Amid continued reconciliation efforts, Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, received a message from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman on Monday.

The letter focused on ways to strengthen bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments, the emir’s office, the Amiri Diwan, said in a statement.
The message was delivered by Saudi Ambassador Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan during his meeting with the Qatari ruler.
Qatari-Saudi relations have improved since the two countries signed a reconciliation agreement earlier this year to end their political rift.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Egypt severed diplomatic and trade relations with Qatar in 2017, accusing Doha of supporting terrorist groups, an accusation vehemently denied by the peninsular Arab kingdom.

During meeting with Qatari ruler Al-Thani, Saudi ambassador delivers Mohammad bin Salman's letter

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani (L) is welcomed by Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman (R) ahead of the 41st Summit of Gulf Cooperation Council in AlUla, Saudi Arabia on January 05, 2021.

Qatar ruler receives message from Saudi crown prince

A large group of refugees is approaching the Belarusian border from the side of Poland, the Belarusian State Border Committee reported on Monday.

The border guards have taken measures to ensure the smooth functioning of international communication channels and the safety of the moving people, the committee said in a statement.
- The Polish Border Guard has repeatedly reported on how thousands of migrants are being driven to the border with Belarus. The indifference and inhumane attitude of the Polish authorities prompted the refugees to take such a step of despair - the statement said.
Protests broke out in Belarus after Alexander Lukashenko was declared the winner of the Aug. 9, 2020 polls, which the opposition accused of being rigged.
The EU did not recognize the elections won by Lukashenko and began to impose sanctions on a large number of individuals and government organizations, including Lukashenko.
In response, Lukashenko suspended Belarus' Readmission Agreement with the EU, saying Minsk will no longer stop refugees from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Tunisia, heading to the EU.
- We will never keep anyone. They are not coming to us. They are going to 'an enlightened, warm, cozy Europe.' Europe, particularly Germany -- not having enough workers -- invited these people, on the one hand. And on the other hand, they (the West) destroyed these countries (from where the refugees are fleeing) - Lukashenko said.
The EU accuses the Belarusian administration of "using irregular migration as a tool" and "trying to destabilize the EU" by sending migrants to the borders of EU countries -- Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.

Belarus, EU continue to accuse each other of inciting migration crisis

The border guards have taken measures to ensure the smooth functioning of international communication channels and the safety of the moving people

Belarus says large group of refugees approaching its border from Poland

The first-ever nationwide polio immunization campaign under the Taliban commenced in Afghanistan on Monday, set to continue for four days.

About 10 million children across the country under the age of five will be vaccinated against the disease, according to the Taliban-run Ministry of Public Health.
The head of the ministry's immunization program, Gula Khan, told Anadolu Agency that the four-day immunization program would continue next week.
- This is going to be the first polio vaccination campaign since the Islamic Emirate (Taliban) came to power in the country, and it is expected that there will be no problem in implementing it - he said.
Afghanistan, remains one of the three countries in the world, along with Pakistan and Nigeria, still grappling with the poliovirus.
According to UNICEF figures, 16 out of 34 provinces have been infected with 56 cases of world poliovirus type 1 (WPV1). Circulation of the disease remains high in the country's southern region, which has contributed to 66% of the total national cases in 2020.
Deadly attacks on health workers serving in the vaccination campaign have claimed many lives, despite the Taliban's apparent divergence from extremist groups in the country that oppose vaccination outright.
Four members of a polio vaccination team were gunned down and three others wounded by unknown assailants in June. In March, three members of another polio vaccination team, all female, were shot dead by unknown assailants in the eastern city of Jalalabad.

4-day immunization drive aims to cover nearly 10M children under 5 years old, says Health Ministry

A health worker administers a polio vaccine to a child, out of Kabul Afghanistan

First polio vaccination campaign under Taliban kicks off in Afghanistan

Sudanese army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Thursday ordered the release of four of the ministers detained by the military on Oct. 25 after it intervened amid rising tensions in the African country.

According to state-run media, ministers Hamza Baloul, Ali Jiddo, Hashim Hasabalrasoul and Yousef Adam are to be set free.
The development came as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke with the army chief over telephone, and reiterated his call for the release of all civilian detainees.
Shortly after detaining Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and several ministers, al-Burhan had declared a state of emergency and dissolved the governing sovereign council, triggering mass protests.
The council, composed of military and civilian officials, oversaw the transition period until elections in 2023 as part of a power-sharing pact after the ouster of former ruler Omar Al-Bashir.

Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, several ministers were detained after military intervention on Oct. 25

Sudan army chief orders release of 4 ministers

Pope Francis is scheduled to embark on a five-day visit to the Greek Administration of Southern Cyprus and Greece, the Vatican press office said on Friday.

Next month's visit (Dec. 2-6) comes upon the invitation of the countries' "civil authorities and Bishops’ Conferences," said a statement by the Holy See Press Office.
The Pope is also expected to visit a refugee camp at the Greek island of Lesbos. It will be his second visit since 2016.
Earlier this year, the Pontiff visited Iraq, Hungary and Slovakia.

Vatican leader's visit comes after invitation by 'civil authorities and Bishops’ Conferences': Statement

Pope to pay 5-day visit to southern Cyprus, Greece next month

A Palestinian child was shot dead Friday by Israeli forces during an anti-settlement demonstration in the occupied West Bank, according to a written statement by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Friday.

The ministry statement said the child victim was heavily injured by Israeli soldiers while Palestinians were protesting against illegal Jewish settlements in Nablus city in the occupied West Bank, with a live round.
It said the 13-year-old child was rushed into Rafidia Governmental Hospital in Nablus, adding that despite all medical interventions the child had “fallen a martyr.”
Palestinians held demonstrations in the afternoon to protest the expansion of Jewish settlements around Nablus, according to local sources.
The head of the Emergency Unit at the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Nablus Ahmad Jibril told Anadolu Agency that Israeli soldiers intervened Palestinian protesters in the Deer al-Hatab town of Nablus city with live bullets.
According to the Israeli and Palestinian estimates, there are about 650,000 settlers in West Bank settlements, including occupied Jerusalem, who live in 164 settlements and 116 outposts.

13-year-old child shot with live ammunition by Israeli soldiers in Nablus city

Palestinians held demonstrations in the afternoon

Palestinian child killed by Israeli forces in occupied West Bank

Pope Francis affirmed his support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Thursday.

The need for peaceful coexistence among various faiths, as well as the goal of a two-state solution in the Holy Land were discussed during a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the spiritual leader of the Catholic world, according to the official Vatican News agency.
Abbas and the pope agreed it is necessary to reactivate direct talks between Palestine and Israel to achieve a two-state solution, with the help of more vigorous efforts by the international community.
They also noted that “Jerusalem must be recognized by all as a place of encounter and not of conflict, and that its status must preserve its identity and universal value as a Holy City for all the three Abrahamic religions, also through a special internationally guaranteed status.”
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where the Al-Aqsa Mosque is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980, a move never recognized by the international community. Al-Aqsa is the third holiest site for Muslims.
The two leaders then spoke about the “urgency of working for peace, avoiding the use of weapons, and combating all forms of extremism and fundamentalism,” according to Vatican News.

Pope, Palestinian president discuss status of Jerusalem in meeting

Pope affirms support for two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

The Russian and US intelligence chiefs met in the Russian capital Moscow on Wednesday, the Russia Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said.

Sergey Naryshkin and William Burns discussed the fight against terrorism and interagency cooperation, the statement said.
- The focus was on issues of interdepartmental cooperation in the context of Russian-American relations with an emphasis on the fight against international terrorism - it said.
The CIA director is on a two-day visit (Nov. 2 and 3) in Russia by order of US President Joe Biden.
On Tuesday, Burns met Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, and the two discussed bilateral relations.

Sergey Naryshkin, William Burns discuss interagency cooperation, fight against terrorism

The Russian and US intelligence chiefs met in the Russian capital Moscow on Wednesday

Russian, US intelligence chiefs meet in Moscow

Scores of Palestinians staged a rally in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday to demand the release of hunger-striking detainees in Israeli jails.

Protesters gathered outside the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in al-Bireh city, waving banners calling for the release of detainees held without charge or trial.
Six Palestinians have staged an open-ended hunger strike in protest of their imprisonment under Israel’s administrative detention policy, with the oldest hunger striker Kayed al-Fasfous entering his 111 day on hunger strike.
The policy of administrative detention allows Israeli authorities to detain anyone for six months without charge or trial, which can be extended indefinitely.
- There is a real risk to the lives of the hunger strikers - Qadura Fares, the head of the Palestinian Prisoner Society NGO, told Anadolu Agency.
He called for rallying diplomatic and political efforts to pressure Israel to release the detainees.
There are around 4,850 Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, including 520 administrative detainees, according to institutions concerned with prisoners’ affairs.

6 Palestinians have staged hunger strike in protest of their imprisonment under Israel’s administrative detention policy

Protesters gathered outside the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in al-Bireh city

Palestinians demand release of hunger strikers from Israeli jails

At least 13 people were injured in a roadside explosion in southwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, police said, the latest in a surge of violence in the South Asian country.
The explosion occurred in the Kharan district of mineral-rich Balochistan province.
The bomb was planted in a motorcycle, which detonated shortly after a security vehicle passed by the site.
The attack comes two days after a similar explosion in Balochistan's Panjgur district that killed two civilians and injured three paramilitary troops.
Condemning the attack, Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Quddus Bizenjo held "anti-state elements" responsible for the attack. No group immediately claimed responsibility, but separatists have targeted the region for over a decade.
Balochistan is a key route of the $64-billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor project, which aims to connect China's strategically important northwestern Xinjiang province to the Gwadar port.
In 2021, Pakistan has seen a resurgence of attacks against security forces and civilians, mainly in Balochistan and the northwestern restive tribal region.
On Oct. 18, a policeman was killed and 17 others injured in a bomb blast targeting a security vehicle outside the University of Balochistan in Quetta, the provincial capital.
Just three days later, six Pakistani security personnel were killed in three separate attacks.

South Asian country facing fresh wave of violence in Balochistan, frontier region

The explosion occurred in the Kharan district of mineral-rich Balochistan province

13 injured in southwestern Pakistan blast

Cambodia on Tuesday said it has achieved its target of vaccinating 10 million people against COVID-19.

The vaccination drive in the Southeast Asian country has “reached 100.05% of the targeted 10 million people above 18 years of age,” said a statement by the prime minister’s office.
It added that 97.93% of some 1.83 million people under the age of 18 have been covered, along with 101.46% of around 1.89 million under-12s, and 8.81% of about 304,300 kids under the age of 5.
The kingdom, home to nearly 16 million people, launched a mass immunization campaign in February with vaccines and supplies from China.
Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government allocated $170 million to purchase vaccines, including the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab, which has enabled Cambodia to achieve one of the highest vaccination rates in Southeast Asia.
In August, it started administering third booster shots to eligible people and vaccinating children between the ages of 12 and 17.
Daily infections in Cambodia dropped to 89 on Tuesday, while new fatalities were at six.
The nationwide count now stands at 118,702, including 2,800 deaths, according to latest data.

Cambodia is among countries with highest vaccination rates in Southeast Asia

The vaccination drive in the Southeast Asian country has “reached 100.05% of the targeted 10 million people above 18 years of age”

Cambodia hits COVID-19 vaccination target of 10M people

In the aftermath of September’s submarine row, when Australia abruptly scrapped a deal with France in favor of the US and Britain helping it with nuclear-powered subs, Australia is hitting back at French allegations that it lied about the deal.

Scott Morrison, the Australian premier, on Monday rejected French President Emmanuel Macron’s accusations that he had lied to France on the cancellation of the multibillion-euro sub contract.
- I've got broad shoulders, I can deal with that (the accusations) - he said in Glasgow, Scotland, where he is attending a UN climate change summit.
- But those slurs – I'm not going to cop sledging of Australia. I'm not going to cop that on behalf of Australians - he told reporters.
He added that he will not allow his country to be "humiliated."
Saying that Australia is working to mend fences with France, Morrison said that he spoken to Macron a few times over the past few days.
At the weekend G20 leaders summit in Rome, when asked whether Morrison had lied about the submarine deal, Macron replied: "I don't think, I know."
But Morrison said that as early as June he brought up the issue clearly during a dinner at Paris’ Elysee Palace.
France reacted angrily to the AUKUS deal inked by Australia, the UK, and the US in September to defend the Indo Pacific zone from China’s influence.
After the AUKUS alliance was announced on Sept. 15, Australia canceled a multibillion-euro deal for French submarines as it will now get technology from the US and UK to build nuclear-powered subs.
The axing of the deal outraged Paris, which recalled its envoys from Washington and Canberra.

Macron’s accusations that Australian premier lied to France on axing multibillion-euro sub deal rejected by Scott Morrison

Australian premier rejects French president's accusations

US President Joe Biden moved to revoke Ethiopia's status in a key trade program Tuesday for its continued offensive against Tigray rebels.

Biden said he is ending Addis Ababa's involvement in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) due to "gross violations of internationally recognized human rights" as he also pulled Guinea, and Mali from the program.
- Despite intensive engagement between the United States and the Governments of Ethiopia, Guinea, and Mali, these governments have failed to address United States concerns about their non-compliance with the AGOA eligibility criteria - the president wrote in a letter notifying Congress of his actions.
The program allows eligible countries duty-free access to the US market for more than 1,800 products under the condition that they meet established criteria, including moving toward a market-based economy and making progress on rule of law and combatting corruption.
The termination will take effect Jan. 1, but Biden said he "will continue to assess whether the Governments of Ethiopia, Guinea, and Mali are making continual progress toward meeting the AGOA eligibility requirements."
The US president has warned he will impose sanctions on all parties to the conflict in Ethiopia unless they turn to negotiations to resolve hostilities peacefully and his action on Tuesday appears to fall short of that vow.
The Ethiopian government alleged in November 2020 that the Tigray People's Liberation Forces (TPLF) raided a key military installation in the country's north, killing soldiers and looting sizable military hardware. The following day, the government launched what it said was a sweeping law enforcement operation against the group’s leaders that has led to continuing hostilities against Tigray rebels.
The conflict has crippled humanitarian access for nearly half a million people facing famine-like conditions in the Tigray region. The UN has warned that Ethiopian government bombardments, fighting and fuel shortages are affecting the ability of aid partners to distribute aid in the region.
Aid deliveries have ground to a halt in areas where stocks of food and other relief items have been depleted.
According to the UN, 2 million people have been internally displaced and thousands have died in the war.

US president removes Ethiopia from program for 'gross violations of internationally recognized human rights'

Biden pulling Ethiopia from trade program over Tigray conflict

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met on Tuesday Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa for the first time since the two countries normalized their ties last year.

The “historic” meeting took place in Glasgow, Scotland on the sidelines of the ongoing UN Climate Change conference or COP26, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
No further details were included in the statement, but the official Bahrain News Agency said the crown prince highlighted Bahrain's "commitment to upholding regional peace, development, and stability."
He noted the importance of “building upon the progress made following the signing of the Declaration of Peace, and further strengthening bilateral ties and cooperation.”
The report said the two leaders discussed topics of mutual interest, and areas of cooperation including preserving the environment and promoting clean energy.
The Bahraini leader outlined the country’s “comprehensive” climate change response, including its intention to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.
On Sept. 30, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid made the first official visit to the Kingdom to inaugurate the Israeli Embassy in the capital of Manama.
Tel Aviv and Manama inked a normalization deal during a ceremony held at the White House on Sept. 15, 2020.
Besides Bahrain, Israel also established diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates, Sudan, and Morocco in 2020.

Meeting between Naftali Bennett and Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa held in Glasgow on sidelines of COP26

The “historic” meeting took place in Glasgow

Israeli, Bahraini premiers meet for 1st time since normalization of ties

The UN Human Rights Council said Tuesday it would on Friday hold a special session to address the “implications of the ongoing situation” in Sudan after a military takeover eight days ago.

The meeting will take place in a hybrid virtual format at Geneva’s Palais des Nations, and most interventions will take place online due to COVID-19 restrictions.
After a special request, the UK, US, Norway, and Germany jointly convened the special session.
On Oct. 25, Sudan’s ruling military council announced a state of emergency and dissolved the transitional sovereign council and government hours after detaining Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and ministers in his civilian government.
The council also suspended some provisions of the constitutional document outlining the political transition in Sudan.
Deep tensions escalated between the military and the civilian administration in Sudan after a failed military coup in September amid rival protests in Khartoum.
For a special session, the support of one-third of the 47 members of the Council ,16 or more, is needed.
The request was supported by the following members of the Human Rights Council: Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Libya, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, South Korea, Ukraine, the UK, and Uruguay.
The following observer members also supported the special session: Albania, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, the Greek Cypriot administration, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Malawi, Montenegro, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the US.
The meeting will be the 32nd special session of the council and the fourth this year.
Before the military takeover, Sudan was administered by a sovereign council of military and civilian officials, which oversaw the transition period until elections slated for 2023, as part of a precarious power-sharing pact between the military and the Forces for Freedom and Change coalition.

Move is to discuss implications of Sudan situation after Oct. 25 military takeover in African nation

The meeting will be the 32nd special session of the council and the fourth this year

UN Human Rights Council to hold special Sudan session after call by over 45 nations

US internet services company Yahoo has pulled out of China amid an "increasingly challenging business and legal environment," it said on Tuesday.

- In recognition of the increasingly challenging business and legal environment in China, Yahoo’s suite of services will no longer be accessible from mainland China as of November 1 - Yahoo said in a statement.
- Yahoo remains committed to the rights of our users and a free and open internet. We thank our users for their support - it added.
The move comes as gaming giant Epic Games said it is shutting down its popular battle-royale game Fortnite by Nov. 15. In China, the game's beta version was known as Fortress Night and operated by Tencent Games, a major investor in Epic.
In August, China restricted online gaming for children under the age of 18 to three hours a week – only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Last month, Microsoft-owned LinkedIn said it will end operations in China due to "greater compliance requirements."
While Google left in 2010, Facebook and Twitter have been blocked for more than a decade.​​​​​​​

Gaming giant Epic also shuts popular game Fortnite after new rules

Yahoo remains committed to the rights of our users and a free and open internet

Qatar ruler receives message from Saudi crown prince

Belarus says large group of refugees approaching its border from Poland

First polio vaccination campaign under Taliban kicks off in Afghanistan

Sudan army chief orders release of 4 ministers

Pope to pay 5-day visit to southern Cyprus, Greece next month

Palestinian child killed by Israeli forces in occupied West Bank

Pope affirms support for two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Russian, US intelligence chiefs meet in Moscow

Palestinians demand release of hunger strikers from Israeli jails

13 injured in southwestern Pakistan blast

Cambodia hits COVID-19 vaccination target of 10M people

Australian premier rejects French president's accusations

Biden pulling Ethiopia from trade program over Tigray conflict

Israeli, Bahraini premiers meet for 1st time since normalization of ties

UN Human Rights Council to hold special Sudan session after call by over 45 nations

Yahoo exits China citing 'challenging' business environment

World

Qatar ruler receives message from Saudi crown prince

Belarus says large group of refugees approaching its border from Poland

First polio vaccination campaign under Taliban kicks off in Afghanistan

Sudan army chief orders release of 4 ministers

Pope to pay 5-day visit to southern Cyprus, Greece next month

Palestinian child killed by Israeli forces in occupied West Bank

Pope affirms support for two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Russian, US intelligence chiefs meet in Moscow

Palestinians demand release of hunger strikers from Israeli jails

13 injured in southwestern Pakistan blast

Cambodia hits COVID-19 vaccination target of 10M people

Australian premier rejects French president's accusations

Biden pulling Ethiopia from trade program over Tigray conflict

Israeli, Bahraini premiers meet for 1st time since normalization of ties

UN Human Rights Council to hold special Sudan session after call by over 45 nations

Yahoo exits China citing 'challenging' business environment