
Pope condemns Gaza war's ‘barbarity' as 93 reported killed by Israeli fire while waiting for food
Pope Leo XIV has condemned the 'barbarity' of the war in Gaza and the 'indiscriminate use of force' as Gaza's civil defence agency said at least 93 Palestinians had been killed queueing for food, and Israel issued fresh evacuation orders for areas packed with displaced people.
Gaza's health ministry said scores were killed by Israeli fire while waiting for UN aid trucks entering through the northern Zikim crossing with Israel. It was one of the highest reported death tolls among repeated recent cases in which people seeking food have been killed by Israeli fire.
Elsewhere nine others were reportedly shot dead near an aid point close to Rafah in the south, where dozens of people lost their lives just 24 hours earlier, while four were killed near another site in Khan Younis, a spokesperson for the civil defence agency, Mahmud Basal, said.
What has Israel said about the killings? Israel's military said soldiers had shot at a gathering of thousands of Palestinians in northern Gaza who it claimed posed a threat, and it was aware of some casualties. But it said the numbers reported by officials in Gaza were far higher than its initial investigation found. It did not immediately comment on the incidents in the south.
Migrants at a Miami immigration jail were shackled with their hands tied behind their backs and made to kneel to eat food from styrofoam plates 'like dogs', according to a report published today into conditions at three overcrowded south Florida facilities.
The incident at the downtown federal detention center is one of a succession of alleged abuses at Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (Ice) operated jails in the state since January, chronicled by advocacy groups Human Rights Watch, Americans for Immigrant Justice, and Sanctuary of the South from interviews with detainees.
Dozens of men had been packed into a holding cell for hours, the report said, and denied lunch until about 7pm. They remained shackled with the food on chairs in front of them.
Why else is Ice in the news? An 82-year-old man in Pennsylvania was secretly deported to Guatemala – a country to which he has no connection – after visiting an immigration office last month to replace his lost green card, according to his family, who have not heard from him since and were initially told he was dead.
US carrier Alaska Airlines grounded its flights after an IT outage yesterday that affected its systems, the company said, without specifying the nature of the outage, marking the second time it has grounded its fleet in just over a year.
The Seattle-based airline said there would be residual impacts to its operations throughout the evening, without providing more details.
Did a cyber-attack cause the IT problems? Microsoft stated yesterday that there were 'active attacks' on its server software used by government agencies and businesses but Alaska did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment on whether the outage was related to the Microsoft announcement.
The Ecuadoran government has extradited the notorious drug trafficker Adolfo Macías to the US, more than a year after he escaped from a high-security prison. The flight transporting Macías, also known as 'Fito', landed in New York state last night.
Pakistan has arrested 11 suspects after a video emerged on social media of a woman and a man being shot dead for marrying against the wishes of their families, in an 'honour' killing, authorities said.
Donald Trump has demanded that the NFL's Washington Commanders and MLB's Cleveland Guardians revert to their old names, both of which were abandoned in recent years due to being racially insensitive to Native Americans.
Superbugs could cause millions more people to die worldwide and cost the global economy just under $2tn a year by 2050, modelling shows. The research found the US, UK and EU economies would be among the hardest hit, prompting accusations that recent extreme aid cuts are self-defeating.
When lightning struck on 4 July along the remote North Rim of Grand Canyon national park, sparking a small wildfire in a patch of dry forest, few predicted the terror and loss that lay ahead. The decision to let the small blaze burn – before it suddenly burst through its containment lines – has drawn scrutiny. Now those who love the remote North Rim are reckoning with the destruction.
Climate change-induced food price shocks are on the rise and could lead to more malnutrition, political upheaval and social unrest as the world's poorest are hit by shortages of food staples. The price jumps will have knock-on effects around the world.
Ellen DeGeneres has confirmed that she moved to the UK because of Donald Trump. At a conversation event yesterday, she told broadcaster Richard Bacon: 'We got here the day before the election and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis, and I was like: 'He got in.' And we're like 'We're staying here.''
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The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
Ukraine-Russia war live: Kyiv sets deadline for Putin-Zelensky summit after peace talks fail to stop bombing
Ukraine has called for a peace summit to be held between Russian president Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky by the end of August, urging Moscow to show it is serious about wanting to end the war. Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's chief delegate at peace talks in Istanbul yesterday, said he presented the Russian side with a proposal for the meeting. "By agreeing to this proposal, Russia can clearly demonstrate its constructive approach,' he said. Ukraine and Russia continued to exchange drone attacks in the early hours today, shortly after the conclusion of the latest round of direct peace talks between delegations from Moscow and Kyiv. While Ukrainian drones hit southern Russian Black Sea areas, killing one person, injuring another and hitting an oil storage depot, Russian drones hit Ukraine 's Black Sea port of Odesa, triggering several fires in residential and other buildings. Meanwhile, Ukrainian prisoners of war have begun returning home after the third round of peace talks in Istanbul after well under an hour without agreement on a ceasefire. Protests in Ukraine after Zelensky approves bill curbing autonomy of anti-corruption agencies Hundreds of people gathered in Ukraine's capital Kyiv to lodge their protest with the Volodymyr Zelensky's administration for passing a controversial bill tightening restrictions on its anti-corruption agencies, presenting the war-hit nation with its biggest domestic turmoil since the Russian invasion in February 2022. Ukraine's parliament on Tuesday passed amendments to allow the country's general prosecutor, appointed by the president, strict control over two anti-corruption bodies – the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sapo). Protests in Ukraine after Zelensky approves bill weakening anti-corruption bodies Move has alarmed Ukrainians amid fears that chief prosecutor, a Zelensky loyalist, could reassign corruption probes Arpan Rai24 July 2025 07:50 What are the corruption issues behind Ukrainian protests against Zelensky? Thousands of people, including veterans, took to the streets of Kyiv on Tuesday evening to protest against president Volodymyr Zelensky's anti-corruption measures. The demonstrations, which have reportedly spread to Lviv and Dnipro, are the first public protests against the Ukrainian president since the Russian invasion in February 2022. Some of those outside Mr Zelensky's presidential office claimed Ukraine was 'turning into Russia', with placards reading 'welcome to Russia', according to reports. 'We chose Europe, not autocracy,' read one placard by a demonstrator. Another read: 'My father did not die for this.' So why are people protesting, and what are the anti-corruption measures? The Independent takes a closer look below. Ukraine protests: Why are Ukrainians protesting against President Volodymyr Zelensky? Some protesters held placards saying 'Welcome to Russia' after Ukraine made changes to anti-corruption agencies Arpan Rai24 July 2025 07:30 Trump says European allies will pay 100 per cent for military equipment US president Donald Trump touted a recent deal between the US and Nato whereby European allies would purchase weapons and send them to Ukraine as it fights Russia. "They're going to pay the United States of America 100 per cent of the cost of all military equipment, and much of it will go to Ukraine," Mr Trump said in remarks at an artificial intelligence conference in Washington. Arpan Rai24 July 2025 07:15 Russia strikes Ukraine in new drone attack after peace talks end Russian forces staged the latest in a series of mass attacks on Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa, triggering several fires in residential and other buildings in the early hours today. In Odesa, regional governor Oleh Kiper said two floors of a multi-storey apartment building had been set ablaze. Other fires broke out on the roof of a two-storey residence, in kiosks and at a petrol station. The city's historic centre, a Unesco World Heritage Site, was also hit, he said. Mr Kiper said details on casualties were being compiled. Arpan Rai24 July 2025 07:00 Zelensky summons chiefs of anti-corruption agencies in bid for unity Volodymyr Zelensky has gathered the chiefs of anti-corruption agencies with law enforcement bosses as he looks to show unity during a fractious week for Kyiv. 'It was a much-needed meeting — a frank and constructive conversation that truly helps,' the Ukrainian president wrote on social media. 'We all share a common enemy: the Russian occupiers. And defending the Ukrainian state requires a strong enough law enforcement and anti-corruption system — one that ensures a real sense of justice.' Mr Zelensky is facing heavy pressure from European officials and the Ukrainian public after his government pushed through laws which will curb the powers of the anti-corruption agencies which have led reform of the country since 2014. At the meeting were representatives of: the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention, the State Bureau of Investigation, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Prosecutor General. Arpan Rai24 July 2025 06:45 EU officials warn of possible setback to joining bloc after Ukraine protests Zelensky's law Top EU officials have warned Ukraine of possible setback to its membership of Nato amid fresh wave of protests in Ukraine over changes in the anti-corruption law. Activists yesterday called for more protests of a new law that they say weakens Ukraine's anti-corruption watchdogs, following the first major anti-government demonstration in over three years of war. Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU and maintain access to billions of dollars in Western aid in the war. "Limiting the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption agency hampers Ukraine's way towards the EU," German foreign minister Johann Wadephul warned in a post on X. EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius, also on X, noted: "In war, trust between the fighting nation and its leadership is more important than modern weapons — difficult to build and to keep, but easy to lose with one significant mistake by the leadership." Arpan Rai24 July 2025 06:30 Watch: Protests in Ukraine after Zelensky's anti-corruption changes Arpan Rai24 July 2025 06:15 Putin's 'digital gulag': Inside the Kremlin's attempt to construct a spy app to snoop on Russians In just two months, every new digital device in Russia will come equipped with a brand new messenger app, named Max. Beneath its playful white-and-blue logo lies software that experts believe could allow the Kremlin to dramatically expand its capacity to spy on the Russian public. The app, launched in March by Russian tech company VK, will be installed on every new device sold in Russia from September this year. But there are fears it will work as a 'spy programme', allowing Russia's FSB security service to establish a rigid surveillance programme. The app will provide not only a space for messaging and video calls, but will be a broader information system with access to government services and mobile payments, analysts told The Independent. With servers based in Russia, Max will be subject to Russian law, which grants the FSB to have access to certain materials. Inside Putin's attempt to construct a 'digital gulag' spy app to snoop on Russians The Russian President has ordered officials to switch to the Max app to restrict the use of foreign software, according to Ukrainian intelligence Arpan Rai24 July 2025 05:50 Kyiv and Moscow officials hold the shortest talks yet At 40 minutes, the meeting was even shorter than the two sides' previous encounters on 16 May and 2 June, which lasted a combined total of under three hours. Before the talks, the Kremlin had played down expectations, describing the two sides' positions as diametrically opposed and saying no one should expect miracles. Oleksandr Bevz, a member of the Ukrainian delegation, said Kyiv had proposed a Putin-Zelensky meeting in August because that would fall within the deadline set by Donald Trump for a deal. Mr Putin turned down a previous challenge from Mr Zelensky to meet in person and has said he does not see him as a legitimate leader because Ukraine, which is under martial law, did not hold new elections when Mr Zelensky's five-year mandate expired last year. Arpan Rai24 July 2025 05:26 Ukraine offered Russia to hold leaders summit by end of August, Kyiv says Kyiv has offered Moscow to hold a leaders' summit aimed at ending the war by the end of August, the head of the Ukrainian delegation at talks in Istanbul said on Wednesday.


The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
The Latest: Israeli official says a Hamas ceasefire proposal is 'workable'
Israel said it received Hamas ' latest ceasefire proposal, with an Israeli official calling it 'workable,' although no details were provided. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on record. Hamas confirmed in a statement early Thursday that it sent the proposal to mediators. The offer comes a day after more than 100 charity and human rights groups said that Israel's blockade and ongoing military offensive are pushing Palestinians in the Gaza Strip toward starvation. Experts say Gaza is at risk of famine because of Israel's blockade and the offensive launched in response to Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack. The Hamas response came as top U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff was set for travel to Europe, where is supposed to meet with key leaders from the Middle East to discuss the latest ceasefire proposal and the release of hostages. Israel's war in Gaza, launched in response to Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack, has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Its count doesn't distinguish between militants and civilians, but the ministry says that more than half of the dead are women and children. Here is the latest: Israeli official says Hamas' latest proposal is workable An Israeli official familiar with ceasefire talks said a Hamas proposal was 'workable' and that Israel was studying it. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on record. Hamas confirmed sending a response to mediators in an statement early Thursday. Israel said that it was reviewing Hamas' response to the latest ceasefire proposal to potentially wind down the war. A statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed receipt of the Hamas response Thursday but did not specify what it entailed. — By Julia Frankel in Jerusalem Israeli fire kills two teens in the occupied West Bank Palestinian health officials said Thursday that two Palestinian teenage boys were killed by Israeli fire Wednesday night in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel's military said its forces had fired at Palestinians throwing Molotov cocktails toward a highway, killing two near the West Bank town of Al-Khader. Palestinian health officials named the teens killed as Ahmed Al-Salah, 15, and Mohammed Khaled Alian Issa, 17. Violence has spiraled in the occupied West Bank since the war that began with Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Over 955 Palestinians have been killed there by Israeli fire during that time, according to the United Nations, many during raids Israel says are to stamp out militancy.


Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Israel examines Hamas response to Gaza ceasefire proposal
July 24 (Reuters) - Israel is examining Hamas's response to a Gaza ceasefire proposal, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday. Hamas said on Wednesday it had submitted its response to mediators but did not disclose the content.