Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza to find their homes reduced to rubble. Large-scale Israeli attacks may have stopped for now, but children in Gaza City are facing a new threat. And it’s one that doctors are struggling to combat.

Lebanon says it’s been informed by the US that Israeli troops will leave villages along the border to comply with the withdrawal deadline. But soldiers will remain stationed in strategic positions. just inside Lebanon. The Lebanese government has rejected the decision.

There have been tense exchanges over free speech and the future of Ukraine on the first day of the Munich Security Conference. US Vice President JD Vance accused European nations of limiting debate - allegations that have been angrily rejected.

Syria’s Interim President Ahmed Al Sharaa is in Turkiye’s capital, Ankara, for critical discussions with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two leaders focused on Syria’s economic challenges and security concerns. One key issue was Ankara’s demand for Kurdish fighters, especially those along Syria’s border, to lay down their arms. However, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), supported by Washington, have rejected these demands, creating tension between Turkiye and the SDF.

China’s annual post-holiday migration is underway, with 300 million migrant workers returning to their jobs across the country. Many endure long journeys, traveling by train, bus, and car to resume work after spending time with family. This year, their return comes amid growing economic uncertainty, as US tariffs on Chinese goods take effect, raising concerns about job security and wages.

Tens of thousands of people in Slovakia are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Robert Fico. They accuse him of seeking closer ties with Russia. The protests began after he met Vladimir Putin in Moscow - making him one of the few EU leaders to visit Russia, since its war on Ukraine.

EU leaders' meeting: Bloc warns of tariff impact on Europe Donald Trump's threats of tariffs have dominated a European Union meeting. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says while having a working relationship with the US is vital - Europe won't passively accept economic penalties from Trump's administration.

Israel and Hamas have successfully carried out their fifth exchange, with three Israeli captives freed for 183 Palestinian prisoners. Eight of the released Palestinian prisoners were transferred to hospital for immediate treatment following their release, with others describing horrific conditions, including isolation and torture, in Israeli jails.

The Israeli military is withdrawing from the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza. In the ceasefire deal, the deadline for them to do so completely, is Sunday. The Netzarim Corridor is a military zone about six-kilometres wide, that splits northern Gaza from the rest of the strip. Israeli forces have built military bases there, after taking over buildings and destroying homes.

Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, has told Al Jazeera from Istanbul that Israel keeps playing “dirty games” to undermine the ceasefire deal. He said the group warned the mediators, including the US, that the Israeli violations – the delays in aid deliveries as well as killing Palestinians in Gaza – could threaten the agreement.