TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Monday that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) can help boost trade and expand economic cooperation among the countries along its route.

He made the remarks at a weekly press conference in the Iranian capital Tehran, while answering a question about the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be hosted in Beijing on Oct. 17 and 18, and the 10th anniversary of the BRI.

MOSCOW, October 16. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi discussed during their phone talks the evacuation of citizens from Russia and other CIS countries from the Gaza Strip, the Kremlin’s press office reported on Monday.

"The sides touched upon the issues of Egypt’s assistance in evacuating citizens of Russia and CIS states from the Gaza Strip," the press office said after the phone talks.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to meet this week with Chinese leaders in Beijing on a visit that underscores China’s support for Moscow during its war in Ukraine.

The two countries have forged an informal alliance against the United States and other democratic nations that is now complicated by the Israel-Hamas war. China has sought to balance its ties with Israel with its economic relations with Iran and Syria, which are strongly backed by Russia.

AMMAN, Oct 16 (NNN-PETRA) – Jordanian King Abdullah II, yesterday warned against Israel’s attempts to displace Palestinians or force their internal displacement.

In separate phone calls with United Arab Emirates (UAE) President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and King Felipe VI of Spain, the Jordanian king urged joint efforts to galvanise international support to stop the escalation in Gaza, protect civilians, and respect international humanitarian law, according to a statement released by the Royal Hashemite Court.

SEOUL, Oct 16 (Reuters) - South Korean authorities cited the risk of Chinese economic retaliation when they charged marine technology firm SI Innotec last year with violating trade laws for its work on Taiwan's new military submarine program, according to a police document seen by Reuters and two people familiar with the matter.

BEIJING, Oct 16 (APP):Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Monday arrived here to participate in the 3rd Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation.

At the airport, he was warmly received by Chinese Minister of Science & Technology Wang Zhigang, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong and Ambassador of Pakistan to China Moin-ul-Haq, the PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

JERUSALEM (AP) — A battle that killed dozens of civilians and more than a dozen Israeli soldiers nearly a decade ago offers a glimpse of the type of fighting that could lie ahead if Israeli forces roll into Gaza as expected to punish Hamas for its rampage across southern Israel last week.

It was July 19, 2014, during Israel’s third war against Hamas. The target was Shijaiyah, a densely populated neighborhood of Gaza City that the army said Hamas had transformed into a “terrorist fortress,” filled with tunnels, rocket launchers and booby traps.

YANGON, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and four others injured as an ambulance crashed into a truck in Myanmar's Yangon, an official from a local rescue organization said on Monday.

The crash took place near a junction in Shwepyitha township in Yangon at around 7:45 p.m. local time when an ambulance swerved to avoid a pedestrian crossing the road but ended up colliding with a truck, the rescue official said.

UNITED NATIONS, October 16. /TASS/: Russia has proposed two amendments to Brazil’s draft UN Security Council resolution on the Middle East, namely condemning indiscriminate strikes on the Gaza Strip and a call for a humanitarian ceasefire, Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky said.

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — A populist former prime minister of Slovakia who plans to end the country’s military support for Ukraine signed on Monday a coalition agreement with the leaders of two other parties to form a new government.

Robert Fico and his leftist Smer, or Direction, won the Sept 30 parliamentary election with 22.9% of the vote, taking 42 seats in the 150-seat legislature. He needed to find coalition partners to govern with a majority.

BOGOTÁ, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Israel, one of the main providers of arms to Colombia’s military, said Sunday it was “halting security exports” to the South American country after taking umbrage at its president’s remarks on the war with Hamas.

Since the militant group’s vicious attack on Israel a week ago, President Gustavo Petro has posted numerous comments on X, formerly Twitter, supporting the people of Gaza.

In one post, Colombia’s first-ever leftist president compared Israel’s retaliatory targeting of Gaza to the Nazi persecution of Jews.

LONDON (AP) — Najla Shawa and her family are safe for now after fleeing their home in Gaza City, but she’s worried she may never be able to return.

Shawa, a Gaza native who works for the international aid group Oxfam, is sheltering with her husband, two daughters and about 50 others at a compound in Zawaida, a community just south of the area Israeli forces ordered residents to evacuate before an anticipated ground offensive.