Anxiety in Estonia as Trump, Putin to Meet

As the ferries from Finland approach Tallinn, the first prominent landmark looming port side is a 314-meter high television tower.  It is Estonia’s tallest building, but its prominence as a landmark exceeds mere elevation. The Soviet-era tower played a key role in Estonia establishing independence in 1991. As army tanks rolled to seize the tower, …

Border Measures Part of Trump’s Bigger Immigration Crackdown

The separation of families at the U.S.-Mexico border caught the attention of the world and prompted mass outrage, but it’s only a small part of the Trump administration’s immigration policy. The government is working to harden the system on multiple fronts to curb immigration, carving a path around various court rulings to do so. The …

Trump Talks Re-Election, His Brexit Chat with Queen

U.S. President Donald Trump said he intends to run for re-election in 2020 because “everybody wants me to” and there are no Democratic candidates who could defeat him, the Mail on Sunday newspaper reported. Asked by British journalist Piers Morgan in an interview Friday whether he was going to run in 2020, Trump was quoted …

Iraq Cuts Internet Services, Sends Forces to Quell Protests

Iraq’s National Security Council deployed security forces and cut internet services Saturday as protests that began in Basra spread to several other cities. The council held an emergency meeting Saturday in Baghdad after protests over high unemployment, poor government services and corruption spread from Basra to Baghdad, Najaf, Amara and Nasiriyah. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi issued …

Palestinian Teen Dies in Israeli-Palestinian Border Clashes

A 15-year-old died Friday in Gaza during Palestinian clashes with Israeli forces along the Gaza border. The Gaza Health Ministry reported Friday that the Palestinian teenager was killed during clashes that also saw 25 people injured. The death brings to 136 the number of protest deaths on the border since weekly clashes began March 30. …

Criminal Gangs in Guatemala Drive Many to Flee

Guatemalan Yeni González is one of the few mothers able to see their children after they were separated earlier this year under the Trump administration’s zero tolerance policy when they tried to cross the southern U.S. border illegally. VOA’s Celia Mendoza reported last week when González traveled to New York to see her children at …

Separatists Target Cameroon’s Defense Minister, Defense Chief

Armed separatists fighting for creation of an English-speaking state in Cameroon opened fire on the country’s defense minister and defense chief Friday.  Neither official was hurt but at least 10 people were killed in the attack in the English-speaking southwest region, where the minister was visiting to encourage his troops fighting the separatists. Military spokesperson …

Ethiopian Lost His Legs in Prison, Rebuilds Life as Free Man

When Kefyalew Tefera emerged from Ethiopia’s Kaliti Prison last month after 12 years of confinement, it was in a wheelchair — with both of his legs missing, but with an overwhelming sense of gratitude intact. “What kept me going were her dedicated visits, love and care, and words of encouragement that I would one day …

Blast Targets Pakistan Election Candidate

A deadly bomb blast hit a politician’s convoy as it headed to an election rally in the northwestern city of Bannu on July 13. The politician, Akram Khan Durrani, said afterwards that the authorities had warned him about potential security threats. …