VOA Newscasts

• October 30, 2026

  UN reports sharp increase in opium poppy cultivation and production in Afghanistan

  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.

• October 29, 2026

  White House official to VOA: Trump keeps ‘all options on the table’ to deny Iran acquiring nuclear weapons

  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.

• October 29, 2026

  Jordan’s Strikes Highlight Persistent ISIS Threat, Fuel Tensions with Syria

  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.

• October 29, 2026

  Ceasefire holds near Ukraine's occupied Oleshky as humanitarian aid and evacuation effort begin

  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.

• October 29, 2026

  US War Secretary seeks stronger ASEAN ties as China, Indonesia begin joint training

  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.

• October 29, 2026

  US calls for an immediate end to Taliban violations of Afghan women’s rights

  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.”

• October 29, 2026

  Pakistan, Afghan Taliban trade accusations over ‘unprovoked’ attacks

  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.”

• October 28, 2026

  Mbappé, Real Madrid forced to apologize over 'dictator' comment about China's Mao Zedong

  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.

• October 28, 2026

  Former Russian detainee’s sister says Stephen Hubbard ‘escaped hell’

  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.

• October 28, 2026

  Renowned Iranian Filmmaker Sentenced to Prison, Asset Confiscation

  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.

• October 28, 2026

  China-Russia defense ties move upstream as Beijing gains Russian know-how

  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).

• October 28, 2026

  US official to VOA on Iranian regime: 'Unless they change their ways, rapidly, we will soon finish the job

  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.

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