Новости за 23.12.2017

The new U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands apologized Saturday after denying he once said the country was in "chaos" because of Muslims and accusing an interviewer of peddling "fake news," only to be caught out by Dutch television in a bizarre exchange. Pete Hoekstra, who starts as ambassador to The Hague next month, made the blunder while being questioned by a journalist from Dutch broadcaster NOS over remarks made at a 2015 conference. When the reporter challenged him about referring at that... Читать дальше...

The Guinea-Bissau Writers Association gathers dozens of people from different backgrounds who share the same goal: to improve the literature of a small West African country with one of the world's lowest literacy rates.

Three Indian soldiers were killed by military fire near the line of control that divides India and Pakistan in the contested state of Kashmir, the Indian army said Saturday. According to the Indian military, Pakistani soldiers fired across the border and killed an army officer and two soldiers, violating a cease-fire. There was no immediate comment from Pakistani authorities. The Indian and Pakistani militaries frequently accuse each other of firing across the heavily-militarized Line of Control... Читать дальше...

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed a recently retired army general and a defense official Saturday as the country’s ruling party vice presidents. General Constantino Chiwenga, who retired last Sunday, led the military takeover in November that precipitated the resignation of the country’s longtime leader. Defense Minister Kembo Mohadi is the other person appointed as the ZANU-PF party's vice president. The announcement was made in a statement Saturday by George Charamba, spokesman for Mnangagwa. Читать дальше...

Russia has estimated there are about 10,000 Islamic State militants in Afghanistan and their number is growing because fighters fleeing Syria and Iraq also are heading to the war-ravaged country. Russian media on Saturday quoted Zamir Kabulov, Russia's special presidential envoy for Afghanistan, as saying Moscow is particularly worried about an increasing foothold of Daesh militants in northern Afghan provinces bordering Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Daesh is the Arabic acronym for IS. "Russia... Читать дальше...

At least 32 people were killed when a bus fell into a river Saturday in western India. The bus, which was carrying passengers in the Indian state of Rajasthan, was speeding to overtake another vehicle when it crashed through a bridge railing, falling into the river below, survivors said. So far, authorities have recovered 32 bodies from the river. At least another 10 passengers were injured. It was not immediately clear whether the driver was among the survivors. India's roads are some of the deadliest in the world... Читать дальше...

President Vladimir Putin has presented his vision for modernizing Russia, while some of his challengers in next March's presidential vote have been formally nominated for the race. Putin is running as an independent candidate, keeping a distance from the top Kremlin party, United Russia, which has been dogged by corruption allegations against some of its top members.   Despite that, Putin showed up Saturday at United Russia's congress, speaking about his future goals. He pledged to offer broader incentives for business... Читать дальше...

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived Friday in the capital of Niger on a trip designed to bolster the morale of French troops in the country in their fight against extremists. The French president was welcomed to capital city Niamey by his Niger counterpart Mahamadou Tssoufou. The two leaders will meet Saturday to talk about African forces taking a more prominent role in the fight against jihadists. "We must not leave the Sahel to terrorist organizations," Macron said. "I do not want to give... Читать дальше...

The U.N. refugee agency is calling on the Australian government to find humane solutions for hundreds of refugees it has abandoned in a precarious situation on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island. UNHCR accuses the Australian government of shirking its responsibilities to care for and protect some 800 refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island.   It says the situation has become more precarious for the refugees since the government closed its so-called offshore processing facility at the end of October. Читать дальше...

South Sudanese armed and unarmed groups who signed a cease-fire Thursday said they are optimistic that peace will return to South Sudan despite the government’s refusal to renegotiate parts of the failed August 2015 deal. Martin Elia Lumoro, head of the South Sudan government delegation at the just concluded talks in Addis Ababa, said despite the bitter arguments among various stakeholders, the cease-fire agreement is a good start for the country. “We start from a very difficult phase in the [IGAD] council [of ministers’ meeting]... Читать дальше...

Americans are traveling in record numbers this season, according to the American Automobile Association's (AAA) annual estimate, which forecasts more than 107 million will travel by road, rail or air between now and the start of 2018. Despite higher gas prices, travel volume is expected to be 3.1 percent higher than last year's holiday season, the association said. AAA said this season marks the ninth consecutive year of rising year-end holiday travel in the United States. Since 2005, it said... Читать дальше...

The U.S. is providing Ukraine with lethal weapons, in an effort to help the country with its fight against Russian-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country.    The U.S. State Department said in a statement Friday that the decision to provide Ukraine with "enhanced defensive capabilities" is in keeping with the "effort to help Ukraine build its long-term defense capacity, to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity." The statement added that the "U.S. assistance is entirely... Читать дальше...

Ukraine's president thanked the United States Saturday for its decision to provide lethal weapons to the country, while diplomats in Russia warned that the move would only cause more bloodshed. The angry response from Moscow comes a day after the U.S. announced it will provide Ukraine with lethal weapons, in an effort to help the country with its fight against Russian-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country.    "Today, the United States clearly pushes [Ukrainian authorities] toward... Читать дальше...

More than 70 firefighters tackled a blaze at London Zoo on Saturday after a fire broke out at a cafe and shop at the attraction. No animals were reported injured. The blaze broke out shortly after 0600 GMT, London Fire Brigade said. The fire was near an area where visitors can handle and feed animals but none were thought to have been involved. “The fire at @zsllondonzoo is now under control but crews will remain on the scene throughout the morning damping down the fire which has affected a cafe... Читать дальше...

For millions of Britons, a traditional Christmas Day includes turkey, Brussels sprouts, Christmas pudding, and a special seasonal episode of “Doctor Who.”  The global success of the venerable sci-fi series means that fans around the world will also tune in Monday to watch Peter Capaldi’s final adventure as the space-hopping Time Lord known as the Doctor. (Americans can see it on BBC America at 9 p.m. Eastern).  The show has had a dozen Doctors over its 54-year history, and this is one of those... Читать дальше...

Japan’s Emperor Akihito marked his 84th birthday Saturday with a pledge to fulfill his duties until the day of his abdication in 2019, and to prepare for “passing the torch to the next era.” Akihito waved to thousands of well-wishers from a balcony of the royal palace. He was to attend birthday celebrations at the palace later Saturday. In his annual birthday comment at a news conference earlier this week and released Saturday, Akihito thanked the people for putting together thoughts and efforts... Читать дальше...

A tropical storm unleashed flash floods and set off landslides in the southern Philippines at a peak time for travel and Christmas preparations, leaving at least 53 dead and several missing, officials said Saturday. Multiple deaths were reported Friday on Mindanao in the town of Tubod. “The river rose and most of the homes were swept away. The village is no longer there,” according to a Tubod police officer. Boulders in the town of Piagapo that were loosened by flash floods buried 40 houses. Читать дальше...

Police and disaster officials in the Philippines say at least 133 people are dead and dozens of others are missing as a tropical storm triggered mudslides and floods. Multiple deaths were reported Friday on Mindanao in the town of Tubod. "The river rose and most of the homes were swept away. The village is no longer there," according to a Tubod police officer. Boulders in the town of Piagapo that were loosened by flash floods buried 40 houses. Police say 12,000 people have left their homes for higher ground. Читать дальше...

The United States on Friday backed the re-election of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez despite widespread misgivings about the vote count, prompting the opposition candidate to bow out of the race. The Honduran electoral tribunal declared Hernandez the winner of the Nov. 26 election last weekend amid strident opposition protests over the vote count in the impoverished Central American country, which is a major hub for drug trafficking. The vote tally had initially clearly favored opposition candidate Salvador Nasralla... Читать дальше...

What’s a bitcoin worth? Lately nobody knows for sure, but after a wild ride Friday, it’s worth a good deal less than it was Thursday. After losses over the last few days, the digital currency fell as much as 30 percent overnight in Asia, and the action became so frenzied that the website Coinbase suspended trading. It later made up much of that ground, and slumped 9.5 percent to $14,042 Friday, according to the tracking site CoinDesk. Experts are warning that bitcoin is a bubble about to burst... Читать дальше...

Australia will end its airstrikes against Islamic State militant targets in Iraq and Syria after being part of a U.S.-led international coalition for more than two years. Canberra’s decision to stop its involvement in airstrikes on the insurgents was taken after consultation with Iraq and other allies. Six Australian fighter jets will be recalled, although refueling and surveillance aircraft will remain in the region. Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne said their firepower helped to defeat Islamic State, also known as Daesh. Читать дальше...

A reused SpaceX rocket carried 10 satellites into orbit from California on Friday, leaving behind a trail of mystery and wonder as it soared into space. The Falcon 9 booster lifted off from coastal Vandenberg Air Force Base, carrying the latest batch of satellites for Iridium Communications. The launch in the setting sun created a shining, billowing streak that was widely seen throughout Southern California and as far away as Phoenix. Calls came in to TV stations as far afield as San Diego, more than 200 miles south of the launch site. Читать дальше...

A California wildfire that has killed two people and seared its way through cities, towns and wilderness northwest of Los Angeles became the largest blaze ever officially recorded in California on Friday, authorities said. The Thomas fire took only 2½ weeks to burn its way into the history books as unrelenting winds and parched weather turned everything in its path to tinder, including more than 700 homes. The fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties scorched 273,400 acres, or about 427 square... Читать дальше...

A California wildfire that has killed two people and seared its way through cities, towns and wilderness northwest of Los Angeles became the largest blaze ever officially recorded in California on Friday, authorities said. The Thomas fire took only 2½ weeks to burn its way into the history books as unrelenting winds and parched weather turned everything in its path to tinder, including more than 700 homes. The fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties scorched 273,400 acres, or about 427 square... Читать дальше...

Louisiana officials have chosen a sugar cane farm as the next home for residents of a tiny, shrinking island, a move funded with a 2016 federal grant awarded to help relocate communities fleeing the effects of climate change. Dozens of Isle de Jean Charles residents are to be relocated about 40 miles (64 kilometers) to the northwest, in Terrebonne Parish, Nola.com|The Times-Picayune and The New Orleans Advocate report. The state is negotiating to purchase the 515-acre (208-hectare) tract, which is closer to stores... Читать дальше...