https://www.voanews.com Voice of America is an international news and broadcast organization serving Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East and Balkan countries https://www.voanews.com/Content/responsive/VOA/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.voanews.com en 2026 - VOA 60 Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:10:59 -0500 Pangea CMS – VOA The commander of the U.S. Central Command known as CENTCOM operating in the Middle East says Iran's Revolutionary Guard naval forces which once had a near constant presence in the strategic Strait of Hormuz have disappeared. https://www.voanews.com/a/centcom-top-commander-says-no-sign-of-irgc-in-the-strait-of-hormuz/8217048.html https://www.voanews.com/a/centcom-top-commander-says-no-sign-of-irgc-in-the-strait-of-hormuz/8217048.html Fri, 30 Oct 2026 16:53:57 -0400 VOA Persianwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Persian) A large evacuation and humanitarian mission is under way in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky on the Dnipro River. The temporary ceasefire that made the truce evacuation possible, brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, is a rare example of successful Russia-Ukraine negotiations. https://www.voanews.com/a/oleshky-evacuation-begins-as-former-us-ambassador-to-ukraine-calls-vladimir-putin-an-obstacle-to-talks/8217018.html https://www.voanews.com/a/oleshky-evacuation-begins-as-former-us-ambassador-to-ukraine-calls-vladimir-putin-an-obstacle-to-talks/8217018.html Fri, 30 Oct 2026 16:46:17 -0400 VOA Russianwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Russian) Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan increased by 330 percent and opium production rose by 400 percent in 2026 compared to last year, according to a new survey by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. https://www.voanews.com/a/un-reports-sharp-increase-in-opium-poppy-cultivation-and-production-in-afghanistan/8216897.html https://www.voanews.com/a/un-reports-sharp-increase-in-opium-poppy-cultivation-and-production-in-afghanistan/8216897.html Fri, 30 Oct 2026 12:10:57 -0400 VOA Pashtowebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Afghan) President Donald Trump is keeping “all options on the table” to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, a White House official told VOA following reports that the U.S. military has drawn up options for potential new strikes against Iran after the midterm election. https://www.voanews.com/a/white-house-official-to-voa-trump-keeps-all-options-on-the-table-to-deny-iran-acquiring-nuclear-weapons/8216604.html https://www.voanews.com/a/white-house-official-to-voa-trump-keeps-all-options-on-the-table-to-deny-iran-acquiring-nuclear-weapons/8216604.html Thu, 29 Oct 2026 19:00:06 -0400 VOA Persianwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Persian) Jordanian airstrikes targeting Islamic State (ISIS) positions in southern Syria have underscored the continuing threat posed by the militant group, with security analysts warning that regional conflicts, political instability and economic hardship could create conditions for its resurgence. https://www.voanews.com/a/jordans-strikes-highlight-persistent-isis-threat-fuel-tensions-with-syria/8216588.html https://www.voanews.com/a/jordans-strikes-highlight-persistent-isis-threat-fuel-tensions-with-syria/8216588.html Thu, 29 Oct 2026 18:10:38 -0400 VOA KurdiVOA Kurdishwebdesk@voanews.com (Samira Ali Mandi) This is seen as the first significant localized truce observed by both Ukraine and Russia since the beginning of Russia`s full-scale invasion in 2022. https://www.voanews.com/a/ceasefire-holds-near-ukraine-s-occupied-oleshky-as-humanitarian-aid-and-evacuation-effort-begin/8216528.html https://www.voanews.com/a/ceasefire-holds-near-ukraine-s-occupied-oleshky-as-humanitarian-aid-and-evacuation-effort-begin/8216528.html Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:38:32 -0400 VOA Ukrainianwebdesk@voanews.com (Tatiana Vorozhko, Nataliia Struk) U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth proposed a new defense cooperation framework with Southeast Asian nations Wednesday, as Indonesia conducts counterterrorism training with China while also maintaining its security partnership with the United States. https://www.voanews.com/a/us-war-secretary-seeks-stronger-asean-ties-as-china-indonesia-begin-joint-training-20261029/8216573.html https://www.voanews.com/a/us-war-secretary-seeks-stronger-asean-ties-as-china-indonesia-begin-joint-training-20261029/8216573.html Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:25:41 -0400 VOA Mandarinwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Mandarin) U.S. Deputy Representative to the United Nations Tammy Bruce said, “Over the past five years, the Taliban have systematically reversed decades of hard-won progress on women’s participation in peace and security... These practices are unacceptable and must cease immediately.” https://www.voanews.com/a/us-calls-for-an-immediate-end-to-taliban-violations-of-afghan-womens-rights/8216405.html https://www.voanews.com/a/us-calls-for-an-immediate-end-to-taliban-violations-of-afghan-womens-rights/8216405.html Thu, 29 Oct 2026 13:17:57 -0400 VOA Pashtowebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Afghan) Pakistani officials and the Afghan Taliban blamed each other this week for what they described as “unprovoked” attacks at a border crossing. The Afghan Taliban said that Pakistani forces carried out four drone strikes in the southeastern Afghan province of Paktika “without any provocation.” https://www.voanews.com/a/pakistan-afghan-taliban-trade-accusations-over-unprovoked-attacks/8216406.html https://www.voanews.com/a/pakistan-afghan-taliban-trade-accusations-over-unprovoked-attacks/8216406.html Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:33:31 -0400 VOA Dariwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Afghan) France and Real Madrid soccer star Kylian Mbappé is facing a backlash in China after commercial sponsors cut ties with him over comments he made about China's founding leader Mao Zedong. https://www.voanews.com/a/mbappe-real-madrid-forced-to-apologize-over-dictator-comment-about-chinas-mao-zedong-20261028/8216232.html https://www.voanews.com/a/mbappe-real-madrid-forced-to-apologize-over-dictator-comment-about-chinas-mao-zedong-20261028/8216232.html Wed, 28 Oct 2026 17:37:03 -0400 VOA Mandarinwebdesk@voanews.com (Si Yang) The sister of former Russian detainee Stephen Hubbard says her brother's condition is better than the family expected. The 74-year-old American was released from Russia after more than four years in detention and returned to the United States last week. https://www.voanews.com/a/former-russian-detainees-sister-says-stephen-hubbard-escaped-hell/8216170.html https://www.voanews.com/a/former-russian-detainees-sister-says-stephen-hubbard-escaped-hell/8216170.html Wed, 28 Oct 2026 17:16:37 -0400 VOA Russianwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Russian) The Tehran Revolutionary Court has sentenced Jafar Panahi, the renowned Iranian director and filmmaker, to five years and one month in prison. The court also ordered the total confiscation of all his property, a two-year ban on social media activity, and a two-year travel ban. https://www.voanews.com/a/renowned-iranian-filmmaker-sentenced-to-prison-asset-confiscation/8216128.html https://www.voanews.com/a/renowned-iranian-filmmaker-sentenced-to-prison-asset-confiscation/8216128.html Wed, 28 Oct 2026 13:50:06 -0400 VOA Persianwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Persian) Russian defense-linked companies are beginning to embed production inside China, acquire Chinese intellectual property and use Chinese equipment to sustain manufacturing at home, according to Washington-based research organization Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS). https://www.voanews.com/a/china-russia-defense-ties-move-upstream-as-beijing-gains-russian-know-how-20261028/8216050.html https://www.voanews.com/a/china-russia-defense-ties-move-upstream-as-beijing-gains-russian-know-how-20261028/8216050.html Wed, 28 Oct 2026 11:38:48 -0400 VOA Mandarinwebdesk@voanews.com (Adrianna Zhang) A senior American official has reiterated President Donald Trump's recent threats to resume military action against Iran's Islamic regime if refuses to stop its threatening activities. https://www.voanews.com/a/us-official-to-voa-on-iranian-regime-unless-they-change-their-ways-rapidly-we-will-soon-finish-the-job/8215755.html https://www.voanews.com/a/us-official-to-voa-on-iranian-regime-unless-they-change-their-ways-rapidly-we-will-soon-finish-the-job/8215755.html Wed, 28 Oct 2026 08:47:17 -0400 VOA Persianwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Persian) North Korea’s human rights situation has not improved over the past decade and has deteriorated significantly in some key areas, including the use of the death penalty, a senior U.N. human rights official told VOA.   https://www.voanews.com/a/un-official-says-north-koreas-human-rights-situation-has-not-improved-over-past-decade/8215797.html https://www.voanews.com/a/un-official-says-north-koreas-human-rights-situation-has-not-improved-over-past-decade/8215797.html Tue, 27 Oct 2026 17:19:43 -0400 VOA Koreanwebdesk@voanews.com (Sangjin Cho) The United Nations Development Program in Afghanistan said Tuesday in a post on X that the large-scale return of Afghans has added “pressure on jobs, essential services and infrastructure.” UNDP adds that between 2023 and 2025, about 4.9 million Afghans returned to the country. https://www.voanews.com/a/un-large-scale-return-of-afghan-refugees-strains-afghan-economy/8215803.html https://www.voanews.com/a/un-large-scale-return-of-afghan-refugees-strains-afghan-economy/8215803.html Tue, 27 Oct 2026 17:14:33 -0400 VOA Dariwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Afghan) The exhibition The Declaration’s Journey, which explores the influence of the U.S. Declaration of Independence on historical events over the past 250 years, includes Ukraine’s Declaration of Independence, displayed alongside declarations from other nations. https://www.voanews.com/a/the-museum-of-the-american-revolution-in-philadelphia-now-speaks-ukrainian/8215691.html https://www.voanews.com/a/the-museum-of-the-american-revolution-in-philadelphia-now-speaks-ukrainian/8215691.html Tue, 27 Oct 2026 14:00:40 -0400 VOA Ukrainianwebdesk@voanews.com (Olga Valchyshen) The crossing was closed Wednesday, October 21, until further notice. Iraqi authorities cited technical and security concerns, but the decision has drawn growing opposition from influential Iran-aligned factions within Iraq's political establishment. https://www.voanews.com/a/iraqs-closure-of-iran-border-crossing-fuels-protests/8215389.html https://www.voanews.com/a/iraqs-closure-of-iran-border-crossing-fuels-protests/8215389.html Mon, 26 Oct 2026 18:33:27 -0400 VOA KurdiVOA Kurdishwebdesk@voanews.com (Samira Ali Mandi) The Department of War has designated Chinese-funded Confucius Institutes on American university campuses as a national security threat. China's Foreign Ministry responded Monday, saying it opposed what it called “smears and stigmatization” targeting the institutes. https://www.voanews.com/a/pentagon-designates-confucius-institute-in-us-as-national-security-threat-20261026/8215393.html https://www.voanews.com/a/pentagon-designates-confucius-institute-in-us-as-national-security-threat-20261026/8215393.html Mon, 26 Oct 2026 17:35:27 -0400 VOA Mandarinwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Mandarin) The Afghan Taliban called Pakistan’s airstrikes in Afghanistan “an act of aggression and crime in violation of all accepted principles.” https://www.voanews.com/a/pakistan-defends-attacks-on-afghanistan-denies-civilian-casualties/8215391.html https://www.voanews.com/a/pakistan-defends-attacks-on-afghanistan-denies-civilian-casualties/8215391.html Mon, 26 Oct 2026 17:33:07 -0400 VOA Pashtowebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Afghan)