Tajikistan
Indian Footballer Sunil Chhetri Just Beat Messi to Become the Second Highest International Goal Scorer
The veteran Indian forward just took his tally up to 70 goals.
This Might Be the Weirdest Restaurant in America
There's definitely no old Soviet spy equipment embedded inside.
The Country Where Rappers Are Forced to Suck Up to the Government
Since 2014, hip-hop has essentially been banned in the central Asian country of Tajikistan. So what have rappers done to get their songs on the radio? Compare their president to a god.
The VICE Morning Bulletin
This morning, the Obama administration is to announce tougher visa rules in an attempt to block ISIS, a report claims the Pentagon spent too much money on goats in Afghanistan, Eagles of Death Metal will play a free gig for Bataclan survivors, and more.
Afghan Security Forces Retake Key Northern District From Taliban
The Taliban came within touching distance of capturing their first major Afghan city since 2001 when they took the district of Chardara at the weekend — now security forces have driven them out.
How the US May be Egging On the Growth of the Islamic State in Central Asia
Experts’ warnings come in the wake of revelations in May that Tajik Special Forces Colonel Gulmurod Khalimov joined Islamic State militants.
Amnesty for Repentance: Tajikistan's Radical Approach on Returning Islamic State Fighters
Officials are offering forgiveness to returning Tajik jihadists, in a radical departure from policies and stances taken by European and other nations.
I Ate Dinner in a Tajik Hellhole
Ask the average Westerner what they know about Tajikistan, and they'll probably draw a blank. (Is it a country? Isn’t there a war going on there?) Which made finding out more about qurutob, its national dish, even more interesting.
I Took a Trip Down Tajikistan's 'Heroin Highway'
The proliferation of flashy cars in one of the poorest countries in the world has led to a new local saying: “It is no longer ‘How much did it cost?’ but ‘How many kilos did it cost?’" A study released in 2007 estimated that drug money added up to 3...
Russia Is Weaponizing Jedi Mind Tricks
Several former Soviet republics are instituting bizarre national safeguards to counter Russia's new brand of mind-fucking warfare.
These Guys Build the World's Tallest Flagpoles for Authoritarian Regimes
Marc Summers and David Chambers have a pretty unusual job. Through their company Trident Support Corporation they build the world's tallest flagpoles for authoritarian regimes in Central Asia and the Middle East, because nothing says national pride...
Tossing Watermelons in Tajikistan
Fancy a watermelon? Visit Dushanbe's market in Tajikistan in late July, and you won’t be able to move for melons. Melons, melons, melons: as far as the eye can see. The Tajiks don’t seem to mind though, they relish tossing melons from truck to pile...