Feed aggregator
Australia announces $118 million deal to enhance policing in Solomon Islands
It’ll create a police training center in the South Pacific island nation's capital, Honiara
What Assad's ouster means for the Middle East
The fall of the Syrian president's government after more than a decade of civil war will have major implications for the region
Will the US government shut down?
Will the U.S. government shut down, and if so, how will American activities overseas be affected? Turkey is making inroads in the Balkans as Russia seems preoccupied with Ukraine. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump says the leaders of Ukraine and Russia should be “prepared to make a deal” to end the brutal conflict that has consumed Ukraine since 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin held his annual press conference on Thursday, answering dozens of questions on home and international affairs.
China counting on cyber-psychological cocktail to expand dominance
US officials say Beijing's pursuit of 'cognitive domain operations' seeks to put adversaries at a disadvantage before a shot is fired
VOA Mandarin: China faces operational challenges if it were to invade Taiwan, US says
The U.S. Defense Department’s annual report on China’s military power, released this week, says the PLA is accelerating modernization, but it still faces several operational challenges in executing a rapid and decisive invasion of Taiwan.
Click here for the full story in Mandarin.
VOA Persian: Iranian universities go online; observers call it 'soft martial law'
Iran’s Ministry of Science has announced that universities are allowed to hold virtual classes until the end of the year, citing "weather conditions." However, some observers have called this move a form of "soft martial law," while others interpret it as an "unofficial nationwide strike."
Click here for the full story in Persian.
VOA Mandarin: Chinese netizens react to Trump saying he, Xi can fix the world
During his first press conference as president-elect, Donald Trump mentioned U.S.-China relations, stating, "China and the United States can together solve all of the problems of the world." The remark quickly trended on Weibo, sparking discussions among Chinese netizens.
Click here for the full story in Mandarin.
VOA Russian: Europe targets Russia's 'shadow fleet'
Leaders of 12 European countries agreed at a meeting in Tallinn to expand sanctions against Russia's "shadow fleet" that is used by Moscow to sell oil and evade Western sanctions. Several European states imposed new policies on Russian vessels transiting through European waters to curb Russia's ability to use profits from illicit oil sales to fund its war in Ukraine.
Click here for the full story in Russian.
VOA Russian: Defense minister charts Kremlin's path toward a war with NATO
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said that a conflict between Russia and NATO is possible within the next decade. VOA Russian spoke to experts who agreed that Belousov is most likely voicing the Kremlin's true intentions, and that the West should treat these statements seriously.
Click here for the full story in Russian.
VOA Spanish: Miami among top 10 US cities with highest cost of living
According to a recent report, Miami is among the 10 cities in the United States with the highest cost of living. The expenses that most affect family budgets are mortgages or rent, and vehicle financing.
Click here for the full story in Spanish.
VOA Creole: Gang violence forced 22,000 Haitian children from homes
A new UNICEF report found that gang violence in Haiti forced more than 22,000 people to flee their homes. The United Nations agency expressed concern about the future for Haiti's youth who are now living on the street or in shelters.
Click here for the full story in Creole.
VOA Turkish: Christians in Damascus prepare for Christmas amid uncertainty
After the rebels led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham toppled the Assad rule in Syria earlier this month, Christians in the capital’s historic Old Damascus neighborhood are trying to understand whether HTS will interfere with their lifestyles, holy days, celebrations and commemorations.
Click here for the full story in Turkish.
US immigration agency deports most since 2014, aided by more flights
ICE recorded 271,484 deportations in its fiscal year ended September 30, nearly double the figure from the same period a year earlier
Earthquake-hit Vanuatu braces for possible cyclone
Earthquake destroyed two reservoirs that supply Vanuatu's capital
Surveys show widespread Great Barrier Reef coral loss
Researchers say warming oceans threaten world’s reefs
Anger and soul-searching follow sentences in French rape trial
Plaintiff Gisele Pelicot hailed for her courage in going public
US slow to react to pervasive Chinese hacking, experts say
Recent revelations of more network penetrations have produced warnings from government agencies, but relatively little preventative action
Mogadishu development project brings hope to Somalia
Initiative includes construction of airport, port, key economic zone, all focused on fostering growth, attracting investment
US Republicans plan vote on deal to avert shutdown, lift debt limit
With a Democratic Senate, Biden’s support necessary to sign package into law