Новости за 03.07.2023

Kuwait reinvited Iran on Monday to talks on their sea borders after Tehran said it was ready to start drilling in a disputed gas field in the resource-rich Gulf. Kuwait insisted it held "exclusive rights" to the maritime field along with Saudi Arabia, after the neighboring countries agreed to jointly develop it last year. The field, known as Arash in Iran and Dorra in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, is also claimed by Tehran in a dispute which dates back several decades. "The State of Kuwait and the... Читать дальше...

Thailand’s king opened the new session of parliament Monday as the kingdom enters a crucial fortnight to decide if the big winners of the May election, the Move Forward Party, can form a pro-democracy coalition government or if new political turmoil lies ahead. Move Forward took 151 seats in a shocking May 14 election victory, as millions of Thais swung behind their agenda of removing the army from politics, tackling the economic dominance of monopolies and amending the royal defamation law, which protects the monarchy from criticism. Читать дальше...

Officials in Cameroon say plastic bag pollution in the country has doubled in the past four years to 600,000 tons, harming the environment and animal and human health. The central African country in 2012 banned the production, sale, and use of non-biodegradable plastic bags, but huge quantities are smuggled in from neighboring Nigeria. A woman using a bullhorn tells civilians at Mfoundi market in Yaounde that plastic bags constitute a serious menace to the environment. She said diseases and floods... Читать дальше...

Nearly two years after the chaotic American military withdrawal from Afghanistan, President Joe Biden’s statement that the Taliban is helping the U.S. push out al-Qaida from the war-torn country is reigniting controversy about the presence of terror groups there and the deal that ended the Afghan war.   “Remember what I said about Afghanistan? I said al-Qaida would not be there. I said it wouldn’t be there. I said we’d get help from the Taliban," Biden said Friday. "What’s happening now? What’s going on? Читать дальше...

ICEF Monitor, a dedicated market intelligence resource for the international education industry, has worrying news for international students seeking visas to study in the U.S. It says student visa refusals soared for 2022, with more than 1 in 3 students failing to get a visa. “This is both a notable increase in the overall refusal rate for F-1 applicants, and also considerably higher than the average rate for other non-immigrant visa classes," ICEF Monitor notes. It takes a closer look at the trend here. Читать дальше...

Diamond industry experts are hailing the signing of a 10-year diamond sales agreement between the De Beers Group and Botswana, Africa's largest diamond producer.  Under the deal, Botswana will progress from receiving 30% to half of all diamonds that De Beers mines in the southern African country.  The deal was signed at the 11th hour following tense negotiations, as Botswana pushed for an increased allocation of rough diamonds from the 54-year-old partnership.    The signing of a new agreement... Читать дальше...

Germany's government accused Poland on Monday of failing to stop the dumping of pollutants that contributed to the deaths of hundreds of tons of fish in the Oder River, which runs along the border between the two countries.  The mass fish die-off last summer caused friction between Warsaw and Berlin, which both blamed chemical discharges on the Polish stretch of the river for promoting the growth of deadly golden algae. The environmental group Greenpeace said wastewater from Poland’s coal mines was most likely responsible. Читать дальше...

The nephew of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy is running for president. Robert F. Kennedy Junior, whose father was slain during a White House bid in 1968, is considered a longshot for the Democratic nomination despite his family name and some favorable early polls. VOA’s Veronica Balderas reports.

Officials in Pakistan said Monday that insurgents had ambushed a military convoy in a southwestern region and killed two security personnel, including an army major. The deadly overnight assault occurred in Balor in the turbulent Baluchistan province. The army’s media wing said troops were on a counterterrorism search mission in the area and trying to block “escape routes” when a group of “terrorists” ambushed them. The ensuing “heavy exchange of fire” killed two army officers and injured another, it added. Читать дальше...

Defense and renewable energy are on the agenda as Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo begins an official visit to Australia Monday. The Indonesian leader is on a three-day trip to Australia. Before his trip, President Joko Widodo told Australian media that the two countries "have a great potential for integration." Indonesia has ambitions to become a global hub for the manufacture of electric batteries and vehicles, or EVs. Indonesia is the world's biggest producer of nickel, a key component for EV batteries... Читать дальше...

Doctors Without Borders said Sunday that there is a suspected outbreak of measles in an internal displacement camp in Sudan. The international humanitarian organization said 13 children have died recently in the suspected outbreak at the camp in Sudan’s White Nile state. “We are receiving sick children with suspected measles every day, most with complications,” the organization posted in a tweet. A steady stream of people is coming to the camp as they flee the fighting between the country’s two warring factions. Читать дальше...

A 24-year-old French firefighter died Sunday night while trying to douse burning cars in an underground car garage north of Paris, as riots in France’s capital continued for a sixth night over the police killing of a teenager of Algerian and Moroccan parents.  Referring to the incident, French Transport Minister Clement Beaune said: "My thoughts go out to the public servants mobilized day and night for a return to calm."  Authorities said that police arrested over 150 people nationwide in the overnight rioting... Читать дальше...

In India, the unpaid domestic work done by tens of millions of women has received little attention. But a recent court judgment in South India giving legal recognition to a housewife's contribution to her husband's income has been hailed as a landmark ruling that could set the ground for reform. Women's rights advocates say the judgment is particularly significant in a country where women's participation in the workforce is very low and most women are homemakers. In a domestic dispute case in the southern state of Tamil Nadu... Читать дальше...

HANOI, July 3 (Reuters) - Vietnam has banned Warner Bros' highly anticipated film "Barbie" from domestic distribution over a scene featuring a map that shows China's unilaterally claimed territory in the South China Sea, state media reported on Monday. The U-shaped "nine-dash line" is used on Chinese maps to illustrate its claims over vast areas of the South China Sea, including swathes of what Vietnam considers its continental shelf, where it has awarded oil concessions. "Barbie" is the... Читать дальше...

A survey released Monday found that people in the United States and United Kingdom had the lowest level of confidence in their governments among leading industrial nations. Gallup said in 2022, 31% of adults in the United States had confidence in their government, while the figure stood at 33% for the United Kingdom. Germany was at the top of the list among the Group of Seven nations with 61% confidence. The positions of the United States and the United Kingdom were far different in 2022 than they were in 2006, Gallup said. Читать дальше...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security detail said it became aware of a drone flying over Modi's residence on Monday.   After being contacted by the prime minister's security force, New Delhi police and air traffic control conducted investigations into the drone sighting The police and air traffic control reported they did not find any drones or aircraft in the vicinity of Modi's residence.   It is not clear what led to the reports of the drone sighting.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is due to travel Thursday to China to meet with senior officials in the latest effort to address strained relations between the two countries.  The Treasury Department said in a statement Sunday that Yellen's visit would take place from July 6-9 and follows a directive from President Joe Biden to deepen communications on issues such as financial developments and the global macroeconomy. "While in Beijing, Secretary Yellen will discuss with PRC officials the importance for our countries ... Читать дальше...

India's annual monsoon rains have begun days ahead of schedule.    The India Meteorological Department said the rains covered the whole country Sunday. Monsoon rains battered villages in northeast India in June, a government relief agency said on Friday.  The "normal" date for the country-wide rains is July 8, according to weather forecasters.   India depends on the heavy rains for crop production on the country's farms.   Reuters reports that nearly half of India's farmland lacks irrigation. Читать дальше...

Palestinian health officials said Israeli forces killed at least three people Monday during an attack in the occupied West Bank.  Israel’s military said it conducted a raid at the Jenin refugee camp, striking what it called a “unified command center” for militants.  The operation included an Israeli airstrike.  Israel has conducted regular raids in the area, including one last month that killed seven Palestinians.  Last week, the United Nations Security Council urged restraint and... Читать дальше...

Thirty people were shot as a block party was winding down early Sunday in Baltimore, in the U.S. state of Maryland.   Two of the victims — an 18-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man — died.   While some of the remaining 28 were transported to hospitals, many of them walked to nearby hospitals. Most of the wounded are teenagers.   Three of the wounded are in critical condition.   Acting Police Commissioner Richard Worley said at least two people opened fire, but police are not sure... Читать дальше...

Bill Flower realized 30 years ago that cricket wouldn't survive, let alone bloom, in Zimbabwe unless it reached out to the country's Black majority and found a place in their hearts.  Part of his plan finally came together two weeks ago when the Takashinga Cricket Club, set in one of the country's oldest Black townships, hosted an international game for the first time.  The spiritual home of Black cricket in Zimbabwe, where players looked after the pitch and planted the grass themselves in its early days... Читать дальше...

Guatemala's highest court has suspended the release of official election results, granting a temporary injunction to 10 parties that challenged the results of the June 25 vote.  The Constitutional Court late Saturday called for a new hearing to review the contested tallies in no more than five days.  Sandra Torres and Bernardo Arevalo had emerged from a field of nearly two dozen presidential hopefuls in the first round of voting. Since neither came close the 50% threshold, they were expected... Читать дальше...

In the United States, Americans are gaining a deeper understanding of the recent Supreme Court rulings.  Updates on the circumstances surrounding a truck accident in Kenya. Nigeria takes steps to prevent the spread of Anthrax. And New York City has introduced a new strategy to alleviate congestion.

It took a late breakaway by Victor Lafay for French team Cofidis to end its 15-year winless streak at the Tour de France.  Cofidis won the second stage Sunday after Lafay moved to the front and held off a late charge by the favorites to clinch the victory, with Adam Yates keeping the overall lead after the opening two stages in northern Spain.  Cofidis hadn't won in the Tour since Sylvain Chavanel triumphed in the 19th stage of the 2008 edition.  "It's a relief for Cofidis to finally get a stage win," Lafay said. Читать дальше...

As the nation prepares to celebrate 247 years of the country’s independence, smaller U.S. towns are marking holiday with their own traditions. VOA’s Saqib Ul Islam takes us to one small Virginia town that celebrated ahead of the July Fourth holiday.