Opinion surveys by organizations such as the Arab American Institute show Americans have increasingly negative attitudes toward Arab and Muslim communities, which suffer from the lowest favorable and highest unfavorable ratings compared to other minority groups. To help counter this, an international film and television star in New York is using satire to encourage people to reconsider their assumptions about Muslims. VOA’s Bernard Shusman reports.

For the first time in decades, young basketball players in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, are enjoying better security and are playing tournaments at night - attracting more fans. For years, warlords and terrorists groups denied young Somalis the ability to even play sports. Abdulaziz Billow reports from Mogadishu.

It is said that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. That idea helped inspire a program in San Francisco, in which recycled materials are used to create works of art. VOA's Mike O’Sullivan spoke with two of the artists about the project.

Amnesty International says activists battling for women’s rights in Afghanistan are facing mounting violence, including threats, sexual assault and assassinations. In a new report, the London-based group says the Afghan government is failing to protect women, and the human rights gains made since the fall of the Taliban are at risk. Henry Ridgwell reports from London.

Greece is demanding more than $300 billion from Germany as compensation for World War II damages. Germany says it already has settled its reparations to Greece in a post-war agreement. The latest dispute adds to the tensions between the two countries, caused by Greece's inability to pay off its European Union loan. Meanwhile, as Zlatica Hoke reports, the Greek government is looking into boosting ties with Russia.

When Liberia reopened its borders earlier this year, many people felt it was premature with Ebola still rife in Sierra Leone and Guinea. The border is porous and hard to control under the best of times. Benno Muchler travelled there in Nimba Country and filed this report on how locals are dealing with the situation.

President Barack Obama is expected to discuss human rights with Cuban President Raul Castro and members of Cuba’s civil society during the Summit of the Americas in Panama April 10-11. As the two nations work to re-establish diplomatic ties after more than five decades, many are watching to see whether Havana will loosen its grip on fundamental freedoms at home. VOA’s Mary Alice Salinas reports.