Новости за 17.11.2017

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri will return to his country next week to participate in Independence Day celebrations. Hariri called Lebanese President Michel Aoun Saturday to tell him that he will take part in the festivities on Wednesday, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency. Hariri made the phone call from Paris where he arrived earlier Saturday and is set to meet with France’s young leader Emmanuel Macron who has said he is ready to help Hariri resolve the latest twist in the bizarre Lebanese political drama. Читать дальше...

Lebanon's Saad Hariri is expected to arrive in Paris late Friday, in the latest twist to a bizarre crisis that leaves the onus — or credit — on France and its young leader, Emmanuel Macron, to help resolve it. Hariri, whose resignation on Saudi TV earlier this month as Lebanon's prime minister sparked turmoil and skepticism, meets Macron on Saturday at the Elysee presidential palace. His family then joins the two men for a lunch, the French presidency said in a statement. It's unclear if the two leaders will make any remarks to the media. Читать дальше...

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Friday that the Trump administration wanted to refocus the U.S. relationship with Africa squarely on trade and investment, to help unlock the tremendous potential of what is expected to become the world's most populous continent in coming decades. "By 2050, the population of the continent is projected to double to more than 2.5 billion people, with 70 percent of that population being under the age of 30," Tillerson said. "All of these young people will have... Читать дальше...

Radioactive waste continues to pour from Exelon's Illinois nuclear power plants more than a decade after the discovery of chronic leaks led to national outrage, a $1.2 million government settlement and a company vow to guard against future accidents, an investigation by a government watchdog group found. Since 2007, there have been at least 35 reported leaks, spills or other accidental releases in Illinois of water contaminated with radioactive tritium, a byproduct of nuclear power production and a carcinogen at high levels... Читать дальше...

At least 20 internally displaced persons were killed by a car bomb Friday in Syria — an attack blamed on Islamic State. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor put the death toll at 26, adding that 12 of the victims were children. Syrian state broadcaster SANA said that 30 others were injured at a site where displaced families were relocated in eastern Syria near the city of Deir el-Zour. Both sources said Islamic State, which controls roughly one-quarter of oil-rich Deir el-Zour province, was responsible for the attack. Читать дальше...

Editor’s note: November is Native American Heritage Month. First proclaimed by President George H. W. Bush in 1990, it is an opportunity to acknowledge the histories and cultures of Native people across the U.S., highlighting the challenges they have faced, their sacrifices and their contributions. “Native Americans have influenced every stage of America's development,” noted President Donald Trump in his October 31, 2017 proclamation. “They helped early European settlers survive and thrive in a new land. Читать дальше...

Jennifer Hudson has obtained an order of protection against her former fiance David Otunga. Police in suburban Chicago say Otunga was removed from the couple's home in Burr Ridge, Illinois, Thursday night after being notified of the order. Burr Ridge Police Chief John Madden tells The Associated Press Otunga "left the residence without incident."   Tracy Rizzo, the attorney for the former WWE star, says Hudson petitioned for the order "in an effort to gain an unfair advantage in the custody dispute"... Читать дальше...

At least two people were killed in post-election violence Thursday in the breakaway republic of Somaliland, after one of the two opposition parties claimed "massive" polling irregularities. Hundreds of angry supporters of the Wadani Party took to the streets in three major cities, setting up roadblocks, burning tires, and stoning cars and businesses to protest the alleged election fraud. One person was shot dead in violent riots in the capital, Hargeisa, and another in the town of Burao. In Erigavo... Читать дальше...

Rocker Johnny Hallyday, frequently described as a French Elvis Presley, is being treated in a Paris hospital for respiratory difficulties, French television station BFM reported on Friday. The veteran rock-and-roller, a huge crowd-puller in his home country and much of the francophone world, had a brush with death in 2009 and is currently being treated for cancer. BFM said Hallyday was admitted on Sunday night and was undergoing tests. Reuters could not immediately reach Hallyday’s PR team or his production staff. Читать дальше...

A Belgian judge did not rule Friday on a European arrest warrant issued by Spain against ousted Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, instead setting December 4th for the next hearing. During a closed-door hearing, prosecutors had asked the judge to extradite Puigdemont and four members of his cabinet to Spain, where they would face charges of rebellion and sedition for their roles in the region’s independence drive. Madrid issued the warrant for Puigdemont and the four ex-ministers after they... Читать дальше...

Rocker Johnny Hallyday, frequently described as a French Elvis Presley, is being treated in a Paris hospital for respiratory difficulties, French television station BFM reported on Friday. The veteran rock-and-roller, a huge crowd-puller in his home country and much of the francophone world, had a brush with death in 2009 and is currently being treated for cancer. BFM said Hallyday was admitted on Sunday night and was undergoing tests. Reuters could not immediately reach Hallyday’s PR team or his production staff. Читать дальше...

The wife of former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge says he's in the early stages of recovery from a heart attack, a day after undergoing an emergency heart procedure. The 72-year-old Ridge remained hospitalized in critically stable condition Friday in Austin, Texas, where he had been attending a Republican Governors Association conference. Michele Ridge says it's going to be "day-to-day." He was at his hotel when he called for help Thursday morning. She says first responders worked... Читать дальше...

Burkina Faso's foreign minister says a new counterterrorism force for Africa's Sahel region needs substantially more funding to operate. The G5 Sahel force was formed to enable Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Mauritania and Chad to defend themselves against Islamist militant groups that operate in the region, such as al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb and Boko Haram. It was authorized by U.N. resolution 2509, which was agreed upon by France and the United States after intense negotiations. Alpha Barry... Читать дальше...

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan used an address to party officials Friday in Ankara as an opportunity to launch a blistering attack on the U.S. policy in Syria. Erdogan openly asked why the U.S. is involving itself in a country 12,000 kilometers away. He then accused Washington of breaking commitments and promises, claiming the country was trying to trick him. Bilateral relations have hit a low point over Washington's arming of the Syrian Kurdish group the PYD in its fight against the Islamic State. Читать дальше...

Editor’s note: November is Native American Heritage Month. First proclaimed by President George H. W. Bush in 1990, it is an opportunity to acknowledge the histories and cultures of Native people across the U.S., highlighting the challenges they have faced, their sacrifices and their contributions. “Native Americans have influenced every stage of America's development,” noted President Donald Trump in his October 31, 2017 proclamation. “They helped early European settlers survive and thrive in a new land. Читать дальше...

Minnesota Sen. Al Franken faces a certain ethics complaint in Congress but uncertainty among party leaders and voters in his home state — most stopping short of calling for his resignation — after a Los Angeles radio anchor accused him of forcibly kissing her during a 2006 USO tour. Leeann Tweeden said Thursday that Franken kissed her while rehearsing a sketch over her protests, and later on the tour was photographed with his hands over her breasts, grinning at the camera, as she slept on board a military aircraft. Читать дальше...

Amid crisis in Zimbabwe's capital, there is also a flurry of activity in neighboring South Africa. The nation is home to a large Zimbabwean diaspora and in recent weeks, prominent figures who supported the military takeover have cycled through — signs that South Africa is a possible staging ground for what happens next in Zimbabwe. The visitors have included Emmerson Mnangagwa — the man poised to be President Robert Mugabe’s successor — as well as Mugabe’s main political rival, the powerful head... Читать дальше...

Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Friday he has been in Saudi Arabia, from where he announced his shocking resignation, for discussions on the future of the region. "My stay in the kingdom is aimed at conducting consultations on the future of Lebanon and its relations with its Arab neighbors," he wrote on Twitter ahead of his trip to France. Hariri went on to say that any other information about his stay in Riyadh, his departure from Lebanon, or his family are "just rumors." Hariri... Читать дальше...

VOA's Sonny Young brings you the latest sports news and trends as well as questions and comments from sports fans around Africa and the world.

Add U.S. lawmakers to the ranks of those worried the country's special operations forces are being stretched to a possible breaking point. Pentagon officials raised the issue months ago, telling lawmakers in May the continuous, heavy reliance on the most elite U.S. forces was threatening to erode their capabilities. Since then, such concerns have only grown, highlighted by a series of high-profile incidents, including a probe into whether two members of the Navy's SEAL team may have been involved... Читать дальше...

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe made a public appearance Friday, his first since the military took over state institutions and opened talks aimed at getting the aged leader to resign. Mugabe, wearing a blue and yellow academic gown, presided over a university graduation ceremony for more than 1,000 students in Harare. The president appeared to fall asleep at times and said nothing about the ongoing political uncertainty. Mugabe, 93, is reported to be resisting demands from the army and members... Читать дальше...

We’re devouring the five most popular songs in the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles chart, for the week ending November 18, 2017. The Top Five shakes off its stupor this week, as a Transatlantic hit smashes into the runner-up slot. Number 5: Imagine Dragons "Thunder" Let’s open in fifth place, where Imagine Dragons holds with “Thunder.” It’s also number one on Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs list, giving the Las Vegas band its third victory. Imagine Dragons will join fellow Vegas stars The Killers for a hometown benefit concert on December 1.

Authorities in Pakistan said Friday they have arrested a key suspected Islamic State militant in connection with a recent deadly suicide bombing of a Sufi shrine in southern Sindh province.   The February attack in the remote town of Sehvan killed up to 90 people and wounded over 150 others. The Syria-based IS, locally known as Daesh, had taken credit for plotting the attack. Speaking to reporters in the provincial capital, Karachi, Counter-Terrorism department officials identified the suspect... Читать дальше...

Ousted Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma said he plans to take his fight against Venezuela's socialist government to Europe after he escaped house arrest and fled to Colombia on Friday. The flight was an apparent embarrassment for security forces who had been keeping close watch over one of Venezuela's most prominent opposition leaders.   "I'm more useful fighting for Venezuela's democracy abroad than I am as a hostage at my home,'' Ledezma told The Associated Press in a phone interview minutes before... Читать дальше...

Venezuelan opposition leader Antonio Ledezma, who was detained in 2015 on allegations of coup-plotting but had been under house arrest in Caracas, has fled over the border to Colombia, media in both countries said on Friday. "Welcome to freedom!" tweeted former Colombian President Andres Pastrana, who is close to Venezuela's opposition. Ledezma's family, lawyer and political party did not immediately respond to phone calls seeking confirmation. Reporting by Eyanir Chinea and Andrew Cawthorne.