China’s technology ministry Monday announced a three-year action plan to develop the country’s cyber-security industry, which it estimates will be worth more than $38 billion by 2023, according to Reuters. The…
more ...Australia Says Last Troops Withdrawn From Afghanistan
Australia’s defense minister on Sunday confirmed the end of his country’s involvement in the 20-year Afghanistan war, saying the troop withdrawal had taken place “in recent weeks.” Australia announced in April…
more ...California Wildfire Advances as Heat Wave Blankets US West
Firefighters struggled to contain an exploding Northern California wildfire under blazing temperatures as another heat wave hits the U.S. West this weekend, prompting an excessive heat warning for inland and…
more ...Violence and Abuse Wreak Havoc in Central African Republic
A human rights lawyer appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council reported to the body Friday that the war-torn Central African Republic’s civilian population is being battered by both…
more ...Africa Update: Ethiopia, South Africa, Eswatini and Covid
On this Africa edition of Encounter, Judd Devermont, director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Joshua Meservey, senior policy analyst for Africa and…
more ...At Least 8 Killed in Mogadishu in Suicide Bombing Targeting Government Convoy
A suicide car bomb targeting a government convoy exploded at a busy junction in Somalia’s capital on Saturday, killing at least eight people, an eyewitness told Reuters.The convoy was carrying…
more ...US-Afghanistan
Issues in the News moderator Kim Lewis talks with VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb and VOA executive editor Steve Redisch about concerns over the rapid withdrawal of US forces from…
more ...Hackers Disrupt Iran’s Rail Service with Fake Delay Messages
Iran’s railroad system came under cyberattack Friday, a semi-official news agency reported, with hackers posting fake messages about train delays or cancellations on display boards at stations across the country.…
more ...Biden, Putin Discuss Ransomware Attacks From Russia
U.S. President Joe Biden discussed recent ransomware attacks on the U.S. from Russia in a phone call Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the White House.“President Biden underscored…
more ...Buddhist Digital Amulets Mark Thai Entry Into Crypto Art Craze
Karmic fortune has arrived to the digital art market, with a kaleidoscopic splash of colors and the face of a revered Thai monk offering portable Buddhist good luck charms to…
more ...US Civil Rights Leaders Vow to Keep Up Fight for Voting Rights
U.S. civil rights leaders emerged Thursday from a White House meeting with President Joe Biden vowing a “summer of activism” to battle new voting restrictions enacted in Republican-led states in…
more ...Haitians Appeal for Help to Find ‘Trained Killers’ Who Assassinated President Moise
Haiti’s ambassador to the United States, Bocchit Edmond, says “professional killers” speaking Spanish shot and killed Haitian President Jovenal Moise on Wednesday morning. He appealed to the international community for…
more ...Chinese Social Media Giant WeChat Shuts LGBT Accounts
China’s most popular social media service has deleted accounts on LGBT topics run by university students and nongovernment groups, prompting concern the ruling Communist Party is tightening control over gay…
more ...No Relay: Banned Sprinter Richardson Left Off Olympic Team
Banned sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson was not on the Olympic roster released Tuesday by USA Track & Field, a decision that means the American champion’s positive test for marijuana will cost…
more ...Breakthrough Invention Aims to Eliminate Drunk Driving
A breakthrough safety feature being developed for vehicles is designed to potentially save the 10,000 lives lost to drunk driving in the U.S. each year. VOA’s Julie Taboh has more.…
more ...Up to 1,500 Businesses Affected by Ransomware Attack, US Firm’s CEO Says
Between 800 and 1,500 businesses around the world have been affected by a ransomware attack centered on U.S. information technology firm Kaseya, its chief executive said Monday. Fred Voccola, the Florida-based…
more ...Asia Industry Group Warns Privacy Law Changes May Force Tech Firms to Quit Hong Kong
An Asian industry group that includes Google, Facebook and Twitter has warned that tech companies could stop offering their services in Hong Kong if the Chinese territory proceeds with plans…
more ...Holiday-Weekend Ransomware Attack Leaves Companies Scrambling
Businesses around the world rushed Saturday to contain a ransomware attack that has paralyzed their computer networks, a situation complicated in the U.S. by offices lightly staffed at the start…
more ...Israel Attacks Gaza Over Incendiary Balloons; Palestinian Killed in West Bank
Israeli gunfire killed a Palestinian man Saturday on the West Bank and later Israeli fighter jets attacked military targets in Gaza, the army and Palestinian sources said, in the latest…
more ...Ugandans Face 2 Months’ Imprisonment for Violating COVID Laws
Ugandans may find themselves in jail for two months if they are found breaking public health controls in a new COVID-19 law. Through July, acts such as praying in open…
more ...US Politics Update: Infrastructure
On this U.S. politics edition of Encounter, John Fortier, resident scholar at The American Enterprise Institute, and Jim Kessler, executive vice president for policy at Third Way, discuss with host…
more ...Major Swedish Supermarket Chain Hit by Cyberattack
One of Sweden’s biggest supermarket chains said Saturday it had to temporarily close around 800 stores nationwide after a cyberattack blocked access to its checkouts.”One of our subcontractors was hit…
more ...‘Hams’ Head Outdoors for Remote Communication
Amateur or “ham” radio operators sometimes take their two-way radios to remote locations and talk to people around the world using battery power and portable antennas. As Mike O’Sullivan reports,…
more ...US Capitol Attack Probe Committee
Issues in the News moderator Kim Lewis talks with VOA White House bureau chief Steve Herman and columnist for Newsday, Dan Raviv about the latest top stories of the week…
more ...Ransomware Hits Hundreds of US Companies, Security Firm Says
A ransomware attack paralyzed the networks of at least 200 U.S. companies Friday, according to a cybersecurity researcher whose company was responding to the incident. The REvil gang, a major…
more ...Ethiopia Denies Trying to ‘Suffocate’ Tigray
Ethiopia’s government rejected accusations Friday that it’s trying to “suffocate” the people of Tigray by denying them urgently needed food and other aid, as transport and communications links remained severed…
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