The Vatican press office is changing the frequency of the pope’s health updates

Leaders from Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada met virtually to discuss a proposed ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia

The two have been stuck in space for nine months

Delivery driver says tea burned him

Administration contends it’s fighting unlawful discrimination

Other tools include facial recognition, app

Outage affects most of western Cuba, including the capital

The tornado risk is expected to continue into the weekend

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Sudani announced that Abu Khadija was killed in an operation by Iraqi intelligence with support from coalition forces. Abu Khadija was one of ISIS’s most active leaders, responsible for operations along the Kirkuk, Diyala, and Salahaddin borders. He was seen as the driving force behind ISIS attacks on Iraqi forces. Click here for the full story in Kurdish.

The case of a man whose confession was made public by Irbil security forces last month has raised questions about how the security forces in the Kurdistan Region treat people they arrest. Human rights groups and lawyers say this is not the first time something like this has happened. Click here for the full story in Kurdish.

Despite widespread protests, Syria’s newly signed interim constitution is raising deeper concerns about the country’s future. Experts warn that its provisions could form the basis of Syria’s permanent constitution in five years. And many fear the constitution will lead to sectarian rule and threaten Syria’s stability. Click here for the full story in Kurdish.

Despite numerous threats from the security institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran in recent days, Nowroz celebrations are taking place in many cities on Friday across Kurdish regions, two Kurdish human rights groups said. Click here for the full Web story in Kurdish.

The Saudi crown prince plans to discuss reducing the hours of fasting for Muslims during Ramadan. However, the Kurdistan Regional Government Fatwa Committee says it is not right to follow political decisions on fasting. On the other hand, the former director of the Ministry of Religious Affairs told VOA that if Saudi Arabia makes such a decision, others should consider following it, because Saudi Arabia is still seen as the center of important religious decisions. Click here for the full...

Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharia, has signed a five-year constitution, raising concerns among Kurdish parties. Critics say it fails to represent Syria’s diverse communities. Click here for the full story in Kurdish.

Says American people gave him mandate for demand

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Ebrahim Rasool is 'no longer welcome in our great country'

Employees should get their jobs back, but administration is appealing

Since Holi is one of India's biggest festivals, millions of people make nostalgic journeys to their hometowns to celebrate with loved ones by lighting bonfires on festival eve

Day honors the numbers of the mathematical constant of pi

The families of political prisoners executed in the 1980s held a commemoration ceremony on Friday. The families of the prisoners wrote a letter to Iran’s president saying they considered the "right to mourning" a basic right, but they received no response other than the continued closure of the Khavaran cemetery's doors. Click here for the full story in Persian.

After U.S. President Donald Trump urged Moscow to accept the ceasefire deal agreed to by the U.S. and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that "the ball is in Russia's court," experts polled by VOA Russian said Vladimir Putin's first reaction was to try to swing matters back to Trump. Click here for the full story in Russian.

Armenia and Azerbaijan finalized the text of a peace agreement Friday aimed at establishing formal relations that would end decades of conflict. In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said "The United States commends Armenia and Azerbaijan for concluding negotiations on a historic peace treaty. This is an opportunity for both countries to turn the page and move in line with President [Donald] Trump's vision for a more peaceful world. We speak with Ben Dubow, Nonresident Senior...

Islamabad blames Afghanistan and India for attack; both countries deny the charge

Release of hostage was condition of US 'bridge' proposal

A Russian spokesperson reports that a call between President Trump and Russian leader Putin is being arranged

Researchers say poor eating habits, lack of health care access, obesity and physical inactivity are key drivers of diabetes in Africa

Washington — While some youth in China admit to spending an excessive amount of time on the internet, many are skeptical about new government proposals aimed at regulating the time young Chinese spend online and on social media sites. In conversations at China’s annual political meetings that wrapped up in Beijing this week, retired international basketball star Yao Ming, called for some limits on internet access for young people in China. Yao was advocating for a plan that would mandate...

The call comes as the country grapples with renewed violence three months after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad

Botswana received nearly $4 million from last year’s hunting season despite UK efforts to ban African wildlife trophies

Urgent conservation efforts are needed

Iran-flagged ship Jairan departs southern China port on Monday with new cargo load, according to analysis of ship-tracking websites

NATO Secretary-General mark Rutte visits U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. A look at the diplomacy as well as the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine. Trade tariffs appear imminent on many popular goods and a tropical cyclone ravages southeastern Africa.

The Russian leader says his forces have trapped the remaining Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk

Three revised regulations that dictate everything from the Chinese military’s broad mandate to soldiers’ day-to-day life are slated to take effect on April 1. The revisions have placed an emphasis on the PLA’s combat readiness and wartime conduct, the latter of which appears 49 times. Analysts say the revised regulations show the priority of the PLA’s future reform and its challenges. Click here for the full story in Mandarin.

Reza Valizadeh, a dual-citizen Iranian American journalist imprisoned in Iran, ended his hunger strike after six days on Thursday out of concern for his mother, who went on the hunger strike with him. Valizadeh said family members asked him to end the strike because his mother’s physical and mental condition had severely deteriorated, and he had developed motor impairment and a weakened physical condition. Click here for the full story in Persian.

Haitian armed gangs set fire overnight to Radio Television Caraibes building in downtown Port-au-Prince, not far from the National Palace. RTVC had moved its daily operations to the suburb of Petionville because of a spike in gang violence. However, its downtown office contained equipment and a series of television and radio studios.  Click here for the full story in Creole.

Serbian Republic leader pushes for new constitution that violates existing Bosnian constitution

China’s Foreign Ministry says China is committed to Panama Canal neutrality and has never interfered in its operation. VOA’s Leonid Martynyuk explains why this is misleading.

Officials tell VOA the shortage of amphibious warfare ships has reached a breaking point. While the ships make up just 10% of the fleet, they are the go-to alternative to aircraft carriers when commanders need something more precise or expedient. VOA Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb reports.