VOA rides along on an FBI and state police operation that focuses on rescuing kidnapped girls and boys forced to engage in sex for money. Learn why closing websites used to advertise prostitution may make it harder for law enforcement to locate these victims.

ON THIS DAY IN AMERICAN HISTORY On April 27, 1865, the steamboat Sultana exploded near Memphis, Tennessee, killing 1,192 people. It was the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history. Most of the casualties were Union soldiers who had been prisoners of war during the recently concluded American Civil War. The Sultana was designed to carry fewer than 400 passengers, but there were over 2,000 aboard when the tragedy occurred.

For some people, makeup isn’t just about the latest shade of lipstick or eye shadow. It’s about empowerment. Just ask the fans at Beautycon, a recent two-day event in New York that showcased more than 100 makeup and beauty brands.

Authorities estimate some 130 gangs operate in the South African province that includes the city of Cape Town. The gangs support themselves through weapons smuggling, contract killing, drug and human trafficking, prostitution and more, recruiting children as young as 9 into the trade.

Built on the site of an slave warehouse , this Alabama museum is filled with visual exhibits that serve as a catalyst for understanding what many blacks in the United States have historically endured.

The migrant caravan that angered President Trump has reached the US/Mexico border. To help those planning to seek asylum, another caravan has been heading south to the border to meet them: A group of American lawyers and human rights activists.