Israel's security cabinet will meet today to give final approval to a deal with Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has said.
Fears have been raised over the robustness of Britain's trade sanctions against Russia after the main government department enforcing the rules admitted it has no idea how many cases it is investigating.
In Moscow on Friday, a couple of days before Donald Trump's inauguration as US president, two of the West's main adversaries - Russia and Iran - will sign a strategic partnership pact.
Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney has announced he is running to replace Justin Trudeau as leader of the Liberal Party and prime minister of Canada.
As uncertainty sweeps through the Middle East, Iraq's prime minister has been focused on development, travelling to London to negotiate a series of deals on the economy and security.
In a region bereft of hope, the prospect of a ceasefire represents a flicker of possibility - but make no mistake, there's still a great deal of uncertainty about the deal.
Pakistan's national airline has been criticised for an advert that shows a plane flying towards the Eiffel Tower - with some saying it bears similarities to imagery of the 9/11 terror attacks.
Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state has said he anticipates the US "will have to deal with" China invading Taiwan before the end of this decade.