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Factors include pandemic and other occurrences like the opioid crisis

UN General Assembly demands immediate Gaza ceasefire, release of hostages 

Biden wants inclusive transition towards nonsectarian governance as Trump signals hands-off approach

President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to carry out the largest deportations in US history

Piano-vocal song, composed for a 2009 movie, saw renewed interest in 2019 on YouTube

VOA is on the ground in Damascus as security and political concerns following the Assad regime’s fall still linger. Donald Trump has signaled a hands-off approach to Syria when he takes office, but how realistic is that? Russia is planning on using its hypersonic missile in Ukraine again and the International Court of Justice hears from island nations who say climate change is an existential threat.

The killing of the key Taliban minister shows the security challenges that the Taliban face and could widen the divisions within the Taliban, say analysts. The Taliban said Wednesday that the acting minister of refugees and repatriation, Khalil-Ur-Rahman Haqqani and his four associates were killed in a suicide bombing that occurred within the ministry’s building in Kabul. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the blast. Click here for the full story in Dari.

Civil society organizations, journalists and political observers convened in Irbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, to discuss the situation in Syria. They expressed grave concern about the threats facing Kurdish regions in Syria, emphasizing the need for unity among Kurdish political parties to confront these challenges. They also announced plans for a solidarity campaign to support Syrian Kurds. Click here for the full story in Kurdish. 

Kurdish Members of Parliament in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have expressed concerns over the ongoing crisis in Syria, emphasizing the urgency of electing a parliamentary president to address the threats facing Syrian Kurds. Ali Hama Salih, a KRG parliamentarian, called for opening the Smelka border crossing between the Kurdistan Region and the Syrian Autonomous Administration to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid. Click here for the full story in Kurdish. 

Despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Manbij, fighting persists between the Syrian Democratic Forces and Turkish-backed armed groups. The conflict has included Turkish drone strikes on key areas like Kobani, Raqqa, and Ain Issa, resulting in civilian casualties. Manbij has been a focal point of the offensive, with Turkish-backed militants attempting to advance into Kobani but facing resistance from Hezbollah forces. In Deir el-Zour, Hezbollah withdrew from positions west of the Euphrates,...

Messages of desperation sent by political prisoners in Venezuela are being made public by relatives and organizations as a way of demanding their release from the government of Nicolás Maduro. Several of the letters include confessions of anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. Click here for the full story in Spanish. 

Haiti's Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime announced Wednesday that Port-au-Prince's international airport will be reopening soon. In an official statement, the prime minister's office detailed measures the government is taking to secure the airport and surrounding areas. American Airlines announced earlier this week it was suspending all flights to Haiti for the time being. Haiti has been wracked by gang violence. Click here for the full story in Creole.

Biden wants inclusive transition process toward nonsectarian governance, while Trump signals hands-off approach

Minimally invasive procedure aims to stop persistent bleeding on brain surface

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told lawmakers Wednesday that the Biden administration was put in an impossible position ahead of the August 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. VOA Congressional Correspondent Katherine Gypson reports.

Deadly Israeli airstrikes hit central, northern Gaza

Yoon Suk Yeol spoke hours before main liberal opposition party was to submit new impeachment motion

Turkish diplomatic sources say their country is aiding several other countries following fall of Assad government