UK Home Secretary James Cleverly signed a new treaty with Rwanda on Tuesday seeking to overcome a court ruling that blocked its controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to the East African nation. The deal establishes new mechanisms like a monitoring committee and appeals body staffed by international judges. The UK claims the treaty addresses legal concerns and says it expects migrants to be sent to Rwanda “in the coming months.” But opposition leaders, rights groups and lawyers argue otherwise, insisting Rwanda still cannot assure refugees’ safety nor impartial assessments, and likely lacks capacity to handle influxes. With migration flows hitting record highs, the embattled policy remains politically divisive. The Labour Party plans to abandon it if elected next year. Lawsuits will continue challenging the deportations as unlawful. The controversial strategy seeks to deter Channel-crossing asylum seekers, with Rwanda receiving a £140 million initial payment.

Israel is considering a plan to force Hamas militants out of their expansive tunnel network in Gaza by pumping in seawater from the Mediterranean Sea, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The pumping system could flood the tunnels, used to transport weapons and stage attacks according to Israel, within a matter of weeks. But experts warn the saltwater could further despoil Gaza's already scarce drinking water supply, which is heavily polluted. Hazardous substances stored in the tunnels could also seep out. It remains unclear whether Israel will follow through on the aggressive strategy to flush out Hamas members. Both sides continue violent clashes after October attacks killed over 16,000 people. Israel says over 100 hostages are still being held captive inside Gaza by Hamas.

In a comprehensive study employing the golden ratio to gauge architectural beauty, Chester, the storied UK city, has clinched the coveted title of the world's prettiest, eclipsing Venice. Utilizing Google Street View, researchers meticulously assessed buildings worldwide, revealing Chester's remarkable 83.7% adherence to the golden ratio followed closely by Venice at 83.3%. Renowned for its Romanic history dating back to the first century, the city boasts cultural gems like Britain's largest Roman Amphitheatre and a millennium-old cathedral. This accolade underscores Chester's architectural allure and aesthetic perfection. London trailed closely at 82%, while Chester's triumph reflects its unique blend of historical significance and timeless charm.

Nepal has formally appealed to Russia to cease the deployment of Gurkha soldiers in Ukraine, where six Nepali soldiers embedded in the Russian army have lost their lives since February 2022. The Nepali government has requested the immediate return of the soldiers' bodies and compensation for their families. Expressing concern over the recruitment tactics, Nepal's ambassador to Moscow revealed that between 150 and 200 Nepalis have been working as mercenaries in the Russian army, with some being trafficked under alluring financial offers. The foreign ministry urges citizens to refrain from joining foreign armies outside existing agreements.

In a shocking exposé, the BBC reports on gruesome details emerging from the Nova music festival attack by Hamas on October 7. Witnesses and video evidence depict a horrifying scene of gang rapes, mutilation, and executions, with victims spanning from children to pensioners. Several people involved in identifying bodies said they saw signs of multiple sexual assaults, including broken pelvises and torn tissues, among victims. In one police video, a witness described how Hamas terrorists passed and raped a bleeding victim, cutting her breast off before shooting her in the head. Few victims likely survived to recount their trauma. Police indicate "multiple" eyewitness accounts of sexual assault, but surviving victims are yet to be interviewed. Israel's Women's Empowerment Minister, May Golan, confirms rape survivors are undergoing psychiatric treatment. The article unravels the tragic and unsettling events that transpired, urging readers to delve into the full report.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will appeal directly to US senators in a video address Tuesday, as the White House warns Ukraine's ability to fend off Russia's invasion could soon grind to a halt without further American military and economic assistance. Zelensky's classified briefing comes as Congress debates approving $60 billion in additional support for Kyiv. The Biden administration says prior aid packages totaling over $100 billion are nearly depleted, even as Ukraine fights to defend critical territory against Russian advances. With Republican skepticism growing over the price tag, the effort to pass the new Ukraine aid package faces uncertainty. Zelensky will make an urgent case that continued robust US assistance is vital for Ukraine's survival.

The Israeli military has launched a major new offensive in southern Gaza, with troops surrounding the city of Khan Younis, the army's chief of staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi announced Tuesday. Halevi said the IDF is now in the "third phase" of its Gaza ground invasion, aiming to capture Hamas strongholds after seizing territory in northern Gaza over the past two months. Intense urban warfare is underway in Khan Younis, as ground forces battle Hamas militants with heavy firepower. Halevi vowed to strike Hamas "above and below ground," including eliminating senior commanders. The offensive comes after a week-long truce ended, with hostilities also resuming with Hezbollah in the north. Halevi asserted the IDF has seen success against terror on all fronts.

The UK government introduced a 5-point immigration plan promising the largest-ever reduction after net migration hit an unprecedented peak of 745,000 in 2022. Home Secretary James Cleverly hiked the minimum salary for skilled foreign workers from 26,200 pounds to 38,700 pounds. He claimed 300,000 fewer people would now qualify to come, also raising family visa income requirements to 38,700 pounds. Cleverly told Parliament, migration "needs to come down" after "years of abuse" of health and care visas, asserting "Enough is enough." The new plan also aims to ban health and care workers from bringing family dependants, end the practice of paying workers below market rates, and review the graduate visa route to prevent misuse. The Conservative government faces immense pressure to curb arrivals after repeatedly vowing to cut immigration since 2010 and "take back border control" post-Brexit. With the issue shaping up as a key factor for the 2024 elections and Labour leading in opinion polls, PM Rishi Sunak insists on doing "what is necessary" to slash migrant inflows to redeem pledges. 

The US military said missile strikes hit 3 ships in the Red Sea as its destroyer USS Carney intercepted armed drones, calling it escalation tied to the Israel-Hamas war. US Central Command asserted the assaults "represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security." It stated the raids have "jeopardized the lives of international crews", adding: "We have every reason to believe...these attacks, while launched by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully enabled by Iran." Officials indicated the US would weigh "all appropriate responses" after its naval ship shot down UAVs endangering vessels following reported strikes in volatile regional waters roiled by attempts to leverage the conflict.

Indonesian rescuers have recovered the bodies of 11 hikers following the eruption of Mount Marapi in West Sumatra. The volcano, on the third-highest alert level, spewed a three-kilometer ash column, triggering evacuations. Three survivors were found, but 12 climbers remain missing. Abdul Malik, head of Padang Search and Rescue Agency told AFP that there were a total of 75 hikers on the mountain from Saturday. “There are 26 people who have not been evacuated, we have found 14 of them, three were found alive and 11 were found dead,” Malik detailed