research group Afrobarometer found how much Africa depends on radio broadcasts for news and information. About 68 percent of respondents say they listen to the radio at least a few times a week.
A grand jury in New York State indicted Donald J. Trump Thursday night, making him the first former American president to be charged with a crime.
It is the most serious move against a foreign reporter since Russia invaded Ukraine. Gershkovich is also the most notable American arrested by Russia since basketball star Brittney Griner.
The government of Ukraine has been cracking down on the UOC over its ties to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Mass shooters have killed hundreds of people throughout the United States. Mass shootings have happened in food stores, movie theaters and workplaces.
China issues guidelines for citizens in an effort to get people to have more children as the birth rate continues to fall.
Many Americans living in nursing homes face a difficult situation. To stay in the nursing home, they must hand over all their income and only receive a small payment, as low as $30 a month, to buy the things they would like. The payment is called the personal needs allowance, also called a PNA.
Thousands of Israeli protesters have demonstrated against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to place limits the nation’s top court.
Colombia is one of just eight countries where bullfights are still legal. But the tradition is being limited in some places around the world that still permit the practice.
In the first official death count for the drought affecting large parts of the Horn of Africa, an estimated 43,000 Somalians have died. The current crisis is worsened by climate change and insecurity as Somalia battles thousands of fighters with al-Qaida’s East Africa counterpart, al-Shabab.
California has been hit by a storm in a series brought by atmospheric rivers. While beneficial to the environment and for humans, the storms hitting California have been deadly and caused damage across the state.
Vietnam has enjoyed a wave of investment from China since its northern neighbor ended its zero-COVID policy late last year.
The United Nations is starting a big meeting on water development in New York City. On Tuesday, it released a report warning that 26 percent of people do not have safe water to drink.
Japan’s national baseball team defeated the United States on Tuesday night in Miami to win the World Baseball Classic for the third time.
The IMF will be assessing Sri Lanka’s governing practices. It is the first case of an Asian country facing examination for corruption as part of a bailout program.
A strike by French garbage collectors leaves mountains of trash sitting on the streets of Paris.
Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Chinese leader Xi Jinping to Moscow on Monday. Russia and China have described Xi’s three-day visit as a chance to deepen the “no-limits friendship” between the nations.
The United States is considering updating racial and ethnic categories recognized in the country for the first time since 1997. The Office of Management and Budget plans to decide on the new categories next year. It is holding three meetings open to the public this week to discuss the issue.
The United States military released a video of what it said was a Russian fighter jet releasing fuel onto an American drone. The Russian jet also hit the drone’s propeller and caused it to crash into the Black Sea. The incident heightened tensions between Russia and the U.S. over the war in Ukraine.
The move is the strongest in a series of recent steps against the company by U.S. officials and lawmakers. American officials have raised fears that TikTok's U.S. user data could be passed on to China's government.
French President Emmanuel Macron ordered a highly unpopular bill Thursday to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. The proposed retirement age and pension changes have led to major strikes and protests across the country since January.
Lahore, the second-largest city in Pakistan, has the most polluted air in the world. That comes from a Swiss company that makes air purifiers.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expresses support for several Indigenous groups, including calling for the creation of new Indigenous territories.
The collapse of two banks with ties to the technology industry the second and third largest bank failures in U.S. history. Government banking officials have promised that deposit holders will not lose money.
Teams in this year’s Iditarod dog race in Alaska are dealing with unusually high temperatures causing poor conditions along the 1,609-kilometer race across Alaska.
When the war in Ukraine ends, once-productive farms there will need many years and a lot of money to recover.
Researchers have found the earliest direct evidence for horseback riding. The evidence comes from 5,000-year-old human skeletons in central Europe.
Australia does not have enough housing available for the thousands of Chinese students who now must study in Australia in-person. Rent prices have greatly increased.
At least six people died early Thursday as Russia launched a wave of missiles into Ukraine.
A Taiwan island group has been without internet for the past month. Taiwanese officials blame two Chinese ships for cutting cables that caused the outage. People are currently depending on a backup system that uses microwave signal system to receive limited internet.
The war between Ethiopia's federal government and Tigrayan forces left many children without parents or separated from their families. The effects are likely to last a long time.
Egypt is borrowing a lot so it can import basic products like food while spending on building projects. Egypt’s poor — about one-third of the population — are cutting back on basic goods.
The United Nations says the theme it is celebrating this year is DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.
A crime group leader introduced the hippopotamuses to Colombia in the 198s. They have reproduced and are threatening the local environment.
The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol offered a plan to pay victims of forced labor for Japan during World War II. The plan aims to ease tensions and improve cooperation on security.
Health experts are advising more attention to mental health as people in the affected areas face tension and difficulty for a long time to come.
A growing number of people are using ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence program, to create books for sale.
The public service announcement got a lot of attention in the 1970s and 80s. Now a Native American group will retire the ad, saying it was not right.
Shoeshining has a long history in the U.S., dating back hundreds of years. Today, the tradition of getting a quick shine is weakening.
Virgin Galactic has completed improvements to its VSS Unity passenger spaceplane. The company plans to restart flights later this year. The price for a ride is about $450,000 and the company hopes to offer flights on a monthly basis.
An international research project has found the remains of what is believed to be a 5,000-year-old restaurant in southern Iraq. The discovery, announced in late January, comes at a time of great growth in Iraqi research and preservation efforts.
Germany is threatening to hold up a planned European Union ban on the sale of new vehicles with combustion engines beginning in 2035.
Iran's president on Wednesday ordered officals to investigate a series of incidents in which gases have sickened students at girls' schools. Some officials think they are attacks targeting women's education.
A non-profit group is offering a tool called Take it Down. It lets young people remove online images of themselves from some social media services.
The country is changing its top leadership as it continues its anti-corruption campaign. Thuong's election was seen as a major step by General Secretary Trong in the competition to succeed him.
The International Energy Agency said the world produced a record amount of carbon dioxide last year, but experts believe it is not too late to reduce the gas.
Investigators in Greece are working to understand what caused a train crash late Tuesday that left at least 36 people dead.
North Korea has held a major agriculture conference as experts warn about worsening food shortages in the country.
Experts discuss how a new asylum law proposed by Joe Biden’s administration is different than the one put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
An 11-year-old girl has died in Cambodia of bird flu. Health officials say it was the country’s first known human infection of bird flu since 2014.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 last year. Here are five ways the war has changed the world.
Biden’s trip will bring attention to women’s rights, children’s issues and food insecurity.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration said its agents took away a record number of guns at security points in U.S. airports in 2022.
The 39th president enters end-of-life care at his home in Georgia and is remembered by people who worked with him.
U.S. President Joe Biden’s surprise visit to Ukraine took weeks of preparation and careful planning. U.S. officials say Biden took unusual steps – such as not flying aboard his official Air Force One plane – to arrive safely on a one-day visit.
The U.S. Army says drops in the number of people signing up to serve appear to be linked to traditional fears and concerns. These include fear of death and leaving friends and family behind to serve.
Although the war’s impact could have been worse, the world is still dealing with higher prices, more inflation and more uncertainty.
Indonesia has signed deals to turn away from fossil fuels and toward its large clean energy sources. But experts warn that financial, policy, infrastructure and other difficulties need to be overcome.
Avian flu has reached new areas of the world and has become a year-round problem, animal and disease experts warn. Outbreaks of the virus have continued through the summer heat and winter cold in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake and aftershocks that struck in Turkey and Syria last week killed more than 40,000 people. They also injured some 100,000 people. Millions of people now need humanitarian aid after being left homeless and without basic life needs.
As a gunman opened fire inside school buildings at Michigan State University on Monday night, students received an alert on their phones. It read: “Run. Hide. Fight.”
Mariia Vyhivska is from Ukraine. Iurii Kurochkin is from Russia. With their nations at war, the chances of them continuing their relationship were low. But the couple has beaten the odds.
A proposed law in the state of Massachusetts would permit prisoners to donate organs to shorten prison time.
U.S. military fighter jets shot down three more flying objects over North America since taking down a Chinese spy balloon on February 4.
Turkey's construction rules meet current earthquake-engineering standards. But they are rarely enforced. That is why thousands of buildings fell over or collapsed down onto the people inside.
In Israel, tens of thousands protest government plans to reshape the country’s judiciary.
A statement from a top State Department official said the balloon shot down after it crossed the U.S. was equipped to gather intelligence. U.S. supplied additional details about the airship to answer statements by China’s foreign ministry saying it was a civilian weather balloon.
Monday’s powerful 7.8 earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria has killed more than 11,000 people, officials say. Rescue teams from more than 20 countries continue to search for both survivors and those killed.
United States officials have reported on the Chinese spy balloon program to 40 nations. Japan, India, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines have all been targeted.
Officials say thousands of buildings have collapsed and warn that the number of dead could rise much higher. The powerful quake was Turkey’s worst since 1999.
The war in Ukraine has completely changed the eastern city of Bakhmut. After months of bombings and attempts to encircle city, Russian forces have still not captured it. Visitors have stopped coming to see the area’s many tourist spots.
Balloons from China have crossed into U.S. airspace before. The balloon that recently crossed the United States traveled over military centers and did was not driven only by the winds.
A powerful 7.8 earthquake struck large areas of southern Turkiye and northern Syria early Monday, killing more than 2,300 people
The cost of living in Hawaii is so high that many people whose ancestors were from there are now living elsewhere.
The Nairobi River contains high levels of dangerous heavy metals. The city is struggling to balance the needs of creating jobs and protecting the environment.
The Ugandan oil field is expected to start production by 2025. A pipeline is also being built to a port in Tanzania. It is a joint project of Chinese oil company CNOOC and France’s TotalEngergies.
The Oakland Institute says the Tanzanian government is seizing the animals of the Maasai people. The Maasai live in a place where the government wants to develop tourism.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed a diplomatic trip to Beijing after a Chinese spy balloon was seen over Montana. Blinken’s unannounced trip had been agreed to during a meeting in Indonesia of the Chinese and American presidents.
The U.S. now has access to four more Philippine bases. The agreement comes as the U.S. seeks to counter China’s increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea.
Argentina recently launched a new national agency that aims to expand the country's cannabis industry. Ministers hope that the move will help create new jobs and exports for the South American nation.
The very small container fell from a truck during transport. Officials were concerned because the radioactive substance releases radiation equal to 10 X-rays every hour.
Boeing ends production of the 747 wide-body jet airplane, one of the company’s most successful aircraft.
Pope Francis makes a six-day visit to Africa this week that includes trips to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan.
Novak Djokovic regained the world number one ranking and tied Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 Grand Slam titles by winning the Australian Open on Sunday. The 35-year-old Serb said he hopes to continue to stay at the top of the game for as long as he is able.
Brazil’s new president is working to make good on his campaign promises and stop the cutting of trees in the Amazon rain forest.
A group of American military members who worked in nuclear missile tubes in the past are concerned that they may have cancer.
U.S. officials surprised some experts and agreed to send Abrams tanks to Ukraine to fight Russian forces. Germany will also send tanks to Ukraine as well as other allies.
The attackers, the report found, were mostly men. The attackers often have a history of mental health issues, money problems or domestic violence. Their weapons of choice: guns.
The U.S. Justice Department argues Google is operating a monopoly in the digital ad marketplace.
A gunman killed seven people in the town of Half Moon Bay, a farming community south of San Francisco. Only days earlier, two other mass shootings took place around Los Angeles.
A gunman killed 10 people at a dance business Saturday. Police later found the gunman’s body in a vehicle. Now, the largely Asian community of Monterey Park is in shock.
U.S. government lawyers announced Thursday that actor Alec Baldwin will be charged with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a cinematographer while filming a movie in New Mexico.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that she will resign in February. She was 37 years old when she became head of the government.
The U.S. drug company Moderna created an mRNA COVID vaccine. Moderna’s chief says he wants to supply China with vaccine and have factories around the world.
The United Nations refugee agency says at least 348 Rohingya died at sea last year trying to flee their situation. It has been one of the deadliest years for the Muslim refugee group.
China's population dropped last year for the first time in 60 years. The turn is expected to start a long decrease in China’s population, placing pressure on the country’s and the world’s economy.
Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc resigned Tuesday as a campaign against corruption continues to spread. State media blamed Phuc for wrongdoing by officials he supervised.
After 20 years of restoration, the house opened to the public Tuesday. The houses offer visitors a look at daily life in Pompeii.
The leader of an agency that oversees transportation in the U.S. is worried about the growing weight of electric vehicles.
Last month, the Taliban government in Afghanistan barred Afghan women from working in non-governmental organizations. Many aid agencies suspended their activities. They say the ban will hurt Afghans.
Ukrainian soldiers will be in the U.S. state of Oklahoma to learn how to operate the Patriot missile defense system.
As the U.S. makes a record number of arrests at the U.S.-Mexico border, we look at why so many migrants are seeking to make the crossing.
Ukrainian soldiers spend some time at a recovery center designed to help them deal with the harmful effects of war.
California has seen a very large amount of rainfall since late December. Could the rain help solve the state’s nearly 20 year drought?
Inflation has caused Argentinian artist Sergio Guillermo Diaz to create an unusual kind of art. He paints on money and sells it.
The Hair Recycle project puts the hair into a machine that turns it into square mats. The mats can be used to absorb oil or other kinds of pollution found in water. The hair can also be used as part of the material for special containers.
Supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro broke windows, threw furniture, destroyed artwork, stole objects, and flooded offices during a three-hour riot in the capital area of Brasília. Observers said the actions were like the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol building in 2021.
Treasure hunters looked for jewelry and other treasures stolen by German soldiers during World War II.
Doctors, social workers, and clergy say growing numbers of migrants on the U.S.-Mexico border are suffering the effects of many forms of violence.
Gambling center Macao eased its border restrictions after China rolled back its “zero-COVID” policy in December. The move is expected to improve Macao’s tourism-driven economy.
Recent cold weather in the Southwestern state of Texas almost claimed some unusual animal victims — bats.
The World Health Organization released data from China’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The research released so far has not found any new coronavirus variant in China.
Benedict's death on Saturday brought to an end a decade of the former and present pope living together in the Vatican. It was also the first time in more than 200 years that a pope had led a funeral service for a previous pope.
The United States Embassy in Cuba is reopening visa and consular services on Wednesday. The embassy says it will prioritize immigration permits to help Cubans join their families in the U.S.
Just 15 years ago, 143 million metric tons of sediment flowed through the Mekong River Delta every year. The process carried essential nutrients along the river’s edge that helped keep tens of thousands of farms productive. But Chinese-built hydroelectric dams have blocked much of that sediment.
The leader of the Roman Catholic Church and Vatican City is the pope. In most cases, the pope serves until death. However, the death of retired Pope Benedict has many thinking about future retired popes.
Ukraine says it is seeking to develop attack drones to be used in its war against Russia.
Kristina Kadashevych is a professional dancer from Ukraine. At the start of 2022, the ballerina never would have thought she would end the year in the American city of Richmond, Virginia.
World health officials are worried that they are not getting enough information from China as the country ends its severe COVID-19 restrictions.
Journalists and experts say the government has withdrawn broadcasting rights for at least 17 media organizations and detained reporters and seized one of the country’s oldest newspapers.
The United States announced a contract earlier this month worth up to $29 million to clean a chemical contamination in Vietnam. American forces used the herbicide Agent Orange widely during the conflict. Dioxin is one of the poisonous chemicals in Agent Orange.
China says it will restart giving out passports for tourism and visas for foreign visitors. The move is another step away from the severe COVID-19 rules that have closed the country to outsiders for almost three years.
The U.S. announces new COVID-19 testing requirements for travelers from China as infections rise among the Chinese population.
Ukraine said Russian forces targeted power stations and other important structures needed during the winter weather.
The Iranian chess player Sara Khadem is competing in Kazakhstan without the head covering, called a Hijab, required by Iranian officials.
Since the end of World War II, Japan has not developed offensive weapons. Recent policy changes will permit the country to buy missiles able to strike other countries although striking first is not permitted.
2022 brought the start of the Russia-Ukraine War and a ceasefire in the Ethiopian civil war. Much of the world moved on from COVID-19 measures. And unrest was seen in Iran and China.
The United Nations says the possible sinking of a boat carrying Rohingya Muslims could make 2022 one of the deadliest at sea for the community.
The South Korean military said it was unable to follow or shoot down five drones that entered airspace over the South. The small, pilotless aircraft were likely spying.
This past year was filled with news. If you were paying attention, you may have learned how to say some difficult names.
Over the last 10 years, the Dallas-Fort Worth area has had the highest growth rate for people who came from Asia of any major U.S. metropolitan area. A metropolitan area is the urban area of a city and nearby towns or suburbs.
A growing number of Americans are turning gas-powered vehicles into electric ones by using a process called an electric powertrain conversion.
Many in Africa see sports betting as a way to make money regularly. But gambling can be addictive and dangerous, especially for those who do not bet their own money.
Young children around Bosnia have been making gift boxes for children in Ukraine. Their parents remember when people did the same thing for them many years ago.
Ukrainians have experienced nearly 10 months of war. This holiday season, people are trying to bring some peace and happiness to the country’s children.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President Joe Biden in Washington as Congress considers new aid for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Women and girls in Afghanistan suffered another setback in their push for equal access to education on Wednesday when many universities closed their doors to students hoping to take exams and attend class.
The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic disease almost three years ago. The health crisis greatly changed America in ways temporary and long-lasting. Here is a look at some interests that arose among people during the years of restrictive experience.
Several local governments in China are urging people with mild cases of COVID-19 to go to work this week. The moves are a complete turnaround from the country’s long-standing “zero-COVID” policy.
A volunteer organization in Ukraine is producing much-needed clothes for women soldiers fighting in the country’s war against Russia. The group has grown and is now serving many of the 57,000 women serving in Ukraine’s military.
A special committee of the U.S. House of Representatives on the events of January 6, 2021, has suggested that the 45th U.S. president face charges including aiding an attempted overthrow of the government in its final report.
Bali, Indonesia, is facing a worsening water crisis from tourism development, population growth and water mismanagement. Experts warn the situation will worsen if existing water control policies are not enforced across the island.
Ukrainian children are getting help from therapy dogs to help them deal with the harmful effects of war.
Tourists are back Bethlehem, an Israeli city holy to Christians, for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A North Korea group accused of hacking has found a simple way to attack new targets: simply asking them for information. The North Korean group has been found impersonating individuals to gain information on Western opinions on the nation and those nearby.
New Zealand passed a law on Tuesday to set a lifetime ban on buying cigarettes for any person born after January 1, 2009.
Ukraine says it shot down 13 drones launched by Russia Wednesday over the capital Kyiv. A city official said wreckage from the downed drones damaged an administrative building and four housing structures.
Sam Bankman-Fried was arrested Monday in the Bahamas. Separately, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission says he committed fraud and lost customer money.
The United Nations says Ecuador has a high rate of child malnutrition. The U.N. children’s agency says one in three Ecuadorian children suffers from malnutrition. Many are Native people.
It is traditional for a young Maasai man to kill a lion with a spear in order to prove himself as a man. But to help save the lion population, the Maasai are turning to athletic competitions.
The United Nations says four in five Lebanese are poor after the country’s financial system collapsed in 2019. The country's politicians have delayed passing IMF reforms that would unlock billions of dollars in aid.
Russia has been accused of sending Ukrainian children to Russia or Russian-held areas to raise them as their own throughout the war in Ukraine. Locals in Ukraine say more children would have been taken if it were not for people who hid vulnerable children from the Russians.
After months of negotiations between Russian and American officials, Brittney Griner was released in a prisoner swap for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
China is preparing for an increase in the number of infections as it eases its “zero-COVID” policy. But businesses are unsure how to deal with the lack of guidance.
Chinese health officials say the government will ease some of the restrictions known as the “zero COVID.” Some experts expect normal travel to restart by the middle of next year.
The Center for Jewish History and two genealogists are using DNA testing kits to help the some of the last remaining survivors of the Holocaust find out about their families.
Indonesia’s parliament voted Tuesday to ban citizens and foreigners from having sex before they are married in the most notable addition to its criminal code.
Confusion over the standing of Iran’s morality police continues after state media gave different reports over the weekend. But more Iranian women have appeared in public without the required head covering hijab as enforcement of the policy has been reduced.
Afghanistan’s Taliban government says it will permit girls to take their high school graduation exams this week. The move came although the Taliban has banned girls from attending middle and high school.
Recent protests in China over severe COVID-19 restrictions have shined a light on the strong resources the government has to deal with demonstrations and shut down dissent.
The B-21 Raider is the first new American bomber aircraft in more than 30 years. Almost every part of the program is classified – meaning kept secret from the public.
Russian strikes have cut off power across Ukraine, including many hospitals. The power outages added more pressure on the country’s already weakened healthcare system. Medical operations, or surgeries, are being delayed. Patient records are unavailable because of internet outages.
People in Agadir, Morocco, see their new desalination plant as a way to deal with years of too little rain.But plans to expand the country’s desalination program may depend on efforts to power it with forms of renewable energy.
Over the years, people have tried all sorts of things to slow the flow of melted rock from Hawaii’s huge volcanoes. But many people in Hawaii question testing nature.
This week marked a first in Chinese space history: Three Chinese astronauts arrived at China's space station for the first in-orbit crew change.
A South Korean government agency announced in September that the total fertility rate was 0.81 last year, the world’s lowest. President Yoon Suk Yeol has ordered policymakers to find effective steps to deal with the problem.
Jiang led China out of isolation after the army crushed the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests in 1989. He supported economic reforms that led to a decade of growth.
World Cup fans looking for the perfect photo are heading to the desert outside Doha for camel rides.
A movement to redefine and save the swastika in Asian religious and Native American communities is growing. But, the symbol is connected to Hitler, Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. Can a symbol of bad be brought back to an earlier representation of good?
Major Chinese universities sent students home Tuesday and police guarded major cities to prevent more protests over China’s severe COVID-19 restrictions.
Hawaii has the largest active volcano in the world. Mauna Loa started erupting recently in the U.S. state. It is not expected to endanger people.
First lady Jill Biden decided the idea would be the center of the objects decorating the White House during the holiday season.
Chinese officials ease some COVID-19 rules after weekend protests demanded changes to the government’s “zero COVID” policy. The Associated Press reported police moved in to break up some demonstrations and arrested some protesters.
Fans are upset about the company Ticketmaster. They say the business failed to sell tickets to singer Taylor Swift’s new live performances fairly. Experts say that anger could lead to political action.
Native American tribes are leading efforts to bring back bison across North America where they were once hunted to near extinction in the late 19th century.
Two rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, are shared by four countries. But reaching an agreement between Turkey and Iraq has been difficult as both aim to use the water for development.
Performers of a ceremonial dance in Zimbabwe are seeking to change its public image. The secretive group of unidentified dancers hope to spread understanding about the traditional activity.
Thousands of migrant workers gather to the watch the opening matches of the World Cup in Qatar in a stadium many of them built themselves.
Last May, Turkey requested that the United Nations officially recognize its name as Türkiye.
A panda housed at a Mexican zoo is the only one left in all of Latin America. But she is nearing the end of her life and it is not clear whether Mexico will pay to get another one.
A 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia on Monday, leaving more than 260 people dead and hundreds injured. While earthquakes are common in Indonesia, the latest one caused more deaths and injuries. Experts say they are several reasons why this earthquake was different.
A 5.6-magnitude earthquake strikes Indonesia’s Java island, collapsing buildings and killing at least 62 people.
FIFA said it would penalize European soccer players who planned to wear armbands showing support for diversity and inclusion.
A growing demand for turtles as pets in the U.S., Asia, and Europe is driving increased poaching. Wildlife trade experts believe that poaching is adding to the worldwide decline in rare freshwater turtles and tortoises.
In two areas in the occupied West Bank, Israel has put in robotic weapons that can fire tear gas, stun grenades, and sponge-tipped bullets at Palestinian protesters.
The World Cup in Qatar begins on November 20. It is likely the last chance for top players Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to win the championship. France is looking to win for the second time in a row.
The 118th United States Congress will be closely divided between the Republican and Democratic Parties. The Republicans won control of the House of Representatives in the November 8 elections. Democrats added to their majority in the Senate.
NATO is investigating a missile that landed in Poland and killed two people. The group believes it came from Ukraine’s defense system.
Beijing reported more than 350 new cases in the latest 24-hour period. That is enough to start local lockdowns and quarantines under China's zero-COVID policy.
The Associated Press surveyed Americans on a wide range of issues, to understand how politics and culture are related.
The U.N.’s Day of 8 Billion will take place on November 15, 2022 to mark the world’s population reaching 8 billion people. Future competition for resources will strain the environment. But the biggest threat to the environment, experts say, will come from consumption.
FTX’s collapse is a shock to the crypto industry. Its failure will likely result in the destruction of billions of dollars of wealth and create even more doubts about cryptocurrencies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits the southern city of Kherson to celebrate its recent recapture from Russian forces.
American President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in person for about three hours Monday in Bali, Indonesia. The two leaders said they would try to improve the country’s relations amid rising economic and security tensions.
NASA says divers looking for the remnants of an old warplane off the coast of Florida actually found a large piece of the Challenger space shuttle.
North Korea launched around 30 missiles recently. These launches add to its already record-breaking number of weapons tests this year. Many were believed to have been ballistic missiles able to carry nuclear warheads.
Attacks on Ukraine’s energy centers has caused officials in several cities to cut electricity.
An official close to the Ethiopian peace talks says the government and Tigray forces have signed an agreement to end “hostilities.” The two-year-old war has killed thousands, displaced millions, and left hundreds of thousands facing hunger.
The government recently declared a community in India’s Gujarat State: India’s first fully solar-powered village. For the people who live there that means they can use more electricity.
North Korea fired at least 23 missiles into the sea on Wednesday. One of the missiles landed less than 60 kilometers from South Korea's coast. It was the first time a North Korean missile had landed near South Korea’s waters since the two nations were divided in 1945.
United States security officials say Saudi Arabia has told them Iran may be planning an attack on their land.
Under Xi Jinping's 10 years in power, China has experienced big changes, both within the country and in relation to the rest of the world. Now, Xi has begun his third five-year term as China’s president.
In Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has defeated President Jair Bolsonaro in a close election. Da Silva received 50.9 percent of the vote while Bolsonaro received 49.1 percent, according to the country’s election officials.
Russia announced over the weekend it was suspending its part of a deal permitting Ukraine to ship grain from Black Sea ports. What could Russia’s decision mean for a world increasingly worried about food security and high food prices?
Recent activity on social media in China caught the attention of people around the world. One internet user said a friend had gotten a call from her local government office asking if a baby was coming soon.
Europe’s energy crisis has forced some people to turn to less costly heating sources such as firewood. But as the demand increases, the public is facing rising prices, shortages and even reports of firewood theft.
European beekeepers worry about honey production and world food supply due to effects of pesticides, climate change and parasites.
The United Nations is using satellites to follow what Russia is doing to Ukraine’s historical buildings and its cultural heritage. The organization said there are more than 200 structures that have been damaged or destroyed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Residents say the rising demand and shortage of rooms ahead of the World Cup has given landlords the power to greatly raise rent.
Zimbabwe centered its efforts on wheat production this year because of shortages created by the war in Ukraine.
Recently announced U.S. trade restrictions include a ban on the export of some computer processing chips to China. Companies that sell to China and others that depend on imports of chips are considering possible harms the policy could cause.
Japan’s government wants more people to sign up for digital identification cards (IDs), but the idea is unpopular.
U.S. immigration officials say the number of Cubans seeking to flee to the United States has increased sharply during the past year.
Labor Day also informally marks the end of summer. Many students return to school after Labor Day. The hot days of summer turn cooler. Many Americans celebrate the holiday with an outdoor family barbecue.
Residents of Great Britain are worried about high energy bills set to come as soon as October.
This move is to rescue the animals from a severe lack of water caused by climate change. The lack of water, or drought, has now replaced illegal hunting, called poaching, as the biggest threat to wildlife.
The United Nations has said China carried out serious human rights violations that may be considered “crimes against humanity.” The accusation came in a newly published report examining the treatment of Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic groups.
The nuclear plant is controlled by Russian forces but operated by Ukrainian workers. Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for repeated shelling near the plant. This has raised fears of a nuclear disaster like the one at Chernobyl in 1986.
Two company employees in Japan are changing the way the workplace one funny video at a time.
Gorbachev became the leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or USSR, in March 1985. He was in power for just over six years. But Gorbachev brought changes that ended the nuclear confrontation of the Cold War with the United States and remade the map of Europe.
Ukraine said Tuesday that it has attacked command posts and destroyed bridges and ammunition storage in the Russian-occupied south. Russia said it fought off the attack and caused heavy losses against Ukraine's forces.
Western countries are concerned that the Pacific Island nation’s ties to China may be preventing refueling visits.