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Strikes come as Amnesty International accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza  

The human rights group Amnesty International has accused Israel of committing acts of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza – the first time the organization has leveled such an accusation during an active conflict. Israel strongly rejects the claim, as Henry Ridgwell reports.

Ukrainian journalist Nataliya Gumenyuk was among the first people to investigate Russia’s abduction of children from Ukraine. At a ceremony in Washington, she was honored for her work, alongside journalists from Burkina Faso, Gaza, India and Belgium. From Washington, Liam Scott has the story.

Southeast Asia's online scamming industry and the human trafficking behind it keeps growing. Experts say there are hundreds of thousands of victims. Dave Grunebaum reports. Video: VOA. Graphic video: Pertubuhan Kebajikan Al-Ehsan Islamiah Malaysia. Warning: Video includes disturbing content.

The Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Environmental Matters in the department of Loreto, in northeastern Peru, is investigating and prosecuting criminal actors linked to illegal gold mining in tributaries of the Amazon - activity that is threatening life and the environment in the area.  See the full story here.

Haitian cassava, a popular breadlike food staple in Haiti, has made it onto UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List for 2024. The announcement came during a UNESCO meeting in Asuncion, Paraguay. Cassava joins Haiti's historical New Year's Day pumpkin stew "Soup Joumou" on UNESCO's list. See the full story here.

Netizens criticized former Chinese gymnast Wu Liufang for her sexy dance on the Chinese social media platform Douyin. Her dance videos were removed by the platform and her account was restricted. Analysts say this reflects the common difficulties that athletes may encounter after their retirement and amid China's increasingly conservative atmosphere.  See the full story here.

China’s slowing economy has increased the number of protests by workers demanding unpaid wages, including in the public sector. An economist told VOA this could cause many social problems and affect the stability of the Chinese Communist Party's governance in mainland China.  See the full story here.

The University of Michigan's Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia, in partnership with the Atlantic Council, hosted a panel discussion on how best to support Ukraine in negotiations with Russia, effectively rebuild the country and ensure its long-term stability once peace is achieved.   See the full story here.

The Russian veto blocked a U.N. resolution calling for a halt to hostilities in Sudan, where a civil war has killed at least 66,000, destroyed civil institutions, causing widespread hunger, disease, sexual violence and a refugee crisis with more than 11 million people displaced.

High-profile arrest comes amid ongoing pro-EU protests in Georgia

Rufat Safarov was due to meet with US senators next week to receive State Department's Human Rights Defender Award 

Growing cooperation by Russia, China, Iran, North Korea has yet to provide true counter to US, its allies, according to top US intelligence official 

Amnesty International accused Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip during its war with Hamas, saying it has sought to deliberately destroy Palestinians by mounting deadly attacks, demolishing vital infrastructure and preventing the delivery of food, medicine and other aid. Israeli leaders pushed back on the accusations, calling it baseless; saying it is at war with Hamas, not the people of Gaza. Key allies, including the U.S. and Germany, have also pushed back against the genocide...

The international police organization says the illicit trade of explosive materials in South America can be linked to organized crime and illegal mining

Approximately 70,000 animals are buried in the oldest working US pet cemetery

More than 70,000 animals have been buried at the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery, located about 30 kilometers outside of New York. Grieving owners often pay thousands of dollars to lay their pets to rest. Sometimes, as VOA’s Dora Mekouar reports, the owners make plans to eventually join them.

U.S. senators will soon be weighing in on President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks. With many of the choices facing questions about their beliefs and qualifications, the confirmation process could look different this time. VOA Congressional Correspondent Katherine Gypson has more.

In November, Kenyan women's rights activists began 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence