ISTANBUL

Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Thursday, including the International Court of Justice ruling that Israel must allow and facilitate relief schemes provided by third states and impartial humanitarian groups to ensure that sufficient aid reaches Gaza, the Israeli Knesset passing a preliminary reading of a bill to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, and the US imposing new sanctions on Russia’s top oil firms over the war in Ukraine.

TOP STORIES

• World court rules Israel must allow, facilitate impartial human rights groups like Red Cross, 3rd-state relief efforts in Gaza

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel is obliged under the Geneva Convention to agree to and facilitate relief schemes provided by third states and impartial humanitarian groups, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), to ensure that sufficient aid reaches the Gaza Strip.

In its detailed opinion, the world court underscored that Israel, as the occupying power, carries an unconditional duty to ensure that the local population’s basic needs are met.

• Israeli Knesset passes preliminary reading of bill to annex occupied West Bank

The Israeli Knesset, or parliament, passed a bill in its preliminary reading to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.

A Knesset statement said the bill was approved in a preliminary reading “to apply the sovereignty of the State of Israel to the territories of Judea and Samaria (West Bank).”

It said 25 lawmakers supported the bill introduced by Avi Maoz, leader of the far-right Noam Party, while 24 opposed it. The Knesset has 120 members in total.

The bill still must pass three additional readings to become law. It will now go to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for further deliberations.

• US imposes new sanctions on Russia’s top oil firms over war in Ukraine

The US imposed new sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, citing Moscow’s “lack of serious commitment” to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine.

The Treasury Department said in a statement that the measures target Russia’s energy sector to “degrade the Kremlin’s ability to raise revenue for its war machine” and “support its weakened economy.”

“Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in the statement.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• South Korea’s government has called on Pope Leo XIV to visit North Korea to "help promote peace" on the Korean Peninsula, according to local media.
• The Pakistan Navy seized a record amount of narcotics worth more than $972 million in the Arabian Sea, the US Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) said.
• Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene resigned after Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said she had lost confidence in her and had formally proposed her dismissal following a week-long rift over defense spending and internal government communication.
• Türkiye and Qatar signed a series of agreements and a joint declaration as part of the 11th Meeting of the Türkiye-Qatar High Strategic Committee.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store met in Oslo to discuss continued military and energy support for Kyiv as Oslo pledged an additional $135 million in energy aid as part of an EU partnership to help Kyiv through the winter.
• The Russian-Kazakhstan space project Baiterek has entered its final phase, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
• Thailand’s Deputy Finance Minister Vorapak Tanyawong announced his resignation after media reports alleged that he and his wife were linked to scam operations in Cambodia.
• An attack outside Serbia’s parliament was a “terrorist act with political motives” carried out by a former state security employee seeking to sow public panic, the nation’s president said.
• North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea as US President Donald Trump is set to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the East Asian country later this month.
• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for urgent global action to expand early warning systems, deliver climate finance and curb global warming.
• European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc and the UK are strengthening cooperation to support Ukraine and tackle global security challenges together.
• A fatal road accident in Uganda involving multiple vehicles, including buses, killed 46 people.
• China said it is “willing to create broad space for peaceful reunification” with Taiwan, two days after US President Donald Trump said Beijing “does not” intend to take the island by force.
• The US urged the UN Security Council to support efforts to ease sanctions on Syria, stating that this move is necessary to improve the humanitarian situation and support the country's post-conflict future.
• French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux reiterated France’s plans to contribute to an international stabilization force for the Gaza Strip as part of a US-led ceasefire plan.
• The US military struck another vessel alleged to be carrying drugs, this time in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
• US President Donald Trump said he canceled an upcoming summit with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin because "it didn’t feel right" to him.
• The European Union and Egypt pledged to deepen cooperation across political, economic and security fields during their first-ever joint summit.
• US President Donald Trump threatened to take “very serious action” against Colombia, which he accused of manufacturing illegal drugs that are brought into the US.
• The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the Israeli parliament's step toward annexation of the occupied West Bank is contrary to international law, calling it "null and void."
• US President Donald Trump said he believes Chinese President Xi Jinping can play a key role in persuading Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) said it carried out the first medical evacuation from Gaza since a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on Oct. 10, transferring 41 critically ill patients.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• US Senate blocks government funding bill for 12th time

The US Senate voted for a 12th time to block a House-passed bill to end an ongoing government shutdown, which is now in its 22nd day.

By a vote of 54-46, the Senate did not invoke cloture on the motion to move forward on a House-passed measure to fund the government until Nov. 21.

The voting came right after Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley wrapped up a marathon speech on the Senate floor after speaking for more than 22 hours to protest President Donald Trump’s presidency.

• Tesla’s profits down 37% in Q3 despite federal tax credit rush, sales recovery

US electric vehicle giant Tesla's net income dropped 37% year-on-year in the third quarter, despite a recovery in sales from the previous two quarters' declines and a rush by consumers to take advantage of a federal tax credit.

The firm’s net income dropped to $1.37 billion in the third quarter from $2.17 billion a year earlier, even though American consumers rushed to purchase electric cars prior to the expiration of a $7,500 federal tax credit last month.

• OpenAI unveils ChatGPT Atlas browser

OpenAI, known for its flagship product ChatGPT, unveiled an artificial intelligence-powered web browser to challenge competitors like Google.

The browser, ChatGPT Atlas, was made available on Apple's macOS operating system and will be launched soon on Windows, iOS and Android. A statement by OpenAI described it as the "browser with ChatGPT built in."