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Judges will attempt to clarify legal obligation of states to stop climate change and pay for damage

A landmark climate change case opened at the U.N.’s International Court of Justice this week aimed at clarifying the legal obligations of states to prevent climate change and to pay for any damage it causes. Several small island nations argue their very survival is at stake. Henry Ridgwell reports.

Every democratically elected Taiwan president has transited the United States

Residents and authorities in Mosul, Iraq, are concerned that a recent offensive by rebel groups in northwestern Syria could reignite fighting in Northwestern Iraq, an area controlled by Islamic State militants from 2014 to 2017. VOA’s Kawa Omar reports from Mosul. Bezhan Hamdard narrates the story.

Many Israelis will remember 2024 as the year that more than 100 Israeli hostages spent in captivity after being kidnapped by Hamas last year. Until the hostages are free, some analysts say Israel remains trapped in the trauma of October 7. Linda Gradstein reports from Jerusalem. Camera: Ricki Rosen.

'Information can be like a lifeline,' they say

There is growing concern about the size and scope of the reported Chinese hacking into US telecommunications networks

Verified footage shows Iraqi forces have moved to the border but have not crossed it

An operation by Ukraine launched on August 6 captured dozens of towns and villages and gained control of about 1,000 square kilometers in Russia’s Kursk region. Gradually, Russia has pushed Ukrainian forces out of about half of the territory they captured.   Our correspondent spoke to experts about how the military situation in the region could affect the initial positions taken in future peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.  See the full story here. 

Following the temporary medical furlough of Iranian Nobel Peace laureate Narges Mohammadi from Evin prison, the Nobel Committee has called for her permanent release.  See the full story here. 

Fatemeh Sepehri and Mohammad Hossein Sepehri, a sister and brother who are political prisoners held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, Iran, sent a message to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, telling him the Islamic Republic itself is "the greatest imbalance and the root of all other imbalances" in Iran.  See the full story here. 

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's sudden late-night declaration of nationwide martial law on Tuesday has drawn significant attention in Taiwan, another Asian democracy. Analysts note that while Taiwan's legal system prevents its president from unilaterally imposing martial law, the country's 38-year history under martial law makes it particularly wary of such power restricting individual freedoms.  See the full story here. 

El Salvador has banned metal mining since 2017, but President Nayib Bukele's government is considering reinstating it because the president claims there are significant gold reserves in the country that could help boost the economy. Environmentalists, religious groups and research centers oppose Bukele's proposal.  See the full story here.   

Despite an uptick in gang violence, the United States on Tuesday deported 70 Haitians to Cap Haitien, in Haiti's north. The migrants returned to a chaotic situation as armed gangs continued to launch targeted attacks in their bid to control the capital, Port-au-Prince, forcing residents northward in search of security. This has created outcry in Cap Haitien as migrants diminish city resources.   See the full story here. 

Clerics, traditional rulers are targets of educational campaign to prevent early marriages, sexual abuse

The Biden administration issued what is likely its final set of export control rules against Beijing earlier this week. The rules forbid companies from exporting an important chip component crucial for training artificial intelligence to China. Experts say it will further constrain the Chinese supply chain for AI. They also expect the next Trump administration to further expand Washington’s strategic tech blockade against China in a more assertive way.  See the full story here.   

Attacks on media covering protests come amid a declining environment for journalists in Bolivia, say analysts

The U.S. and EU are urging Beijing to stop supporting Russia's war machine. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited China on Monday, asking China to stop backing Russia and to work for peace in Ukraine. Our correspondent spoke to experts: Can Western sanctions change Beijing’s position?  See the full story here.   

There is no exact figure on how many Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred to Russia, but Kyiv is putting the number at 'nearly 20,000'

Meanwhile, NATO chief says Russia is weaponizing winter in its war in Ukraine