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Arab countries gather in Baghdad to discuss regional crises
The Arab League is meeting in Baghdad on Saturday to discuss Gaza and other regional crises, but some key leaders are expected to miss the talks that come straight after US President Donald Trump's Gulf tour.

Nine killed in Russian drone attack on Ukraine after talks
A Russian drone attack on a minibus carrying civilians killed nine people on Saturday, authorities said, a day after Moscow and Kyiv agreed a large-scale prisoner swap at talks in Turkey.

Canberra slams Russian jailing of Australian who fought for Ukraine
Australia's government said Saturday it was "appalled" by a Russian-controlled court's 13-year penal colony sentence for an Australian man who was captured while fighting for Ukraine.

S. Korea's ex-president Yoon leaves party ahead of snap election
South Korea's ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol left his conservative party on Saturday as it gears up for snap elections triggered by his impeachment over a bid to impose martial law.

Rescuers say 100 dead as Israel launches fresh Gaza offensive
The Israeli military said Saturday it had launched "extensive strikes" as part of a fresh offensive in Gaza, after rescuers reported 100 people killed in the besieged Palestinian territory.

Arab League to meet in Baghdad to discuss regional crises
The Arab League is meeting in Baghdad on Saturday to discuss Gaza and other regional crises, but some key leaders are expected to miss the talks that come straight after US President Donald Trump's Gulf tour.

Trump reshapes US Mideast policy. Can deals work instead?
President Donald Trump proclaimed a decisive break with decades of US interventionism during his Middle East tour, promising a new American foreign policy based instead on his beloved art of the deal.

US stocks add to weekly gains amid trade deal optimism
Wall Street stocks rose again Friday, adding to weekly gains fueled by deescalation of the China-US trade war and hopes for additional international trade deals.

US considering reality TV competition for citizenship
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is considering taking part in a reality TV show in which immigrants would compete for American citizenship, the department confirmed on Friday.

Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 100 as Hamas makes a plea to lift blockade
Rescuers said Israeli strikes on Gaza killed 100 people on Friday, as Hamas demanded the United States press Israel to lift a sweeping aid blockade in return for a US-Israeli hostage released by the group.

European leaders seek united front with Trump on Ukraine
Key European leaders sought Friday to project a united front with US President Donald Trump on ending the war in Ukraine, after direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv wrapped up with no breakthrough on a ceasefire.

UN rights chief warns of 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza
The UN's rights chief on Friday denounced Israel's sharp escalation of attacks in Gaza -- and an apparent push to permanently displace the population -- as amounting to "ethnic cleansing".
Ukraine war talks yield POW swap, but no truce
Russia and Ukraine agreed a large-scale prisoner exchange, said they would trade ideas on a possible ceasefire and discussed a potential meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin in their first direct talks in over three years on Friday.

Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 88 as Hamas makes a plea to lift blockade
Rescuers said Israeli strikes on Gaza killed nearly 90 people on Friday, while Hamas demanded the United States press Israel to lift a sweeping aid blockade in return for a US-Israeli hostage released by the group.
Russia, Ukraine agree prisoner swap, fail to reach truce in first talks since 2022
Russia and Ukraine agreed a large-scale prisoner exchange, said they would trade ideas on a possible ceasefire and discussed a potential meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin in their first direct talks in over three years on Friday.

'Magnificent', 'handsome': Trump's fascination for Gulf leaders
Gulf Arab leaders were "starving for love" -- so US President Donald Trump showered them with near endless praise during a tour filled with bromance and billion-dollar deals this week.

Albania's Rama gives showman's welcome to Europe's leaders
Kneeling to greet Italy's Giorgia Meloni and gripping France's Emmanuel Macron in a bro hug, Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama hosted Europe's leaders Friday with his showman's panache undampened by torrential rain.

PM seeks election win as Portugal campaigning ends
Portugal's general election campaign ends on Friday for a vote that Prime Minister Luis Montenegro is expected to win, but with no guarantee he can form a more stable government.

Chad's ex-prime minister arrested for 'inciting hatred'
Chad's former prime minister and opposition leader Succes Masra was arrested early Friday accused of inciting hatred in connection with deadly clashes in the southwest, the public prosecutor said.

French crypto boss hails 'heroic' duo for foiling kidnap bid
French cryptocurrency boss Pierre Noizat on Friday praised his "heroic" son-in-law and a neighbour armed with a fire extinguisher for thwarting the attempted kidnapping of his pregnant daughter and young grandson.

Council of Europe denounces 'deliberate starvation' in Gaza
The Council of Europe on Friday said Gaza was suffering from a "deliberate starvation", and warned that Israel was sowing "the seeds for the next Hamas" in the territory.
Russia, Ukraine conclude first peace talks since 2022
Russians and Ukrainians sat face-to-face for under two hours Friday in Istanbul for the first direct talks in over three years aimed at ending their war, with expectations low for breakthroughs.

World Press Photo suspends credit for 'Napalm Girl' picture
World Press Photo suspended on Friday the credit for who took one of the most iconic pictures in history, the Vietnam War image "Napalm Girl", after doubts were raised over the photograph's authorship.

Russia, Ukraine hold first peace talks since 2022
The first direct talks on halting Russia's war on Ukraine in more than three years started Friday in Istanbul, with expectations low that the two sides would agree to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.

Stock markets calmer as trade rally eases
Stock markets were calmer Friday, with European stocks consolidating weekly gains fuelled by the China-US trade war hiatus and as investors awaited further developments over tariffs.

Russia, Ukraine hold first talks since 2022
The first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia on ending their war in more than three years started on Friday in Istanbul, with expectations low that the two sides would agree to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.

Iran, European powers hold nuclear talks in Turkey
Iranian negotiators began talks with Britain, France and Germany on Friday, a diplomatic source said, after US President Donald Trump said a nuclear deal with Tehran was "getting close".

More Hollywood stars join protest letter over Gaza 'genocide'
Hollywood heavyweights Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Riz Ahmed and Guillermo del Toro have added their names to a letter condemning the film industry's silence on what it called "genocide" in Gaza, the organisers confirmed Friday.

India asks IMF to reconsider Pakistan programme over 'terror funding'
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Friday the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should reconsider a one billion dollar loan to Pakistan, alleging Islamabad was "funding terror".

Russia, Ukraine to meet for first talks since 2022
Russian and Ukrainian delegations will meet in Istanbul on Friday for their first talks in more than three years of war, with tens of thousands killed in Europe's worst conflict since World War II.

Trump says many in Gaza are 'starving'
US President Donald Trump said Friday "a lot of people are starving" in the besieged Gaza Strip, where rescuers reported more than 50 deaths in Israeli air strikes since midnight.

Umerov: 'Wonder' dealmaker from Crimea leading Ukraine peace talks
Rustem Umerov, who heads Ukraine's delegation at peace talks with Russia on Friday, is a skilled and pragmatic negotiator, hailed by his colleagues as a worker of diplomatic "wonders".