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Good afternoon and welcome to your afternoon news update from AP. Today, firings of federal workers begin as White House seeks to pressure Democrats in government shutdown, many unresolved questions remain as a ceasefire begins in Gaza, and Spain’s defense minister has defended her country’s commitment to NATO after Trump floated the idea of expulsion.

UP FIRST

The U.S. Capitol is silhouetted by the stark glare of the morning sun as a government shutdown begins its tenth day, in Washington, Friday. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Firings of federal workers begin as White House seeks to pressure Democrats in government shutdown

The White House budget office said Friday that mass firings of federal workers have started in an attempt to exert more pressure on Democratic lawmakers in the ongoing government shutdown. Read more.

TOP STORIES

Many unresolved questions remain as a ceasefire begins in Gaza

Bombardment stopped and Israeli troops pulled back in Gaza on Friday under a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. But will the agreement lead, as U.S. President Donald Trump proclaimed, to “a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace”? Read more.

Trump blasts Spain for being NATO’s spending ‘laggard.’ Madrid replies that it is a ‘loyal’ ally

Spain’s defense minister has defended her country’s commitment to NATO after U.S President Donald Trump floated the idea that the southern European country should be expelled from the military alliance for not spending enough on its armed forces. Read more.

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IN OTHER NEWS

Debris covers the ground and vehicles after a powerful blast ripped through a military explosives manufacturing plant in Hickman County, Tenn., on Friday. (WTVF-TV via AP)

BREAKING: Blast at a Tennessee explosives plant leaves 19 people missing and feared dead, sheriff says
France: Macron asks newly resigned Sebastian Lecornu to try again to form a government

Balkans: Kosovo lawmakers break 8-month deadlock with election of an ethnic Serb to the leadership team 

Indiana: Man convicted of killing a 15-year-old girl in her home in 2001 is executed by injection
Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt: Beloved chaplain for Loyola Chicago’s men’s basketball team dies at 106
John Lodge: Singer and bassist of Moody Blues during classic era dies at 82

WATCH: Norwegian Nobel Institute director tells Machado she has won the Nobel Peace Prize

TRENDING

A gallery of photos marking the 80th founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Tuesday and Thursday. (AP Photos/Cha Song Ho and Jon Chol Jin)

Photos show state celebrations on the 80th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party

Gymnasts, children and others perform as the North Korean state marks official commemorations on the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party. See this photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.