Newsletter Archive

Rashida Tlaib’s primary victory last night in Michigan means she’ll likely be the first Muslim woman to be elected to the U.S. Congress, since there currently isn’t a Republican challenger for the seat that has long been held by Democrats.

Kansas gubernatorial candidate Tyler Ruzich didn’t vote in his state’s primary election because, at 17, he’s too young. Six Kansas teens ran for governor after discovering the state constitution doesn’t have a minimum age to run for office.

Refugees carry few material possessions when they flee war, violence or persecution in their homelands. But they do bring talent and skill to their new countries.  At a Maryland museum, that talent went on display recently.

VIDEO: Ten years ago, Russia invaded part of Georgia over South Ossetia, a small separatist region in Georgia, which Moscow would later recognize as independent. Although lasting just five days, the war resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties and left more than 20,000 people without homes. As VOA’s Charles Maynes reports from Moscow, echoes of the conflict still resonate.

VIDEO: Today, the iconic American Wild West with its gold miners, saloons and cowboys seems to be ancient history, alive only in Hollywood movies. But the mining town of Oatman, Arizona, never let go of its Old West past. Here, transportation is by horseback, and burros wander past locals to the sounds of gunfight re-enactments.

Xinhua, China’s state-run news organization, publishes glowing stories about the success of Chinese-funded projects in Africa. It’s a media strategy that highlights the country’s interests in Africa and reflects its broader approach to soft power, even if the whole story isn’t told.