Woman Bodybuilder in Malawi Gains Fame, Dispels Stereotypes

In Malawi, bodybuilding and bodybuilding competitions have long been regarded as a male-only activity. But 33-year-old Doreen Kumbatira is changing that perception. Kumbatira is the only female bodybuilder in Malawi to be actively involved in competitions, and she has made a name for herself in fitness circles. Kumbatira never intended to become a professional bodybuilder …

Woman Bodybuilder in Malawi Gains Fame, Dashes Stereotypes

In Malawi, bodybuilding and bodybuilding competitions have long been regarded as a male-only activity. But Doreen Kumbatira, 33, is changing that perception. Kumbatira is the only female bodybuilder in Malawi actively involved in competitions and has made a name for herself in fitness circles. Two months ago, she participated in a bodybuilding show for women …

Hungry Venezuelans Pick Through Garbage for Food

The high cost of food in Venezuela and constant shortages have forced many Venezuelans to rummage through trash to find something to eat. According to a survey by a Caracas nonprofit that studies worker social issues, Centro de Documentación y Análisis para los Trabajadores/CENDA, prices for basic food items have gone up four times the …

Taliban Kills 14 Afghan Soldiers, Takes Many More Hostage

The Taliban has killed at least 14 Afghan soldiers and taken more than 20 others hostage in the western Afghan province of Herat, which borders Iran, officials confirmed Friday. The latest violence coincided with a Taliban statement defending and boasting about its five-year Islamist rule in Afghanistan, which was ended 17 years ago by a …

University of Missouri Works to Make a Better MRI

MRI scans help doctors diagnose diseases or injuries without radiation. MRI technology uses powerful magnets, radio waves and a computer to make detailed pictures inside the body. This is especially important for heart patients. With an MRI, doctors can check to see if blood vessels are blocked. They can also check for heart damage after …

Cars that are too Smart may be too Dangerous

Many car companies are looking at adding sensors to monitor your vital signs while you drive. The University of Southern California’s Center for Body Computing, which is focused on digital health and innovation, brings together experts to look at the benefits and dangers of this next step in automotive design and technology. VOA’s Elizabeth Lee …

Ecuador: Enough UK Guarantees for Assange to Leave Embassy

Ecuador’s president has ramped up pressure on Julian Assange to leave his country’s embassy in London, saying Britain had provided sufficient guarantees that the WikiLeaks founder won’t be extradited to face the death penalty abroad. Lenin Moreno’s comments in a radio interview Thursday suggest that months of quiet diplomacy between the U.K. and Ecuador to …

Pakistan Urges US to Leave Afghanistan ‘As Friend of the Region’

Pakistan’s military says it is taking “every step” required to help the United States successfully achieve a political reconciliation in Afghanistan and exit the war-shattered country “as friend of the region, not as a failure.” The statement comes a day after U.S. special envoy for Afghan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, visited Islamabad and sought cooperation from …

Dozens of Amazon Workers Sickened by Bear Repellent

Dozens of workers were sickened Wednesday when a can of bear repellent was accidentally punctured at an Amazon warehouse in New Jersey.  Twenty-four people were hospitalized. One was in critical condition; the conditions of the others were not immediately known.  About 30 other workers were treated at the warehouse in Robbinsville, authorities said.  Robbinsville Township spokesman …

IS Signals Re-Emergence in Parts of Iraq

While this month marks the first anniversary of the Iraqi-proclaimed victory over the Islamic State (IS) terror group, U.S.-backed Iraqi forces are still trying to hunt down remaining IS militants as the extremist group returns to its insurgent roots.   In a televised address on December 9, 2017, former Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi announced the …

Mueller Memo Adds to Russia Probe Mystery

Feverish media speculation had raged ahead of Robert Mueller’s sentencing recommendations for former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, fueled by hopes the court filing would provide fresh insight into the special counsel’s probe of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. What emerged instead from the heavily redacted document was a deepening mystery and …