By Alexander Cornwell

RAMALLAH (Reuters) -Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin said countries recognising a Palestinian state this week were taking an irreversible step that preserved the two-state solution and brought Palestinian independence and sovereignty closer.

Britain, Canada and Australia formally recognised a Palestinian state on Sunday, joining other nations in a move aimed at reviving momentum for a two-state solution but which has been criticised by Israel and the United States.

(Reuters) -Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Sunday that his country now recognises the state of Palestine.

"Canada recognises the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel," Carney said in a statement.

Canada joins more than 140 other members of the United Nations that have recognised a Palestinian state, in a break with long-standing policy despite strong opposition from Israel.

(Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday there has been progress on a security deal with Syria but an agreement was not imminent.

Speaking at the outset of a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said victory against Hezbollah in Lebanon had opened up the possibility of peace with Israel's northern neighbours.

By Ece Toksabay

ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkey's main opposition re-elected Ozgur Ozel as leader on Sunday at an extraordinary congress called in a bid to shield him and other party chiefs from a court ruling next month that could order their ouster.

An Ankara court is set to rule over whether to annul the 2023 congress of the Republican People's Party (CHP) where Ozel was elected chairman over alleged irregularities, a case government critics say highlights Turkey's slide towards autocracy under President Tayyip Erdogan.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Leo spoke out against the forced displacement of Gaza civilians on Sunday as Israel intensified its military demolition campaign in the Palestinian enclave's main city.

"Together with the pastors of the churches in the Holy Land, I repeat that there is no future based on violence, forced exile, and revenge," the Pope said during his weekly Angelus prayer.

The Holy Land encompasses parts of modern-day Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories, Jordan, and Egypt, that are sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

CAIRO (Reuters) -Israeli forces blew up more residential buildings in Gaza City on Sunday, killing at least 31 Palestinians and prompting many others to flee, Gazan health authorities said, as Israel's tanks pushed further into the densely populated city.

Nearly two years into the war, Israel describes Gaza City as the last bastion of Hamas and the military has been demolishing housing blocks it says were being used by the militant group since launching its ground assault in the city this month.

By Catarina Demony

LONDON (Reuters) -Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce on Sunday Britain's recognition of a Palestinian state in a break with long-standing policy despite stiff opposition from Israel and disapproval from the United States, the UK's closest ally.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy confirmed that Starmer would announce his decision later on Sunday and said any recognition should be seen as part of a peace process leading to an eventual two-state solution.

(Reuters) -Israel's Airports Authority said the Allenby passenger terminal - the sole gateway between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan - would not be opened to traffic on Sunday, in coordination with the Jordanian side.

On September 19 Israel shut the Allenby crossing, a day after a driver bringing humanitarian aid from Jordan for Gaza opened fire and killed two Israeli military personnel there.

(Reporting by Steven Scheer; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday he will raise the subject of Israel’s "massacres" in Gaza at the U.N. General Assembly and voiced hope that wider recognition of Palestine would speed efforts for a two-state solution.

Speaking to reporters before departing for New York, Erdogan said he would discuss cooperation on trade and the defence industry with U.S. President Donald Trump, and that he would also meet Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa during his trip.

(Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

By Andrew Osborn

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Vietnam was crowned the winner of the Russian-hosted Intervision song contest in the early hours of Sunday morning, a competition backed by President Vladimir Putin and conceived as a geopolitical and socially conservative rival to Eurovision.

Putin in February ordered the revival of Intervision, a Soviet-era regional musical contest based on "traditional family values" after Moscow was excluded from the Eurovision Song Contest in 2022 following Putin's decision to send tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine.