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Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas called Wednesday for a "firm response" from the US and the international community to Israel's plan to tighten its control of the occupied West Bank.During a visit to Oslo, Abbas said he had discussed the issue with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, as well as those of Israeli settler violence and Israel's freezing of "$4bn" intended for the Palestinian people."These serious violations require a firm response from the US administration and the international community because they hinder (US) President (Donald) Trump's efforts and constitute a violation of international law," Abbas told reporters.On Sunday, Israel's security cabinet approved a series of measures that would allow Israel to expand its control in areas administered by the Palestinian Authority under the Oslo accords in place since the 1990s.The plans, which have sparked international outrage, would also allow Israelis to buy West Bank land directly and allow Israeli authorities to administer certain religious sites even when they are located in areas under Palestinian Authority control.Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967.Excluding Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, more than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements and outposts across the West Bank, which are illegal under international law.Around 3mn Palestinians live in the territory. 

South Korea on Tuesday reaffirmed its "consistent" goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. "Denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula is the consistent goal of the international community, including South Korea and the United States," South Korea's foreign ministry said. The ministry stressed that the UN has also been calling for North Korea to denuclearize through a series of Security Council resolutions, according to (Yonhap) news agency. Addressing a general debate of the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday, North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son-gyong reiterated North Korea's position that it will never give up its nuclear program "under any circumstances." He said imposing denuclearization is "tantamount to demanding (North Korea) surrender sovereignty and its right to existence." The ministry said Seoul will continue its diplomatic efforts to achieve peaceful coexistence and mutual growth through comprehensive dialogue under close coordination with the US.

The Palestinian Presidency urged the international community on Wednesday to impose sanctions that would compel the Israeli occupation to reconsider its destructive policies in the region and the world, and to take immediate action to confront its defiance of international legitimacy and law, rather than limiting itself to a policy of condemnation and denunciation.In remarks, the Official Spokesperson for the Palestinian Presidency, Nabil Abu Rudeineh said that the dangerous Israeli escalation in cities, villages, and refugee camps is condemned and rejected, most recently the storming of Nablus by military forces at dawn today, the encirclement of the Old City, the targeting of citizens, and forcing them to leave their homes.He noted that this is being accompanied by the ongoing war of extermination and starvation in the Gaza Strip. He stressed the need for the occupation to bear responsibility for the escalation of its military attacks and settler terrorism against the Palestinian people, asserting that the continuation of this policy will lead to the destruction of everything and will lead the region to further tension and instability.At dawn today, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed Nablus and Tulkarm, accompanied by large crowds of soldiers, and carried out raids on homes and arrests of civilians, amid a prolonged silence regarding these practices, which are increasing throughout the occupied territories and coincide with the war of extermination targeting Gaza and its people.