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Researchers say role of West Africa’s oral history should be taken more seriously within global academic record

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...

Iraqi leader announces the death of the IS deputy caliph on social media; Iraqi forces say he was targeted in an airstrike in the Anbar desert

The Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration in northern and eastern Syria was the first to reject the constitution, calling it exclusionary

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

Release of hostage was condition of US 'bridge' proposal

This week, BlackRock, one of the largest U.S. asset management firms, signed an agreement with CK Hutchison Holdings to acquire 90% of Panama Ports Company, which operates the crucial Balboa and Cristobal ports. The acquisition comes amid U.S. concerns that the Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison could create a strategic foothold for China in the Panama Canal. The deal also addresses some of the U.S.’s strategic anxieties for now, yet the implications extend beyond the Canal’s waters. The agreement...

Uzbekistan "has made significant progress in eliminating widespread state-imposed forced labor," according to the Uzbek Forum for Human Rights. The group is urging the Uzbek government to implement its promised reforms and create an enabling environment for freedom of association and civil society, which play a key role in monitoring and reporting violations and abuses. Click here for the full story in Uzbek.

Former Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani spoke to Mazlum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, to discuss the recent agreement between SDF and the Syrian interim government. Barzani encouraged broader participation from other Syrian Kurdish parties, including the Kurdish National Council in Syria, to strengthen Kurdish representation beyond the SDF alone. Click here for the full story in Kurdish.

Three Kurdish and Lorestan prisoners have been told they may soon have four fingers cut off as punishment for theft. The Iranian court says they must get forgiveness from the people who accused them by next month, or the punishment will go forward. The men have spent nine years in prison. Human rights groups say this kind of punishment is like torture and goes against international laws. Click here for the full story in Kurdish.

The U.S. president sent a letter to Iran’s supreme leader to restart talks on Iran’s nuclear program, but Iran refused. Experts think Iran is preparing for war, as shown by its military drills. The U.S. has added new sanctions, and President Donald Trump says military action is still possible, although he hopes for a new deal. Click here for the full story in Kurdish.

The on-again, off-again tariffs between the United States and other countries are again under scrutiny, with the U.S. president not budging. VOA White House Correspondent Carolyn Presutti reports.

All G7 foreign ministers agree with the US proposal of a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war

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