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Israel-based Yad Vashem is the world’s leading organization dedicated to Holocaust awareness. It seeks to remind humanity about what could result from the modern-day extreme hatreds and genocidal ideologies fueling international tensions and conflicts. One source of concern for Yad Vashem is Iran, whose leaders repeatedly have denied and questioned the facts of the Holocaust … continue reading -> “Persians of Israel: Menashe Amir (Part 2 – Fighting Holocaust Denial with Yad Vashem)”
The Hubble Space Telescope should be back in action soon, following a tricky, remote repair job by NASA. The orbiting observatory went dark in mid-June, with all astronomical viewing halted. NASA initially suspected a 1980s-era computer as the source of the problem. But after the backup payload computer also failed, flight controllers at Maryland’s Goddard … continue reading -> “Hubble Space Telescope Fixed After Month of no Science”
Vietnam’s government is on a global vaccine shopping spree in hopes it can stem a surge of COVID-19 infections without resorting to more lockdowns like those that have already set back the economy and angered an increasingly frustrated public. Like many of its East Asia neighbors, Vietnam is experiencing some of its highest infection rates since … continue reading -> “Vietnam Shops for Vaccines in Hopes of Avoiding More Lockdowns”
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has warned in a statement that the global COVID vaccination rate “must increase rapidly and protection measures upheld, if we are to win the race against more transmissible, and potentially more deadly, variants.” “At least three quarters of people in most countries want to be vaccinated … continue reading -> “COVID Vaccination Rate ‘Must Increase Rapidly’, WHO, Red Cross Warn”
Australian cybersecurity experts are calling for more aggressive government action to protect businesses from ransomware attacks. Experts have warned a “tsunami of cybercrime” has cost the global economy about $743 billion. Big companies can be attractive targets for cybercriminals who can extort millions of dollars after stealing sensitive commercial information. The Cybersecurity Cooperative Research Centre … continue reading -> “Australia Called ‘Easy’ Target for Hackers”
U.S. President Joe Biden, his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Russian President Vladimir Putin are among Pacific Rim leaders gathering virtually to discuss strategies to help economies rebound from a resurgent COVID-19 pandemic. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will chair the special leaders’ meeting Friday of the 21-member Asia-Pacific … continue reading -> “Pacific Rim Leaders to Discuss Economic Way Out of Pandemic”
In a medical first, researchers harnessed the brain waves of a paralyzed man unable to speak — and turned what he intended to say into sentences on a computer screen. It will take years of additional research but the study, reported Wednesday, marks an important step toward one day restoring more natural communication for people … continue reading -> “Device Taps Brain Waves to Help Paralyzed Man Communicate”
Iran appears to be intensifying its effort to exploit U.S. and Western targets in cyberspace, running a campaign aimed at manipulating American military personnel and defense companies on social media. Tehran’s latest campaign, orchestrated on Facebook by a group known as Tortoiseshell, used a series of sophisticated, fake online personas to make contact with U.S. … continue reading -> “Iranian Hackers Target US Military, Defense Companies”
A Chinese gene company is collecting genetic data through prenatal tests from women in more than 50 countries for research on the traits of populations, raising concern that such a large DNA database could give China a technological advantage and the strategic edge to dominate global pharmaceuticals, according to a recent news report. Analysts expressed … continue reading -> “Experts Say Genetic Data Collection by Chinese Company Presents Global Policy Challenge”
The U.S. government said Thursday it will begin offering up to $10 million for information to identify or locate malicious cyber actors working on behalf of a foreign government that are trying to cripple the internet operations of American businesses and infrastructure.The new reward was announced as the U.S. faces a growing threat from ransomware … continue reading -> “US Offering up to $10 Million for Information to Combat Overseas Ransomware Attacks”
The space-tourism industry got a major boost aboard a billionaire’s rocket ship. Plus, the EU lends Mother Earth a climate-conscious hand, and LeBron James suits-up for the big screen. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi brings us the Week in Space. Produced by: Arash Arabasadi …
A NASA-University of Hawaii study warns that upcoming changes in the moon’s orbit coupled with higher ocean levels could lead to record coastal flooding on U.S. coasts in the next decade.The study, conducted by the NASA Sea Level Change Team at the University of Hawaii, and published last month in the scientific journal Nature Climate … continue reading -> “Study Shows Moon ‘Wobble’ Contributing to More US Coastal Flooding”
The State Department will offer rewards up to $10 million for information leading to the identification of anyone engaged in foreign state-sanctioned malicious cyber activity against critical U.S. infrastructure — including ransomware attacks — and the White House has launched a task force to coordinate efforts to stem the ransomware scourge.The Biden administration is also … continue reading -> “$10 Million Rewards Bolster White House Anti-Ransomware Bid”
Indonesia, the world’s fourth-largest nation, is the latest hotspot for the fast-moving, highly contagious delta variant of COVID-19. The nation reported more than 54,517 new coronavirus infections Wednesday, a new single-day record, along with 991 deaths. Hospitals on Java island are overflowing with infected patients and residents scrambling to find oxygen tanks to treat family … continue reading -> “Indonesia Posted More than 54,000 New COVID Infections on Wednesday ”
New data by two leading U.N. agencies find the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted routine life-saving immunization services for millions of children, many of whom risk dying from vaccine-preventable diseases.The World Health Organization and U.N. Children’s Fund report 23 million children missed out last year on vaccines against killer diseases such as measles, polio, and diphtheria. … continue reading -> “Childhood Killer Diseases Soar as Pandemic Disrupts Life-saving Immunization Services”
It began in February with a tweet by pop star Rihanna that sparked widespread condemnation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of massive farmer protests near the capital, souring an already troubled relationship between the government and Twitter.Moving to contain the backlash, officials hit Twitter with multiple injunctions to block hundreds of tweets critical … continue reading -> “India Internet Law Adds to Fears Over Online Speech, Privacy”
More than 93,000 people died from drug overdoses in the U.S. last year, a record experts say was partly triggered by the isolation that many experienced during coronavirus-related lockdowns. The government reported Wednesday that the 2020 total easily surpassed the previous record of about 72,000 deaths in 2019. “This is a staggering loss … continue reading -> “US Drug Overdose Deaths Hit Record 93,000 Last Year”
European Union leaders on Wednesday introduced the bloc’s most comprehensive plans yet to combat climate change, with a new goal of reducing carbon emissions to 55% below 1990 levels by 2030.Unveiled by the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, the legislation would make the bloc’s goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050 legally binding and … continue reading -> “EU Leaders Push Most Ambitious Climate Legislation Yet”
More than 93,000 people died from drug overdoses in the U.S. last year, a record experts said was partly triggered by the isolation that many experienced during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.The government reported Wednesday that the 2020 total easily surpassed the previous record of about 72,000 deaths in 2019.“This is a staggering loss … continue reading -> “US Drug Overdose Deaths Hit Record in 2020”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed Wednesday to enact measures to protect British professional soccer players from online abuse. Punishment for someone found guilty of such abuse could include banishment from games. The move comes after online abuse, some of it racist, was directed at three Black players for the English national team who missed their penalty … continue reading -> “Boris Johnson Promises Measures to Protect Soccer Players from Online Abuse”
New Zealand students have developed sustainable materials made from cabbage tree leaves and flax that could soon be used to make high-performance skis, kayaks and skateboards. Their plan is to use them to replace traditional fiberglass and carbon fiber. Skateboards need to be tough. Two students at New Zealand’s University of Canterbury, Ben Scales and William Murrell, believe they can make them even … continue reading -> “New Zealand Students to Build High-Performance Skis, Skateboards Using Leaves, Plants”
Residents in Sydney, Australia will remain under lockdown for another two weeks as officials continue to struggle to contain a growing outbreak of the delta variant of COVID-19.The lockdown was first imposed on June 26 after a Sydney airport limousine driver who had been transporting international air crews tested positive for the variant. More than … continue reading -> “Sydney, Australia to Remain Under Coronavirus Lockdown for 2 More Weeks”
The United States should accommodate millions of refugees who will be forced to flee disasters and other effects of a changing climate, according to a task force report released Wednesday. The In this April 15, 2021, file photo, President Joe Biden speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington. No nation offers asylum or other protections to people displaced because of climate change. Biden’s … continue reading -> “US Urged to Offer Refuge to Those Fleeing Climate Catastrophes”