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Hamas has urged the United Nations to intervene as Israel’s assault on Gaza intensifies, leaving dozens dead in a single day and entire families buried under rubble. Gaza City has been hit hardest, with residents describing the destruction as “apocalyptic”, Al Jazeera reported.

The humanitarian crisis is deepening. Aid agencies report famine spreading, with more than 360 Palestinians — including 131 children — already dead from hunger. UNICEF warns over 130,000 young children face severe malnutrition, while nearly a million people risk further displacement.

Hamas says it is ready for a ceasefire and prisoner swap, but Israel demands captives’ release and Hamas’s disarmament before any truce.

Global criticism is growing. Spain’s leader has accused Israel of genocide, Scotland is halting funds to arms firms tied to Israel, and the UAE has warned against annexing the West Bank. Utrecht University in the Netherlands has also launched an academic boycott of Israeli institutions, according to Al Jazeera.

A historic Gloria funicular railway car in Lisbon, Portugal, derailed on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and injuring 18 others, several critically, BBC reported.

The Gloria funicular, a landmark link between downtown and Bairro Alto, came off its tracks and struck a building. Officials suspect a loosened cable, but a formal investigation is underway.

Victims include foreign nationals, though identities have not been released.

The Portuguese government declared a national day of mourning, and Lisbon announced three days of mourning as rescue teams worked to recover and aid passengers, according to BBC.

Florida plans to end all vaccine mandates, including those requiring children to be immunised against polio, measles, and other diseases to attend school, BBC reported.

Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo called the mandates “slavery” and pledged to eliminate “every last one,” though no timeline was given. Some rules may require legislative approval, while others could be repealed by the health department.

The move has drawn criticism from doctors and Democratic lawmakers, who warned it could spark a public health crisis. Currently, Florida requires vaccinations for illnesses like chickenpox, hepatitis B, and mumps.

In response, Democratic-led states including California, Oregon, and Washington formed an alliance to uphold vaccine guidance from national medical organizations, according to BBC.

The United Arab Emirates has strongly warned Israel that any move to annex parts of the occupied West Bank would cross a “red line” and jeopardize the Abraham Accords, Firstpost reported.

UAE envoy Lana Nusseibeh said annexation would betray the spirit of the normalization deal and derail hopes for regional integration. She stressed that the Accords were meant to support Palestinian aspirations, not replace a two-state solution.

According to Firstpost, the warning comes after Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich revealed plans to draw up annexation maps, excluding Palestinian cities but cementing Israeli control. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not clarified his stance, the proposal has already stirred backlash across the Gulf and raised fears of a serious diplomatic rift.