Новости за 28.12.2023

An out-of-this-world Christmas greeting from the past. Plus, the Sun reminds humans who's boss, and a look back at this year in the cosmos. VOA's Arash Arabasadi brings us The Week in Space.

WASHINGTON — An influx of Chinese investors in Vietnamese supporting industries could cause domestic businesses to suffer from the competition, the president of the Vietnam Association for Supporting Industries warned. Phan Dang Tuat’s statement came a week after Vietnam and China agreed to expand their trade cooperation during Chinese President Xi Jinping's mid-December visit, during which the two countries signed 36 cooperation documents. Vietnam and China pledged to strengthen their cooperation in economic zones... Читать дальше...

JOHANNESBURG — Renowned South African playwright, producer and composer Mbongeni Ngema, the creator of the Broadway hit "Sarafina!", has died in a car crash at the age of 68, his family said.  Ngema was killed in a head-on accident while returning from a funeral in a rural town in Eastern Cape province, the family said in a statement Wednesday. The celebrated playwright was a passenger in the vehicle.  He was best known for writing "Sarafina!", which premiered on Broadway in 1988. It was adapted... Читать дальше...

islamabad — Pakistan's caretaker prime minister, Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, on Thursday announced a nationwide ban on New Year celebrations in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel continues its military campaign to crush Hamas in the Gaza Strip. “The whole Pakistani nation and the Muslim world are in a state of deep grief over the genocide of unarmed Palestinians, especially the massacre of children, in Gaza and the West Bank,” Kakar said in his nationally televised announcement. “Given the extremely... Читать дальше...

Women seeking abortions in the U.S. state of Texas face conflicting legal opinions about who qualifies for medical exceptions to abortion laws and some confusion about which clinics provide what services. After the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn the landmark Roe vs. Wade ruling that guaranteed abortion rights, Texas enacted a near-total abortion ban. Deana Mitchell has our story from the Texas capital, Austin

WASHINGTON — U.S. presidential candidate Nikki Haley faced a firestorm of criticism Thursday after failing to mention slavery as a cause of the American Civil War when asked what led to the conflict at a campaign event. Less than three weeks before voting begins in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, it was the first major stumble for a candidate whose campaign has seen her propelled from an unlikely outsider to front-runner Donald Trump's biggest threat. The former U.N. Читать дальше...

Amman — Analysts see the reappointment of Lebanon's army commander, Joseph Aoun, as a stabilizing influence that is key to keeping Lebanon relatively peaceful at a time of border skirmishes with Israel. It is not clear, though, whether he can keep Lebanon out of a conflict with Israel and avoid a growing Hamas presence in the country. Lebanon's Parliament voted to extend Joseph Aoun’s tenure as commander of Lebanon’s army by one year on December 15. Observers say the move averted a crisis in... Читать дальше...

Syrian immigrant brothers in California will be sharing one million dollars in 2024. It’s a bonus from the state lottery for selling the ticket that won the second-biggest Powerball jackpot ever. Genia Dulot has our winning story.

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON — Central Africa has, for months, been plagued with acute fuel shortages that have stifled regional economic growth, disrupted local businesses, and contributed to rising food prices and social unrest. The shortages are partly blamed on increased demand coupled with disruptions in supply, and on illegal trade in conflict zones. Officials in several central African states say vehicle owners, truck drivers and motorcyclists in major cities wait for several hours, sometimes days... Читать дальше...

TAIPEI, TAIWAN — Chinese authorities approved 105 new online games this week, bolstering support for the industry just days after proposing regulatory restrictions that sent stocks tumbling. The National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) announced approval of the 105 games Monday via WeChat, describing the move as a show of support for "the prosperity and healthy development of the online game industry. "It was only Friday that those same regulators announced a wide range of proposed... Читать дальше...

TAIPEI, Taiwan — China has pressured an influential Taiwanese rock band called Mayday to make pro-China comments ahead of Taiwan's key elections next month, according to sources with direct knowledge of the situation and a Taiwan security note reviewed by Reuters. China's National Radio and Television Administration had asked Mayday to publicly voice support for Beijing's claims that democratically governed Taiwan is part of China and to join China's "media propaganda on Taiwan," according to the... Читать дальше...

ANKARA, Turkey — A chain-reaction crash Thursday involving seven vehicles on a motorway in northwest Turkey killed at least 10 people and injured 57 others, officials said. The pileup occurred in dense fog and low visibility on the Northern Marmara Highway in Sakarya province, some 150 kilometers from Istanbul. An investigation has been launched into the accident but Gov. Yasar Karadeniz of Sakarya said it likely occurred when a vehicle hit a truck in poor visibility, triggering other crashes at the rear. Читать дальше...

MOSCOW — A Soviet-era Antonov-24 aircraft carrying 30 passengers and 4 crewmembers landed on a frozen river near an airport in Russia's far east on Thursday because of pilot error, transport prosecutors said. The Polar Airlines An-24 landed safely on the Kolyma river near Zyryanka in the Yakutia region, the prosecutors said. "According to preliminary information, the cause of the aviation incident was an error by the crew in piloting the aircraft," a spokesperson for the Eastern Siberian transport prosecutor said in a statement. Читать дальше...

Yuma, Arizona — As the world pivots from planet-warming fossil fuels to renewable energy, a new pollution problem is rearing its head: What to do with old or worn-out solar panels?  Thousands of photovoltaic slabs are being installed across the United States every day, particularly in the sunny west and south of the country, as states like California race to toward greener energy production.  But with an expected lifespan of around 30 years, the first wave of solar installations is now coming to the end of its usefulness... Читать дальше...

The U.S. has a strong First Amendment foundation, but its limits were tested in 2023. The year saw raids, searches and subpoenas — often directed at local media — that some advocates have flagged as troublesome. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi has the story, for Liam Scott. VOA footage by Saqib Ul Islam and Afshean Hessam.

Yangon, Myanmar — China's embassy in Myanmar on Thursday asked its citizens to leave a northern district along the countries' shared border, citing heightened security risks as ethnic minority armed groups battle the junta. Clashes have raged since October across Myanmar's northern Shan state after the Arakan Army (AA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) launched an offensive against the military. The groups have seized several... Читать дальше...