Новости за 05.07.2023

A white powder discovered in a lobby area of the White House's West Wing that prompted a brief evacuation Sunday evening tested positive for cocaine in a laboratory analysis, three people familiar with the matter said Wednesday. Officials who found the powder in a small plastic envelope in the heavily trafficked part of the White House initially suspected illegal drugs, but they ran tests to ensure that the powder was not a more dangerous substance. Investigators have not yet identified who brought the cocaine into the White House... Читать дальше...

Around 15 civilians were killed Wednesday by suspected jihadis in Burkina Faso, security and local sources told AFP, sparking an exodus of people fearing further bloodshed.   "Terrorists carried out an attack early this morning in Sorgha," in the eastern province of Gnagna, "which cost the lives of about 15 inhabitants, including women," a local official told AFP.   The attack was confirmed by a resident and security sources.  Burkina, one of the world's poorest nations, is struggling with... Читать дальше...

Health organizations in Sudan’s White Nile state said at least 13 children have died over the past week due to a suspected measles outbreak. An official with the Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, said Sudan’s conflict and the approach of the rainy season could make the situation much worse. Officials with the international medical organization MSF say they remain concerned about an increase of suspected measles cases among children in Sudan’s White Nile state. Speaking... Читать дальше...

The Israeli government has sparked a building frenzy of Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The international community has called on Israel not to move forward with these projects. Linda Gradstein reports for VOA from the West Bank. Camera: Ricki Rosen.

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

An Israeli-Russian academic who went missing in Iraq a few months ago is alive and being held there by Shiite group Kataib Hezbollah, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Wednesday. A statement from Netanyhahu's office named the woman as Elizabeth Tsurkov. It said she had gone to Iraq for research purposes on behalf of Princeton University in the United States. There were no immediate details on her condition. Tsurkov entered Iraq on her Russian passport, the statement said. Читать дальше...

Myanmar's Supreme Court heard final arguments on Wednesday in appeals by ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi of her convictions in two cases in which she was charged with election fraud and breaching the Official Secrets Act, a legal official said. Suu Kyi, 78, was arrested when the army seized power from her elected government in February 2021. She has been convicted of a string of criminal offenses and sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison, mostly on charges brought by the military government. Читать дальше...

China’s Defense Ministry accused the United States of turning Taiwan into a powder keg Wednesday with its latest sales of military equipment to the self-governing island democracy worth a total of $440.2 million. The U.S. State Department approved of the sale of 30 mm ammunition and related equipment, along with spare parts for Taiwan’s vehicles, small arms, combat weapon systems, and logistical support items. Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Tan Kefei responded that “the U.S. ignores China’s core concerns... Читать дальше...

In India, a recent court judgement that dismissed a legal petition by Twitter challenging the federal government’s orders to block tweets and accounts is a setback for free speech, according to digital rights activists.   The Karnataka High Court, which delivered its judgement last week, also imposed a fine of $ 61,000 on the social media company for its delay in complying with the government’s takedown orders.   “The order sets a dangerous precedent for curbing online free speech without employing... Читать дальше...

The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog agency met with local residents Wednesday to reassure them about the Japanese government’s plan to release thousands of liters of treated radioactive wastewater from the wreckage of the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi attended a meeting of local officials and representatives of fishing communities in the town of Iwaki, about 40 kilometers south of Fukushima. Grossi presented the IAEA’s... Читать дальше...

China's Foreign Ministry has told Australia to stop sheltering fugitives and "stop lending support for anti-China" elements.  In Canberra, Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong said she has deep concerns over the arrest warrants for two Australia-based Hong Kong democracy campaigners. Beijing accuses them of "anti-China activities aimed at destabilizing Hong Kong."  Ted Hui is a former member of Hong Kong's parliament, and now lives in the South Australian city of Adelaide. He and seven... Читать дальше...

In recent years, there have been more prominent TV shows and movies featuring Asians and Chinese Americans, with many of them targeting younger audiences.   The increase in media showing Asian Americans is more than just a product of the streaming era. For summer camp director C.C. Hsu and her students, it is also a step toward more accurate representations of their identities.    The summer camp hosted by the Washington DC Taiwanese School, located in Maryland about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) north of the U.S. capital... Читать дальше...

Chinese authorities have warned of extreme weather and "multiple natural disasters" in the coming month, as heavy rain damaged infrastructure and forced thousands to be evacuated. An alert was in place on Tuesday for rain-triggered disasters in large swaths of central and southwestern China, according to the official Xinhua news agency. Meteorological authorities have warned the country will face "multiple natural disasters in July, including floods, severe convection weather, typhoons and high temperatures," the agency said. Читать дальше...