new york — The U.S. syphilis epidemic isn’t abating, with the rate of infectious cases rising 9% in 2022, according to a new federal government report on sexually transmitted diseases in adults. But there’s some unexpected good news: The rate of new gonorrhea cases fell for the first time in a decade. It’s not clear why … continue reading -> “US Syphilis Cases Rise in 2022; Most in 70 Years”

Blantyre, Malawi — The Malawi government and the World Health Organization launched a new COVID-19 vaccination campaign on Monday in 10 of the country’s 29 districts. This is partly in response to new cases confirmed in the past three weeks in several districts across the country. Nsanje District in southern Malawi currently leads in the number … continue reading -> “Malawi Launches New COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign Amid Rising Cases”

GENEVA — The World Health Organization says great progress has been made in the global elimination of industrially produced trans fat, with nearly half the world’s population protected against the harmful effects of this toxic product. “Five years ago, WHO called on countries and the food sector to eliminate industrially produced trans fats from the food … continue reading -> “WHO: Great Progress Made in Eliminating Trans Fat”

PETALUMA, Calif. — Last month, Mike Weber got the news every poultry farmer fears: His chickens tested positive for avian flu. Following government rules, Weber’s company, Sunrise Farms, had to slaughter its entire flock of egg-laying hens — 550,000 birds — to prevent the disease from infecting other farms in Sonoma County north of San Francisco. … continue reading -> “Avian Flu Outbreaks Roil US Poultry Industry”

AZUA, Dominican Republic —  It was a busy Saturday morning at Marcia González’s church. A bishop was visiting, and normally she would have been there helping with logistics, but on this day she was teaching sex education at a local school. “I coordinate activities at the church and my husband is a deacon,” González said. “The … continue reading -> “Dominican Women Fight Child Marriage, Teen Pregnancy Amid Abortion Bans”

los angeles — Data gathered by NASA’s Perseverance rover have confirmed the existence of ancient lake sediments deposited by water that once filled a giant basin on Mars called Jezero Crater, according to a study published Friday. The findings from ground-penetrating radar observations conducted by the robotic rover substantiate previous orbital imagery and other data leading … continue reading -> “Mars Rover Data Confirms Ancient Lake Sediments on Mars “

Groundbreaking artificial intelligence-assisted technology can help people with voice disorders speak in their natural voice, giving millions a chance to have clearer conversations. VOA’s Julie Taboh reports. Camera: Tina Trinh …

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NAIROBI, Kenya — Researchers say a rhinoceros was impregnated through embryo transfer in the first successful use of a method that they say might later make it possible to save the nearly extinct northern white rhino subspecies.  The experiment was conducted with the less endangered southern white rhino subspecies. Researchers created an embryo in a lab … continue reading -> “Rhino’s Pregnancy from Embryo Transfer May Help Nearly Extinct Subspecies “

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Montreal — A 10-year global study of positive doping tests by children and young teenagers showed most were tied to Russia, India and China, and in sports like weightlifting, athletics and cycling, the World Anti-Doping Agency said Wednesday. Diuretics, stimulants and anabolic steroids were the most commonly found substances in more than 1,500 positive tests involving … continue reading -> “Global Study of Doping Cases Involving Minors Points to Russia, India, China”

Harare, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwean health authorities — battling a cholera outbreak that has infected about 20,000 people and killed more than 370 — say they hope donated vaccines will ease the spread of waterborne disease now affecting 60 of the country’s 64 districts.     Zimbabwean Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora told reporters in Harare on Wednesday … continue reading -> “Zimbabwe Hopeful UN Cholera Vaccines Will Contain Outbreak”

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO — A federal judge is being asked to issue a stop-work order on a $10 billion transmission line being built through a remote southeastern Arizona valley to carry wind-generated electricity to customers as far away as California.  A 32-page lawsuit filed on January 17 in U.S. District Court in Tucson, Arizona, accuses the … continue reading -> “Tribes, Environmental Groups Ask US Court to Block $10B Energy Project in Arizona”

Abortion is on the ballot in 2024, the White House says, with Vice President Kamala Harris crisscrossing the country to equate the Biden campaign with protection and expansion of reproductive rights, and Republican candidates speaking of possible federal abortion bans. This leaves the ultimate choice on this sensitive issue to American voters. VOA’s Anita Powell … continue reading -> “Abortion on Ballot in 2024, Biden Says; Harris on Swing Through Key States”

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washington — Scientists have mapped the largest coral reef deep in the ocean, stretching hundreds of miles off the U.S. Atlantic Coast.  While researchers have known since the 1960s that some coral were present off the Atlantic, the reef’s size remained a mystery until new underwater mapping technology made it possible to construct 3D images of … continue reading -> “Scientists Map Largest Deep-Sea Coral Reef to Date “

LAHORE, Pakistan — The air smells burnt in Lahore, a city in Pakistan’s east that used to be famous for its gardens but has become infamous for its terrible air quality. Toxic smog has sickened tens of thousands of people in recent months. Flights have been canceled. Artificial rain was deployed last December to battle smog, … continue reading -> “Air Pollution, Politics Pose Cross-Border Challenges in South Asia”

Tokyo, Japan — Japan on Saturday became only the fifth nation to achieve a soft lunar landing, but its Moon Sniper spacecraft was running out of power because of a problem with its solar battery. After a nail-biting 20-minute descent, space agency JAXA said its Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) had touched down and communication … continue reading -> “Japan’s ‘Moon Sniper’ Lands, Makes Contact, But Power Running Low”

TOKYO — Japan landed a spacecraft on the moon Saturday, an attempt at the world’s first “pinpoint lunar landing.” The milestone puts Japan in a club previously occupied by only the United States, the Soviet Union, India and China. A raft of countries and companies are also plotting moon missions. Success means international scientific and diplomatic … continue reading -> “Japan Joins Elite Club by Landing on Moon. What Are Others Doing?”

tokyo — Japan’s spacecraft arrived on the surface of the moon early Saturday, but it wasn’t immediately clear if the landing was a success, because the Japanese space agency said it was still “checking its status.” More details about the spacecraft, which is carrying no astronauts, would be given at a news conference, officials said. If … continue reading -> “Japan’s Lunar Spacecraft Is on the Moon, but Status Unclear”

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — Turkey’s first astronaut and three other crew members representing Europe were launched from Florida on Thursday on a voyage to the International Space Station in the latest commercially arranged mission from Texas startup Axiom Space.  A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying the Axiom quartet lifted off about an hour before sunset from … continue reading -> “Astronauts From Europe Head to Space Station on Chartered Flight “

The American Red Cross has declared a critical blood shortage, with supplies running the lowest in 20 years. The number of donors in the country has declined by 40%, for reasons that include COVID, seasonal infections, and bad weather. Angelina Bagdasaryan visited a blood donation station in Los Angeles and talked with some of the donors. Anna … continue reading -> “American Red Cross Concerned About US Blood Shortage”

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Harare, Zimbabwe — The U.N.’s Children’s Fund expressed alarm this week about a cholera outbreak in Africa that has spread to at least 10 countries, with the situation in Zambia and Zimbabwe “very serious.” Dr. Paul Ngwakum, the regional health adviser for UNICEF in East and Southern Africa, said about 200,000 cases have been reported and … continue reading -> “UN Concerned by Spread of Cholera to 10 African Countries”