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Former Russian federal and local parliament deputies who broke away from Russian President Vladimir Putin and turned against the Kremlin are gathered for a meeting in Warsaw. Former Russian State Duma member Gennady Gudkov told VOA Russian that Russian exiles need to create efficient media outlets to oppose Kremlin propaganda and reach Russian-speaking populations inside and outside of Russia. See the full story here.    

To compensate for heavy losses on the battlefield, Russia is actively recruiting soldiers from developing countries. After reports that Russia used deceptive tactics to recruit hundreds of fighters from Yemen, VOA Russian spoke to experts about how Moscow is recruiting soldiers from as far as Colombia and Brazil. Researchers say the Kremlin is trying to staff up its military and recruit more soldiers using any means available. See the full story here.  

Two years ago this week, Chinese university students marched in the streets in cities across China holding blank sheets of paper as a silent dissent against the government’s harsh pandemic policies. On the anniversary of the White Paper Movement, exiled Chinese dissidents worldwide have drawn attention to pressing issues such as Beijing’s transnational repression of dissent, escalating political persecution in Hong Kong and mainland China, and the ongoing struggles faced by exile...

A senior Chinese official has reinterpreted the principle of "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong," a cornerstone of the "one country, two systems" framework established during the 1997 handover. Zhang Yong, deputy director of the Legal Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, said Tuesday that Hong Kong's governance involves not only its residents but also the Central Government in Beijing. See the full story here.

Reports of labor protests from across Iran continue this week, with new sit-ins Tuesday by Iranian retirees, employees of Tehran Metro Operating Company, the medical staff from four hospitals in Ahvaz, and 3,000 contract workers from 12 refineries in South Pars. Workers in a variety of jobs across Iran are protesting government economic and social policies, at a time of high inflation and stagnant salaries. See the full story here.

Israeli attacks on Syria have ramped up since its war on Gaza

Representatives from the six nations have now requested a meeting with British government officials to discuss the issue. Mqondisi Dube reports from Botswana's capital, Gaborone

High rates of sexual violence have been documented during conflicts in Ethiopia, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, says the report, which adds that in those countries, rape was used as a weapon of war to denigrate, disempower, and demoralize communities

Moscow awaits Donald Trump's inauguration amid escalating military tensions with Ukraine and Western powers following the Kremlin's use of a new nuclear-capable missile against Ukrainian positions. Elizabeth Cherneff narrates this report from Ricardo Marquina.

In a closed-door trial, Nika Novak is sentenced to prison for her work with foreign media and for allegedly discrediting Russia’s military

President-elect Donald Trump on Monday pledged big tariffs on the United States' three largest trading partners - Canada, Mexico and China. Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, said he would impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico until they clamped down on drugs and migrants crossing the border. For analysis on the potential economic and political impacts, we speak with Inu Manak, a fellow for trade policy at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

Hypersonic weapons like Russia’s Oreshnik missile present a formidable challenge to existing missile defense systems. However, defenses capable of intercepting them do exist.

The rally is part of Nigeria's participation in the United Nations-backed campaign against gender-based violence

Some in Israel still hesitant that ceasefire will hold

King Abdullah has accused Israel of placing obstacles to deliveries and has called on the international community to put pressure on Israel to allow uninterrupted aid flows

New Israeli laws could essentially bar the UN agency from working inside Gaza, leaving millions without aid or services

In Gaza, aid workers and families say new Israeli laws to effectively bar UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, from operating in the Strip, could be catastrophic for the 2 million people already suffering from a year of violence and a looming famine. Heather Murdock reports.

Arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu leader associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, sparked the protests by his supporters in both the capital Dhaka and Chittagong city

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