In a disturbing revelation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) uncovered a sniper rifle and ammunition cleverly hidden inside a teddy bear at a Gaza school. The 551st Division soldiers also found weaponry concealed in classrooms and United Nations bags at another educational facility. The IDF accused Hamas of endangering Gaza's children by using innocent-looking items to stash weapons. Meanwhile, in Shuja'iyya, a terrorist cell engaged by Israeli troops near a school met its end, revealing AK-47 rifles, grenades, and ammunition within classrooms. The Gaza Strip continues to face relentless airstrikes, raising concerns about the region's humanitarian crisis.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced an awkward moment before cameras while hosting Dutch PM Mark Rutte, as the two leaders got briefly locked out of 10 Downing Street. Viral footage shows Sunak welcoming Rutte for discussions on migration, Middle East and Ukraine, and posing for photos outside the PM's official residence. As they continued chatting, Sunak encountered errors with the door, forcing them to wait outside for custodians to open it. The incident sparked amusement online over the glitch at the British PM's iconic address. Sunak was hosting Rutte for wide-ranging talks on battling illegal migration, cooperating on Ukraine conflict, and issues like Rwanda deportation policy amid ongoing crises.

Harvard President Claudine Gay has publicly apologized for her response at a congressional hearing on antisemitism earlier this week. When asked if calls for genocide against Jews would violate Harvard's conduct code, Gay did not directly answer, saying it depends on "context." In an interview with The Harvard Crimson, Gay expressed regret for her failure to unambiguously state that such hate speech has no place at Harvard and will always be challenged. She admitted she "substantively failed" to convey the truth - that calls for violence against Jews are unacceptable. Gay faced criticism alongside presidents of UPenn and MIT for equivocating on whether threats against Jews violate rules on bullying and harassment. Her apology aims to reassure Jewish community members alarmed by her ambiguous stance.

The Biden administration has reportedly warned Israel to conclude its military war against Hamas in Gaza by end of 2023. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken conveyed to Israel that it does not have indefinite leeway to continue the months-long offensive. However, Israel has defied and dismissed previous US requests regarding the conflict. An Israeli official stated they will do "what we need to do to reach decisive victory" regardless of US opposition. The US is also concerned that rising Israel-Hezbollah tensions along the Lebanese border could expand the war and draw in Iran. But Israel's defense minister has signaled intentions to address Hezbollah as well.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his intention to stay in power for at least six more years. He made the declaration at a Kremlin ceremony honoring soldiers fighting in Ukraine. Putin awarded the 'Hero of Russia' medal to troops and families of fallen soldiers. A lieutenant colonel born in Ukraine pledged allegiance, saying "Russia needs you." In response, Putin confirmed "I will run for the post of president" in the next election. He expressed conviction that together they will achieve their goals, signaling lengthy continuation of his leadership amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

The Israel-Hamas war enters its third month, with Israel intensifying its ground assault in central and south Gaza. Israeli forces bomb a family home in Khan Younis, resulting in 10 casualties. In a separate incident, Israeli troops attempt to free hostages in Gaza, leading to clashes with militants. Meanwhile, three Hezbollah terrorists and a Syrian are killed in an alleged Israeli drone strike in southern Syria. The Biden administration seeks congressional approval for the sale of 45,000 shells for Israel's tanks amid growing concerns about the humanitarian impact of the conflict. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas calls for an immediate end to the war.

BBC anchor Maryam Moshiri issued an apology after a video of her flashing a middle finger gesture went viral. The incident occurred right before she went live for the 12pm bulletin. In the clip, a smiling Moshiri is seen holding up her middle finger as the broadcast switches on, before instantly assuming a professional demeanor to anchor the news. She later explained she was joking around by counting down to the broadcast using hand gestures for the director. At "one" she turned her finger without realizing she was on-air. Moshiri called it a "private joke with the team" not intended for viewers. The embarrassing gaffe put the media organization's professional standards under scrutiny while amusing many online.

The United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution had support from 13 out of 15 members, but was opposed by the US and Israel. US Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood argued the resolution would allow Hamas to continue ruling Gaza and perpetuate future conflicts. Most other countries and the UN Secretary-General urged an urgent ceasefire to protect civilians, though Israel demanded the return of hostages first. Hamas condemned the US veto as unethical support for killing Palestinians.

The Palestinian Authority is reportedly working with U.S. officials on a plan to administer Gaza after the conflict, according to Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. The desired outcome is for Hamas, currently in control of Gaza, to become a junior partner under the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), contributing to the establishment of an independent state encompassing the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. Shtayyeh emphasizes the need for Palestinian unity and dismisses Israel's goal of completely defeating Hamas as unrealistic. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu counters, asserting that the Palestinian Authority is not the solution. The conflict has resulted in over 17,170 Palestinian casualties.    

Speaking Thursday in the House of Lords, the Archbishop of Canterbury criticized new UK visa rules requiring Britons earn £38,700 to bring foreign spouses or dependents, which take effect next spring. The rules aim to cut migration after it reached record highs last year. “There is a cost to be paid in terms of the negative impact this will have on married and family relationships,” the Archbishop said, arguing that “a lack of strong families undermines our whole society.” He contended the government “must not set a series of hurdles” for families. The rules have drawn criticism from some Conservatives and Labour, who say it unfairly targets Britons who fall in love with foreign partners, especially those with lower incomes.