Xia LIN Journalist Profile

Articles

U.S. California's monarch butterfly population plummets to near-record low

2 months ago | thestar.com.my | Xia LIN

NEW YORK, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Western population of the monarch butterfly has declined to a near-record low with fewer than 10,000 found living in U.S. California this winter, a foreboding sign for the future of the beloved black-and-orange insect, reported the Los Angeles Times on Friday. An annual count recorded 9,119 butterflies this winter, according to results released by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
U.S. 15-year air safety streak comes to end: WSJ

2 months ago | thestar.com.my | Xia LIN

NEW YORK, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The United States' streak of more than 15 years without a major fatal airline crash has been the envy of other countries and a model for other industries, but the country's luck eventually ran out on Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has reported. Sixty-seven people are presumed dead after an American Airlines regional jet collided midair with a U.S. Army helicopter Wednesday night.
U.S. FDA approves painkiller designed to eliminate risk of addiction associated with opioids

2 months ago | thestar.com.my | Xia LIN

NEW YORK, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. federal officials have approved a new type of pain pill designed to eliminate the risks of addiction and overdose associated with opioid medications like Vicodin and OxyContin. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Thursday it approved Vertex Pharmaceuticals' Journavx for short-term pain that often follows surgery or injuries.
U.S. children's reading skills reach new lows

2 months ago | thestar.com.my | Xia LIN

NEW YORK, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- In the latest release of federal test scores, U.S. educators had hoped to see widespread recovery from the learning loss incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the results from last year's National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) showed a slide in reading skills. The percentage of eighth graders who have "below basic" reading skills according to NAEP was the largest it has been in the exam's three-decade history: 33 percent.
Visa approval crisis threatens to cost millions for 2026 World Cup, LA Olympics

2 months ago | thestar.com.my | Xia LIN

NEW YORK, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The 2026 World Cup kicks off in less than 500 days and there is mounting concern that the United States is not ready to welcome the more than 6 million visitors who will flood North America for the tournament, reported the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday.
Frontier makes 2nd bid for Spirit with U.S. budget airlines struggling

2 months ago | thestar.com.my | Xia LIN

NEW YORK, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Frontier Airlines is attempting for a second time to merge with Spirit Airlines, which declared bankruptcy late last year as the country's budget airlines struggle. Frontier Group Holdings Inc., the parent company of Frontier Airlines, said on Wednesday that the proposed deal would include newly issued Frontier debt and common stock. Frontier tried to merge with Spirit in 2022 but was outbid by JetBlue.
Investors return to U.S. office market on bet

2 months ago | thestar.com.my | Xia LIN

NEW YORK, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Investors who shunned the beleaguered U.S. office market in recent years are coming back, brightening the outlook for the sector after five years of turmoil, reported The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday. "Some investors are buying premium-quality buildings that are burdened with debt, or scooping up half-empty towers for pennies on the dollar," noted the report. "Others are bidding on obsolete office properties with an eye toward converting them to apartments.
U.S. egg prices soar, with no relief in sight

2 months ago | thestar.com.my | Xia LIN

NEW YORK, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Bird flu is forcing U.S. farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month, pushing the average price per dozen of eggs nationwide to hit 4.15 U.S. dollars in December. That's not quite as high as the 4.82 dollars record set two years ago, but the Agriculture Department predicts prices are going to soar another 20 percent this year.
1 in 3 older Americans take aspirin daily

2 months ago | thestar.com.my | Xia LIN

NEW YORK, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Nearly one in three Americans over the age of 60, roughly 19 million people, take aspirin daily, USA Today on Tuesday cited Annals of Internal Medicine. Aspirin is an over-the-counter medication used for a variety of reasons. Aside from pain treatment, doctors may prescribe aspirin to patients who are at risk of heart attack or stroke, according to Harvard Health.
U.S. gets snow in all 50 states

2 months ago | thestar.com.my | Xia LIN

NEW YORK, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Last week's historic Gulf Coast snowstorm helped lock down a rarity in the United States as all 50 states have already seen accumulating snow this winter. "The power of the storm also created another rarity: some Southern cities have seen more snow than their Northern brethren," reported USA Today on Monday.