WASHINGTON —  U.S. President Joe Biden announced Friday that the Equal Rights Amendment should be considered a ratified addition to the U.S. Constitution, making a symbolic statement that’s unlikely to alter a decadeslong push for gender equality. “The Equal Rights Amendment is the law of the land,” Biden said, even though presidents have no role…

As with all massive disasters, there are individual stories of loss and hope. We’re now hearing some of those stories even as wildfires continue to burn in and around Los Angeles. Khrystyna Shevchenko met with one family that chose to ignore evacuation orders to fight wildfires threatening their home. Khrystyna Shevchenko has the story, narrated…

WASHINGTON —  Firefighters have contained more of the Palisades and Eaton fires in Southern California, the state’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Friday morning. For the time being, the strongest winds have calmed, but the National Weather Service said dangerous conditions are expected again next week. The strongest winds are expected Tuesday night.…

Washington —  The United States has been ramping up its Indo-Pacific region air bases to ensure they are protected against attack, a spokesperson for the U.S. Pacific Air Forces told VOA this week, amid concerns over vulnerabilities they face in countries such as Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea against potential Chinese strikes. “While we…