Voice of America’s immigration news

 Some colleges and universities are encouraging international students to return to the United States – or stay in the country over winter break – to make sure any White House travel restrictions don’t impede their return, the South China Morning Post reports.  Chinese students in the United States have expressed concerns about being allowed back in the country after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20. Trump has promised sweeping immigration reforms and mass...

US defense report describes China's progress toward military modernization goals as 'uneven'

While bickering continues among high-ranking officials about who is polluting Harare water, at least one official is worried about residents of Zimbabwe’s capital

Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, met with UN special envoy for Syria and emphasized 'rapid and effective cooperation' to rebuild Syria's economy and maintain its territorial integrity

Opposition supporters reportedly have used clubs and iron bars to prevent the ruling MPS party from holding rallies

A bipartisan effort to protect children from the harms of social media is running out of time in this session of the U.S. Congress. If passed, the Kids Online Safety Act would institute safeguards for minors’ personal data online.

The American Corner, sponsored by the U.S. Consulate General, opened an exhibition at Sulaimani University, showcasing the works of young entrepreneurs. The event featured products created by young business owners, with many items sold and new business opportunities generated for aspiring entrepreneurs.    Click here to see the full story in Kurdish. 

The city of Aleppo, the economic and demographic capital of Syria, has been the battlefield of some of the major conflicts during the civil war. Behind the fighting lies the daily war of its residents, who survived until the fall of Bashar al-Assad and are ready to move on.  Click here to see the full story in Spanish.  

The European Parliament awarded Venezuelan opposition leaders María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia the bloc's highest human rights recognition.  Click here to see the full story in Spanish. 

Maher al-Assad, the brother of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and commander of the Syrian army's fourth armored division, has not fled to Sulaymaniyah, according to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).   Saadi Ahmed Pira, PUK spokesman, dismissed the reports as politically motivated, emphasizing that Sulaymaniyah is not geographically accessible from Syria.  "Sulaymaniyah airport has no direct flights to Damascus, and the city is not located on the sea, so it is unclear how...

After the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad, the value of the Syrian currency increased against the U.S. dollar, but the price of goods remains high. Residents say that traders are exploiting this situation and that official monitoring institutions are not properly preventing this. Click here to see the full story in Kurdish.

Xi's trip to the world's biggest gambling hub is his third as president, during which he will attend the inauguration of the territory's new chief executive, elected in October. Xi last visited in 2019 when anti-government protests were rocking the neighboring financial hub of Hong Kong.

The strikes included one in the town of Beit Lahiya, in northern Gaza, that killed at least 10 people, the medics said.

The sector of non-bank financial intermediation has grown by around 130% between 2009 and 2023, making markets more vulnerable for stress events, according to the Basel-based FSB, which acts as the G20's financial risk watchdog.

The government's disaster management office said early Wednesday that 14 deaths were confirmed, but hours later said nine had been verified by the main hospital. The number was “expected to increase" as people remained trapped in fallen buildings, a spokesperson said.

Nissan’s share price soared more than 22% in Tokyo after reports citing unnamed sources said it might merge with Honda to form the world’s third-largest automaking group. Honda’s share price fell as much as 3%.

Several hundred people gathered outside the Wisconsin State Capitol for a vigil Tuesday night to honor those slain at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison the day before, with some passing candles to each other and standing close against the winter chill.

The reduction in funding may signal China's more cautious approach to investment in Cambodia after a series of so-far unsuccessful infrastructure projects in the Southeast Asian country.