Новости за 08.01.2024

TAIPEI, TAWAN — Taiwan will hold its contentious presidential and legislative election on January 13, with millions of Taiwanese voters expected to vote and elect a new president to lead the democratic island amid heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Some analysts say the election outcome could significantly impact Taiwan’s direction in the next four years and the dynamics between China and Taiwan. “It's going to be a matter of whether or not we get more of the same level of tension... Читать дальше...

On Saturday, Taiwan will elect a new president and legislature. The vote will help determine Taiwan’s ties with China, which threatens to take over the small island democracy. As VOA’s Bill Gallo explains from Taipei, the vote also has major global implications.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said late on Sunday the "key missing component" from the Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet involved in an Alaska Airlines emergency landing had been recovered from the backyard of a suburban home. The plug door tore off the left side of an Alaska Airlines jet on Friday following takeoff from Portland, Oregon, en route to Ontario, California, depressurizing the plane and forcing pilots to turn back and land safely with all 171 passengers and six crew on board. Читать дальше...

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with officials in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia Monday, then heads to Israel, as he pushes for more humanitarian aid to Gaza, the protection of civilians and to ensure the conflict does not spread to other parts of the region. Blinken’s stop in Abu Dhabi includes a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, while in Saudi Arabia he has talks scheduled with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In meetings Sunday... Читать дальше...

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is meeting with Arab leaders before heading to Israel. U.S. regulators said Sunday that certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets will remain grounded until deemed safe to fly. And artificial intelligence dominates this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Jakarta, Indonesia — Indonesia's presidential candidates held a second debate on Sunday, where they discussed defense, geopolitics, and diplomacy. Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, former Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, and former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan will compete in a Feb. 14 election to lead the world's largest archipelagic nation. Nearly 205 million people are eligible to cast their ballots in the vote, aiming to determine the successor of President Joko Widodo after his 10-year tenure. Читать дальше...

Cape Canaveral, Florida — A private company said Monday its moon landing is in jeopardy after a propulsion problem prevented the newly launched spacecraft from pointing toward the sun for power. Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology raced to orient the lander toward the sun so its solar panel could collect sunlight, as its battery power dwindled. The problem arose about seven hours after Monday's predawn liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket provided the lift for Astrobotic's lander... Читать дальше...

Seoul, South Korea — Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways will cut a dozen flights a day on average until the end of February, the airline said Sunday, in a move to avoid cancellations as the busy Lunar New Year travel season approaches.  Cathay had to cancel some flights over the peak travel period for Christmas and the year end because its operations were stretched, it said in a statement.  "[Cathay] has consolidated on average six flight pairs per day for the rest of January and February, focusing on routes with multiple daily frequencies... Читать дальше...

Maldives — The Maldives government has suspended three deputy ministers for disparaging India's prime minister, an official said Sunday, during a dip in ties with its powerful neighbor. Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid all worked for the archipelago's Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts and were disciplined for their comments on social media, the senior government official told Reuters. The three had variously labeled Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi... Читать дальше...

Baghdad, Iraq — Two fighters from Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi alliance have been killed in an attack claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group, the pro-Iranian Hashed and an Iraqi security source said Sunday. The two fighters "succumbed after having been wounded while they were confronting an attack" by jihadis late Saturday in Salaheddin province north of Baghdad, the Hashed said in a statement carried by Iraqi state media. A security source, speaking to AFP on the condition of anonymity, confirmed... Читать дальше...

Islamabad — Authorities in Pakistan disrupted internet connectivity and blocked access to social media platforms nationwide late Sunday as the party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan virtually launched its manifesto and fundraising campaign ahead of elections next month. The national and global telethon was organized to bypass a local media ban and government crackdown on physical gatherings of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or PTI. According to public polls, the party is rated as the largest national political force... Читать дальше...

Washington — Top U.S. congressional leaders on Sunday agreed on $1.6 trillion in top-line federal spending for fiscal year 2024 in a deal aimed at averting a partial government shutdown later this month, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said. The top-line figure includes $886 billion for defense and $704 billion for non-defense spending, Johnson, a Republican, said in a letter to lawmakers on Sunday. The defense portion had already been signed into law by President Joe Biden last month through the defense spending bill. Читать дальше...

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with several Arab leaders in the Middle East amid growing regional tensions related to the Israel-Hamas war. Separately, Israel made it clear Sunday that no Palestinians will be forced to resettle outside Gaza but that the war will continue. VOA’s Veronica Balderas Iglesias has the story.

Atlanta, Georgia — Election integrity activists want a federal judge to order Georgia to stop using its current election system, saying it's vulnerable to attack and has operational issues that could cost voters their right to cast a vote and have it accurately counted. During a trial set to start Tuesday, activists plan to argue that the Dominion Voting Systems touchscreen voting machines are so flawed they are unconstitutional. Election officials insist the system is secure and reliable and say... Читать дальше...

Bangkok — Airstrikes by Myanmar's military on a village under the control of the pro-democracy resistance in the country's northwest have killed at least 17 civilians, including nine children, local residents and a human rights group said Sunday. The morning aerial attacks on Kanan village in Sagaing region's Khampat town, just south of the Indian border, also wounded about 20 people, they said. Myanmar is wracked by violence that began after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. Читать дальше...

LOS ANGELES — Timothee Chalamet and "Wonka" topped the box office charts for the third time in its four weekends in theaters. Warner Bros.' family-oriented musical added $14.4 million in ticket sales according to studio estimates Sunday, bringing its total domestic grosses to $164.7 million.  "'Wonka' is following in the tradition of a film like 'The Greatest Showman,'" said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. That Hugh Jackman musical opened under $9 million in December 2017 and went on to gross $435 million globally.