Новости за 20.03.2023

As the Horn of Africa enters its sixth failed rainy season, the number of internally displaced people in Somalia has reached an all-time high with millions forced to leave their homes. Abdulkadir Zubeyr visited a camp for the displaced in Dolow, Somalia, and has this story narrated by Salem Solomon.

The United States has determined that members of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), Eritrean Defense Forces, Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) forces and Amhara forces committed war crimes during the conflict in northern Ethiopia, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday.   Members of the ENDF, Eritrean forces, and Amhara forces also committed crimes against humanity, Blinken told reporters, including murder, rape and other forms of sexual violence and persecution.  ... Читать дальше...

French medical aid group Doctors Without Borders has launched the first Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive for schoolgirls in Malawi. They aim to reduce cervical cancer in Malawi, which has the world's second-highest death rate from the disease. Lameck Masina reports from Machinga district, Malawi.

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

The self-governing island of Taiwan has one of the world’s most highly educated and skilled workforces — as well as one of the world’s lowest birthrates. Pets are more common than kids in many households, and they take part in human activities such as wearing clothes and dining out. From Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Shelley Schlender takes us to an unusual café.

Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared results for 12 states so far, including the economic hub of Lagos, where incumbent governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the ruling party was reelected. But observers say Saturday's elections were characterized by widespread violence, voter suppression and intimidation. Local media reported that 21 people were killed and scores injured across the country.  In Imo state, police rescued 17 INEC staffers abducted by gunmen on the... Читать дальше...

U.S. hostage Jeffery Woodke has been released after more than six years in captivity in West Africa, White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said Monday.   Woodke was kidnapped from his home in Abalak, Niger, where he was a humanitarian aid worker, by men who ambushed and killed his guards, forced Woodke into their truck at gunpoint and drove toward the border with Mali. The incident happened Oct. 14, 2016.  According to Niger’s interior minister, Hamadou Souley, Nigerien authorities... Читать дальше...

U.S. officials said current sanctions on China’s new defense chief, Li Shangfu, will not prevent him from conducting official meetings with his American counterparts, nor is the U.S. government considering issuing an exemption for or waiving Li’s sanction designation. The People’s Republic of China named General Li as its minister of national defense on March 12. The U.S. has not proposed a call between Li and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. In 2018, the U.S. sanctioned Li under the so-called... Читать дальше...

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that the "climate time bomb is ticking" as he urged rich nations on Monday to slash emissions sooner after a new assessment from scientists said there was little time to lose in tackling climate change. "The rate of temperature rise in the last half century is the highest in 2,000 years," he said. "Concentrations of carbon dioxide are at their highest in at least 2 million years. The climate time-bomb is ticking." In a recorded address, Guterres... Читать дальше...

Hong Kong and its civil society environment have been downgraded by an international rights group nearly three years since China imposed a national security law on the city.  CIVICUS Monitor, a global research group that tracks and rates fundamental freedoms, released its People Power Under Attack 2022 report last Thursday. After the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in 2019, Beijing imposed the security legislation in an effort to bring back stability. But the law has since been used by authorities to target dissidents... Читать дальше...

Thailand dissolved its parliament on Monday to clear the way for an election in May, a vote set to reignite a long-running power struggle between a military-backed establishment and a political movement that has dominated elections for two decades. King Maha Vajiralongkorn endorsed a decree to dissolve parliament, according to an announcement in the Royal Gazette on Monday, ahead of an election that must be held within 45 to 60 days. No date has been announced, but two sources with knowledge... Читать дальше...

Judith Thompson sits straight and still in her chair, eyes bright, warming herself from the cold. In Mandarin, she tells VOA she taught English at the Southwestern University of Political Science and Law in Chongqing, China. But those days of doing missionary work with her husband of 49 years are long gone. "I've never been homeless before," the American woman says. "It's a whole new experience for me to adapt." Thompson has been staying at the Springs Rescue Mission since November. She is part of the homeless shelter's Hope Program... Читать дальше...

“Africa is facing a water catastrophe,” UNICEF Director of Programs Sanjay Wijesekera said in a statement Monday.   A new UNICEF report says 190 million children in 10 African countries are “at the highest risk” from three water-related threats and climate hazards. The three threats, known collectively as WASH, are: inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene.   Many children in the affected countries do not have access to basic sanitation, according to the UNICEF analysis, whose findings are... Читать дальше...

Blanco Brown and T.I. released their first single of their upcoming joint collaboration album, with the release of “Trap Still Bumpin” last year.  Arguably both Blanco Brown and T.I. have dominated their respective sub-genre, with T.I. being the King of Trap Music and Blanco being the King of Trailer Trap Music, a sub-genre of country music that he created.  Trailer Trap is an infusion of hip-hop with country elements over hard-hitting 80’s.

A police crackdown in Pakistan has led to the arrest of around 300 supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan for their alleged involvement in recent clashes with security forces and arson. Authorities and Khan's opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said Monday that the arrests occurred in the capital, Islamabad, and the eastern city of Lahore. A police statement confirmed overnight raids had rounded up some 200 PTI supporters in the capital for their role in arson and attacks that injured dozens of security forces. Читать дальше...

Opposition leader Raila Odinga's supporters demonstrated in Nairobi and other parts of the country Monday, engaging police in running battles. Protesters criticized the high cost of living, alleged electoral irregularities, and alleged corruption in the government of President William Ruto. Kenyan police dispersed demonstrators in Nairobi with tear gas and water cannons, and at least one person was shot. The Odinga motorcade also was targeted with tear gas as it approached the Kenyatta International Conference Center. Читать дальше...

Daniel Duggan is wanted in the United States on charges including conspiracy to unlawfully export defense services to China and money laundering. Lawyers for the former U.S. marine, accused of helping to train Chinese military pilots, have said they are investigating whether he was ‘trapped’ by American authorities who are seeking his extradition from Australia.   Duggan had applied for an Australian government job in aviation that needed security clearance. That was initially granted but was revoked soon after he returned to Australia. Читать дальше...

Police in India’s Punjab State are continuing to look for Amritpal Singh, a leader of the Khalistan movement that supports the establishment of a separate Sikh homeland.  Punjab’s government has turned off all internet service until Tuesday as the police look for the radical Sikh.   The police engaged in a car chase with Singh Sunday, but he was able to elude them.   Police have arrested 112 of his supporters.   Authorities have been looking for Singh since Saturday, weeks after his supporters overtook a police station... Читать дальше...

The family of Mahsa Amini, whose death sparked months of protests in Iran, says the leadership of Iran must be held accountable for crimes against humanity and that they want their case heard in an international court.  Erfaz Mortezaei, Amini’s cousin, told Britain’s ITV News in an interview broadcast Sunday that Amini’s parents have been threatened, being told not to speak to the media or else their son will be arrested.  Mortezaei himself fled to Europe and said he has also received threats that he will be arrested and taken back to Iran.

Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban leader in Afghanistan, has told Afghan officials to replace any relatives they have hired for government positions and avoid hiring relatives moving forward.   Allegations have emerged that some Taliban officials have placed their sons in government positions they are not qualified for.   Afghanistan is facing deepening economic and humanitarian crises since the Taliban returned to power, after fighting a war for two decades.   In addition to the Taliban’s nepotism practices... Читать дальше...

More than 20 civilians were reported killed in separate attacks in the restive east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where fighting also resumed over the weekend between the government and M23 insurgents, local sources told AFP on Sunday.    In Ituri province, CODECO militants — a group claiming to protect the Lendu community from another ethnic group, the Hema — was accused of targeting five villages in Mahagi early on Saturday.  "For now, we've counted 15 dead, mainly women, children and old people," said Arnold Lokwa... Читать дальше...

The Iranian government has proposed to Saudi Arabia three locations for a meeting of foreign ministers, Iran's foreign minister said Sunday, citing the latest messages with Riyadh since the countries agreed to reestablish ties.  Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told a news conference in Tehran his country had agreed to such a meeting, although he did not list the three locations or say when such a meeting might take place.  Separately, an aide to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi... Читать дальше...

A host of comedic and entertainment royalty gathered at Washington's Kennedy Center to present comedy icon Adam Sandler with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.  Among those scheduled to honor Sandler on Sunday night were Jennifer Aniston, Judd Apatow, Drew Barrymore, Steve Buscemi, Dana Carvey, Luis Guzmán, Conan O'Brien, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade and Ben Stiller.  "Who has lasted this long and stayed this beloved?" Carvey said as he arrived on the Kennedy Center red carpet. Читать дальше...

A Pentagon study has found high rates of cancer among military pilots and for the first time has shown that ground crews who fuel, maintain and launch those aircraft are also getting sick.  The data had long been sought by retired military aviators who have raised alarms for years about the number of air and ground crew members they knew who had cancer. They were told that earlier military studies had found they were not at greater risk than the general U.S. population.  In its yearlong study... Читать дальше...

Britain's government said Sunday that it could start deporting asylum-seekers to Rwanda in the next few months — but only if U.K. courts rule that the controversial policy is legal.  The Home Office said it was aiming to start flights "before the summer," as Home Secretary Suella Braverman visited the east African country to reinforce the Conservative government's commitment to the plan.  In the Rwandan capital, Kigali, she met with President Paul Kagame and Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta... Читать дальше...