Child Immunization Vaccine Shortage Hits Ghana  

The Ghana Health Service says a shortage of routine vaccines for children blamed for a measles outbreak that infected 120 will be resolved within weeks. Health officials said the shortage of vaccines against polio, hepatitis B, and measles was caused by the depreciation of Ghana’s currency, the cedi. The Pediatric Society of Ghana warned childhood … continue reading -> “Child Immunization Vaccine Shortage Hits Ghana  “

Phone Firms Promise ‘Tsunami of Innovation’ at Barcelona Meeting

The big beasts of the telecom industry kicked off their most important annual get-together in Barcelona on Monday, promising to lead a “tsunami of innovation”, as they try to shrug off a major slump across the technology sector. Some 80,000 delegates are expected at the four-day Mobile World Congress (MWC), which is back to near … continue reading -> “Phone Firms Promise ‘Tsunami of Innovation’ at Barcelona Meeting”

Twitter Lays Off 10% of Current Workforce – NYT

Twitter Inc has laid off at least 200 employees, or about 10% of its workforce, the New York Times reported late on Sunday, in its latest round of job cuts since Elon Musk took over the micro-blogging site last October.  The layoffs on Saturday night impacted product managers, data scientists and engineers who worked on machine … continue reading -> “Twitter Lays Off 10% of Current Workforce – NYT”

Launch of Space Station Crew Postponed

NASA and SpaceX postponed a planned Monday launch of a four-member crew to the International Space Station due to a ground systems issue.  The decision came less than three minutes before the spacecraft was due to lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.  A backup launch date had already been set … continue reading -> “Launch of Space Station Crew Postponed”

SpaceX Preps Launch of Next ISS Crew for NASA

Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX was set to launch early Monday the International Space Station’s next long-duration team into orbit, with an astronaut from the United Arab Emirates and a Russian cosmonaut joining two NASA crewmates for the flight. The SpaceX launch vehicle, consisting of a Falcon 9 rocket topped with an autonomously operated Crew … continue reading -> “SpaceX Preps Launch of Next ISS Crew for NASA”

Mexican States in Hot Competition Over Possible Tesla Plant

Mexico is undergoing a fevered competition among states to win a potential Tesla facility in jostling reminiscent of what happens among U.S. cities and states vying to win investments from tech companies. Mexican governors have gone to extremes, like putting up billboards, creating special car lanes or creating mock-ups of Tesla ads for their states. … continue reading -> “Mexican States in Hot Competition Over Possible Tesla Plant”

Mobile Tech Fair to Show Off New Phones, AI, Metaverse

The latest folding-screen smartphones, immersive metaverse experiences, AI-powered chatbot avatars and other eye-catching technology are set to wow visitors at the annual MWC wireless trade fair that kicks off Monday. The four-day show, held in a vast Barcelona conference center, is the world’s biggest and most influential meeting for the mobile tech industry. The range … continue reading -> “Mobile Tech Fair to Show Off New Phones, AI, Metaverse”

Spain: Patient Does Not Have Marburg Disease

A man in Spain who was suspected of having the deadly Marburg disease tested negative Saturday and does not have the virus, the health ministry said. Health authorities in Valencia earlier said they had detected the country’s first suspected case of the infectious disease that has led to the quarantining of more than 200 people … continue reading -> “Spain: Patient Does Not Have Marburg Disease”

Spain Detects First Suspected Case of Marburg Disease

Spain has identified its first suspected case of Marburg disease.  The Spanish patient is a 34-year-old man who had recently traveled to the Central African nation of Equatorial Guinea.  He was in a private hospital but has been transferred to an isolation unit at Hospital La Fe in Valencia for further tests, regional medical officials … continue reading -> “Spain Detects First Suspected Case of Marburg Disease”

Uber Says Delhi’s Plans to Allow Only Electric Bike Taxis Will Impact Millions

Uber Technologies Inc. said on Friday plans by the local government in India’s Delhi city to only allow electric vehicles to function as bike taxis would risk “finishing off the sector” and impact the mobility needs of millions. Delhi’s plans, part of a new policy to regulate vehicles used by ride-hailing companies like Uber and … continue reading -> “Uber Says Delhi’s Plans to Allow Only Electric Bike Taxis Will Impact Millions”

White House Braces for Ruling on Abortion Pill’s Fate

The Biden administration is preparing for a worst-case scenario if a conservative federal judge rules in favor of a lawsuit seeking to restrict access to one of the two drugs typically used to induce a medicated abortion. Two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, can be taken by women at home and are used for just over … continue reading -> “White House Braces for Ruling on Abortion Pill’s Fate”

Russia’s War in Ukraine Still Impacting Food Security: Aid Organizations

The trickle-down effects of Russia’s war in Ukraine are still being felt on food prices in vulnerable places, nearly one year after Moscow invaded the neighboring country. …

Google Tests Blocking News Content for Some Canadians

Google is blocking some Canadian users from viewing news content in what the company said is a test run of a potential response to a Canadian government’s online news bill. Bill C-18, the Online News Act, would require digital giants such as Google and Meta, which owns Facebook, to negotiate deals that would compensate Canadian … continue reading -> “Google Tests Blocking News Content for Some Canadians”

US Agency Proposes California Spotted Owl Protection

Federal wildlife officials on Wednesday announced a proposal to classify one of two dwindling California spotted owl populations as endangered after a lawsuit by conservation groups required the government to reassess a Trump administration decision not to protect the brown and white birds. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed that California spotted owls that … continue reading -> “US Agency Proposes California Spotted Owl Protection”

UN Report: Women Are Dying in Greater Numbers During Pregnancy or Childbirth

A new report by four leading United Nations agencies and the World Bank estimates every two minutes, one woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth, mostly from preventable causes. The report, “Trends in maternal mortality 2000 to 2020,” was produced by WHO, UNICEF, and the UNFPA, along with the World Bank Group and UNDESA/Population Division. Health … continue reading -> “UN Report: Women Are Dying in Greater Numbers During Pregnancy or Childbirth”

Zimbabweans Flooding Zambian Hospitals for Medical Care

Zimbabweans living on the border with Zambia are increasingly taking advantage of their neighbor’s superior health care. But Zambian officials say they are also draining resources as nearly one-third of patients in some clinics and hospitals are Zimbabweans. Columbus Mavhunga reports from Lusaka, Zambia. VOA footage by Blessing Chigwenhembe. …

Redesigned Computers Could Reduce E-Waste

People generate more than 50 million tons of electronic waste every year, including copiers, televisions, and computers. Laptops are part of the problem, but engineers at Dell Technologies are working on a new approach to help keep them out of landfills. Tina Trinh reports. Camera: Deana Mitchell …

Kenyan App Users Pay for Health Care With Personal Data

To address the relatively high cost of health care in Africa, a Kenyan mobile application lets users pay for medical services by selling their personal data through blockchain technology. Officials say Snark Health’s Hippocratic Coins have attracted more than 300 doctors and 4,000 users.  Victoria Amunga reports from Nairobi, Kenya. Camera: Jimmy Makhulo. …

Recycling Trees in an Urban Sawmill

An organization that trains young people for conservation jobs is recycling dead trees and replacing them with new ones, salvaging valuable lumber in the process. Mike O’Sullivan reports from Long Beach, California. …

Hong Kong Revokes Visa for Controversial Chinese Scientist Who Edited Babies’ Genes

A controversial Chinese biophysicist, who had been imprisoned after creating the world’s first gene-edited babies, had his Hong Kong work visa revoked after immigration officials suspected he lied on an application form for a talent scheme. He Jiankui, who sparked an international scientific and ethical debate in 2018 when he revealed he had created the … continue reading -> “Hong Kong Revokes Visa for Controversial Chinese Scientist Who Edited Babies’ Genes”

New Malaria Spreader Discovered in Kenya

Researchers in Kenya say they’ve detected an invasive mosquito that can transmit malaria in different climates, threatening progress to fight the parasitic disease. Kenya’s Medical Research Institute this week urged the public to use mosquito nets and clean up areas where mosquitos can breed. Kenya has detected the presence of a new malaria carrier, which … continue reading -> “New Malaria Spreader Discovered in Kenya”

UNESCO Conference Tackles Disinformation, Hate Speech 

Participants at a global U.N. conference in France’s capital on Wednesday urged the international community to find better safeguards against online disinformation and hate speech. Hundreds of officials, tech firm representatives, academics and members of civil society were invited to the two-day meeting hosted by the United Nation’s cultural fund to brainstorm how to best … continue reading -> “UNESCO Conference Tackles Disinformation, Hate Speech “

Somali People ‘Highly Traumatized’ After Years of Conflict

Decades of violence and humanitarian crises have left many Somali people traumatized, according to a health study by the U.N. and Somali organizations. Harun Maruf reported from Washington and Abdulkadir Zubeyr in Mogadishu spoke to mental health doctors and patients in the country. They have this report narrated by Salem Solomon. Camera: Abdulkadir Zubeyr. Video … continue reading -> “Somali People ‘Highly Traumatized’ After Years of Conflict”

Supreme Court Weighs Google’s Liability in IS Terror Case

The Supreme Court is taking up its first case about a federal law that is credited with helping create the modern internet by shielding Google, Twitter, Facebook and other companies from lawsuits over content posted on their sites by others.  The justices are hearing arguments Tuesday about whether the family of an American college student … continue reading -> “Supreme Court Weighs Google’s Liability in IS Terror Case”

ISS Crew to Remain on Orbital Outpost for an Extra Six Months  

Two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut will remain aboard the International Space Station for an extra six months because of damage to their Russian spacecraft. Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitry Petelin and Frank Rubio were set to end their six-month stay aboard the ISS in late March, but the Russian space agency Roscosmos said Tuesday the … continue reading -> “ISS Crew to Remain on Orbital Outpost for an Extra Six Months  “