*) Israeli strike kills hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza

An Israeli air strike on Gaza’s Al Ahli Arab Hospital compound killed at least 500 people, the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza has said, with many still under the rubble.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of mourning following the deadly attack.

Israel’s military has denied its forces bombed the hospital.

Around 3,000 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes across Gaza since the war erupted on October 7.

*) World reacts to Israel's strike on Gaza

Israel’s hospital bombing in Gaza triggered condemnation and fury in the Middle East and beyond.

"Israel has crossed all red lines. ... We will not leave nor allow anyone to expel us from there," Palestine’s President Mahmoud Abbas said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "Hitting a hospital containing women, children and innocent civilians is the latest example of Israel's attacks devoid of the most basic human values."

United Nations Human rights chief Volker Turk shared a statement over the bombing: "Words fail me. Tonight, hundreds of people were killed — horrifically — in a massive strike at Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, including patients, healthcare workers and families that had been seeking refuge in and around the hospital. Once again the most vulnerable. This is totally unacceptable."

The World Health Organization also condemned the deadly strike in a statement, said: "The hospital was operational, with patients, health- and care-givers, and internally-displaced people sheltering there.Early reports indicate hundreds of fatalities and injuries.

*) Jordan cancels summit with Biden after Israel bombs Gaza hospital

Jordan has cancelled a planned summit with US President Joe Biden and leaders of Egypt and Palestine, saying "there is no use in talking now about anything except stopping the war."

The decision came after Israel’s deadly hospital bombardment.

The summit will be held "when the decision to stop the war and put an end to these massacres has been taken," said Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.

*) UN warns Israel against 'forcible transfer' of Palestinians in Gaza

The United Nations has warned Israel against the "forcible transfer of civilians" in Gaza, which could be in breach of international law.

Israel has demanded that residents of north Gaza leave for the south, hoping to clear the area of civilians in preparation for a perilous urban ground assault.

"We have grave fears about the toll on civilians in the coming days. Military operations show no signs of abating," UN rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told a media briefing.

And finally…

*) Thousands of artists demand 'immediate' end to Israeli attacks on Gaza

Over 2,000 artists demanded an "immediate ceasefire" and the opening of Gaza’s crossings to allow residents to leave the enclave amid increasing tension in the region.

Artists for Palestine UK released a letter signed by more than 2,000 artists that include famous novelists, singers, playwrights, filmmakers as well as famed actors such as Tilda Swinton and Charles Dance.

"We are witnessing a crime and a catastrophe. Israel has reduced much of Gaza to rubble and cut off the supply of water, power, food and medicine to 2.3 million Palestinians. In the words of the UN’s undersecretary for humanitarian affairs, 'the spectre of death' is hanging over the territory," it said.

The letter criticised governments that expressed support for Israel and it said there will come a time when they are held to account "for their complicity."

*) UN Security Council rejects Russia's resolution on Gaza ceasefire

The UN Security Council has rejected a Russian resolution that condemned violence and terrorism against civilians. Only four countries joined Russia in voting for the resolution. Four countries voted against it, including the United States. Six countries abstained.

Russia's UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, had urged support for the resolution to respond to the “unprecedented exacerbation” of the situation.

The Russian draft resolution would have called for “an immediate, durable and fully respected humanitarian ceasefire” and “strongly condemns all violence and hostilities directed against civilians and all acts of terrorism.” It never mentions Hamas.

*) Türkiye proposes multi-country guarantor system for Israel-Palestine conflict

Türkiye's foreign minister has put forth a proposal for a guarantor system in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasising Ankara's central role in shaping the idea.

Hakan Fidan underlined the need for multiple countries, including Türkiye, to act as guarantors once both parties reach an agreement, with the responsibility to ensure its implementation.

Fidan also pointed out the importance of international pressure on Israel to adopt a two-state solution, saying Türkiye shared its views on this issue with the parties.

Discussions between the Turkish foreign minister and the US revealed that the Biden administration supported a two-state solution.

Stressing the importance of transforming the current situation into an opportunity for peace, Fidan said the presence of guarantor countries would be pivotal in achieving a sustainable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

*) Biden to visit Israel on Wednesday: Blinken

US President Joe Biden will pay a solidarity visit to Israel on Wednesday following the Hamas attacks, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who also announced that Israel had agreed to work on civilian aid for Gaza.

Blinken spoke after meeting for nearly eight hours at the defence ministry with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the top US diplomat's second visit since the October 7 attacks by Hamas.

"The president will reaffirm United States solidarity with Israel and our ironclad commitment to its security," Blinken said early Tuesday in Tel Aviv.

*) Malaysia pulls out of Frankfurt book fair over organisers' pro-Israel stance

Malaysia's education ministry has withdrawn from participating in this year's Frankfurt Book Fair, accusing the organisers of taking a pro-Israel stance, amid growing global divisions over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The move by Malaysia to pull out of what is considered the world's largest trade fair for books came after literary association Litprom said it would postpone an award ceremony for a novel by a Palestinian author at the event following the October 7 attack by the Hamas in Israel.

It was announced that Palestinian author Adania Shibli would not be honoured with the LiBeraturpreis, a German award, at the fair, as had been originally planned.

*) Black man wrongfully jailed for 16 years shot dead by police in US

A Black man who spent more than 16 years imprisoned in Florida on a wrongful conviction was fatally shot by a sheriff’s deputy in Georgia during a traffic stop, authorities said.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which is reviewing the shooting, identified the man as Leonard Allen Cure, 53.

Cure had been represented in his exoneration case by the Innocence Project of Florida. The group’s executive director, Seth Miller, said he was devastated by news of the death, which he heard from Cure’s family.

“I can only imagine what it’s like to know your son is innocent and watch him be sentenced to life in prison, to be exonerated and ... then be told that once he’s been freed, he’s been shot dead,” Miller said on Monday.

*) Palestinian-American boy killed in US hate crime amid Israeli siege of Gaza

A landlord in the US state of Illinois stabbed a 6-year-old boy to death and seriously wounded his mother in a hate crime driven by the family's Islamic faith and the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The boy was stabbed 26 times with a military-style knife with a 7-inch (18-cm) serrated blade, the Will County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

The 32-year-old woman had multiple stab wounds and is expected to survive the attack.

The attacker, Joseph Czuba, 71, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and two counts of a hate crime, said the sheriff’s office.

*) Biden says Israeli occupation of Gaza would be 'a big mistake'

US President Joe Biden has said that Israel's occupation of Gaza would be "a big mistake" but appeared okay for an inside operation against the Palestinian group Hamas.

"I think it’d be a big mistake," Biden said in an interview with CBS News' 60 Minutes program.

"What happened in Gaza, in my view, is Hamas and the extreme elements of Hamas don't represent all the Palestinian people.”

*) US news network MSNBC suspends Muslim anchors amid Israeli war in Gaza

US news network MSNBC has suspended shows hosted by three Muslim anchors, following Hamas's attack inside Israel last week, two sources directly involved with the decision told Arab News.

Sources say MSNBC anchors Mehdi Hasan, Ayman Mohieddine and Ali Velshi were 'quietly taken out of the anchor's chair'.

On Saturday, Arab News reported that MSNBC chose not to air the weekly episode of 'The Mehdi Hasan Show' and scrapped the plan of having Mohieddine to anchor Joy Reid's show on Thursday and Friday.

MSNBC, however, "vehemently pushed back against any notion that either Hasan or Mohieddine were being sidelined in any way," Semafor, a news website, said in its report.

*) Ecuador elects business heir as country's youngest president

Daniel Noboa, an inexperienced politician and an heir to a fortune built on the banana trade, won Ecuador’s presidential run-off election held amid unprecedented violence that even claimed the life of a candidate.

With more than 97 percent of the votes counted, electoral officials said Noboa had 52.1 percent, compared to 47.9 percent for Luisa González, a leftist lawyer and ally of exiled former President Rafael Correa. González conceded defeat during a speech before supporters in which she also urged Noboa to fulfil his campaign promises.

Noboa, 35, will lead the South American country during a period that drug trafficking-related violence has left Ecuadorians wondering when, not if, they will be victims. Their uneasiness has prompted them to continuously watch their backs and limit how often they leave home.

And finally…

*) Türkiye beat Latvia 4-0 to qualify for UEFA EURO 2024

Türkiye beat Latvia 4-0 on Sunday to qualify for the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship.

After a goalless first half, Türkiye began the second half with the wind at their backs at Konya Metropolitan Municipality Stadium.

Yunus Akgun drew first blood in the 58th minute, then Cenk Tosun made it 2-0 in the 84th minute.

Kerem Akturkoglu netted the third goal for the hosts in the 88th minute, and Tosun tallied another goal in the 92nd minute.

With this result, Türkiye placed first in Group D with 16 points and guaranteed to take part in EURO 2024.

*) Israel warns 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza to relocate south

The United Nations has said it has been told by the Israeli military that some 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza should relocate to the blockaded enclave's south within the next 24 hours.

"The United Nations considers it impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

"The United Nations strongly appeals for any such order, if confirmed, to be rescinded avoiding what could transform what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation," he said.

Dujarric said the order by the Israeli military also applied to all UN staff and those sheltered in UN facilities, including schools, health centres and clinics.

*) UN warns food, fresh water rapidly running out in Gaza amid Israeli siege

The United Nations World Food Programme (or WFP) has warned that crucial supplies were running dangerously low in Gaza after Israel imposed a total blockade on the territory following Hamas attacks.

"It's a dire situation in the Gaza that we're seeing evolve with food and water being in limited supply and quickly running out," said Brian Lander on Thursday, the deputy head of emergencies at WFP, which is based in Rome.

"WFP is on the ground and is responding and we're providing food to thousands of people that have sought shelter in schools and elsewhere across the territory. But we're going to run out very soon," he told Reuters TV.

Israel has announced a total siege on Gaza on Monday, blocking the entry of food, fuel and water into the coastal territory and shuttering all crossing points following Hamas's weekend rampage that killed more than 1,300 people.

*) Iran warns of reaction to Israeli 'crimes' as toll rises in Gaza

Iran's foreign minister, whose government supports Hamas, has warned opening a "new front" against Israel would depend on Israel's actions in blockaded Gaza.

"The continuation of war crimes against Palestine and Gaza will receive a response from the rest of the axis. And naturally, the Zionist entity and its supporters will be responsible for the consequences of that," Hossein Amirabdollahian said.

The Iranian minister said the displacement of Palestinians and cutting water and electricity to Gaza are considered war crimes.

*) Gaza death toll, evacuation numbers swell

Gaza's Health Ministry has said that 1,537 Palestinians, including 500 children and 276 women, were killed and 6,612 were wounded in ongoing Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave.

As of late Thursday, the number of displaced people in Gaza had risen by additional 84,444 people and reached 423,378, the UN humanitarian agency said in a statement.

*) US is inflaming Middle East conflict by sending aircraft carrier: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the United States of inflaming the Middle East by sending an aircraft carrier group to the region, saying "compromise solutions" were needed and that he hoped common sense would prevail.

Putin, speaking at an energy conference in Moscow, said on Wednesday the US move of sending an aircraft carrier strike group closer to Israel, which was also fiercely criticised by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday, was a mistake.

"I don't understand why the US is dragging aircraft carrier groups into the Mediterranean Sea. I don't really understand the point. Are they going to bomb Lebanon or what?" he said.

*) Türkiye holding negotiations over Israeli civilians in Hamas detention

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has increased Türkiye's diplomatic efforts in securing the release of Israeli civilians from besieged Gaza even as Hamas freed a woman and her two children in the first release of Israelis detained by Palestinian fighters.

"They are negotiating to secure the release of the hostages," an official source said, confirming a report by the private TV channel Haberturk.

"We are ready to do everything in our power, including mediation and fair arbitration to end the conflict quickly," Anadolu Agency quoted Erdogan as saying.

Erdogan separately criticised Israel over its disproportionate attacks on Gaza that could bring Tel Aviv into an undesirable place in the eyes of world public opinion.

*) Gaza death toll climbs to 1,200, with 5000 others wounded

Gaza’s Health Ministry has announced that the number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks has climbed to around 1,200, with nearly 5,000 wounded.

More than 338,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in besieged Gaza, the United Nations said, as heavy Israeli bombardments continue to hit the Palestinian enclave.

The number of displaced in the densely populated territory of 2.3 million people had by late Wednesday "risen by an additional 75,000 people and reached 338,934," the UN added.

*) UN agency seeks $104M in urgent Gaza aid as humanitarian crisis deepens

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (or UNRWA) has said it was seeking $104 million for life-saving aid to Gaza, which has been pounded by Israeli reprisal strikes following attacks by Hamas against Israel.

"The requested funds will cover the urgent immediate food, non-food, health, shelter and protection needs of up to 250,000 persons seeking safety in UNRWA shelters across the ravaged Gaza and another 250,000 Palestine refugees within the community," according to the UN.

UNRWA, which was already facing financial difficulties, said it had enough funding to continue its regular services, including education, healthcare and social protection, across the region until the end of October.

*) Several UN, aid group workers killed in ruthless Israeli strikes on Gaza

Eleven workers with the UN Palestinian refugee agency have been killed in Israeli air strikes on besieged Gaza since Saturday, and five members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent have also been killed in the conflict, the organisations said.

"We are very saddened to confirm that 11 UNRWA colleagues have been killed since 7 October in the Gaza Strip," UNRWA said in a statement on Wednesday.

It did not specify if they were Palestinian or foreign personnel but said they included five teachers at UNRWA schools, one gynaecologist, one engineer, one psychological counsellor and three support staff.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said in a separate statement that five of its members - four in Gaza and one in Israel - had been killed.

*) Putin in Kyrgyzstan on first trip since ICC arrest warrant

Vladimir Putin has arrived in Kyrgyzstan, visiting abroad for the first time since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him in March.

President Putin is wanted by the court over the deportation of Ukrainian children. Its ruling requires members of the ICC, which does not include Kyrgyzstan, to make the arrest if he sets foot on their territory.

This year, he has travelled only to Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, with his last foreign trips to Belarus and Kyrgyzstan last December — a far cry from the busy international schedule he had earlier in his rule.

*) Palestine accuses Israel of waging 'genocidal' war in besieged Gaza

The Palestinian envoy to the United Nations has described Israel's bombardment of besieged Gaza, vowing to impose a complete siege on the Palestinian enclave, as "nothing less than genocidal."

Israel has incessantly bombarded Gaza, killing some 900 Palestinians and razing entire districts amid possible preparations for a ground invasion.

Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant drew international condemnation by announcing on Monday a "total blockade" to stop food and fuel reaching Gaza, home to 2.3 million people. Gallant said Israel was battling "beastly people."

"Such blatant dehumanisation and attempts to bomb a people into submission, to use starvation as a method of warfare, and to eradicate their national existence are nothing less than genocidal," Palestine's UN envoy Riyad Mansour wrote in a letter to the UN Security Council on Tuesday.

"These acts constitute war crimes," he wrote.

*) President Erdogan, UN chief Guterres discuss Israel-Palestine tension

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have discussed steps to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which recently sparked into the deadliest conflict seen in years.

In a phone call, Erdogan and Guterres also exchanged views on what could be done to deliver humanitarian assistance to innocent civilians to the region through Türkiye's mediation efforts, Türkiye's Communication Directorate said on Tuesday in a statement.

Warning that disproportionate attacks could lead the situation into further stalemate, Erdogan told Guterres that it is very important for the parties to act with restraint and avoid impulsive steps.

*) Two-state solution only path to sustainable peace in Middle East: Turkish FM

Türkiye condemns attacks on civilians and attaches great importance to achieving calm in the Palestine-Israel conflict, the country's foreign minister has said.

Speaking at the Economic Cooperation Organisation’s meeting in Azerbaijan’s city of Shusha on Tuesday, Hakan Fidan said: "We condemn attacks on civilians and emphasise the importance of restoring calm in the region,” underscoring the importance of avoiding geographical tensions that could lead to global insecurity and instability.

The recent conflict was unprecedented, but not entirely surprising, Fidan said.

He said the current tensions in the region are yet another indication that the only path to sustainable and equitable peace in the Middle East is a two-state solution.

"This is an era of geopolitical changes and tensions. The geoeconomic landscape is also adapting accordingly. In a globalised world, regional dynamics and integration have become even more critical. ECO is working towards this goal," he said.

*) Israel gets 'advanced' US ammo ahead of 'full' Gaza offensive

The Israeli military has said "a first plane carrying American ammunition had landed in Israel after the US said it would send new supplies of air defences, munitions and other security assistance to its ally to battle Palestinian Hamas militants."

The army said "the ammunition is designed to inflict significant blows," adding it is in "preparation for additional scenarios."

It comes as Israel's defence minister announced that Israeli forces have taken control of the border area of besieged Gaza. "I have lifted all restrictions," said Yoav Gallant, adding, "We have taken the region under control. Now we are launching a full attack.

*) Fresh 6.3-magnitude earthquake hits Afghanistan's Herat

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake has struck western Afghanistan, the US Geological Survey said, hitting an area where more than 2,500 people were killed, after a similar tremor on the weekend.

The quake occurred on Wednesday at a shallow depth at around 5:10 am local time [00:40 GMT], with its epicentre about 29 kilometres north of the city of Herat, the USGS said.

*) Israel announces complete siege of Gaza

Israel has announced a "complete siege" of Palestine's Gaza amid intensified fighting with the Palestinian Hamas group.

“There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed (to Gaza), " Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said following an army's assessment session.

Energy Minister Israel Katz separately ordered "to immediately cut the water supply to Gaza".

Katz's order came soon after Gallant's order for a "complete siege" on Gaza, which receives about 10 percent of its annual water from Israel.

*) US, Europe witness rival groups demonstrate over Gaza bombardments

Thousands of pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protesters have held mainly peaceful gatherings in US and Europe, however, there have been a few small disturbances.

In London, Paris, Athens, and several cities in the US including New York, supporters of Israel and of the Palestinians held competing rallies.

*) Fanatical Jews issue death threats to Al Aqsa Mosque imam Sheikh Sabri

Extremist Jewish groups have stepped up calls for the assassination of Sheikh Ikrima Sabri , imam of the Al aqsa Mosque, his lawyers said.

The Defence Committee of Sheikh Ikrima Sabri , consisting of lawyers, issued a statement saying his life is under "serious threat" due to increasing "fascism" in Israeli society.

The committee has called for taking the assassination and elimination threats seriously to ensure his protection and has lamented the silence of "Israeli security forces" over the provocations by fanatical Jewish groups and individuals.

*) Egypt intensifies diplomatic efforts to de-escalate Hamas-Israel conflict

Egypt has intensified its push for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate spiralling violence in besieged Gaza and Israel.

President Abdel Fattah el Sisi spoke with UAE Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, agreeing to "intensify discussions and diplomatic efforts to stop military escalation", Sisi's spokesperson has said.

Sisi has also spoken with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, warning of the dangerous "absence of political prospects", and with Jordan's King Abdullah II, whose country acts as custodian of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

*) Syria faces torture allegations at international court

Syria faces allegations at the UN top court that it maintains a "pervasive" system of torture that has killed tens of thousands of people.

The case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) marks the first time Damascus has faced international judges over the brutal civil war that started in 2011.

Victims have endured "unimaginable physical and mental pain and suffering" from "abhorrent treatment in detention, inhumane conditions of detention, and sexual and gender-based violence," the case brought by the Netherlands and Canada alleges.

Damascus, on the other hand, has dismissed the case as "disinformation and lies," with a government source saying the allegations "lack the slightest degree of credibility."

*) Erdogan says freedom of Palestine along 1967 borders must not be delayed

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged both Israel and Hamas to cease fighting, saying the realisation of an independent, geographically integrated Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as capital, cannot be delayed.

*) Over 123,000 displaced in Gaza amid Israel, Hamas conflict — UN

The United Nations says the number of displaced Gaza residents has risen to more than 123,000, due to the fighting between the Israeli military and Hamas, following the group’s unprecedented attack on Israel.

As of late Sunday, Israeli airstrikes in retaliation had destroyed 159 housing units across Gaza and severely damaged 1,210 others, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said a school sheltering more than 225 people took a direct hit.

The Gaza Health Ministry said 413 people, including 78 children and 41 women, were killed in the territory.

*) US military aid to Israel amounts to aggression against Palestinians: Hamas

Palestinian resistance group Hamas has said that the United States' plan to provide increased military aid to Israel amounts to "aggression" against Palestinians, after Washington ordered navy ships and warplanes closer to Israel.

The Pentagon said it was sending the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its accompanying warships to the eastern Mediterranean, while boosting fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.

*) Israeli bombardment wipes out 19-member Palestinian family in Gaza

An Israeli airstrike in the southern blockaded Gaza enclave wipes out 19 members of a family, including women and children. The air strike also killed five neighbours who were standing outside the jam-packed refugee camp, a jumble of buildings and alleyways.

The air strike in Rafah came as Israeli forces intensified their bombardment of targets in Gaza following a big, multi-front attack by Hamas fighters on Saturday.

Hamas also took dozens of Israelis hostage and fired thousands of rockets toward Israeli population centres, although most were intercepted by the country's Iron Dome defence system.

*) Türkiye conducts aerial operations against YPG/PKK in northern Syria

Turkish forces destroyed at least six targets, consisting of shelters and bunkers used in the fight against separatist terrorists, in an air operation carried out in northern Syria, Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defence has said.

In its Sunday statement, the ministry said that it carried out an operation against the PKK/YPG and other terrorist elements to neutralise them and ensure border security.

The statement underscored that the operation was carried out under the United Nations' self-defence article.

Six targets, including an oil facility, hideouts, and shelters, were destroyed, the ministry noted.

*) Türkiye destroys terror targets in Syria

Türkiye has hit the terrorist group YPG/PKK positions as part of its anti-terror operations in northern Syria, destroying dozens of targets and "neutralising" many terrorists.

30 targets, including an oil well and a storage facility, caves, bunkers, shelters and warehouses used by terrorists were destroyed, Turkish Defence Ministry said in a statement.

The Turkish anti-terror operation came after PKK/YPG attacked the Interior Ministry in the Turkish capital Ankara last Sunday.

*) Bangladesh gets first uranium shipment from Russia for nuclear power plant

Bangladesh has received the first Russian shipment of uranium fuel for its $12.65B debut nuclear power plant, making it the 33rd country in the world to produce nuclear power.

The South Asian country is building the first of two nuclear power plants in collaboration with Russian state-owned atomic company Rosatom.

Ninety percent of the project is financed through a Russian loan repayable within 28 years with a 10-year grace period.

*) Biden to extend US border wall with Mexico using Trump-era funds

US President Joe Biden has defended his plans to extend the border wall with Mexico, saying he didn't think such barriers worked, but he was bound by laws introduced under former president Donald Trump.

Biden, who is polling neck-and-neck with rival Trump ahead of a likely 2024 rematch, insisted on Thursday his predecessor had tied his hands on the wall-building.

"They have to use the money for what it was appropriated for. I can’t stop that," he told reporters in the Oval Office.

The US president also stressed that the border wall is ineffective.

*) Drone attack on Syrian military ceremony kills 80, wounds 240

An attack on a Syrian crowded military graduation ceremony has killed 80 and wounded 240 others.

Civilians, including children, and military personnel were among the dead.

Syria's regime said in an earlier statement that drones laden with explosives targeted the ceremony.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

*) Eastern Canada breaks autumn heat records

Eastern Canada has shattered heat records this week with temperatures close to 30 degrees Celsius, worrying experts and everyday people struggling to cope with extreme weather made worse by the climate crisis.

In the last three days, heat records were broken in Quebec and adjacent provinces.

On Wednesday, the mercury reached 29.3 degrees Celsius in Montreal, surpassing the record of 26.7 degrees set in 2005.

*) Many dead, over 100 missing in India flash floods due to glacial lake burst

At least 14 people have been killed and 102 others missing in northeast India after heavy rain caused a glacial lake to burst its banks.

The disaster affected the lives of 22,000 people and is the latest in a series of deadly weather events in South Asia's mountains.

A cloudburst dropped a huge amount of rain over a short period on the Lhonak glacial lake, triggering flash floods and washing away eleven bridges.

*) Azerbaijan president refuses to attend EU-brokered meet over snub to Türkiye

Azerbaijan president Ilham Aliyev has decided against attending an EU-brokered meeting in Spain after France and Germany opposed his request for Turkish representation at the talks.

It would have been his first face-to-face talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan since Baku took back full control of Karabakh.

Aliyev wanted ally Türkiye to be represented at the meeting, but when France and Germany objected, he said "an anti-Azerbaijani atmosphere" had developed.

*) Millions off work as Typhoon Koinu brings 'record' winds, rains to Taiwan

Typhoon Koinu has unleashed record winds in southern Taiwan, with gusts of over 340 kilometres per hour. Nearly 200 people have been injured.

Koinu made landfall as a category four typhoon, but is expected to weaken as it heads towards China.

The severe weather has forced the shutdown of thousands of workplaces and schools across the region.

*) 'Stop killing our children': Palestine, Israel women rally against violence

Hundreds of Palestinian and Israeli women have rallied in occupied Jerusalem and the Dead Sea in the occupied West Bank.

They called for an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, chanting "we want peace” and holding placards that read "Stop killing our children".

Persistent violence linked to Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands has escalated since last year. At least 243 Palestinians and 32 Israelis have been killed this year.

*) Africa, Europe and South America to host FIFA 2030 World Cup games

Morocco, Portugal and Spain will be joint hosts for the 2030 World Cup but games will also be played in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.

FIFA said in a statement that the matches in South America were part of the celebration to mark 100 years since the first World Cup in Uruguay.

The announcement puts an end to competition between two major bids, one led by Spain and Portugal and the other from Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay.