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The White House this week officially confirmed Ukraine’s use of U.S.-made ATACMS missiles to strike targets deep inside Russia. White House National Security Advisor John Kirby told reporters that Ukraine can use ATACMS to defend itself on “an immediate-need basis.” “We did change the guidance and gave them guidance that they can use them to strike these particular types of targets,” he said. VOA Russian spoke to experts about the timing and the reasons for the shift in U.S....

The European Parliament has put forward a motion for a resolution addressing the increasing and systemic repression against women in Iran. The proposal, introduced on Wednesday, highlights various instances of repression, violence, discrimination, injustice and human rights violations against women by the Islamic Republic in Iran. See the full story here.

Wednesday marks the 74th anniversary of the start of the battle of Chosin Reservoir, a key moment in the Korean War. On November 27, 1950, Chinese forces launched a surprise attack on American troops that lasted 17 days in freezing weather. VOA Mandarin has an exclusive interview with Robert Harlan, one of the survivors of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir (Lake Changjin). Harlan’s experience is different from what was depicted in a Chinese epic movie: “The Battle on Lake Changjin,”...

A U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was holding on its first day as thousands of Lebanese returned to their homes in southern Lebanon. Many in Israel hope the truce will also lead to an end to the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Linda Gradstein has more from Jerusalem.

The Financial Times newspaper reports that Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun is under investigation for corruption, part of a broader corruption probe in the People’s Liberation Army. A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry dismissed the report during a regular press briefing Wednesday but that did not stop online discussions among Chinese-speaking users on Weibo. See the full story here.

Representative Jamie Raskin pledges to work with rights groups to free Vietnamese environmental activist Dang Dinh Bach

Kenya requires that foreigners register online three days before traveling to the country

Keith Kellogg spoke exclusively with VOA’s Ukrainian service in July about his vision for ending war in Ukraine

washington — Journalists in Afghanistan are forced to navigate an environment of “censorship and tight restrictions” under Taliban rule, the United Nations has said. From the Taliban takeover on August 15, 2021, to September 30 of this year, the Taliban have detained journalists 256 times and 130 cases of torture and poor treatment have been documented, according to the report published Tuesday by the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA. The report documents the...

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

Increasing number of city residents, including the employed, rely on food pantries

Thousands flee Beirut, heading back to their homes in southern Lebanon 

Ten years ago, 80% of Africans believed democracy was the best form of governance and would always choose it over military or one-man rule. Today, that number has dropped to 66%.

She did not say which nominees may have been targeted

Former Republican Congressman Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency

Russia's demographic crisis is deepening, with the nation projected to lose up to half of its population by the end of this century. In response, Moscow is stepping up its war on Western-style liberal influence with a law that fines anyone who promotes a childless lifestyle.

Washington says President Nicolas Maduro falsely claimed victory in the vote

While studying abroad can expose students to new cultures and experiences, researchers are finding that domestic ‘study away’ programs can be helpful as well.  Some students, including those on an international visa, may not be able to study abroad, but they can travel to other locations in the U.S. for enrichment experiences, Ashley Mowreader writes in Inside Higher Ed. (October 2024) 

Price increases have remained elevated in services, including apartment rents, restaurant meals, and car and home insurance