Newsletter Archive

Was a US college student who vanished in China in 2004 abducted by North Korea? His parents believe David Sneddon, who speaks both Korean and Mandarin, is probably teaching English in the communist state. Several US senators are moving to reinvigorate the probe into the disappearance of  Sneddon, who may be living in North Korea against his will.

Los Angeles police are concerned about a 10-percent drop in domestic violence calls and a 25-percent decrease in sexual assaults calls. They worry the decrease doesn’t mean there’s been a drop in crime, but that undocumented immigrants fearing deportation aren’t reporting crimes. It’s a fear L.A. police Capt. Alfred Labrada understands all too well because he was once an illegal immigrant, too.

He uses the slogan ‘Make Virginia Great Again,’ calls his political rivals derogatory nicknames, and speaks out against the alleged dangers posed by undocumented immigrants. Meet the Republican Virginia gubernatorial candidate some are calling ‘mini-Trump.’

Michael Sharp tried to broker peace between armed groups in one of the most dangerous countries in Africa. His mission came to a violent end after the UN expert and two colleagues were abducted and killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo earlier this month. Despite his loss, Sharp’s father tells VOA his son’s important work must continue.

US President Donald Trump’s tough but vague talk on North Korea is fueling speculation that a major policy shift could be in the works. Chinese President Xi Jinping visits the US this week. Will the president’s comments lead to a grand bargain with Beijing or start a preemptive war?

China’s ‘charm offensive’ in the United States, especially its investments in Hollywood, are raising concerns that Beijing is looking to spread its own style of censorship and control. China spends millions of dollars each year to try to advance its views overseas, eager to tell its story on its own terms. 

Britain is starting to get a feel for what it’s like to be on the outside looking in as a dispute over Gibraltar promises to heat up in the wake of Brexit. Spain ceded the mountainous outcrop on its southern tip to Britain 300 years ago. But now the European Union is expected to back Spain — an EU member state — in any future disputes over ‘The Rock.’

More West African urbanites have an appetite for bushmeat — wild animals like monkeys, duikers and pangolins. After Ebola hit Liberia, bushmeat consumption dropped. However, it decreased less among wealthier people, and satisfying that craving is creating some ‘empty forests.’