U.S. consumer spending rose at only a sluggish pace in January, even as signs of growing optimism about the economy have emerged. Consumer spending increased 0.2 percent in January, after a 0.5 percent gain in December, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. Spending on services — from haircuts to health care — was flat, and Americans spent less… more

A Jewish advocacy group is calling on U.S. President Donald Trump to step up federal efforts to stamp out hate crimes after vandalism at a slew of Jewish cemeteries and bomb threats at schools have raised concerns for some in the Jewish community. Jonathan Greenblatt, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, told VOA he wants… more

Protesters planned marches Tuesday in downtown Vancouver as President Donald Trump’s two eldest sons attended the grand opening of their company’s new hotel and condominium tower in a city known for diversity and progressive politics. Security officers in black suits surrounded the building’s entrance while police gathered on sidewalks at the soaring tower, which has… more

More than 120 retired U.S. military generals and admirals are urging Congress not to cut spending on diplomacy and foreign aid, two government functions that may be targeted in President Donald Trump’s first budget proposal. When he unveils his budget proposal Tuesday before Congress, Trump is expected to call for a $54 billion boost in… more

The U.S. Embassy in Croatia on Monday strongly denounced a march by far-right nationalists in the Croatian capital of Zagreb who also waved an American flag and reportedly voiced support for President Donald Trump. The embassy said in a statement it “rejects, in the strongest terms, neo-Nazi and pro-Ustasha views expressed during the demonstration of… more

U.S. President Donald Trump is to tell governors from throughout the country how he hopes to repeal and replace health care reforms that former President Barack Obama considered his signature legislative achievement. Trump’s message to the governors Monday could begin to provide some clarity about his stance on how to revamp the seven-year-old Affordable Care… more

U.S. President Donald Trump called Monday for a $54 billion annual increase in defense spending, describing the 10 percent jump as a “landmark event,” a message aimed at assuring the world of “American strength, security and resolve.” Speaking to U.S. governors at the White House, Trump said, “We must ensure that our courageous servicemen and… more

Public opinion polls indicate approval ratings for U.S. President Donald Trump are at a record low for a newly inaugurated commander in chief, a reflection on his performance during his first month in office as well as the continuing sharp political divide among American voters. In the latest survey, NBC News and The Wall Street… more

U.S. actor Bill Paxton, known for such films as Titanic, Twister, and Aliens, has died at the age of 61. “It is with heavy hearts we share the news that Bill Paxton has passed away due to complications from surgery,” a statement from his family said. “A loving husband and father, Bill began his career… more

A national gathering of U.S. state leaders continues Sunday in Washington, with a focus on child hunger and infrastructure efforts. The annual National Governors Association (NGA) meeting follows President Donald Trump’s recent orders to get tougher on the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States, in part by cutting off billions of dollars… more

Democratic Party officials are poised to elect a leader to oversee the formidable task of rebuilding a Democratic Party that suffered a humiliating presidential election defeat at the hands of Republican Donald Trump. Four hundred and forty seven members of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) will vote in Atlanta Saturday to elect a new party… more

Like other Afghan immigrants, Faisal Razmal thought he was leaving violence behind for a new life in the United States, considered the land of opportunity. After all, he survived an IED (improvised explosive device) blast in Kabul during five years as an interpreter for U.S. forces. Threats to his life were worth it, in his… more

The U.S. administration’s new national security adviser has reportedly told his staff that Muslims who carry out terrorist acts are corrupting Islam, a departure from an ideological position held by other senior advisers to President Donald Trump. Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster told members of the National Security Council that the use of the term “radical… more

The U.S. State Department will resume news briefings the week of March 6, a spokesman said on Friday, breaking a silence under Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that had caused consternation among American diplomats and contributed to confusion abroad about U.S. positions on key issues. The briefings, which in the past were televised and held… more

U.S. Representative Leonard Lance, who has held more than 40 town hall-style meetings with constituents in his central New Jersey district, has never faced a crowd like he did on Wednesday. The Republican endured catcalls, chants and caustic questions from more than 1,000 residents at a local college, while hundreds of others outside brandished signs… more

Indian officials expressed shock at the killing of an Indian engineer in a shooting incident in a bar in the United States, which is being investigated by U.S. authorities as a possible hate crime.   The incident was widely reported by Indian media and drew strong reaction on social media. Tens of thousands of Indians… more

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the U.S. and Mexico are “two strong foreign countries that from time to time will have differences,” but says his talks with officials in Mexico city were “productive and forward looking.” Tillerson spoke to reporters alongside his Mexican counterpart Luis Videgaray, who said the two sides have “notorious differences”… more

What is a leak? A leak is generally a voluntary disclosure of classified information. The information is usually provided by an unidentified source whose objective is to make the information public. When someone discloses information to the media, the Open School of Journalism describes the event as a “news leak.” The information can be leaked… more

The U.S. State Department is calling for China to alter its approach toward the South China Sea, a strategically important and resource-rich waterway that has long been claimed by several countries. State Department spokeswoman Anna Richey-Allen said, “We call on China, as well as other claimants, to refrain from taking any steps towards the construction… more

U.S. Army Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster, newly named as President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, is now also a best-selling author, for a book he wrote two decades ago. McMaster’s widely acclaimed 1997 book, Dereliction of Duty, about the failure of U.S. military and political leadership in their conduct of the U.S. war against communist… more

Thousands of American conservatives are set to open their annual political conference Wednesday outside Washington, D.C., with the weight of President Donald Trump’s vision for the country’s future taking center stage. Trump is scheduled to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Friday, and while those at the conference are likely excited about the… more

The contest to head the Democratic National Committee remains fluid just days before activists meet to pick a new party chair. The tight race between former Labor Secretary Tom Perez and Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota marks the first heavily contested battle in recent history, a reflection of a newly energized Democratic party struggling to… more

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis welcomed the naming of Lieutenant General Herbert Raymond McMaster as the new national security adviser, a Pentagon spokesman said on Tuesday. U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday named McMaster as his new national security adviser, choosing a military officer known for speaking his mind and challenging his superiors. “Secretary Mattis… more

Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Tuesday that the U.S. is committed to working with European allies, despite occasional disagreements. “At the end of the day, no one should misinterpret occasional policy differences and debates as a signal of anything less than total commitment to our alliances in Europe. That commitment is… more

U.S. President Donald Trump has been in office for a month, but the number of investigations of his new administration and its actions is mounting. It is not just opposition Democrats trying to uncover the inner workings and thinking of the new administration in Washington, but also Republican colleagues of the billionaire real estate mogul… more

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Monday he was “disappointed” to learn ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn had lied to him about his contacts with the Russian ambassador in Washington, stressing that he supported President Donald Trump’s decision to fire Flynn from the strategic White House post. Pence, during a news conference at NATO… more