Newsletter Archive

On June 17, 2015, nine African-Americans were shot and killed in a Charleston, South Carolina, church. Their accused assailant — a young white man who police say hates black people — had joined their Bible study shortly before opening fire. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, there were a few tangible signs of racial healing — the Confederate battle flag was removed from the grounds of the state capitol — however, one year later, any post-Charleston show of unity seems to have been short-lived.

After Sunday’s mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, by a man who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State, Donald Trump expanded on his controversial proposal to ban Muslim immigration. That got us wondering exactly how much authority a U.S. president has to bar the gates.

QUICK TAKE VIDEO: U.S. presidential contenders Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have sparred over how to describe the violent actions of certain killers both in the United States and abroad. Were they inspired by radical Islam or radical Islamism? Here’s the difference between the two.

Islamic State is taking a pounding from Iraqi, Kurdish and Syrian forces backed by U.S.-led coalition air power, but the group has no intention of slowly fading away. As it loses terrain, the group’s focus has shifted to ensuring it remains the world’s top terror organization.

If you’re wondering what impact legalizing marijuana can have, check out Colorado, which — along with the state of Washington — became the first legal U.S. marketplace for recreational marijuana two years ago. The grand experiment hasn’t resulted in mayhem, as some feared, but there has been a drop in drug-related crime.

The United States is the only developed country in the world that doesn’t mandate paid parental leave for its citizens following the birth of a child. While some states have taken the lead in implementing paid leave policies, not everyone’s convinced it could work nationwide.

Refugees miss out on many opportunities but at least the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio won’t be one of them. Kenya is hosting five-of-10 athletes who will compete in this year’s games. The athletes serve as a reminder of the magnitude of the global refugee crisis. In Ngong, VOA caught up with members of the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team.

Ramadan and soccer are the perfect mix in Lebanon where we found people gathering at a megadome to watch the European Football Championships on giant television screens. For those who have broken their fast, it’s an opportunity to enjoy suhoor — a Ramadan meal eaten late at night or in early morning before sunrise — while indulging their sports passion in a communal setting.