Informing, engaging & connecting the people of the world. APRIL 9, 2018

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VIDEO: ‘We need these young people.’ Twenty-three million Americans who live in the US countryside don’t have access to the internet. Officials in these areas worry that without this vital connection to the outside world, young people will continue to move away, decimating rural populations.

ON THIS DAY IN AMERICAN HISTORY On April 9, 1865 Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia and its 26,765 troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia, bringing an end to the American Civil War. (Photo: General Lee surrenders to General Grant at Appomattox Court House, reproduction of a painting by Thomas Nast.)

Think tanks play an important role in US policy and politics. Of more than 1800 think tanks in the US, nearly 400 are based in Washington. While most Americans know little about these research institutes, including who funds them, US presidents often rely on  these centers to help formulate US policy.

VIDEO: Nearly 1-in-5 Americans has a disability, according to the 2010 US Census, and their rights are protected by law under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. An exhibit in New York showcases the latest gadgets and inventions designed to help people — who have limited physical, sensory or cognitive abilities — lead more independent lives and engage more fully in the world.

VIDEO EXPLAINER: The United States holds national elections every two years.The elections held midway through a president’s 4-year term can be enormously important.  Midterm voting can impact the sitting president’s ability to push his agenda through because it can change the political landscape.

Americans appear to be losing their faith in Facebook. The change in attitude comes in the wake of revelations surrounding how the social media company treats personal information and potentially allows the spread of so-called fake news. A new survey finds that fewer than one-third of Americans view Facebook as a responsible company that tries to do the right thing.