World

An Israeli hostage held in Gaza has been shot dead by his guard, Hamas has said. In a separate incident, two women being held in Gaza were seriously wounded, the militant group said. Abu Ubaida, spokesperson for Hamas’ armed al-Qassam Brigades, said a committee has been formed to investigate what happened in both incidents. More

This was everything Paris could have hoped for. The world was captivated by the wondrous distraction of the Olympics; venues fizzing with excitement and energy. There were daring reimagining of Olympic norms – the opening ceremony shifted from a stadium to water and a cauldron floating in the air. All contrasting with the soullessness of

A snaking line of armoured personnel carriers takes us to the epicentre of the last stand of Islamic State (IS). The troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) move swiftly through the Deir Azzour region in northeast Syria. They’re often the target of attacks from IS sleeper cells they believe operate here – and which

With his troops battling hard inside Russia, Ukraine’s president has finally broken his silence on an invasion that has stunned his much larger and more powerful neighbour. Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the operation, which began on Tuesday in Russia’s southwestern Kursk region, as “our actions to push the war out into the aggressor’s territory”. Giving a

On the outskirts of Beijing, 60-year-old Yao Pei jiu is lifted by care workers from his bed into a portable plastic bath. He looks relaxed and calm. “How good is it to bathe!” Mr Yao exclaims. As the population of seniors grows in China, demand for home bathing services carried out by carers is booming.

Dozens of people have been killed in a strike that targeted a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City, Palestinian health officials have said – as the Israeli army said it had struck a “Hamas control centre”. The Hamas-run Palestinian health ministry’s ambulance and emergency service said the strike on the Tabeen school in central Gaza City killed

A passenger plane carrying 62 people has crashed in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Footage broadcast by TV GloboNews showed a large area on fire and smoke appearing to billow from an apparent plane fuselage. Video on social media showed an aircraft falling at speed towards the ground. The local firefighters corps confirmed that

“Operation Liquidation” reads the headline in one opinion piece on the incursion inside Russia. But it’s not a reference to Ukraine’s offensive. It’s a prediction of what will be unleashed on Russia’s enemy in return. “The lives of the militants, from this gang that is doomed-to-destruction, are not worth a penny,” writes the author, in

People in Russia are unable to access YouTube amid an alleged crackdown on the video hosting site. Russian internet monitoring service Sboi.rf said there had been reports of thousands of glitches with the Google-owned video service. Users said the site was only accessible via virtual private networks (VPNs), which give users access to remote servers

In a momentary turning of the tables, a seemingly unprecedented Ukrainian ground incursion into Russia signals a new type of attack that is causing alarm in Moscow. Up to 1,000 Ukrainian troops, driving tanks and other armoured vehicles and supported by drones and artillery, are reported to have charged across the border into Russia’s Kursk

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of a “large-scale provocation” as his officials say they are fighting off cross-border raids for a second day. Mr Putin accused Ukrainian forces of “indiscriminate shelling of civilian buildings, residential houses, ambulances with different types of weapons” in an incursion into Russia‘s south-western Kursk region. Ukrainian officials have

More than 1,000 British military personnel are on standby to help evacuate UK nationals from Lebanon as fears grow that Israel’s war in Gaza will escalate into a wider regional conflict, Sky News understands. Hundreds of soldiers, Royal Marine commandos, sailors and aviators have already been moved forward to bolster a key Royal Air Force

On the seafront in Beirut, it feels like business as usual – people dining out, many enjoying the sun. But the spectre of war looms large over Lebanon – after a 30-minute drive, we’re suddenly in the heart of Hezbollah, where the reality of that threat feels very heavy. We’re on our way to the

A former teacher and member of the US Army National Guard, Tim Walz has gone viral for attacking Donald Trump and JD Vance as “weird” – an insult the Harris campaign has embraced.  But now they have embraced the Minnesota governor entirely and put him on the presidential ticket. Mr Walz may not have the

Simone Biles has missed out on a fourth gold medal of the Paris Olympics after falling during her balance beam routine. The US gymnastics sensation fell off the apparatus midway through her routine in the women’s balance beam final – which was won by Italian Alice D’Amato. Biles, 27, had already secured golds in the

Bangladesh’s prime minister has resigned and fled to India following weeks of deadly protests in the country. Reports of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, 76, resigning were confirmed by the army, as well as Bangladesh High Commission Officials in Delhi. According to the country’s leading national paper, she and her sister took a military helicopter to

Fresh violence in Bangladesh has left dozens dead and hundreds injured as internet services are shut down and a nationwide curfew is imposed. Almost 100 people were reportedly killed on Sunday as student protesters calling for the prime minister’s resignation clashed with police and ruling party activists. The country’s leading Bengali-language daily newspaper, Prothom Alo,

About 50 rockets have been fired from southern Lebanon towards upper Galilee, according to Israeli media. Videos showed Israel’s Iron Dome defence system being activated over the area. In a statement, Hezbollah said: “In support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their valiant and honourable resistance, and in

US President Joe Biden has said he hopes Iran will back down from threats of retaliation against Israel to avert a serious war in the Middle East. Tensions are rising in the region after Hamas’s top political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran’s capital, Tehran. Iran has pledged to avenge his death, with its

The US defence secretary has revoked a plea deal which would have seen the men accused of plotting the 9/11 attacks avoid death sentences. On Wednesday, it was announced that prosecutors had reached a deal for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi to plead guilty to conspiracy charges. Just two days later,