Newsletter Archive

VOA’s Ramon Taylor and Arturo Martinez traveled to towns in Arizona and California, to ask people living on the U.S.-Mexico border what they think should be done about illegal immigration.  It turns out, even those who might be most directly impacted by whatever measures the U.S. takes to secure its borders say there are no easy solutions, and opinions about what should be done are as varied as they are elsewhere.

President Trump got some good news in recent polls about his handling of North Korea, and even his overall approval rating ticked up slightly.  But some political experts told VOA he remains a polarizing figure, and while policy wins like progress on North Korea might help Republicans heading into the midterm elections, the controversies surrounding him will likely also continue to provide hope to Democrats for big wins come November.

This Sunday, Americans will celebrate Mother’s Day, sending cards, flowers and gifts to their moms, or maybe taking her out for brunch.  But did you know the woman who was a driving force behind the holiday fought against the commercialization of Mother’s Day soon after it was established?

In an apparent tit-for-tat, Pakistan announced unspecified travel restrictions on American diplomats Friday and withdrew concessions it had granted to U.S. missions as part of the “war on terror,” dealing a major blow to what one ex-Pakistani diplomat described as “strayed” bilateral relations. The decision comes after Washington said Pakistani diplomats would be required to seek permission five days in advance before traveling more than 40 kilometers from their U.S. posts.

China is investing more than $1 trillion in roads, bridges, railways, ports, and power plants in more than 70 countries — a bold strategy to steer global commerce its way and reclaim its Silk Road heritage. A VOA special project examines how the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ is transforming lives, reshaping landscapes and tilting the geopolitical balance.

While the South African city of Cape Town drew international attention when it warned it could run out of water this year, an international charity focused on global water supplies says “slow burning” droughts have wreaked even worse devastation in other parts of Africa.