Vice News The Cut That Heals

The Islamic State, a hardline Sunni jihadist group that formerly had ties to al Qaeda, has conquered large swathes of Iraq and Syria. Previously known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the group has announced its intention to reestablish the caliphate and has declared its leader, the shadowy Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as the caliph. The lightning advances the Islamic State made across Syria and Iraq in June shocked the world. But it's not just the group's military victories that have garnered attention - it's also the pace with which its members have begun to carve out a viable state. Flush with cash and US weapons seized during its advances in Iraq, the Islamic State's expansion shows no sign of slowing down. In the first week of August alone, Islamic State fighters have taken over new areas in northern Iraq, encroaching on Kurdish territory and sending Christians and other minorities fleeing as reports of massacres emerged. —VICE News

On the International Day for Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, VICE News reports on a little-known surgery that restores sexual function to the clitoris for women who had their genitals mutilated as children.

With unprecedented and exclusive access, VICE News journalist and filmmaker Medyan Dairieh spent three weeks filming alone inside the self-proclaimed caliphate of the Islamic State. The Islamic State, a hardline Sunni jihadist group that formerly had ties to al Qaeda, has conquered large swathes of Iraq and Syria. Previously known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the group has announced their intention to reestablish the caliphate and declared their leader, the shadowy Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as the caliph.

With exclusive access to soldiers and civilians, explore the human cost and decisions made to save Ukraine's most key city in an endless Russian war.

"Nur Misuari is the founder of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), an armed group that's fought for independence against the government of the Philippines for more than three decades. "Misuari currently lives in a remote MNLF encampment on the island of Jolo. The area is a no-go zone for outsiders, especially journalists. VICE News takes the perilous journey into Jolo to meet Misuari and discuss the future of the MNLF as well as the current political situation in the Philippines."

Inside the hustle of a group of shadowy ticket brokers to buy up the best seats in the house and sell them at a huge profit – and how a ticketing monopoly enables them.