Asia

China gets a big win as it competes with the U.S. for influence around the world

7:22am August 28, 2023

by John Ruwitch

The group of nations known as BRICS will welcome six more countries in 2024. The expansion creates economic opportunities for the new members, and is seen as a win for China.

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Mohammad Saud (left) is one of two bird-saving brothers profiled in the documentary All The Breathes. Above, he and his employee and friend Salik Rehman tend to an injured kite.

Whatever happened to the bird-saving brothers of Oscar-nommed doc 'All that Breathes'?

9:18am August 27, 2023

by Kamala Thiagarajan

Since their round of fame, the brothers, who dedicated themselves to rehabbing birds injured by kite strings in the Delhi sky, are gaining worldwide support — and an infusion of donations.

6 countries have been invited to join BRICS, a group of emerging nations

7:26am August 25, 2023

by Kate Bartlett

The group invited six new members to join — expanding their reach to cover over a third of the world's population in an attempt to reshape the global world order.

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Concerns are raised after Japan releases water from damaged nuclear plant

7:26am August 25, 2023

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Ken Buesseler, senior scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, about the safety of Japan releasing treated waste water into the Pacific Ocean.

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Rescue workers evacuate villagers through a boat from a flooded area of Pakpattan district of Pakistan's Punjab province, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.

World News

Millions of children need aid a year after Pakistan's devastating floods, UNICEF says

4:57am August 25, 2023

by The Associated Press

Dozens of countries and institutions pledged more than $9 billion to help Pakistan rebuild from last summer's floods. But most of the pledges are for project loans still in the planning stages.

BRICS invites six new members to join, covering over 1/3 of the world's population

5:51pm August 24, 2023

by Kate Bartlett

The BRICS group of emerging economies have invited six new members to join — expanding their reach to cover over a third of the world's population in an attempt to reshape the global world order.

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Ancient cave art along China's silk road is damaged in harsh rains

5:51pm August 24, 2023

by Emily Feng

Flash floods and years of unusual rainfall — likely linked to climate change — are degrading ancient cave art along China's historic silk road at a rapid pace.

Storage tanks for contaminated water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant are near capacity.

5 things to know about Japan's Fukushima water release in the Pacific

1:38pm August 24, 2023

The water comes from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Although most scientists agree it does not pose an immediate environmental threat, some are worried about the long-term consequences.

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This aerial picture shows tanks used for storing treated water at the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant. Japan began releasing wastewater from the plant into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday despite angry opposition from China and local fishermen.

Worries over seafood safety mount as Japan releases Fukushima water into the Pacific

12:16pm August 24, 2023

by Anthony Kuhn

Local fishermen and the government of neighboring China are among the critics of Japan's decision to release water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean.

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A TV screen shows a report of North Korea's rocket launch with file image during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, on Thursday.

World News

North Korea says its 2nd attempt to launch a spy satellite has failed

10:44am August 24, 2023

by The Associated Press

The failed launch prompted neighboring Japan to issue a brief "J-alert" ordering some residents to evacuate to safe places as the North Korean rocket flew over its southernmost islands of Okinawa.