President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee , Judge Brett Kavanaugh, can expect a range of tough questions when he faces a Senate confirmation hearing in the coming weeks. One area where Kavanaugh is likely to be pressed is on his view of the scope of presidential power, which he believes is quite broad.

ON THIS DAY IN AMERICAN HISTORY   On July 19, 1980, the Summer Olympics began in Moscow. The U.S. and 65 other countries boycotted the games to protest the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan the previous December. In response, the Soviet Union led a 14-nation boycott of the 1984 games held in Los Angeles.

Following a trend among industrialized nations , hard drugs are making their way into the hands of West African consumers. With European markets saturated, experts believe drug lords are increasingly turning their attention to the region, leading to an increase in addicts and the opening of West Africa’s first drug rehabilitation center.

StoryCorps: A US soldier tells his wife the story of an unlikely friendship he formed with two boys while serving in Iraq, and how a tragedy has left him wondering whatever became of one of the kids.

North Korean denuclearization progress has stalled as pressure from economic sanctions appears to be easing, and after President Trump declared that North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat. Analysts tell VOA Trump administration officials may also have realized that prior demands for rapid, unilateral denuclearization before granting any concessions are unrealistic.

VIDEO: The highest-ranking Taiwanese officials to visit Washington in decades sat down to dinner this week at one of the most elegant homes in Washington. Use of a Taiwan government-owned mansion has been limited since the U.S. formally recognized the Beijing government in 1979, but those rules were loosened by the Taiwan Travel Act, passed earlier this year. VOA’s Daphne Fan was treated to a recent tour.

The American Accordionists’ Association celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, gathering in Alexandria, Virginia, to showcase performers of all ages and abilities. Some attendees told VOA’s Jill Craig the instrument is enjoying a resurgence in popularity.