Newsletter Archive

Is Islamic State so powerful that it cannot be stopped? The terror group would no doubt like the world to think so. And IS has scored a number of symbolic victories with a recent string of attacks — in Istanbul, Dhaka, Baghdad and Saudi Arabia — that have all been linked, in some way, to the terror group. Yet with increasing losses on the ground, there’s talk of a looming ‘Ghost Caliphate’ that could be even worse than what we have now.

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are busy narrowing down their vice presidential options, which got us thinking about what sort of running mate each needs to boost their White House chances. Here’s the shortlist of folks who could soon be a heartbeat away from the presidency.

In Austria’s increasingly polarized society, the word ‘Nazi’ is tossed around when discussing the far right wing, while ‘terrorist’ is sometimes used to refer to refugees. The two groups are usually at opposite ends of the political spectrum, but refugees and the far right have this one thing in common.

America is a melting pot, which means we often adopt the foods immigrants bring from other cultures. A Vietnamese immigrant started making Sriracha in the United States back in 1980, and it may, or may not be, a variation of a dipping sauce made famous in Si Racha, Thailand. VOA went to the seaside community to see what happens when U.S. Sriracha tickles Thai taste buds.

Six years for murder, that’s the sentence for one-time Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius, who was convicted in the 2013 murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The sentence, which falls far short of the 15-year minimum recommended under South African law, sent shockwaves through social media, where most commenters reacted with incredulity and outrage.

As besieged Syrians face starvation, U.S.-backed Syrian forces open a corridor that will allow the delivery of goods to civilians under Islamic State control in northern Aleppo. VOA was in Afrin, Syria as some of the trucks loaded with goods made their way into IS-controlled territory.

QUICK TAKE VIDEO: After fasting and prayers, let the party begin. VOA is in Cairo where thousands gather for public prayer to mark the end of Ramadan, followed by DJs who ramp up the music while revelers dance in the streets.

PHOTO GALLERY: One of the lesser known traditions in Egypt at the end of Ramadan is the re-opening of liquor stores in Cairo. VOA is on hand as a handful of these shops get back to the business of selling booze.