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Arab Israeli candidate drops out of election race

An Arab Israeli politician Sami Abu Shehadeh withdrew his candidacy for next month's parliamentary election on Thursday after the country's Supreme Court indicated a majority of its judges supported barring him from the race.

Israel courts Europe's far right, finding friends but also unease

Facing growing isolation over the war in Gaza, Israel is increasingly allying itself with Europe's far right, despite some parties' legacies of antisemitism.

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United G7 warns Russia to back Ukraine truce

The Group of Seven powers Friday warned Russia of new sanctions unless it accepts a ceasefire with Ukraine, in a forceful show of unity after President Donald Trump rattled the club of democracies.

Israel PM, security agency fight it out in public

Israel's premier and the head of internal security are engaged in a very public spat over reforms to the agency, accused of failing to prevent the October 7, 2023 attack.

Russia 'committed crimes against humanity' in Ukraine: UN probe

Russia has committed the crimes against humanity of enforced disappearances and torture in its war in Ukraine -- part of a systematic attack on civilians, a United Nations investigation has concluded.

Trump hails 'productive' truce talks with Russia, urges Putin to spare Ukrainians

US President Donald Trump said Friday his administration had "productive" talks with Russia about a ceasefire in Ukraine, urging counterpart Vladimir Putin to spare Ukrainian soldiers on the front line.

Mark Carney: Canada's new PM charted unusual path to power

He was born near the Arctic, led the central banks of two major economies and has become Canada's prime minister despite never having served in parliament.

Mark Carney sworn in as Canada PM

Mark Carney was sworn in as Canada's prime minister on Friday, taking charge of a country rattled by a breakdown in US relations since President Donald Trump's return to power.

Hamas says ready to free Israeli-US hostage, four bodies

Hamas said on Friday it was ready to free an Israeli-American hostage and the remains of four others, after the Palestinian militants and Israel resumed indirect Gaza ceasefire negotiations.

Mark Carney to be sworn in as Canada PM

Mark Carney will be sworn in as Canada's prime minister on Friday, taking charge of a country rattled by a breakdown in US relations since President Donald Trump's return to power.

UN migration agency laying off around 20% of HQ staff amid US aid cuts: sources

The UN migration agency, which has been hit hard by US foreign aid cuts, has launched more mass layoffs, impacting around a fifth of staff at its Geneva headquarters, employees said Friday.

Kremlin says Putin sent 'additional' signals to Trump on ceasefire

Russia on Friday said President Vladimir Putin had sent "additional" signals to counterpart Donald Trump about a Washington-proposed ceasefire in Ukraine, adding it was "cautiously optimistic" about the prospect of a deal.

Funding cuts force WFP to stop food aid to one million in Myanmar

The World Food Programme will be forced to cut off one million people in war-torn Myanmar from its vital food aid because of "critical funding shortfalls", it said on Friday.

Canada's Carney to be sworn in as new PM

Former central banker Mark Carney will be sworn in as Canada's next prime minister on Friday with the country rattled by a breakdown in relations with the United States.

'God never sleeps': Philippines opponents of Duterte's drug war

Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte's deadly war on drugs has always faced strong opposition on the home front.

French finance minister calls trade war 'idiotic', plans US trip

France's Finance Minister Eric Lombard called the escalating US-EU trade war "idiotic" on Friday and said he would soon travel to the United States after Washington threatened huge tariffs against French wine and champagne.

WFP says funding shortfall forces it to cut food aid to 1 mn people in Myanmar

The World Food Programme will be forced to cut off one million people in war-torn Myanmar from its vital food aid because of "critical funding shortfalls", it said on Friday.

In a Pakistan desert town, Holi and Ramadan come together

In a desert town in Pakistan, Hindus prepare meals for fasting Muslims, who in turn gather to welcome a Holi procession, a rare moment of religious solidarity in the Islamic nation.

UK economy unexpectedly shrinks in January in blow to govt

Britain's economy unexpectedly shrank in January, official data showed Friday, piling more pressure on the Labour government ahead of its Spring Statement on the economy.

WFP to cut food aid to 1 million people in Myanmar

The World Food Programme will be forced to cut off one million people in war-torn Myanmar from its vital food aid because of "critical funding shortfalls", it said Friday.

East DR Congo mines mint Rwanda-backed M23's fortune

Mine shafts snake under the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's mountains, but instead of the Congolese government their rich veins are making a mint for the Rwanda-backed M23.

US shutdown threat piles pressure on government hit by Trump cuts

The US government was hours from shutting down Friday as Democrats smarting over President Donald Trump's spending cuts threatened to block his federal funding plans -- although hopes were high for a resolution to the impasse.

China urges end to 'illegal' sanctions as it hosts Iran nuclear talks

China urged an end to "illegal" sanctions on Iran as it hosted diplomats from that country and Russia on Friday for talks Beijing hopes will restart long-stalled negotiations on Tehran's nuclear programme.

China hosts Iranian, Russian diplomats for nuclear talks

China hosted Russian and Iranian diplomats on Friday for talks Beijing hopes will restart long-stalled negotiations on Tehran's nuclear program.

Chinese, Iranian, Russian diplomats meet for nuclear talks

Chinese, Russian and Iranian diplomats met Friday for talks, state media said, in a meeting Beijing hopes could restart long-stalled negotiations on Tehran's nuclear program.

Panama 'firm' on canal as US reportedly weighs options

Panama's government said Thursday it would remain "firm" in defending its sovereignty and the Panama Canal, after a report suggesting that US President Donald Trump is considering options aimed at "reclaiming" the strategic waterway.

Brazil top court to consider Bolsonaro 'coup' case on March 25

Brazil's Supreme Court on Thursday said it would consider on March 25 whether to try far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro on charges of masterminding an attempted coup.

US judge orders federal agencies to rehire fired workers

A US judge on Thursday ordered six federal agencies to rehire thousands of probationary workers fired as part of Donald Trump's push to slash the size and scope of government.

Rwanda-backed M23 welcomes talks to end DR Congo conflict

The Rwanda-backed M23 armed group welcomed Thursday the prospect of direct negotiations with the Congolese government to end the conflict in the volatile eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

NATO's 'Trump whisperer' treads carefully on Greenland and defense

He's been dubbed the "Trump whisperer," but NATO chief Mark Rutte struggled to get a word in Thursday as the US president mused about annexing Greenland and criticized allies over defense spending.

All eyes on Democrats as US barrels toward shutdown deadline

The US government, already shaken to its core by Donald Trump's radical reforms, could begin shutting down entirely at the weekend as Democrats face the stark option of opposing the president's federal funding plans -- even if it blows up in their faces.

US federal judge orders agencies to rehire fired workers