BBC News : There has been a lull in hostilities in the Gaza Strip amid reports of a ceasefire mediated by Egypt. At least four Israelis and 23 Palestinians were killed in clashes over two days of worsening violence - the most intense in recent years. Unconfirmed reports from a Hamas TV station say a ceasefire was agreed between the two sides, but there has so far been no word from Israel. Parts of the international community, including the UN, had called for ...

BBC News : Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has appeared flanked by soldiers at an army base in Caracas, in a show of defiance towards his opponents. Mr Maduro called on the armed forces to defeat "any coup plotter", following two days of clashes between opposition and pro-government forces. Opposition leader Juan Guaidó tried on Wednesday to spark a military rebellion and force Mr Maduro from office. Mr Guaidó has urged public employees to strike to ...

The Guardian : Estonia’s new interior minister has called the country’s first female president, Kersti Kaljulaid, an “emotionally heated woman” for walking out during the swearing-in of a cabinet minister accused of domestic violence. Mart Helme made the sexist remark at a news conference where he also accused domestic news outlets of applying a double standard in covering abuse allegations against a former minister from his far-right party. President K...

The Guardian : Sri Lankan police have raided the headquarters of a hardline Islamist group founded by the suspected ringleader behind the Easter suicide bombings of churches and hotels. It comes as a ban on face coverings is due to come into force on Monday. Armed police in the town of Kattankudy searched the headquarters of the National Thawheed Jammath (NTJ) and detained one man at the premises, a Reuters reporter at the scene said. Police did not comment. O...