Pfizer Says Its Coronavirus Vaccine is 95% Effective

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The pharmaceutical company Pfizer said Wednesday that its coronavirus vaccine is 95% effective and caused no serious side effects as it plans to seek federal approval for the vaccine’s emergency use.Pfizer disclosed the results after a final analysis of the vaccine’s Phase 3 trial, which…


Hurricane Iota Makes Landfall Along Nicaragua Coast Monday Night

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Hurricane Iota made landfall along the northeastern coast of Nicaragua late Monday night and flash flooding and landslides are expected across Central America. The National Hurricane Center said Iota struck Nicaragua as a Category 4 storm, with winds of 210 kilometers per hour. Many people hunkered down in shelters while the Nicaraguan…


Trump Moves to Sell Oil Drilling Leases in ANWR

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The Trump administration is moving to finalize the sale of controversial oil drilling leases in a wildlife refuge in Alaska.A notice from the Bureau of Land Management posted on the federal register is listed as “unpublished” as of Monday, but it calls for nominations on…


WHO Again Under Scrutiny for China Influence

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Last week the World Health Organization hosted its annual summit known as the World Health Assembly to outline new policies and priorities, but a controversy involving Taiwan ended up also drawing renewed attention on how Beijing’s politics continue to influence the WHO.During the summit, which…


New App Identifies Mosquitoes by Buzzing Sound

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The high-pitched whine of a mosquito is annoying, but scientists have developed an app that uses that sound to detect dangerous mosquitoes.Mosquitoes kill hundreds of thousands of people each year by spreading microbes that cause diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever. But…


NHC: Iota to Transform into Major Hurricane

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Portions of Central America are bracing for the arrival of Hurricane Iota which the National Hurricane Center says has strengthened into a dangerous Category 4 hurricane.  The meteorologists warn, however, that Iota could transform into a “catastrophic Category 5 hurricane” as it moves over the Caribbean before it slams into Colombia, Nicaragua and Honduras by Monday night. The forecasters say Iota is expected to deliver “potentially…


Cameroon Says COVID Worsens Diabetes Burden

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This year's U.N. World Diabetes Day on Nov. 14 was observed in Cameroon with medical staff all over the central African state encouraging those with the disease to return to hospitals for treatment.Health workers say patients scared of COVID-19 stopped going to hospitals for control…


Nearly 54 Million Global Coronavirus Infections

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There are nearly 54 million coronavirus cases around the world, the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center reported early Sunday.The U.S., India, and Brazil continue to top the list as the places with the most infections. The U.S. has almost 11 million cases, while India and…


Will Mask-Wearing Outlast the Pandemic?

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A year ago, if you saw someone wearing a mask, you might assume they were sick or maybe even a little weird or paranoid. Today, thanks to the pandemic, wearing a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is the new normal for many Americans.Thirty-four…


As COVID-19 Surges, People Are Getting Weary

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We're closing in on a year with a viral pandemic that has affected more than 47 million people and has claimed the lives of more than 1 million, according to the World Health Organization. As VOA’s Carol Pearson reports, people are now suffering from what’s…


Navajo Nation Orders New 3-Week Stay-at-Home Lockdown

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The Navajo Nation on Monday will reinstate a stay-at-home lockdown for the entire reservation while closing tribal offices and requiring new closures and safety measures for businesses due to rising COVID-19 cases.The lockdown goes into effect Monday for a three-week period, tribal officials announced Friday…


In Malaysia, Businesses Adapt to Survive COVID

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Sri Themudu’s seasonal business, Diyaa Confectionary, is a success story at a time many businesses are struggling in the COVID-19 economic climate.His company has for eight years catered to Malaysian families and local companies that buy gift baskets of snacks such as crackers, cookies and…


Businesses Adapt to Survive COVID

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Sri Themudu’s seasonal business, Diyaa Confectionary, is a success story at a time many businesses are struggling in the COVID-19 economic climate.His company has for eight years catered to Malaysian families and local companies that buy gift baskets of snacks such as crackers, cookies and…