Indaba zesiNdebele Ekuseni - Voice of America
Indaba zesiNdebele Ekuseni - June 26, 2024
mhm. Yeah. Mhm. Mm hmm. This is the way news. Tommy McNeil. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been sentenced to time already served in Britain as part of a plea agreement with the U. S. Justice Department that secures his freedom plea was entered Wednesday in a U.S. military relationship with the U. S. Justice Department of Congress has issued a report inside pan. The capital of the Northern Mariana Islands. U. S Commonwealth in the Pacific. The deal resolves a criminal case involving the receipt and publication of war logs and diplomatic cables that detailed U. S. Military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan. The judge pronounced him a free man after imposing the sentence. Assaged in less side pan heading for his first day of the day. The U. S. State Department of Congress has issued a peer project in Gaza as it takes another attempt at a delivery. AP corresponded. Hi, a Panjwani. A $230 million peer project that the U. S has built on the coast of Gaza to deliver badly needed humanitarian aid to Palestinians is running again. The military toured international journalists around the pier on Tuesday. It was the first time foreign media was able to witness its operations. The U. S. State Department of Congress. The U. S. State Department of Congress. At sea to the pier. The trucks then drove the aid to the beach, though aid is making it that far. It still faces distribution difficulties. I mean, you want it. The United States is urging working towards a diplomatic agreement that would allow Israeli and Lebanese civilians to return to the homes on both sides of the border. It's according to U. S and the U. S. State Department of Congress. The U. S. State Department of Congress. The U. S. State Department of Congress charged people into a war that they do not want shelling on Israel's northern border has led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. This is the only news. Kenyon President William Ruto said a Tuesday that security was his utmost priority after protest against a bill to raise taxes descended in a deadly violence details from Reuters yesterday after protests against higher taxes turned deadly. Video showed somebody's lifeless in the street after police fired on demonstrators trying to storm the legislature, killing at least five people and wounding dozens more. Mr. Pika, sir, I'm here to address you. Footage obtained by Reuters showed some protesters inside Kenya's National Assembly Chamber demanding the resignation of Kenya's president, William Ruto, and a televised address to the nation. Ruto said the security of Kenya's remains his utmost priority, and blamed the violence on, quote, "dangerous criminals." International courts seeking the arrest of Russian officials over an attack on Ukrainian civilian targets. Of course, accusing former Defense Minister Sergei Shroygu and Chief of Staff General Valeriy Gerasimov of war crimes and the crime against humanity of inhuman acts. The court says warrants were issued because judges considered there were reasonable grounds to believe the men are responsible for missile strikes carried out by the Russian armed forces against the Ukrainian electric infrastructure from October 10, 2022 until at least March 9, 2023. I'm Charles D'Lithesma. U.S. officials are warning doctors to be alert for dengue causes as the tropical disease breaks international records. Dengue is spread by mosquitoes and has been surging worldwide by climate change, according to scientists. The virus remains less common in the continental United States, but in the 50 states so far this year, there have been three times more cases than at the same point last year. Most were infections that travelers got abroad. Officials warned of the growing threat locally acquired from the bites of U.S. mosquitoes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health alert to doctors on Tuesday. Recapping our top story, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has now been sentenced to time already served in Britain as part of a plea agreement with the U.S. Justice Department that secures us freedom. The plea was entered Wednesday in a U.S. court in Saipan. That is the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, which is a Commonwealth in the Pacific, a U.S. Commonwealth in the Pacific. The deal resolves a criminal case involving the re-receit and publication of world logs and diplomatic cables that detailed U.S. military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan. I'm Tommy McNeil. B.O.A. News. ♪♪ ♪♪ Vladimir Putin is in North Korea. Russia is trying to change this picture of its "us against them" meaning us being Russia and some of its friends, their fewer friends today than before. Boeing's chief executive gets grilled by Congress, jeered by victims' families. All I could think is the six minutes and four seconds of my daughter on that Boeing three-seven max. Did she cry for me? And the video passes Microsoft to become the world's most valuable company. Demand for NVIDIA's chips is outpacing supply. Today is Wednesday, June 19, and this is VIOA's International Edition. ♪♪ I'm Scott Walterman. Russian President Vladimir Putin is in North Korea. It is his first visit in 24 years. He's vowing to deepen trade and security ties with the reclusive nuclear-armed state and to support it against the United States. NATO is concerned about support Russia could provide for North Korea's missile and nuclear programs. NATO Secretary-General Jan Stoltenberg. Putin's visit to North Korea demonstrates and confirms the very close alignment between Russia and all authoritarian states like North Korea, but also China and Iran. And this also demonstrates that our security is not regional. It's global. What happens in Europe matters for Asia and what happens in Asia matters for us. Standing with Stoltenberg at the news conference with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who elaborated on his point about global security. We've seen, as you've said, Russia try in desperation to develop and to strengthen relations with countries that can provide it with what it needs to continue the war of aggression that it started against Ukraine. So let's dig into this. Joining us now to talk about it is Naoko Aoki, an associate political scientist at the Rand Corporation. So let's start with just how significant is this meeting? It's the first time that Putin's been there in 24 years. Yes, I think it's very significant. And it's very significant for a couple of reasons, one of which is what you mentioned. It's the first time in a long time, although the two leaders have met not in North Korea for a long time. And also because of the geopolitical environment. So because of the Russia's invasion and the invasion in Ukraine and North Korea's position in the international society, it has a very political symbolic meaning as well. Yeah, I mean, if you were to just, you, you know, you strip all of that out and you just look at it at face value. Korea's the 198th economy in the world. I get why they need Russia. You know, but why does Russia need them? Yeah. So I think Russia needs North Korea for one for political reasons. Of course, Russia is trying to paint this picture of it's us against them, meaning us being Russia and some of its friends. There are fewer friends today than before, obviously, North Korea is one of them. And also for military reasons, meaning that, well, it's pretty clear that North Korea is supplying Russia with munitions that it needs in Ukraine. So that's one of the reasons why they want this relationship. What do you think that Russia's willing to give? They've historically been held back any real advanced technology in terms of missiles, satellite technology, you know, that kind of thing. But they do have oil and grain, which North Korea does not and needs. Is that what we're looking at? Or do you think that they might actually step up and give North Korea some help with its missiles and satellite program? Yeah. So there are a couple of reasons why North Korea wants to be friendly with Russia. One is, of course, military support. And as you mentioned, technology is one of them. North Korea, for example, has put a military spy satellite into space that happened last year in November. But they tried again this year and it didn't work. That one did failed. It has said, North Korea has said that it wants to put three more into space. So that's one of the things that they are working on. And it's not just technology. Rockets need fuel as in rocket fuel. And those are actually banned under UN Security Council resolution. So that's where Russia could potentially help as well. And as you mentioned, economic reasons. Of course, food is one of them. Another one would be North Korean workers. North Korea has sent workers abroad to make money for its regime. They've been doing this for a long time. This is also banned under UN Security Council resolutions. But Russia could help there as well. In other words, take North Korean citizens in and give them jobs so they could send that money back. Yes, that's what they do. And this has been going on for a long time. And it has happened in longing camps in Russia, for example, in the past. Do you think there are real long-term implications for this relationship modification? Or is this a short term? They both need each other now? I would say it is transactional in a way. But I think both sides are looking at the long term. Because I think it looks like Russia is looking at a longer war in Ukraine. And of course, North Korea is, if you look at North Korean statements from earlier this year, it's treating South Korea now as an enemy, a full fledged enemy. And so, and of course, it's attitude toward the United States, this one we know very well. So they're both in it for the longer term. It looks like that's what they're trying to do. And they both are heavily sanctioned by the West, both countries. So they really have few other places to go, right? Yes, that's correct. So as you point out, both are under heavy sanctions. Of course, the UN Security Council is not functioning the way it should or it had been because of, particularly after the war in Ukraine, the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Because of course, Russia and China have veto power. And this is one of the reasons why North Korea can do what it wants to do without the fear of sanctions. Russia has, for example, in addition to, you know, basically shielding North Korea. It helped, well, erode longstanding UN sanctions, I guess. Also refused to renew the mandate of a panel of the UN panel of experts, which monitor the enforcement of sanctions. So it's helped, Russia has helped North Korea in this manner as well. I would also note, I would add that the one of the things that I will be looking at in particular is whether they will actually, they are set to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement. And we don't know how much of this will be made public. It might, although there have that has not been the norm recently, but given the way they've been talking about it ahead of time, they might actually release parts of this and we'll be, I think I would be looking at what the agreement will do. Will it upgrade the military cooperation? Will it, will it talk a lot about the economic cooperation? So that's one of the things that I think a lot of us will be looking at. Excellent. Thank you so much for the time. Sure. No problem. Naoko Aoki, an associate political scientist at the Rand Corporation. We're following these other stories from around the world. Dozens of finance bill protesters were arrested in Kenya's capital, Nairobi. Kenya's government has scrapped some proposed taxes in this year's controversial finance bill, including a 16% levy on bread after public outcry. Dozens of Russian military instructors have arrived in insurgency hit for Kina Passo following a militant attack in the north after taking power in September 2022, the West African country's cool leaders expelled troops and diplomats from former colonial ruler France and have turned to Russia for military assistance. U.S. President Joe Biden attempted a political high wire act on Tuesday by announcing a path to citizenship for half a million immigrants married to U.S. nationals in a counterweight to his recent crackdown on illegal border crossers. In our continuing coverage of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, June 19th in the United States is a holiday known as "June Team". It marks the day in 1865 when slaved people in Texas learned the American Civil War redented and they were free. In the U.S. presidential campaign candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump are both reaching out to black voters around the June team. Here's VOA correspondent Scott Stern with this story. President Joe Biden hosted an early June team concert at the White House. Our history is not just about the past, it's about our present and our future. It's whether that future is a future for all of us, not just for some of us. They're all ghosts and new garments trying to take us back. Well there are taking away your freedoms making it harder for black people to vote. Our heavier vote counter closing doors of opportunity attacking the values of diversity, equity and inclusion. Donald Trump's campaign launched a black Americans for Trump Coalition Saturday with the former president reaching out to black voters at a Michigan church. It's a very important area for us. We've done more for and I say this I say proudly more for the black population than any president since Abraham Lincoln That's a big statement. He said black voters are losing jobs to what he called millions of illegal aliens. Every state is a border state. You've heard that, but they're coming into your community and they're taking your job. They're affecting the African Americans and then after that the Hispanic Americans more than any other group. Trump said black communities are hurt by worsening crime under Biden. The crime is most rampant right here and in African American communities and more people see me and they say, sir, we want protection. We want police to protect us. We don't want to get robbed and mugged and beat up or killed because we want to walk across the street to buy a loaf of bread. FBI data shows violent crime in the United States is down across the country in both large cities and small. Biden says black voters got him elected four years ago and he needs their help again. As black Americans voted comma lyre president vice president of the United States because of you. That's not hyperbole because you voted Donald Trump is defeated former president. And we did vote. We did vote in 2024. We're going to make Donald Trump a loser again. Four years ago, just eight percent of black voters chose Trump. Pew research polling in this campaign shows 18 percent of black voters backing Trump. A jump that could make a difference in close races in swing states, including Michigan. Scott Stern's VOA news. The head of a Senate hearing in Washington on Tuesday, families of Boeing 737 MAX crash victims demanded justice. Questioning Boeing's commitment to safety. They called for criminal charges against Boeing executive. That's safety. That number one priority of Boeing, of their CEOs, of their management, of their engineer is doesn't mean anything. When 346 people died. We are here today and driving here. It doesn't matter how far because I all I could think is the six minutes and four seconds of my daughter on that Boeing. Three, seven, Max. Did she cry for me? Did she know that will be his last breath? Did someone hold their hands? So cajon, Boeing, CEO, management. Did you hear my daughter cry? Once the hearing began, U.S. Senators on Tuesday attacked Boeing CEO David Calhoun. Here's U.S. Senator Josh Hawley from the state of Missouri. You know, I think the truth is, Mr. Calhoun, you're not focused on safety. You're not focused on quality. You're not focused on transparency. All of this is in the record. But I think actually you're focused on exactly what you were hired to do, which is that you're cutting corners. You are eliminating safety procedures. You are sticking it to your employees. You are cutting back jobs because you're trying to squeeze every piece of profit you can out of this country. This company, you're strip mining it. You're strip mining Boeing. It was one of the greatest American companies ever. It has employed thousands of people in my state. And you are strip mining it for profit, shareholder value. And you're being rewarded for it. You've got a huge raise, a huge increase. So it's working out great for you. For the American people, they're in danger. For your workers, they're in peril. For your whistleblowers, they literally fear for their lives. But you're getting compensated like never before. Don't you think maybe your priorities are misplaced here? US prosecutors found in May that Boeing had failed to design, implement, and enforce a compliance and ethics program, which was part of complying with the deferred prosecution agreement following the fatal crashes. [Music] VIOA's International Edition continues. I'm Scott Walterman. A Philippine Navy sailor suffered serious injury after what the country's military called on Tuesday, intentional high-speed ramming by the Chinese Coast Guard during a resupply mission in the South China Sea. At the Pentagon's spokesperson, major general Pat Ryder. This kind of behavior is provocative. It's reckless. It's unnecessary. And as you highlight, it could lead to something bigger and more violent. And so we're going to continue to stand with our Philippine allies. We condemn the escalatory and eriscents by the PRC to deny the Philippines from executing a lawful maritime operation in the South China Sea. The war in Ukraine is bringing what promises to be lasting changes in the role of women in the workplace. Let's hear back a let's. Here's from women who are training to drive tractors. A job that until recently was the exclusive realm of men. Start the engine, step on the clutch and flour the cultivator. Natalia Konnetna already knows the routine by heart. She says she releases the brakes gradually and gets the big machine moving. This sunflower field in the Mikolive region is the workspace for this practice session. Konnetna has just finished the tractor driver course, but still we need the instructor's help. For instructor, Olak Borisov says Natalia is doing well considering these are her frost attempts. The instructor Olak Borisov says at first it felt strange teaching a woman how to drive a tractor because in Ukraine it's considered to be a male profession, but not anymore. His boss and company director Olak Sitsurika came up with the idea. Olak Sitsurika is a director of the local agriculture company says that with the war going on Ukrainian men have been mobilized to the armed forces and employers need someone to replace them. He says his company has a big shortage of workers in total, he says. 30% of the staff is gone. Tureka's idea was supported by the We Act project run by the United Nations population fund with the support of the European Union. Our project is for women and women's opportunities. We have five employment centers in the Miko live region alone. We help women find themselves and retrain them if needed. The We Act project works in four frontline regions. The tractor driver course was the first launch to retrain women. The project also offers a card diagnostics course and plans to start training female truck drivers. Natalia Komena says now she can support her family and help her community. She knows that if her husband is mobilized, she will be able to provide for her family. She says she already had her first order. She cultivated three hectares of land for her neighbor. Komena dreams of owing her own fields and tractor one day. For now she says she will continue to practice. Lacey Bacalettes, we UNU's Miko live Ukraine. A new line of PCs specially made to run artificial intelligence programs hit stores on Tuesday as tech companies push toward wider adoption of chat GPT-style AI. Microsoft in May announced the new AI-powered personal computers which will use the company's software under the Co-Pilot+ brand. OpenAI also rolled out a new desktop version of chat GPT. They say it's designed for Apple's Mac computers. And finally, NVIDIA has passed Microsoft to become the world's most valuable company following a staggering rally in its shares. Underlying the outsized role investors expect artificial intelligence to play in the global economy over the coming years. Here's Roger's correspondent, Olivia Zolino. NVIDIA became the world's most valuable company on Tuesday on an insatiable demand for its high-end processors. The chip maker dethroned tech heavyweight Microsoft just days after overtaking iPhone maker Apple. NVIDIA stock has searched about 173 percent so far this year. Compared with the rise of about 19 percent from Microsoft, demand for NVIDIA's chips is outpacing supply. Tech giants Microsoft, meta platforms, and Google owner Alphabet are competing to build out their AI computing capabilities. But NVIDIA commands more than 80 percent of the market share for AI chips, making it a major winner from surging AI development. The company also recently split its stock 10 for one, increasingly appeal among individual investors. It took nine months for the company's market value to expand from one trillion dollars to two trillion dollars, which it hit in February. They reached three trillion dollars in early June. Order's correspondent Olivia Zolino reporting. This has been International Edition on the Voice of America. On behalf of everyone here at VOA, thank you so much for joining us. For pictures, stories, videos, and more, follow VOA News on your favorite social media platform and online at VOANews.com. In Washington, I'm Scott Walter. Next, an editorial reflecting the views of the United States government. On June 7th, who teen surgeons rated the homes and offices of humanitarian workers of a number of UN agencies, diplomatic missions, and international and non-governmental organizations. They abducted some 50 people, all of them Yemeni nationals, claiming that the victim were part of an Israeli US spy network. This latest group of detainees joins a number of other hostages currently held by the Houthis. Although these Yemeni belligerents released 113 hostages in May, most of them for health reasons, they still detain a number of people they've abducted over the past several months or even years. "We condemn these detentions," said US alternative representative for special political affairs at the UN, Robert Wood. And we call on the Houthis to release these detainees immediately. "The United States is deeply disturbed by reports that Houthi rebels detained at least 50 Yemeni employees of UN agencies, member state diplomatic missions, private companies, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations. These detentions include 13 UN employees." We also strongly condemn Houthi efforts to spread this information regarding the role of detained US current and former local staff through televised forced and phony so-called confessions, said Ambassador Wood. "The simple fact is that the Houthis have held these individuals without justification for more than two and a half years, two and a half years. Their detention, alongside that of the UN staff, is an affront to international norms. They should all be released immediately." Yemen is currently in the midst of one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. The detention of humanitarian workers will likely have serious, far-reaching ramifications on the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people, many of whom are an urgent need of assistance. "The humanitarian situation Yemen remains difficult, and Yemenis need the support of the international community now more than ever. The detention of UN NGO staff directly and negatively affects the ability for organizations to provide humanitarian aid." Yet again, the Houthis are seeking to use this information to distract from their failures to meet the needs of the Yemeni people, said Ambassador Wood. These actions further call into question the Houthis commitment to doing what is in the best interests of the Yemeni people. Instead, it shows their focus on their own ideological goals. That was an editorial reflecting the views of the