Newsletter Archive

The power of storytelling has always played a key role in Arab culture, but in Lebanon, this oral tradition is being shared in a new way. Over the past few years, accessible open-mic events have exploded in popularity, from the occasional small-scale gathering to weekly events where the venues are filled to the brim. VOA sits in on a storytelling session in Beirut as more Lebanese find they have a voice — and people willing to listen. 

Another North Korean soldier and two fishermen defected to South Korea on Thursday. He is the fourth soldier and one of 15 North Korean asylum seekers overall to cross directly into the South this year compared to the five people who defected in all of 2016. VOA reports from Seoul, where the increased number of defections could be a sign that international sanctions intended to punish the leadership in Pyongyang are imposing harsh economic hardships on ordinary people.

QUICK TAKE VIDEO: Residents of the Christian town of Teleskof, Iraq are preparing for their first Christmas since Islamic State took over their town. With IS being declared defeated in Iraq, residents returned home from refugee camps to celebrate the holiday. But, in Teleskof, VOA finds their joy is tainted with sadness.

Iraqi teen Noeh Binoo came to Washington and met with Vice President Mike Pence to encourage world leaders to help rebuild his predominantly Christian town. The 13-year-old’s family escaped Karemlash in northern Iraq just hours before Islamic State attacked. After three years in a Kurdistan shelter, the boy returned home to Karemlash, located about 18 miles outside of Mosul, to find that his house, school and church had burned down.

 As part of a program that offers job training and education for at-risk youth, members of the Los Angeles Conservation Corps beautify the city — cleaning and planting trees, and creating trails and green spaces in the city. Some once belonged to street gangs or did time in jail, but all are trying to turn their lives around. Recently, they took a rare break to enjoy some holiday cheer.