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Turkey's Erdogan calls Netanyahu 'butcher of Gaza'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday branded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "the butcher of Gaza" and accused him of spawning anti-Semitism across the world.

Erdogan has lashed out repeatedly at Israel for the scale of death and destruction caused by its response to Hamas militants' unprecedented October 7 cross-border attack.

He has branded Israel a "terrorist state" and called Hamas "a liberation group".

Erdogan redoubled those attacks during an appearance before his Islamic-rooted ruling party members in parliament.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has championed the Palestinian cause during his two-decade rule

Yahya Sinwar: Hamas Gaza leader and 'dead man walking'

After a career in the shadows, spent in Israeli prisons and the internal security apparatus of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar rose to lead the Islamist movement in the Gaza Strip.

Now, Israeli officers say, he is a "dead man walking".

Sinwar stands accused of masterminding the group's October 7 attacks, the worst in Israel's history, which officials say left around 1,200 people dead and about 240 dragged back to Gaza as hostages.

Yahya Sinwar pictured at a Gaza City mosque on October 1, 2022

COP28 puts out welcome mat to lobbyists

"All views are welcome. All views are needed," declared Sultan Al Jaber, president of the UN's COP28 and head of the Emirates state oil and gas company in the run-up to the climate talks in Dubai.

That welcome also extends to lobbyists and big oil companies, some of whom will be part of national delegations when negotiations start on Thursday.

Here we look at some of the questions that raises.

- Are lobbies allowed at COP? -

A record number of lobbyists from the fossil fuel sector are expected to attend the UN's COP28 climate talks

Saudi wealth fund scoops up 10% of London Heathrow airport

Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund is to buy ten percent of London's Heathrow airport from Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial, whose departure from the hub after almost two decades leaves Qatar as its biggest shareholder.

Ferrovial late Tuesday said it was offloading its 25 percent stake for nearly £2.4 billion ($3.0 billion), with the other 15 percent going to French private equity group Ardian.

Spain's Ferrovial says it has reached a 2.37 billion pound ($3.01 billion) deal to sell its 25% stake in Heathrow Airport to Paris-based Ardian and Riyahd's Public Investment Fund (PIF)

The Israeli hostages freed by Hamas on Tuesday

Ten Israeli women including a 17-year-old were released Tuesday by Gaza militants, Israeli officials said, on the fifth day of a truce in fighting with Hamas.

The release of the Israeli group as well as two Thai nationals brings the total number of freed hostages to 86 from around 240 people taken to the Gaza Strip after Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attacks on Israel.

Tuesday's release in Gaza was followed by the freeing of 30 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, under the terms of an extended truce between Israel and Hamas.

Mia Leimberg, 17, holding her dog Bella

Israeli forces kill two Palestinians in West Bank: ministry

Two Palestinian teenagers were killed Tuesday during Israeli army raids in the occupied West Bank, where violence has surged in tandem with the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, the Palestinian health ministry said.

According to the ministry, Amir Wahdan, 14, was killed in Tubas in the northern West Bank, where the army said troops had gone in to arrest "two wanted suspects".

Witnesses told AFP that clashes broke out with young people throwing stones at Israeli army vehicles and soldiers responding with fire.

Mourners at the funeral of a 14-year-old Palestinian killed during clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank

Al Dawsari misses two penalties but Hilal reach Champions League knockouts

Salem Al Dawsari missed two penalties but scored with a lob from distance as Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal sealed a spot in the Asian Champions League knockout stages on Tuesday.

The winger, who was last month named the continent's best men's player, spurned a spot-kick in either half in the Group D tie against Navbahor in Uzbekistan.

But after substitute Malcolm struck the game's opening goal, Al Dawsari atoned with some distinction for the four-time champions late on in a 2-0 win.

Salem Al Dawsari was named Asian men's player of the year last month

US warns Israel over southern Gaza displacements

US President Joe Biden has warned Israel that its expected offensive in southern Gaza must avoid the kind of mass displacement of civilians seen during the military's pummeling of the Palestinian territory's north, US officials said.

Israel has said it will continue its war on Hamas after an ongoing temporary truce expires, but senior US administration officials told reporters the coming offensive must be "maximally deconflicted" and avoid hitting UN shelters, hospitals, power and water sites.

US President Joe Biden and US First Lady Jill Biden walk to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews

US sends first of three military planes with Gaza aid

The United States on Tuesday sent the first of three military planes to Egypt to bring vital humanitarian aid for Gaza, promising to assist Palestinians during a truce between Hamas and US ally Israel.

The relief flights carrying food, medical supplies and winter gear are the first by the US military since the conflict began with the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel.

The flights start a day after President Joe Biden said he would use an extension of the truce to get more aid into Gaza, and as international efforts continue to further prolong the pause.

The United States on November 28, 2023 sent the first of three C-17 military planes, like the one seen here in 2022, to Egypt to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza amid the truce between Israel and Hamas

Busan, Riyadh or Rome? 2030 World Expo host to be revealed

The host of the 2030 World Expo will be chosen on Tuesday, with Rome in Italy, the Saudi capital Riyadh and South Korea's Busan contending to welcome the showpiece event held every five years.

The World Expo -- which traces its history back to the 1851 Great Exhibition in London and the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris that saw the construction of the Eiffel Tower -- is a months-long mega event attracting millions of visitors that aims to respond to the specific challenges of the current time.

The Japanese city of Osaka is hosting the next Expo in 2025