AFP 0500 GMT News Advisory

— TOP STORIES —

+ Israel pressured to protect civilians in Gaza

+ Xi, Biden to hold rare summit in US next week

+ FBI seizes NYC mayor’s phones as probe widens

+ Women dominate Grammy noms, SZA tops with nine

+ Beatles score first UK number one in 54 years

Israel-Palestinians-conflict,WRAP

GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories

Israel faces growing calls to protect civilians in Gaza as its battle with Hamas encircles the territory’s main hospital, where an aid agency described the situation as “catastrophic”.

1,000 words 0600 GMT by Adel Zaanoun with Sarah Benhaida in Jerusalem. Picture. Video. Live Video. Graphic

APEC-summit-China-US-diplomacy,WRAP

WASHINGTON

US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold their first meeting in nearly a year next week on the sidelines of the APEC summit in San Francisco, officials from the rival superpowers confirm.

600 words moved by Danny Kemp

US-politics-investigation-FBI-EricAdams,lead

NEW YORK

FBI agents seized the New York mayor’s cell phones and other devices, his campaign lawyer says, in an apparent escalation of a federal investigation into campaign fundraising.

450 words moved by Maggy Donaldson

Entertainment-US-music-Grammys,WRAP

NEW YORK

It will be a woman’s world at the upcoming Grammys, with SZA scooping the most chances for gold ahead of the star-studded music gala with nine, as pop’s superstars including Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish dominated across the categories.

750 words moved by Maggy Donaldson. File picture. Video

Also moved: Entertainment-US-music-Grammys-nominees,FACTS

Music-Entertainment-Britain-Beatles

LONDON

The Beatles’ latest release “Now And Then” becomes the legendary band’s first UK number one single in 54 years, with Paul McCartney calling it “a very emotional moment.”

450 words moved

— ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT —

Israel-Palestinians-conflict-Saudi-Iran-ArabLeague-OIC,WRAP

RIYADH

Arab leaders and Iran’s president are in the Saudi capital for a summit expected to underscore demands that Israel’s war in Gaza end before the violence draws in other countries.

650 words moved by Robbie Corey-Boulet

Israel-Palestinians-conflict-health-WHO,lead

UNITED NATIONS

The health care system in the Gaza Strip is “on its knees,” the head of the World Health Organization warns, noting that half of the territory’s 36 hospitals are no longer functioning.

450 words moved

Israel-Palestinians-conflict-music,FOCUS

TEL AVIV

Like most others his age, Uriel Balas was just excited to celebrate his 26th birthday with friends, having saved for months for his ticket to Israel’s much-anticipated Supernova music festival — but excitement would soon give way to horror.

800 words moved by Daphne Rousseau. Picture. File Picture. Video

Israel-Palestinians-conflict-Gaza-hospitals,SCENE

GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories

At Gaza’s largest hospital, a displaced Palestinian says he feels “under siege” as the facility is encircled by fighting between Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants.

600 words moved. Picture. Video

Also moved:

Israel-Palestinians-conflict-kibbutz,FOCUS

Israel-Palestinians-conflict-Gaza,SCENE

Israel-Palestinians-conflict-Yemen-Huthi,FOCUS

Israel-Palestinians-conflict-Yemen-Huthi,FACTS

— ASIA —

China-retail-internet-economy

BEIJING

China’s weeklong “Singles Day” sales bonanza wraps up at midnight, but consumers are increasingly unswayed by its flashy deals and discounts as the world’s second largest economy slows.

450 words moved. Picture. Video

Myanmar-China-conflict-economy,FOCUS

YANGON

A surprise offensive by Myanmar ethnic armed groups has blocked two strategically vital roads to the country’s biggest trade partner China, choking trade and denying the cash-strapped junta taxes and foreign exchange.

700 words moved

— EUROPE —

Israel-Palestinians-conflict-Britain

LONDON

Almost 2,000 police officers will be on duty Saturday when more than 100,000 pro-Palestinian supporters are expected to march through London, with extra powers in place to protect landmarks honouring Britain’s war dead.

600 words moved by James Pheby. File picture

Portugal-politics-vote,WRAP

LISBON

Portugal’s main political parties begin preparing the battlelines for an early general election called after the sudden resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa.

500 words moved by Levi Fernandes. File Picture

— AMERICAS —

Colombia-fbl-kidnapping-crime-COL-ENG,lead

BARRANCAS, Colombia

Between tears, Luis Manuel Diaz, father of Liverpool striker Luis Diaz, recounts how he was made to walk “too much” with little sleep in the nearly two weeks he was held hostage in a mountainous area of Colombia by members of the ELN guerrilla group.

600 words moved by Valentin Diaz. Picture. Video

Brazil-crime-Lebanon-Iran-Israel-Palestinians-conflict,FACTS

RIO DE JANEIRO

The arrest in Brazil this week of two people accused of planning “terrorist attacks” has put a spotlight on alleged South American operations by Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which Israel says orchestrated the plot.

500 words moved

Venezuela-prison-crime-politics,FOCUS

CARACAS

Venezuela has wrested control of seven prisons from powerful gangs — finding guns, drugs, swimming pools, restaurants — even a zoo. While Justice Minister Remigio Ceballos has declared a death blow to the gangs that have run the prisons with impunity, observers denounce a smoke and mirrors tactic to distract from human rights and other concerns.

700 words moved by Patrick Fort. Picture. Video

—  AFRICA —

Sudan-conflict-refugee-UN,WRAP

UNITED NATIONS

The UN warns of soaring human rights violations in Sudan’s Darfur region and says they are “verging on pure evil,” amid escalating fighting seven months into the war between the army and paramilitaries.

450 words moved by Amelie Bottollier-Depois

Liberia-vote,ADVANCER

MONROVIA

Liberians vote for a new president on Tuesday in a tight run-off between President George Weah, an ex-international football star, and veteran politician Joseph Boakai.

650 words 0530 GMT by Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh. File picture. File video

Liberia-vote-Weah,PROFILE

MONROVIA

From Liberia’s swampy slums to international football star and then president, George Weah is contesting a second term in a run-off, defending a controversial record and facing determined opposition.

650 words 0600 GMT by Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh with Adrien Marotte in Dakar. File picture. File video

Liberia-vote-Boakai,PROFILE

MONROVIA

Liberia’s main opposition contender for president Joseph Boakai has four decades of political experience behind him but at the age of 78, he faces the challenge of winning over a largely young population.

600 words 0630 GMT by Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh with Adrien Marotte in Dakar. File picture

Also moving: Liberia-vote,FACTS

— ENTERTAINMENT —

Entertainment-US-film-television-strike-AI,FOCUS

LOS ANGELES

From computer-generated “extras” to AI “zombies,” new restrictions against the use of artificial intelligence in Hollywood are set out by the actors’ union.

650 words moved by Andrew Marszal. Picture. Video

afp