Новости за 24.01.2024

Tehran, Iran — Iran said Wednesday it is willing to help coup-hit Niger overcome international sanctions as Tehran seeks to reduce its isolation by bolstering ties with African countries.   Iran's first vice-president, Mohammad Mokhber, said his country condemns "the cruel sanctions that are imposed by the domination system," in a meeting with Niger's Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine.   "We will definitely share the experiences we have in this field with our brothers" from Niger, he added. Читать дальше...

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Joe Biden picked up the endorsement of the United Auto Workers on Wednesday as he addressed the powerful union's political convention. Biden, a Democrat, is pushing to sway blue-collar workers his way in critical automaking swing states such as Michigan and Wisconsin, hoping to cut into the advantage that Republican former President Donald Trump has enjoyed with white voters who don't have a college degree. Labor experts said that the UAW usually endorses candidates later as it has a mix of Democratic... Читать дальше...

Washington — The United States on Wednesday welcomed the Turkish parliament's ratification of Sweden's NATO membership bid this week and urged Ankara to formally finalize the process. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told a briefing that Washington was looking forward to Hungary, which has yet to approve Sweden's NATO bid, moving along in the process.  "We look forward to (Turkish) President (Tayyip) Erdogan taking...steps he needs to within that system to formally finalize that... Читать дальше...

Harare, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwean health authorities — battling a cholera outbreak that has infected about 20,000 people and killed more than 370 — say they hope donated vaccines will ease the spread of waterborne disease now affecting 60 of the country’s 64 districts.     Zimbabwean Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora told reporters in Harare on Wednesday that the country had recorded 20,121 suspected cholera cases and 376 deaths — six of them since Tuesday. He said the World Health Organization and... Читать дальше...

Bamako, Mali — An official in Mali says more than 70 people are dead after an informal gold mine collapsed late last week, and a search continues amid fears the toll could rise.  Karim Berthe, a senior official at the government's National Geology and Mining Directorate, confirmed the details to The Associated Press on Wednesday and called it an accident.  It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse that occurred on Friday and was reported on Tuesday in a Ministry of Mines statement that estimated "several" miners dead. Читать дальше...

Ecuador’s journalists are focusing on personal safety after a prosecutor investigating an armed raid on a TV station was killed amid a wave of violence sweeping the country. VOA’s Cristina Caicedo Smit has the story, with VOA Spanish Service contributing.

BANGKOK — China's central bank said Wednesday it will cut the amount of reserves it holds for banks as part of a slew of measures to support the slowing economy. The announcement by the governor of the People's Bank of China prompted a surge in share prices, with Hong Kong's benchmark jumping 3.6%. Chinese stock markets have languished in recent months as investors pulled money out, discouraged by a faltering recovery from the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic. A sell-off earlier in the week... Читать дальше...

In the Western United States, livestock auctioneers compete in a fast-talking contest to crown the Mile High Auctioneer champion. In Denver, Colorado, VOA's Scott Stearns has the story.

AMMAN, JORDAN — Continuing retaliatory attacks and targeted assassinations along the Lebanon-Israel border are prompting warnings of an escalation that could unleash a wider conflict in the region.  Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah militia said it targeted Israel’s northern army command Mount Meron base Tuesday, its second such attack on the post in recent days. Later Tuesday, Israeli warplanes fired missiles at Lebanon’s southern districts of Bint Jbeil, Nabatieh and Iqlim al-Tuffah, destroying homes and wounding several people... Читать дальше...

With the growing concern over greenhouse gas emissions that are blamed for climate change, a Kenyan-Dutch company is introducing electric bikes in sub-Saharan Africa for deliveries in urban areas to help reduce emissions. The transport sector plays a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the effects of global warming. Juma Majanga reports from Nairobi. Camera: Amos Wangwa

BEIJING — At least 39 people died and nine people were injured after a fire broke out in China's southeastern Jiangxi province, state media said on Wednesday.  Rescuers are still trying to reach people trapped in the building, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The broadcaster said the fire broke out inside a building that houses an internet cafe in the basement and tutoring centers on upper floors. It is unclear how many remain trapped in the building.  Officials for the Yushui district of... Читать дальше...

Bangkok   — A Thai court on Wednesday said Pita Limjaroenrat, the nation’s most popular politician, did not break election rules by holding media shares while running for office, clearing him to return to parliament and potentially lead the country’s progressive Move Forward Party. Pita, 43, had faced a ban from politics and even jail over holding shares in an inactive media company called iTV. Under Thai law it is illegal to be involved in media businesses when running for office. His party... Читать дальше...

Nashua, New Hampshire — Michael Suarez’ girlfriend thought he was nuts for going to the event. But when the prized invitation appeared in his email, the Merrimack, New Hampshire, voter knew he couldn’t miss the post-election party for Donald Trump. “In this world, we need a tough guy,” Suarez said, referring to what he sees as the need for a president to interact with dictators like North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, “a macho guy who doesn’t pull punches.” Minutes later, he... Читать дальше...

BRISBANE, Australia — A tropical low slowly moving toward northeast Australia reached cyclone strength on Wednesday and will bring flooding into Queensland state into the weekend. Tropical Cyclone Kirrily was moving west at 5 mph and forecast to make landfall overnight Thursday. “After the cyclone crosses the coast, it’s likely to weaken to a tropical low but have very high levels of rainfall associated with it," Queensland Premier Steven Miles said at a news conference in Brisbane. "And so depending on its path... Читать дальше...

New Hampshire voters gave decisive wins to candidates Tuesday, in one of the first votes leading to the 2024 presidential election. VOA's Carolyn Presutti is in Nashua, New Hampshire, to bring us the winners and losers and what it means looking ahead to the next contest in South Carolina.

TAIPEI, Taiwan — The co-chairs of the U.S. Congressional Taiwan Caucus on Wednesday opened the first trip by U.S. lawmakers to the island where the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party won a third straight term in presidential elections this month. U.S. Reps. Ami Bera, a Democrat from California, and Florida Republican Mario Díaz-Balart plan to “engage with senior officials and business leaders,” Bera’s office said in a statement, without naming those with whom they would meet. ... Читать дальше...

BEIJING — China and Nauru re-established diplomatic ties on Wednesday, after the tiny Pacific island nation unexpectedly severed relations with its now former ally Taiwan in a move the United States described as "unfortunate." The Pacific has become a source of intense competition for influence between Washington and Beijing. During a ceremony in Beijing, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Nauru counterpart, Lionel Aingimea, formally signed a document to restore bilateral relations, with... Читать дальше...

Construction companies in Zambia say Chinese companies are moving into their area and taking away their business. They say the competition has forced some local construction companies to close. VOA’s Daniel Tonga reports from the capital Lusaka.