THE GUARDIAN

Trump directs Pentagon to match Russia and China in nuclear weapons testing

US president makes threat after Russian nuclear-powered weapons tests and shortly before meeting with Chinese leader.

THE GUARDIAN

Israeli strikes in Gaza kill at least 104 overnight as ceasefire looks increasingly fragile

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza overnight killed at least 104 Palestinians, including children, in what appeared to be the gravest challenge yet to the increasingly fragile US-brokered ceasefire and the deadliest day since the truce began.

THE GUARDIAN

Palestinian factions say they agree to let independent technocrat committee run Gaza

The main Palestinian factions have said they have agreed that an independent committee of technocrats would take over the running of Gaza after Hamas said it had received “clear guarantees” from mediators that “the war has effectively ended”.

THE GUARDIAN

Turkey likely to be excluded from Gaza stabilisation force after Israeli objection

Turkey will probably be excluded from the 5,000-strong stabilisation force that is to be set up inside Gaza after Israel made clear it did not want Turkish troops taking part.

THE GUARDIAN

Pentagon chief announces another US military strike on alleged drug boat in Caribbean

The US has carried out another military strike against what it claimed was a vessel carrying illegal drugs in the Caribbean, killing six people onboard, the Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth, said.

THE GUARDIAN

Marco Rubio warns Israel not to annex West Bank after Knesset vote in favour

The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, on Wednesday warned Israel against annexing the West Bank, calling lawmakers’ preliminary vote to extend sovereignty in the occupied area and the surge in settler violence there a “threat to peace.”

THE GUARDIAN

Gaza ceasefire could lead to more Israeli alliances in Middle East, Vance says at Netanyahu meeting – as it happened

US vice-president JD Vance said on Wednesday that the Gaza ceasefire brokered by Washington could pave the way for broader alliances for Israel in the Middle East, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports.

THE GUARDIAN

Ecuador releases survivor of US strike on alleged drug-trafficking submarine

Ecuador has released a man who survived a US strike on a suspected drug-trafficking submarine, after finding no evidence that he had committed a crime, the attorney general’s office has said.