Russia has long considered the Balkans a part of its sphere of influence, but its current focus on its war in Ukraine is creating a power vacuum in the region and giving an opportunity for Turkey to expand its role. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul. …
US repatriates 3 Guantanamo detainees, one held 17 years without charge
WASHINGTON — The United States has transferred two Malaysian detainees at the Guantanamo Bay U.S. military prison to their home country after they pleaded guilty to charges related to deadly 2002 bombings in Bali and agreed to testify against the alleged ringleader of that and other attacks, the Pentagon said Wednesday. Prosecutors say Mohammed Farik bin Amin and Mohammed Nazir bin Lep worked for years with …
Analysts: Syrian rebels adopt approach similar to Taliban’s to seek international recognition
Washington — While the international community is setting conditions for the new rulers in Syria, the leading rebel group has taken a conciliatory approach, similar to one the Taliban adopted in Afghanistan, to seek international recognition, say analysts. Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, met with the U.N. special envoy for Syria on Sunday and emphasized “rapid …
VOA Kurdish: Exhibition for young entrepreneurs set up at Sulaimani University
The American Corner, sponsored by the U.S. Consulate General, opened an exhibition at Sulaimani University, showcasing the works of young entrepreneurs. The event featured products created by young business owners, with many items sold and new business opportunities generated for aspiring entrepreneurs. Click here to see the full story in Kurdish. …
VOA Spanish: Venezuelan opposition leaders receive Sakharov Prize from European Parliament
The European Parliament awarded Venezuelan opposition leaders María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia the bloc’s highest human rights recognition. Click here to see the full story in Spanish. …
VOA Kurdish: Iraqi and Kurdish officials deny reports of Maher al-Assad fleeing to Sulaymaniyah
Maher al-Assad, the brother of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and commander of the Syrian army’s fourth armored division, has not fled to Sulaymaniyah, according to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Saadi Ahmed Pira, PUK spokesman, dismissed the reports as politically motivated, emphasizing that Sulaymaniyah is not geographically accessible from Syria. “Sulaymaniyah airport has no direct flights to Damascus, and the city is not …
VOA Kurdish: Syrian currency increased; prices remain high
After the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad, the value of the Syrian currency increased against the U.S. dollar, but the price of goods remains high. Residents say that traders are exploiting this situation and that official monitoring institutions are not properly preventing this. Click here to see the full story in Kurdish. …
Xi Jinping visits Macau to mark 25 years of Chinese rule
MACAU — China’s President Xi Jinping arrived in Macau on Wednesday to mark a quarter century of Beijing’s rule over the former Portuguese enclave, and is likely during his three-day visit to urge further diversification from its casino industry. Xi’s trip to the world’s biggest gambling hub is his third as president, during which he will attend the inauguration of the territory’s new chief executive, elected …
Rescuers dig for survivors of Vanuatu earthquake with no water and unclear death toll
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Vanuatu’s capital was without water on Wednesday, a day after reservoirs were destroyed by a violent magnitude 7.3 earthquake that wrought havoc on the South Pacific island nation, with the number of people killed and injured expected to rise. The government’s disaster management office said early Wednesday that 14 deaths were confirmed, but hours later said nine had been verified by the …
Zelenskyy to meet with NATO, European leaders in push to bolster defenses
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet Wednesday with NATO chief Mark Rutte and European leaders in Brussels as Ukraine seeks to bolster its defenses against Russian forces. Zelenskyy on Tuesday cited an urgent need to boost military aid to Ukraine, especially air defense systems. “We must do everything possible to destroy Russia’s ability to wage war from as far away as possible,” Zelenskyy …
Vanuatu earthquake death toll rises to 14 as rescuers continue search
Rescuers in Vanuatu on Wednesday searched for people still trapped after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Pacific nation’s capital, Port Vila, on Tuesday, killing 14 people and damaging reservoirs, commercial buildings, embassies and a hospital. At least 200 people were being treated for injuries at the capital’s main hospital and other medical centers, a Red Cross official said on X, citing the Vanuatu government. …
Syrian military bases destroyed after Assad’s fall
Following the collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, military rebels and the Israeli military have targeted strongholds throughout the country. VOA’s Joan Cabases Vega visited Qatana, Syria, a military base just outside the capital, for this story, narrated by Veronica Villafane. …
US Senate to vote on bill that fuels possibility of Chinese drone ban
WASHINGTON — The 2025 defense spending authorization bill is coming up to a final vote in the U.S. Senate. As the American Northeast buzzes with drone sightings and fears of foreign surveillance, the bill moves to ban products from the world’s largest drone-maker: China. In a procedural vote on Monday, senators voted 83-12 in favor of moving to a full vote on the National Defense Authorization …
In 2024, voters’ discontent with incumbents meant opting for change
Ruling parties often have an advantage in elections. But in history’s biggest election year so far, incumbents of all political stripes found that presiding over a period of economic inflation carries a heavy price at the ballot box. …
Pacific Islands grow in influence in 2024
The Pacific Islands increased their engagement and advocacy on the global stage in 2024 — whether through climate action or by taking advantage of U.S.-China geopolitical competition. The two countries have been vying for influence in the region. VOA’s Jessica Stone reports. Videographer: Jessica Stone, Charley Piringi …
VOA Mandarin: China expands private pension system nationwide
China has fully rolled out its “private pension” system this week. According to the plan, each person can deposit no more than $1,600 every year to invest in financial products as a supplementary source of basic pension. However, Chinese people interviewed by VOA bluntly said that this is a “Ponzi scheme” because China’s economy is in a slump, and that the medical insurance and social …
Assad’s Sednaya prison often last stop in Syrian families’ search
Sednaya prison, notorious for its history of torture and mass executions under the Assad regime, has become one of the last stops for families searching for traces of their missing loved ones. After Bashar al-Assad fled the country, rebels freed thousands of inmates and uncovered a grim reality — corpses buried within its walls — leaving families with hope but more often heartbreak. Marcus Harton …
VOA Persian: Iran executed at least 40 people in one week, group says
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign reported that at least 40 people were executed in Iran in recent days. The group released a statement, obtained by VOA, that comes amid the 47th consecutive week of a hunger strike involving prisoners across 27 prisons nationwide. The imprisoned members of the campaign have also expressed concern about the possibility of the confirmation of death sentences of two …
Russian military on the move by land and air in Syria
Amid conflicting reports about Russia’s future in Syria, Russian military assets are on the move in Latakia, the home province of fallen dictator Bashar al-Assad and his father, Hafez al-Assad, known locally in death as “the immortal leader.” VOA’s Heather Murdock reports. Videographer: Yan Boechat …
On NATO’s eastern flank, 2025 brings concerns about alliance’s future
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to end the war in Ukraine quickly is triggering concerns among Russia’s neighbors. In Estonia, some fear a deal to end the war may strengthen Moscow. Elizabeth Cherneff narrates this report from Ricardo Marquina on Estonia’s border with Russia. …
US targets North Korean money laundering network with sanctions
Washington — The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on two people and one entity based in the United Arab Emirates, accusing them of being involved in a network that launders millions of dollars generated by IT workers and cybercrimes to support the North Korean government. The U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement that the two people hit with sanctions worked through a UAE-based front …
Australia’s deals with Pacific nations aim to curb China’s influence
Taipei, Taiwan — Australia signed two multi-million dollar deals with Nauru and Papua New Guinea last week that analysts say will help Canberra counter China’s growing influence in the Pacific. The deals, which support development in Nauru and pledge to pour hundreds of millions over the next 10 years into the establishment of a rugby team in Papua New Guinea, also give Australia some power to …
Winter’s arrival in Gaza brings further dread and suffering
As talks restart for a hostage release and ceasefire in Gaza, the arriving winter means life will get even harder for the two million Palestinians living in the territory. Linda Gradstein in Jerusalem, with Enas Tantesh and Amjed Tantesh in southern Gaza, have this report. (Videographer: Enas Tantesh and Amjed Tantesh) …
Keith Kellogg as Trump’s Ukraine-Russia envoy: Right man for the mission?
President-elect Donald Trump has chosen retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg to be his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, where Trump has promised to bring a quick end to the war. VOA’s Tatiana Vorozhko looks into Kellogg’s career, his vision for ending the war, and the challenges he might face in his new mission. Rafael Saakov and Andriy Borys contributed.VOA footage by Oleksii Osyka. Video …