Newsletter Archive

Refugees bake up the sweet smell of success for a booming Chicago business that has hosted Hollywood greats like Frank Sinatra and political heavyweights like President Barack Obama. Refugees make of 15 percent of Eli’s Cheesecake’s workforce and here’s why Syrian refugees could soon join them.

Speaking of refugees, more migrants continue to try to reach Europe and they’ll probably keep trying until the situation in Syria improves. Meanwhile, Thailand is highlighting the worldwide crisis by reopening a camp that sheltered tens of thousands of Cambodian refugees in the 1980s. Only this time, Kao I Dang camp has a different purpose.

The migrant crisis, which saw more than 1 million mostly Muslim newcomers enter Europe last year, is considered a key driver of the movement to part ways with the European Union. British voters decide whether to break up with the European Union on June 23. After Brexit, could Poland and Austria be next?

Sometimes it’s hard to keep all of your friends happy as the United States is learning. Washington is backing a Kurdish-led ground offensive against Islamic State close to Syria’s border with Turkey. That’s prompted Turkish officials to accuse the Obama administration of flipping sides and, not only choosing the Kurds over the Turks, but also encouraging Kurdish separatist ambitions in the region.

Meanwhile, fearful Turks might just skip that annual trip home this year. As Turkey reels from terror attacks, the fallout of Syria’s civil war, and political and economic uncertainties, Turks abroad are thinking hard about taking that traditional summer holiday back to their homeland.

Friendship apparently isn’t the first word that comes to mind when Russians think of America. A recent poll found they believe Turkey, Ukraine and the United States are Russia’s top three enemies.

Back in the United States, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are getting ready to face off in California’s June 7 Democratic presidential primary. Some of their supporters are making their choices for very personal reasons.

International students need not apply seems to be the message college graduates born outside the United States are receiving when they go looking for work. While about 1-in-5 U.S. college graduates had a job before picking up their diploma this spring, the struggle is real for international students who are learning why having a degree isn’t always enough.

Millions come to America in search of a better life, but what would it take for Americans to leave the land of opportunity? VOA’s Persian Service took to the streets to find out what would drive people away from the United States.