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The heads of Israel's and America's intelligence agencies met in Qatar to discuss a possible next phase of a truce between Israel and Hamas, which is in its fifth day.

The meeting between the CIA and Mossade was also attended by Egyptian

officials, according to Reuters. The temporary truce was extended on Monday to facilitate the exchange of more

hostages being held in Gaza with Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

According to the Israel Defence Forces, Hamas released a group of 12

hostages to the Red Cross on Tuesday. 30 Palestinian prisoners were in turn

released by Israel.

Finland will close its only remaining border crossing with Russia

to reduce the number of asylum seekers entering the country.

Some 900 people, many from Somalia and Syria, arrived in November,

compared with only a few dozen in September and October.

The border will close for two weeks.

...