US President Joe Biden privately issued a "tough" demand to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a call on Thursday, urging him to halt the escalation of regional tensions and to pursue a deal on Gaza hostages and a ceasefire urgently, two US officials told Axios.

Ukraine said Friday it had received the bodies of 250 killed soldiers in one of the largest exchanges of remains since Russia invaded in February 2022.

A senior Muslim cleric was detained on suspicion of inciting "terrorism" after he mourned slain Hamas politburo leader Ismail Haniyeh at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque, his lawyer told AFP.

As part of UAE's "Chivalrous Knight 3" Operation, 70 tonnes of relief aid and tents have been distributed to hundreds of families in the Gaza Strip.

France on Friday urged its nationals visiting Iran to leave immediately, as Poland warned its citizens to exit the region, saying possibilities to do so could soon diminish amid soaring regional tensions after the killing in Tehran of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and of top Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.

Russia’s Federation Council, or upper house of parliament, has approved a bill making amendments to the Law on Russian Citizenship, stipulating that any person dodging military registration will have their Russian citizenship revoked.

Gold prices reached historic highs on August 1, breaking the $2,500 mark on the New York Comex exchange. The precious metal reached a price of $2,502.6 for the first time in its history, influenced by the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision to leave interest rates unchanged, geopolitical risks, and the constant demand from central banks.

The Philippine and Japanese navies held their first joint exercise on Friday in the South China Sea, as the two US allies boost security ties in the face of China's growing pressure.

Iran’s acting foreign minister said that the country will use all its legitimate rights to respond to the Israeli's assassination of Chief of the Political Bureau of the Palestinian Resistance Movement, Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, News.Az reports citing Mehr news agency.

Oil prices saw a fourth consecutive weekly decline during the week ending August 2 due to demand concerns in China, while ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and decision by some central banks of major economies to reduce interest rates limited further price declines.