Category: 2. World

Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has risked inflaming religious tensions by reportedly praying at the Al Aqsa mosque site in Jerusalem.

The compound sits atop the Temple Mount, which is considered holy in Islam, Judaism and Christianity, has been a flashpoint during the Israel-Hamas war.

In this story, Sky News looks at why the security minister is so inflammatory – and why his actions at Al Aqsa are so controversial.

Who is Itamar Ben-Gvir?

Viewed as a hardline extremist by many, Itamar Ben-Gvir is a powerful figure in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Burly, bespectacled and rough-spoken, the 49-year-old appeals to a pro-settler, nationalist-religious constituency behind his Jewish Power party.

Mr Ben-Gvir has been convicted eight times for offences that include racism and supporting a terrorist organisation. He was banned from compulsory military service by the army when he was a teen, which deemed his views too extreme.

During the 2022 election campaign, he was photographed brandishing a gun at Palestinian demonstrators in East Jerusalem.

In government, Mr Ben-Gvir and fellow hardliner, finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, have repeatedly clashed with Mr Netanyahu and criticised peace efforts.

The pair threatened to quit last year – thereby collapsing the governing coalition – if the prime minister agreed to a ceasefire deal before Hamas was destroyed.

Mr Ben-Gvir has also called for Israel to conquer all of Gaza.

What is the Al Aqsa compound – and why is it so important?

Al Aqsa is a compound of Islamic religious buildings on top of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Among them is the Dome of the Rock shrine, the oldest surviving work of Islamic architecture, with a distinctive golden dome structure that looks out over the city.

The compound is the third holiest site in Islam and the most sacred site in Judaism.

Under a delicate decades-old “status quo” arrangement with Muslim authorities, the site is administered by a Jordanian religious foundation, and Jews can visit but may not pray there.

Suggestions that Israel could alter the rules at the compound have sparked outrage in the Muslim world before and ignited violence in the past. There were no immediate reports of violence on Sunday.

Read more:
Hamas ‘ready’ to receive aid for Israeli hostages
New US plan for Gaza starting to emerge

What happened when Itamar Ben-Gvir visited Al Aqsa?

Mr Ben-Gvir visited the site on Sunday and reportedly prayed there – challenging the rules.

Videos released by a small Jewish organisation called the Temple Mount Administration showed him leading a group walking in the compound. Other videos circulating online appeared to show him praying.

The Waqf, the foundation that administers the complex, said Mr Ben-Gvir was among 1,250 who ascended the site and who it said prayed, danced and shouted.

In a statement on social media alongside a video appearing to show him outside the Dome of the Rock, he reiterated his call for Israel to occupy all of Gaza and declare sovereignty.

“Only in this way will we return the kidnapped and win the war,” he wrote.

A spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Mr Ben-Gvir’s visit, which he said “crossed all red lines”.

“The international community, specifically the US administration, is required to intervene immediately to put an end to the crimes of the settlers and the provocations of the extreme right-wing government in Al Aqsa mosque, stop the war on the Gaza Strip and bring in humanitarian aid,” Nabil Abu Rudeineh said in a statement.

Mr Netanyahu said after Mr Ben-Gvir’s visit that Israel’s policy of maintaining the status quo at the compound “has not changed and will not change”.

Russia urged caution on Monday after United States President Donald Trump said he would deploy two nuclear submarines following an online row with former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev.

Trump said he had ordered the deployment in response to what he alleged were highly provocative comments by Medvedev, saying the submarines would be positioned in “appropriate regions”.

Trump did not say whether he meant nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines. He also did not elaborate on the locations, which are kept secret by the US military.

“Russia is very attentive to the topic of nuclear non-proliferation. And we believe that everyone should be very, very cautious with nuclear rhetoric,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, including from AFP, on Monday.

The row between Medvedev and Trump erupted against the backdrop of the US leader’s ultimatum for Russia to end its military offensive in Ukraine or face fresh economic sanctions, including on its remaining trading partners.

Medvedev — one of Russia’s most prominent anti-Western hawks — accused Trump of “playing the ultimatum game” and said that Trump “should remember” that Russia was a formidable force.

“Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country,” he said.

Medvedev, who has not posted on social media since the spat, is currently the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council. He served one term as president from 2008 to 2012, effectively acting as a placeholder for Putin, who was able to circumvent constitutional term limits and de facto remain in power.

The chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday backed Trump’s actions.

“The concept of peace through strength works,” Andriy Yermak wrote on social media.

“The moment American nuclear submarines appeared, one Russian drunk — who had just been threatening nuclear war on X — suddenly went silent.”

Investments Through 2030 to Catalyze Innovation in Maternal, Menstrual, Gynecological, and Sexual Health for Women Globally

SEATTLE (August 4, 2025) – The Gates Foundation today announced a $2.5 billion commitment through 2030 to accelerate research and development (R&D) focused exclusively on women’s health. It will support the advancement of more than 40 innovations in five critical, chronically underfunded areas—particularly those affecting women in low- and middle-income countries.

“For too long, women have suffered from health conditions that are misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or ignored,” said Dr. Anita Zaidi, president of the Gates Foundation’s Gender Equality Division. “We want this investment to spark a new era of women-centered innovation—one where women’s lives, bodies, and voices are prioritized in health R&D.”

Women’s health R&D remains chronically underfunded. Areas such as gynecological and menstrual health, obstetric care, contraceptive innovation, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) solutions (including HIV PrEP for women), and maternal health and nutrition receive limited investment. According to a 2021 analysis, led by McKinsey & Company, just 1% of healthcare research and innovation is invested in female-specific conditions beyond oncology. Critical issues like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis, and menopause, which together affect hundreds of million women, remain deeply under-researched.

“Investing in women’s health has a lasting impact across generations. It leads to healthier families, stronger economies, and a more just world,” said Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation. “Yet women’s health continues to be ignored, underfunded, and sidelined. Too many women still die from preventable causes or live in poor health. That must change. But we can’t do it alone.”

To close persistent gaps in funding and research, the foundation is urging governments, philanthropists, investors, and the private sector to co-invest in women’s health innovations, help shape product development, and ensure access to treatments for the women and girls who need them most.

“This is the largest investment we’ve ever made in women’s health research and development, but it still falls far short of what is needed in a neglected and underfunded area of huge human need and opportunity,” said Zaidi. “Women’s health is not just a philanthropic cause—it’s an investable opportunity with immense potential for scientific breakthroughs that could help millions of women. What’s needed is the will to pursue and follow through.”

The foundation’s investment will advance innovation across five high-impact areas of a woman’s lifespan:

• Obstetric care and maternal immunization: Making pregnancy and delivery safer
• Maternal health and nutrition: Supporting healthier pregnancies and newborns
• Gynecological and menstrual health: Advancing tools and research to better diagnose, treat, and improve gynecological health and reduce infection risk
• Contraceptive innovation: Offering more accessible, acceptable, and effective options
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): Improving diagnosis and treatment to reduce disproportionate burdens on women

Areas of breakthrough potential include research into the vaginal microbiome, first-in-class therapeutics for preeclampsia, and non-hormonal contraception. Included in the commitment are investments that will support data generation and advocacy to help ensure product uptake and impact upon approval.

The five priority areas were selected based on a combination of data and evidence about where innovation can save and improve the most lives, direct insights from women in low- and middle-income countries about their needs and preferences, and the persistently high rates of misdiagnosis caused by gaps in medical knowledge and training. They also reflect the unique challenges faced in low-resource settings, making these areas especially ripe for broader public and private investment to drive meaningful, scalable impact.

“We see the consequences of underinvestment in women’s health innovation every day when women suffer needlessly, and sometimes lose their lives, because of the gaps in how we understand and treat conditions that uniquely affect them,” said Dr. Bosede Afolabi, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos. “This commitment brings much-needed attention to the health challenges women face in places where resources are most limited and the burden is highest. It reflects a recognition that women’s lives—and the innovations that support them—must be prioritized everywhere.”

By addressing long-standing gaps in women’s health, the investment aims to unlock broader social and economic gains. Research shows that every $1 invested in women’s health yields $3 in economic growth, and closing the gender health gap could boost the global economy by $1 trillion per year by 2040.

This work supports the foundation’s long-term goals through 2045: helping to end preventable deaths of moms and babies; ensuring the next generation grows up without having to suffer from deadly infectious diseases; and lifting millions of people out of poverty, putting them on a path to prosperity. It builds on a 25-year legacy of advancing maternal and child health and supporting women’s empowerment globally. The R&D commitment complements the foundation’s work supporting the scale-up and delivery of women’s health commodities, vaccines such as the HPV vaccine, and child health.

About the Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, we work with partners to create impactful solutions so that people can take charge of their futures and achieve their full potential. In the United States, we aim to ensure that everyone—especially those with the fewest resources—has access to the opportunities needed to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Bill Gates and our governing board.

Media contact: [email protected]

Additional materials are available here: Women’s Health Innovation Materials

Sudanese paramilitary fighters have killed at least 14 civilians trying to flee a besieged city in Darfur, a rights group said Monday, more than 27 months into their war against the army.

The Emergency Lawyers, which documents atrocities in the war between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese army, said that “dozens more were injured and an unknown number of civilians detained” in the paramilitary attack on Saturday on the outskirts of El-Fasher city, in the western Darfur region.

The RSF has in recent days launched its latest attack on El-Fasher, the North Darfur state capital which it has besieged since May 2024 but has been unable to seize from the hands of the army.

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Just two days before Saturday’s attack, the RSF’s political administration urged residents to evacuate to Qarni village, where the Emergency Lawyers says the civilians were killed.

“I call on you to leave El-Fasher and head to Qarni, the northwest gate of the city, where our forces and the Tasis alliance forces are located and will ensure your safety,” the RSF-appointed Darfur governor Al-Hadi Idris said in a video address on Thursday.

Tasis is an RSF-led political alliance which late last month named leaders of a government based in South Darfur state capital Nyala.

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The UN has repeatedly warned of the plight of hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in El-Fasher with virtually no aid or services.

Families have survived on animal feed, a shortage of which was announced last week.

Since April 2023, the war between the army and the RSF has killed tens of thousands, torn the country apart, and created what the UN has called the world’s largest hunger and displacement crises.

If the RSF captures El-Fasher, it will control all of Sudan’s vast western region of Darfur and, along with its allies, much of the country’s south.

By Nathan Morley

Thousands of Palestinians have rallied across several West Bank cities Sunday, protesting Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza and restrictions on aid deliveries that have fuelled widespread hunger in the enclave.

In central Ramallah, demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and held photos of malnourished victims from Gaza, where health officials said six more people died of starvation and related illnesses, bringing the death toll to 175, including 93 children.

The Hamas-run media office reported that more than 22,000 aid trucks—mostly from the United Nations and international organizations—remain stalled at Gaza’s border crossings.

Jordan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates said they delivered additional humanitarian assistance Sunday. Jordan’s military said it completed seven joint airdrop missions, delivering 61 tons of food and supplies in coordination with international partners.

Meanwhile, Western leaders condemned recent videos showing emaciated Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The Red Cross renewed calls for access to those still in captivity. The footage included images of Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David, both visibly malnourished and distressed.

Israeli officials accused Hamas of deliberately starving hostages.

Negotiations on a hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza appear to be at an impasse, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaning towards expanded military operations and Hamas demanding the humanitarian situation be addressed before it returns to talks.

Netanyahu will urge a meeting of the security cabinet on Tuesday to support the full “conquest of the Strip” according to reports in Israeli media that were described as accurate by a source familiar with the matter.

Israel’s Ynet cited senior officials close to Netanyahu as saying: “The die is cast – we’re going for full conquest. If the Chief of Staff doesn’t agree – he should resign.”

The source told CNN that the defense establishment opposes an expansion of ground operations in areas where the hostages are believed to be held, as it would risk putting them in harm’s way.

The report was criticized by a group of mothers of Israeli soldiers, saying it would be fatal for both hostages and soldiers. The Palestinian Authority called on the international community to intervene.

Asked about plans to widen the military campaign, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Monday it reflected “a wish to see all the hostages come back, and the wish to see the end of this war after the talks for a partial deal were not successful.”

It’s unclear whether the Israeli government’s approach is in line with that of US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

Witkoff spent three hours with the families of Israeli hostages on Saturday, and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum quoted him as saying that the plan “is not to expand the war but to end it. We think the negotiations should be changed to all or nothing. End the war and bring all 50 hostages home at the same time – that’s the only way.”

“We have a plan to end the war and bring everyone home,” Witkoff reportedly added. “Someone will be to blame” if the remaining living hostages do not return to Israel still alive, he said, according to the forum.

When asked, Witkoff’s team did not offer any further information on the special envoy’s comments.

Trump said Sunday that Witkoff would likely be traveling to Moscow later in the week.

Fifty hostages remain in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. There was widespread shock in Israel at the release of images by Hamas at the weekend of two of the hostages – Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski – looking weak and emaciated.

Netanyahu said the images demonstrated that Hamas “don’t want a deal. They want to break us with these horrifying videos, with the false horror propaganda they’re spreading around the world.”

However, the families forum warned the government against expanding the military campaign in Gaza.

“Netanyahu is preparing the greatest deception of all. The repeated claims of freeing hostages through military victory are a lie and a public fraud,” the forum said Sunday.

The forum called on Israel and Hamas to commit to bringing “the 50 hostages home, ending the war, and then rebuilding and reviving Israel,” the statement said.

Hamas has insisted it is committed to negotiations but only when “the catastrophic humanitarian situation” is addressed, according to Basem Naim, a senior Hamas political official.

Another Hamas official, Mahmoud Mardawi, told CNN last week there was “no point” in continuing talks as long as Gaza’s starvation crisis persists.

Hunger-related deaths in Gaza spiked in July, the World Health Organization said last week. Malnutrition rates reached “alarming levels,” with more than 5,000 children under five admitted for outpatient treatment of malnutrition in just the first two weeks of July, WHO said.

The Hamas-controlled Government Media Office in Gaza said Monday that 600 truckloads of aid were needed every day to alleviate the hunger crisis and claimed that in the past week an average of 84 trucks a day had entered the territory.

COGAT, the Israeli agency supervising the delivery of aid into Gaza, said Monday that more than 200 trucks were collected and distributed by the UN and international organizations on Sunday.

But many of the trucks that do get in are looted, either by desperate civilians or organized gangs.

The United Nations said on Friday that nearly 1,400 people have been killed since the end of May while seeking food; 859 in the vicinity of sites run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and 514 along the routes of food convoys.

The UN said that “most of the killings were committed by the Israeli military.”

Thirty people were killed on Sunday while trying to get food, 19 of them in the north and 11 in the vicinity of an aid site run by the GHF in Rafah, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

CNN has reached out to the Israeli military for comment.

Opinion polls in Israel have consistently shown a large majority in favor of ending the conflict in Gaza and securing the release of the hostages. A new survey by the Institute for National Security Studies found that 38% of Israeli Jews thought it was not possible to disarm Hamas; 57% thought it was possible.

On Monday, hundreds of retired Israeli security officials urged Trump to pressure Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza.

“It is our professional judgement that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel,” the former officials wrote in an open letter shared with the media on Monday.

“At first this war was a just war, a defensive war, but when we achieved all military objectives, this war ceased to be a just war,” said Ami Ayalon, former director of the Shin Bet security service.

But far-right members of the government are pushing for the occupation of much of Gaza and measures to encourage its population to leave the territory altogether.

Witnesses in the trial of Bangladesh’s fugitive ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday detailed horrific violence and denial of medical treatment, speaking on the eve of the anniversary of her ouster.

Hasina, 77, fled Bangladesh by helicopter on August 5, 2024, after weeks of student-led protests against her autocratic rule.

She has defied court orders to return from India to attend her trial on charges amounting to crimes against humanity, over the deadly crackdown on the uprising.

Up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024, according to the United Nations.

Philosophy student Abdullah Al Imran, 25, said his left leg had been blasted “wide open” by gunshot during the protests, describing how it had been left “barely attached to the rest of my body by a thin layer of skin”.

Imran told the court how, when Hasina visited the hospital ward where he was recovering, he told her he had been shot by the police.

He said he overheard Hasina give the order of “no release, no treatment”, referring to injured protesters.

“I didn’t understand the meaning of the order at first, but later I did — as my surgery was repeatedly delayed,” Imran said, adding he was not given the right antibiotics, and his parents were blocked from moving him to a private hospital.

“My leg started to rot,” he said, and showed the court his still bandaged leg. “People couldn’t stand the stench coming from it.”

Prosecutors have filed five charges against Hasina — including failure to prevent mass murder — which amount to crimes against humanity under Bangladeshi law.

Hasina is on trial in absentia alongside two other accused, her former interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, also a fugitive, and ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who is in custody and has pleaded guilty.

Hasina is defended by a state-appointed lawyer, but she has refused to accept the authority of the court.

Another witness on Monday described how she was blinded in one eye when police fired at close range, the third to give evidence detailing the brutality of the crackdown.

The trial continues, although no hearing will be held on Tuesday, which has been declared a public holiday to mark the one-year anniversary of Hasina’s downfall.

Muhammad Yunus, the 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner leading the caretaker government, is due to release a slate of democratic overhauls.

Chevening Scholarships and Fellowships offer full financial support to pursue a one-year master’s at any UK university or a specialised professional development course at a specific university, respectively.

Chevening Scholarships are open to Indian citizens with a minimum of two years’ work experience, acquired after the completion of their undergraduate degree. Chevening Fellowships are intensive 8-12 weeks-long programmes hosted at top UK institutions and designed for mid-to-senior level professionals. These fellowships offer a multidisciplinary approach through lectures, workshops, site visits and engagement with sector experts.

The Chevening programme in India is the largest in the world, benefiting over 3,900 scholars and fellows since 1983, demonstrating the UK’s commitment to developing the leaders of tomorrow. Chevening alumni use their world-class education and global networks gained in the UK to create meaningful, lasting change when they return home, whether by tackling global challenges or making a tangible impact in their own communities.

Christina Scott, Acting British High Commissioner to India said:

Chevening awards are highly competitive and extremely rewarding. They open endless possibilities for individuals with demonstrable potential to become future leaders and decision-makers. As I’ve travelled around India, I’ve met inspiring Chevening alumni transforming their communities, developing policies for their states, building innovative businesses, and shaping opinions across political, media and cultural spheres.

It is wonderful to see so many Indian nationals from smaller towns and remote states getting the opportunity to pursue their academic dreams in the UK through Chevening. I encourage people from all corners of India to apply for these scholarships and fellowships.

Chevening in India is supported by a wide range of government and industry partners, reflecting a shared commitment to nurturing future leaders. State government partners include Jharkhand, Nagaland, Karnataka and Uttarakhand.

Additional scholarships are given with the support of corporate partners like the Adani Group and TVS Motors. These partnerships help ensure that Chevening continues to reach diverse talent across India, including increasing representation from marginalised communities, tier 2 and tier 3 cities, and maintaining equal representation of female and male scholars.

Further information

• for detailed information on eligibility criteria and to apply, visit chevening.org

• before applying, candidates are strongly encouraged to review the resources available at chevening.org/guidance and assess whether they are ready to present a competitive application

• Chevening was launched in 1983 and has developed into a prestigious international awards scheme. Chevening Scholars and Fellows come from over 160 countries and territories worldwide. There are over 60,000 Chevening alumni around the world who comprise an influential and highly regarded global network

• Chevening alumni in India include Amitabh Kant, former G20 Sherpa and NITI Aayog CEO; Minister Anupriya Patel; Parliamentarian Supriya Sule; TV Narendran, Managing Director Tata Steel

• over 60% of scholars from the 2025 Chevening cohort hail from tier 2 and 3 cities, with a significant number being first-generation learners. All Chevening programmes maintain gender parity, ensuring inclusive representation of women

The following Chevening Fellowships are open to applicants from India:

• Chevening Cyber Security Fellowship: Delivered at Cranfield University, this programme supports professionals in cyber policy and security from government, law enforcement, academia, and industry

• Chevening Gurukul Fellowship for Leadership and Excellence: Hosted at the University of Oxford, this flagship programme develops future changemakers from across sectors including government, civil society, media, and business

• Chevening Science and Innovation Leadership Fellowship: Delivered at University of Oxford, this programme brings together professionals in science, technology, innovation, and public policy

• Chevening South Asia Journalism Fellowship: Delivered at the University of Westminster, this fellowship is tailored for journalists from South Asia, including India, working in political, economic, and business reporting

Media queries: BHCMediaDelhi@fcdo.gov.uk