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Iran’s financial market turmoil continues as the country faces widespread and puzzling closures. On Tuesday, the U.S. dollar exchange rate hit a record high, surpassing 77,000 tomans. Some social media users reacted, saying, "The country is officially shut down." Click here to see the full story in Persian.

Affected by negative factors such as the Russia-Ukraine war and tariff disputes, China-EU relations in 2024 show no obvious sign of recovery. Observers predict that China-EU relations will most likely remain at a low level in 2025. If U.S.-China relations deteriorate further during President-elect Donald Trump's term, Beijing will need to maintain a relatively stable relationship with the EU even more, analysts say. Click here to see the full story in Mandarin.

Amid conflicting reports of Russian plans in Syria, forces move from the Assad homeland

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's promise to end the war in Ukraine quickly is triggering concerns among Russia's neighbors. In Estonia, some fear a deal to end the war may strengthen Moscow. Elizabeth Cherneff narrates this report from Ricardo Marquina on Estonia's border with Russia.

A look at the best news photos from around the world.

Prosecutors said Nima Momeni planned the attack, driving Lee to an isolated spot and stabbing him three times

One sailor died when stormy weather led to damage in both tankers

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expanded Turkey's international footprint during 2024, putting him in a good position to work with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump

Authorities searching for survivors amid heavy infrastructure destruction

Anti-corruption agency says this is the greatest number of arrests it has ever made during a single raid; it followed months of intelligence work and surveillance

The European Union's digital rulebook requires safeguards against election interference and manipulation

Treasury Department says that two people hit with sanctions worked through UAE-based front company to facilitate money laundering and cryptocurrency conversion services that funneled illicit proceeds back to Pyongyang

Definition of high treason now to include affiliation with any organization involved in 'activities against security of the Russian Federation'

Towana Looney is the fifth American given a gene-edited pig organ; prior recipients died within two months of receiving a pig kidney or heart

Multi-million dollar deals with Nauru and Papua New Guinea give Australia some power to prevent two island nations from signing security-related deals with China

The United Nations says the HIV/AIDS epidemic could be ended by 2030. But patients need to follow their treatment plans to keep the virus in check. Games could help, as Zaheer Cassim reports from Johannesburg.

Kampala — A Ugandan International Crimes Division Court has ordered the Ugandan government to pay reparations to war crimes victims affected by atrocities committed by former Lord’s Resistance Army commander Thomas Kwoyelo. The judges argue the order is based on both international and domestic law considering Kwoyelo, 50, has no funds. Kwoyelo was captured in 2009 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and held in detention until a court found him guilty in August of murder, kidnap with...

As talks restart for a hostage release and ceasefire in Gaza, the arriving winter means life will get even harder for the two million Palestinians living in the territory. Linda Gradstein in Jerusalem, with Enas Tantesh and Amjed Tantesh in southern Gaza, have this report.

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg to be his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, where Trump has promised to bring a quick end to the war. VOA's Tatiana Vorozhko looks into Kellogg's vision for ending the war and challenges he might face.