ISRAEL PAUSES GAZA GROUND ASSAULT AMID INTERNATIONAL OUTCRY OVER CIVILIAN CASUALTIES

Israel has continued its airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, resulting in the loss of an additional 300 civilian lives within the past 24 hours. Reports suggest that Israel has temporarily halted its planned ground offensive for a few days, allowing North Gaza residents more time to evacuate.

Simultaneously, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has extended his Middle East tour and is set to return to Tel Aviv on Monday. This move comes as there are indications that Iran is growing increasingly concerned about the escalating humanitarian crisis due to the ongoing bombings and blockade. Iran has already warned of "far-reaching consequences" if Israel does not cease its bombardment of Gaza's civilian population.

Israel has stated that the offensive pause is due to inclement weather that would hinder its ground forces and drones. US President Joe Biden has voiced concern for the plight of civilians, emphasizing that "the overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamas' appalling attacks and are suffering as a result of them."

As a response to worldwide calls to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Israel is restoring water supply to southern Gaza. Earlier, it had cut off the water flow as part of its blockade of the Hamas-controlled territory since the outbreak of the conflict last weekend. Additionally, Israel is reducing tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon, signaling a willingness to maintain the current border situation if Hezbollah exercises restraint, as stated by the Israeli Defense Minister.

Blinken's visit to six Arab countries, with his current location in Egypt, has highlighted the unanimous message from Arab capitals: strong opposition to Israel's punitive measures affecting Gaza's entire population in response to Hamas' attacks. The extended shuttle diplomacy reflects US concerns about the conflict spreading across the region. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has not ruled out potential Iranian involvement and has affirmed US readiness for all contingencies.

President Biden has reiterated US support for Israel and emphasized the necessity for humanitarian assistance to Palestinians. He expressed his belief that Israel should adhere to the rules of war and that innocent civilians should have access to medicine, food, and water. Biden also emphasized that he does not believe Israel should maintain long-term control of the territory but rather that it should be governed by a Palestinian authority.

CHINA DENOUNCES ISRAEL'S ACTIONS IN GAZA, CALLING FOR AN END TO COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT

Beijing : "China has asserted that Israel's actions in Gaza have exceeded the bounds of self-defense and called on the Israeli government to halt its practice of collectively punishing the people of Gaza," said China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a conversation with Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Saturday. These remarks emerged at a time when Israel was seemingly preparing for a ground offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza. Wang's statement underscores China's growing role as a mediator in the Middle East, as it has facilitated the restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a key supporter of Hamas, in March. "Israel should heed the international community's and the UN Secretary-General's appeals and put an end to its collective punishment of Gaza's inhabitants," Wang emphasized, marking China's most forceful position on the conflict to date.

BBC'S HAMAS LABELING SPARKS GOVERNMENT BACKLASH

The BBC is under fire from the UK government, including PM Rishi Sunak, for not referring to Hamas as a "terrorist organization" and has initiated an internal investigation into some BBC Arabic staff accused of supporting Hamas on social media. The British government labeled Hamas as a terrorist organization in 2021, with those supporting it potentially facing 14 years in prison. The BBC uses terms like "Palestinian militants" and "Hamas fighters" to describe Hamas members, and some government officials argue the broadcaster should acknowledge them as terrorists. The Daily Telegraph also reported that some BBC Arabic journalists appeared to celebrate Hamas' attack on Israel, likening them to freedom fighters.

2 PIO ISRAELI OFFICERS DIED IN HAMAS ATTACK

At least two Israeli women security officers of Indian origin were killed in the unprecedented attack carried out by the Palestinian militant group Hamas earlier this month, sources from the community confirmed on Sunday. Lieutenant Or Moses, 22, a commander in the Home Front Command, from Ashdod and inspector Kim Dokraker, a Border Police officer in the police’s Central District, were killed in the attack.

US DOUBLING ITS FIREPOWER IN WEST ASIA

The Pentagon is rapidly doubling the amount of American firepower deployed in the Middle East in an effort to deter a wider regional war and to carry out possible airstrikes to defend American interests, US officials said on Sunday. Defence secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said that he had ordered a second aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean “to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war” after Hamas’s attack on Israel last weekend. The second carrier, the Dwight D. Eisenhower, is expected to arrive in the next few days. The Air Force is also rushing additional land-based attack planes to the Persian Gulf region, doubling the number of F-16, A-10 and F-15E squadrons on the ground. Meanwhile, White House NSA Jake Sullivan said that the Biden administration hopes to push a newweapons package for Israel and Ukraine through Congress that will be significantly higher than $2 billion. He saidBiden will have talks with the US Congress on the need for the package tobe approved.

ISRAELI MIN CALLS FOR AL JAZEERA SHUTDOWN

Israel’scommunications minister said he was seeking apossible closure of Al Jazeera’s local bureau, and accused the Qatari news station of proHamas incitement and of exposing Israeli soldiers to potential attack from Gaza. The proposal to shutdown Al Jazeera had been vetted by Israeli security officials and was being vetted by experts, Shloma Karhisaid. Al Jazeera in Doha had no immediate comment.

ARAB STATES DON’T WANT WAR SPILLOVER: BLINKEN

Cairo : US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to Israel on Monday to discuss the ongoing situation following his diplomatic efforts in the region. He visited various Arab states to ensure that Israel's conflict with Hamas doesn't escalate further. Iran's foreign minister warned of a potential regional conflict. Blinken met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and received a candid assessment from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who criticized Israel's response to the Hamas attack. Blinken also announced the reopening of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza.

US WARNED IRAN IN BACK-CHANNEL TALKS ON WAR: WASHINGTON

The US has held back-channel talks with Iran in recent days to warn the country against escalating the conflict in Israel. “We have means of communicating privately with Iran, and we have availed ourselves of those means over the past few days,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday. Sullivan said the US couldn’t rule out that Iran might intervene in the conflict, and was monitoring both the possibility of direct involvement by Tehran and proxy activity by Hezbollah across the border withLebanon. Iran warned on Sunday that if Israel’s “war crimes and genocide are not halted immediately, the situation could spiral out of control.”

US FEAR OF WAR WITH RUSSIA & CHINA ‘UNHEALTHY’: PUTIN

Moscow : President Vladimir Putin dismissed the idea that the US should prepare for war with Russia and China, calling it nonsense. He warned that any conflict with Russia would be on a different level from the situation in Ukraine. A US bipartisan panel suggested Washington should be ready for potential wars with both Moscow and Beijing. Putin criticized the AUKUS alliance and clarified that Russia and China are not forming a military alliance. He expressed concern about public discussions of war preparations. Putin emphasized the importance of seeking peace and believed that talk of fighting both Russia and China was non-serious fearmongering.

POLAND VOTES IN ELECTION THAT CAN HAVE A BEARING ON EU AND UKRAINE

WARSAW: Poles voted in parliamentary elections that will set the country's future ties with the EU and neighbouring Ukraine. Opinion polls indicate the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party will get the most votes but may struggle to build a governing coalition, giving a chance to the Opposition led by former EU chief Donald Tusk.

4 DEAD, 100 HURT AS STRONG QUAKE SHAKES AF AGAIN

Islamabad : A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck western Afghanistan on Sunday, just over a week after strong quakes and aftershocks killed thousands of people and flattened entire villages in the same province. The US Geological Survey said the latest quake’s epicenter was about 34km outside Herat, the provincial capital, and 8km below the surface.

Save the Children said four people have died and that Herat Regional Hospital has received 153 injured. Everything in Baloch area of Rabat Sangi district has collapsed. Several villages have been destroyed, said the aid group. Authorities have given lower casualty numbers.

The quakes on October 7 flattened whole villages in Herat, in one of the most destructive quakes in the country’s recent history.

PAKISTAN, CHINA TO INK DEALS UNDER CPEC DURING KAKAR’S VISIT

China and Pakistan will sign important agreements on motorways and highways under the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) program during Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar's visit to Beijing from October 16. Kakar will attend the 'Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation' from October 17 to 18. A significant Memorandum of Understanding will be signed for the establishment of a modern Highway Research and Training Centre (HRTC) with China's assistance, with this project being a focal point of discussions during the visit.

ECUADOR GOES TO THE POLLS AMID DRUG WAR, POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS

QUITO: Ecuadorans started voting for a new President in the middle of a drug war and political assassinations that cut short the bid of a popular candidate. The finalists — lawyer Luisa Gonzalez, 45, and banana empire heir Daniel Noboa, 35 — campaigned in bullet-proof vests as a climate of fear gripped the once-peaceful country.