The UN Security Council on Friday called on Libyan forces under Khalifa Haftar to halt their advance on Tripoli, warning the military move was putting Libya's stability at risk.

Dozens of activists linked to the Hirak protest movement that rocked northern Morocco in 2016 and 2017 had prison sentences of up to 20 years upheld by a court of appeal on Friday.

Israel will hold general elections on April 9. Here are some facts about the process:

Italian businessman Sergio Zanotti who was held hostage in Syria for three years has been freed and is expected back home soon, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said Friday.

Armed clashes broke out Friday south of Libya's capital Tripoli between a pro-government alliance and forces loyal to eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar, sources on both sides said.

Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, whose forces are battling to seize the capital Tripoli, is widely seen as a hawk hunting for greater power in violence-wracked Libya. 

Algerians took to the streets for a seventh successive Friday as they push for a radical overhaul of the country's ruling elite following the resignation of veteran leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

U.N. chief Antonio Guterres met Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar on Friday, an official from the strongman's forces said, a day after his fighters launched an offensive against the capital Tripoli.

Russia expressed hope Friday that the crisis in Libya would not lead to "renewed bloodshed", adding that Moscow did not support Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar.  

Two children were killed and eight critically wounded when an unexploded bomb went off at a school in the rebel-held Yemeni capital, the UN children's agency said on Friday.