MORE HOSTAGES AND PRISONERS SWAPPED ON FIFTH DAY OF TRUCE

PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES — Twelve more hostages were freed Tuesday from Gaza captivity in exchange for Palestinian prisoners under an extended truce, as mediators worked for a lasting halt to the seven-week Israel-Hamas war.

Ten Israelis and two Thais were released, the Israeli prime minister's office said, with the army saying they were handed over to the Red Cross and were "inside Israeli territory".

Israel's prison services later said 30 Palestinian detainees were released under the truce deal.

Israel and Hamas accused each other of violating the extended pause in incidents on Tuesday, though Qatari officials mediating in the conflict said this did not knock the truce off track.

As a two-day extension to the truce appeared to be holding Tuesday, US and Israeli intelligence chiefs were in Doha, capital of Qatar, to discuss the "next phase" of the deal, a source briefed on their visit said.

Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said Tuesday's freed Israelis were nine women and a girl. They included a Filipina dual national and two Argentinean dual nationals.

Israel and Hamas are under international pressure not to return to all-out fighting when the latest truce ends on Thursday.

The two Thai citizens were freed in addition to the 10 Israelis under the terms of the deal.

ISRAEL, HAMAS CLAIM TRUCE VIOLATIONS

GAZA/JERUSALEM: In the fifth day of a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas, both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire, heightening uncertainty in the region.

Palestinian movements on Tuesday denounced what they dubbed "truce violations by the occupier", and an AFP journalist saw an Israeli tank fire three times in Gaza City's Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood as Palestinians tried to return to their homes.

The Israeli military described the shelling as "warning shots", saying a tank fired as suspected militants approached army positions. At least one person was hurt, the AFP reporter saw.

The army also claimed that three explosive devices were detonated near its forces in northern Gaza, "violating the framework of the operational pause".

"In one of the locations, terrorists also opened fire at the troops, who responded with fire. A number of soldiers were lightly injured during the incidents," the army said, adding that its troops were positioned in compliance with the truce deal.

Qatar's Ansari reported "some minimal breaches" which, he told a news conference, "did not harm the essence of the agreement".

FIGHT MORE SURGICALLY, LIMIT DISPLACEMENTS: US TO ISRAEL

The U.S. has warned Israel to conduct more surgical operations and avoid mass displacements of Palestinians to prevent a humanitarian crisis that exceeds the world's capacity to respond. Senior Biden administration officials have conveyed to Israel that replicating the scale of bombardment in northern Gaza during an expected push into southern Gaza could lead to an overwhelming crisis. This represents the strongest warning from the Biden administration to Israel about the next phase of its military operation. The U.S. emphasizes that military operations should not disrupt essential services like power, water, hospitals, and UN-supported shelters. Israel's government has shown receptiveness to these requests.

AS ISRAEL RELEASES PALESTINIAN PRISONERS, IT ARRESTS DOZENS MORE ON UNSPECIFIED CHARGES

As Israel releases Palestinian prisoners, it continues its escalating arrests in the West Bank, detaining at least 71 Palestinians since Friday on unspecified charges. The Palestinian Authority's commission for prisoner affairs reports a higher number, stating that Israeli forces have arrested at least 112 Palestinians since Friday, with 60 detained in the past day. The Israeli military has intensified raids in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the Oct. 7 attacks led by Hamas, claiming to have arrested at least 2,000 Palestinians during this period. The arrests, part of a counterterror operation, include individuals of various demographics, such as children, the elderly, women, and former prisoners, according to the Palestinian commission.

FINLAND TO SHUT ENTIRE BORDER WITH RUSSIA OVER MIGRANT CONCERNS

Helsinki : Finland will close its entire border with Russia for two weeks to address a surge in asylum seekers, with 900 people entering in November alone. The government attributes the influx to an orchestrated effort by Moscow, which it accuses of retaliating against Finland's increased defense cooperation with the US. This move follows the closure of all but one border post last week. The decision will limit border crossings to cargo trains, affecting both nations. Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo denounces it as Russia's influence operation, rejecting the interference. Despite the closures, asylum seekers are reportedly still heading toward Finland from Russia. The last remaining open border post, Raja-Jooseppi, will close on December 13, with concerns raised about the impact on the right to seek asylum.

CHINESE NAVY SHIPS ARRIVE IN MYANMAR FOR HOLDING JOINT DRILLS

YANGON: Three Chinese Navy ships have arrived in Myanmar for joint drills with its Navy, the country's junta said, as a border conflict strains ties between the Southeast Asian nation and its most important ally. Beijing is a major ally and arms supplier of Myanmar's junta and has refused to label its 2021 power grab a coup.

XI SAYS CHINA MUST PROTECT FOREIGN FIRMS’ RIGHTS AND IP

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has ordered greater protection for international firms’ rights and intellectual property, state media reported on Tuesday, as Beijing works to lure in foreign companies spooked by a crackdown and an ailing economy.

Mr. Xi in a written speech to an APEC summit of chief executives this month invited firms to invest, promising “heart-warming” measures “to make it easier for foreign companies to invest and operate in China”.

And at a meeting of China’s Communist Party Politburo — the country’s top decision-making body — he said China must ensure “comprehensive, open and transparent” legal treatment of foreign entities.

China’s legal system should “strengthen protection of intellectual property rights”, he said, as well as “safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of foreign enterprises”. Beijing must “create a market-oriented, legal and international first-class business environment”, Mr. Xi said.

NATO TO CONTINUE ARMING UKRAINE

NATO members pledged on Tuesday to stay the course on helping Ukraine fight Russia, despite doubts over U.S. support and a bloody stalemate on the front line.

“We will be strongly reaffirming our support for Ukraine as it continues to face Russia’s war of aggression,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he was “confident” the U.S. would keep on arming Ukraine.

Mr. Stoltenberg pointed to recent pledges from Germany and the Netherlands worth 10 billion euros as proof that the bloc remained committed to backing Kyiv.

RUSSIAN WOMEN PROTEST EXTENDED SOLDIER DEPLOYMENTS IN UKRAINE, SEEKING TROOP ROTATIONS

A grassroots movement is gaining momentum in Russia, where women in various cities are protesting against the extended deployments of soldiers in Ukraine. The movement challenges the official argument that mobilized troops are required indefinitely to secure the Russian homeland. The protests, organized through a Telegram channel called "Put Domoy" (The Way Home), advocate for sending mobilized soldiers home after a year in the combat zone through troop rotations. The movement insists that their dissent is not unpatriotic, emphasizing respect for the law. Authorities have responded with intimidation and denials of rally permits. The protesters express concern that the government offers more money and benefits to silence dissent, emphasizing the need for husbands and sons rather than financial compensation. The movement highlights a rare instance of public displeasure with the war, challenging the Kremlin's efforts to suppress dissent through strict laws.

AFTER BIDEN, MORE WORLD LEADERS SIGNAL THEY MAY SKIP COP-28

Several world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, are signaling that they may skip the COP-28 climate talks in Dubai. The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the wider West Asia is cited as a reason for their potential absence. The two-week meeting aims to assess global efforts in limiting emissions to mitigate global warming. President Biden, aged 81, is among those indicating non-attendance, with a focus on the Israel-Hamas conflict. The White House plans to send a climate team, including Special Envoy John Kerry, climate adviser Ali Zaidi, and clean energy adviser John Podesta. It's unclear if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will participate, while Syrian President Bashar Assad has confirmed his non-attendance.

PAKISTAN’S COURT ORDERS IMRAN’S OPEN TRIAL IN JAIL

Islamabad : A Pakistani special court has ordered an open trial for jailed former PM Imran Khan within Adiala jail premises, citing alleged threats to his life. The trial involves Khan and ex-foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi under the Official Secrets Act for the alleged leak of state secrets known as the cipher case. The decision allows Khan's family and the public to attend the proceedings inside the high-security prison in Rawalpindi. Initially conducted in jail, the trial was declared illegal by the Islamabad high court last week. However, Khan was not presented on Tuesday, citing security concerns. The case revolves around a diplomatic cable sent by a former Pakistani ambassador, with Khan claiming it supports his assertion of being ousted from office due to a plot involving the military, political rivals, and the US.

PHILIPPINE GOVT. AND COMMUNIST REBELS AGREE TO RESUME PEACE TALKS

MANILA: The Philippine government and communist rebels said on Tuesday they have agreed to resume peace talks to end one of the world's longest-running Maoist insurgencies. The armed struggle, launched in 1969, grew out of the global communist movement and found fertile soil for recruitment among the Philippines’ rural poor.