Новости за 07.04.2017

Russia on Friday condemned the U.S. strike on a government-controlled air base in Syria, saying it would bolster Syria's air defenses in response. President Vladimir Putin's office called the action a "significant blow" to the Russia-U.S. relationship. The tension comes just ahead of a visit to Russia by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. VOA's Daniel Schearf reports from Moscow.

Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto received a leading Venezuelan opposition activist for the first time, in a policy shift that reflects Mexico's increasing assertiveness against the government of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro. Pena Nieto's meeting with Lilian Tintori, wife of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, in the Mexican capital follows statements by the Mexican government demanding that democracy be "re-established" in Venezuela, where elections have been postponed. "We trust that... Читать дальше...

The suspected sarin chemical attack on Syrian civilians and the subsequent missile strike by the U.S. has many asking what's next. Others look back to the Obama administration and wonder whether the situation could have been handled differently. VOA's Carolyn Presutti talks with Americans about what happened and what the future holds.

The U.N. stabilization mission in Haiti says its helicopters and other vehicles will soon no longer be able to transport supplies by the humanitarian community or schedule special flight requests. A Friday statement says that "air and land transport resources previously available to the community will be drastically reduced in the very near future as part of the ongoing transition process" within Haiti's U.N. operations. There could be allowances in the case of an "exceptional life-saving situation."... Читать дальше...

Providing sanitary pads to schoolgirls is a controversial subject in Uganda. During the 2016 election campaign, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni pledged to buy sanitary towels for girls in need. The government estimates that 30 percent of Ugandan girls from poor families miss school because of lack of sanitary towels. But in February this year, the first lady, who is also the minister for education, told parliament the government didn't have enough funding for the president's $4.4 million initiative. Читать дальше...

A look at the best news photos from around the world.

The United States and Russia will maintain a hotline aimed at preventing midair collisions of their warplanes in Syria, senior U.S. military officials said Friday, contradicting Moscow's claims that it has suspended the "deconfliction" talks in protest of America's cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base. The officials also said they're looking into whether Russia participated in the chemical weapons attack in Syria earlier this week that prompted President Donald Trump's order for a retaliation. Читать дальше...

The International Criminal Court held a hearing Friday on South Africa's refusal to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir when he visited the country in 2015.  The ICC wanted South African authorities to detain and hand over the Sudanese leader, who is wanted on charges of genocide.  South Africa told the International Criminal Court it was under no duty to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir when he came to Johannesburg in 2015. The ICC filed a complaint against South Africa for non-compliance... Читать дальше...

U.S. President Trump sits down with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte looks to shore up assets in the South China Sea as ASEAN continues to negotiate a code of conduct with Beijing. Myanmar’s leader says there’s no ethnic cleansing of Rohingya, but others object. Plus, Japan tries to rekindle ties with South Korea. VOA’s Steve Miller gives you a glimpse at what happened April 3-7, 2017.

The World Health Organization Friday marked World Health Day with the warning that depression is the most common cause of ill health, affecting some 300 million people worldwide. The U.N. agency is urging people to seek treatment for depression, which can lead to disability and even death. WHO says conflict, wars and natural disasters are major risk factors for depression.   WHO estimates one in five people affected by these events suffers from depression or anxiety. Given the magnitude of the problem... Читать дальше...

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters Friday he’s made “tremendous progress” with Chinese President Xi Jinping during talks at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Trump said Xi and his representatives have been “really interesting” to talk to and he believes the two sides will continue to make progress in solving issues between the two sides. “The relationship developed by President Xi and myself I think is outstanding.  We look forward to being together many times in the future and I believe lots of... Читать дальше...

First there was panic, then bluster. The alert the U.S. military gave Russia on Thursday of an upcoming cruise missile strike was quickly circulated by Russian officials to their Syrian counterparts. Fearing the al-Shayrat air base might not be the only target, many fled Damascus or hustled their families out of the Syrian capital, according to a Syrian businessman with links to the government of President Bashar al-Assad. The reaction, he told VOA, was much the same back in August 2013 when... Читать дальше...

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg began a trade trip to China on Friday, signaling a restoration of diplomatic ties between the two countries, six years after China cut relations over a Chinese dissident's selection as Nobel Peace Prize winner. Solberg met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during a welcoming ceremony, in which the premier told Solberg the visit "symbolizes the normalization of the China-Norwegian relationship." China cut off ties with Norway in 2010, after the Nobel committee awarded its peace prize to Liu Xiabao... Читать дальше...

President Donald Trump's decision to authorize cruise missile strikes on a Syrian government airbase drew broad support from U.S. senators from both parties, even though some expressed concern that he did not first seek Congressional approval for the military action. Several of President Donald Trump’s strongest political opponents backed the action. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the airstrikes “the right thing to do” in light of the alleged chemical weapon attack carried out by Syria’s military. Читать дальше...

The U.S. Senate voted 54-45 Friday to confirm President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, in a vote decided largely along party lines. Vice President Mike Pence was present in the Senate chamber to preside over the confirmation vote. The vote came a day after Republicans used their majority to exercise the "nuclear option," altering Senate rules to defeat a Democratic procedural blockade of the nominee, known as a filibuster. While lamenting the need for a rules change, Republicans said they had no choice but to act. Читать дальше...

Washington’s allies in Europe have offered a cautious welcome to the United States’ missile strikes on Syrian military targets. The US action was in response to a chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held town, which the West blames on the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad. Several European powers have called for the international community to take further measures against Syria via the United Nations, as Henry Ridgwell reports from London.

South Africa’s political tensions were on display Friday. Across the so-called Rainbow Nation, thousands of protesters took to the streets in major cities to demand President Jacob Zuma’s resignation as loyalists of the ruling party held rallies in support of the president, who faces a no-confidence vote in parliament later this month. VOA’s Anita Powell reports from Johannesburg.

Thousands of protesters marched throughout South Africa on Friday, with people of all backgrounds and colors gathering at multiple locations throughout the Rainbow Nation to demand President Jacob Zuma's resignation. Authorities said Friday afternoon that most gatherings had been peaceful and orderly, although local news stations reported that police fired rubber bullets at a group of Zuma supporters in central Johannesburg. In Polokwane, a city that is a stronghold of the ruling African National Congress... Читать дальше...

US Missile Attack The US Military fires a barrage of missiles into Syria in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack on civilians - blamed on Syrian President Bashar al-Asad. VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb and National Security correspondent Jeff Seldin talk about the early Friday US missile attack on a Syrian airbase.

VOA UN correspondent Margaret Besheer, and White House correspondent Pete Heinlein discuss the global political fallout of the US strike in Syria.

President Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have their first face to face meeting in Florida, in a high stakes encounter on trade and North Korea. VOA Asia in a Minute host Steve Miller and VOA White House correspondent Pete Heinlein talk about the meeting.

US Missile Attack 0:48, US Syria Reaction 5:20, US China Visit 21:53

In another sign of a diplomatic shift toward Beijing, Cambodia has scrapped a long-standing U.S. military development aid program.   “The Royal Government of Cambodia notified the Embassy last week of its decision to postpone indefinitely the mission of the U.S. Navy Mobile Construction Battalion - better known as the Seabees - which has been carrying out community service projects in underserved areas of Cambodia since 2008. The Cambodian government did not offer a reason for this decision,” Jay Raman... Читать дальше...

Russia on Friday condemned the U.S. strike on a government-controlled air base in Syria, saying it would increase Syria's air defenses in reaction. Russia called the attack an aggression against a sovereign state and a violation of international law under false pretenses.  Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the U.S. cruise missile attack was effectively helping Islamist militant groups active in Syria, including the so-called Islamic State group and al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra.  "We... Читать дальше...

Thailand’s newest constitution, signed into law by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, opens the way to new elections in late 2018. Thursday’ elaborate signing ceremony marks a fresh bid to ensure a constitution that can be sustained. It’s the 20th charter since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932; past ones have been tossed out over years of political volatility and military coups.   Many experts on Thai politics, however, have doubts it will succeed.   This charter comes almost three... Читать дальше...