AI ‘gold rush’ for chatbot training data could run out of human-written text

22 Chinese nationals sentenced to prison in Zambia for cybercrimes

LUSAKA, Zambia — A Zambian court on Friday sentenced 22 Chinese nationals to long prison terms for cybercrimes that included internet fraud and online scams targeting Zambians and other people from Singapore, Peru and the United Arab Emirates. The Magistrates Court in the capital, Lusaka, sentenced them for terms ranging from seven to 11 years. The … continue reading -> “22 Chinese nationals sentenced to prison in Zambia for cybercrimes”

Man died with bird flu; US officials remain focused on another form of it

NEW YORK — The mysterious death of a man in Mexico who had one kind of bird flu is unrelated to outbreaks of a different type at U.S. dairy farms, experts say. Here’s a look at the case and the different types of bird flu. What happened in the Mexico bird flu case? A 59-year-old man … continue reading -> “Man died with bird flu; US officials remain focused on another form of it”

World Oceans Day draws attention to health of oceans

WHO: First confirmed human bird flu case did not die from it

UNICEF: 1 in 4 young children lives in severe food poverty 

UN development agency installing solar energy at Zimbabwean clinics, hospitals

Zimbabwe is facing long hours of power cuts due to its dilapidated infrastructure and the impact of recurring droughts on hydropower. To help, the United Nations Development Program is installing solar panels on government-owned health facilities. Columbus Mavhunga reports from Bulawayo. …

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft detects leaks on journey to ISS

SpaceX’s mega rocket completes its fourth test flight from Texas without exploding 

Boca Chica, Texas — SpaceX’s mega Starship rocket completed its first full test flight Thursday, returning to Earth without exploding after blasting off from Texas.  The previous three test flights ended in explosions of the rocket and the spacecraft. This time, both managed to splash down in a controlled fashion.  The world’s largest and most powerful … continue reading -> “SpaceX’s mega rocket completes its fourth test flight from Texas without exploding “

War traumatizes, haunts both Israeli and Palestinian children

Many Israeli and Palestinian children are suffering from trauma because of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing eight months of war between the two sides. Therapists in both communities say the emotional scars could linger for years. Linda Gradstein reports from Jerusalem. …

Novo Nordisk braces for generic challenge to Ozempic, Wegovy in China

SHANGHAI, China — Novo Nordisk is facing the prospect of intensifying competition in the promising Chinese market, where drugmakers are developing at least 15 generic versions of its diabetes drug Ozempic and weight loss treatment Wegovy, clinical trial records showed. The Danish drugmaker has high hopes that demand for its blockbuster drugs will surge in China, … continue reading -> “Novo Nordisk braces for generic challenge to Ozempic, Wegovy in China”

WHO: First fatal human case of H5N2 bird flu identified

Geneva — The World Health Organization said Wednesday a person in Mexico had died in the first confirmed human case globally of infection with the H5N2 variant of bird flu. The patient, who died on April 24 after developing fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea and nausea, had “no history of exposure to poultry or other animals” … continue reading -> “WHO: First fatal human case of H5N2 bird flu identified”

UN chief warns target to limit global warming is slipping away

NEW YORK — The U.N. secretary-general said Wednesday that the world is “at a moment of truth” to reach targets in the 2015 Paris climate accord to limit global warming, as the planet has just experienced the 12 hottest consecutive months on record. “The truth is, almost ten years since the Paris Agreement was adopted, the … continue reading -> “UN chief warns target to limit global warming is slipping away”

NASA tries for third time Wednesday to launch first crewed flight of Boeing Starliner spacecraft to ISS

Study finds Earth warming at record rate, no evidence of climate change accelerating

Panel rejects psychedelic drug MDMA as a PTSD treatment

washington — Federal health advisers voted Tuesday against a first-of-a-kind proposal to begin using the mind-altering drug MDMA as a treatment for PTSD, handing a potentially major setback to advocates who had hoped to win a landmark federal approval and bring the banned drugs into the medical mainstream.  The panel of advisers to the Food and … continue reading -> “Panel rejects psychedelic drug MDMA as a PTSD treatment”

LogOn: Swarms of drones can be managed by one person

The U.S. military says large groups of drones and ground robots can be managed by a single person without added stress to the operator. In this week’s episode of LogOn, VOA’s Julie Taboh reports the technologies may be beneficial for civilian uses, too. Videographer and video editor: Adam Greenbaum …

Many Americans still shying away from EVs despite Biden’s push, poll finds

Washington — Many Americans still aren’t sold on going electric for their next car purchase. High prices and a lack of easy-to-find charging stations are major sticking points, a new poll shows.   About 4 in 10 U.S. adults say they would be at least somewhat likely to buy an EV the next time they buy … continue reading -> “Many Americans still shying away from EVs despite Biden’s push, poll finds”

Rare fossil of adolescent Tyrannosaurus – ‘Teen Rex’ – found by US kids

Climate change, El Niño to blame for deadly floods in Brazil

In Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, a hidden underground world is under threat by the Maya Train

AKTUN TUYUL CAVE SYSTEM, Mexico — Rays of sunlight slice through pools of crystal water as clusters of fish cast shadows on the limestone below. Arching over the emerald basin are walls of stalactites dripping down the cavern ceiling, which opens to a dense jungle. These glowing sinkhole lakes — known as cenotes — are a … continue reading -> “In Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, a hidden underground world is under threat by the Maya Train”

South Africa’s first retrofitted electric minibus taxi exceeds expectations

Minibus taxis are everywhere in South Africa, and all of them run on gasoline. But engineers at one university are hoping to change that as they are getting better-than-expected results from their all-electric minibus taxi. Vicky Stark has the story from Cape Town, South Africa. …