Новости за 20.09.2023

The CHIPS and Science Act was signed into law a year ago and promised billions of dollars in funding for science at U.S. colleges and universities. However, Congress is already falling short of the funding targets called for by the legislation, instead focusing on investments in America’s semiconductor industry. Katherine Knott explains the situation for Inside Higher Ed. (August 2023)

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned a climate summit of world leaders on Wednesday there is not much time left to avert an environmental catastrophe. “We must make up for time lost to foot-dragging, arm-twisting and the naked greed of entrenched interests raking in billions from fossil fuels,” Guterres told world leaders at the start of the daylong General Assembly symposium at United Nations headquarters in New York. After Guterres’ opening remarks, heads of state representing 34... Читать дальше...

For decades, Russian and eastern European hackers have dominated the cybercrime underworld. These days they may face a challenge from a new contender: China.  Researchers at cybersecurity firm Proofpoint say they have detected an increase in the spread of Chinese language malware through email campaigns since early 2023, signaling a surge in Chinese cybercrime activity and a new trend in the global threat landscape.  "We basically went from drought to flood here," said Selena Larson, senior... Читать дальше...

The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday for the second time in its past three meetings, a sign that it's moderating its fight against inflation as price pressures have eased. But Fed officials also signaled that they expect to raise rates once more this year. Consumer inflation has dropped from a year-over-year peak of 9.1% in June 2022 to 3.7%. Yet it's still well above the Fed's 2% target, and its policymakers made clear Wednesday that they aren't close to declaring... Читать дальше...

Six giant wooden trolls have taken up residency in the Pacific Northwest, inspiring “troll hunters” to walk in the woods to find them. This time, world-famous environmental artist Thomas Dambo collaborated on the project with local Native American tribes. Natasha Mozgovaya has more.

After a strict COVID-19 lockdown that shattered its tourism industry between 2020 and 2022, China is trying to revive the market by making it easier for foreigners to visit the country. Under a new set of visa application requirements announced this week, applicants only must report one year of travel history instead of five years, as previously required. “The improvement involves seven major items and 15 sub-items, concerning mainly the applicants’ educational background, family information and previous travel history,” said Mao Ning... Читать дальше...

Two tornadoes ripped through China's coastal Jiangsu province on Tuesday, killing 10 people and seriously injuring four others. The first tornado killed five and injured four along with damaging 1,646 houses and destroying crops and farmland in Suqian city, according to Chinese state media.  The second tornado hit later in the evening in Yancheng city, about 190 kilometers from Suqian, killing five more people. In the aftermath of the tornadoes, Chinese forecasters stepped up warnings of heavy... Читать дальше...

Just outside of Washington, D.C., in Northern Virginia, there is a place where anyone can release their inner painter and splatter their stress away. Maxim Adams has the story. Videographer: Sergey Sokolov; Video editor: Sergey Sokolov, Anna Rice

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

High-level allegations this week that India was involved in the killing of a Sikh leader on Canadian soil are renewing fears that governments worldwide are no longer afraid to cross boundaries to silence dissenting voices.  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the unprecedented accusation Monday, telling Canadian lawmakers that his government has "credible allegations" of India's ties to the June slaying of exiled Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver.  India has rejected the charge... Читать дальше...

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday the government would not force households to take energy efficiency measures as he announced new changes to some of its commitments to tackle climate change. He said that although the nation will continue to subsidize energy efficiency, it "will never force any household to do it." "The proposal to make you change your diet and harm British farmers by taxing meat or to create new taxes to discourage flying or going on holiday — I scrapped those too," Sunak said at the press conference. Читать дальше...

India on Wednesday cautioned its citizens, especially students, planning to visit or living in Canada “to exercise utmost caution” after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that India’s government may have been involved in the assassination of a Sikh activist on Canadian soil. "Threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda," an Indian foreign ministry statement said. “Given the deteriorating security environment in Canada... Читать дальше...

Days before Thailand launches a new protection program for foreign asylum seekers, rights groups and refugees are expressing concern that many worthy hopefuls will be turned down or feel too frightened of arrest and deportation to even apply. Starting Friday, undocumented foreigners who fear persecution in their home country can apply to the Thai government for “protected persons” status and, if approved, be given temporary legal residence. Thailand has never signed the United Nations’ refugee convention and... Читать дальше...

The European Union says it is withdrawing $5 million in financial support to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission because of what it calls a lack of independence and transparency in the country's disputed August polls. In a statement late Tuesday, the EU embassy in Harare said Brussels is pulling out its $5 million financial support to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission because of the way the commission ran the country's August general election. President Emmerson Mnangagwa defeated Nelson Chamisa... Читать дальше...

In the Financial Express, Indian students take a look at money matters for international students in the U.S. Here are the details on credit cards, currency and more. (August 2023)

Cameroon officials say separatists resumed attacks on civilians and schools after a notorious insurgent leader and four of his collaborators were killed during a raid this week. The military said the slain rebel leader, known as Bitter Kola, was behind many atrocities, including the October 2020 murder of seven students at Mother Teresa College in Kumba. Military officials reported on Tuesday that Kola was among five rebels killed in a raid on their hideout in Mofako Butu, a village near Kumba in the South West region. Читать дальше...

Kenyan President William Ruto has signed a $60 million dollar grant agreement with the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly session in New York. The grant will help improve urban transport in Nairobi by concentrating on four projects, making the Kenya program the largest of its kind within MCC’s portfolio. Kenyan President William Ruto lauded the new agreement with the U.S. foreign aid agency MCC, at the signing in New York City Tuesday evening where... Читать дальше...

Rwanda's president declared he will run for a fourth term next year, saying that "what the West thinks is not my problem," after the United States and others criticized the earlier lifting of term limits to extend his rule. President Paul Kagame made the announcement in an interview with the French-language publication Jeune Afrique published Tuesday. The 65-year-old Kagame has been president since 2000 and was declared the winner of the previous election in 2017 with more than 98% of the vote. Читать дальше...

The United Nations said Wednesday that Afghanistan's Taliban had committed more than 1,600 human rights violations during arrests and detentions of people, including women, and it urged the de facto authorities to cease the abuses. The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, has documented the violations in its first report on the treatment of detainees since the Taliban reclaimed power two years ago, saying nearly half of the violations were acts of custodial torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. Читать дальше...

Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenian authorities in the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region reached a cease-fire agreement Wednesday, a day after Azerbaijan launched what it called an “anti-terrorist” operation. The agreement, brokered by Russian peacekeepers, calls for separatist forces to disarm and Armenian forces to withdraw from the area. Azerbaijani authorities and representatives from the ethnic Armenians in the region are also due to hold talks Thursday in the Azerbaijani city of Yevlakh about the future of the area. Читать дальше...

The new flare-up of hostilities in the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the separatist enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh is raising the possibility of geopolitical change in the region, as some in Armenian society say they feel betrayed by what they see as the inaction of Russian peacekeepers. Elizabeth Cherneff narrates this report from Ricardo Marquina in the Armenian capital, Yerevan.

At the recent Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, Nigerian officials said they hope to create millions of jobs and much cleaner air through the country’s Energy Transition Plan. The initiative envisions Nigeria moving from the use of firewood and coal to natural gas and other environmentally friendly sources of energy. Timothy Obiezu reports from the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

Residents of Nova Scotia are mopping up the remnants of Hurricane Lee, which made landfall in the Atlantic Canada province on Saturday, and expressing relief that the storm proved far less destructive than Hurricane Fiona, which wreaked havoc in the region one year ago. At the same time, there is a growing appreciation in the province that tropical hurricanes, once unusual so far north, can be expected with greater frequency and intensity in coming years as a result of global climate change. ... Читать дальше...

China launched a series of influence campaigns against Taiwan last week, unveiling a plan to promote integrated development across the Taiwan Strait while at the same time conducting large-scale military incursions near the island. Beijing’s carrot-and-stick approach received mixed reactions from Taiwan residents. Many view the plan, which promises to enhance access to China for Taiwanese investors and encourage Taiwan residents to study, work, and live in China’s southeastern Fujian Province, as an old trick that lacks substance. Читать дальше...

The Galapagos National Park said Tuesday that it had detected its first cases of avian flu on the remote islands, home to unique bird species that helped inspire the theory of evolution. Three positive cases of the H5N1 virus were detected after reports of visibly sick birds on the islands, the park said in a statement. The Galapagos archipelago is a bird-watchers paradise with scores of unique and colorful species, such as the blue-footed booby with its quirky mating rituals, and endemic penguins, cormorants and albatrosses. Читать дальше...