July 26, 2023

*) Soldiers raid Ecuadorian prison to quell riot Some 2,700 soldiers have stormed a prison in Ecuador, retaking control of the facility as the death toll from a riot that started over the weekend rose to 31 inmates. The latest battle between rival gangs at the overcrowded, violence-hobbled Guayas 1 prison in the port city of Guayaquil has also left 14 wounded, the public prosecutor's office said. Riots regularly pit prison gangs with links to drug traffickers against one another in Ecuador, a country that has recently emerged as a key player in the South American cocaine trade. *) Türkiye vows to continue backing Palestinian cause Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed continued support for the Palestinian cause during a visit by his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas. Erdogan also expressed deep concern about the ongoing violence inflicted by illegal Israeli settlers. “Any acts attempting to change the historical status quo of holy places, particularly the al Aqsa Mosque,” cannot be tolerated, he said. He also said “the unity and reconciliation of the Palestinians are key elements in this process.” *) Typhoon Doksuri tears through northern Philippines A powerful storm has hit the northern Philippines, toppling trees, knocking out power and dumping heavy rain as thousands took shelter. Typhoon Doksuri was packing maximum sustained wind speeds of 175 kilometres an hour as it hovered off the northern tip of the main island of Luzon, the state weather agency said. At least one person drowned in the province of Rizal in the wake of Typhoon Doksuri, the national disaster agency reported. *) Ukraine says allies pledge $244M, demining aid Ukraine's allies have committed to allocating $244 million in addition to special equipment for the country's humanitarian demining needs, First Deputy Prime Minister has said. "Our task is not only to demine the entire territory in order to save people's lives but also to speed up this process," Yulia Svyrydenko, who is also economy minister, said. "This i