BERLIN — The German parliament Friday approved plans to relax strict restrictions on family names — clearing the way, among other things, for couples to take double surnames and pass them on to their children. The reform of Germany's rigid rules is due to take effect at the beginning of May 2025 after passing parliament's upper house, which represents the country's 16 state governments. As it stands, parents are required to give their children one of their surnames. One partner in a married… Read Full Article

Johannesburg/Maputo —  Africa has long been known for its so-called “blood diamonds,” a term for mineral wealth that fuels violent conflict. In the Southern Africa country of Mozambique, a report finds “blood timber” largely fueled by market demand from China is financing an insurgency in northern Mozambique. But security analysts disagree on how much the militants are profiting from the wood sales.   An Islamic State-linked militant group has been waging an insurgency in Mozambique’s Cabo… Read Full Article

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

For two years, the fiancee and family of a Mariupol defender have been waiting for him to return home. They haven’t heard from him since May 2022. His comrades say he's alive and being held in Russian territory. From Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine, Tetiana Kukurika has the story, narrated by Anna Rice. VOA footage by Sergiy Rybchynski.

Russia's president says he is not after Ukraine's second-largest city - but wants to create a "security zone".

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Kenenisa Bekele will face fellow all-time great Eliud Kipchoge at the Olympics, 21 years on from their first meeting in a final.

Emergency services used dinghies to rescue people from their homes, after a storm brought heavy rain and wind.