Voice of America’s immigration news

Ukraine’s constitution bars elections during martial law, which was imposed by Kyiv just a day after Russia invaded in February 2022

4 other hostages were due to be released later Saturday

PINNAWALA, SRI LANKA — Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage marked its 50th anniversary Sunday with a feast of fruit for the 68 jumbos at the showpiece center, reputedly the world's first care home for destitute pachyderms. The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage lavished pineapples, bananas, melons and cucumbers on its residents to celebrate the anniversary of their home, which is a major tourist attraction. A few officials and tourists invited to the low-key celebration were served milk rice...

Preserving the curious amphibian is not an end for its supporters, but a means for saving the place where it came to be

A prominent religious blogger in Uzbekistan, Alisher Tursunov, has been placed on a wanted list. He is suspected of the illegal preparation, storage, importation or distribution of religious materials. He previously had been in the Muslim Office of Uzbekistan and taught at the Tashkent Islamic Institute. Activists express fear that political and religious repression is returning to the situation of the "Old Uzbekistan" era. Click here for the full story in Uzbek.

The Conservative Political Action Conference, the annual gathering of the American right, draws the leaders of Argentina, Slovakia, Hungary and more

Hamas says it released body of hostage Shiri Bibas after misidentification

A total of 177 Venezuelan migrants were deported by the United States from the Guantanamo naval base, where they were detained, in another sign of cooperation between these historically feuding countries. Click here for the full story in Spanish. 

Following the news of Jorge Bergoglio's health, churches across the country are joining in prayer. In this video we visit the most emblematic places in his hometown. Argentine faithful share prayers and reflect on the importance of having an Argentine Pope. Click here for the full story in Spanish. 

The Kenyan-led Multinational Support and Security Mission for Haiti denies losing officers during a gunfight with armed gangs in Kenscoff. Spokesperson Godfrey Otunge says news to the contrary published and shared on social media is "propaganda." Click here for the full story in Creole.     

Congressman Riley Moore recently wrote an op-ed urging the administration to ban all student visas for Chinese nationals to prevent the CCP from using U.S. academic institutions as platforms for espionage. Experts told VOA Mandarin that due to the number of espionage cases Chinese students in the U.S. involved in, it might be more helpful to close the CCP-sponsored Chinese students and scholars' associations on U.S. campuses. Click here for the full story in Mandarin.  

In 2024, about 53 Chinese companies went public in the U.S. and raised $1.84 billion amid a slowdown in the A-share IPO market. Many of these companies are high-tech firms. Besides tech firms, consumer brands are aiming at overseas clientele as well. Analysts tell VOA Mandarin that Chinese companies are putting their hope in markets outside China to survive, and they are adopting smarter strategies to succeed. Click here for the full story in Mandarin. 

Speakers hail Trump administration’s first month in office, with dozens of executive orders that have proposed sweeping changes to range of government policies, positions

Shifting US policy raises fears among Ukrainians of being left to face Russia alone

Rwandan-backed rebels have seized two regional capitals and several towns in recent weeks

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday pushed Kyiv to sign a critical minerals agreement while Washington pursues talks on ending Russia's war in Ukraine. Ramping up criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in what has been a remarkable turn in U.S. policy and relations with Kyiv and Europe. Conversations with Michelle Michot Foss, Fellow in Energy, Minerals & Materials, at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Jamil Jaffer, President and Founder of the National...

Brown is only the second Black general to serve as chairman