US Aims to Tap Domestic Lithium Supply Without Chinese Products

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washington — Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a record conditional loan of $2.26 billion to tap the largest known lithium reserves in North America. The loan is an important step in an effort by the U.S. government to reduce reliance on China for the metal used to make batteries. Analysts, however, say that it may be too late to move away from reliance on China completely when it comes to metal processing and the production of batteries. The DOE’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) says the funds, if approved after review, will help the Lithium Americas Corp. constructmore

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Critics Slam Apple CEO Tim Cook for Laudatory Remarks in China

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 Washington — Tim Cook, CEO of the American technology giant Apple, is facing criticism at home over laudatory remarks he made about China during a recent visit to try to boost sagging iPhone sales in the lucrative market.  Cook was in Shanghai for the opening of China’s largest Apple retail store on Friday and met with Chinese political and business people. He praised China for being “so vibrant and so dynamic,” in remarks widely quoted by state media and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying.    The new Apple store took seven years and cost over 80 million yuan (roughly $11.1 million)more

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US President Biden Wins Missouri Democratic Primary

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COLUMBIA, MISSOURI — U.S. President Joe Biden has won Missouri’s primary, the state Democratic Party announced.  Biden’s win was not in doubt; he has already beaten his major competitors. But the primary races are still closely watched by insiders for turnout and signs of protest voters.  Saturday’s primary was the Missouri Democratic Party’s first party-run presidential contest since a new law took effect in August 2022.  The party says about 20,000 voters participated.  Missouri Republicans opted to hold a caucus this year, which former President Donald Trump won.  Lawmakers have failed to reinstate the state-run primary despite calls to do somore

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Trump Faces Gag Order in New York Hush Money Criminal Case

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NEW YORK — Donald Trump on Tuesday was hit with a judge’s gag order sought by prosecutors in his upcoming criminal trial involving hush money paid to a porn star, restricting him from publicly commenting about witnesses and court staff.  Ahead of the former U.S. president’s trial, which is scheduled to begin April 15 in the New York state court, Justice Juan Merchan granted a request for the order made last month by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office.  The prosecution sought an order blocking Trump from “making or directing others to make” statements about witnesses concerning their role in themore

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LogOn: Robots Hand Write Letters for Humans

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Not long ago, people wrote letters by hand. But like many things eclipsed by modern technology, handwritten letters are less common than they used to be. Now, that technology has started writing those letters. VOA’s Julie Taboh introduces us to handwriting robots in this week’s episode of LogOn. …

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