Israel launched fresh strikes against Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza, the army said early on Friday, weakening a ceasefire put in place after fighting this week killed 34 Palestinians in exchanges of fire. The ceasefire began Thursday morning following two days of deadly violence in the Gaza Strip triggered by an Israeli strike on an Islamic Jihad commander. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told reporters that new overnight strikes were underway on Islamic Jihad, the second most powerful Palestinian militant group in Gaza after Hamas. It came after five rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza - also after the ceasefire came into effect - with two of them intercepted by air defenses, according to the

India's federal investigation agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has raided the local offices of human rights group Amnesty International in an investigation into alleged violations of foreign funding rules. "It was alleged that the provision of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010 and Indian Penal Code were contravened," the CBI said in a statement, adding that the Indian arm received contributions from Amnesty International in the United Kingdom despite government restrictions. The raids were conducted at Amnesty International's offices in Bengaluru and New Delhi after the CBI registered a case against the group based on a complaint from India's Ministry of Home Affairs, the statement added.

Asian Champions and hosts Qatar are drawn against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Yemen and Iraq in Group A at the 24th Gulf Cup to be held in Doha from November 26 to December 8. Defending champions Oman are in Group B where they will be joined by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain in the group stages. The rescheduled draw took place in Doha on Thursday evening, after Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain confirmed they would take part in this year's tournament, reversing an earlier decision to boycott the event. More: Blockading nations to send football teams to Qatar for Gulf Cup The UAE Football Association said in a statement on Tuesday that it decided to participate in the tournament, which has traditionally

Following a years-long absence of beauty competitions in the Red Sea resort city Sharm el-Sheikh, the Miss Intercontinental competition sees a dazzling return this year starting from December 6 until December 20. South Sinai Governor Khaled Fouda on Saturday received the CEO of the Miss Intercontinental organization in Europe Detlef Tursies accompanied by last year's Miss Intercontinental, Karen Gallman. The meeting saw consultations to decide which tourist resort will host the competition this year. There are plans for 82 countries to participate in the competition, alongside accompanying global media delegations for each country. The organizer of the competition announced that the city of Sharm

Italy's government declared a state of emergency Thursday in flood-ravaged Venice, seeking to release funds to repair the historic lagoon city after it was damaged by the highest tide in 50 years. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte described the flooding as “a blow to the heart of our country,” after spending Wednesday night in Venice, where world-famous monuments, homes and businesses were hit hard by the exceptional flooding. Venice's mayor said the damage is estimated at “hundreds of millions of euros.” Mayor Luigi Brugnaro blamed climate change for the “dramatic situation” in the historical city and called for the speedy completion of the city's long-delayed Moses flood defense project. The water levels reached 1.87 meters (over 6 feet, 1 inch) above sea level Tuesday, the second-highest level ever recorded in the city and just 7 centimeters (2½ inches) lower than the historic 1966 flood.

Turkey bought S-400 missile defense systems from Russia to use them, not put them aside, the head of the Turkish Defence Industry Directorate said on Saturday, days after talks between President Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump. Erdogan and Trump held talks in Washington on Wednesday to overcome increasing differences between the NATO allies, ranging from Syria policy to sanctions threats over Turkey's purchase of the S-400s, which Washington says pose a threat to its Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets. Washington has warned that Ankara will face sanctions over its purchase of the S-400s, and has suspended Turkey from the F-35 program, in which it was a customer and manufacturer. It