The US Senate on Monday confirmed Charles Kushner, father of President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and the recipient of a presidential pardon after his conviction for witness tampering and tax evasion, to be ambassador to France.

As Israel intensified its offensive in Gaza to take “total control” of the Palestinian territory, some of its closest allies, including the United States, might be threatening to withdraw their support from Jerusalem in the face of mass starvation.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has pledged to keep tariff-free access for Pacific Island goods, after Fiji was hit by a 32% US tariff, in a speech positioning Australia as a reliable partner to the region amid global aid cuts.