Palestinian ex-prisoner hopes his son will also be freed in Israel swap
For Yusif Abu Maria, the looming Gaza hostage deal is especially personal. Not only is his son on a list of candidates of imprisoned Palestinians to be freed by Israel: It would be a replay of Abu Maria’s own release from jail almost 20 years ago.
Cuban ministers reveal details of food, fuel shortages amid economic crisis
Senior Cuban officials have over several weeks provided an increasingly dire snapshot of a deepening economic crisis in a series of televised prime-time appearances, revealing the extent of the downturn in unprecedented detail.
Ukraine’s coal mines turn to women to solve wartime staff shortages
After more than a thousand of its workers went to fight Russia’s invasion, a coal mining enterprise in eastern Ukraine suffered a huge staff shortage. Its answer was to allow women to work underground for the first time in its history.
Ukraine says Russia committing few troops to Avdiivka battle
Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday that Russia’s military appeared to be sending fewer troops and less equipment into the battle for the shattered eastern town of Avdiivka, seen as a gateway to the capital city of Donetsk region.
Pakistan’s top court accepts Imran Khan’s plea for bail
Pakistan’s Supreme Court accepted on Wednesday a bail application from detained former Prime Minister Imran Khan, his lawyer said, a day after another court declared illegal his trial on charges of leaking state secrets.
Dutch vote in tight race to pick a new prime minister
Dutch voters cast their ballots on Wednesday in a nail-biting election in which opinion polls show at least three parties – including the far-right – could hope for the top spot, with no clear leader having emerged.
Germany’s Scholz, Italy’s Meloni make for unlikely partners at summit
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia will agree to greater cooperation on issues from energy to defence at an intergovernmental summit in Berlin on Wednesday, the first in seven years, according to government sources.
Malaysia, Vietnam electronics face closer US scrutiny over China forced labour
Electronics worth a year-high $74 million, such as solar panels and microchips mostly from Malaysia and Vietnam, were denied entry in the United States in September or were checked for components from forced labour in China, official data show.
Exclusive: China to name finance veteran Zhu as new forex chief, sources say
China is set to appoint Zhu Hexin, a veteran banker and chief of state-run financial conglomerate CITIC Group, as the new head of its foreign exchange regulator, four people familiar with the matter said, amid growing headwinds for the economy and markets.
Explainer: What do we know about Israeli hostages in Gaza?
The Israeli government voted on Wednesday to back a deal to release some of roughly 240 Israeli hostages held by Hamas militants in Gaza in exchange for a multi-day truce and the freeing of a greater number of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.