Today@VOA: Are you my frenemy?

Informing, engaging & connecting the people of the world. September 8, 2016

Technology makes it possible for the threat of terrorism to spread farther and faster than ever before, allowing terror plots to mature more quickly, and with much less warning. There's nothing virtual about this global terrorism landscape that's created a new reality for U.S. intelligence agencies.

On This Day in American History On September 8, 1974, President Gerald Ford pardons his disgraced predecessor Richard Nixon for any crimes he committed or participated in while in office. As a result of the Watergate scandal, Nixon became the first U.S. president ever to resign, when it was revealed that Nixon and his aides engaged in illegal activities during his reelection campaign and then attempted to cover it up.

Cambodian-American politicians are battling it out against each other in Massachusetts for a seat in the state legislature. The four candidates are running in the Middlesex District, home to the city of Lowell and the second-largest Cambodian-American population in the country. But will more diversity on the ticket divide — and therefore dilute — the power of the Cambodian-American voting bloc?

VIDEO: Swing my way. U.S. presidential candidates often spend lots of time and money in a few select states, while pretty much ignoring the rest of the country. That's because those dozen or so states are considered battleground or 'swing' states. This quick explainer lays it all out.

The European Union is pushing a mandatory migrant relocation plan that requires EU member states to accept quotas designed to share the burden of resettling war refugees. That's not sitting well in many places, including Hungary — which is likely to have a referendum on the issue — and Italy, where the government has launched an online campaign aimed at discouraging migrants who dream of a better life in Europe.

What is it about the Green Valley Book Fair that attracts buyers from as far away as Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Russia? The bookselling operation in a tiny rural Virginia town is thriving at a time many American bookstores are struggling. Thanks to the rise in ebook sales and success of online retailers without costly overhead, the brick-and-mortar establishments are hurting and, in some cases, entire chains are closing down. But the Green Valley family operation seems to have found the secret to success, attracting thousands of buyers and racking up millions in annual sales.

What's old is new again in Nigeria, where trains are really chugging along for the first time in decades. Train tracks crisscross Nigeria, most of which were built by British colonizers. They fell into disrepair after Nigeria gained independence in 1960. But now, instead of cattle coming to market on trucks or on foot, they're riding the rails instead.

QUICK TAKE VIDEO: Two years after their Iraqi town was liberated from Islamic State control, residents are finally returning home to find they might have to start over.

Will you be my frenemy? Conflicting and cross-cutting purposes seem to define Asia these days. Countries like Russia, China and the United States have plenty of common interests but there are also lots of points at which they collide and compete.

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