Top 10 World News Highlights

The World Bank's Pandemic Fund attracts $700 million, Typhoon Gaemi strikes Taiwan, Germany's Scholz comments on Harris, a tragic plane crash in Nepal, NATO identifies European defense gaps, New Zealand's PM addresses abuse inquiry, Netanyahu's U.S. Congress speech, and Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.

The World Bank's fund to assist developing nations in pandemic preparedness has secured $667 million from the U.S. and $54 million from Germany, closing in on a $2 billion target.

Taiwan braces for Typhoon Gaemi, now the strongest storm in eight years. Financial markets are closed, flights canceled, and one fatality reported.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz commended U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris as a 'competent and experienced' politician but refrained from endorsing her over Donald Trump for the U.S. presidency.

A plane crash in Nepal's Kathmandu airport claimed 18 lives, with the aircraft reportedly bound for maintenance in Pokhara.

NATO finds substantial gaps in European defenses during a recent summit, focused on the costs of reinforcing the region amid growing Russian threats.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon apologizes and vows reforms following an inquiry revealing that 200,000 individuals were abused in state and religious care over the past 70 years.

Protests greeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he addressed a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress, amidst political division and public distraction.

As Netanyahu visited the U.S., Israeli forces launched fresh raids in Gaza, forcing thousands to seek shelter.

ASEAN foreign ministers convened in Laos to address the crisis in Myanmar and South China Sea tensions, ahead of significant weekend summits.

(With inputs from agencies.)