The Israeli government has reportedly convened an emergency meeting amid concerns that the International Criminal Court (ICC) might issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders over alleged breaches of international law in Gaza, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

Istanbul: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has confirmed reports from Turkish media indicating that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is scheduled to visit Turkey on Saturday. Erdogan stated, "What we will speak will be between us for now. And we will take our steps accordingly."

Paris: Police said Friday they detained a man at the Iranian consulate in Paris after responding to a report of a suspicious man possibly carrying a grenade and explosives vest, but they did not immediately confirm finding any weapons.

Washington: In response to recent developments, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed concerns regarding reported offensive operations involving Israel and Iran. Blinken emphasized that the United States has not been engaged in any offensive operations, stressing on the nation's commitment to de-escalating tensions in the region.

Iran fired air defence batteries Friday and some flights were diverted or grounded after reports of explosions near a major airbase and nuclear site where drones were spotted. It was unclear if the country was under attack, but tensions are high after Iran's unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reuters photographer Mohammed Salem has been awarded the prestigious 2024 World Press Photo of the Year for his powerful image capturing the devastation of conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Google has fired 28 employees involved in protests over the tech company's cloud computing contract with the Israeli government, according to statements from the company and campaigners.

A Sydney shopping mall opened to the public on Thursday for the first time since a mass stabbing in which six people died, while the Australian prime minister raised giving citizenship to an immigrant security guard who was wounded while confronting the knife-wielding attacker.