Newsletter Archive

Five years ago today, Shui-Meng Ng and her husband, Laotian civil society leader Sombath Somphone, were driving in Vientiane.  A policeman stopped their car.  A white van arrived and Sombath got in – never to be seen again.  Shui-Meng tells VOA how she’s still working to find him, and to keep his dreams alive.

Saying you spotted the first sliver of the moon could lead to jail time and a fine, according to proposed legislation in Pakistan. The appearance of the moon determines when Muslims observe Eid, Ramadan and the prophet’s birthday. The pending law is designed to stop religious leaders from usurping the authority of a special government body that declares when those religious observances begin and end.

From the outside, it’s easy to mistake The Mosque of Jesus Son of Mary in Syracuse, New York, for a Christian church.  Because until four years ago, it was.  After the parish closed as a result of Catholics moving to the suburbs, church officials turned down much higher offers in order to sell the building to a Muslim group.  With the pews removed, it may look different on the inside, but it’s still a house of God.

They say young children are like sponges. They soak up information from around them and build on that core foundation for the rest of their lives. Baba Ras D, a corrections-officer-turned-singer, is a firm believer in the theory.

Looking for a way to entertain friends and family visiting for the holidays?  Penelope Poulou has just the ticket – movie ticket, that is.  Three big budget films arriving in theaters this month will satisfy every movie buff’s taste, from sci-fi flicks to musicals.