Новости за 01.02.2023

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has vowed that WhatsApp and Instagram will remain blocked in the country, blaming the online platforms for stoking protests that started more than four months ago. The Islamic republic was rocked by major demonstrations after the mid-September death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, after her arrest for allegedly breaching the country's dress code for women. Raisi charged that the two platforms, owned by U.S. internet giant Meta, "were at the root of the... Читать дальше...

The United States on Wednesday voiced alarm over Sudan's release of a man sentenced to death over the killing of an American development worker, denying there was any understanding between the countries. Islamist gunmen shot dead John Granville, a 33-year-old U.S. Agency for International Development employee, along with his 40-year-old Sudanese driver Abdel Rahman Abbas in a hail of bullets on New Year's Day 2008. Sudanese authorities on Monday freed Abdelraouf Abu Zaid, who was convicted over the killing... Читать дальше...

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

President Joe Biden met with Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the White House on Wednesday afternoon, the first in-person sit-down between the two leaders since Republicans assumed control of the House of Representatives following the November midterm elections. The pair discussed a range of issues including the urgent need to raise the nation's debt ceiling, the amount of money authorized by Congress for the government to borrow to meet existing spending obligations. The United States hit the $31.4 trillion ceiling on January 19. Читать дальше...

The U.N. nuclear watchdog criticized Iran on Wednesday for making an undeclared change to the interconnection between the two clusters of advanced machines enriching uranium to up to 60% purity, close to weapons grade, at its Fordo plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency found the change during an unannounced inspection on January 21 at the Fordo Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP), a site dug into a mountain where inspectors are stepping up checks after Iran said it would dramatically expand enrichment. Читать дальше...

FBI agents reported they found no new classified documents in a search Wednesday at U.S. President Joe Biden’s vacation retreat in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, his personal lawyer said, although they did take some materials for further review.    The attorney, Bob Bauer, said in a statement the search at the blue-and-white three-story home lasted from 8:30 a.m. to noon in "coordination and cooperation with the president's attorneys" and had been planned.    "No documents with classified markings were found," Bauer said. Читать дальше...

The leaders of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia met Wednesday in the Somali capital to discuss the ongoing fight against al-Shabab militants. The security summit took place amid an offensive by Somalia and its allies against the Islamist militants. Somalia in the past year has won significant victories against the group, which has also increased its counterattacks. At least four mortar shells landed near the presidential palace in Mogadishu Wednesday, ahead of a meeting of heads of state and governments from the region. Читать дальше...

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers Wednesday rejected allegations their territory was used in this week's mosque bombing in Pakistan, urging the neighboring country to thoroughly investigate such terror acts before blaming others. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi told a gathering in the capital, Kabul, that Pakistani officials should find a solution to their security challenges locally and desist from "sowing the seeds of enmity" between the two Muslim countries. No group has claimed responsibility... Читать дальше...

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is expected to visit Beijing next week looking to borrow more than $4 billion for a high-speed railway line that will connect Cambodia’s capital with the economic hub on the Thai border. The deal would be the latest symbol of the “ironclad” friendship between the two countries that has observers worried that Cambodia’s growing dependence on Chinese largesse could lead to a “debt trap” with long-term economic and geopolitical consequences. “I hope that my upcoming... Читать дальше...

Zimbabwe plans to build "Zim Cyber City," a modern capital expected to cost up to $60 billion in raised funds and include new government buildings and a presidential palace. Critics are blasting the plan as wasteful when more than half the population lives in poverty and the government has let the current capital, Harare, fall apart. Columbus Mavhunga reports from Mount Hampden, Zimbabwe. Camera: Blessing Chigwenhembe

Zimbabwe plans to build "Zim Cyber City," a modern capital expected to cost up to $60 billion in raised funds and include new government buildings and a presidential palace. Critics are blasting the plan as wasteful when more than half the population lives in poverty and the government has let the current capital, Harare, fall apart. Columbus Mavhunga reports from Mount Hampden, Zimbabwe. Camera: Blessing Chigwenhembe

The nomination of the U.S. special envoy for human rights in North Korea, along with new legislation, has revived hopes for Korean Americans who want to see family in North Korea whom they have not seen since their separation during the Korean War. President Joe Biden nominated Julie Turner, a long-time State Department official, as the U.S. special envoy for human rights in North Korea on January 23. The position has been vacant for the past six years. The Divided Families Reunification... Читать дальше...

Senior U.S. defense officials are expressing optimism that a high-level visit to the Philippines will pay off, possibly with an agreement for expanded military cooperation and greater access to Philippine military bases. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who arrived in Manila late Tuesday sounded upbeat ahead of critical meetings Thursday with Philippine Defense Minister Carlito Galvez, Jr. and National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, as well as with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.... Читать дальше...

Duwa Lashi La, the acting president of Myanmar’s opposition government in exile, the National Unity Government, or NUG, told VOA in a Zoom interview Tuesday it will not be possible to return to a democratic path through dialogue. While seeking more official recognition for the NUG, he said outside financial, and even military, support will be needed. These highlights are from Duwa Lashi La’s conversation with VOA’s Ingyin Naing in Burmese. They have been translated into English and edited for brevity and clarity. Читать дальше...

Hong Kong has officially banned an ingredient derived from the cannabis plant. A new law took effect Wednesday that characterizes cannabidiol, better known as CBD, as a “dangerous drug” equal to that of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl. But unlike THC, the psychoactive chemical found in cannabis, CBD does not get its users high, and has grown in worldwide popularity as an alternative medicine for pain and inflammation relief or stress and anxiety. Under the new law that was passed by Hong Kong’s legislature last year... Читать дальше...

Australia’s foreign affairs minister is warning that all countries must maintain efforts to prevent a war in the Indo-Pacific. Speaking on an official visit to Britain, Penny Wong said the region is becoming “more dangerous and volatile.” Australian officials say they want to reduce tensions in the Indo-Pacific region and promote peace. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong Tuesday called on China and the United States to set broad limits on their strategic ambitions to prevent conflict. Taiwan remains a potential flashpoint. Читать дальше...

Several hundred Myanmar pro-democracy protesters gathered outside their country’s embassy in Bangkok Wednesday, two years after a coup by a junta that has killed thousands of civilians in airstrikes and military massacres, and now wants to hold elections across a broken nation.   Shouting slogans, waving flags of Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government and holding portraits of their jailed democracy heroine, Aung San Suu Kyi, the demonstrators made a loud but peaceful statement of their anger at a junta which seized power on February 1... Читать дальше...

Supporters of Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement are engaging in a nationwide boycott of all economic activity Wednesday to mark the two-year anniversary of the military’s overthrow of the civilian government.  Leaders urged merchants to close their shops and residents to stay home as part of a “silent strike” against the military junta over its February 1, 2021 ouster of Aung San Suu Kyi and her democratically-elected government. Photos posted on social media showed the streets of Yangon, Myanmar’s commercial capital, largely deserted. Читать дальше...

Winter weather warnings and advisories were in effect across a string of U.S. states from Texas to Maryland on Wednesday with forecasters expecting freezing rain and sleet to affect many areas.  The storm was blamed for at least two deaths on slick roads in Texas on Tuesday as authorities reported numerous crashes.  The weather also forced the cancelation of hundreds of flights and knocked out power to thousands of homes.  As the storm moved to the east, watches and warnings were in effect in Texas... Читать дальше...

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton joined family members and friends Wednesday at the funeral of Tyre Nichols, whose death last month once again focused attention on police brutality. Harris embraced Nichols' mother before addressing the congregation at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee. The vice president said the police officers accused in Nichols' death took an oath to keep the public safe. "This is a family that lost... Читать дальше...

Iran ranked 147th out of 180 countries in a global corruption perception index, a watchdog group said in a report released Tuesday.     The Transparency International report also gave Iran a Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) score of 25.     A country’s score is the perceived level of public sector corruption on a scale of 0-100, where 0 means highly corrupt and 100 means very clean, the report said. A country's rank is its position relative to the other countries in the index. Ranks can change... Читать дальше...

The future battle to succeed Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas could trigger "mass protest, repression" and the outright collapse of the Palestinian Authority, the International Crisis Group (ICG) said Wednesday.  The Brussels-based policy and research organization released its forecast a day after the ageing and increasingly unpopular 87-year-old Abbas met in Ramallah with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was in the region to urge calm amid a spike in Israeli-Palestinian violence.... Читать дальше...

Former Israeli national security adviser on how Israel benefits from covert attacks on Iran’s military sites. ARTICLE 19 researcher on how Iran is fighting U.S. tech companies that help Iranians get online with VPNs. IranWire founder on education project with U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to counter Holocaust denial in Iran.

Three alleged al-Qaida militants were killed in a suspected U.S. drone strike in Yemen on Monday, local government officials said.    The attack was carried out on a car in Marib province, the scene of heavy fighting in 2021 in Yemen's long-running civil war, the officials said.    "Three al-Qaida members were killed in a strike by a drone that is believed to be American," a government official told AFP on condition of anonymity. "The three were in a car in Wadi Obeida when they were targeted... Читать дальше...

Pope Francis arrives in South Sudan Friday for his first visit to the world's youngest country, which is struggling to quell unrest that has displaced more than 2 million people. Sheila Ponnie reports from Juba, South Sudan. Videographer: Bebe Joel.