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Netanyahu to meet Trump as Israel, Hamas eye Gaza truce talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump on Tuesday, as Israel and Hamas say they are ready for negotiations on a new phase in their fragile Gaza ceasefire.

China hits back at US with levies as Trump tariffs come in force

China said Tuesday it would impose tariffs of 15 percent on imports of coal and liquefied natural gas from the United States, in retaliation for Washington's 10 percent levies on Chinese goods.

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Palestinian family wants justice for children killed in Israel strike

Batoul Bsharat was playing with her eight-year-old brother Reda in their village in the occupied West Bank. Moments later an Israeli drone strike killed him and two of their cousins.

Weakening of Hezbollah allowed Lebanon to fill vacant presidency

The weakening of Hezbollah in last year's war with Israel allowed Lebanon's long deadlocked parliament to reach consensus around a president who has the confidence of the international community.

UN says 3 million Sudan children facing acute malnutrition

An estimated 3.2 million children under the age of five are expected to face acute malnutrition this year in war-torn Sudan, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Turkey raps France, says US only counterpart in northeast Syria

Turkey's top diplomat ruled out any role for French troops in Syria Friday, saying Washington was its only interlocutor as US officials sought to head off Turkish military action against Kurdish fighters.

Body of Israeli hostage identified, two days after father's: army

The body of an Israeli hostage held captive by militants in Gaza since the October 7 attack has been identified after recovery of his remains, the military said on Friday.

Scots leader hails opening of UK's first drug consumption facility

Scotland's leader John Swinney hailed Friday the opening next week of Britain's first official consumption room for illegal drugs, after a years-long battle with the UK government over the issue.

Italian FM meets Syria's new leader in Damascus

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani met Syria's new ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus Friday, state media said, in the latest such visit from a European diplomat since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

'Real-world harm' if Meta ends fact-checks, global network warns

There will be "real-world harm" if Meta expands its decision to scrap fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram, a global network warned Thursday while disputing Mark Zuckerberg's claim such moderation amounts to censorship.

Security chief of South Korea's impeached President Yoon resigns

South Korea's presidential security chief resigned Friday as he faced questioning over why his guards prevented the detention of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, and as investigators prepared to make a fresh arrest attempt.

South Korea's presidential security chief resigns

South Korea's presidential security chief resigned Friday as he faced questioning over why his guards prevented the detention of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol and investigators prepared to make a fresh arrest attempt.

Italian FM tours landmark mosque in first Syria visit

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani began his first official visit to post-Assad Syria on Friday with a tour of the landmark Umayyad mosque in Damascus.

Nicolas Maduro: Venezuela's iron-fisted 'worker president'

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, due to be sworn in Friday for a third six-year term after elections he is widely accused of stealing, has been written off many times during a turbulent decade in power.

Ukraine's French-trained brigade rocked by scandal

With its soldiers trained in France and high-profile endorsements from the French and Ukrainian presidents, the "Anne of Kyiv" brigade was supposed to be a flagship unit for Ukraine's army.

Venezuela's Maduro to take presidential oath despite domestic, global outcry

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, in office since 2013, is due to take the oath of office for a third term Friday despite a global outcry that brought thousands out in protest on the ceremony's eve.

Vietnam jails ex-lawyer over Facebook posts

A Vietnamese court sentenced a prominent former lawyer to three years in jail Friday over Facebook posts it ruled undermined the state by criticising a leading judge.

Asian markets drift lower as US jobs data looms

Equities fell again in Asia on Friday as traders prepared for the release of US jobs data that could play a key role in the Federal Reserve's decision-making on interest rate, with several officials indicating the cutting has finished for now.

Croatia's populist president tipped for re-election

Croatia votes in a presidential runoff on Sunday, with the opposition-backed incumbent Zoran Milanovic expected to win a second term, in a fresh blow to the scandal-hit ruling party.

UN watchdog says Australia violated asylum seekers' rights

Australia violated the rights of asylum seekers arbitrarily detained on the island of Nauru, a UN watchdog ruled Thursday, in a warning to other countries intent on outsourcing asylum processing.

S. Korea presidential security chief urges 'no bloodshed' in Yoon arrest

South Korea's presidential security chief said Friday there must be no bloodshed if another arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol is executed by investigators over his failed martial law bid.

Venezuela opposition claims elusive leader briefly detained in Caracas protest

Venezuela pro-democracy figurehead Maria Corina Machado emerged from months of hiding to lead a mass protest in Caracas Thursday, before conflicting claims that she was briefly detained by state security agents.

Chad says 20 killed in bid to storm presidential palace

Armed men tried to storm Chad's presidential palace when President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno was inside but 18 attackers and two soldiers were killed in the failed attack, the national prosecutor said Thursday.

Danish PM reaches out to Trump over Greenland remarks

Denmark's prime minister said Thursday she had reached out to US President-elect Donald Trump following his remarks about taking control of Greenland, which Denmark said were being taken seriously.

Maria Corina Machado: the face and fire of Venezuela's opposition

Maria Corina Machado, a 57-year-old engineer with rock-star appeal, became the fearless figurehead of Venezuela's opposition after being barred from challenging strongman Nicolas Maduro in elections last July.

Harmison wants England captain Buttler to be spared Afghanistan boycott decision

Steve Harmison is adamant England captain Jos Buttler must not be "thrown under the bus" amid growing political pressure to boycott next month's Champions Trophy cricket match against Afghanistan.

'We're not afraid': Venezuelans defy repression to challenge Maduro's rule

Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado on Thursday emerged from hiding to lead last-ditch protests against the swearing-in of Nicolas Maduro for president after elections he is accused of stealing.

US Fed's December rate cut was 'final' step to recalibrate policy: official

The US Federal Reserve should proceed cautiously before supporting any future rate cuts, a senior bank official said Thursday, adding that she saw December's rate cut as a final step for now.

Jimmy Carter briefly unites US as presidents attend funeral

Jimmy Carter brought a fleeting moment of national unity to a divided America Thursday as all five living US presidents gathered for their predecessor's moving state funeral in Washington's National Cathedral.

Poland to grant Israeli officials 'free' access to Auschwitz ceremony

Poland's government said Thursday it would grant free access to Israeli officials wanting to attend the 80th anniversary of the Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation despite an arrest warrant for the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

What do we know about latest Gaza talks?

Mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States have launched a new push to end the Gaza war and secure the release of dozens of hostages held in the Palestinian territory.

Chad says bid to storm into presidential palace foiled, 20 dead

Two dozen armed men tried to storm into Chad's presidential palace but 18 of the attackers and two soldiers were killed in the failed attack, the national prosecutor said Thursday.

'Venezuela will be free': anti-Maduro protests roil Caracas

Opponents of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro took to the streets Thursday in a last-ditch protest against his swearing-in for a third six-year term as president.

Macron welcomes 'crucial election' of new Lebanon president

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday welcomed the "crucial election" by Lebanese lawmakers of army chief Joseph Aoun as president after a two-year vacuum at the top, calling his victory an opportunity for reform in the country.

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