Egyptian and US mediators report signs of compromise but many analysts remain pessimisticMiddle East crisis – live updatesHopes of a ceasefire in Gaza rose on Saturday as a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo to continue indirect talks, with what is believed to be a response to a new proposal, reportedly agreed by Israel, to halt fighting for an initial...

Flood watch in effect through Sunday with evacuations in some areas as more rain forecast for already soaked regionThe Houston area was under threat of worsening flood conditions on Saturday, a day after heavy storms slammed the region – and authorities warned those in low-lying areas to evacuate ahead of an expected “catastrophic” surge of water the...

Last year’s deadly Maui wildfire revealed the extent of short-term rentals and their contribution to the state’s housing shortageHawaii lawmakers have voted to put limits on short-term rentals such as Airbnbs. On Friday, the governor, Josh Green, signed a bill that would give counties the power to regulate short-term rentals and even phase them out...

The results of mayoral elections in Greater Manchester, London and the West Midlands are among those expected on SaturdayLocal elections 2024: full council results for EnglandRishi Sunak is braced for the result of key mayoral elections in London and the West Midlands, after the Conservatives were trounced in the first day of local election results.As...

Government investigation into wartime atrocities on Channel Island will ask why Nazi perpetrators never stood trial in BritainThe government inquiry into Nazi wartime atrocities on the Channel Island of Alderney has been extended to investigate why none of the Nazi perpetrators responsible for the crimes was put on trial in Britain, the Observer can...

Court hears effects of 2021 leak, in which thousand of gallons of fuel seeped into drinking water supply from US navy storage tankMilitary and civilian families told a federal judge this week they continue to be sickened, more than two years after a US navy underground fuel storage facility leaked thousands of gallons of jet fuel into Pearl Harbor’s...