UNRWA seeks $1.2 billion to meet urgent needs in Gaza and the West Bank
The funding will cover humanitarian response through the end of the year, with the goal of meeting the most urgent needs of 1.7 million people in war-ravaged Gaza and more than 200,000 Palestine refugees in the West Bank, including East…
EU launches investigation into Chinese medical device market
The European Commission launched a probe into China’s public procurement of medical devices on Wednesday, the latest in a series of moves that ratchet up trade tensions ahead of President Xi Jinping’s visit to Europe next month. The investigation –…
US provides Ukraine with long-awaited ATACMS
Pentagon — The United States has provided Ukraine with long-range tactical ballistic missiles known as ATACMS, U.S. defense department spokesman Major Charlie Dietz told VOA. The ballistic missiles have a range of up to 300 kilometers, nearly doubling the striking…
Japan’s moon lander still going after 3 lunar nights
TOKYO — Japan’s first moon lander has survived a third freezing lunar night, Japan’s space agency said Wednesday after receiving an image from the device three months after it landed on the moon. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said the…
Biden to sign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan
U.S. President Joe Biden said he will sign legislation Wednesday providing $95 billion in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after the Senate gave its approval late Tuesday. The 79-18 vote came after months of delays, which included the Senate…
US Senate Passes Possible TikTok Ban
WASHINGTON — Among a package of military aid bills it passed Tuesday, the U.S. Senate approved a bill that requires TikTok parent company ByteDance to sell the video hosting platform or risk the government banning the app for all U.S….
Generative AI threatens voter confidence in what’s real
Artificial intelligence surrounds U.S. political life, from fundraising to campaign advertising. Some lawmakers are looking to better police the use of generative content in this year’s presidential election as they say it threatens voter confidence in what is real. VOA…
Officials: US plans $1 billion aid package for Ukraine
The United States is planning to send a military aid package valued at up to $1 billion immediately after a supplemental funding bill under discussion in the Senate is passed and signed into law, two defense officials tell VOA. The…
As plastic treaty talks open, countries more divided than ever
Countries are under pressure to make progress on a first-ever global plastics treaty this week, but they face tense negotiations in the Canadian capital with parties deeply divided over what the treaty should include as talks begin on Tuesday. If…
UK announces $620 million in new military aid for Ukraine, plan to up own defense spending
Warsaw, Poland — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced Tuesday that the country is to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by the end of the decade. Sunak made the announcement during a visit to Warsaw, where he also…