World News Roundup: Israeli hostages killed mistakenly in Gaza were holding white flag, official says; Israel bombards northern and southern Gaza, many reported dead and more

Sheikh Meshal, 83, spent much of his career helping build the Gulf state's security and defence apparatus before stepping into the public eye when he became crown prince three years ago. US wants shakeup of Palestinian Authority to run Gaza after Hamas A succession of top U.S. officials have travelled to the West Bank in recent weeks to meet with Mahmoud Abbas in the hope the 88-year-old – a spectator in the war between Israel and Hamas – can overhaul his unpopular Palestinian Authority enough to run Gaza after the conflict.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Israel and Qatar explore revival of deal for Gaza hostages- WSJ

Israeli and Qatari officials were set to meet in Norway on Saturday to revive talks about the release of hostages held in Gaza in return for a ceasefire and the freeing of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was due to meet David Barnea, director of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, in Oslo, the report added, citing people familiar with the matter. Barnea is also likely to meet with Egyptian officials, the Journal reported.

For Kuwait's new emir, Saudi ties are seen as key

Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah was named as Kuwait's new emir on Saturday after the death of his brother Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah aged 86. Sheikh Meshal, 83, spent much of his career helping build the Gulf state's security and defence apparatus before stepping into the public eye when he became crown prince three years ago.

US wants shakeup of Palestinian Authority to run Gaza after Hamas

A succession of top U.S. officials have travelled to the West Bank in recent weeks to meet with Mahmoud Abbas in the hope the 88-year-old – a spectator in the war between Israel and Hamas – can overhaul his unpopular Palestinian Authority enough to run Gaza after the conflict. An architect of the 1993 Oslo peace accords with Israel that raised hopes of Palestinian statehood, Abbas has seen his legitimacy steadily undermined by Israeli settlement building in the occupied West Bank, which he oversees. Many Palestinians now regard his administration as corrupt, undemocratic and out of touch.

London police to "carefully consider" Prince Harry phone hacking ruling

London's police said they will "carefully consider" the findings of a court ruling that found Prince Harry had been a victim of phone hacking and other unlawful acts by Mirror Group journalists with the knowledge of their editors. King Charles' younger son, who became the first senior British royal for 130 years to give evidence in court when he appeared at a trial in June, was awarded 140,600 pounds ($178,000) on Friday after the judge agreed he had been targeted by journalists working for Mirror Group Newspapers.

Cardinal, nine other defendants, await verdicts at Vatican trial

A two-and-a-half-year corruption trial that exposed infighting and intrigue in the highest echelons of the Vatican closes on Saturday with the key defendant, an Italian cardinal, hoping the court will accept his plea of innocence. Cardinal Angelo Becciu, 75, a one-time Vatican power broker, is charged with embezzlement, abuse of office, and trying to induce a witness to give false testimony.

Israeli hostages killed mistakenly in Gaza were holding white flag, official says

Three Israeli hostages killed mistakenly in Gaza by Israeli forces had been holding up a white flag, according to an initial inquiry into the incident, a military official said on Saturday. The incident happened in an area of intense combat where Hamas militants operate in civilian attire and use deception tactics, the official said.

Israel bombards northern and southern Gaza, many reported dead

Israeli forces bombarded targets across northern and southern Gaza on Saturday including a YMCA building, with dozens of Palestinians reported killed or wounded, despite the latest U.S. call to scale down the campaign and focus on Hamas's leaders. In Khan Younis in the south, Palestinian health officials said the Nasser Hospital had received 20 Palestinians killed in air strikes overnight, in addition to dozens of wounded, including women and children.

Ukraine shoots downs 30 Russian drones over 11 regions -air force

Ukraine's air defence and mobile groups of drone hunters shot down 30 out of 31 Russian drones over 11 regions across the country on Saturday, the air force said. A series of explosions resounded throughout the Ukrainian capital Kyiv as air defence units engaged Russian drones, Reuters witnesses said.

Russia to test launch seven intercontinental ballistic missiles in 2024 -Ifax

Russia plans to test launch seven intercontinental ballistic missiles in 2024, Sergei Karakayev, the commander of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces has said, the Interfax news agency reported on Saturday. Russia gave the United States at least 24 hours' notice of such launches and Washington afforded Moscow the same courtesy, Interfax cited Karakayev as telling Russia's army's official Red Star newspaper.

Putin to run as independent candidate for new presidential term - senior politicians

Vladimir Putin will run for president again as an independent candidate with a wide support base but not on a party ticket, Russian news agencies reported on Saturday, citing his supporters. An initiative group made up of over 700 politicians and figures from the sporting and cultural worlds met on Saturday in Moscow and unanimously endorsed Putin's nomination as an independent candidate, Russian news agencies said.

(With inputs from agencies.)