WINDSOR, Ontario (AP) � The busiest U.S.-Canada border crossing was open Monday after protesters demonstrating against COVID-19 measures blocked it for nearly a week, but a larger protest in the capital, Ottawa, persisted as city residents seethed over authorities’ inability to reclaim the streets. Demonstrations against COVID-19 restrictions and other issues have blocked several crossings […]

這篇文章 Key US-Canada bridge reopens as Ottawa protest persists 最早出現於 The China Post, Taiwan。

De islamistische organisatie Hamas doet het conflict tussen Israël en Palestina opnieuw oplaaien met een militaire aanval vanuit Gaza. Volg hier de laatste updates.

De beeldredactie van De Standaard selecteert iedere week de meest in het oog springende nieuwsfoto’s. Het gewapende conflict tussen Hamas en Israël domineert al de hele week het nieuws. De menselijke tol aan beide kanten is enorm. Ook Afghanistan treurt om vele doden na een verwoestende aardbeving. India bleef evenmin gespaard van een ramp.

Het conflict tussen Hamas en Israël is de voorbije dagen ontploft, maar het heeft diepe historische wortels. Hoe zijn de spanningen eigenlijk ontstaan? En hoelang is het conflict al bezig? Dit moet je weten.

Labour wins contest triggered by ousting of former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier, who broke Covid rules in 2020

Robert Peston joins The Independent's Simon Walters in conversation at Henley Literary Festival. One of Britain's most distinguished political commentators joins in the midsts of the political party conference season to talk about his latest fictitious novel, The Crash, which tells the story of BBC journalist Gil as he uncovers the rotten heart of the financial system - but at what cost?

‘I know that we will get justice,’ Otoniel Feliz said about his son’s fentanyl death on 15 September. ‘But even then, I will never get my son back’

Day commemorating 1986 People Power Revolution omitted from official list of holidays for 2024

The Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, has dropped a public holiday marking the anniversary of a revolution that toppled his dictator father, further fuelling concerns his family is seeking to “whitewash” history.

Ferdinand Marcos Sr ruled the Philippines for more than two decades until he was ousted by the peaceful People Power Revolution of February 1986, when hundreds of thousands took to the streets. The Marcos family was forced to flee the country, and sought exile in Hawaii.

Move comes after assassination of former PM Shinzo Abe and growing criticism of fundraising activities

Japan’s government has asked a court to strip the Unification church of its status, amid growing criticism of the group’s fundraising activities after the assassination last year of the former prime minister Shinzo Abe.

If the Tokyo district court accepts the request, the church – whose members are colloquially known as Moonies– will be stripped of its status as a religious corporation and lose exemptions from corporate and property taxes, as well as a tax on income from monetary offerings.

Prosecutors allege Sharon Graham was ‘architect’ of plan to murder Bruce Saunders and get money from his insurance

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Weeks before Bruce Saunders’ body was put in a woodchipper, the butcher spoke about taking out a life insurance policy and marrying the woman now accused of his murder, a jury has heard.

Saunders was hit on the head with an iron bar after sunset on 12 November 2017 and his body fed into an industrial woodchipper to make it look like an accident, a Brisbane court has been told.

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Cases are rising in many parts of the country and critics are blaming chronic water shortages and poor sanitation systems

The Zimbabwean government has banned large gatherings in parts of the country and increased surveillance at ports of entry in an effort to contain a rise in cholera cases.

With 100 suspected deaths, most of them in September, and nearly 5,000 possible cases of the water-borne disease in more than 41 districts, including Harare, authorities fear a repeat of the 2008 epidemic where 4,000 people died.

• Former Afghan spymaster, convicted millionaire and former Libyan colonel among those who became Dominican citizens
• Sales of passports soared after the Caribbean state was granted visa-free travel to the EU in 2015
• Luxury rooms and a swim-up bar: hotel with funding from Dominica’s golden passport scheme

The Caribbean state of Dominica has sold citizenship to thousands of individuals including a former Afghan spymaster, a Turkish millionaire convicted of fraud and a former Libyan colonel under Muammar Gaddafi, the first detailed examination of the country’s controversial “golden passports” scheme has found.

The findings are from Dominica: Passports of the Caribbean, an investigation by the Guardian and 14 other international news organisations, in partnership with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

In view of the humanitarian crisis resulting from the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the Council decided to introduce exceptions to restrictive measures for exclusively humanitarian purposes in Ukraine.

Als kijker zit je op het puntje van je stoel bij het Duitse ontvoeringsdrama Liebes Kind, momenteel een grote hit op Netflix. Een oude vermissingszaak wordt heropend nadat een vrouw en haar dochter weten te ontsnappen aan hun ontvoerder. De grimmige serie zit vol plotwendingen en weet tot het einde te verrassen.

Spain kept Scotland from becoming the first team to secure a place at the 2024 European Championship by beating the visitors 2-0 Thursday for its 25th consecutive home win in qualifiers.

Scotland only needed a draw to clinch a spot at its second straight Euros and was still level at 0-0 after more than 70 minutes. But two late goals for Spain in Seville ended Scotland's perfect qualifying record and kept first place in Group A up for grabs.

Scotland still leads the group with 15 points, three more than Spain — which has a game in hand — and five more than Norway, which won 4-0 at Cyprus with two goals by Erling Haaland. The top two from each group will qualify automatically for Euro 2024 in Germany.

Scotland would still qualify if Norway fails to beat Spain at home on Sunday. Spain can move to the top of the group if it wins in Oslo.

“One of the challenges here was to come and compete with a top European side, which Spain are. We did that,” Scotland coach Steve Clarke said. "If the result doesn’t go our way when Norway host Spain then we’re well equipped to take the point or points we need in the remaining two games next month. We are in that position because of the enormous work we’ve done in the group so far.”

Israel was supposed to host Switzerland in Group I on Thursday, but its match was postponed until November because of the war with Hamas. Israel’s game at Kosovo scheduled for Sunday was also postponed. Israel is now due to play three qualifiers in the one-week international break next month designed for just two games.

Álvaro Morata and Oihan Sancet scored for Spain, which extended its home winning streak in European qualifiers in a run that started after a 1-0 loss against Greece in 2003.

Morata broke the deadlock with a header from a cross by Jesús Navas in the 73rd minute and Sancet sealed the win from close range in the 86th at La Cartuja Stadium.

“We undestood exactly how Scotland play," Morata said. "They have tough, good footballers and we needed to ‘slow-cook’ the match. Eventually that worked and we got the three points.”

Scotland, which had no attempts in the first half, thought it had taken a 1-0 lead in the 60th when midfielder Scott McTominay scored with a superb free kick from a tight angle, but the goal was disallowed for an apparent offside by Jack Hendry.

Scotland played at Euro 2020 in what was its first appearance at the tournament since 1996.

There were nearly 4,000 very loud Scotland fans on hand among the crowd of more than 40,000 at La Cartuja. The Scots had complained after Spain midfielder Rodri called Scotland’s style of play “a bit rubbish” for wasting time and provoking opponents. His comments came after Scotland beat Spain 2-0 at home in March. Rodri said Thursday he didn't mean any disrespect toward Scotland's national team.

Spain's Bryan Zaragoza and Fran García made their national team debut by entering the match after halftime. Sancet also made his debut in the second half.

Spain was without Nico Williams because of a back issue. Lamine Yamal and Yeremi Pino had already been dropped from the squad because of injuries earlier in the week.

NORWAY STAYS IN CONTENTION

Haaland scored a pair of second half goals to end a three-game scoreless streak and lead Norway to victory at last-place Cyprus.

Alexander Sorloth had put the visitors ahead in the first half, and Fredrik Aursnes closed the scoring with a late goal.

OTHER GROUPS

Romania missed a chance to take the Group I lead after a 0-0 draw at Belarus, while Kosovo kept alive its chances with a 3-0 win at Andorra.

Albania stayed in front in Group E by beating the Czech Republic 3-0, while Poland moved to second place with a 2-0 win at the Faeroe Islands.

Turkey moved ahead of Croatia in Group D with a 1-0 win in Croatia. Latvia won 2-0 against third-place Armenia at home in the other group match.

RUSSIA IN ACTION

Russia defeated Cameroon 1-0 in its first men’s senior international game since the invasion of Ukraine against an opponent from outside Asia.

Russia had previously played three Central Asian nations, plus Iran, Iraq and Qatar. It has been banned from Euro 2024 qualifying because of the war in Ukraine.

Cameroon's soccer federation president Samuel Eto’o is under pressure while facing an investigating by the Confederation of African Football for alleged “improper conduct.”

Sweden defeated Moldova 3-1 in another friendly on Thursday.

The Israeli military prepared for a possible ground invasion in Gaza on Thursday as it pounded the tiny coastal strip in retaliation for the unprecedented weekend attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas.

In a deliberate show of support for Israel, a U.S. official confirmed that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin plans to visit on Friday, a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Suffering in Gaza, meanwhile, rose dramatically with Palestinians desperate for food, fuel and medicine and the territory’s only power plant shut down for lack of fuel. The morgue at Gaza’s biggest hospital overflowed Thursday as bodies came in faster than relatives could claim them.

Israel said Thursday that a complete siege would remain in place until Hamas freed 150 hostages taken during its incursion. Egypt has engaged in intensive talks with Israel and the United States to allow the delivery of aid and fuel through its Rafah crossing point, which remained closed on both sides Thursday.

The war has claimed at least 2,800 lives on both sides, and displaced 423,000 people in Gaza.

Here's what's happening on Day 6 of the latest Israel-Hamas war:

JERUSALEM — Israel’s military on Friday ordered the evacuation of northern Gaza, a region that is home to 1.1 million people, within 24 hours, a United Nations spokesperson said.

The order, delivered to the U.N., comes as Israel presses an offensive against Hamas militants. U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the evacuation would be “impossible” without “devastating humanitarian consequences.”

This could signal an impending ground offensive, though the Israeli military has not yet confirmed such an appeal. On Thursday, it said that while it was preparing, a decision had not yet been made.

The Standing Committee on Foreign and European Affairs in the Maltese Parliament has "expressed its grave concern about the escalation of tensions in Israel and Gaza following the terroristic attacks committed by Hamas."

The Committee "unequivocally and categorically condemns the coordinated terror attacks by Hamas which have led to the loss of innocent civilian life of so many, including children"

Such terroristic attacks are a blatant violation of international law, it said. "These acts of terror, together with the indiscriminate barrage of rockets into Israel are deplorable and completely unjustifiable."

"They must cease immediately."

The Committee said that it is "equally concerned about the well-being of civilians, including women and children, particularly Israeli civilians who were abducted by Hamas and taken into Gaza. We call on the immediate and unconditional safe release of all hostages."

"This Committee reiterates Israel's right to defend its territory and its people. This right should however be exercised within the remit of international law."

"We express our grave concern on the present situation on Gaza where indiscriminate attacks and actions are creating innocent victims caught in this conflict. We ask that Israel abide to the rules of International Law and demand the international community and all those with an influence in the conflict to mobilize all efforts towards the finding of a peaceful solution to this grave situation developing around us," it said.

During a committee meeting held on Thursday, Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg said of the situation that "the levels of violence are not the solution. We (the government) believe a political solution is needed."

He said that over the years, Malta always worked for there to be a political resolution for this conflict, a two state solution, based on frontiers of 1967.

The Maltese government, he said, remains of the understanding that this conflict can only be solved by having two states that can live together in peace.

Malta has an Ambassador in Tel Aviv and a representative in Ramallah, he had said. "The government was in contact with Maltese who were present." He mentioned that seven flew back to Malta. "The flights and airlines flying there have drastically reduced and there are few connections left due to what happened, and it seems that right now, there are no more Maltese who are ready to leave," he said, in reference to "Maltese who possibly could be there."

From Sunday 15^th October, individuals and businesses caught depositing waste in the wrong waste bags will be liable to fines of up to €150, as the six-month educational period on the new mandatory waste separation regulations ends this week.

In the coming weeks, ERA officials and other enforcement officers will be continuing inspections across Malta and Gozo, to ensure that households and businesses are separating waste properly in the three waste bags specified by law – the white bag for organic waste, the grey or green bag for recyclable waste and the black bag strictly for other waste.

Enforcement officers are authorized by law to check bags taken out for collection by households and businesses, and to issue warnings and fines when waste items are found in the wrong bag:

From July 2024 transparent black bags will become mandatory instead of the current black bags for municipal waste collection, making it easier for enforcement officials to check the content of bags without opening them.

Meanwhile, separate fines of €150 continue to apply for persons taking out waste bags on the wrong day. In January, regional councils launched a new municipal waste collection schedule for all localities. Organic waste bags are collected on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while black bags are collected on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Grey or green bags for recyclable materials are collected every Thursday. Glass is collected on the first and third Friday of the month.      

Mandatory waste separation regulations were introduced in Malta last April, as ERA launched a six-month educational campaign to help the public gradually adapt to this new waste management system.  During the last six months, ERA enforcement officers conducted more than 2600 inspections in different localities to ascertain compliance with national waste schedule and educate on waste separation. 

ERA encourages everyone to properly separate waste, to contribute to a more sustainable future and avoid the consequences of non-compliance. By properly separating waste, households, businesses, government entities and other organisations can help increase the sustainable management of waste, to be recycled or processed to generate clean energy, while reducing the negative impacts of landfilling on the environment. 

Through the Long-Term Waste Management Plan 2021-2030, Malta is working to reduce landfilling to 10% of total municipal waste by 2035.

For more information, visit wastecollection.mt, the online waste separation and collection guide available in ten different languages.

A Maltese doctor who was reported missing in South Africa has been found safe and sound, a spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed with this newsroom.

Police in the Maitland precinct in the capital Cape Town had been seeking the assistance of the public to help them trace 29-year-old Stefano Corso who had last seen by his colleagues on 11 October 2023 at approximately 3.35pm, a note by the police on Facebook said.

“He is a visiting doctor from Malta who was attending a medical seminar in Paarden Island at the time of his disappearance,” the note said. Reports suggest that he stepped out of the conference to attend to a phone call, but had not returned. Video footage available to the South African Police Service shows him leaving the seminar.

But a spokesperson from the Foreign Affairs Ministry has now confirmed that he was found. No other details are as yet available.

Posting on Facebook, Stefano's brother, Roberto, expressed gratitude to the Maltese and South African institutions, "as well as the public in general for their assistance in my brother’s search and rescue mission. All the family is delighted to confirm that we have had visual confirmation that Stefano is indeed alive. We do not have more information about his disappearance at this stage. We look forward to having Stefano back home. Thank you again to each and every one of you."

A full-time Parliament which assesses and scrutinizes government and an anti-corruption agency were among the 20 proposals put forth by NGO Repubblika, Occupy Justice Malta and Manuel Delia for "a clean Republic".

The groups addressed the media on Thursday.

Repubblika President Robert Aquilina and Delia spoke about the 20 proposals which manifest 20 reforms they said government must push on the national agenda, as the reality is that little discussions on a national level are being held to address current issues Malta is plagued with.

For the commemoration of the six years since journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder, Aquilina said that the proposals focus on the system failures which facilitated her assassination, and which exist till today.

"The 20 proposals are ideas the country should consider as priorities to cure the country of the illness it currently suffers," Aquilina said.

He said that the organisations wish to dialogue with political parties on the proposals, to include them in their electoral programmes.

Manuel Delia, who is also a Repubblika executive official, explained the proposals which he described as "modelled on laws which exist, are normal in other countries, can be executed in a short amount of time, and are simple as we can model them from others."

The first proposal is to have a full-time Parliament which scrutinises government, and keeps government accountable, an issue which is a pending recommendation from GRECO and the Venice Commission reports, and which have not been touched upon in Malta, Delia said.

The proposal entails reforming Parliament in order to provide it with the tools and independence needed to be able to exercise vigilance over government and control its conduct.

The proposal also calls for a full-time Parliament so that even members of the party holding a majority in Parliament would not depend on government for their living, and truly represent their voters, not the government, a document containing the proposals read.

The second proposal calls for surveillance over members of Parliament - in the case of a breach of the code of ethics, to be conducted by someone outside of politics with competence and experience on ethical behaviour, "providing independence and transparent vigilance". The Westminster parliament model could be used, Delia suggested.

The third proposal calls for an agency to fight corruption, as the Permanent Commission against Corruption has been deemed ineffective, they said.

Delia said that in the 33 years this Commission has existed, not a single case led to a conviction, making it clear that this institution does not work.

"We need an agency with the power and initiatives to fight corruption, and also educate the community. There is a culture, which was brought in by bad example from the very top, that one can be part of the corruption or tolerate it because it suits them," Delia said.

The proposal calls for an agency with the resources to investigate and the power to start prosecutions, instead of the Commission. It calls for resources which are needed to educate the public about the rights and duties of every citizen to fight corruption.

The fourth proposal calls for true protection of whistleblowers, with Delia saying that there are large defects in the current whistleblower law, one of which is that the decision for protection of a whistleblower is in government's hands, despite instances where the whistleblower has the potential to uncover government misdeeds.

"The government should not have any control over whether a whistleblower should be protected from repercussions by Government itself," the organisations said.

The fifth proposal calls for full-time inquiring magistrates, to which Repubblika acknowledged that government took a step in the right direction in this regard, to have magistrates solely focusing on inquiries.

Delia said that what is important, however, is the resources, and the proposal also calls for a team of judicial police officers who have the power to gather proof, to help the magistrates.

The organisations insisted for a "truly serious quality of prosecution" in the country in their sixth proposal, with Delia saying that the Office of the Attorney General's success rate in prosecutions is "absurd," and "very low", and there is the need for investment towards resources, and training for the country to have the best lawyers in its prosecutor's office.

"The state should train and provide adequate pay to those who dedicate their lives to ensuring that justice is done with victims and society," it said.

The seventh proposal calls for a limit on the amounts contractors can provide to political parties for financing, and that financing of political parties should be better controlled by independent surveillance.

On this, Delia said that practically 99% of the financing of political parties is private financing, making the party a "slave of their interests." He said that the proposal does not call for banning of private financing, but for serious consequences for those who hide that they are breaking the law.

The proposal entails that most of the financing they receive should be paid for by the state according to objective criteria. Anyone trying to hide illicit donations should be imprisoned, it said.

The eighth proposal calls for public appointments to be made by fair competition, and those made by government for persons of trust should be limited and clearly defined. Any other appointments should be open to competition and choices should be made according to objective criteria of competence and experience, and not loyalty and closeness to a minister or a party, the organisations said.

The ninth proposal calls for a halt to the sale of Maltese citizenship.

"Citizenship is a right for the poor as much as it is for the rich and should not be a product that may be sold to millionaires," the organisations said.

The tenth proposal calls for an anti-mafia law, which was among the recommendations from the public inquiry into Caruana Galizia's death, where it showed that there is an infiltration of the mafia in politics, Delia said.

"Not only those who pull the trigger are guilty of a crime. Anyone who gets rich through their association with a mafia organisation forms part of the mafia and deserves to go to prison," the proposal says.

The organisation called for the need for a law against organised crime to catch whoever publicly hides their wealth while enjoying the wealth deriving from crime accomplished by others in his/her name.

The 11th proposal calls for the confiscation of unexplained wealth, and that if anyone enjoying this wealth cannot prove legitimate sources, they should be presumed to be benefitting from illicit wealth.

This wealth should be taken from the person following trial in court, even if the obtention of this wealth through criminal means is not yet proven, they propose.

The 12th proposal then calls for this wealth confiscated from criminals to be invested back into the community, for social initiatives that compensate from the damage done by the criminals.

The 13th proposal calls for real public broadcasting, "free from government." It entails regulating the public broadcasting by a law that ensures independence from government, they said.

"State broadcasting should have the best journalists and presenters/broadcasters who critically and assiduously exercise vigilance on the behaviour of the people in power and give voice to minorities and the marginalised," they said.

The 14th proposal calls for political parties and broadcasting to be separate from each other.

"Mixing political parties with the media that are supposed to keep vigilant over them erodes democracy and polarises public discourse. Political parties should have a voice, but they should not own television stations, radio channels or newspapers," the organisations said.

The 15th proposal calls for fair rules for government spending in the media, saying that today, government rewards media that favours it, and punishes media that investigates and criticises it.

The organisations said that public spending on advertising and subsidies given to the media should have nothing to do with how critical of, or favourable to, government the media is. Rules of transparency are needed to stop partisan discrimination, it said. Delia said that currently, these decisions are made by the Minister behind closed doors.

The 16th proposal calls for a serious law against SLAPP suits, so that people with money are not allowed to use the courts to silence those who reveal their wrongdoings, for protection from court cases intended to silence journalists and activists.

"It is alarming that after six years after Daphne Caruana Galizia's death, we are only now waiting for a bill which seriously addresses this," Delia said.

The organisations insisted for a cleanse of elections from corruption in their 17th proposal, and for proper enforcement of the law which has existed since the 1930s, and "is absolutely ignored by police and the Electoral Commission, which is also a product of the main political parties," Delia said, urging against the buying of votes.

The 18th proposal calls for the punishment of abuse of power, and whoever uses power to become rich or to reward their friends, whoever takes advantage or gives advantage to anyone who will return the favour by exploiting information acquired through their office, should be found guilty of crime.

They should also be removed from public office, the organisations said. This ties in with the 19th proposal, which also calls for the punishment of those who obstruct justice.

The proposal calls for whoever lies to the authorities enforcing the law, misleads them or gets rid of proof before it is brought before the investigators, whoever uses their power to create obstacles for investigators, knowingly wastes the investigators' time or limits their access to proof of crime, should be charged with criminal offences.

On this, Delia said that the current laws are defective as well, and that criminal codes adopted from other countries should help prosecutors.

The final proposal calls for autonomous Local Councils with real power to improve people's lives. Local democracy should be strengthened so that local councils may collect local taxes and act in the interests of their community, not of central government, they said.

Delia said that the country has seen a "reversal of power" for local councils, and said that having their competencies removed is another aspect which is eroding the country's democracy.

Asked by the media on having full-time MPs, the organisations said that today, the money being spent on a "ceremonial" Parliament is a waste, as there is no scrutiny on what government does.

Despite being an unpopular proposal, as it would entail increasing the pay of said MPs to a full-time basis, whose pay comes from citizens' taxes, the organisations said that if the country truly wants a democracy, it needs to pay for it to happen, otherwise it will always be in the hands of the rich.

The latest developments in the Middle East, a part of the world that has been in the limelight for decades, are a matter of serious concern.

Hundreds have already died in an escalation of events that started last Saturday when Hamas launched a terror attack on Israel killing hundreds of civilians. The conflict continued in the following days as Israel retaliated with devastating bombardments and Hamas launched rockets. The war has already left too many victims – Palestinians and Israelis alike, and too much destruction.

And, from what is being said and reported, it is unlikely that the situation will calm down anytime soon. The sensation is that matters will become worse before they can get better. While the world is used to seeing the Middle East in the news, what has happened in the past days is unprecedented, and it will have a lasting effect for years to come.

The events have affected many other countries too. Among the dead are people of different nationalities who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and this has meant that other nations have been directly involved in the issue. Many other foreigners who were in the zone where the conflict broke have had to be hastily repatriated. The experience they spoke about with the media exposed how volatile and dangerous the situation is, and how lucky they were to leave unscathed. Civilians have also been taken as hostages.

The world is in a difficult situation. The war in the Ukraine after Russia’s invasion still lingers on, with all its effect on trade and commerce. Thousands have died here too, and many more thousands have been displaced as they moved away in search of a more peaceful setting. Inevitably, this has exacerbated the migration issue even further, as neighbouring countries have had to contend with the thousands of people crossing the borders into safer land.

In the meantime, hundreds more migrants continue to flock into Europe from North Africa, risking their lives on rickety boats in an attempt to seek greener pastures. Southern European states, as well as North African states, are busy dealing with this influx, as they have been doing for the past 25-30 years. With all that is now happening in the Middle East, it is likely that the surge of people who want to move towards Europe increases.

All this is happening as the world attempts to recover from more than two years of a global pandemic, which in itself has had a negative effect on people’s lives not only from a medical point of view, but also in terms of the economy, as inflation has hit hard and is still hitting hard. Again, the situation in the Middle East will only help to make matters worse.

There are countries that are openly supporting Israel and others who are backing the Palestinians. Unfortunately, very few seem to be talking about peace in the region. We are sure that, behind the scenes, there are efforts to bring the two sides to some kind of negotiating table in the hope that some solution can be found. Whether this is possible, at present, is very much in doubt.

The Israeli government is under intense public pressure to topple Hamas after its militants stormed through a border fence Saturday and killed hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival.

In the Gaza Strip, meanwhile, residents are facing ever-growing uncertainty after the territory's only power plant ran out of fuel and shut down Wednesday. Without power, communication is limited and information is scarce.

Egypt has engaged in intensive talks with Israel and the United States to allow the delivery of aid and fuel through its Rafah crossing point, which remained closed on both sides Thursday. However, Egypt pushed back against proposals to establish corridors out of Gaza, saying an an exodus of Palestinians from the enclave would have grave consequences on the Palestinian cause.

The war, which has claimed more than 2,500 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate.

Here's what's happening on Day 6 of the latest Israel-Palestinian war:

MEDIA REPORTS: ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES ON AIRPORTS IN SYRIA

DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria’s pro-government media reports that Israeli airstrikes have targeted the airports of the capital city Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo, damaging their runways.

Al-Watan Daily and Dama Post did not give further details other than both airports are out of service.

They were the first Israeli strikes on Syria since the militant Palestinian group Hamas carried out its deadly attacks in southern Israel.

Earlier this year, the airports of Damascus and Aleppo were hit several times.

NETANYAHU PRAISES BLINKEN'S VISIT TO ISRAEL

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed journalists on Thursday in Tel Aviv.

Netanyahu praised Blinken’s visit as a “tangible example of America’s unequivocable support of Israel.”

“President Biden was absolutely correct in calling this ‘sheer evil,’” Netanyahu said, referring to Hamas' unprecedented attack Saturday on Israel.

They shook hands after Netanyahu’s remarks.

Blinken said that he came before journalists “not just as secretary of state, but also a Jew” while recounting his own family’s history of surviving the Holocaust.

“So prime minister, I understand on a personal level, the harrowing echoes that Hamas’ massacres carry for Israeli Jews, as well as Jews everywhere,” Blinken said.

ISLAMIC GROUP CONDEMNS ISRAEL'S AIRSTRIKES IN GAZA

JERUSALEM — The 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Thursday strongly condemned what it called the “ongoing Israeli military aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.”

“The OIC considers this brutal aggression against the Palestinian people a blatant international and humanitarian law violation and a war crime,” it said in a statement. It cited the killing and wounding of women and children, the destruction of civilian buildings and other locations.

The OIC said it held Israel “fully responsible” for the “repercussions of the continuation of this sinful aggression."

The OIC, based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, broadly aligns itself with the thinking of Saudi Arabia’s rulers. That suggests the ongoing war likely will affect the ongoing efforts by the United States to broker a deal that could see Saudi Arabia diplomatically recognize Israel.

ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES HAVE BLOCKED THE OPERATION OF THE RAFAH CROSSING, EGYPT SAYS

CAIRO — Egypt’s Foreign Ministry denied Thursday it had officially closed the Rafah crossing and said Israeli airstrikes have prevented it from operating.

In the statement, the ministry called on all countries and international organizations wishing to provide humanitarian aid to deliver supplies to el-Arish International Airport, in Egypt’s northern Sinai. Hamas’ border authorities said Tuesday that an Israel airstrike hit the no-man’s land between Gaza and Egypt, blocking the road with a large crater.

ICRC SAYS IT'S IN TOUCH WITH HAMAS, ISRAELI AUTHORITIES ABOUT ISRAELI HOSTAGES

The International Committee of the Red Cross on Thursday said it was in touch with Hamas and Israeli authorities as part of efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages who are believed to be held in the Gaza Strip.

“As a neutral intermediary we stand ready to conduct humanitarian visits, facilitate communication between hostages and family members and to facilitate any eventual release,” said Fabrizio Carboni, the group’s Middle East regional director.

The Mideast emirate of Qatar, a frequent mediator between Israel and Hamas, has also confirmed its involvement in the negotiations.

Carboni appealed to Israel to allow badly needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza as Palestinians face staggering supply shortages following Israel’s decision to impose a siege on the crowded territory.

CZECH GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW ISRAELIS TO RETURN HOME ON CZECH PLANES

PRAGUE — The Czech Foreign Ministry said it has agreed with a request from Israel to allow Israeli citizens to fly home on Czech government planes evacuating Czech citizens from Israel. The ministry said the Israeli nationals need to return home for humanitarian and family reasons, or to join the military following the attacks by Hamas.

An unspecified number of Israel’s citizens were aboard a Czech plane that took off from Prague on Thursday. Another such plane is scheduled to fly to Israel later in the day.

INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS WORKING TO MOBILIZE SUPPLIES, STAFF ALREADY IN GAZA

CAIRO — Fabrizio Carboni, the International Committee of the Red Cross's regional director, said the aid group's first aim is to mobilize the medical supplies, fuel and staff already within Gaza — particularly those that could support medical facilities.

Speaking to journalists at an online presser, he said that aid delivery through the Rafah crossing requires both a political agreement and also a security deal so that needed supplies can safely reach affected areas.

“I fear that what’s coming next is going to be at least as challenging as what we’re seeing now.” Carboni said.

SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM X REMOVES HUNDREDS OF HAMAS-LINKED ACCOUNTS

LONDON — The head of Elon Musk’s social media platform X says it has removed hundreds of Hamas-linked accounts and taken down or labeled thousands of pieces of content since the militant group’s attack on Israel.

CEO Linda Yaccarino on Thursday outlined efforts by X, formerly known as Twitter, to get a handle on illegal content flourishing on the platform following a warning from a top European Union official, who requested information on how X is complying during the Israel-Hamas war with tough new EU digital rules aimed at cleaning up social media platforms.

The new Digital Services Act mandates social media companies step up policing of their platforms for illegal content, under threat of hefty fines.

2 PALESTINIANS ARE GUNNED DOWN AT A FUNERAL IN THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK

ISRAEL — The Palestinian Health Ministry reported Thursday that two Palestinians were killed in the occupied West Bank when Israeli settlers sprayed bullets at a funeral for three Palestinians who had been killed in a settler rampage the day before. Footage showed Jewish settlers in their cars swerving into the funeral procession and cutting off the road to the village of Qusra, south of Nablus, before stopping and opening fire.

Health authorities identified the two men killed as a father and son: 62-year-old Ibrahim al-Wadi, a local official in the secular nationalist Fatah party; and 25-year-old Ahmed al-Wadi, an off-duty Palestinian security officer.

Residents near the northern West Bank city of Nablus and north of Ramallah reported that armed settlers have rampaged through villages and hurled stones at passing Palestinian cars after the unprecedented Hamas militant attack on Israel on Saturday.

220 EVACUEES ARRIVE IN MADRID FROM TEL AVIV

MADRID — Spain’s foreign ministry says a plane evacuating 220 people from Tel Aviv landed in Madrid late Wednesday, bringing to 429 the number of people flown out of the city on Spanish flights in two days.

The Wednesday flight included 149 Spaniards, 15 people from other European Union countries, 36 from Latin America and 20 from other countries, a foreign ministry statement said.

The previous day’s flight brought out 209 people, 185 of them Spaniards.

FRANCE MAKES 24 ARRESTS FOR ANTISEMITIC ACTS SINCE HAMAS ATTACKED ISRAEL

PARIS — France’s interior minister is reporting 24 arrests for antisemitic acts in the country since Hamas attacked Israel and says that online hate is surging.

“Since the end of the day Saturday, since the terrorist massacres in Israel, there have been more than 100 antisemitic acts, essentially graffiti — swastikas, ‘death to Jews,’ calls for an intifada against Israel,” said the minister, Gerald Darmanin. Speaking Thursday on France Inter radio, he said there have also been people caught with knives near Jewish schools and synagogues and a drone equipped with a camera that was spotted flying over a Jewish cultural center. Because of stepped-up police security around Jewish sites, “we were able to detain a large proportion of these people" with 24 arrests, he said.

Online, “hatred is surging,” he added, with more than 2,000 cases of antisemitic speech reported to a French online watchdog force, he said.

ISRAEL IS TRYING TO IDENTIFY THOSE MISSING SINCE SATURDAY'S ATTACK

JERUSALEM — The Israeli official overseeing the effort to return hostages taken by Hamas says the government is still trying to identify all of those missing or taken captive in Saturday’s attack.

In a statement, Gal Hirsch said his office is working “to formulate an assessment of the situation” and to assist the families of the captives and missing. “The searches in the field are continuing and the difficult work of identifying the bodies continues,” said Hirsch, a former general who was appointed after the incursion by Hamas on Saturday.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesperson, said Thursday that the army has notified the families of 97 Israelis believed to be in Hamas captivity.

CAIRO — The Egyptian government has rejected any proposal to establish corridors out of Gaza for Palestinians fleeing Israel’s bombardment in Gaza, a senior Egyptian official said early Thursday.

The official said they were talking with Israel and the United States about establishing safe corridors inside Gaza and the allowance of humanitarian aid to besieged Palestinians.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief media, was responding to White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby, who said that the Biden administration is in active conversations to achieve safe passage out of Gaza for civilians.

Egypt's state-run media reported that Israel's offensive is part of a scheme to empty the enclave.