Israel hands over bodies of 30 Palestinians as ceasefire agreement edges forward

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel has handed over the bodies of 30 Palestinians, according to the Red Cross and Gaza hospital officials, a day after Palestinian militants turned over the remains of two hostages to Israel. A doctor at Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis confirmed receiving the bodies and said they were all unidentified. The exchange of Palestinian remains for hostage remains is the latest indication that the fraught Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement is moving forward, despite deadly Israeli strikes on Gaza this week and the death of an Israeli soldier.

Turkish court sentences hotel owner and 10 others to life for deadly fire that killed 78

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A Turkish court has sentenced the owner of a ski resort hotel and 10 others to life in prison for severe negligence in a deadly fire. The blaze on Jan.21 at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu killed 78 people and injured 133 others. Among the victims were 34 children. The court found hotel owner Halit Ergul, his family members, hotel managers and local officials guilty of negligence with “probable intent to kill.” They are expected to appeal Friday’s sentences. The disaster forced guests to escape through windows and sparked calls for accountability. Poor safety measures contributed to the tragedy.

Russia deploys 170,000 troops for push in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, Zelenskyy says

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia has deployed about 170,000 troops in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, aiming to capture the city of Pokrovsk. He said Friday the situation is difficult but denies Russian claims that the city is surrounded. He acknowledges some Russian units have infiltrated but insists Ukrainian forces are countering them. Meanwhile, Ukraine has conducted over 160 strikes on Russian oil facilities this year, disrupting logistics. The UN reports a 30% rise in Ukrainian civilian casualties compared to 2024, with concerns over energy infrastructure attacks as winter approaches. The conflict feels increasingly like a protracted war, according to the UN.

China’s Xi promises to protect free trade at APEC as Trump snubs major summit

GYEONGJU, South Korea (AP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping told Asia-Pacific leaders his country would help to defend global free trade as U.S. President Donald Trump snubbed an annual economic regional forum. Xi took center stage at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit that began Friday in the South Korean city of Gyeongju, as Trump left the country a day before the summit opened after reaching some deals with Xi meant to ease their escalating trade war. This year’s two-day APEC summit has been heavily overshadowed by the Trump-Xi meeting that was arranged on the sidelines.