World

Senior Israeli officials have been threatening a major military operation into the city of Rafah and surrounding areas in southern Gaza for weeks. On Sunday, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant warned it could take place “imminently” as talks on a ceasefire with Hamas fizzled-out in Cairo. Now, they have taken a major step towards it.

It could be a scene from centuries ago. In the Nevada desert, Native Americans are protesting over a mining project they say desecrates sacred land.  They are riding to Sentinel Mountain, which their ancestors once used as a lookout in times gone by. Here, they say, more than 30 of their people were massacred by

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected ceasefire proposals because he says Hamas’s call for a withdrawal of all troops from Gaza and an end to the war is unacceptable. Mr Netanyahu said agreeing such proposals would “leave Hamas intact” and leave the possibility of another attack in future. “Surrendering to the demands of Hamas

An Israeli official has downplayed the prospects for a full end to the war in Gaza as Egyptian state media reported “noticeable progress” in ceasefire talks. A Hamas delegation was in Cairo on Saturday with pressure mounting to reach a deal to stop the conflict, sparked when the Palestinian militant group attacked southern Israel on

Countries in South and Southeast Asia have been coping with a weeks-long heatwave which has seen record temperatures sweep parts of the region. Pupils in the Philippines, India and Bangladesh have been told to stay at home and learn remotely due to a severe health risk. Schools in Cambodia have also cut back on their

Heavy rains in southern Brazil have killed 37 people, local authorities have said, with dozens still unaccounted for. More than 70 people are missing and at least 23,000 people have been displaced in Rio Grande do Sul, according to the state’s civil defence agency. In some cities, water levels have been at their highest since

The UK will appoint a new envoy to oversee a plan to ramp up the production of weapons and ammunition, which is now a “national priority”, the foreign secretary has revealed. Lord Cameron, speaking on a visit to Ukraine, also underlined the importance of supporting the Ukrainian war effort against Russia, warning that the world

David Cameron has backed Ukrainian strikes against targets inside Russia using British-supplied weapons. Speaking in the Ukrainian capital, the foreign secretary said it was Ukraine’s decision on how to use the supplied equipment and Kyiv “absolutely has the right” to strike back. Britain has supplied billions of pounds worth of equipment, and on a visit

A women’s rights activist and fitness influencer from Saudi Arabia has been sentenced to 11 years in prison over her choice of clothes, human rights groups have claimed. Manahel al-Otaibi was sentenced in January but details of her case only recently emerged in Saudi Arabia’s formal reply to a United Nations human rights request after

Another night of violence has unfolded in Georgia as police have fired tear gas and stun grenades at protesters opposing a so-called “Russian law”. The “foreign agents” bill would require organisations that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as agents of foreign influence. Georgian critics say the bill is inspired

FKA Twigs has revealed she has created an AI version of herself to engage with fans and help with promotion. The British singer-songwriter and dancer gave details of the project as she addressed a US Senate intellectual property hearing regarding the No Fakes Act, which aims to crack down on unauthorised replicas. FKA Twigs, whose

An Israeli ground offensive in Rafah is “on the immediate horizon”, the UN’s aid chief has warned, as Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed that his forces “will enter” the southern Gaza city. Martin Griffiths said in a statement on X on Tuesday the threatened attack would “spell even more trauma and death” for those in the city

It was a rare window into confrontations most have viewed from afar. We were invited on board the Philippine Coastguard Vessel BRP Bagacay. They were on a resupply mission to Scarborough Shoal – a submerged reef which China claims as its own but is within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone. They were meant to be

Three police officers have been shot and killed, and another five wounded, as they served an arrest warrant in North Carolina. The suspect was also killed during the shooting at a home in Charlotte, according to officials. The man’s name was not released, but police said he was wanted for illegally possessing a weapon. According

Spain’s prime minister has decided not to resign despite his wife being investigated over corruption claims. Pedro Sanchez said he was pausing public duties and considering his future last week, but confirmed on Monday he would continue as leader. “I have decided to go on, if possible even stronger as prime minister. This is not

A British tourist seriously injured in a shark attack off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago is “aware of what is happening and can communicate”, according to his wife. Peter Smith, 64, was attacked 10 metres off the shore near the Starfish Hotel in Courland Bay on the north coast of Tobago on Friday morning.