Trump claims Putin agreed to temporary halt in energy attacks on Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to U.S. President Donald Trump’s request to pause attacks on Ukraine’s power grid for a week. Trump announced this on Thursday, but details about the timing and scope remain unclear. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the request but didn’t specify when it would start. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed skepticism, noting ongoing Russian attacks. Despite the pause, Russia continues drone and missile strikes. Bitter cold is expected in Ukraine, worsening conditions. Talks are ongoing, but no ceasefire agreement has been reached.

Israel reopening Gaza’s border crossing with Egypt on Sunday after long closure

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel said Friday that it will reopen the pedestrian border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt over the weekend, marking an important step forward for U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan. COGAT, the Israeli military body in charge of coordinating aid to Gaza, said in a statement that starting on Sunday a “limited movement of people only” would be allowed through the Rafah crossing, Gaza’s main gateway to the outside world. The announcement followed statements from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ali Shaath, newly appointed to head the Palestinian administrative committee governing Gaza’s daily affairs, that it would likely open soon.

Panama Canal ports will keep operating after court finds concession unconstitutional, president says

PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panama’s president has vowed that critical ports at both ends of the Panama Canal will continue to operate without interruption. President José Raúl Mulino spoke in a recorded message on Friday after the country’s Supreme Court ruled that the concession held by a subsidiary of Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings to operate ports at either end of the Panama Canal is unconstitutional. The decision advances a U.S. aim to block any influence by China over the strategic waterway. The court’s ruling late on Thursday followed an audit by Panama’s comptroller, which alleged irregularities in the 25-year extension of the concession granted in 2021.

Satellite photos show activity at Iran nuclear sites as tensions rise over protest crackdown

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Satellite images reveal activity at two Iranian nuclear sites, suggesting that Tehran may be obscuring its efforts to salvage any materials remaining there. The images, analyzed by The Associated Press, show roofs built over facilities in Isfahan and Natanz. These coverings block satellite views, which is currently the only way for inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to monitor the sites. Iran has not publicly addressed the activity, and the IAEA, which is the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog agency, did not comment. U.S. President Donald Trump has linked Iran’s nuclear program to negotiations over halting a possible military strike.