World News Roundup: Ceasefire takes hold in Gaza ahead of hostage release, aid enters enclave; Irish police make 34 arrests after Dublin rioting and more

Wilders, whose far-right Freedom Party (PVV) was the clear winner of national elections this week, has called for the withdrawal of support, saying the Netherlands needs the weapons it gives to Ukraine to be able to defend itself. Europe should not shy away from working with China, Wang says Europe should not be afraid of working with China because of competition, foreign minister Wang Yi said at a press briefing on Friday with his French counterpart in Beijing.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Finland shuts all passenger border crossings with Russia but one

Finland has temporarily closed all but one of its eight passenger crossings to Russia in response to an unusually high inflow of migrants for which the Nordic country accuses Moscow. More than 700 migrants from nations including Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, have in the past few weeks entered Finland via Russia. Helsinki says Moscow is funnelling them to the border, a charge the Kremlin denies.

Dolls, doctors and helicopters await Israeli hostages at Gaza's gate

The first Israeli women and children to go free from Gaza on Friday under a truce with their Hamas captors will be flown home under military guard, with measures meant to reduce the duress and attend to any immediate medical complications. Ahead of the 4 p.m. (1400 GMT) release of the 13 hostages, who have not been identified, Israel's air force published images of dolls, colourful throw-rugs and personal hygiene kits set up at locations scheduled to receive them by helicopter.

Ceasefire takes hold in Gaza ahead of hostage release, aid enters enclave

A temporary ceasefire between Israeli and Hamas forces took hold in the Gaza Strip on Friday, the first respite in 48 days of conflict that has devastated the Palestinian enclave, but both sides warned that the war was far from over. No big bombings, artillery strikes or rocket attacks were reported although Hamas and Israel both accused each other of sporadic shootings and other violations.

Stark reality of migration confronts scuba diving tourists on Spain's El Hierro

El Hierro's crystal-clear waters and abundance of marine life have made this island in Spain's Canaries archipelago one of the world's top scuba diving spots. But this year, the arrival of nearly 12,000 migrants on dugout wooden boats, or cayucos, from Africa means it is becoming better known as a new gateway to Europe.

Dutch parties position for tough coalition talks after Wilders' shock poll win

Far-right populist Geert Wilders named a "scout" on Friday to explore workable governing coalitions as he seeks to become the Netherlands' next prime minister after booking major election gains. In a foretaste of how difficult coalition building talks may prove after Wednesday's election, outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte's conservative VVD Party on Friday ruled out joining a cabinet led by Wilders' Freedom Party (PVV). However, new VVD leader Dilan Yesilgoz said her party would consider offering outside support.

Myanmar convoy burns on China's border as its envoy meets for talks

A convoy of trucks bringing goods into Myanmar from China has gone up in flames in what state media reported on Friday was an insurgent attack, compounding surging insecurity that has raised concern in neighbouring China. The fire in the town of Muse came as China's ambassador to Myanmar met top officials in the Myanmar capital for talks on stability on the border after recent signs that their relationship has been coming under rare strain.

UN agencies hope truce will allow aid to flow to northern Gaza

U.N. agencies voiced hope that a shaky truce that got underway between Israel and Hamas on Friday would allow aid to flow to northern Gaza for the first time in weeks, while the World Health Organization said it is working on further hospital evacuations. Aid agencies have said they are aiming to deliver supplies to northern part of the Palestinian enclave where hospitals have collapsed due to bombings and lack of fuel and where there are major concerns about deyhydration and disease outbreaks.

Dutch minister says she hopes aid to Ukraine will continue despite election outcome

Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren said on Friday she hoped the country's military support to Ukraine would continue even under a new government led by anti-EU populist Geert Wilders, who has said the Dutch should stop providing Kyiv with arms. Wilders, whose far-right Freedom Party (PVV) was the clear winner of national elections this week, has called for the withdrawal of support, saying the Netherlands needs the weapons it gives to Ukraine to be able to defend itself.

Europe should not shy away from working with China, Wang says

Europe should not be afraid of working with China because of competition, foreign minister Wang Yi said at a press briefing on Friday with his French counterpart in Beijing. "China's position is clear, we will adhere to our support of Europe's strategic autonomy," Wang said when asked about China's view of its relationship with Europe.

Irish police make 34 arrests after Dublin rioting

Irish police on Friday said they had made 34 arrests for rioting in Dublin overnight and that more protests could follow after the stabbing of five people including three young children triggered violence rarely seen before in the capital. Police guarded looted stores and firefighters cooled down smouldering vehicles in the heart of Dublin's city centre early on Friday after hours of riots which Police Commissioner Drew Harris said he expected to lead to many more arrests.

(With inputs from agencies.)