The United States entered a government shutdown yesterday with President Donald Trump and Democrats in an acrimonious stand-off and banking on the other side to blink first in what could be a prolonged crisis.

Intensified Israeli offensive yesterday killed at least 61 people across Gaza, as Hamas weighed US President Donald Trump’s plan to end nearly two years of war in the Palestinian territory.

Unrest over health and education reforms turns violent in Oujda and Inzegane

Rescue teams in the Philippines searched for survivors in mud and rubble yesterday and authorities urged help for hospitals inundated with the injured after the deadliest earthquake in more than a decade killed at least 69 people.

The United States will regard “any armed attack” on Qatari territory as a threat to Washington and will provide the Gulf Arab state with security guarantees, the White House said, after an Israeli strike on the country last month.

Mobile networks and the internet were restored across Afghanistan yesterday, 48 hours after the Taliban authorities shut down telecommunications.

A boat accident on the Niger River in southern Nigeria has killed at least 26 people, authorities in Kogi State said yesterday.

A flotilla carrying aid to war-battered Gaza yesterday said it would stay its course despite what it called “intimidation tactics” by the Israeli military.

Rescuers pulled two survivors from a collapsed school in Indonesia yesterday as frantic parents demanded rescuers speed up efforts to find dozens of children believed still trapped in the rubble two days on.

In presenting a Gaza plan as an ultimatum to Hamas, US President Donald Trump has turned the tables to give Israel the advantage diplomatically -- and an even freer rein on the ground if a deal fails.

Israel stopped at least 39 Gaza-bound aid boats, sparking international criticism

Qatar previously attacked by Iran without US response

Flotilla en route to Gaza accuses Israeli warships of intimidation

Those who remained would be considered 'terrorists and terrorist supporters', said Katz

Residents flee apartment building; no injuries reported, officials say

What happens now that Congress failed to strike a deal before funding expired at midnight?

The technology is still years away from potentially becoming available to aspiring parents

Analysts say proposal offers no guarantees for Palestinians and heavily favours Israel

The impending shutdown would differ from past government closures

This time, Democratic and Republican lawmakers did not approve a stopgap federal funding bill to keep the government running