Worldwide news - Page 197 of 411

Apr182021 by DmediaNo Comments

Mars Helicopter Flight Test Promises Wright Brothers Moment for NASA

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NASA hopes to score a 21st-century Wright Brothers moment on Monday as it attempts to send a miniature helicopter buzzing over the surface of Mars in what would be the first powered, controlled flight of an aircraft on another planet.Landmark achievements in science and technology…

Apr182021 by DmediaNo Comments

Israel Lifts Its Mask Mandate on Sunday

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With nearly 60% of its population receiving the first COVID-19 vaccine, Israel is lifting its requirement Sunday to wear masks outdoors. The mask mandate remains in place, however, for enclosed spaces.Beginning April 24, France will require all travelers from Brazil to quarantine for 10 days.Brazil…

Apr182021 by DmediaNo Comments

Nearly 700 Patients Evacuated in Johannesburg Hospital Fire

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Nearly 700 patients were evacuated Saturday from Johannesburg's Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, where a fire blazed through parts of the facility in South Africa's largest city.No injuries or casualties have been reported. The fire has been contained but the hospital has been closed for seven days,…

Apr182021 by DmediaNo Comments

US, China ‘Committed to Cooperating’ on Climate Crisis: Joint Statement

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The United States and China are "committed to cooperating" on the pressing issue of climate change, the two sides said in a joint statement Saturday, following a visit to Shanghai by U.S. climate envoy John Kerry."The United States and China are committed to cooperating with…

Apr172021 by TechmanNo Comments

Final Ruling on Trump Facebook Ban Delayed

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A final ruling on whether to overturn Facebook's ban on former U.S. president Donald Trump will take a bit longer than anticipated, an independent oversight board said Friday.Critics of the social media company and even strong advocates of unfettered political discourse called on Facebook's oversight…

Apr162021 by DmediaNo Comments

‘Godzilla’ Shark Discovered in New Mexico Gets Formal Name

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The 300-million-year-old shark's teeth were the first sign that it might be a distinct species.The ancient chompers looked less like the spearlike rows of teeth of related species. They were squatter and shorter, less than an inch long, around 2 centimeters."Great for grasping and crushing…

Apr162021 by DmediaNo Comments

Global COVID-19 Infection Rate Approaches Record High, WHO Warns

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The World Health Organization said Friday that COVID-19 cases are increasing globally at a worrying rate, with the number of new cases doubling each week, a pace approaching the highest rate of infection since the pandemic began.The WHO said Friday there were 541,960 new cases…

Apr162021 by DmediaNo Comments

Nigeria Steps Up Vaccination Efforts After Slow Rollout Blamed on Misinformation

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Nigerian authorities are stepping up efforts to vaccinate more people against COVID-19 after a slow rollout blamed on misinformation. Authorities aim to vaccinate over 80 million Nigerians by year’s end but are running far behind schedule. An Abuja vaccination center, which opened March 16, one week…

Apr162021 by DmediaNo Comments

2.5 Billion T. Rex Roamed Earth, but Not All at Once, Study Says

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One Tyrannosaurus rex seems scary enough. Now picture 2.5 billion of them. That’s how many of the fierce dinosaur king probably roamed Earth over the course of a couple million years, a new study finds.Using calculations based on body size, sexual maturity and the creatures’…

Apr162021 by DmediaNo Comments

India Records More Than 200,000 New COVID Cases Thursday

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Health officials in India said they counted more than 200,000 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, an all-time daily high for the South Asian nation.The surge in cases has India scrambling to find hospital beds and oxygen. The escalating tally has also forced India, a major vaccine…

Apr162021 by DmediaNo Comments

UN Warns COVID-19 is ‘Roaring Back’ as Yemen Faces Famine

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The U.N. humanitarian chief warned Thursday that the world's largest humanitarian crisis in Yemen is getting even worse with the COVID-19 pandemic “roaring back” in recent weeks as the Arab world's poorest country faces a large-scale famine.In a grim update to the U.N. Security Council,…

Apr162021 by DmediaNo Comments

US Water Managers Warn of Dismal Year Along the Rio Grande

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It has been 30 years or so since residents in New Mexico's largest city last saw their stretch of the Rio Grande go dry. There's a possibility it could happen again this summer. Federal water managers released their annual operating plan for the Rio Grande on Thursday,…

Apr162021 by TechmanNo Comments

Zuckerberg Urged to Nix Kids’ Version of Instagram

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Advocates for children from around the world urged Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday to ditch plans for a version of Instagram geared toward preteens.Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and the Electronic Privacy Information Center were among nearly 100 groups and individuals from North America,…

Apr162021 by DmediaNo Comments

Nigerian Authorities Worry About Meeting Vaccination Targets

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Nigerian authorities are stepping up efforts to vaccinate more people against COVID-19 after a slow rollout blamed on misinformation. Authorities aim to vaccinate over 80 million Nigerians by year’s end but are running far behind schedule. Timothy Obiezu reports from Abuja. Camera: Emekas Gibson ...

Apr152021 by DmediaNo Comments

Zimbabwe Reports Major Rise in Teen Pregnancies During Pandemic

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Zimbabwe's government this month reported nearly 5,000 teenage pregnancies in January and February — a major jump from previous years. Advocates are blaming the rise on coronavirus lockdowns and poverty. Columbus Mavhunga reports from Harare, Zimbabwe. Camera: Blessing Chigwenhembe          ...

Apr152021 by DmediaNo Comments

Decision on Fate of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Delayed by US Advisory Panel

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An independent panel of U.S. health experts is delaying a final decision about Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine as they get more information about it and possible links to a very rare but dangerous blood clot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s immunization advisory committee…

Apr152021 by DmediaNo Comments

Toy Cars Get Eco-friendly Makeover to Inspire Children

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Matchbox is launching a new series of toy cars based on real-life electric and hybrid vehicles, in a bid to make its miniatures more sustainable and to raise awareness among children of the environmental impact of motoring.The first model off the production line is a…

Apr152021 by DmediaNo Comments

Nobel Doctor Calls Sexual Violence in Conflict a ‘Pandemic’

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Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege warned Wednesday that the scourge of sexual violence and rape in all conflicts is now "a real pandemic" and without sanctions and justice for the victims these horrific acts won't stop.The Congolese doctor told the U.N. Security Council…

Apr152021 by DmediaNo Comments

China, Russia Top Threats to US in Intel Assessment

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The coronavirus pandemic will cause significant global unrest for several years, U.S. intelligence chiefs warned lawmakers Wednesday. In the first public worldwide threats briefing in more than two years, China’s failure to stop the spread of COVID-19, along with increasing competition with the United States,…

Apr142021 by DmediaNo Comments

J&J COVID-19 Vaccine in Limbo as US Panel Delays Vote on Resuming Shots

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Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine remained in limbo on Wednesday as a U.S. health panel called for more data before deciding how and whether to resume use of the one-dose shot, putting off a vote for a week or more.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control…

Apr142021 by TechmanNo Comments

Computerized Map Predicts Next COVID-19 Outbreak

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Predicting whether an outbreak is likely to happen is now possible with the COVID-19 Outbreak Detection Tool, a map that shows the coming hotspots for the disease, if accurate data is available. VOA’s Elizabeth Lee has the details.Producer: Elizabeth Lee ...

Apr142021 by TechmanNo Comments

South African Telecom App Helps Gender-Based Violence Survivors

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South African mobile communications company Vodacom South Africa, with British parent company Vodafone and charity Hestia, has launched a free mobile phone application to support targets of gender-based violence, which has soared during the coronavirus pandemic. The application, “Bright Sky,” provides information for people to identify gender-based…

Apr142021 by DmediaNo Comments

Kurdish Officials Demand Help With Looming COVID ‘Catastrophe’ in NE Syria

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Kurdish officials in northeast Syria are expressing concerns over a sharp increase in coronavirus cases in their region, calling on international health organizations to intervene to prevent a “humanitarian catastrophe.” A 10-day curfew went into effect Tuesday in an attempt to curb the spread…

Apr142021 by DmediaNo Comments

South Africa Pauses J&J Vaccination Campaign After US Expresses Concerns

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South Africa’s health minister says the nation will still hit its COVID-19 vaccination targets, even as it pauses the use of the Johnson & Johnson shot amid concerns over blood clots. South Africa’s mass-inoculation campaign was dealt the setback following word that six women in the…

Apr142021 by DmediaNo Comments

Women Must Have Autonomy Over Their Bodies, UN Says

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The U.N. Population Fund called on nations Wednesday to respect bodily autonomy as a universal right, saying too many women and girls are denied this basic power over their own bodies.“The right to autonomy over our bodies means that we must have the power and…

Apr142021 by DmediaNo Comments

Johnson & Johnson Delays Rollout in Europe of its COVID-19 Vaccine    

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Hours after U.S. federal health officials urged a pause in the use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine after it was linked to a rare but dangerous blood clot, the U.S. pharmaceutical giant announced Tuesday it was delaying rollout of the single-dose vaccine in Europe.“We…

Apr142021 by DmediaNo Comments

EU Makes Deal with Pfizer-BioNTech for 50 Million More Vaccine Doses

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European Commission President Urusula Von der Leyen Wednesday announced the European Union has reached a deal with pharmaceutical partners Pfizer-BioNTech for 50 million additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine, to be delivered in the coming months. At a news briefing in Brussels, Von der Leyen said…

Apr142021 by DmediaNo Comments

Johnson & Johnson Delays European Rollout of COVID-19 Vaccine    

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