Newsletter Archive

The United States paints a bleak portrait of religious freedom around the world, particularly condemning Islamic societies that have adopted laws that harshly penalize blasphemy and apostasy. “Such laws conflict with and undermine universally recognized human rights,” the State Department said Wednesday in its annual review of global religious rights. These pose special dangers to vulnerable groups such as women, religious minorities and the poor. The report labels two nonstate actors – the Islamic State group and Boko Haram – among “the most egregious abusers of religious freedom.”

Fears are mounting that the Kremlin is limbering up for another offensive in eastern Ukraine, part of Russia’s hybrid war to bring the former Soviet state back into its orbit and to block desperately needed reforms there.  Tensions are increasing not only in the Donbas region but on the Ukraine-Crimea frontier after Russia closed border crossings over the weekend. On Tuesday, Kyiv accused Moscow of stepping up military activity, flying more helicopter gunship sorties along the border.

A Minnesota woman is poised to become the first Somali-American state legislator after winning a key primary Tuesday in Minneapolis. Ilhan Omar, shown with a microphone, won the primary for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party. As the 33-year-old tells VOA’s Somali service, “We worked very hard to unite our district people and their votes.” A Somalia native, she and her family fled the Horn of Africa nation’s civil war and lived in a Kenyan refugee camp for four years. In November, she’ll face Republican Abdimalik Askar in the race to represent District 60B of the Minnesota House of Representatives. The Minneapolis area has the country’s largest Somali-American community.

Unlike its southern African neighbors, Zambia has long been hailed as a bedrock of peace and democracy. But violence hangs like an ominous cloud over Thursday’s presidential vote, with incumbent Edgar Lungu of the ruling Patriotic Front party facing a serious challenge from Hakainde Hichilema of the opposition United Party for National Development. Their supporters have clashed repeatedly in a nation beset by drought and economic woes. An analyst warns, “The risk of violence is very high.”

Can we talk? In one of the most combative presidential races in modern U.S. history, it might seem Americans are more divided than ever. But in the delegate-rich swing-state of Ohio, two politically opposed veterans and best friends see the topic differently.  On both the issues and their personal friendship, the two men point to trust and respect.

Thailand’s military is looking to extend its government oversight following Sunday’s referendum approving a new, junta-backed constitution. The referendum was the first to test public support for the government since a May 2014 military coup led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the army’s chief at the time. This week, he said a general election would be held in 2017, and he also called for unity. Legal experts said the new charter weakens major political parties and, likely, any significant opposition.

Quick Take Video: The palm oil business in Indonesia is not only fueling the world’s worst fires, it’s enabling a murderous trade in animal trafficking, including orangutans. David Boyle and Laura Villadiego went to Sumatra, Indonesia to find out what is being done to help the smallest members of this endangered species.