Israel closer to another election as Netanyahu rival fails to form coalition
Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief rival has failed to form a new government, pushing Israel closer to an unprecedented third election in less than a year.
World
Ukraine pressure was at Trump’s ‘express direction’, says ambassador
US ambassador Gordon Sondland has told congressional impeachment investigators that he worked with Rudy Giuliani on Ukraine at the “express direction” of Donald Trump and pushed a “quid pro quo” with Kiev because it was what the president wanted.
Last campus protesters hold out as Hong Kong schools reopen
Hong Kong schools have reopened after a six-day shutdown, but students and commuters faced transport disruptions as the last anti-government protesters remained holed up on a university campus, surrounded by police.
Israel set for third election after kingmaker refuses to back any candidate
Key Israeli politician Avigdor Lieberman has refused to endorse a candidate for prime minister, blaming both the contenders engaged in a tense standoff that has paralysed Israeli politics and pushing the country towards a likely third election in less than a year.
Scores killed as Iran cracks down on fuel protests – Amnesty
Days of protests over rising fuel prices and a subsequent government crackdown have killed at least 106 people across Iran, Amnesty International said.
’23 killed’ as Israel strikes Iranian targets in Syria
Israel said it has struck dozens of Iranian targets in Syria in a “wide-scale” operation in response to rocket fire on the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights the day before.
Malta arrests businessman ‘over murder of investigative reporter’
Maltese authorities have arrested a prominent businessman who appears to be a “person of interest” in the assassination of a leading investigative reporter.
House where Hitler was born to become police precinct
The house where Adolf Hitler was born in 1889 will become a police precinct, Austrian authorities have said.
Israel claims strikes against Iranian sites in Syria
The Israeli military on Wednesday said it had struck dozens of Iranian targets in Syria, carrying out a “wide-scale” strike in response to rocket fire on the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights the day before.
Trump says he went through ‘very routine physical’
President Donald Trump has said he went through a “very routine physical” when he visited a hospital over the weekend.
Guards on duty when Jeffrey Epstein died face charges of falsifying records
Two prison officers responsible for guarding Jeffrey Epstein on the night he killed himself have been charged with falsifying prison records.
Impeachment probe told of ‘improper’ Donald Trump phone call with Ukraine leader
One top national security aide who listened to President Donald Trump’s July call with Ukraine’s president called it “improper” while another said it was “unusual.”
US and Australian hostages freed after Taliban prisoners released
The Taliban said they have freed an American and an Australian hostage held since 2016 in exchange for three top Taliban figures who were released by the Kabul government and flown out of Afghanistan the previous day.
Israel’s PM visits West Bank to mark US backing for settlements
Israel’s prime minister travelled to the West Bank to celebrate the US’s announcement that it does not consider Israeli settlements to violate international law.
Sweden drops probe in Julian Assange ‘rape’ case
The alleged rape investigation involving WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is now jailed in Britain, has been discontinued, a Swedish prosecutor has said.
Protesters force postponement of Lebanese parliamentary session
Thousands of protesters rallying against the Lebanese political elite blocked roads in central Beirut, preventing politicians from reaching the parliament and forcing the postponement of a legislative session.
Donald Trump’s unscheduled hospital visit fuels rumour mill
President Donald Trump’s unscheduled weekend visit to hospital has raised suspicions about his health.
Smoke shrouds Sydney’s skyline as wildfires burn nearby
Thick smoke from wildfires has shrouded Sydney and its surrounding areas, with health experts warning residents with medical conditions to remain indoors.
100 protesters surrounded by police at Hong Kong university
About 100 anti-government protesters remain holed up at a Hong Kong university as a police siege of the campus entered its third day.
Trump administration softens position on West Bank settlements
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced that the US is softening its position on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, the latest in a series of Trump administration moves that weaken Palestinian claims to statehood.
Pair sought after four killed in California party shooting
Police are searching for two assailants who sneaked into a backyard party in California on Sunday and opened fire while a small crowd watched football on television, killing four people and injuring six others.
Police in Hong Kong increase pressure on students in campus siege
Police in Hong Kong have tightened their siege of a university campus where hundreds of protesters remained trapped in the latest dramatic episode in months of protests against growing Chinese control over the semi-autonomous city.
Kuwait ruler sacks son and another minister amid embezzlement scandal
Kuwait’s ruler has fired his own son and another cabinet minister after they publicly feuded over accusations of corruption, ordering the prime minister to form a new government.
Three die in shooting spree outside Walmart store in Oklahoma
Two men and a woman have been shot dead outside a Walmart store in south-western Oklahoma.
Donald Trump will ‘strongly consider’ giving evidence to impeachment inquiry
President Donald Trump has hinted that he might be prepared to give evidence at the House impeachment inquiry following an invitation to do so from the chamber’s Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Vulnerability of Venice exposed by devastating series of floods
Record-breaking floods are taking their toll on Venice amid calls to preserve the city from the ravages of problems such as climate change.
Nancy Pelosi invites Donald Trump to give evidence to impeachment inquiry
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has invited President Donald Trump to give evidence in front of investigators in the House impeachment inquiry ahead of a week that will see several key witnesses appear publicly.
Sri Lanka’s new president reaches out to Tamils and Muslims at inauguration
Sri Lanka’s new president has been sworn in and appealed to minority Tamils and Muslims who voted against him to give their support.
UN urges talks to end Bolivia crisis amid rising death toll
A UN envoy has urged the government of Bolivia’s self-proclaimed interim president and supporters of self-exiled leader Evo Morales to begin talks to resolve the country’s political crisis.
Four dead, six wounded in California garden party shooting
Four people have been killed and six more wounded after “unknown suspects” sneaked into a garden party in California and fired into a crowd.
Hong Kong police battle protesters trying to escape university campus
Hong Kong police have used tear gas and batons to fight off protesters as they tried to break through a cordon that is trapping hundreds on a university campus.
Kim Jong Un vows to build ‘invincible army’ and oversees another military drill
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has supervised a military drill and vowed to build an “invincible army”.