Aid Israel allowing into Gaza still a ‘drop in the ocean’, UN says

The UN’s humanitarian chief has warned that Israel’s easing of aid restrictions in Gaza remains vastly insufficient, calling it merely a “drop in the ocean” amid ongoing barriers to life-saving assistance, Al Jazeera reported.

Israeli forces reportedly opened fire on Palestinians waiting for food at two separate sites, killing one person and injuring several others. Meanwhile, 14 more Palestinians, including an infant, have died from malnutrition in the past 24 hours.

As the humanitarian crisis deepens, France and Saudi Arabia are co-hosting a conference in New York aimed at reviving efforts toward a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, according to Al Jazeera.

The war in Gaza has so far killed at least 59,733 Palestinians and wounded over 144,000. In Israel, 1,139 people were killed and more than 200 taken hostage during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.

Trump to meet UK PM Starmer in Scotland, presses Putin on Ukraine deal deadline

US President Trump is scheduled to meet UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire, Scotland. The meeting marks their first since Starmer took office, according to BBC.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin now has “10 to 12 days” to reach a peace deal with Ukraine, moving up his earlier 50-day ultimatum. He criticized the lack of progress in the conflict and warned of “very severe tariffs” on Russia’s trade partners if a resolution isn’t reached soon, BBC reported.

Heavy rains trigger deadly landslide and flood warnings in Northern China

A landslide caused by intense rainfall has killed four people and left eight missing near Chengde in Hebei province, Xinhua reported.

In Beijing’s Miyun district, over 4,400 people were evacuated as floods and landslides hit villages, cutting power to more than 10,000 residents.

Flood alerts have been issued in at least 11 provinces, including Beijing and Shanxi, with more heavy rain expected in the coming days.

Authorities have sent emergency teams to Hebei and allocated 50m yuan ($7m) for recovery. Scientists link the surge in extreme weather to climate change and the intensifying East Asian monsoon, according to Xinhua.

 

Israeli strikes kill 34 in Gaza despite aid pause

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 34 Palestinians across Gaza on Monday, just a day after Israel announced daily pauses in military operations to allow aid deliveries. The strikes occurred outside the declared 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. pause window, according to Firstpost.

Despite easing some restrictions and allowing limited aid, humanitarian groups say it’s not enough to address the growing hunger crisis. Images of starving children have drawn global concern, with US President Donald Trump calling them “terrible.”

Among the dead were a pregnant woman in Muwasi and 11 people, mostly women and children, in Khan Younis. Seven others were killed near a US- and Israeli-backed aid site.

Since October, over 59,800 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Firstpost reported.