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California temperatures continue to climb into the triple digits, worsening the West's unprecedented drought. CNN's Stephanie Elam reports.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem took the podium at CPAC and criticized other conservative governors who took a more cautious approach on coronavirus safety precautions, questioning their "grit."

Female survivors of the war against the Islamic State have opened a new women-run restaurant in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, providing homemade food for residents and an economic lifeline for themselves. VOA's Kawa Omer reports from the region in this story narrated by Namo Abdulla.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized the Cuban government amid some of the biggest displays of antigovernment sentiment on the island nation in decades. (July 2021)

Last year, the COVID pandemic saw Turkey canceling one of the world's oldest sporting events: the centuries-old Kirkpinar oil wrestling tournament. For Turkish and international fans, the festival's return offers hope that pandemic restrictions are finally ending.

CNN's David McKenzie reports from the scene as protests against the jailing of former South African President Jacob Zuma turned into looting and violence.

A memorial was held for 17-year-old Hunter Brittain who was fatally shot June 23 by a Lonoke County sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop around 3 a.m. outside of a local auto repair shop in Arkansas.

Hundreds of women and girls in Ethiopia's Tigray region have reported brutal rapes at the hands of soldiers in a war that is still ongoing, despite last week's government troop withdrawal. As VOA's Heather Murdock reports from Mekelle, the rape victims who come forward say they are only a small percentage of the women and girls who have been brutalized.

President Joe Biden on Monday praised the thousands of Cubans who took to the streets on the island in protest of food shortages and high prices amid the coronavirus crisis, pledging the U.S. "stands firmly" with them. (July 12)

Gareth Southgate condemns the "unforgivable" racist abuse aimed at the three England players who missed penalties in Sunday's Euro 2020 final defeat against Italy. Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were the victims of sickening social media taunts in the aftermath of the 3-2 penalty shoot-out loss at Wembley.

The Maldives – a tiny nation of about twelve hundred islands set in crystalline waters – depends on income from tourism. The pandemic cut that revenue in half. But with COVID on the run, the government's wooing tourists, especially from China. VOA's Janine Phakdeetham reports.