Maple Leafs

First Reading is a daily newsletter keeping you posted on the travails of Canadian politicos, all curated by the National Post's own Tristin Hopper. To get an early version sent directly to your inbox every Monday to Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET (and 9 a.m. on Saturdays), sign up here. Read More … [Read more...] about Snubbed by Canada, Germany goes all-in with autocratic Qatar for its gas

KYIV -- Several Ukrainian embassies abroad have received "bloody packages" containing animal eyes, the foreign ministry said on Friday, after a series of letter bombs were sent to addresses in Spain including Ukraine's embassy in Madrid. Read More … [Read more...] about Ukrainian embassies receive ‘bloody packages’ containing animal eyes – Kyiv

MOSCOW -- President Vladimir Putin is open to talks on a possible settlement to the conflict in Ukraine and believes in a diplomatic solution, the Kremlin said on Friday after Joe Biden suggested he was prepared to speak to the Russian leader. Read More … [Read more...] about Putin is open to talks and diplomacy on Ukraine, Kremlin says

KABUL -- An attack on Friday injured two people in Kabul near the office of the Hezb-e-Islami party associated with former Afghan prime minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, but all senior leaders were safe, the party said in a statement. Read More … [Read more...] about Attack injures two near office of ex-Afghan PM Hekmatyar, his party says

JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- South Africa's president might lose his job, and his reputation as a corruption fighter, as he faces possible impeachment over claims that he tried to cover up the theft of millions of dollars stashed inside a couch on his farm. Read More … [Read more...] about EXPLAINER: Why South Africa’s president might lose his job

On Tuesday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith introduced her keystone piece of legislation, meant to allow the province to push back against what she calls "federal government overreach." Read More … [Read more...] about Five things to know about the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act

A dark yuletide comedy with a twist – and a gouge, and more than a few crushed skulls – Violent Night is clearly hoping you’ll be having too much fun to say “ho-ho-hold on a minute” to some of its faults. These include occasional poor lighting, choppy editing in some of the fight scenes, and plot holes through which you could drive a sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. But for the … [Read more...] about Film review: Violent Night is naughty, and that’s nice

HEBRON, West Bank (AP) -- Dozens of Israeli peace activists toured the occupied West Bank's largest city Friday in a show of solidarity with Palestinians, amid chants of "shame, shame" from ultra-nationalist hecklers. Read More … [Read more...] about Israeli peace activists show presence in West Bank hot spot

KYIV -- The Ukrainian government will draw up a law banning churches affiliated with Russia under moves described by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as necessary to prevent Moscow being able to "weaken Ukraine from within." Read More … [Read more...] about Ukraine seeks ban on churches ‘affiliated’ with Russia