Vladimir Putin hosted his “dear friend” Xi Jinping for dinner in the Kremlin on Monday, showing off his relationship with his most powerful ally just days after an international court called for the Russian president’s arrest for war crimes in Ukraine.

President Emmanuel Macron’s government narrowly survived a no-confidence motion in parliament over a deeply unpopular pension reform, but strikes and protests will continue, in a major challenge to his authority.

The World Bank on Monday said the February earthquakes are expected to have caused Syria’s real GDP output to contract by 5.5% in 2023, with recovery and reconstruction needs estimated at $7.9 billion over three years.

U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that democratic values were a hallmark of U.S.-Israeli ties.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held talks with high-ranking Russian officials on Sunday.

Syrian President Bashar al Assad arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday for an official visit, accompanied by his wife Asma al Assad, at a time when more Arab states have signalled openness to easing the isolation of Damascus.

Ecuadorian and Peruvian authorities worked on Sunday to assess the damage caused by the previous day’s strong earthquake that shook the region, leaving at least 15 dead and hundreds injured.

The governor of Lagos easily won re-election in low turn-out local voting, figures showed on Sunday.

U.S. drone flights over the Black Sea are a sign of direct U.S. involvement in conflict with Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying on Sunday.

Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou will visit China this month, his office said on Sunday.

South Africa is aware of its legal obligation, a spokesperson for President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday.

India’s economic and banking systems are strong even amid the turmoil currently rocking global markets, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.