Sydney News Board

As a punishing drought dries up stretches of the Amazon River, Brazil is resorting to dredging to try to keep food, medicine and people flowing along the watery superhighway.

Along Israel’s border with Gaza, reminders of the trauma of the Hamas-led assault are inescapable as the few who have returned try to start anew.

Dog ownership has surged over the past two years as people seek companionship. In Kyiv, Yorkies, poodles and bichons frisés now rule the streets.

Israel has also broadened its attacks in Lebanon in recent days, expanding its campaign against Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed ally of Hamas.

Lessons learned from a 2006 invasion of Lebanon have guided Israel in its current one. Security experts say a political deal is needed to restore calm.

President Kais Saied, who has jailed opponents and consolidated power, is almost certain to win Sunday’s election in the North African country, the birthplace of the Arab Spring movement.

With the region on edge about a possible Israeli retaliatory strike on Iran, U.S. Central Command hit targets in Yemen, and Israel ordered evacuations in Gaza.

Iran has a number of sensitive sites, including oil infrastructure, military installations and nuclear facilities.

A strike was reported in the Lebanese city of Tripoli, near the country’s northern edge.