UK PM Rishi Sunak faces internal turmoil as Tory Rightwingers, led by Suella Braverman, challenge the Rwanda immigration plan. Sunak defends the policy, cautioning that going further risks the entire deal. "We have set the bar so high that it will be vanishingly rare for anyone to meet it," he asserts. Braverman presses for excluding international law to halt boat crossings, emphasizing the urgency: "We can't keep failing the British people." Former Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel urges a robust treaty to curb illegal migration. Veteran MP Sir Christopher Chope demands a stronger bill, believing small boats can only be stopped by leaving the European Convention on Human Rights. The Safety of Rwanda Bill, granting powers to disregard parts of the Human Rights Act, intensifies a Conservative party rift.

A BBC news anchor was caught showing her middle finger during a live broadcast on Wednesday. Video shows presenter Maryam Moshiri giving the obscene middle finger gesture at the camera just as she appears on-screen to begin delivering the day's news headlines. Quickly realizing she is live on-air, Moshiri pulls her hand away and starts reading the news, though she stumbles over her words in an apparent sign of embarrassment. Moshiri later apologized, explaining she was joking around with studio crew, pretending to count down to the broadcast with hand signals when she accidentally flipped the middle finger not realizing she was live. The cringeworthy gaffe comes a few years after another BBC presenter was famously caught flashing the middle finger on-air before realizing he was live.

In Gaza's Khan Younis, Israeli ground forces scoured for the suspected mastermind of October's bloody attacks, Hamas's Yahya Al-Sinwar. Troops located tunnels and destroyed buildings as the military said Sinwar's house was now encircled.  PM Netanyahu asserted in a video: "His house may not be his fortress and he can escape but it's only a matter of time before we get him." Israel's Army, Air Force, and Navy have all launched an offensive in South Gaza forcing thousands of displaced civilians to seek shelter on the border and in a desolate seaside area of the besieged enclave. The IDF announced targeted raids killed several Hamas militants amid the intense street-to-street search. Naval forces struck alleged bases as thousands sheltered near Gaza's border, fleeing Israel's escalating bombardment and hunting down Hamas figures on the "most intense day since the beginning of the ground operation,"

Senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has appealed to Pakistan for assistance in the prolonged Israel-Hamas war during a dialogue in Islamabad. Haniyeh praised Pakistan as "brave" and expressed hope that its support could curb Israel's alleged atrocities. He accused Israel of violating international terms and criticized nations maintaining diplomatic ties with Israel. Haniyeh emphasized Palestinians' expectations from Pakistan, labeling Jews as the "biggest enemies" of Muslims. As the conflict reaches its two-month mark, international leaders urge a Gaza ceasefire, while Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu rejects talks, vowing to eliminate Hamas.

The fourth Republican Presidential Debate, hosted by News Nation in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, witnessed a dynamic face-off. Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy emerged as a central figure, leading in speaking time alongside Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley faced tough criticism for her corporate affiliations, with opponents questioning her track record. A heated exchange between Ramaswamy and Chris Christie unfolded over Ukraine war positions. The debate also delved into topics like sending US troops to Gaza, with Christie challenging opponents on their reluctance to discuss former President Donald Trump. Ramaswamy's assertive performance showcased the intensifying competition within the Republican field.              

Amid Israel's 60-day offensive in Gaza, the focus has shifted to Khan Younis as Israeli forces target it as Hamas's stronghold. The southern city, home to about 400,000 people, is now depicted as the key center for Hamas's leadership, including Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif. The IDF aims to catch or eliminate senior Hamas figures, expanding operations in the south. Despite extensive destruction, the top leadership remains elusive. The intensified assault raises concerns for civilians, with evacuation orders shrinking safe areas. The conflict continues to inflict pain and fear, prompting UN warnings about the lack of safety in Gaza.

The British government's plan to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda suffered a major setback Wednesday when immigration minister Robert Jenrick resigned from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's cabinet. Jenrick quit over an emergency bill introduced by Sunak to overcome a Supreme Court ruling that blocked earlier deportation attempts. The new legislation aims to give ministers power to ignore human rights laws and European court injunctions to pave the way for deportation flights expected next spring. But Jenrick said the bill doesn't go far enough, while others warned it could face more legal fights. The controversial policy is a centerpiece of Sunak's approach to deterring a surge in migrants crossing the English Channel.

Families escorted out of the Covid-19 Inquiry dismissed Boris Johnson's apology, describing it as a "slap in the face" amidst the Partygate scandal. During the inquiry, Johnson admitted to "inevitable" mistakes and stated "Can I just say how glad I am to be at this inquiry and how sorry I am for the pain and the loss and the suffering of the Covid victims," before he was cut short by disruptions from bereaved individuals. Kathryn Butcher, whose sister-in-law died in March 2020, rejected the apology, stating, "It's been insult after insult. I didn't want an apology, it's meaningless." Johnson faces a two-day grilling defending government decisions and addressing allegations of prioritizing economic concerns over tough restrictions. Butcher asserted "The behaviour of the government since the start of this pandemic, despite making mistake after mistake after mistake, just continued, and then we get slapped in the face with Partygate." 

In an exceptional step, UN Secretary-General Guterres invoked Article 99 to compel the Security Council to address Gaza ceasefire demands. The UN chief wrote on X: "I've just invoked Art.99 of the UN Charter - for the 1st time in my tenure as Secretary-General. Facing a severe risk of collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza, I urge the Council to help avert a humanitarian catastrophe & appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire to be declared." UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric revealed Guterres activated the rarely used UN Charter provision given the "scale of loss of human life" enabling him to flag "any matter threatening international peace." Describing it a “dramatic constitutional move”, Dujarric expressed hopes to spur ceasefire pressure internationally, calling it "arguably the most important invocation" and the chief's "most powerful tool”. Meanwhile, Hamas leaders asserted “no negotiations” without Israeli offensive halting even as 16,248 Palestinians and around 1,200 Israelis have died in the war since October 7.

Suella Braverman, recently sacked as Home Secretary, told PM Rishi Sunak that the Conservative Party faces "electoral oblivion" if he does not urgently tackle illegal immigration. In her first Commons speech since being fired, Braverman demanded that Sunak enforce controversial plans to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda. She warned that migrant numbers are overwhelming public services and endangering national security. Braverman admitted she may have used insensitive language in the past but said she refuses to stand by while the government fails to control borders. She claimed human rights laws have obstructed the Rwanda policy from starting and insisted any new legislation must enable deportation flights before the next election. Braverman told Sunak it is "now or never" for the Tories to curb immigration or face extinction at the hands of voters.