Pacific atolls face risk from rising seas
A study by the World Bank on Thursday said urgent action is needed to address rising sea levels in the Pacific atoll islands of Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu, which under current projections could be 50% to 80% submerged…
EU fines Meta $840 million over abusive practices benefiting Facebook Marketplace
Brussels — The European Commission on Thursday fined Meta Platforms $840.24 million over abusive practices benefiting Facebook Marketplace, it said in a statement, confirming an earlier report by Reuters. “The European Commission has fined Meta … for breaching EU antitrust…
Foreign acquisition of US Steel faces cooler temperatures after presidential election
Before the U.S. presidential election, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump opposed a Japanese company’s planned $14 billion purchase of U.S. Steel, a once-iconic pillar of America’s industrial age. With the election over, there are indications that the…
WHO links forced Afghan repatriation from Pakistan to polio resurgence
Islamabad — The World Health Organization has labeled a forced repatriation of Afghan nationals from Pakistan as a “major setback” for polio eradication efforts, contributing to the regional resurgence of the paralytic disease. Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan are the only…
Humanitarian lifeline for Sudan secured for three more months
This extension in effect from Wednesday ensures that critical aid will continue to flow from Chad into conflict-affected regions of Sudan, particularly Darfur. “Humanitarians in Sudan welcome this decision as the Adre border crossing is a critical lifeline for hundreds…
Gaza: Israeli war tactics condemned as aid still blocked from reaching north
An update from the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said that in the last two days alone, “six attempts to deliver lifesaving assistance to besieged areas in North Gaza governorate were blocked”. The missions on Tuesday and Wednesday had aimed…
Middle East crisis: Live updates for 14 November
Israeli military operations are blocking, denying or impeding lifesaving aid requests in Gaza on Thursday as the war there and in Lebanon continues to kill, injure and displace civilians. Stay tuned for live updates from the field and at UN…
Russian forces capture village in eastern Ukraine
Russia’s military reported capturing a village in east Ukraine on Thursday, with forces closing in on the town of Kurakhove. The Russian Defense Ministry said the army captured the village of Voznesenka in the Donetsk region. The town had a…
Analysts skeptical about African impact of China’s zero-tariff offer
NEW DELHI — Analysts interviewed by VOA expressed skepticism over China’s recent decision to eliminate tariffs for goods from least developed countries with diplomatic relations with Bejing, including 33 in Africa, next month. The move was announced by Chinese President…
For 3rd straight year, no improvement in Earth’s projected warming
BAKU, Azerbaijan — For the third straight year, efforts to fight climate change haven’t lowered projections for how hot the world is likely to get — and recent developments in China and the United States are likely to slightly worsen…