Newsletter Archive

Twitter accounts linked to Russia are weighing in on the US government shutdown. The accounts connected to Russian influence operations are posting hashtags that seem to be aimed at amplifying the country’s political divisions. Among the trending hashtags are #schumershutdown and #schumersellout.

Traditional billboards are so yesterday. The two-dimensional signs and ads will soon have to make way for 3D holographic ads, which are revolutionizing advertising. You could soon be seeing the futuristic ads in shopping centers, train stations and restaurants. Just imagine what New York’s Times Square will look look like in a few years.

Young Rwandan bloggers and filmmakers are tired of other people telling their stories so they’re reshaping the narrative surrounding their country. They’re moving away from stories of the 1994 genocide — when an estimated 800,000 people were killed — and toward stories that focus on the new generation in one of Africa’s fastest growing economies.

Not all South Koreans are hot on the idea of making it easier for North Korea to participate in the upcoming Olympics. Accommodations made by South Korean President Moon Jae-in include fielding a joint woman’s ice hockey team and marching together in the opening ceremony of the Olympics under a ‘unification flag. VOA takes to the streets of Seoul to learn why those moves have met with public anger in South Korea.

Star Trek’s fictional tricorder is closer to becoming reality. On the old TV series, Dr. McCoy could wave his tricorder over the patient, instantly revealing any broken bones, concussions or internal bleeding. A team of scientists has developed medical tools that help diagnose patients using sound and light — and a tricorder might not be far behind.

The UN relief agency that supports Palestinian refugees has launched a $500 million funding campaign after the Trump administration decided to substantially cut the US contribution to the agency this year. UNRWA services include providing food to 1.7 million Palestinian refugees, schooling for more than 500,000 children, and healthcare that took care of 9 million visits last year. In interviews with VOA, UNRWA officials say aid to the Palestinians must continue despite the US cuts.

Social media has a mixed effect on democracies, Facebook says. The social media site is trying to combat misinformation campaigns by making it easier to report fake news and to provide more context to the news sources people see on the site. Given reported Russian influence in the 2016 election, do the positive effects of social media outweigh the negative?