UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak received his first formal call to stand down on Tuesday in a no-confidence letter from Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns. The letter comes a day after Sunak sacked Home Secretary Suella Braverman in a cabinet reshuffle, drawing backlash from some Conservatives. Jenkyns slammed Sunak for ousting "the only person in the cabinet with the balls to speak the truth" on issues like crime. She urged Sunak's replacement with a "real Conservative leader." 15% of Tory MPs submitting no-confidence letters would trigger a vote on Sunak’s leadership. Jenkyns expressed hopes her colleagues would follow suit, as Sunak faces rising dissent within his party over the cabinet shakeup.

As the conflict escalates between Israeli forces and Hamas, Al-Shifa Hospital emerges as a critical point of concern. Despite heavy fighting prompting evacuations, hundreds remain trapped inside, warns Palestinian health officials. President Biden calls for Israeli restraint at Gaza's main hospital. Meanwhile, IDF advances deepen into Gaza, capturing the parliament building. Hamas proposes releasing 70 hostages for a five-day truce, demanding a halt in hostilities and aid distribution. Al-Shifa Hospital, without power for three days, faces a dire humanitarian crisis, with 32 deaths reported. The IDF alleges Hamas weapon storage beneath a Gaza hospital, intensifying the complex situation.

A strong 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sri Lanka on Tuesday afternoon. The quake occurred around 12:31 pm IST, with an epicenter located 1,326 km southeast of the capital Colombo. Tremors were felt across parts of Sri Lanka, including in Colombo. According to the National Center for Seismology, the earthquake struck at a depth of 10 km in the Indian Ocean. There have been no immediate reports of casualties or major damage. Authorities are assessing the impact of the seismic activity. [ photo courtesy: NCS_Earthquake/X ]

The Israeli military has accused Palestinian militant group Hamas of storing weapons and holding hostages in the basement of a children's hospital in Gaza. In a video released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), spokespeople alleged that Hamas converted parts of al-Rantissi pediatric hospital into a "command center" with an armory of explosives. The IDF claims to have found evidence of hostages and says the hospital's tunnel system led to a senior Hamas commander's home. Hamas has denied the allegations. With over 11,000 Gazans killed in recent fighting, Israel's claims have prompted outrage from Palestinian groups and calls from the UN to avoid targeting healthcare facilities. [ photo courtesy: screengrab from IDF/X ]

Storm Debi lashes the UK with relentless rain and powerful gales, prompting a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms in southeast and southwest England. Multiple "danger to life" alerts disrupt normalcy, causing road closures and transport chaos. Northern Ireland experiences gusts up to 74mph, resulting in high winds and heavy rain. The aviation sector bears the brunt, with British Airways canceling 50 flights, and rail networks face severe disruptions. Recovery efforts are underway in Ireland after widespread flooding. Authorities emphasize checking weather updates and preparing for potential damage as Storm Debi's impact unfolds across the nation.    

The Israel Defense Forces said it discovered "dozens of weapons and military devices" in underwater searches by its navy off Gaza. The IDF said the Hamas weapons found included explosive devices, belts, ammunition, boats, and more. The report is unverified. In Gaza, a UN minute of silence honored 101 staff killed in the conflict. A Hamas health ministry spokesman said an Israeli tank has reached the al-Shifa hospital gate as fighting intensifies nearby. Israel alleges a Hamas base under the hospital, which Hamas denies. With the hospital lacking fuel, 32 patients have died in 3 days, Hamas health officials said. Israel claimed to have left 300 liters of fuel near the hospital, but Hamas refused it. As conflict rages, Israel cites a weapons haul while Gaza hospitals continue to struggle.

The Hamas terror group had more ambitious plans beyond its October 7 onslaught, seeking to spark a broader war, a Washington Post report says. Officials found maps suggesting Hamas wanted to reach the West Bank and larger Israeli cities with the brutal incursion. Terrorists had supplies for deeper, days-long attacks. "They planned a second phase, including in major Israeli cities," an Israeli official said. The findings also shed new light on the tactics and methods used by Hamas to deceive Israel’s vaunted intelligence establishment and thwart initial efforts by the Israel Defense Forces to stop the attack. The goal was a symbolic blow against Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Hamas murdered 1,200 civilians on October 7 and abducted 240. But its plans for havoc went further, aiming to unleash chaos deep inside Israel. [Image Courtesy: Reuters]

Roads are closed and public transport disrupted in Northern Ireland as Storm Debi made landfall. Police urged people to avoid travel. Amber and yellow alerts are in place for wind and rain. About 3,000 homes lost power, mainly in Craigavon, Newry and Downpatrick. In the Republic of Ireland, 100,000 homes and businesses have no power as Debi peaks. Roads are shut in Ballymena due to fallen trees, and a landslip occurred on the A2 in Glenarm. Translink said Lisburn bus station is closed with delays on buses and trains. The Met Office warns of flooding risks just weeks after previous storm flooding. Northern Ireland is being hammered by Storm Debi with widespread power outages, road closures, and transportation disruption.

In a historic and unexpected move, former British Prime Minister David Cameron has been appointed Foreign Secretary by PM Rishi Sunak. Cameron, who resigned as an MP in 2016, has been made a life peer by the King to enable his dramatic Cabinet comeback. Downing Street announced Cameron's surprise return to frontline politics, despite not currently being an elected politician. It is only the second time since WWII that an ex-PM has come back to government. Ministers typically require Lords membership for accountability. Cameron was spotted entering No 10 as the reshuffle began. His appointment as Foreign Sec represents a remarkable political revival for the former Conservative leader.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has appointed James Cleverly as the new Home Secretary, sacking Suella Braverman as part of a cabinet reshuffle. Cleverly's appointment comes two days before a Supreme Court ruling on the Rwanda deportation policy Braverman championed. This summer, Cleverly had publicly appealed to remain as Foreign Secretary. The reshuffle is seen as Sunak's attempt to reset his premiership after criticism he was not "bold enough" since becoming PM. Braverman's exit follows a rocky tenure as Home Secretary. The shake-up comes just days before the autumn budget statement. Sunak has moved swiftly to put his stamp on government, installing ally James Cleverly at the Home Office after firing Suella Braverman.