Germany says ‘very insufficient' aid entering Gaza
Palestinians carrying bags of flour that they obtained from aid trucks which entered Gaza through the Zikim crossing point, in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, on Aug 1.
BERLIN - The amount of aid entering Gaza remains 'very insufficient' despite a limited improvement, the German government said on Aug 2 after ministers discussed ways to heighten pressure on Israel.
The criticism came after Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul visited the region on July 31 and Aug 1 and the German military staged its first food airdrops into Gaza, where aid agencies say that more than two million Palestinians are facing starvation.
Germany 'notes limited initial progress in the delivery of humanitarian aid to the population of the Gaza Strip, which, however, remains very insufficient to alleviate the emergency situation,' government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said in a statement.
'Israel remains obligated to ensure the full delivery of aid,' Mr Kornelius added.
Facing mounting international criticism over its military operations in Gaza, Israel has allowed more trucks to cross the border and some foreign nations to carry out airdrops of food and medicines.
International agencies say the amount of aid entering Gaza is still dangerously low, however.
The United Nations has said that 6,000 trucks are awaiting permission from Israel to enter the occupied Palestinian territory.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore $3b money laundering case: MinLaw names 6 law firms taken to task over involvement in property deals
Singapore Police reopen access to all areas in Marina Bay after crowd congestion eases at NDP Preview area
Singapore Opening of Woodlands Health has eased load on KTPH, sets standard for future hospitals: Ong Ye Kung
Asia KTM plans new passenger rail service in Johor Bahru to manage higher footfall expected from RTS
Singapore HSA investigating teen allegedly vaping on MRT train
Asia 4 workers dead after falling into manhole in Japan
Singapore New vehicular bridge connecting Punggol Central and Seletar Link to open on Aug 3
Singapore New S'pore jobs portal launched for North West District residents looking for work near home
The German government, traditionally a strong supporter of Israel, also expressed 'concern regarding reports that large quantities of humanitarian aid are being withheld by Hamas and criminal organisations'.
Israel has alleged that much of the aid arriving in the territory is being siphoned off by Hamas, which runs Gaza.
The Israeli army is accused of having equipped Palestinian criminal networks in its fight against Hamas and of allowing them to plunder aid deliveries.
'The real theft of aid since the beginning of the war has been carried out by criminal gangs, under the watch of Israeli forces,' Mr Jonathan Whittall of OCHA, the United Nations agency for coordinating humanitarian affairs, told reporters in May.
A German government source told AFP it had noted that Israel has 'considerably' increased the number of aid trucks allowed into Gaza to about 220 a day.
Members of the German Air Force loading humanitarian aid onto an aircraft ahead of a planned airdrop over the Gaza Strip, at a military base in Jordan on Aug 1.
PHOTO: EPA
Berlin has taken a tougher line against Israel's actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank in recent weeks.
The source said that a German security Cabinet meeting on Aug 2 discussed 'the different options' for putting pressure on Israel, but no decision was taken.
A partial suspension of arms deliveries to Israel is one option that has been raised.
Hamas militants launched an attack in Israel on Oct 7, 2023, that resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Israel's military offensive on Gaza since then has
killed at least 60,249 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry.
The UN considers the ministry's figures reliable. AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
13 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Over 900 condo units sold at three new launches over the weekend
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox River Green in River Valley chalked up the strongest sales rate of 88 per cent at an average price of $3,130 per square foot. SINGAPORE - Homebuyers took up more than 900 new condominium units over the weekend, with River Green in River Valley chalking up the strongest sales rate of 88 per cent at an average price of $3,130 per square foot (psf). Promenade Peak, also in the River Valley area, recorded a 54 per cent take-up rate with prices going up to $3,521 psf, while the suburban Canberra Crescent Residences moved 40 per cent of its units at an average price ofS$1,974 psf. Taken together, the three new projects sold more than 62 per cent of their combined inventory of 1,496 units, noted PropNex chief executive Kelvin Fong. Including the 893 new units sold in July, the new home sales tally (excluding executive condominiums, or ECs) for the third quarter of 2025 so far stands at over 1,820 units – well over the 1,212 sold in the whole of Q2, Mr Fong said. This reflects continued strength in private housing demand and homebuyers' confidence in the mid- to long-term outlook of Singapore's residential property market, he said. Huttons Asia chief executive officer Mark Yip highlighted that the strong turnout at the 524-unit River Green and 596-unit Promenade Peak, in particular, indicates robust appetite for prime homes. 'To collectively sell more than 700 units on launch weekend is an impressive result,' said Mr Yip. 'This speaks volumes of the demand in the market and their acceptance of these two projects.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore No plans to fully liberalise cross-border ride-hailing services between Singapore and Johor: LTA Singapore LTA, Singapore bus operators reviewing Malaysia's request to start services from JB at 4am Business Are Gen Z-ers in Singapore worried about generative AI coming for their jobs? Multimedia How Singapore is rethinking nature in the city Singapore The past and future of Choa Bungalow, a 'last reminder' of Marine Parade's former shoreline Singapore Ong Beng Seng to plead guilty on Aug 4, more than 2 years after trip to Qatar with Iswaran World Trump is winning his trade war, but Americans will pay the price World Hamas says it will allow aid for hostages if Israel halts airstrikes, opens humanitarian corridors The strong weekend performance also pushes new home sales in the Core Central Region (CCR) to their highest level in over 16 quarters, said Mr Fong. It signals a broader recovery in the CCR market, following tepid sales since additional buyer's stamp duty rates were hiked in April 2023, he noted. 'Many buyers are seeing the strong value proposition of CCR projects in view of the narrowing price gap between CCR new launches and that of the Rest of Central Region, of late.' The strong showing follows firm bidding activity in recent state land tenders in other prime locations. Just last week, a Holland Link site drew five bids with a top offer of $368.4 million or $1,432 psf. In June, a Dunearn Road site attracted nine bids, with a high of $491.5 million or $1,410 psf. River Green: Blockbuster sales Of the three new projects launched, River Green in District 9 led the pack with 460 units, or 88 per cent, of its 524 units sold as at Aug 3. Prices averaged $3,130 psf, said Wing Tai in a statement. Around 98 per cent of buyers were Singaporeans and permanent residents, the developer added. This marks the best-selling CCR project in recent memory, said Singapore Realtors Inc (SRI) head of research and data analytics Mohan Sandrasegeran. Its performance surpasses that of Upperhouse at Orchard Boulevard, which moved 54 per cent of its 301 units when it launched two weeks earlier. The Robertson Opus, another development in the River Valley area, sold 41 per cent of its 348 units that same weekend. Prices of Upperhouse and The Robertson Opus averaged at $3,350 psf and $3,360 psf, respectively, then. Mr Yip from Huttons believes that River Green's compact unit sizes made them more affordable and appealing to buyers. Mr Fong said that one-bedders sold for $1.16 million to $1.5 million, two-bedders for $1.46 million to $2.4 million, three-bedders for $2.19 million to just under $3 million, and four-bedders for $2.7 million to $3.5 million. Likewise, chief research officer Nicholas Mak observed that the average unit size at the 99-year leasehold development was 668 sq ft – significantly smaller than the estimated 921 sq ft per unit in its government tender. 'By shrinking the size of each condominium unit and making these properties affordable to the middle-class locals, it can be argued that some developers are democratising the high-end housing market in Singapore or at least creating an illusion of doing so,' said Mr Mak. Promenade Peak: Firm interest In the city fringe, the 99-year leasehold Promenade Peak sold 320 units, or 54 per cent of its 596 units, said developer Allgreen in a statement on Sunday. One- to three-bedroom units under its Promenade Collection were sold at an average of $2,894 psf, while three- to five-bedroom units under its Promenade Suites averaged at $3,343 psf. Sales figures from PropNex showed that one-bedders sold from $1.4 million, two-bedders from 1.8 million, and three-bedders from $2.8 million. Prices of four-bedders and five-bedders ranged from $4.6 million to around $6.6 million. The highest price transacted as at Aug 3 was $3,521 psf, underscoring buyers' confidence in the project's offerings and city-fringe location, said Allgreen. Singaporeans made up the bulk of buyers, at 90 per cent, followed by permanent residents accounting for 9 per cent of buyers, and foreigners at 1 per cent. PropNex's Fong added that around 82 per cent of units sold were two- and three-bedders, and nearly half of its four-bedders were taken up. 'The strong demand for larger units suggests that many of the buyers could be end-users purchasing the properties for own-stay,' he said. SRI's Mr Sandrasegeran reckoned that the simultaneous launch of River Green and Promenade Peak may have created a sense of urgency among buyers. The two likely gained momentum from earlier nearby launches as well, which appear to have generated spillover interest as buyers explored options in the area, ultimately boosting overall demand, he said. He added that the success of these launches could set the tone for upcoming developments in the area, including Zyon Grand later in 2025 and River Valley Green (Parcel B) in 2026. Canberra Crescent Residences: Steady sales In the north, Kheng Leong and Low Keng Huat's Canberra Crescent Residences sold about 150 units, or 40 per cent of its 376 units, as at Aug 3. Prices averaged $1,974 psf, market sources said. The project marks the first condo launch in the north since Norwood Grand in November 2024, and is the first in Canberra in four years, said Mr Yip. Mr Fong noted that some 80 per cent of units sold were two- and three-bedders; all three one-bedders and nearly a third of its four-bedders were also sold.
Straits Times
13 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Codelco ends El Teniente rescue effort after five miners found dead
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A drone view shows the entrance to Codelco's El Teniente copper mining complex, after several miners have been reported missing at the Andesita unit following a seismic incident, in Maitenes, Chile August 1, 2025. REUTERS/Pablo Sanhueza/File Photo SANTIAGO - All five workers at Chile's El Teniente copper mine who were trapped in a collapse last week have been found dead, miner Codelco said on Sunday, as it vowed to investigate the cause and improve safety measures. The total death toll stood at six, including one person who died at the time of the accident on Thursday evening, 70 hours before the final trapped worker was found. Codelco Chairman Maximo Pacheco said the state-run miner would convene international experts to investigate the cause and determine "what we did wrong." The collapse was triggered by one of the largest tremors ever recorded at El Teniente, with the impact of a 4.2 magnitude quake. It is still unclear if the cause was a natural quake in the highly seismic country or mining activity. "We're the first ones who want to know what happened," Pacheco told reporters at Codelco's offices in the city of Rancagua, near the mine in central Chile. "This tragedy hits us hard." President Gabriel Boric called for three days of mourning for the miners. The trapped men were aged 29 to 34 and were employed by excavation firm Gardilcic, according to local media. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore No plans to fully liberalise cross-border ride-hailing services between Singapore and Johor: LTA Singapore LTA, Singapore bus operators reviewing Malaysia's request to start services from JB at 4am Business Are Gen Z-ers in Singapore worried about generative AI coming for their jobs? Multimedia How Singapore is rethinking nature in the city Singapore The past and future of Choa Bungalow, a 'last reminder' of Marine Parade's former shoreline Singapore Ong Beng Seng to plead guilty on Aug 4, more than 2 years after trip to Qatar with Iswaran World Trump is winning his trade war, but Americans will pay the price World Hamas says it will allow aid for hostages if Israel halts airstrikes, opens humanitarian corridors Codelco is the world's biggest copper miner and Chile the largest global producer that supplies about a quarter of the world's red metal used in industries from construction to electronics. Throughout the weekend, dozens of people placed candles, Chilean flags and photos of the trapped workers at a makeshift memorial outside the entrance to El Teniente. The rescue effort began in earnest on Friday evening, once aftershocks from Thursday's tremor had subsided. In Codelco's final update on Sunday afternoon on the rescue effort, it said it had cleared 25.5 meters (84 feet) of passages near El Teniente's new Andesita section, removing 3,270 metric tons of material through heavy machinery operated remotely. Codelco discovered the first trapped worker on Saturday and the remaining four throughout the day on Sunday, working with a rescue team of about 100 people. Mining Minister Aurora Williams said the Labor Ministry and mining regulator Sernageomin would evaluate when it was safe for operations to resume at El Teniente, Codelco's flagship mine that last year produced 356,000 metric tons of copper. El Teniente, which is more than a century old and boasts the world's largest underground copper deposit, spans more than 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) of tunnels and underground galleries - nearly the distance between Chile and New York - in the Andes Mountains, about 75 kilometers (47 miles) southeast of Chile's capital Santiago. REUTERS
Straits Times
43 minutes ago
- Straits Times
The past and future of Choa Bungalow, a ‘last reminder' of Marine Parade's former shoreline
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE - Nestled between the soaring condominiums, ever-evolving malls and sleek, new Thomson-East Coast MRT line in Marine Parade lies a relic of a bygone era – a weathered bungalow that once stood just 5m from the sea. Little remains of the seafront life that once defined the area, swept away by land reclamation efforts from the 1960s to the 1980s. The peculiar presence of the property, known as the Choa Bungalow or Sea Breeze Lodge, in a neighbourhood characterised by rapid development, has not gone unnoticed. Fringe interest has resurfaced of late, with curious netizens taking to heritage groups on social media to discuss its history. On May 29, Facebook user Stanley Cheah asked on the Heritage SG Memories page if anyone had any personal experiences with the Choa family during their time at the villa. It sparked a lively discussion as people shared various memories – from those who visited it as children during Chinese New Year, to those who admired it from afar for years. In July 2024, popular local artist Lee Xin Li even revived the villa in a nostalgic illustration, and a Wikipedia page on the house emerged soon after. Its future, however, is still unclear, although real estate and heritage experts called for a proper and careful decision on the historic building, which can become an asset to Singapore's cultural legacy. Located at 37 Marine Parade Road, the one-storey bungalow was built in 1898 by influential tin businessman Choa Kim Keat, who died in 1907 and whom Kim Keat Road in Balestier is named after. In 2009, the building was gazetted for conservation as part of the larger Katong and Joo Chiat conservation area, said the Urban Redevelopment Authority, adding that this was also done 'in recognition of its interesting hybrid architecture' typical of colonial-era bungalows. Two years later, the 47,400 sq ft property – comprising the conserved bungalow and a separate three-storey block – was acquired by Far East Organization for $104 million. As at 2025, the company said it retains ownership of the site and has no immediate plans for its development. The three-storey block, which was built to house British officers after World War II and was not conserved, has since been demolished, and in its place is a temporary sales gallery. Because of the bungalow's status as a conserved building, any development of it, including restoration or repair works, must be approved by URA. Far East added that the bungalow receives regular maintenance to preserve its condition, though it appeared visibly worn during recent visits by ST. Because of the bungalow's status as a conserved building, any development of it, including restoration or repair works, must be approved by URA. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI 'Untouched' for 14 years In a country where untouched land is a rare sight, curiosity surrounding the Choa Bungalow's lack of development and restoration have naturally risen. Real estate and urban studies experts told ST that Far East may be taking an approach of 'land banking', which is the process of buying land and holding it without immediate development, and instead waiting for the right time to build or sell. Said Realion chief researcher and strategist Christine Sun: 'Some (developers) may allow specific sites or projects to be undeveloped or vacant or to stagger their development works, especially if they have sufficient landbank, cashflow or holding power.' Developers may also hold land to wait for surrounding areas to mature before launching a project, or to accumulate neighbouring parcels in order to build larger-scale developments, said Professor Joseph Ooi, co-director of the Institute of Real Estate and Urban Studies at the National University of Singapore. Checks by ST showed that Far East also owns the former Paramount Hotel, which borders the Choa Bungalow and has been renamed Katong Village Hotel. Dr Victor Choa – Mr Choa Kim Keat's great-grandson – said that his family decided to let go of the property in 2011 as it was too big, and were comforted by the fact that it had already been conferred conservation status. 'Marine Parade... the whole stretch was very old. It's all old bungalows. One by one they were gone and ours was the last house standing. The rest were all demolished. We are lucky they conserved it,' he said. Dr Choa holds fond memories of the bungalow, which still carries his father's name, Eric Choa, etched on a gatepost. The elder Choa was a well-known lawyer who had lived in the house until his death in 2009 at 93. The bungalow which still carries the name of Eric Choa etched on a gatepost. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI 'That beach was very popular. A lot of courting couples would go there to jalan-jalan (stroll), and it was a good memory. It was a very quiet place and people came to see the seaside,' the 84-year-old Dr Choa said. He recalled that much of his childhood was spent swimming and canoeing with friends who came for weekend sleepovers – including notable Singaporeans such as former prime minister Goh Chok Tong and former Ayer Rajah MP and Progress Singapore Party founder Tan Cheng Bock. In 2020, Mr Goh penned a Facebook post about his 'nostalgic return' to the house after a lunch there hosted by Far East chief executive Phillip Ng. The Marine Parade area, said heritage blogger and author Jerome Lim, by and large was an exclusive one because of its proximity to the sea. 'You needed to be someone of status to own a home there,' he said, adding that the neighbourhood was relatively out of town and that frequent travel in and out was not affordable for most who worked in the city. Preserving a cultural legacy If properly planned and developed, Professor Qian Wenlan, Ng Teng Fong Chair Professor in Real Estate at the NUS Business School, believes the Choa Bungalow will contribute meaningfully in the placemaking of Marine Parade. 'However, we need to be mindful that any proposed repurposing of the bungalow ought to also make a compelling business case for the current landowner.' The restoration of the Choa Bungalow can help preserve Singapore's cultural legacy amid rapid urbanisation. 'Architecture can tell us about the history of the place, the memory of the people,' Prof Ooi said, adding that cultural and heritage building can add colour to the cityscape. Whatever the outcome, Mr Lim hopes the Choa Bungalow will ultimately be accessible to the public, so its story as a 'shining example of what life was like along the East Coast' is not lost. 'It's really a marker of the past, of what that whole area was like... maybe one of the last reminders of that,' he said.
