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.
Month: January 2024
Somalia’s Extreme Climate Displaces Farrmers, Disrupts...
Farmers in Somalia faced the dual threats of flooding and drought last year. In this report narrated by VOA’s Arash Arabasadi, Jamal Ahmed Osman spoke with farmers who related their experiences of how extreme climate conditions are taking a toll.
Myanmar Arrests Alleged Chinese Scammers, Former...
Police in northern Myanmar have arrested 10 phone and internet fraud suspects and sent them to China, the Chinese embassy in Yangon announced.
Russia’s Birth Rate Plunges Due to...
Due to a sharp decline in births, Russia is facing the biggest demographic crisis in recent history. This is a reflection of the fear that many Russians have about starting a family in an uncertain political and economic landscape.
A Year After Escaping New York...
Since making an unlikely escape from the city’s zoo, a rare owl has captured the hearts of New Yorkers. He has proved them wrong who predicted he would perish in a few weeks.
Rights Group Urges Sanctions Against Australian...
Australian companies engaged in Myanmar’s junta-controlled mining sector are tacitly supporting the ruling military regime, which is approaching its third year in power, the rights group Justice For Myanmar said in a report issued Tuesday.
Baloch Youth Deeply Disappointed with Parties...
The general election is scheduled on February 8 in Pakistan. Since 44% of Pakistani voters are between the ages of 18 and 35, young people will play an important role. But young voters are quite disillusioned with most political parties.
Karen Army Claims 5 Dead After...
The Karen National Liberation Army shot down a Myanmar junta aircraft, killing soldiers onboard, a member of the ethnic force told Radio Free Asia.
Archery Traditions Continued by Somali Elders
Every afternoon, elderly citizens gather in the Bondere district of Mogadishu, the troubled capital of Somalia, for an archery contest. The activity is a part of a deeper, historical tradition.
Leaps in Ukraine Aid Funding Impact...
Even far away from the front lines, there are significant implications to the debate over funding Ukraine’s war with Russia.VOA’s Kane Farabaugh has more on the impact of refugee resettlement in Chicago, the second-largest U.S. city for Ukrainian refugees who have fled the war.
Myanmar Junta Sentences Nearly 400 Women...
Nearly 400 women in Myanmar have been sentenced to prison, some for more than 20 years – or even death – for political offenses in the three years since the coup, a report by the Burmese Women’s Union said.