Новости за 06.01.2024

ISTANBUL — A court in Istanbul has ordered 15 of 34 people detained on suspicion of spying for Israel be held in prison awaiting trial, Turkey’s justice minister said late Friday. The suspects were arrested Tuesday for allegedly planning to carry out activities that included “reconnaissance” and “pursuing, assaulting and kidnapping” foreign nationals living in Turkey. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said in a social media post that 26 suspects were referred to the court on a charge of committing... Читать дальше...

VATICAN CITY — Amid resistance to some Vatican policy by more conservative factions of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis on Saturday cautioned the faithful against fracturing into groups “based on our own ideas." He issued the call to abandon “ecclesiastical ideologies” in his homily in St. Peter's Basilica during Epiphany Day Mass, the last major Christmas season holiday. Francis also warned against “basking in some elegant religious theory” instead of finding God in the faces of the poor. Last month... Читать дальше...

ISLAMABAD — A bomb blast ripped through a minibus in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, Saturday evening, killing at least two civilians and wounding 14 others. The attack occurred in the city’s western Dasht-e-Barchi Shiite Muslim neighborhood. Khalid Zadran, a spokesperson for the Taliban-led Kabul police, confirmed the casualties, saying the injured were rushed to hospitals and the bombing was under investigation. No group immediately took credit for the deadly attack, but suspicions fell on... Читать дальше...

SHANGHAI — Senior Chinese officials have held talks with Myanmar, the government said Saturday, as Beijing grows increasingly concerned about border security and telecoms scams with rebel groups pressing their campaign against Myanmar's junta.  Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong visited Myanmar from Thursday to Saturday, meeting junta leader Min Aung Hlaing to discuss topics that included border stability and the crackdown on the telecom scams, China's foreign ministry said.  China's minister of public security... Читать дальше...

LONDON — Pro-Palestinian protesters blocked roads outside the British parliament in London on Saturday, demanding an immediate cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war and clashing with police who prevented them from marching across Westminster Bridge.  London, like other Western cities, has seen regular and sometimes large demonstrations calling for Israel to halt the bombardment of Gaza triggered by a surprise October 7 attack by Hamas militants that Israeli officials say killed more than 1,200 people. Читать дальше...

ROME — As Italy assumes the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven leading industrial nations, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said this week that a focus on developing strategic partnerships with Africa, rather than providing aid, will be key during its one-year tenure. Developing local economies and raising living standards in Africa, she said, could dissuade prospective migrants from seeking refuge in Europe. Meloni told a news conference that the Mattei Plan — named after Enrico Mattei,... Читать дальше...

TAIPEI, TAIWAN — Taiwan's Defense Ministry accused China on Saturday of harassment and trying to affect public morale by repeatedly sending balloons over the self-governing island. A ministry analysis found that the paths of the balloons posed a serious threat to international passenger flights, according to a report by Taiwan’s official Military News Agency. The ministry called for an immediate end to the activity to ensure flight safety. “The ministry urged the people [of Taiwan] to clearly... Читать дальше...

ISLAMABAD — Thousands of mourners attended a funeral Saturday for a Pakistani Sunni Muslim cleric gunned down on the outskirts of the capital, Islamabad, police and a spokesperson for the cleric's organization said. The funeral of Masoodur Rehman Usmani was held a day after unidentified gunmen shot and killed him and wounded his driver in the neighborhood of Ghauri Town, according to a statement from Islamabad police. No one claimed responsibility for the attack, which is a rare occurrence in this part of Pakistan. Читать дальше...

NEW DELHI — India said Friday night it had evacuated 21 crew members, including 15 Indians, from a commercial ship in the North Arabian Sea that had been targeted by hijackers. The rescue mission was mounted by an Indian warship. India has deployed several warships and reconnaissance aircraft in the Arabian Sea following a string of attacks on commercial ships that include hijacking attempts and drone and missile attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The Indian navy said in a statement that... Читать дальше...

To serve Los Angeles' growing homeless population, local authorities have opened a unique shelter that houses 95 people. The space provides bed and food as well as help in finding work and treating addictions. Angelina Bagdasaryan visits the Northeast New Beginnings shelter, in this story narrated by Anna Rice. Camera: Vazgen Varzhabetian.

sydney — With fangs that could pierce a human fingernail, the largest male specimen of the world's most venomous arachnid has found a new home at the Australian Reptile Park where it will help save lives after a member of the public discovered it by chance. The deadly Sydney funnel-web spider dubbed Hercules was found on the Central Coast, about 50 miles north of Sydney, and was initially given to a local hospital, the Australian Reptile Park said in a statement Thursday. Spider experts from... Читать дальше...

Focusing heavily on the threat he says former US President Donald Trump poses to American democracy, President Joe Biden kicked off his reelection campaign by pledging to make the defense of the country’s democratic system the central theme of his 2024 campaign and potential second term. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara has this report.

Taipei, Taiwan — More than a million young Taiwanese who just turned 20 will vote for the first time in this month's presidential election. According to Taiwan's Central Election Commission, there are nearly 1.03 million first-time voters aged 20 to 23 in this presidential election, accounting for almost 6% of the total voter population of 19.5 million. With a voting rate of more than 70% among this age group in the 2020 polls, winning over young voters could be key to taking the election on January 13. Читать дальше...

WAJIMA, Japan — A woman was pulled carefully from the rubble 72 hours after a series of powerful quakes started rattling Japan's western coast. Despite rescue efforts, the death toll has grown to at least 98 people.  The number of missing was lowered to 211 as of Saturday.  An older man was found alive Wednesday in a collapsed home in Suzu, one of the hardest-hit cities in Ishikawa Prefecture. His daughter called out, "Dad, dad," as a flock of firefighters got him out on a stretcher, praising him for holding on for so long after Monday's 7.

Dakar, Senegal — Senegal's Constitutional Council on Friday rejected jailed opposition leader Ousmane Sonko's candidacy for next month's presidential vote, his lawyer said. The 49-year-old Sonko, who finished third in the 2019 presidential election, has been at the center of a bitter stand-off with the state for more than two years. Sonko's lawyer, Cire Cledor Ly, said the candidacy was rejected on the grounds that the application was incomplete. "When we entered, (Council) President Badio... Читать дальше...

NEW YORK — New York state lawyers increased their request for penalties to over $370 million Friday in Donald Trump's civil business fraud trial. He retorted: "They should pay me." The exchange came as lawyers for both sides filed papers highlighting their takeaways from the trial in court filings ahead of closing arguments, set for next Thursday. Trump is expected to attend, though plans could change. It will be the final chance for state and defense lawyers to make their cases. The civil lawsuit... Читать дальше...

NEW YORK — The flu season in the U.S. is getting worse but it's too soon to tell how much holiday gatherings contributed to a likely spike in illnesses. New government data posted Friday for last week — the holiday week between Christmas and New Year's — show 38 states with high or very high levels for respiratory illnesses with fever, cough and other symptoms. That's up from 31 states the week before. The measure likely includes people with COVID-19, RSV and other winter viruses, and not just flu. Читать дальше...

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — Iranian authorities said on Friday that security forces had arrested 11 people suspected of involvement in two bomb blasts that killed nearly 90 people at a memorial service for a slain military commander. The Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Kerman, southeastern Iran, on Wednesday. Iran's intelligence ministry said in a statement that security forces detained two people for providing support to the two suicide bombers in... Читать дальше...