Новости за 03.05.2024

GAZA STRIP — After months of negotiations, Hamas is offering hope that a cease-fire agreement with Israel could be near, while the threat of an Israeli incursion into the southern city of Rafah is looming. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said the militant group, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., the UK and other Western countries, will "soon" dispatch a delegation to Egypt to complete ongoing cease-fire discussions with an agreement that "realizes the demands of our people."  Haniyeh... Читать дальше...

TAIPEI, Taiwan — China on Friday launched a lunar probe to land on the far side of the moon and return with samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side. It is the latest advance in China's increasingly sophisticated space exploration program, which is now competing with the U.S., still the leader in space. China also has a three-member crew on its own orbiting space station and aims to put astronauts on the moon by 2030. Читать дальше...

Washington — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said late Thursday he does not see signs that Hamas is going to attack U.S. forces who are building a pier off the coast of Gaza to deliver aid to the war-torn strip by sea. "I don't see any indications currently that there is an active intent to do that," Austin told reporters at a press conference in Hawaii. Austin stressed that the top commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, CENTCOM chief Gen. Erik Kurilla, has put several security measures... Читать дальше...

For nearly a century, La Prensa has provided news to Nicaraguans. But with its entire team forced to flee persecution, the media outlet must adapt to new challenges to keep audiences informed. From San José, Costa Rica, VOA’s Donaldo Hernández has the story, narrated by Veronica Villafañe.

Paris — Reporting on our planet has become a risky business, according to a new report published Friday on World Press Freedom Day. It found hundreds of journalists worldwide have been attacked and dozens killed over the past 15 years covering issues like climate change, mining and deforestation. The survey by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, and the International Federation of Journalists offered a chilling snapshot of the dangers of environmental journalism ... Читать дальше...

Chad’s election on May 6 is almost certain to result in victory for transitional president and military leader Mahamat Idriss Déby, according to analysts. In the run-up to the vote, authorities have cracked down on the media and opposition leaders have been kept off the ballot. Despite that, experts say Chad will remain an important ally for Western security efforts in the Sahel region. Henry Wilkins reports. Camera: Henry Wilkins

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. tax agency, said Thursday that it has taken steps to address a wide disparity in audit rates between Black taxpayers and other filers. And it said it is more closely examining the returns of larger numbers of wealthy people and major companies. "We are overhauling compliance efforts to advance our commitment to fair, equitable, and effective tax administration and hold ourselves accountable to taxpayers we serve," according to an annual update from the agency. Читать дальше...

SAO PAULO, Brazil — The death toll from heavy rains in Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul rose to 29, local authorities said Thursday evening, as the state government declared a state of public calamity to handle the dramatic situation. The storms, which have caused the greatest devastation in the state in recent years, also left 60 people missing and 10,242 displaced in 154 cities, according to Rio Grande do Sul's civil defense. "It's not just another critical case; it's the most... Читать дальше...

phoenix — Democratic Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has relegated a Civil War-era ban on most abortions to the past by signing a bill Thursday to repeal it.  Hobbs said the move was just the beginning of a fight to protect reproductive health care in Arizona. The repeal of the 1864 law that the state Supreme Court recently reinstated won't take effect until 90 days after the legislative session ends, which typically happens in June or July.  Abortion rights advocates say they're hopeful a court... Читать дальше...

Presumed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump says if elected he would restore a travel ban on some majority-Muslim countries on the first day of his new administration. VOA Correspondent Scott Stearns reports.

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia — A judge declared a mistrial Thursday after a jury said it was deadlocked in the trial of a military contractor accused of contributing to the abuse of detainees at the Abu Ghraib Prison in Iraq two decades ago.  The mistrial came in the jury's eighth day of deliberations. The deliberations went far longer than the trial itself.  The eight-member civil jury in Alexandria deadlocked on accusations the civilian interrogators who were supplied to the U.S. Army at Abu Ghraib... Читать дальше...

After weeks of pro-Palestinian protests escalating at universities across the U.S., President Joe Biden warned Thursday that order must prevail, even as he underscored that dissent is “essential for democracy.” White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara reports.