GAZA CITY:

A Hamas-controlled military court has sentenced six Palestinians to death for allegedly col-

laborating with Israel. The court sentenced another eight defendants in

Gaza to prison for various periods. It was the most verdicts to be issued on a single day since the Islamic militant group wrested control of the territory from the internationally-backed Palestinian Authority in 2007.

Hamas has executed 28 Palestinians, the majority on charges of aiding Israeli security and intelligence agencies, since 2007. (AP)

VATICAN CITY:

The Vatican has reaffirmed its longstanding call for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict following a visit by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, as the US says it is preparing to present its long-awaited peace plan.

Abbas met for 20 minutes Monday with Pope Francis and then the Vatican foreign minister, Monsignor Paul Gallagher.

The Vatican said the talks focused on efforts to reactivate the peace process “and to reach a two-state solution, hoping for a renewed commitment on the part of the international community to meet the legitimate aspirations of both peoples.”

A Vatican statement said Jerusalem must remain a holy city for Christians, Muslims and Jews.

It was the first visit by Abbas since the US transferred its embassy and recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. (AP)

MOSCOW:

The first manned Soyuz flight since a failed launch in October successfully docked at the International Space Station on Monday, Russia’s space agency Roscosmos said.

“The Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft with a crew onboard successfully docked with the Research Module Poisk of the International Space Station,” it said on Twitter. (AFP)