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The US has told the UK that two Islamic State suspects will not face the death penalty if convicted of the killings of Western hostages in Iraq and Syria.

Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh are accused of being the last two members of an IS cell dubbed "The Beatles" because of their UK accents.

The US sought the UK's help in the case but a legal fight over the use of the death

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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has stepped up efforts to reassert his control after 10 days of street protests and strikes triggered by disputed elections.

The official result gave him 80% of the vote but the opposition has denounced the poll as fraudulent.

Mr Lukashenko says he has given orders to end the unrest in the capital Minsk.

The move signalled an escalation just as EU leaders agreed to impose sanctions at a virtual summit.

The President of the

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At least 45 migrants and refugees, including five children, have died in the deadliest shipwreck off Libya this year, the UN refugee agency says.

They were among more than 80 people on board a vessel whose engine exploded off the coast of Zwara, the UNHCR said.

The deaths were reported by some 37 survivors rescued by local fishermen.

Both the UNHCR and International Organization for Migration (IOM) have called for

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Thousands of people have had to flee their homes in areas near San Francisco after several quick-moving wildfires swept into the region.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency as authorities battle hundreds of fires burning around the state.

Most at risk is the city of Vacaville, home to about 100,000, which lies between San Francisco and Sacramento.

Officials went door-to

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The remains of a child have been found 16 days after a four-year-old boy disappeared with his mother near a coastal motorway in Sicily.

Amid a mystery that has shocked Italians, investigators said they were 99% sure that Gioele Mondello's body had been found.

The body of his mother, DJ Viviana Parisi, was found

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Taking your dog for walks twice a day for at least an hour in total could soon become the law in Germany.

There could also be a ban on keeping dogs chained for long periods.

Rules are also being devised to crack down on "puppy farms" by banning breeders from looking after more than three litters at any one time.

"Pets are not cuddly toys, their needs have to be taken into account," Agriculture Minister Julia

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A man who rammed three motorcyclists on a motorway in Berlin is being investigated for what prosecutors say was "an Islamist-motivated attack".

Three people were seriously injured when the suspect's car collided with motorbikes and cars on the A100 motorway shortly before 19:00 (17:00 GMT) on Tuesday evening.

Witnesses said the 30-year-old Iraqi suspect claimed to have a "dangerous object" in a box of ammunition.

Work tools were

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Joe Biden has officially been anointed the Democratic presidential candidate at the party's convention, helped over the line with some glowing testimonials from elder statesmen.

Two Democratic former US presidents, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, a Republican, endorsed Mr Biden.

Mr Clinton said President Donald Trump had brought "chaos" to the Oval Office.

Mr Trump trails Mr Biden in opinion polls ahead of November's election.

This is Mr Biden's third White House bid

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Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta has resigned, after being detained by soldiers on Tuesday, state TV reports.

In a televised address, Mr Keïta said he was also dissolving the government and parliament.

"I want no blood to be spilled to keep me in power," he added.

It comes hours after he and Prime Minister Boubou Cissé were taken to a