Attending school in her Indonesian village made Rasminah happy. But when she was 13, her mother said the family could no longer afford tuition or even basic necessities for their oldest daughter. Instead, they found her a husband. Read more in the latest installment of VOA’s special report, “The Worth of a Girl.”

ON THIS DAY IN AMERICAN HISTORY On July 31, 1975, controversial labor leader James Riddle Hoffa goes missing from the parking lot of a Detroit restaurant, never to be seen again. Hoffa became president of the Teamsters in 1957, and rapidly increased the union’s influence. Hoffa was well liked by workers, politicians and businessmen, but during his term, the union leadership became involved with the mafia. In 1967, Hoffa was convicted of bribery and sentenced to 13 years in prison. In 1971, President Richard Nixon commuted Hoffa’s sentence with the stipulation he not engage in union work for 10 years. Hoffa’s body has never been found, and he was declared legally dead in 1982. Many believe he was the victim of a mafia hit.

The Taliban says it is hopeful an agreement will be reached with the United States to end the 18-year-old war in Afghanistan. The two adversaries meet later this week in Qatar for a crucial round of peace negotiations.

Since July 25, hundreds of protesters have gathered daily in front of the U.S. Embassy in Haiti to express their disappointment and anger at the continuing U.S. support for Haitian President Jovenel Moise. Protesters say their elected leader too corrupt to govern effectively.

U.S. health care policies took center stage Tuesday night at the Democratic presidential candidates’ debate, with more moderate challengers attacking Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, the leading progressives looking to oust President Donald Trump in the 2020 election.

China is using media, money and more to influence the January 2020 presidential election in Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy that Beijing calls its own, officials and experts on the island assert.