A federal appeals court on Monday halted a rule from President Joe Biden’s administration that could make it easier to obtain student loan debt relief for borrowers who say they were victims of misleading information about the quality of education they would receive. At issue is a rule broadening existing policy ending the debt of…
William Friedkin, Oscar-Winning Director of ‘The Exorcist,’ ‘The French Connection,’ Dead at 87
William Friedkin, the Oscar-winning director who became a top filmmaker in his 30s with the gripping “The French Connection” and the horrifying “The Exorcist” and struggled in the following decades to match his early success has died. He was 87. Friedkin, who won the best director Oscar for “The French Connection,” died Monday in Los…
K-Pop Star Suga Begins Process to Serve Military Duty
K-pop star Suga, songwriter and rapper for the boy band supergroup BTS, has begun the enlistment process for mandatory military service, the band’s label said on Monday, making him the third band member to go off to perform the military duty. “We would like to inform our fans that SUGA has initiated the military enlistment…
Where US Schools Are Recruiting International Students — Report
According to a recent report, U.S. colleges are most interested in international students from India, with 57% prioritizing undergraduate outreach there. Outreach to Vietnam, South Korea and Brazil are next. For graduate students, India is again in first place, but China, Nigeria and Vietnam are also attracting strong interest. As U.S. enrollments decline, colleges are…
Conservative Groups Sue to Block Biden Plan Canceling $39 Billion in Student Loans
Two conservative groups are asking a federal court to block the Biden administration’s plan to cancel $39 billion in student loans for more than 800,000 borrowers. In a lawsuit filed Friday in Michigan, the groups argue that the administration overstepped its power when it announced the forgiveness in July, just weeks after the Supreme Court…
‘Barbie’ Joins $1 Billion Club, Breaks Another Record for Female Directors
Greta Gerwig should be feeling closer to fine these days. In just three weeks in theaters, “Barbie” is set to sail past $1 billion in global ticket sales, breaking a record for female directors that was previously held by Patty Jenkins, who helmed “Wonder Woman.” “Barbie,” which Gerwig directed and co-wrote, added another $53 million…
AI Anxiety: Workers Fret Over Uncertain Future
The tidal wave of artificial intelligence (AI) barrelling toward many professions has generated deep anxiety among workers fearful that their jobs will be swept away — and the mental health impact is rising. The launch in November 2022 of ChatGPT, the generative AI platform capable of handling complex tasks on command, marked a tech landmark…
China’s Village Basketball League a Slam Dunk
It’s almost midnight in Taipan — a remote village in southwest Guizhou province — but the championship game is only just getting under way after a weekend of action. Clanging pots and pans punctuate the hum of the crowd in the steep main stands, while millions of online viewers and social media users hold their…
Netherlands Beats South Africa 2-0, Advances to Women’s World Cup Quarterfinals
Netherlands advanced to the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup on Sunday with a 2-0 win over South Africa. Jill Roord and Lineth Beerensteyn scored in each half at the Sydney Football Stadium to secure the 2019 runners-up a place in the last eight. But South Africa, one of the surprise teams of the tournament,…
Spain Routs Switzerland 5-1 to Advance to the Quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup
Aitana Bonmati scored twice as Spain routed Switzerland 5-1 on Saturday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup for the first time. Spain responded emphatically to its 4-0 loss against Japan in its group-stage finale in a blowout against the Swiss in Auckland. Alba Redondo, Laia Codina and Jennifer Hermoso also scored…
Livestreamer’s NYC Giveaway Attracts Thousands, Turns Violent
A crowd of thousands that packed Manhattan’s Union Square for a popular livestreamer’s hyped giveaway got out of hand Friday afternoon, with some clambering on vehicles, hurling chairs and throwing punches, leaving police struggling to rein in the chaos. Aerial TV news footage showed a surging, tightly packed crowd running through the streets, scaling structures…
Film About Ukrainian Teens’ Escape From Russians Screens in US
A film taking place during Russia’s war on Ukraine was recently screened before the U.S. Congress. It tells the story of two Ukrainian teens who were forcibly transferred to a Russian-occupied territory. Andriy Borys has this report, narrated by Anna Rice. VOA footage by Viacheslav Filiushkin …
With Race-based Affirmative Action Out, College Admissions Essays Could Offer Insight
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled affirmative action, or preferential admissions for underrepresented groups, unconstitutional. However, the court ruling said applicants can still mention their background and life experiences in a personal essay. Scott Jaschik of Inside Higher Ed writes that discussing race, whether as “discrimination, inspiration or otherwise,” is acceptable; going back to the…
Shocks as Soccer Heavyweights Eliminated in Soccer’s Women’s World Cup
The group stages of the women’s soccer World Cup in Australia and New Zealand have ended with the unexpected elimination of Germany, Brazil and the current Olympic champions, Canada. Starting Saturday, the tournament moves into its knockout phase where three African nations hope to advance. Organizers say more than 1.7 million tickets have been sold…
Public Investment Seen Aiding Struggling College Students in Getting Degree
At CUNY, the public university system in New York City, officials found that investment in students increases their chances of graduating by almost double. CUNY’s highly successful ASAP program gives at-risk students financial aid, unlimited public transit access and intensive one-on-one advising. The city believes it’s a win-win, and claims the return is three times…
Somalia Suspends Athletics Head After Runner’s Slow 100-Meter Sprint
The Somali government has suspended its head of athletics after a sprinter finished more than 10 seconds behind the winner in the 100-meter dash at the 2023 World University Games in Chengdu, China. Youth and Sports Minister Mohamed Barre Mohamud told VOA Somali that Khadijo Aden Dahir had been suspended pending an investigation. He…
US Colleges Consider How to Maintain Diversity on Campus After Affirmative Action Ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the use of affirmative action in college admissions, ruling that consideration of a student’s race to help decide who is admitted to higher education institutions was unconstitutional. Yet there are other ways to keep college in reach for everyone: one is to admit the top graduates of every high…
Colleges Consider Guidance on Hosting Foreign Cultural Centers
Many countries practice cultural diplomacy by funding research centers at colleges, such as Germany’s Goethe Institutes or the U.K.’s British Council. But in the U.S., China’s Confucius Institutes have been accused of stealing scientific research and intimidating campus critics of Beijing. A new report from the National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine provides recommendations…
Princeton Student Pleads Guilty of Joining Mob’s Attack on Capitol
A man who was a Princeton University student when the FBI arrested him on charges related to the U.S. Capitol riot pleaded guilty on Monday to joining a mob’s attack on police officers during one of the most violent clashes on January 6, 2021. Larry Fife Giberson was on the front lines when rioters attacked…
AI’s Future in Entertainment at Heart of Strike Talks Involving Actors, Writers
The use of artificial intelligence has become a focal point in the Hollywood strikes. Studios say they have offered fair protections and compensation where the new technology is used, but actors and writers have reservations. Genia Dulot has this report. …
Tribal Canoe Journey Returns to Washington State After COVID-19 Break
For thousands of years, canoes were the primary means of travel for the Native Americans known as the Coast Salish peoples. Tribal Canoe Journey, an event celebrating indigenous tribes of the West Coast, is back after a pandemic hiatus. Natasha Mozgovaya has more. Camera: Natasha Mozgovaya. …
Pee-wee Herman Actor Paul Reubens Dies of Cancer at Age 70
Paul Reubens, the actor and comedian whose character Pee-wee Herman became a cultural phenomenon through films and TV shows, has died. Reubens died Sunday night after a six-year struggle with cancer that he did not make public, his publicist said in a statement. “Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been…
Mother, 71, and Daughter, 50, Earn Degrees a Month Apart
Yvonne Spann Sowers and her daughter Eyamba Sowers Scott say their thirst for lifelong learning brought them back to the classroom after fulfilling careers in public service. “I still felt like I needed to learn some more,” said Spann Sowers. They chose to become “non-traditional learners,” and despite age, self-doubt and medical issues, both succeeded.…
‘Barbie’ Tops Box Office Again, ‘Oppenheimer’ in 2nd Place
A week later, the “Barbenheimer” boom has not abated. Seven days after Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” conspired to set box office records, the two films held unusually strongly in theaters. “Barbie” took in a massive $93 million in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. “Oppenheimer” stayed in second with a…
Morocco Makes History in 1-0 Defeat of South Korea at Women’s World Cup
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA — Morocco made history in multiple ways during its 1-0 victory over South Korea in the Women’s World Cup on Sunday. Defender Nouhaila Benzina became the first player to wear a Hijab in a World Cup game at the senior level, and her teammate Ibtissam Jraïdi scored the Atlas Lionesses’ first World Cup…
Millions of Shiite Muslims Mark Mourning Day of Ashoura
TEHRAN, Iran — Millions of Shiite Muslims in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and around the world on Friday commemorated Ashoura, a remembrance of the 7th-century martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Hussein, that gave birth to their faith. In Afghanistan, the Taliban cut mobile phone services in key cities holding commemorations for fear of militants targeting…
The Real Scientists in ‘Oppenheimer’
Many of actor Cillian Murphy’s colleagues in the new movie Oppenheimer are real scientists. The film, which chronicles the father of America’s atomic bomb, was filmed near the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. Real nuclear scientists were recruited to pose as background extras in many scenes. Scientists explained their research to the actors,…
US Supreme Court Blocks Biden Student Loan Forgiveness Plan; What Options Do Students Have Now?
President Joe Biden’s $400 billion plan to cancel or reduce federal student loan debts for millions of Americans was effectively killed by the U.S. Supreme Court. However, there are smaller alternatives for borrowers. Some states, including some that challenged Biden’s plan, offer loan forgiveness programs, and federal programs exist for public service workers, people with…