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China ranks worse in press freedom

Patricia Hubbard Fox, the sister of the 72-year-old U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard sentenced to jail in Russia for almost seven years on charges of "being a mercenary" for his alleged participation in fighting in Ukraine, says in an exclusive VOA Russian interview that she is still unsuccessfully trying to find out the location of his prison in Russia. She refuted the charges against her brother, saying that he would not be able to fight alongside the Ukrainian army and that he was an English...

Kyiv newspapers report that Ukrainian forces have resisted Russian assaults on several other Donetsk locales in recent days

Abdulrahman Almawwas tells VOA about documenting Assad regime war crimes and bringing perpetrators to justice 

Two Russian military bases in Syria are crucial for Moscow's presence in the Mediterranean Sea and in Africa. VOA Russian speaks to a range of U.S. experts and officials to see if Russia has any chance of keeping its Syrian bases following the fall of its ally, Bashar al-Assad. Most experts, including Michael Rubin from the American Enterprise Institute, agree that Moscow is likely involved in fierce diplomatic negotiations right now to retain its presence in Syria. Click here for the...

An official from TAVANIR, Iran's power generation and distribution company, has announced the initiation of organized blackouts starting Saturday. The move comes despite earlier government claims about the sufficiency of the electricity supply in Iran and parliament's emphasis on prioritizing household energy needs. Click here for full story in Persian.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team told VOA Persian on Friday that all options remain on the table when it comes to addressing Iran's nuclear program. "The Trump administration is committed to reestablishing peace and stability in the Middle East," Brian Hughes, spokesperson for Trump’s transition team, said in an email, responding to an inquiry made by VOA Persian regarding a Friday Wall Street Journal report suggesting that the Trump administration is considering...

Two parties requested to see election results to check for irregularities in November polls

Government and charitable agencies say they are prepared for the aftermath

At least 2,400 children have been killed or injured since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, according to the latest UNICEF reports. The U.N. agency says the war is creating a mental health crisis among Ukrainian children. VOA Russian has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.

Leaders meet virtually to discuss global conflicts ahead of U.S. transition to Trump

On December 13, the Biden administration issued a permanent rule that automatically extends the validity of certain work permits by up to 540 days if they are timely renewed.  The American Immigration Council and many other organizations and businesses made this a key ask to the outgoing administration to protect workers from employment gaps as […]

The post Businesses and Workers Get Win with Permanent Work Permit Extension Rule appeared first on Immigration Impact.

With a naval base in Tartus and an airbase near Latakia, Russia was the main source of military support for Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria. With Assad deposed and granted asylum in Moscow, Russia’s regional influence may be greatly diminished.

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

The Taliban minister of refugees is the highest-profile target of Islamic State-Khorasan, or IS-K, since the Taliban swept back to power in August 2021

Hawiian Hula is more than just a dance; it's a way of making sure a culture survives

He may be better known to the world as the father of Tesla and Space X, but in a few months, Elon Musk is expected to take aim at U.S. government spending. VOA’s senior Washington correspondent Carolyn Presutti explains what skills Musk brings to the advisory committee known as DOGE.

US officials say agreement excludes critical, emerging technologies