Ukrainians in Avdiivka are enduring one of the war's toughest moments on the Donbas front lines, facing ammunition shortages and lacking strong defensive lines as Russian troops attempt to advance. Civilians are compelled to decide whether to abandon their homes or stay amidst the escalating conflict.

Brazil is initiating a mass public vaccination campaign against dengue fever in response to a significant increase in cases, with nearly five times more reported in the first five weeks of the year compared to the same timeframe in 2023.

The Amazon region experienced its most severe drought in recorded history in 2023, with rivers and lakes reaching record low levels and thousands of people isolated due to lack of water in tributaries. This event is highlighted as a warning of the potential impacts of climate change.

Israel ordered civilians to evacuate four towns in southern Gaza, raising concerns about the spread of its conflict with Hamas. Israeli forces remain at Gaza's largest hospital, Al-Shifa, following a siege. Families of nearly 240 hostages held by Hamas have started a five-day march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Attacks by Jewish settlers against Palestinian farmers have intensified following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, leading to a potential reduction in olive oil production in the West Bank. The Palestinian Farmer's Union reports that these incidents are hindering the harvest of thousands of olive trees near the settlements.

Israeli Defense Forces reached Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital, causing thousands to flee. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that military operations in Gaza will continue until Hamas is defeated. VOA correspondents Esther Githui-Ewart and Yan Boechat are reporting from Jerusalem on the latest developments.

Hawara, a town in the West Bank surrounded by Jewish settlements, has become a hotspot for violence since early 2023, with both Palestinians and Israeli settlers being killed. Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Israeli forces have decided to close off the town's central area, prohibiting Palestinians from working, driving, or even walking on the main street.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in the Israeli government, led by Binyamin Netanyahu, suspending work permits for nearly 100,000 Palestinian construction workers from the West Bank and Gaza, as estimated by the Palestinian National Authority. This has caused significant unemployment and economic distress among Palestinians, with individuals like Isa Zeita left without work and income. The construction sector in Israel, represented by figures like Haim Feiglin, is facing a labor shortage and is pressuring the government to issue work visas for foreign workers. The suspension of Palestinian work permits is expected to have severe economic impacts on the West Bank, with predictions of a dramatic drop in consumption and a rise in unemployment to levels similar to Gaza before the war.

The Gaza Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas, reports over 9,000 Palestinian deaths in the war, while Israeli officials count more than 1,400 Israeli fatalities, mostly from Hamas's initial attacks on October 7. VOA's Esther Githui-Ewart discussed the situation with correspondent Yan Boechat in East Jerusalem.

Israeli construction firms are seeking government approval to employ up to 100,000 Indian workers to replace Palestinian laborers who lost their work permits following the outbreak of conflict initiated by Hamas on October 7. The Israeli Builders Association highlights the significant impact on the construction sector, with 90,000 Palestinian workers from the West Bank and Gaza previously employed. The shift aims to stabilize the industry amidst halted projects and economic disruptions. Palestinian economist Samir Huleileh warns of severe socio-economic consequences for Palestinian communities. The ongoing negotiations with India are seen as a potential solution to resume normal operations in the construction sector.

The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has left nearly 100,000 Palestinian construction workers unemployed due to the Israeli government's suspension of work permits. This decision, following the October 7th attacks, has severely impacted the West Bank's economy, with significant drops in consumption and potential increases in unemployment rates. The construction sector in Israel is struggling to find replacements, negotiating with countries like India to bring in foreign workers. The situation has led to heightened tensions and fears among local populations, with many Israelis opposing the return of Palestinian workers.

The article discusses the growing support for Hamas among West Bank residents amid increasing violence and dissatisfaction with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. It highlights the recent Israeli military operations in Jenin, the rising death toll, and the public's shift towards more aggressive resistance against Israel. Key figures like Sabri Saidam and Othman Hassan express concerns and criticisms, while the article also touches on the arming of Jewish settlers by Israeli Interior Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Examines the escalating military actions between Israel and Hamas and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, highlighting concerns from the White House administration about the potential spread of the conflict across the region.

Palestinians in the West Bank are calling for the Palestinian Authority and President Mahmoud Abbas to adopt a more confrontational stance towards Israel, expressing frustration over the lack of progress from decades of negotiations.

Violence has surged in the West Bank following a Hamas attack on October 7, leading to Israeli forces entering Palestinian cities to arrest suspects linked to the militant group. Over 1,000 people have been detained, and more than 100 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and Jewish settlers in nearly three weeks of conflict, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The main churches in Bethlehem have decided to cancel all Christmas celebrations this year as a form of protest against the ongoing war in Gaza. The city, known for being the birthplace of Jesus Christ, will only hold religious ceremonies. This decision highlights the local religious community's stance on the conflict.

Daily Israeli forces' attacks on Palestinian cities targeting Hamas leaders and affiliates have escalated violence in the West Bank. Since October 7, over 120 Palestinians, including children, have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers. The UN reports this year as the deadliest in 15 years in the West Bank. The violence has intensified in refugee camps, with many Palestinians killed during Israeli operations. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports increased deaths from settler attacks, with rising tensions suggesting an imminent conflict.

The United Nations reported an increase in attacks on Palestinians by Jewish settlers in the southern West Bank following Hamas' surprise attack on Israel on October 7. More than a dozen villages have been destroyed, farmers evicted, and over 1,000 people displaced, with overall violence on the rise.

The West Bank town of Hawara, surrounded by Jewish settlements, has experienced escalating violence since the beginning of the year, resulting in casualties among both Palestinians and Israeli settlers. In response, Israeli forces have shut down the town's central area, prohibiting Palestinians from working, driving, or walking on its main street.

Israeli settlers who left Gaza in 2005 are planning to return, viewing the current war against Hamas as an opportunity. The Israeli government has not endorsed this move.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports an increase in attacks by Jewish settlers on Palestinians since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas. Numerous villages in the southern West Bank have been destroyed, farmers have been displaced from their lands, and over a thousand people have been displaced.

Israel’s construction sector has requested government approval to hire up to 100,000 workers from India to replace 90,000 Palestinian employees who lost their work permits due to the ongoing war. This move aims to address the labor shortage caused by the conflict.

The fall of Avdiivka, a stronghold defended by Ukrainians for nearly a decade, is intensifying the conflict in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. Civilians are faced with the difficult decision of fleeing west or staying to face the battles. Yan Boechat reports from Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.

Jewish settler attacks on Palestinians have surged since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war, as reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. In the southern West Bank, over a dozen villages have been destroyed, farmers evicted, and more than 1,000 people displaced.

Chinese automakers are targeting the Brazilian market for electric vehicle production, with BYD and GWM investing approximately US$2.5 billion. This move aims to establish a significant presence in Brazil, the sixth-largest automobile market globally.

In 2023, the Amazon region faced its most severe drought in recorded history, with rivers and lakes reaching record low levels and thousands of people isolated due to the lack of water in tributaries. Scientists warn that this event should be seen as a significant indicator of the impacts of climate change.

A pro-Bolsonaro mob from Brazil's agricultural heartland traveled to the capital with the intent to overthrow President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. On January 8, they invaded and ransacked Brazil's Congress, Supreme Court, and presidential offices, aiming to incite military leaders to topple Lula, who had been in office for just a week.

Brazilian authorities have issued arrest warrants for two security officials, including Anderson Torres, and are investigating political and business elites suspected of aiding the recent violent protests in Brasília. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, a controversial figure, has accused the officials of knowing about the impending violence but failing to act. Additionally, a top public prosecutor has requested a federal court to freeze the assets of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is believed to have incited the riots by undermining trust in Brazil's election systems.

Following the riots in Brazil, authorities detained 1,200 protesters and questioned the security lapses that allowed the encampment demanding a military coup to persist for over 70 days. The violence highlighted the threat to Brazilian democracy, driven by mass delusion among Bolsonaro supporters who believe the election was rigged, despite no evidence. Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes suspended Brasília's governor Ibaneis Rocha, citing security failures. The events mirrored the January 6 Capitol riots in the U.S., with similar conspiracy theories fueling the unrest. President Lula, who took office a week prior, is now tasked with prosecuting those involved, while the U.S. expressed support for Brazil's democracy. Bolsonaro, who is in Florida, criticized the violence but has left a lasting impact with his rhetoric against democratic institutions.

Supporters of ousted far-right President Jair Bolsonaro camped outside Brazilian Army headquarters for 10 weeks, demanding a military coup to overturn the presidential election. On Sunday, many protesters stormed Congress, the Supreme Court, and presidential offices in Brasília. By Monday, authorities dismantled the encampment and detained 1,200 protesters. Questions arose about the lack of resistance and security failures, with Brazil's justice minister, Flávio Dino, noting that security plans were not fully implemented.

Masked gunmen carried out a massacre at Wanda’s Bar in Belém, Brazil, killing 11 people. The attackers, who have been terrorizing the city for nearly a decade, operate with impunity, engaging in robbery, extortion, and murder.