The Pentagon has told Congress that it has authorised the transfer of $1 billion to begin the construction of the wall on the US-Mexico border.
This is the first money allocated through the national emergency Trump declared at the southern border in February, in order to obtain funding for his signature campaign pledge.
Kate Fisher reports from Washington:
Pakistan bombs targets in Afghan cities, minister calls it 'open war'
Pakistan has bombed Taliban government targets in Afghanistan's major cities overnight, officials from both countries said on Friday, with Pakistan's defence minister describing the conflict as "open war".
IMF approves $8.1 billion loan for Ukraine
The International Monetary Fund's executive board has approved an $8.1 billion, four-year loan for Ukraine on Thursday, with $1.5 billion to be disbursed immediately to help keep the government running as its war against Russia's invasion drags into a fifth year.
Hillary Clinton tells panel she has no information on Epstein
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has told a congressional committee on Thursday that she did not remember ever meeting the late convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein and had no information to share about his criminal activities.
US, Ukraine discuss post-war reconstruction as Russia pummels grid
Ukrainian and US officials met in Geneva on Thursday for talks on post-war reconstruction despite a deadlock in peace negotiations with Russia, which pounded infrastructure across Ukraine with drone and missile strikes overnight.
Israeli fire kills three people in Gaza as truce deal staggers
An Israeli airstrike killed two Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, the territory's health officials said, and the Israeli military said it killed a rebel who posed a threat to its forces in the south of the enclave.
