Newsletter Archive

Glimpse inside a violent world:  A former Islamic State fighter says he asked to join the militant group when they took over his hometown in 2014, but he soon came to regret his decision. VOA met the man in Kirkuk, Iraq, where he is now detained. Here is his story.

Online scammers are using pictures of U.S. service members to dupe women out of tens of thousands of dollars. The U.S. Army says the criminals, who work mostly out of cyber cafes in west African countries, steal soldiers’ photos from social media, and create a fake backstory. It’s an elaborate ruse that exploits women’s hearts to get into their wallets.

Some U.S. allies are uneasy about the future of joint intelligence endeavors with Washington. From NATO to Donald Trump’s seeming preference for some allies over others, they’re trying to figure out exactly where the president stands on certain issues, and how far he plans to go in shaking up the existing order.

VIDEO: Getting into college can be a complex and stressful process. Admissions officers often look for students who excel academically, while also pursuing interests outside of school. A group of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs has come up with a 21st century way to help students stand out during the college application process.

Campaigning for Oscar: It’s almost time for the Academy Awards. Hollywood’s highest honor will be handed out later this month. The films, actors and other industry professionals in consideration are supposed to be judged on their artistic merit. But an active campaign, featuring robust advertising and a fat purse, along with a favorable political climate, can play a major role in securing the coveted golden statue.

Where’s home? Born in a Thailand refugee camp, Cambodian Chheng Soeun has never lived in his country of origin. He arrived in the United States as a child and, at the age of 14, was sentenced to 17 years in prison after being convicted of a gang related crime. Since his early release for good behavior in 2012, Chheng has worked as a barber and stayed out of trouble. But, because of his criminal record, he’s now one of eight Cambodian men slated to be deported to the homeland he’s never known.

Delisted? Following a surprising electoral victory in which he beat out the country’s previous two heads of state, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, more commonly known as ‘Farmajo,’ has his work cut out for him. In an interview with VOA, the dual U.S.-Somali citizen says he’ll fight to have Somalia removed from President Trump’s list of seven countries whose citizens are banned from traveling to the U.S.