washington — At least 54 people have lost their lives to cholera in Somalia in recent months. Nine of those deaths occurred within the past week, marking the highest weekly death toll this year, humanitarian group Save the Children said.    In an interview with VOA Somali, Mohamed Abdulkadir, acting operations director for Save the Children Somalia, … continue reading -> “Cholera Kills At Least 54 in Somalia; Humanitarians Call for Action”

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DALLAS — It has been 15 years since the last fatal crash of a U.S. airliner, but you would never know that by reading about a torrent of flight problems in the last three months. There was a time when things like cracked windshields and minor engine problems didn’t turn up very often in the news. … continue reading -> “With Recent Headlines About Gear Falling Off Planes, Is Flying Safe?”

PORTLAND, Maine — Avian influenza is killing tens of thousands of seals and sea lions in different corners of the world, disrupting ecosystems and flummoxing scientists who don’t see a clear way to slow the devastating virus. The worldwide bird flu outbreak that began in 2020 has led to the deaths of millions of domesticated birds … continue reading -> “Bird Flu Decimating Seal Colonies; Scientists Baffled”

geneva — The World Health Organization warns that hunger, poverty, malnutrition, and disease have reached alarming levels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially in the east, where a resurgence of fighting between armed groups and government forces has uprooted millions of people from their homes.  “DRC is the second-largest displacement crisis globally after Sudan, with … continue reading -> “DR Congo Facing Alarming Levels of Violence, Hunger, Poverty, Disease”

Nairobi, Kenya — With a week until Easter, chocolate lovers should brace themselves for higher prices when they purchase their favorite seasonal treats. A nonprofit environmental group says cocoa costs three times more than it did a year ago because of climate change and the El Nino weather effect. Prices reached $8,000 per ton this week, … continue reading -> “Cocoa Prices Triple in One Year as Climate Change Hits Crops”

washington — There definitely were no Muppets during the Permian Period, but there was a Kermit — or at least a forerunner of modern amphibians that has been named after the celebrity frog. Scientists on Thursday described the fossilized skull of a creature called Kermitops gratus that lived in what is now Texas about 270 million … continue reading -> “Creature Named for Kermit the Frog Offers Clues on Amphibian Evolution”

LONDON — As the United Nations observes World Water Day on Friday, there is a growing risk of conflict over water resources as climate change takes hold, the international body said. Meanwhile, nongovernmental aid agency Oxfam accused global corporations of “grabbing” water from poorer countries to boost profits. Declaring this year’s theme Water for Peace, the … continue reading -> “Oxfam Accuses Rich Corporations of ‘Grabbing’ Water From Global South”

A high-tech solution for tackling space clutter, photography tips for the upcoming solar eclipse, and we remember a spaceflight pioneer. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi brings us The Week in Space. …

Manzini, Eswatini — Traditional medicine, or “muti,” is an important part of Eswatini’s culture. However, an increasing demand for muti has placed some of the southern African kingdom’s animal species at risk of extinction. That’s something conservationists and molecular biologists want to change. Molecular biologist Zamekile Bhembe, who works for the USAID-funded EWild Laboratory at the … continue reading -> “Wildlife Conservation, Traditional Medicine Collide in Eswatini”

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s government will take final steps to suspend the licenses of striking junior doctors next week as they refuse to end their weekslong walkouts that have burdened the country’s medical services, officials said Thursday. More than 90% of the country’s 13,000 medical interns and residents have been on strike for about … continue reading -> “South Korea Will Take Final Steps to Suspend Striking Doctors’ Licenses”

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Pacific leaders are on high alert after U.S. scientists warned that the world is nearing a historic mass coral bleaching brought on by high water temperatures fueled by climate change. VOA’s Jessica Stone reports. (Produced by Jessica Stone) …

SYDNEY — An annual university report said although Australia’s environmental scorecard deteriorated in 2023, the nation fared better than many other countries. While 2023 was the hottest year on record globally, for Australia it was the eighth hottest year because of wet and relatively mild conditions. The research is carried out each year by the Australia … continue reading -> “Researchers Detail Decline in Australia’s Environmental Health in 2023”

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Washington — An array of advanced tests found no brain injuries or degeneration among U.S. diplomats and other government employees who suffer mysterious health problems once dubbed “Havana syndrome, ” researchers reported Monday. The National Institutes of Health’s nearly five-year study offers no explanation for symptoms including headaches, balance problems and difficulties with thinking and sleep … continue reading -> “No Brain Injuries Among ‘Havana Syndrome’ Patients, New Study Finds”