Новости за 24.06.2017

Pakistan's claim this week that it shot down an Iranian drone that had crossed into its airspace is heating up tensions already on the rise over cross-border skirmishes and diplomatic rifts over alleged militancy, analysts say. "This is an unfortunate situation as it will only increase the mistrust which already exists between Pakistan and Iran," Zubair Iqbal, an analyst at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, told VOA. Both sides of the porous 900-kilometer (560-mile) Pakistan-Iran border have long been rife with drug smugglers... Читать дальше...

Philadelphia is one of the oldest cities in the United States and was once the nation’s capital. Now it’s the country’s seventh largest metropolitan area and boasts a diverse population, including a burgeoning Muslim community. To cater to some of that diversity, there’s a store that sells all things Islamic. Ariadne Budianto reports.

A cholera outbreak in war-ravaged Yemen could infect more than 300,000 people by the end of August, up from nearly 180,000 cases today, the United Nations said Friday. VOA’s Mariama Diallo reports on the dire situation resulting from the 27-month-long conflict, which pits Houthi rebels against government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition.

The number of homeless in the United States dropped three percent between 2015 and 2016. But 13 states and the District of Columbia saw an increase. California is among those states, with one of the highest homeless populations in the country. Within the state, Los Angeles County has seen a 23% increase in homelessness.  While voters have approved a sales tax to fight homelessness, many citizens say more needs to be done.  Elizabeth Lee reports from Los Angeles.

There is a new mural on the brick wall outside the famous Washington restaurant Ben’s Chili Bowl. It is part of a city program aimed at combating illegal graffiti. VOA’s Lesya BakaletsBut visited the artist behind the latest creation.

Outside a salon in East Mosul last week, while her daughter beautified the clients, Umm Safaa explained why she wouldn't allow anyone to photograph her shop. “When Islamic State militants see something on TV that is good, they bomb it,” she said. “Look at My Beautiful Lady restaurant. Look at the perfume shop.”   A few months ago, militants attacked both businesses when they were featured on the news as signs that “Mosul is coming back” after nearly three years under IS rule. At least 26 people were killed in the attacks... Читать дальше...

As Iraqi forces push into Old Mosul, Islamic State militants' last stronghold in the city, VOA's Heather Murdock tours the outskirts with Iraqi military personnel. These once-vibrant ancient neighborhoods are now an abandoned wasteland.

Istanbul's governor has banned a gay pride parade in the city for the second straight year, citing threats from conservative Muslim groups. Last week, the ultra-nationalist Alperen Hearths group said it would stop the march from happening Sunday in Taksim Square if authorities took no action to cancel the parade. On Saturday, the governor's office announced it would not give permission to the parade organizers out of concern for the safety of the marchers and tourists in the city. It said a... Читать дальше...

The Israeli Air Force launched a strike in Syria after several projectiles were fired out of the war-torn country into the Golan Heights region Saturday, Israeli officials said. The air raid targeted two “Syrian regime” tanks in the northern part of Golan Heights, an Israeli army spokesman said. The spokesman also said Israel protested to the U.N. agency that oversees a 1974 cease-fire between the two countries because the projectiles were an “unacceptable violation of Israeli sovereignty.” ... Читать дальше...

First Lady Melania Trump has hired a new chief usher to oversee the White House residence staff, bringing in a high-level employee from the Trump Organization's Washington hotel to fill the slot. Timothy Harleth served as the director of rooms at the Trump hotel, and at the White House he will oversee about 90 staff members who run operations at the facility. “I am so pleased that Timothy will be joining our team,” Trump said in a statement. “He was selected because of his impressive work history and management skills. Читать дальше...

HEAD: Cameroon says attacks increased during Ramadan TEASER:  Defense minister dispatched to find lasting solutions     Cameroon has dispatched its defense minister to its northern border with Nigeria following a recent series of suicide bomb attacks that has left dozens dead. Militant group Boko Haram is believed to be behind the carnage. The central African state says the bombers have infiltrated markets and mosques as end of Ramadan feast draws near. Medical staff at the Mora hospital... Читать дальше...

A North Korean Taekwondo demonstration team visiting South Korea could present a way forward to reduce tensions by using sports to reestablish a channel of dialogue and cooperation.   South Korean President Moon Jae-in was on hand for the opening of the World Taekwondo Championship being held in Muju, South Korea where he welcomed the first inter-Korean taekwondo exchange in a decade. “I believe in power of sports which has been creating peace. I am pleased that the first sports exchange cooperation... Читать дальше...

VOA’s Salem Solomon appeared on “The Correspondents” program hosted by Mil Arcega to discuss the ongoing food security crisis in Africa. Below are some of Arcega’s questions and Solomon’s answers, along with additional information about this crisis.  ​What’s the latest news about food insecurity in Africa? Where is the situation getting better, and where is it getting worse? Answer: There has been promising news coming from Somalia and South Sudan. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) ... Читать дальше...

With snipers on the roof and armored vehicles surrounding the Council building, Europe’s leaders met in Brussels with security topping the summit agenda. EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said leaders had agreed on greater cooperation in intelligence sharing and defense spending. “We are spending half of the military budget of the U.S. but our efficiency is 15 percent. So there is room for improvement and that’s exactly what we decided today,” Juncker said. Migrants issue Outside... Читать дальше...

So where, you may ask, is President Donald Trump most comfortable these days? Well in his previous life as a real estate mogul, you might have guessed he was most at home safely ensconced in Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan, maybe tucking into one of those with well-done steaks with ketchup on the side. But now as president? How about Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Trump seemed very much at ease during his campaignlike rally in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday.  “It is always terrific to be able to leave that... Читать дальше...

The fundamental nature of the relationship between Washington and New Delhi will be up for discussion at the White House Monday when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for his first meeting with President Donald Trump. VOA White House correspondent Peter Heinlein reports the two leaders will be looking to put the bilateral trade relationship on a positive track.

The Trump administration has authorized the sale of unarmed surveillance drones to India, the manufacturer said Friday, as the two nations’ leaders prepare for their first face-to-face meeting.   India initiated its request to buy 22 Guardian MQ-9B unmanned aircraft for maritime surveillance last year. The deal is estimated to be worth about $2 billion. The offer is still subject to congressional approval. Modi visits this week   The green light from the administration marks a further deepening... Читать дальше...

California Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday night blocked parole for Charles Manson follower and convicted killer Bruce Davis. Brown’s rejection issued late Friday night is the fifth time Davis has been recommended for parole by a state panel only to see it blocked by a governor, and continues Brown’s unflinching pattern of refusing to allow anyone from Manson’s “family” to be freed. On Feb. 1, the parole panel recommended release for the 74-year-old Davis, who is serving a life sentence for the... Читать дальше...

The U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan has stepped down. Laurel Miller left the office Friday without a replacement being named. The departure of the special envoy comes at the same time the U.S. is preparing to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan in its continued fight against the Taliban insurgency. Politico, the news website, reported Friday that diplomats thought the special envoy's office was closing Friday, with its responsibilities being folded into the State Department's South and Central Asian Affairs Bureau. Читать дальше...

A suicide bomber blew himself up near the Grand Mosque in Mecca as police disrupted a plot to target the holiest site in Islam just as the fasting month of Ramadan ends, Saudi security forces said Saturday.   The Interior Ministry said it launched a raid around Jiddah, as well as two areas in Mecca itself, including the Ajyad Al-Masafi neighborhood, near the Grand Mosque.   There, police said they engaged in a shootout at a three-story house with a suicide bomber, who blew himself up and caused the building to collapse. Читать дальше...

A deadly heat wave that has claimed at least six lives in parts of the American Southwest continues. While temperatures cooled off Friday in Los Angeles, residents are bracing for a long, hot summer. Planes were grounded for a time in Phoenix earlier this week, as temperatures in parts of the U.S. Southwest soared to 45 degrees Celsius and higher, from Tucson, Arizona, to Palm Springs, California. Cooling stations, community centers People have tried their best to stay cool, using community... Читать дальше...

A deadly heat wave continues in parts of the American Southwest. In Los Angeles, temperatures cooled off Friday, but residents are bracing for a long, hot summer.VOA's Mike O'Sullivan reports.

Five months into his presidency, Donald Trump's public approval rating hovers near 40 percent, a low mark for a president this early in his term. But Trump's core supporters mostly are sticking with him, and many turned out for a campaign-style rally this week in Iowa. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has more on the political fortunes of the president and his Democratic opponents from Washington.

The Trump administration has stepped up its fight against MS-13, a notorious street gang with roots in El Salvador, raising concerns that it is using gang violence as a pretext to crack down on illegal immigration. Masood Farivar reports on the nexus between the gang and illegal immigration.

European Union leaders meeting in Brussels have agreed to greater cooperation on defense and intelligence as the continent grapples with a series of terror attacks. But little progress was made on Brexit and the migration crisis. The latest numbers show 81,000 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean to Europe so far in 2017, with more poised to make the challenging journey. Henry Ridgwell reports from London.