An Australian couple deny abandoning a baby born with Down's syndrome to a surrogate in Thailand and say they will fight to get him back.

Israel and Palestinian factions accept a fresh 72-hour ceasefire in the Gaza conflict, paving the way for indirect talks in Egypt.

Iraq needs a "broad unity government" if it is to halt the advance of Islamist militants, warns the French foreign minister, who is in Baghdad.

The UK is to "step up" aid supplies and send more "humanitarian advisers" to parts of Iraq under threat from Islamist militants, Downing Street says.

The US military says it has carried out four new air strikes on militants to defend Yazidi refugees hiding in the mountains of northern Iraq.

Palestinian negotiators warn they will leave Cairo if Israel does not attend Gaza talks on Sunday, but Israel says rocket fire must end first.

Research by Labour suggests thousands of patients face long delays in ambulances while waiting to be transferred to accident and emergency care.

Ukraine's president says he is ready to consider a humanitarian aid mission into rebel-held areas of the east, but only under strict conditions.