After cooking for decades on earthen stoves lit with firewood, women in Sarmathla village in India’s northern Haryana state were excited when they received cooking gas stoves and connections about five years ago. The gas cylinders which use liquified petroleum gas (LPG) meant that they would not have to collect firewood and breathe in the … continue reading -> “In Rural India, Soaring Cooking Gas Prices Reverse Gains in Tackling Deadly Kitchen Smoke “

British health officials have detected another 104 cases of monkeypox in England in what has become the biggest outbreak beyond Africa of the normally rare disease. The U.K.’s Health Security Agency said Monday there were now 470 cases of monkeypox across the country, with the vast majority in gay or bisexual men. Scientists warn that … continue reading -> “UK Reports 104 More Cases of Monkeypox, Mostly in Men”

U.S. health officials are working to expand capabilities to test for monkeypox beyond a narrow group of public health labs, heeding calls from infectious-disease experts who say testing for the virus needs to become part of routine care.  Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said during a … continue reading -> “US Seeks to Expand Monkeypox Testing as Cases Rise “

On Thursday, the first shipments of Australian baby formula landed in the U.S. Yet the shortage continues, with women going to extreme measures to feed their babies, including buying breast milk from strangers on social media. Senior Washington Correspondent Carolyn Presutti reports. …

NASA is officially joining the hunt for UFOs.  The space agency on Thursday announced a new study that will recruit leading scientists to examine unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) — a subject that has long fascinated the public and recently gained high-level attention from Congress.  The project will begin early this fall and last around nine … continue reading -> “NASA Tackles ‘Perplexing’ Mystery of UFOs”

For the first time, NASA is looking to launch a research rocket from a commercial port not in the United States. Plus, we remember a legendary cosmonaut who died this week, and Blue Origin returns to the skies. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi brings us The Week in Space. …

The risk of monkeypox becoming established in nonendemic nations is real, the WHO warned Wednesday, with more than 1,000 cases confirmed in such countries.  World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the U.N. health agency was not recommending mass vaccination against the virus and added that no deaths had been reported from the outbreaks.  … continue reading -> “Monkeypox Outbreak Tops 1,000 Cases; WHO Warns of ‘Real’ Risk”

The Biden administration announced Monday that it would waive tariffs on solar panels imported to the United States from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam for 24 months, reducing uncertainty for the U.S. solar energy companies that had been spooked by a Commerce Department investigation launched in March.  The announcement came as part of a package … continue reading -> “Biden Drops Tariffs on Southeast Asian Solar Panels for 2 years “

The government of Poland, where a near-total abortion ban is in place, faced accusations Monday of creating a “pregnancy register” as the country expands the amount of medical data being digitally saved on patients.  Women’s rights advocates and opposition politicians fear women face unprecedented surveillance given the conservative views of a ruling party that has … continue reading -> “Poland, With Near-total Abortion Ban, to Record Pregnancies “

Three Chinese astronauts arrived at the country’s space station on Sunday, the Chinese space agency for human flights said, the latest stride in Beijing’s aim to become a major space power. The trio blasted off in a Long March-2F rocket at 0244 GMT from the Jiuquan launch center in northwestern China ‘s Gobi desert, reported … continue reading -> “3 Chinese Astronauts Arrive at Tiangong Space Station”

Beijing will further relax COVID-19 curbs by allowing indoor dining, as China’s capital steadily returns to normal with inflections falling, state media said on Sunday. Beijing and the commercial hub Shanghai have been returning to normal in recent days after two months of painful lockdowns to crush outbreaks of the Omicron variant. Dine-in service in … continue reading -> “Beijing to Allow Indoor Dining, Further Easing COVID Curbs”

China on Sunday launched a rocket carrying three astronauts on a mission to complete construction on its new space station, the latest milestone in Beijing’s drive to become a major space power. The trio blasted off in a Long March-2F rocket at (0244 GMT) from the Jiuquan launch center in northwestern China’s Gobi desert, said … continue reading -> “China Sends 3 Astronauts To Complete Space Station”

Global reported cases of COVID-19 cases and deaths “are near their lowest levels since the beginning of the pandemic,” the World Health Organization director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said Friday. Speaking at the GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum, Tedros warned, however, that “It is still far too early to say the pandemic is over. … Increasing transmission, … continue reading -> “WHO Chief: ‘COVID Remains a Real and Present Danger’”

The amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has shot past a key milestone — more than 50% higher than pre-industrial times — and is at levels not seen since millions of years ago when Earth was a hothouse ocean-inundated planet, federal scientists announced Friday.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said its longtime … continue reading -> “Carbon Dioxide Levels in Atmosphere Spike Past Milestone “

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Friday it was aware of more than 700 cases of monkeypox globally, including 21 in the United States, with investigations now suggesting it is spreading inside the country.  Sixteen of the first 17 cases were among people who identify as men who have sex with … continue reading -> “More Than 700 Monkeypox Cases Globally, 21 in US, CDC Says”

American children under age 5 could receive their first COVID-19 vaccines as early as June 21, the White House’s top COVID official said Thursday — if the two vaccines under review are approved by both U.S. government bodies responsible for such authorizations. “We know that many, many parents are eager to vaccinate their youngest kids,” … continue reading -> “US Prepares for Launch of COVID Vaccines for Under-5s “

One of NASA’s robots on Mars chops its way through the record books. Plus, next-generation spacesuits, and a meteor shower ignites the sky over Brazil. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi brings us The Week in Space …

U.S. President Joe Biden met with major manufacturers of infant formula on Wednesday, and suggested their ranks should grow, as his administration presses ahead with efforts to boost imported supplies to help ease a nationwide shortage.  “We need more new entrants in the infant formula market,” Biden said during a virtual meeting with executives from … continue reading -> “US Needs More Baby Formula Makers, Biden Tells Manufacturers “