How Maui’s 151-year-old banyan tree is coming back to life after fire
LAHAINA, Hawaii — When a deadly wildfire tore through Lahaina on Maui last August, the wall of flames scorched the 151-year-old banyan tree along the historic town’s Front Street. But the sprawling tree survived the blaze, and thanks to the…
China’s drivers fret as robotaxis pick up pace — and passengers
WUHAN, China — Liu Yi is among China’s 7 million ride-hailing drivers. A 36-year-old Wuhan resident, he started driving part-time this year when construction work slowed in the face of a nationwide glut of unsold apartments. Now he predicts another…
US declines to approve first MDMA-based PTSD treatment
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has declined to approve a therapy based on the mind-altering drug MDMA for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, stating it could not be approved based on the data submitted, developer Lykos Therapeutics said Friday….
Central Asia leaders call for joint policy on water issues
Almaty, Kazakhstan — Central Asian leaders met in Kazakhstan on Friday seeking to agree on a shared policy on water management in a region where the scarce resource causes frequent disputes. Interruptions to water supplies are a regular occurrence in…
US announces $125M military aid package for Ukraine
The United States announced on Friday that it would be sending a $125 million military aid package that includes Stinger missiles and anti-armor systems to Ukraine following multiple civilian deaths from a fresh Russian attack. The package will be the…
Iran to deliver hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia soon, intel sources say
Dozens of Russian military personnel are being trained in Iran to use the Fath-360 close-range ballistic missile system, two European intelligence sources told Reuters, adding that they expected the imminent delivery of hundreds of the satellite-guided weapons to Russia for…
UN: Climate change wreaks havoc through large parts of Africa
GENEVA — United Nations aid agencies warn climate change is wreaking havoc throughout large parts of eastern and southern Africa, worsening the plight of millions of people struggling to survive conflict, poverty, hunger and disease. Since mid-April, El Nino-related heavy…
US presidential campaign: The view from Ukraine
The U.S. presidential campaign is being closely followed in Ukraine as its outcome could significantly impact regional security, U.S. foreign policy, NATO support, aid to Ukraine, and relations with Russia. VOA Eastern Europe Chief Myroslava Gongadze reports. Camera: Daniil Batushchak,…
Princeton University to help Ukraine rebuild, reduce corruption risks
By the beginning of 2024, the war in Ukraine had inflicted over $150 billion of damage on Ukraine’s infrastructure, according to the Kyiv School of Economics. But some scholars in the U.S., alongside Ukrainian anti-corruption activists, are already looking ahead…
Sudan’s displaced millions face escalating hardship amid war and floods
The conflict, which erupted last April between rival militaries – the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has left over 12 million people displaced, both within Sudan and across its borders. “Heavy rains and flooding have…