MOSCOW, November 1. /TASS/: Russia has no need to be in contact with the US before making a definitive decision on withdrawing from the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

When asked by TASS whether contacts with the Americans are planned before Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a final decision on signing the bill on Russia's revocation of CTBT ratification into law, Peskov said: "They [contacts with the Americans] are not necessary."

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani security forces on Wednesday detained and deported dozens of Afghans who were living in the country illegally, after a government-set deadline for them to leave expired, authorities said.

The sweep is part of a new anti-migrant crackdown that targets all undocumented or unregistered foreigners, according to Islamabad, though it mostly affects some 2 million Afghans in Pakistan without documentation.

The crackdown has drawn widespread criticism from U.N. agencies, rights groups and the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan.

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — U.S. Rep. Kay Granger of Texas, the Republican chairwoman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, said Wednesday she will not seek reelection in 2024 after nearly three decades in Congress.

Granger, 80, is the nation’s longest-serving GOP congresswoman and was first elected in 1996. Her district, which includes Fort Worth, is heavily Republican and is likely to remain out of reach for Democrats next yea r.

ANKARA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Wednesday that Türkiye doesn't want the conflict in the Gaza Strip to spiral into a regional war.

"We do not want it to turn into a war that will affect the countries in the region. We call on actors to promote lasting peace," Fidan said at a joint press conference with his visiting Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian in the capital Ankara.

He said that Türkiye was ready to "take responsibility and be guarantor" if an agreement is reached to end the Israel-Hamas conflict.

NEW YORK, November 1. /TASS/: The Shiite organization Hezbollah will take part in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict if the radical Palestinian movement Hamas is ‘on its last legs,’ the New York Times reported, citing a Lebanese official.

According to the newspaper, the threat to destroy Hamas would be a red line for Hezbollah to intervene in the conflict. The Shiite organization is probably holding back its forces to avoid an even greater escalation of the Middle East conflict, the official pointed out. In his opinion, Hezbollah believes that Hamas does not need help now.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Thirty-four journalists have been killed in the war between Israel and Hamas, an international media freedom group said Wednesday, accusing both sides of committing possible war crimes.

Reporters Without Borders called on International Criminal Court prosecutors to investigate the deaths. The organization said it already filed a complaint regarding eight Palestinian journalists it said were killed in Israel’s bombardment of civilian areas in the Gaza Strip, and an Israeli journalist killed during Hamas’ surprise attack in southern Israel.

ULAN BATOR, Nov 1 (NNN-XINHUA) – Mongolia’s National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring, today issued a warning of blizzards and a cold wave that will affect western and central parts of the country.

Volatile weather is expected to start today, and continue in the next few days, causing icy roads and poor visibility on roads, the weather monitoring agency said.

It warned the public, especially nomadic herders and drivers, to take extra precautions against possible disasters.

SANTA MARÍA ATZOMPA, México (AP) — Ana Martínez is eager to welcome her deceased loved ones back home.

Martínez and others in southern Mexico’s Oaxaca state wait with anticipation for Day of the Dead celebrations every Nov. 1, when families place homemade altars to honor their dearly departed and spend the night at the cemetery, lighting candles in the hope of illuminating their paths.

“We preserve the culture of our ancestors, and that is why we make our altars,” said Martínez, 41, who lives in the town of Santa María Atzompa.

GAZA/JERUSALEM, Nov 1 (Reuters) - A first group of civilian evacuees from Gaza crossed into Egypt under a Qatari-mediated deal on Wednesday while Israeli forces bombed the Palestinian enclave from land, sea and air anew as they pressed their offensive against Hamas militants.

Another blast shook Jabalia, Gaza's largest refugee camp, on Wednesday, a day after Palestinian health officials said an Israeli air strike killed about 50 people and wounded 150 there. Israel said it had killed a Hamas commander in Tuesday's attack.

ASTANA, November 1. /TASS/: Europe needs a stable pattern of relations with Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron said, speaking to students at the Kazakh Humanitarian Law University named after M.S. Narikbayev.

According to him, "the European defense architecture cannot be built on escalation and conflicts." "Russia is geographically a part of Europe, so we need to build a stable pattern of relations between EU members and non-members, and this includes Russia," Macron emphasized.

BELGRADE, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic signed a decree on Wednesday to dissolve the parliament based on the government's proposal, and scheduled extraordinary parliamentary elections for Dec. 17.

After signing the decree at the president's office, Vucic invited all citizens and politicians to take part in these elections.

SYDNEY, Nov 1 (NNN-AAP) – Police in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) confirmed the death of a 10-year-old boy today, after he was trapped under an elevator at a school in Sydney.

At about 2:00 p.m. local time, emergency services were called to the school on Cleveland Street in Wahroonga, a suburb in Sydney’s north shore.

Upon arrival, officers found a 10-year-old boy trapped under a lift. Despite attempts to remove the boy, he died at the scene.

NSW Police Force said that a crime scene has been established and a recovery operation is continuing.