Новости за 02.07.2017

With Congress idle this week, U.S. lawmakers are in their home states at a time of intense political upheaval over the future of health care in America. VOA’s Michael Bowman reports, Republicans remain in disarray over their stalled plan to repeal and replace former President Barack Obama’s signature domestic achievement known as Obamacare.

A group of key American lawmakers led by Senator John McCain visited Pakistan Sunday where they met top government and military officials to discuss bilateral ties, counterterrorism cooperation, and efforts to promote peace and security in Afghanistan. The visit came as President Donald Trump’s administration is preparing to unveil its new Afghan war strategy later this month amid allegations sanctuaries on Pakistani soil are helping the Taliban sustain and intensify the insurgency. The U.S.... Читать дальше...

A suicide bomber killed at least eight people Sunday at a camp for internally displaced Iraqis. Thirteen people also were wounded in the attack on the camp in the 60 Kilo area, west of Ramadi, capital of the Anbar province. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Iraqi forces retook the cities of Ramadi and Fallujah from Islamic State forces, but the jihadist group retains control in Western parts of the province.

President Donald Trump ratcheted up his attacks on the mainstream U.S. news media Sunday, tweeting a fake wrestling video showing him tackling and beating up an avatar labeled as CNN, the television news network he now calls Fraud News Network. Trump posted the video on his Twitter account a day after he described his use of social media as "modern day presidential," a way to communicate with millions of his followers by bypassing traditional U.S. media outlets. Trump has railed against major... Читать дальше...

The capital of the United Arab Emirates became the first city to be exempt from a U.S. ban on laptop computers being in the cabins of airplanes coming from the Mideast, the country's flag carrier said Sunday.   Long-haul airline Etihad said it welcomed the decision by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which comes "subject to enhanced security measures" at Abu Dhabi International Airport. That airport already has a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility that allows passengers to clear... Читать дальше...

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

Each year, the National Archives organizes events marking the Fourth of July, the birthday of the United States of America. This year, the National Archives prepared an especially fitting exhibition. Entitled “Amending America,” it is a story about thousands of failed attempts to change the U.S. Constitution, a succinct body of fundamental principles and precedents by which America is governed. VOA’s Nikoleta Ilic recently caught up with National Archives curator, Christine Blackerby.

President Donald Trump is suggesting that the large number of U.S. states refusing to turn over voter registration information to a White House voter fraud commission have something to keep out of the public eye. In a Twitter comment Saturday, Trump said, "Numerous states are refusing to give information to the very distinguished VOTER FRAUD PANEL. What are they trying to hide?" Commission leaders last week asked election officials in all 50 states to turn over their voter registration files... Читать дальше...

An Egyptian court has upheld death sentences against 20 people in the brutal 2013 attack on a police station in the Giza suburb of Kardasa.  The attack, which came during a frenzy of violence following the ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, killed close to a dozen police officers and cited in the government's case for the use of force to quell a budding popular insurrection.  An Egyptian court has issued a final ruling, upholding death sentences against 20 participants in a brutal 2013... Читать дальше...

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic Party suffered an historic defeat in an election in the Japanese capital on Sunday, signaling trouble ahead for the premier, who has suffered from slumping support because of a favoritism scandal. On the surface, the Tokyo Metropolitan assembly election was a referendum on Governor Yuriko Koike's year in office, but the dismal showing for Abe's party is also a stinging rebuke of his 4-1/2-year-old administration. Koike's Tokyo Citizens First party... Читать дальше...

A fire has killed at least one person at a Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. Flames and thick clouds of black smoke were seen rising from the settlement Sunday near the town of Qab Elias, about an hour from the capital Beirut. Around 100 tents were burned, leaving the camp in "ashes", with only a few bathrooms at the edge of the settlement left in tact, a member of emergency services told the Associated Press. More than one million registered Syrian refugees live in Lebanon, largely in settlements in Bekaa... Читать дальше...

The roster of American musicians was impressive: Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Eddie Floyd, Booker T. and the MGs. They arrived in Europe in 1967, bringing with them the powerful, soulful Memphis Sound. Ahead was a tour with stops in London, Paris and elsewhere. These artists from the Stax Records music studio captivated audiences with their music born from blues and gospel — a mesmerizing sound created from the black experience in the U.S. last century. Fifty years later, a group of young musicians... Читать дальше...

3-D printing has given artists and engineers a way to create some of their most daring visions. But it is giving Argentine inventor Gino Tubaro a chance to change lives by building customized prosthetic limbs. VOA's Kevin Enochs reports.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned Hong Kong that Beijing will not tolerate any attempt to challenge its authority. At a ceremony Saturday to swear in the city’s new Beijing approved leader and mark the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China from Britain, he also stressed the need for more patriotic national education in the city’s schools. VOA’s Bill Ide has more from Hong Kong.

The Trump White House no habla español. Well, un poquito. After a succession of administrations that embraced Spanish-language content, President Donald Trump's White House is all but ignoring Spanish speakers even though he has a robust online presence in English. His administration has yet to offer a Spanish White House website. It has eliminated the position of director of Hispanic media outreach. And its Spanish-language Twitter account is heavy with English text and features sloppy translations. Читать дальше...

Sudanese doctors and aid workers are urging the government to declare a state of emergency over a cholera outbreak and delay the start of the school year, which began Sunday.   The disease, which is passed through contaminated water, has surfaced in five states, including the capital, Khartoum. The U.S. Embassy said last month that fatalities had been confirmed, and Egypt has begun screening passengers from Sudan at Cairo's international airport. Some 22,000 cases of acute watery diarrhea have led to at least 700 fatalities since May 20... Читать дальше...

Israeli security forces detained a female Palestinian lawmaker on Sunday for alleged security offenses. The Shin Bet internal security service said Khalida Jarrar was arrested along with a Palestinian activist near the West Bank city of Ramallah for "promoting terror activities," without elaborating. Jarrar, 55, is a popular figure among Palestinians and is known for fiery speeches against Israel. In 2015, Israel sentenced her to 15 months for incitement to violence. Her husband, Ghassan said forces seized computers in Sunday's raid. Читать дальше...

With an eye on anti-globalization protests brewing in Hamburg before this week's G20 summit, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday leaders will have to focus on sustainable and inclusive economic growth rather than their own prosperity. In her weekly podcast, the German chancellor said this year's G-20 summit will delve into issues championed by protesters such as distribution of wealth and consumption of resources — alongside related issues like climate change, free markets, consumer protection and upholding social standards. Читать дальше...

The chief executive of Russia's Kaspersky Lab says he's ready to have his company's source code examined by U.S. government officials to help dispel long-lingering suspicions about his company's ties to the Kremlin. In an interview with The Associated Press at his Moscow headquarters, Eugene Kaspersky said Saturday there's never been any truth to rumors of his work with Russian intelligence. But he acknowledges it's unusual for a successful company to operate independently of the government in Russia... Читать дальше...

Samsung Electronics said Sunday it will start selling refurbished versions of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone this week in South Korea. The Note 7 was recalled last year because its batteries would overheat and catch fire. The refurbished versions will use different batteries. The new Galaxy Note FE phone, built with unused components of the Note 7, will cost $611, a significant drop in price from the Note 7's price tag of nearly $1,000. Samsung recalled the Note 7 less than a month after its... Читать дальше...

Pope Francis is calling for an end to the violent anti-government protests in Venezuela and expressing solidarity with families of those killed. Francis led thousands of people in prayer for Venezuela on Sunday as he noted the country is to mark its independence on Wednesday.   He said, "I assure this dear nation of my prayers and express my closeness to the families who have lost their children in the protests. I appeal for an end to the violence and for a peaceful and democratic solution to... Читать дальше...

South Africa's parliamentary speaker says lawmakers will vote on a motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma on Aug. 8. The vote on Zuma, who has faced calls for his resignation because of scandals and corruption concerns, previously had been scheduled for Aug. 3.   But the parliament said Sunday that speaker Baleka Mbete changed the date because a Cabinet meeting is occurring around the time of the previous date.   Mbete has yet to decide whether the vote will be held by secret ballot. Читать дальше...

An al-Qaida-linked group in Mali has released a proof-of-life video showing six foreign hostages, a group that monitors jihadist communications says, shortly before the French president's arrival in the West African country for an anti-terror summit.   The recently formed Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen issued the video Saturday on Telegram, the SITE Intelligence Group said. The video shows Stephen McGowan of South Africa, Elliot Kenneth Arthur of Australia, Iulian Ghergut of Romania, Beatrice Stockly of Switzerland... Читать дальше...

Qatar’s stock market fell sharply Sunday as a deadline for Doha to accept a series of political demands by four Arab states was expected to expire later in the day with no sign of a resolution. The Qatari stock index sank as much as 3.1 percent in thin trading, bringing its losses to 11.9 percent since June 5, when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic and trade ties, accusing Doha of backing militants. Stocks tumbled across the board Sunday, with 41 lower and only one higher. Читать дальше...

Pakistani authorities believe that two mountaineers, a Spaniard and an Argentinian, missing for more than a week in Pakistan’s northern Himalayan mountains died in an avalanche, officials said Sunday. Alberto Zerain Berasategi from Spain and Mariano Galvan from Argentina were last heard from June 23 while at the 6,100 meter base of Nanga Parbat, the world’s ninth-highest mountain, said Karrar Haidri, spokesman for the Alpine Club of Pakistan. “The spot they were believed to be in has been struck... Читать дальше...