Newsletter Archive

President Donald Trump plans to gather data on the perceived threats posed by foreign-born nationals in the United States. His new travel ban includes far-reaching requirements to collect information on foreigners in the country, including those who haven’t been charged with, or convicted of, crimes. The data collection appears to be part of a sustained effort by the administration to associate the foreign-born population with criminality, despite evidence to the contrary.

What’s Putin like? That’s what President Trump wants to ask German Chancellor Angela Merkel when she visits the White House later this week. Trump plans to quiz Merkel about her experience dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Critics on both sides of the Atlantic have been suspicious of what they see as Trump’s naivete when it comes to the Russian leader.

A Russian opposition leader who plans to run in next year’s presidential election, recently caused a stir on the internet with a documentary-style video about corruption among Russian officials. Alexei Navalny tells VOA’s Russian service why fighting corruption is at the core of his political campaign, and why off-the-books extravagances are something of a political prerequisite for ascending the highest echelons of Russian power.

The break up? Scotland’s first minister wants to hold a new independence referendum. Nicola Sturgeon says it’s only right to give Scots an opportunity to express their opinion following Brexit, last year’s vote by Britain to leave the European Union. The move brings Scots one step closer to potentially breaking up the United Kingdom.

The United States is Vietnam’s top export market and Hanoi will start nudging Washington for a trade deal to replace the defunct Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). President Trump says he’ll consider bilateral trade agreements instead of regional ones like the TPP. Vietnam could be among the first to test Trump’s willingness to make one-on-one trade deals.

A group of Afghan women held captive by Islamic State in eastern Afghanistan have broken their silence about the mistreatment they endured. IS fighters abducted several women and children after executing the men of the families last year. The women say they were kept in the dark, moved often, and forced to watch videos of their husbands being slaughtered.

PHOTO GALLERY: One of the most important archeological discoveries, ever. That’s what Egyptian authorities are calling what they think is an ancient 26-foot statue of Ramses II, a celebrated Pharaoh who ruled more than 3,000 years ago. In popular culture, Ramses II is often depicted as the Pharaoh who ruled during the exodus of the Jewish people. In north Cairo, VOA watched as the statue was excavated in Heliopolis, Egypt’s ancient capital.

Instead of attacking immigrants, South Africans should learn from them, according to a report that shows foreign-born people make substantial contributions to the nation’s economy. Xenophobic violence has erupted in South Africa with locals accusing foreigners of taking their jobs and committing crimes. VOA reports from South Africa, where immigrants operate 80 percent of backyard grocery shops.

It’s been five months since Ethiopia declared a state of emergency in response to widespread protests and unrest. Since October, thousands have been arrested and sent to military-style camps where they undergo reeducation training, including a crash course on the country’s constitution. Officials say they are stabilizing the country, but is it really an effort to crush dissent?