Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is warning the army is on standby to restart its war on Gaza. It comes a day after Israel suspended the latest release of Palestinian prisoners as part of January's ceasefire deal. Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, has said the Palestinian group will not engage in further ceasefire discussions until Israel frees the 620 Palestinians who were supposed to be released on Saturday under the deal that took effect on January.

Do the the claims made by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency hold up?

Exit polls show Germany’s opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leading in the national election, positioning its leader, Friedrich Merz, to become the next chancellor. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured second place, achieving its best-ever result. Germany’s election authority reports that 52 percent of eligible voters had cast their ballots four hours before polling stations closed. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has conceded defeat after opposition leader Friedrich Merz declared victory. The early election was called after Scholz's coalition collapsed in November.

Israel has postponed the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners despite Hamas setting free six Israeli captives on Saturday. The group says Israel's far-right government is 'playing dirty games and sabotaging' the agreement. The Israeli Prime Minister called the captive handover ceremonies in Gaza, 'humiliating' and is accusing Hamas of using the captives for 'propaganda'. But aid groups are questioning Israel's unkept promises under the first phase. It has yet to allow delivery of 60,000 mobile homes and 200,000 tents, desperately needed by millions of displaced Palestinians. And Israeli negotiators have not joined discussions for the second phase of the deal. So, what's behind Netanyahu's dramatic turnaround? And how will it affect the hard-fought ceasefire agreement?

United States President Donald Trump's administration flipped the script on US-Europe relations in February. European officials were berated for being antidemocratic and were told their involvement was not needed in ending the Ukraine war.

Mass arrests, silencing dissent, and prisons for hire; six years on, President Nayib Bukele’s unique brand of populism remains wildly popular in El Salvador. The Listening Post’s Elettra Scrivo reports on the price some journalists have had to pay for it.

Tens of thousands of people have gathered in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, for the funeral of the late Hezbollah leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine, who were killed in Israeli airstrikes last year. The event signalled the party’s continued influence despite Israeli attacks and regional pressures. Al Jazeera's Ali Hashem noted the strong logistical organisation, demonstrating Hezbollah’s operational strength. The ceremony also sent a political message, emphasising Hezbollah’s broad support base. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem’s speech hinted at diplomatic and resistance strategies without a clear direction. Iran’s presence, including high-ranking officials, reinforced its backing of Hezbollah. The event highlighted Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon’s power dynamics. Observers suggest the party remains a key regional player.

Israel has postponed the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners. Hundreds of family members had gathered in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, waiting for hours to receive their loved ones, before being told they weren't coming.

Former US President Donald Trump delivers closing remarks at annual Conservative Political Action Conference. The three-day gathering has been a key platform for right-wing leaders, with Trump as the main highlight. He addresses core conservative issues, including immigration, the economy, and his political future.

US president Donald Trump has ruffled many feathers since he announced his proposal to take over Gaza. According to him, more than two million Palestinians should leave 'to somewhere nice and safe' like Jordan or Egypt—while he builds a Riviera on the Mediterranean in Gaza. This idea has angered the inter-national community, and the Arab world has downright rejected it. A meeting of Gulf nations in Riyadh, joined by Egypt and Jordan... ended with no concrete counter-proposals. They will be meeting in Cairo in the coming weeks now. But will they be able to make him change his mind?