The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas takes effect
The Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect at 7am on Friday, ahead of the expected release of the first group of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
The ceasefire marks the first pause in the seven-week war in Gaza and offers relief both to the 2.3 million Palestinians in the territory who have endured intense Israeli bombardment, and to families in Israel fearing for the fate of their loved ones held captive during the bloody attack launched last month by Hamas.
Woman and child stabbed: Violent protests in Dublin
Buses and trams were set on fire and a shop was looted during riots in Dublin city center after a knife attack outside a school left three children and a woman injured.
Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee described the scenes as "intolerable" and said "thieves and manipulators should not be allowed to use a terrible tragedy to wreak havoc".
China provides data to WHO on respiratory diseases
Chinese health authorities have provided the requested data on the increase in respiratory diseases and pneumonia in children and have not detected any unusual or new pathogens, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.
The WHO asked China for more information after cases of undiagnosed pneumonia were reported in children in northern China. Epidemiologists have warned that as China approaches its first winter since the lifting of Covid restrictions, natural levels of immunity to respiratory viruses may be lower than normal, leading to an increase in infections.
Dutch Muslims fear for future after 'shocking' election results
Geert Wilders described it as the "best day" of his political life, but for many across the Netherlands, news that Wilders' far-right, anti-Islam party won the election set off alarm bells about what could happen on the spot.
Wilders has long attacked Islam, describing it as a fascist ideology of "a backward culture" and a "backward religion". In 2016, he was convicted of discrimination after calling Moroccans "scum".
Although he tried to tone down anti-Islam rhetoric in the run-up to the election, the party's manifesto includes a ban on mosques, the Koran and headscarves in government buildings.
