Reuters

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine and Russia announced their first exchange of prisoners of war in nearly four months on Friday, with 150 people freed after negotiations mediated by the United Arab Emirates.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said 75 Ukrainian prisoners had been returned from Russia. They included four civilians while the rest were members of the military.

Russia's Defence Ministry said Ukraine handed over 75 people in a... (continue reading...)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its main allies on said on Friday they are "gravely concerned" by deepening cooperation between North Korea and Russia and called for an end to North Korean arms transfers for use against Ukraine.

The U.S. secretary of state and foreign ministers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Britain, as well the EU High Representative, issued a joint statement... (continue reading...)

OSLO (Reuters) - Norway plans to increase its control of infrastructure on the Arctic Svalbard islands, the government said on Friday as security concerns and climate change impact the archipelago.

The Nordic nation has long feared that tensions between Russia and the West could spill over to the vast outpost because of its strategic position and of growing interest in the Arctic's valuable oil, gas and shipping routes.

Located around... (continue reading...)

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel will not agree to any halt in fighting in Gaza that is not part of a deal that includes a return of hostages, a senior Israeli security official said on Friday.

The comment came after a statement from Hamas declaring that it would be ready to reach an agreement including an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, as long as Israel stopped the fighting in Gaza.

"There will be no truce, or any halt in... (continue reading...)

ROME (Reuters) - Foreign ministers from 10 nations, including those from the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies, on Friday condemned weapons transfers from North Korea to Russia, saying the arms were being used against Ukraine.

The ministers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Britain and the United States, along with the European Union, urged North Korea to cease the exports and also end its nuclear... (continue reading...)