Newsletter Archive

US Army veteran Assal Ravandi, who was born in Tehran, believes her decision to join the US military was partIy inspired by the life she left behind in her native country. After serving in Afghanistan, returning to civilian life wasn’t easy for Ravandi, so she’s found a way to continue to serve her adopted country in this uniquely American story.

Foreign tourism supports millions of American jobs, but the industry is slowing, possibly due to President Donald Trump’s attempt to implement travel restrictions on visitors from some Muslim majority nations. The slowdown comes at a time when the strong dollar makes the US an expensive proposition for foreign travelers, while competing nations step up efforts to attract tourist dollars.

VIDEO: It’s easy for aspiring tech entrepreneurs to get lost in the crowd at the SXSW conference in Texas. That’s why wacky ideas, like DNA testing for cats, stand out. VOA meets some of the latest tech disrupters who are managing to set themselves apart from the crowd.

Some Kenyan ranchers are living in constant fear after several attacks by armed pastoralists. The cattle herders are targeting fenced-in properties in Laikipia County, home to some of the largest ranches and conservancies in the country. Witnesses say the herders are carrying AK-47 rifles, spears and poisoned arrows.

Attacks on people with albinism are on the upswing in Malawi. Albinos are targeted because some people believe their body parts have powers to increase wealth. The spike in violence comes after a 6-month lull following a public awareness campaign. VOA reports from the southeastern African nation, where the rash of recent kidnappings and killings confirm there’s a thriving market for albino body parts.

After a wave of attacks against immigrants, South Africa might be ready to rethink its immigration policy. The country has a history of taking in migrants from across Africa, but is considering changes that strike a balance between being welcoming of immigrants, while also keeping the nation safe.

‘We are living in a catastrophe.’ In Mosul, VOA meets Ayman Khalaf, 25, who says he escaped from Islamic State-controlled territory. Breaking down in tears and rage outside a refugee camp, Khalaf says 19 of his family members were killed and he longs to return home to bury them.

Pakistan is cracking down on ‘blasphemous’ content on social media. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is urging swift punishment for those involved in ‘a nefarious conspiracy’ against the country’s Muslim majority. Pakistan has a secular government, but leans toward conservative Islamic policies. Free speech advocates think the government is trying to shut up its critics.