Новости за 30.03.2017

Prominent U.S. lawyer Alan Dershowitz said in an interview Thursday that President Donald Trump spoke to him "clearly" about a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, suggesting a shift in Trump's stance. Trump broke with longtime U.S. policy last month when he withheld clear support for an independent Palestine, saying he could endorse a one-nation solution to the conflict. "I'm looking at two-state and one-state, and I like the one that both parties like," Trump said in a February... Читать дальше...

Ethiopian lawmakers on Thursday extended the country's six-month state of emergency for an additional four months. The widely expected move came amid reports of continued violence and anti-government activities in some remote, restive areas. The state of emergency, called after months of sometimes deadly protests demanding wider political freedoms, has hurt one of Africa's fastest-growing economies. "We still have some anti-peace elements that are active and want to capitalize on disputes that... Читать дальше...

The vote by the U.S. Congress to repeal rules that limit how internet service providers can use customer data has generated renewed interest in an old internet technology: virtual private networks, or VPNs. VPNs cloak a customer's web-surfing history by making an encrypted connection to a private server, which then searches the Web on the customer's behalf without revealing the destination addresses. VPNs are often used to connect to a secure business network, or in countries such as China and... Читать дальше...

The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee is focusing Thursday on Russia as it holds an open hearing as part of its probe into Russian meddling in the November presidential election and any possible collusion by President Donald Trump's inner circle. The committee described Thursday's session as a primer on the history and characteristics of "Russian active measures and influence campaigns," and the country's cyber capabilities. Ahead of the closely watched public hearings, the committee's Republican... Читать дальше...

Beijing’s reported economic retaliation against South Korea for deploying the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system continues to target certain sectors, like imports of Korean cosmetics, cancelling K-pop concerts, and a ban on Chinese tour groups to South Korea.  VOA’s Brian Padden reports the sudden absence of Chinese visitors is being felt in Seoul’s main tourist districts.

The Rohingya Muslim insurgency, whose sneak attacks in October killed nine border guard officers in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine State, issued a detailed list of demands this week that struck a far more pragmatic note while describing the use of violence in the past as self-defense. Ata Ullah, the commander of the Faith Movement, now rebranded as the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), signed the March 29 list, which has been verified and seems to have been timed to the anniversary of Aung San Suu Kyi’s first year in power. Читать дальше...

The White House confirmed Thursday that Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit the United States for talks with President Donald Trump on April 6. President Trump will host Xi for two days at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. A White House statement said the agenda will include "global, regional, and bilateral issues of mutual concern," without giving any specifics. During his campaign for president, Trump complained frequently about China’s trade practices, threatening to impose tough import... Читать дальше...

Australia is hoping to ratify an extradition treaty with China, but this week abandoning plans for parliament to approve the controversial measure. Critics have insisted that China’s judicial system is fraught with human rights abuses. The center-right Australian government abruptly withdrew plans to ratify the extradition treaty with Beijing when ministers realized it was facing defeat in parliament. There was dissent from the opposition Labor party, and also within government ranks by MPs worried... Читать дальше...

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met Thursday in Ankara with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, opening an overseas trip that comes as the U.S. examines its next steps in the campaign to defeat Islamic State militants and stabilize the refugee crisis with allies in the region. Tillerson was also scheduled to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. The talks are expected to include Turkey pressing its case for the U.S. to extradite cleric Fethullah Gulen... Читать дальше...

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration informed Congress Wednesday that it plans to move forward with a sale of fighter jets to Bahrain that had been held up last year because of human rights concerns. The deal would allow Bahrain to buy 19 F-16 jets from Lockheed Martin for more than $4 billion. Wednesday’s notification sets off a review process during which lawmakers can ask for more information or raise any concerns. Trump’s Republican Party controls both houses of Congress. Former... Читать дальше...

Authorities ordered the evacuation of large parts of a town of more than 25,000 people in eastern Australia Thursday as a storm system generated by a powerful cyclone that pummeled the northeast two days ago swept down the coast with heavy rain. Cyclone Debbie hit as a category four storm in the north of tropical Queensland state Tuesday, smashing tourist resorts, bringing down power lines, flattening cane fields and shutting down coal mines. “This severe weather system that began with Cyclone... Читать дальше...

A Native American tribe in Montana filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration Wednesday, challenging its decision to lift a moratorium on coal leases on public land without first consulting with tribal leaders. The Northern Cheyenne Tribe, located in southern Montana, said the administration lifted the moratorium without hearing the tribe’s concerns about the impact the coal-leasing program has on the tribe, its members and lands. Earlier this month, the tribe sent a letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke... Читать дальше...

Beijing’s reported economic retaliation against South Korea for deploying the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system continues to target certain sectors, like imports of Korean cosmetics, canceling K-pop concerts, and a ban on Chinese tour groups to South Korea. At Seoul’s Namsam Tower, smaller than usual crowds gather to watch the daily Korean cultural performances and to look out at the sprawling modern metropolis from the highest point in the city. Buses of visitors from countries like Malaysia... Читать дальше...

Turkey is declaring an end to its 7-month-old operation in northern Syria to clear Islamic State militants and Syrian Kurds from the region along its border. It is not clear to what extent Turkey’s military operations will change inside northern Syria, where the Syrian government, Islamic State, Kurdish forces and rebel groups are all competing for territory. “Operation Euphrates Shield has been successful and is finished. Any operation following this one will have a different name,” Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told NTV television. Читать дальше...

Note to President Donald Trump and House Republicans: People really don’t like your approach to overhauling America’s health care.    Sixty-two percent of Americans turned thumbs down on Trump’s handling of health care during the initial weeks of his presidency, according to a poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research released Wednesday. It was his worst rating among seven issues the poll tested, including the economy, foreign policy and immigration. Six changes, five... Читать дальше...

Workplaces have become less civil spaces than they once were. People don’t say please and thank you. Employees send e-mails and texts during meetings, ignoring the speaker and tuning out of the discussion. Others take too much credit for collaborative work.  The nasty looks and belittling comments reached a point at law firm Bryan Cave, in Irvine, California, that the partners held a civility workshop. Managing partner Stuart Price says working together toward a common goal set the right tone for the workshop... Читать дальше...

With major political changes on the Communist Party’s agenda in 2017, China is expected to avoid taking decisive reform measures that could result in large scale job losses and put pressure on the leadership. One of the measures suggested by the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD), which released its “Economic Survey of China” last week, is the complete closure of money-losing, state-run companies.  The report from the OECD also called for changes in the bankruptcy law... Читать дальше...

Pushing yourself is harder if you are a woman older than 50. Just ask Meschelle Sevier. “I would rather sit on the couch at home and watch re-runs,” Sevier says. Annie Green also has noticed that it’s harder for her to exercise than it used to be.  “I would probably run on the treadmill two to three minutes and then walk. Now it’s down to one or two minutes.” Staying active is harder As women age, it seems to become more challenging to stay active, and this inactivity could lead to weight gain and a host of health problems... Читать дальше...

Why does physical activity become harder for some older women? Researchers are studying that very question to help women stay active and healthy as they age. VOA's Carol Pearson has more.

First lady Melania Trump delivered remarks and took part in the State Department's 2017 International Women of Courage Awards ceremony in Washington. The first lady has remained largely out of public view since her husband's inauguration, but experts say even her limited presence may signal a willingness to take on more ceremonial duties in the months ahead. VOA's Elizabeth Cherneff reports.

While much attention is on Russia's policy toward the Baltic states, some experts say Russia's growing influence in the Balkans poses more of a danger to Western interests in that region. They say Moscow's aim is to counter Western interests by preventing Balkan states from being integrated into the Euro-Atlantic institutions. VOA's Jane Bojadzievski has more.

While President Trump's latest executive order gives renewed life to power plants that burn coal, energy companies continue to seek and find alternative, less expensive and cleaner sources of fuel. One possibility is turning trash into fuel in an environmentally responsible way. VOA's George Putic reports that authorities in Tel Aviv say their new garbage processing plant is on track to produce as much as 500 tons of fuel daily.

Somali groups in Minnesota are trying to give young people a positive outlet to keep them away from negative influences such as drugs, violence and extremism. One such effort is a basketball tournament that is bringing together several mosques from the Twin Cities. Abdi Mahamud attended the tournament and spoke with participants. Salem Solomon narrates his report.

First lady Melania Trump recognized 13 women from around the globe with International Women of Courage awards Wednesday for their leadership in advocating for human rights, democracy, gender equality and women's empowerment. VOA's Nike Ching reports from the State Department.

Russian interference in American democracy will be exposed, according to the chairman and top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Both spoke on the eve of public hearings to investigate alleged Russian meddling in last year's election and any possible collusion by President Donald Trump's inner circle. VOA's Michael Bowman reports from Capitol Hill.