Новости за 08.03.2023

Pakistani police Wednesday fired tear gas at demonstrators armed with sticks who are supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan in the eastern city of Lahore, resulting in the death of at least one protester in ensuing clashes. Khan had planned to address an election rally of his opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or PTI, party in the capital of the country's most populous Punjab province, but authorities banned all kinds of public gatherings earlier in the day for unspecified "security threats."... Читать дальше...

Thousands remain in camps almost two years after a volcanic eruption in the Democratic Republic of the Congo forced their displacement. Renewed fighting between the military and rebels has pushed even more people into the camps. Ruth Omar Esther reports from Munigi, DRC. Camera: Esdras Tsongo.

The United Nations special envoy for Syria on Wednesday called on the warring sides there and the international community to revive efforts to find a political solution to a conflict that has devastated the country over more than a decade. Successive rounds of U.N.-backed talks over years have failed to make headway on finding a political solution to the 12-year civil war that has split Syria along frozen frontlines. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Geir Otto Pedersen called for adoption of what... Читать дальше...

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

The World Uyghur Congress, a Germany-based Uyghur rights group, has been nominated for the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize. Canadian lawmakers and a leader of the Young Liberals in Norway, the youth wing of Norway's Venstre political party, nominated the organization. The rights group was cited for its work toward peace, democracy and the plight of the Uyghur and other Turkic people who live under what the nomination letter described as a "repressive regime in China." "The World Uyghur Congress has the main purpose of promoting democracy... Читать дальше...

Zambia's government said it will not tolerate the promotion of LGBTQ rights, saying such rights are against the country's Christian values. The warning came a day after police arrested four activists from a feminist group for allegedly giving false information about a planned protest. The group held an approved demonstration against gender-based violence Sunday ahead of International Women's Day, but authorities say it was a front to promote homosexuality. Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister... Читать дальше...

Forced into exile, Afghan journalist Azita Nazimi is frustrated at not being able to report on issues affecting women still inside Afghanistan. Muska Safi and Lisa Bryant have the story for VOA, narrated by Shaista Sadat Lami.

Drones are routinely used in warfare, law enforcement and agriculture. Now more and more U.S. businesses are using them to deliver cookies and coffee right to your front door. VOA’s Julie Taboh has more. Camera: Adam Greenbaum, Chad Baugh

California's desert is drawing artists from Bangladesh and from Mexico to the Coachella Valley for an unusual exhibition called Desert X. For VOA, Genia Dulot went to see.

Kenya in February announced a nighttime curfew in six counties and an amnesty for handing over illegal guns after a series of violent attacks from cattle rustlers and bandits in the northern Rift Valley.  But just a few guns were turned in as herders say they need to protect themselves in remote areas that have little security.  David Lomuria has more from Lodwar, Kenya in this report narrated by Roderick James.

A Senegalese television journalist has been detained on charges of contempt of court and spreading false news, his lawyer told Agence France-Presse on Wednesday. Pape Ndiaye, a commentator for the WalFadjri news channel, had recently questioned the independence of the judiciary after opposition politician Ousmane Sonko was referred to a criminal court in January over rape accusations. The journalist, whose lawyer said he was jailed Tuesday night pending a possible trial, had said the majority... Читать дальше...

A military court in Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in Somalia, executed 13 militants Wednesday who were members of the al-Shabab and Islamic State terror groups. The court said five Somali soldiers were also executed for killing civilians in Puntland. The court gave no details on the killings. A sixth soldier, who was also found guilty, was spared the death penalty after his family pledged to pay so-called blood money to the victim's family. Somalia's courts allow for out-of-court settlements... Читать дальше...

“Of course, the economy is affecting the way I spend,” Steve Mort, an IT manager in Nashville, Tennessee, told VOA. “I’m prioritizing shorter-distance vacations I can drive to because of the high cost of air travel, and I’m trading my car in less often because it saves money at the dealership,” he said. “I’m making less visits to Starbucks, I’m cooking more at home, and I’m buying cheaper store-brand foods. I’m a lot more conscious of my expenses these days.” Mort isn’t alone. In a February poll by Gallup... Читать дальше...

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission asked Twitter to turn over some internal communications related to owner Elon Musk and other detailed information about business decisions as part of an investigation into the social media company, according to a report put out by two House of Representatives committees. The FTC has sent more than a dozen letters to Twitter and its lawyers since Musk's takeover in October. Among the requests were the company "identify all journalists" who were granted access to... Читать дальше...

As parts of southeastern Turkey struggle to recover from last month’s earthquake, many are questioning why so many relatively modern buildings collapsed in the 7.8 magnitude tremor, with some engineers pointing the finger at Turkish government policy. 'Liquefied' buildings Piles of concrete and twisted metal tower over the roadsides in southeast Turkey's worst-hit towns and cities. Bodies are still buried inside. More than 45,000 people died in the earthquake in Turkey, while the death toll in Syria is estimated at more than 6,000 people. Читать дальше...

As parts of southeast Turkey struggle to recover from last month’s earthquake, many are questioning why so many relatively modern buildings collapsed in the 7.8 magnitude tremor — with some engineers pointing the finger at government policy, as Henry Ridgwell reports. Video: Memet Aksakal, Henry Ridgwell

The United Nations said Wednesday that Taliban restrictions on the rights of women and girls had "effectively trapped" most of them in their homes, turning Afghanistan into the "most repressive" country in the world for women. The U.N. statement marking International Women's Day comes as female activists gathered in the street of the Afghan capital, Kabul, for a second day to protest the ruling Taliban's ban on girls' access to education and work. "Afghanistan under the Taliban remains the... Читать дальше...

A man in Thailand has been sentenced to two years in prison for violating the country’s law against insulting the royal family. The man was arrested in 2020 for selling calendars with pictures of yellow ducks, which were a symbol of Thailand’s pro-democracy protest movement.  Prosecutors say the calendars ridiculed King Maha Vajiralongkorn.   Thailand has some of the world's harshest laws against insulting the monarchy, known as lese majeste, with a conviction carrying a sentence of up to 15 years in prison for each perceived insult. Читать дальше...

A hunger strike by two young activists has returned the issue of Thailand’s royal defamation law to the center of political debate as a general election draws near and pro-democracy parties try to avoid making the controversial law a campaign issue. Thailand is ruled by a constitutional monarchy, but King Maha Vajiralongkorn, 70, wields sweeping political and economic influence. Critics say those powers are beyond debate due to the royal defamation law - article 112 of the Thai criminal code ... Читать дальше...

U.S. President Joe Biden will host his South Korean counterpart, Yoon Suk Yeol, for an official state visit on April 26.    White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Tuesday President Yoon’s visit will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the security alliance between the United States and South Korea. The alliance was formed after the three-year long Korean War ended with an armistice in 1953, which left the Korean peninsula split between the communist-run North and democratic-run South. Читать дальше...

Basketball is one of the fastest growing sports in South Africa, with junior leagues exploding thanks in part to the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The joint effort between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has young players excited for BAL season 3, which tips off this Saturday. Zaheer Cassim reports from Soweto, South Africa.

Analysts in Australia believe China’s economy is in transition and is moving away from a focus on global trade to a model based more on consumer spending and internal investment.    The country has set an economic growth target of five per cent. Analysts believe this is a modest figure, but Australian exporters are hoping that China will soon lift trade restrictions and tariffs.   China accounts for about a third of Australia’s global trade in goods and services.  Government figures show this was worth $186 million in 2021... Читать дальше...

Wednesday is International Women’s Day with a theme this year focusing on the need for gender equity.  The annual observance, which dates to 1911 and fights for women’s rights, is a day for people everywhere to celebrate the achievements of women across society.  The United Nations is putting the focus of its International Women’s Day programs on the importance of protecting the rights of women and girls in digital spaces and working to address gaps in access to vital technology.  The U.N.... Читать дальше...

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is set to end on Friday mandatory COVID-19 tests for travelers from China, joining other countries in dropping the requirements, a source briefed on the matter told Reuters.  Last week, Japan dropped a requirement that everyone take a test for the virus upon arrival from China. The source told Reuters the United States would continue to monitor cases in China and around the world. The U.S. decision was reported earlier by the Washington Post. Читать дальше...

Thousands of workers will join a nationwide strike on Wednesday in protest over Greece's deadliest train disaster that killed 57 people, and mass demonstrations are expected to culminate outside parliament in Athens.  The crash on February 28 has stirred public outrage over the crumbling state of the Greek rail network, and striking workers say years of neglect, underinvestment and understaffing — a legacy of Greece's decade-long debt crisis — are to blame.  Many of the around 350 people aboard... Читать дальше...