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A comprehensive analysis by the security lab of the Open Technology Fund has revealed that none of the three domestic messaging apps in Iran -- Rubika, Bale and Eitaa -- offer adequate security, despite official claims by the Islamic Republic. Moreover, all three platforms are found to compromise user privacy. Click here to see the full story in Persian. 

Judicial authorities at Ghezel Hesar prison not only systematically violate prisoners' rights to medical care under the guise of "budget constraints," they force inmates to sign written waivers renouncing their access to treatment, according to an exclusive report obtained by VOA Persian. A source from inside the prison has shared documents with VOA Persian that detail the situation of Saeed Zadeh-Raiyat, a prisoner diagnosed with throat cancer. Iranian judicial authorities have refused...

Starting January 8, 2025, tourists from Hong Kong will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization before entering the U.K. This will affect some people who have been imprisoned for more than 12 months because of political incidents in Hong Kong, making them unable to travel to the U.K. to visit relatives or even apply for political asylum when needed. Click here to see the full story in Cantonese. 

With the sudden fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime and the beginning of Russia's withdrawal from Syria, Moscow's great power prestige and ambitions have suffered another blow, following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Click here to see the full story in Mandarin. 

Last week, the PRESS Act, which aims to protect journalists from unnecessary government surveillance and being forced to reveal sources, failed to pass the U.S. Senate last week after being unanimously passed in the House. VOA Mandarin takes a look into the act, why it is being blocked and a case that highlights its importance. Click here to see the full story in Mandarin.  

Young Africans are being duped into working in Russian drone factories under harsh conditions, with little intervention from their home governments

Hadi al-Bahra, head of the Syrian National Coalition that grouped opponents of Bashar al-Assad during the civil war, says Syria's transitional government should be credible and inclusive. A bipartisan effort to protect children from the harms of social media is running out of time in this session of the U.S. Congress. Ghana's Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed two separate cases challenging the legality of one of Africa's most restrictive pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

Quake killed at least 14 and injured hundreds

Outgoing top US diplomat acknowledges that cleric-run state may be more seriously considering nuclear weapon after military setbacks in region

UN spokesperson tells VOA the Israeli military has constrained peacekeepers’ movements in Golan Heights buffer zone but has not adopted aggressive posture

Zelenskyy to meet with NATO, European leaders in push to bolster defenses 

Weapons researcher says North Korea also evading sanctions to obtain parts from third countries

Unionized workers in 4 states seek contracts guaranteeing better wages, work conditions

Platform’s moderation approach exposes vulnerabilities to China's, Russia’s malign influence campaigns

Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance called on lawmakers to pass a different temporary spending bill than the one unveiled on Tuesday, free from what they called 'Democrat giveaways'

At least a dozen journalists were killed in Pakistan in the past year, and others were detained for their coverage

But Mark Rutte appeared frustrated at growing speculation in NATO capitals about when those peace talks might start and whether European peacekeepers would be involved

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a bid by TikTok and its China-based parent company, ByteDance to block a law forcing the sale of the video app or face a ban. The Biden Administration argued the law was meant to address national security concerns. TikTok and ByteDance asked the Supreme Court to pause the law which forced the sale by January 19th, arguing it violates the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment protections. What are the U.S. government’s national security concerns. VOA...