TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Russian authorities on Friday detained three lawyers representing imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny after searching their homes, his allies said, a step that comes amid increasing pressure on the Kremlin’s critics.

The move was an attempt to “completely isolate Navalny,” his ally Ivan Zhdanov said on social media. Navalny, 47, has been behind bars since January 2021, serving a 19-year prison sentence but has been able to get messages out regularly and keep up with the news.

PARIS, Oct 12 (Reuters) - French police used teargas and water cannon to break up a banned rally in support of the Palestinian people in Paris on Thursday, as President Emmanuel Macron urged the French to remain united and refrain from bringing the Israel-Hamas conflict home.

Macron's interior minister had earlier banned pro-Palestinian protests, saying they were "likely to generate disturbances to public order".

France is home to Europe's largest Muslim and Jewish communities. The Middle East conflict has often stoked domestic tensions in the past.

WASHINGTON (AP) — When Rep. Patrick McHenry took the House speaker’s gavel for the first time, he slammed it down with such force at adjournment that it gained viral internet attention as the defining image of a House in turmoil.

But since his abrupt appointment as speaker pro tempore last week following the unprecedented ouster of Kevin McCarthy from the top spot, the North Carolina Republican has wielded the gavel with extreme care, making no attempts to test the limits of his unusual role.

BEIRUT/TEHRAN, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Friday stressed Iran's keenness to protect calm and security in Lebanon, calling leaders in the region for a meeting to discuss the situation in Gaza and Lebanon.

The Iranian diplomat made the remarks during a press conference in Lebanon's capital Beirut with his Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bou Habib.

BISHKEK, October 13. /TASS/: Russia will do everything possible to foster interaction between the CIS and friendly countries, as well as with the CSTO, SCO, EAEU, and BRICS, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Russia, of course, will continue to make every effort to develop the Commonwealth's contacts with friendly states and international organizations," he said.

BEIJING (AP) — The European Union’s top foreign policy official warned Friday that public sentiment in Europe could turn more protectionist if the region’s trade deficit with China is not reduced.

Josep Borrell, the EU high representative for foreign affairs, called for improved access for European companies that want to export to or invest in China. He said that political leaders in Europe could face pressure from voters to disengage from the world’s second-largest economy.

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations issued an emergency appeal for US$294 million to address “the most urgent needs” in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where more than 400,000 Palestinians have fled their homes in recent days.

The funds would be used to help more than 1.2 million people, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said, adding that recent fighting in the region had left aid groups without adequate resources.

NEW DELHI, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- India's overall exports in September were estimated at 63.84 billion U.S. dollars, data released by the federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Friday showed.

The figure was compared to 64.61 billion U.S. dollars a year earlier.

According to the ministry, overall imports in September stood at 68.75 billion U.S. dollars, compared to 79.64 billion U.S. dollars in September last year.

The ministry said India's overall exports in April-September saw a decrease of 2.97 percent year on year.

MOSCOW, October 13. /TASS/: Although Russia’s stance on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) has not changed, attempts are being made to call into question its important role, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov.

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leader Charles Michel on Friday warned that the Israel-Hamas war could create a surge in refugees heading for Europe, raising the risk of spurring on anti-migrant forces, deepening divisions and inflaming tensions between supporters of Israel and the Palestinians.

“Look, if there would be more difficulties at the regional level, we would have immediately huge difficulties on the European soil because of the refugees,” EU Council President Michel said in an interview with The Associated Press.

SEOUL, Oct 13 (NNN-YONHAP) – The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), slammed the United States for its persistent deployment of nuclear strategic assets into the Korean Peninsula, denouncing the move as “an undisguised military provocation,” driving the situation to an irrevocable catastrophe.

KCNA published the commentary, a day after the nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, arrived at South Korea’s south-eastern port of Busan, following trilateral naval drills involving the United States, South Korea and Japan.

NEW YORK, Oct 12 (Reuters) - At Columbia University on Thursday, two groups of hundreds of students tensely faced each other in dueling pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations, while university officials blocked public access to the New York City campus as a safety measure.