*) Israel pounds Gaza as death toll soars past 100

Israel has bombarded Gaza with artillery and air strikes but stopped short of a ground offensive in the conflict.

Israeli aggression has claimed more than 100 Palestinian lives, including 31 children, and wounded 621 people.

In another potential escalation, at least three rockets were fired from southern Lebanon toward Israel overnight.

Israel's attacks on Gaza follow weeks of violence against Palestinians amid spiking tensions in occupied East Jerusalem during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

*) Muslims celebrate Eid al Fitr amid coronavirus measures

Eid al Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, is being celebrated worldwide under the shadow of the coronavirus.

Traditionally, Eid is a three-day celebration marked by large family festivities and mass prayers.

But this year many could only celebrate at home with immediate family. Special prayers were held in a limited manner while adhering to anti-virus measures.

*) India's Covid cases above 24 million as mutant spreads across globe

The number of infections in India climbed above 24 million amid reports that the highly transmissible mutant first detected in the country was spreading across the globe.

The Indian B.1.617 variant of the virus has been found in cases in eight countries of the Americas, including Canada and the US.

According to health ministry data, India recorded 4,000 deaths and 343,144 infections in the last 24 hours.

*) Two climbers die of exhaustion on Mount Everest descent

Two climbers from the US and Switzerland have died on Mount Everest, the first fatalities of this year's season, expedition organisers in Nepal have said.

On average around five climbers die every year on the world's highest peak.

But in recent seasons, Everest has seen a surge in the number of climbers, leading to overcrowding that has been blamed for multiple deaths.

And finally ...

*) 'Friends' reunion to air May 27, with slew of celebrity guests

The long-awaited "Friends" cast reunion will be broadcast on May 27 and will feature a slew of celebrity guests including Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, and K-Pop band BTS.

"Friends: The Reunion" was originally supposed to have been filmed more than a year ago but was repeatedly delayed by the coronavirus.

"Friends" was one of the most popular TV shows of the 1990s and found new life on streaming platforms.

*) Death toll rises to 67 from Israeli attacks against Palestinians

Israeli forces continue to bomb the Gaza enclave, killing at least 67 people, including 17 children, since the start of recent hostilities.

Israel's attacks on Gaza follow weeks of violence during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan against Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem.

One of the major catalysts behind Palestinian protests in recent weeks were the threatened expulsions in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of occupied East Jerusalem, which Israeli settlers are trying to take over via a court case.

*) Afghan forces launch operation to recapture Taliban-held district

Afghan security forces have mounted an operation to recapture a key district that the Taliban seized just before a three-day ceasefire.

Taliban insurgents killed and captured Afghan soldiers, forcing troops to retreat from Nerkh district, which is close to the capital Kabul.

Violence has intensified in the country since Washington missed a May 1 deadline, agreed with the Taliban last year, to withdraw all of its troops.

*) Largest US fuel pipeline begins reopening after cyber attack

US largest fuel pipeline has restarted operations days after it was forced to shut down by a gang of hackers.

The disruption of Colonial Pipeline caused panic-buying and long lines at petrol stations in the Southeast, draining supplies at thousands of stations.

Colonial Pipeline said that it would take several days for deliveries to return to normal

*) Iran’s former president Ahmadinejad to run again in June election

Iran's former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has registered to run again for the presidency.

President from 2005 to 2013, Ahmadinejad had to stand down at the end of two consecutive terms as per Iran's constitution.

Ahmadinejad's tenure was marked by fiery rhetoric against Israel and deep tensions with the West, most notably over Iran's nuclear programme.

And finally ...

*) Nadal opens bid for 10th Italian Title with victory over Sinner

Rafael Nadal has opened his attempt to win a 10th Italian Open title with a straight-sets victory over teenager Jannik Sinner to advance to the third round.

Nadal won through 7-5, 6-4 in just over two hours to bring his record to 16-1 in his opening matches in Foro Italico.

The 20-time Grand Slam winner next plays 13th seeder Canadian Denis Shapovalov for a place in the quarter-final.

*) Israel carries out hundreds of air strikes in Gaza, killing at least 35

The death toll has risen to 35 in Gaza as air strikes by Israel leave a trail of destruction in the blockaded Palestinian territory.

Those killed include 12 children and two women.

Violence has flared once again at Al Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem where Israeli forces fired rubber bullets on Palestinians gathering after morning prayers.

Tensions soared last week as Israeli police used rubber bullets and stun grenades against Palestinians congregating at the Mosque during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

*) Several children killed in school shooting in Russia’s Kazan

A gunman has attacked a school in Kazan, the capital of Russia’s republic of Tatarstan, killing nine people and leaving 21 others wounded.

Of the dead, seven were schoolchildren. Officials said the attacker, identified as a 19-year-old, was arrested.

While school shootings are relatively rare in Russia, there have been several violent attacks on schools in recent years, mostly carried out by students.

*) Macron party head warns candidate in headscarf won't get party support

French President Emmanuel Macron's party head has threatened to withdraw support for a candidate in upcoming regional elections after she was pictured with a headscarf.

Stanislas Guerini said candidate Sara Zemmahi "wearing ostentatious religious symbols on a campaign document is not compatible with the values of LREM".

A proposal by French senators might soon deny the freedom for women to wear hijab in public spaces.

*) Death toll from Colombia protests climbs to 42

At least 42 Colombians have been killed in protests against the government of President Ivan Duque since April 28.

The protesters, initially against proposed tax reforms, are now demanding the government take action to tackle poverty, police violence and inequalities.

The tax reform bill has since been withdrawn,but the protests have continued despite a forceful response by police.

And finally ...

*) Manchester City confirmed Premier League champions again

Manchester City have become Premier League champions after Manchester United crashed to a 2-1 defeat against Leicester.

Pep Guardiola's side are 10 points clear of second-placed United and have wrapped up the title with three games to spare.

It is the third time Blue Skies manager Pep Guardiola has won the Premier League title with the City.

TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Tuesday, May 11th:

*) Israel kills 24 Palestinians in Gaza as resistance announces operations

Israeli strikes have killed at least 24 Palestinians, including nine children, in Gaza after Israel’s raid on Al Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem.

Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza announced Operation Al Quds Sword in response to Israeli violence at Al Aqsa compound, the third holiest site of Islam and the holiest site of Judaism.

More than 700 people have been wounded in raids by Israeli forces in Jerusalem and across the occupied West Bank in the past 24 hours.

*) UN finds evidence of Daesh genocide against Yazidis

A UN team investigating atrocities in Iraq has said it found “clear and compelling evidence” that Daesh committed genocide against the Yazidi minority in 2014.

Special Adviser Karim Khan told the UN Security Council that the militant group successfully developed chemical weapons and used mustard gas.

The team also reported war crimes against predominantly Shia unarmed cadets and personnel from Tikrit Air Academy who were captured by the group in June 2014.

*) Dozens dead after boat capsizes in Nigeria

At least 30 people drowned in Nigeria after an overloaded boat capsized in Tijana village of Munya district.

The boat, carrying 100 local traders, split in two after smashing into a stump during high winds on its return from a market on Saturday.

Sixty-five passengers have been rescued with the help of local divers.

*) Bodies of suspected Covid-19 victims found in Indian river

More than 150 bodies suspected to be Covid-19 patients who died of the virus have been found dumped in India's northern river Ganges.

The bodies, found by horrified residents, were floating in the river and some dumped on the banks in northern Bihar state, according to media reports.

India's total Covid-19 caseload now stands at over 22.6 million, with more than 246,000 deaths.

And finally ...

*) 40th death anniversary of reggae legend Bob Marley

Today marks the 40th death anniversary of reggae legend Bob Marley. He died of cancer in 1981.

The year 2021 also marked the death of the last surviving member of the original Wailers, Bunny.

The group in the 1960s helped transform reggae, with its heavy bass lines and drums, into a global phenomenon with untold impact.

TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Monday, May 10th:

*) Israel vows to restore calm as top court postpones hearing on forceful evictions

Hundreds of Palestinians were injured after Israeli security forces stormed the Al Aqsa mosque on the fourth day of heightened tensions, medics say.

Police were seen firing gunshots and grenades at Palestinians hours before a planned march by hardline Israeli nationalists to commemorate Israel’s occupation of the city.

Recent tensions were sparked by planned evictions of Palestinians from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem.

*) Families bury victims of Afghan school blast

Relatives of those killed in a horrific bombing outside a girls’ school in the Afghan capital have buried their loved ones.

The explosion rocked the west Kabul district of Dasht-e-Barchi on Saturday as residents were out shopping ahead of next week's Eid al Fitr.

Officials said the death toll from the bomb attack has risen to 68 as doctors struggle to provide medical care for 165 injured victims.

*) Myanmar’s Suu Kyi set to appear in court

Deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi is set to appear in court two days after the military junta declared opposition politicians as terrorists.

Over the weekend, Myanmar's junta labelled a shadow government of lawmakers and politicians ousted in a February coup as terrorist groups.

The government of national unity was established by elected legislators who were barred from taking their seats when the military seized power.

*) Cyberattack on US pipeline is linked to criminal gang

A cyberextortion attempt that has forced the shutdown of a vital US pipeline was carried out by a criminal gang known as DarkSide.

Top US fuel pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline shut its entire network after a cyber attack on Friday that involved ransomware.

The incident, one of the most disruptive digital ransom operations ever reported, drew attention to how vulnerable US energy infrastructure is to hackers.

And finally ...

*) Escaped big cat sparks fear in China

A leopard is at large in eastern China after escaping from a safari park with two fellow big cats.

Residents of the city of Hangzhou first reported seeing a leopard on the loose on Friday.

The safari park only acknowledged the escapes after the news went viral.

TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, May the 7th:

*) Germany opposes US-backed proposal to waive patents on Covid-19 jabs

The EU says it is willing to discuss a US-backed proposal to waive patent rights for Covid-19 vaccines.

But the bloc's largest economy, Germany, says while it supports the goal of a worldwide supply of vaccines, the main factors in mass production are capacity and quality control, not patents.

US President Joe Biden’s administration announced on Wednesday support for a global waiver on intellectual property protection for vaccines to accelerate efforts to stop the pandemic.

*) India’s coronavirus cases hit another daily record

India has reported yet another record rise in new coronavirus cases with over 414,000 infections. Over 3,900 people died of the disease in the last 24 hours.

The South Asian nation's cases tally now stands at 21.4 million, second only to the United States while its total fatalities have soared past 230,000.

Demand for medical oxygen has increased, with lockdowns reinstated in several cities and states.

*) Pressure mounts on Israel to abandon settlement expansion plans

Tensions are high in occupied East Jerusalem, where Palestinians are trying to prevent people from being evicted from their homes.

At least 13 Palestinian families are facing eviction after an order by an Israeli court, which Palestinians fear is part of an ongoing effort by settlers to illegally take their homes.

In a joint statement, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK have urged Israel to reverse its decision to advance settlement construction in the Har Homa E area.

*) Colombia calls for dialogue with protest leaders

Colombia's government has invited protest leaders to a dialogue to calm tensions following over a week of deadly protests against President Ivan Duque.

Thousands of Colombians have taken to the streets to express anger over the government's policies on health, education and inequality.

At least 24 people have died in clashes between protesters and security forces while hundreds more have been injured.

And finally ...

*) Golden Globes voters approve changes on diversity, ethics after racism row

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association that awards the Golden Globes has voted for sweeping reforms after Hollywood slammed it for its poor record on diversity.

Association approved a package of reforms, including boosting membership by 50 percent, adding more Black journalists and lifting limits on who gets admitted.

The Golden Globes are second in importance only to the Oscars in Hollywood's film award season.

*) Israel's Yair Lapid gets mandate to form new government

Israel's president has chosen Yair Lapid, a centrist politician and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strongest rival, to try to form a new government.

While Lapid faces a difficult task, he now has the chance to make history by ending the reign of Netanyahu, who is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister.

The parliamentary elections held on March the 23 ended in deadlock for the fourth time in the past two years.

*) India reports record Covid-19 cases, deaths

India has reported more than 400,000 coronavirus infections over the last 24 hours, while deaths rose by a record 3,980.

The South Asian nation's cases tally has surged past 21 million, second only to the United State. India’s death toll now stands at over 230,000.

India’s Supreme Court has ordered the government to submit a plan to meet New Delhi hospitals’ oxygen needs as the city’s health system buckles under Covid surge.

*) Hong Kong dissident Joshua Wong jailed for Tiananmen protest

Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong has been handed an additional 10-month sentence after he pleaded guilty to taking part in the Tiananmen protest last year.

The annual vigil marking Beijing's deadly 1989 crackdown of protests was banned for the first time in Hong Kong last year.

Wong is already serving a 13-and-a-half-month jail sentence for attending a protest during the 2019 unrest.

*) G7 hits out at China, Russia over rights abuses after London talks

G7 foreign ministers have criticised both China and Russia, casting the Kremlin as malicious and Beijing as a bully at their summit held in London.

There was, however, little concrete action mentioned in the communique that would worry either Chinese President Xi Jinping or Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On the coronavirus pandemic, the G7 pledged to work with industry to expand the production of affordable Covid-19 vaccines.

And finally ...

*) US backs waiver of Covid vaccine patents

The Biden administration has joined calls for more sharing of Covid-19 vaccine technology to help speed the end of the pandemic

This shift puts the US alongside many in the developing world who want rich countries to do more to get doses to the needy.

US announced its position amid World Trade Organization talks about a possible temporary waiver of its protections that would allow more manufacturers to produce the life-saving vaccines.