Новости за 02.05.2024

As UNESCO marks World Press Freedom Day on May 3, we celebrate the dedication of journalists and independent media in delivering credible news to audiences in censored countries. This week on The Inside Story: World Press Freedom Day. #PressFreedom #TheInsideStory

Tehran, Iran — Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said that efforts underway to normalize ties between Israel and Arab countries will not resolve the crisis in the Middle East.   "Some people think that by forcing neighboring countries to normalize their ties [with Israel] the problem will be solved," Khamenei said in remarks made Wednesday. "They are wrong."   Khamenei's remarks came after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday said Washington is nearly ready with a security... Читать дальше...

Tehran — Iran announced on Thursday sanctions on several American and British individuals and entities for supporting Israel in its war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas.  The Islamic republic, the regional arch-foe of Israel, unveiled the punitive measures in a statement from its Foreign Ministry.  It said the sanctions targeted seven Americans, including General Bryan P. Fenton, commander of the U.S. special operations command, and Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, a former commander of... Читать дальше...

LONDON — British police arrested 45 people on Thursday after a violent protest in London against the transfer of asylum seekers form a hotel to a barge off southern England. Dozens of protesters outside the hotel in Peckham, southeast London, attempted to stop a bus carrying the asylum seekers from leaving, reportedly deflating its tires and obstructing the vehicle by surrounding it, London's Metropolitan Police said. Tackling illegal migration is one of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's top priorities... Читать дальше...

NASA may soon have another way to get astronauts into space. Plus, the agency reconnects with an old friend and how to train a dog for a walk ... on the moon. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi brings us The Week in Space.

Tehran — Iran's judiciary rejected on Thursday a BBC report suggesting a teenage girl was sexually assaulted and killed by Revolutionary Guards during the 2022 protests triggered by Mahsa Amini's death. Protests erupted across Iran over the September 2022 death of Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, after her arrest by the morality police in Tehran for allegedly breaching the Islamic republic's strict dress code for women.  The body of 16-year-old Nika Shakarami, who disappeared on September 20... Читать дальше...

Demonstrations against Israel's military action in Gaza continue around the world as police raid the protester's encampment on the campus of UCLA. Joe Biden reacts to the protesters and the politics. A look at security in Asia, plus, tomorrow is World Press Freedom Day.

Witnesses and survivor accounts, photographs, and videos as well as satellite images place Burkina Faso troops at the scene of the attack reported by Human Rights Watch, an international watchdog with a decades-long history of documenting abuses.

Beirut — EU chief Ursula von der Leyen announced $1 billion in aid to Lebanon on Thursday to help tackle illegal migration, as rights groups warned against forced returns to Syria. The European Union has already agreed deals with Egypt, Tunisia, Mauritania and others aimed at helping stem flows of irregular migrants. "I can announce a financial package of $1 billion for Lebanon that would be available from this year until 2027," the European Commission chief said, adding that "we want to contribute... Читать дальше...

Geneva — UNICEF warns the conflict in Gaza and mounting violence between Israel and Hezbollah are increasing the suffering of tens of thousands of children in Lebanon caught in the crosshairs of this escalating regional crisis.  A report issued by the United Nations Children’s Fund this week calls for an immediate, permanent cease-fire in Gaza as an essential prerequisite for protecting the lives and well-being of children and civilians in Lebanon and beyond.  “Without that, Lebanon is at risk... Читать дальше...

The number of Washington-based journalists covering the Capitol for local news outlets is dwindling. As the beat shrinks, so, too, does the ability of these regional reporters to hold elected officials to account, media advocates say. VOA's Cristina Caicedo Smit and Liam Scott have the story, narrated by Caicedo Smit.

Nairobi — Kenya and Tanzania were bracing Thursday for a cyclone on the heels of torrential rains that have devastated East Africa, killing more than 350 people and forcing tens of thousands from their homes. In addition to claiming 188 lives in Kenya since March, the floods have displaced 165,000 people, with 90 reported missing, the interior ministry said, as the government warned citizens to remain on alert. "Crucially, the coastal region is likely to experience Cyclone Hidaya, which will result in heavy rainfall... Читать дальше...

Sydney — Pro-Palestinian students at four Australian campuses say they will permanently occupy university land until their demands for divestment are met. The protests have been called by activists in solidarity with their counterparts in the United States. Australian students say they see themselves “part of this global wave” of pro-Palestinian activism. The protests have, so far, been peaceful, although some Jewish students say they feel intimidated by the rallies. The Australian Union of Jewish... Читать дальше...

Manila, Philippines — Manila summoned a senior Chinese envoy on Thursday to protest a water cannon incident that damaged two Philippine vessels during a patrol in the South China Sea. A coast guard vessel and another government boat were damaged in the April 30 incident near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, according to the Philippines' foreign ministry. Manila and Beijing have a long history of territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and the neighbors have been involved in several maritime... Читать дальше...

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's National Assembly voted Thursday to approve a bill backed by the ruling and opposition parties to launch a fresh probe into the deadly Halloween crowd crush in the capital Seoul in 2022. An earlier bill, which was backed the opposition-led parliament without the support of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), was vetoed by President Yoon Suk Yeol in January. The latest bill is a compromise that removes granting full investigative power to the panel, which Yoon had objected to, according to his office. Читать дальше...

STAVANGER, Norway — A convicted sex offender is asking the Norwegian Supreme Court to declare social media access is a human right. The case before the court Thursday involves a man who molested a minor and used the Snapchat messaging app to connect with young boys. The unnamed offender was sentenced last year to 13 months in prison and banned from using Snapchat for two years. His lawyers argue that depriving him of his account is unlawful under the European Convention on Human Rights. The... Читать дальше...

Istanbul, Turkey & Washington — Activists from an international flotilla carrying humanitarian aid are applying for new maritime flags to sail to Gaza from Turkey after the flags of two of their ships were removed by Guinea-Bissau authorities last week. “We will take flags of different countries. We will also apply to Turkey. We will also try to get Turkey’s flag,” Behesti Ismail Songur, head of the Mavi Marmara Association, a group that is part of the international flotilla, told VOA. “So, this will be a litmus test for all states. Читать дальше...