Headlines- On Monday at 14:00 GMT, the US military says it would start blockading Iranian ports, preventing ships from entering or leaving Iran from passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
- In the southern town of Biyyada, Hezbollah claims that its men have attacked Israeli soldiers with "a swarm of attack drones."
- US President Donald Trump's threat to block the Strait of Hormuz was deemed "ridiculous" by Iran's navy chief, Shahram Irani.
- Any military ships approaching the Strait of Hormuz "will be considered a violation of the ceasefire and will be met with severe force," according to a statement released on Sunday by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
- The speaker of Iran's parliament Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf is leading the delegation that has arrived to Pakistan for talks with the United States.
- Nawaf Salam, the prime minister of Lebanon, stated that he was working to ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces and to put an end to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
- Viktor Orban, the longtime prime minister of Hungary, has conceded defeat to Peter Magyar in the country's legislative election.
Year: 2023
Entertainment Report: 2023’s Best
Highlights from live performances and interviews from the Voice of America’s studios in Washington, Los Angeles, New York, and Africa are presented by host Heather Maxwell of VOA Music Time in Africa.
Middle East Hit by War Last...
From the massive protests against the judicial reform to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the Gaza War, the past year has been among the most momentous years in Israel’s history. Life will never be the same for many Israelis and Palestinians.
Christmas Came Early in Ukraine in...
For the first time in modern history, Ukraine observed Christmas on December 25 this year. The Russian invasion in early 2022 prompted the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church to abandon their celebration of Christmas on January 7 and adopt the Revised Julian calendar, which aligns Christmas with the Gregorian calendar used in the West.
Bangladesh’s One-Sided Election Leaves Some Voters...
Bangladesh goes to the polls next week with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her ruling Awami League all but assured victory, and with the opposition boycotting an election that analysts say is likely to cement autocratic rule.
Junta Raid Kills 10 Rohingyas, Injures...
Ten Rohingyas were killed and another 17 injured in the Buthidaung and Mrauk-U townships in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, as a result of airstrikes by the junta on Thursday, local residents told RFA Burmese on Friday.
Thousands in Migrant Caravan Making Their...
Thousands of migrants from Central and South America are making their way through Mexico in a caravan heading to the United States as U.S. and Mexican officials were set to meet on Wednesday to discuss immigration and other issues.
After Selling $1.75 Billion Lottery Ticket,...
In 2024, two brothers who immigrated to California from Syria will share $1 million. The bonus is from the state lottery for selling the winning ticket of the second-largest Powerball jackpot ever.
Burmese City Hit by Huge Job...
About 3,000 workers were left unemployed and without full compensation following the ongoing shutdowns of Chinese garment factories in December in Pathein, Ayeyarwady region of Myanmar, according to workers on Wednesday.
New Year’s Eve at New York...
Every year on December 31, both New Yorkers and tourists flock Times Square in the Big Apple to celebrate New Year’s Eve. In this narrative told by Anna Rice, Elena Wolf had a look at how the city gets ready for the big event.
Amid Push for Infrastructure and Climate...
In the Himalayan region of India, communities and environmentalists are concerned that the mountains’ massive infrastructure push is making them more vulnerable to natural disasters. They say that in one of the world’s most fragile regions, the effects of massive construction projects like roads and dams are being exacerbated by climate change.