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China on Sunday denounced US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth for calling the Asian country a threat, accusing him of touting a Cold War mentality as tensions between Washington and Beijing further escalate. The foreign ministry said Hegseth vilified Beijing with defamatory allegations the previous day at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a global security conference. The statement also accused the United States of inciting conflict and confrontation in the region, according to AP. “Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region, and instead touted the Cold War mentality for bloc confrontation,” it said, referring to the post-World War II rivalry between the US and the former Soviet Union. “No country in the world deserves to be called a hegemonic power other than the US itself,” it said, alleging that Washington is also undermining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific. US defense secretary warns Indo-Pacific allies of 'imminent' threat from China Hegseth said in Singapore on Saturday that Washington will bolster its defences overseas to counter what the Pentagon sees as rapidly developing threats by Beijing, particularly in its aggressive stance toward Taiwan. China’s army “is rehearsing for the real deal,” Hegseth said. “We are not going to sugarcoat it — the threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent.” A ‘provocation’ by Hegseth The Chinese statement said the matter of Taiwan is China’s internal affair and that the US should “never play with fire” with it. The statement also alleged Washington had deployed offensive weaponry in the South China Sea, was “stoking flames and creating tensions in the Asia-Pacific” and "turning the region into a powder keg.” Spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang of China's defense ministry called Hegseth's comments a provocation and said they distorted China’s policy positions. The US and China had reached a deal last month to cut US President Donald Trump’s tariffs from 145 per cent to 30 per cent for 90 days, creating time for negotiators from both sides to reach a more substantive agreement. China also reduced its taxes on US goods from 125 per cent to 10 per cent.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday that Ukraine will dispatch a delegation to Istanbul for direct peace talks with Russia on Monday, amid intensifying Russian assaults, including a missile strike that killed 12 Ukrainian soldiers and the largest drone offensive of the ongoing three-year war. Zelenskyy made the announcement via Telegram, stating that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will lead the Ukrainian team. “We are doing everything possible to safeguard our independence, our country, and our people,” he said. Ukraine had earlier asked Moscow to share a written outline of its position regarding an end to the conflict before the talks. Russia responded that it would present the memorandum during the negotiations. Deadly Missile Strike Hits Ukrainian Army Unit Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 472 drones on Sunday — the most in a single day since the full-scale invasion began. Alongside the drones, seven missiles were also fired, said Yuriy Ignat, a spokesperson for the air force. A missile strike earlier that day targeted a Ukrainian army training facility, killing at least 12 service members and injuring more than 60 others. The attack occurred around 12:50 p.m. local time, according to the army, which emphasized that no large gatherings of troops were present during the strike. An investigative panel has been set up to determine how such a significant loss occurred. US defense secretary warns Indo-Pacific allies of 'imminent' threat from China The training site is located far from the front lines, which span approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), but remains within reach of Russian drones and missile systems. With Ukraine facing troop shortages, military units are taking increased precautions to avoid concentrations of personnel that could become targets. The army warned that any negligence or misconduct contributing to the casualties would be met with strict accountability. Ukrainian Drones Strike Deep Into Russian Territory Meanwhile, Ukrainian drone attacks were reported in various parts of Russia, including the Siberian region of Irkutsk — more than 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) east of Moscow. Local Governor Igor Kobzeva confirmed the drone’s presence but said it posed no danger to civilians. Additional drone activity was reported in Russia’s Ryazan and Murmansk regions, though no injuries or deaths were reported. Escalation in Northern Ukraine Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed on Sunday that its forces had seized control of Oleksiivka, a village in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region. Ukrainian authorities responded by ordering mandatory evacuations in 11 nearby settlements as Russian advances continue. Ukraine’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Russian troops are concentrating their main offensives in the eastern Donetsk cities of Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and Lyman, as well as near the Sumy border.

Each year, millions of Muslims from around the world travel to Saudi Arabia to take part in Hajj—one of the five foundational acts of Islam. It’s a deeply spiritual journey that fulfills a religious duty, offering pilgrims a chance to renew their faith, ask for God’s mercy, and seek forgiveness for past sins. Here’s an overview of what Hajj is and why it holds great meaning for Muslims. WHAT IS HAJJ?Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It consists of a series of sacred rituals and is required at least once in a lifetime for every Muslim who is physically and financially able to complete it. While only one trip is obligatory, many choose to go more than once. Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, alongside the declaration of faith, daily prayers, giving to charity, and fasting during Ramadan. WHEN DOES HAJJ TAKE PLACE?Hajj is observed once a year during Dhul-Hijja, the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. In 2025, it is expected to begin on June 4. When Hajj occurs in the summer, the intense heat adds to the physical demands of the journey. In fact, during last year’s pilgrimage, more than 1,300 people died—most of them unregistered pilgrims who walked long distances in extreme temperatures, according to Saudi officials. WHY IS HAJJ MEANINGFUL TO MUSLIMS?Beyond being a religious obligation, Hajj is a transformative spiritual experience. It is viewed as a path to seeking divine forgiveness, drawing closer to God, and following in the footsteps of past prophets. Hajj also has a powerful communal dimension. Muslims from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultures come together in worship, creating a profound sense of unity, equality, and shared purpose. Pilgrims often carry personal prayers and the wishes of loved ones, hoping to have them answered during this sacred time. For many, the dream of performing Hajj involves years of preparation—saving money, applying for permits, and getting physically and spiritually ready. Preparation often includes studying the rituals, attending workshops, and gathering practical necessities for the physically demanding journey. WHAT RITUALS ARE PERFORMED DURING HAJJ?Pilgrims begin by making the intention for Hajj and entering a spiritual state known as ihram. This state involves specific guidelines and prohibitions. For instance, men wear simple, unstitched white garments to symbolize purity and humility, letting go of material status and vanity. A central moment of the pilgrimage is standing on the plain of Arafat, where pilgrims spend hours praying, reflecting, and seeking forgiveness. This deeply emotional experience often brings many to tears. Other important rituals include the tawaf, where pilgrims circle the Kaaba in Mecca seven times counterclockwise. The Kaaba is the cube-shaped building Muslims face during their daily prayers. Pilgrims also perform the ritual of sa’i, which involves walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah. This act commemorates Hagar’s desperate search for water for her son, a story shared in Islamic tradition. WHAT IS EID AL-ADHA?Eid al-Adha, or the “Festival of Sacrifice,” begins on the 10th day of Dhul-Hijja and coincides with the Hajj. It is one of the two major Islamic holidays. The festival commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God’s command—a test of faith. To honor this act, Muslims around the world slaughter animals such as sheep or cattle and share the meat, especially with those in need. Eid al-Adha is a time of joy, charity, prayer, and community, marking the culmination of the Hajj and a reminder of devotion and sacrifice in the path of faith.

Health officials and eyewitnesses reported that at least 25 people were killed and many more injured on Sunday while heading to a food distribution point in the Gaza Strip. Witnesses said Israeli forces fired on the crowd from approximately one kilometer away from a humanitarian aid center operated by a group supported by Israel. The Israeli military issued a brief statement, saying it was “currently unaware of injuries caused by (Israeli military) fire within the Humanitarian Aid distribution site,” adding that the incident is under investigation. The aid organization involved stated that aid was delivered "without incident" earlier that day and denied previous reports of disorder or violence at its locations, which are situated in areas controlled by the Israeli military and not accessible to independent observers. Medical personnel at a nearby Red Cross field hospital confirmed the deaths and said 175 others were injured. They declined to say who was responsible for the gunfire and requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak to the press. Zaher al-Waheidi, who oversees records for Gaza’s Health Ministry, verified the number of deaths and noted that two women were among the victims. An Associated Press journalist observed dozens of wounded being treated at the hospital. Aid Effort Plagued by DisorderThe aid distribution by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has frequently been chaotic. Witnesses say Israeli forces have opened fire near aid delivery points before. Prior to Sunday’s incident, at least six people had reportedly been killed and more than 50 injured. The foundation insists that its private security staff have not fired on crowds and that recent aid deliveries occurred without problems. The Israeli army has previously acknowledged using warning shots near aid locations. On Sunday, the group reported delivering 16 truckloads of aid early in the day without any trouble, dismissing reports of violence and casualties as false. Witnesses Describe a “Horrific” SceneThousands had gathered near the aid site well before dawn. Witnesses say Israeli forces ordered the crowd to leave and return later. But by about 3 a.m., as people reached the Flag Roundabout—about a kilometer from the distribution center—Israeli forces allegedly opened fire. “There was gunfire from all directions—naval ships, tanks, drones,” said Amr Abu Teiba, one of the witnesses. He said he saw at least 10 bodies and many others injured, including women. People used carts to transport victims to the field hospital. “It was horrific,” he said. Another eyewitness, Ibrahim Abu Saoud, confirmed a similar account, saying fire came from about 300 meters away. He said he saw many people with gunshot wounds, including one young man who died on the spot. Mohammed Abu Teaima, 33, said his cousin and another woman were killed while walking toward the aid site. He added that his cousin was shot in the chest and died instantly, while his brother-in-law was also injured. “They fired directly at us,” he said outside the field hospital. A Controversial Aid Distribution SystemThe aid hub is part of a newly established system, backed by Israel and the U.S., that is meant to stop Hamas from intercepting aid. Israel has not provided evidence that aid has been systematically diverted, and the United Nations denies such diversion has occurred. Major international aid groups and U.N. agencies have refused to participate in the new system, criticizing it for violating humanitarian norms by letting Israel control aid access and requiring displaced civilians to move to designated areas, risking further upheaval. While Israel recently relaxed its blockade slightly, aid agencies say efforts to bring supplies into Gaza remain hampered by Israeli restrictions, lack of security, and widespread looting. About 2 million residents of Gaza are now almost entirely dependent on humanitarian assistance, and experts warn the region is on the brink of famine. The ongoing war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and taking 251 hostages. Around 58 hostages remain in captivity, with about one-third believed to be alive. Since then, Israel’s military response has killed over 54,000 people in Gaza, according to the territory’s Health Ministry. Most of the casualties are women and children, although the ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The offensive has caused widespread destruction, displaced about 90% of Gaza’s population, and left them heavily reliant on outside aid.  

At least 21 people were killed and scores wounded Sunday as they were on their way to receive food in the Gaza Strip, according to a Red Cross field hospital and multiple witnesses. The witnesses said Israeli forces fired on crowds around a kilometer (1,000 yards) from an aid site run by an Israeli-backed foundation. The military did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The foundation said in a statement that it delivered aid “without incident" early Sunday and has denied previous accounts of chaos and gunfire around its sites, which are in Israeli military zones where independent access is limited. Officials at the field hospital said at least 21 people were killed and another 175 people were wounded, without saying who opened fire on them. An Associated Press reporter saw dozens of people being treated at the hospital. New aid system marred by chaos The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation ’s distribution of aid has been marred by chaos, and multiple witnesses have said Israeli troops fired on crowds near the delivery sites. Before Sunday, at least six people had been killed and more than 50 wounded according to local health officials. The foundation says the private security contractors guarding its sites have not fired on the crowds, while the Israeli military has acknowledged firing warning shots on previous occasions. The foundation said in a statement that it distributed 16 truckloads of aid early Sunday “without incident,” and dismissed what it referred to as “false reporting about deaths, mass injuries and chaos.” Shooting broke out near distribution hub The gunfire on Sunday erupted at a roundabout around a kilometer (1,000 yards) from the distribution site, in an area that is controlled by Israeli forces, witnesses said. Ibrahim Abu Saoud, an eyewitness, said Israeli forces opened fire at people moving toward the aid distribution center. “There were many martyrs, including women,” the 40-year-old resident said. “We were about 300 meters (yards) away from the military.” Abu Saoud said he saw many people with gunshot wounds, including a young man who he said had died at the scene. “We weren’t able to help him,” he said. Gaza ceasefire talks gain momentum as Israel accepts a US proposal Mohammed Abu Teaima, 33, said he saw Israeli forces open fire and kill his cousin and another woman as they were heading to the hub. He said his cousin was shot in his chest and died at the scene. Many others were wounded, including his brother-in-law, he said. “They opened heavy fire directly toward us,” he said as he was waiting outside the Red Cross field hospital for word on his wounded relative. The hub is part of a controversial new aid system Israel and the United States say the new system is aimed at preventing Hamas from siphoning off assistance. Israel has not provided any evidence of systematic diversion, and the U.N. denies it has occurred. U.N. agencies and major aid groups have refused to work with the new system, saying it violates humanitarian principles because it allows Israel to control who receives aid and forces people to relocate to distribution sites, risking yet more mass displacement in the territory. The U.N. system has struggled to bring in aid after Israel slightly eased its total blockade of the territory last month. Those groups say Israeli restrictions, the breakdown of law and order, and widespread looting make it extremely difficult to deliver aid to Gaza's roughly 2 million Palestinians. Experts have warned that the territory is at risk of famine if more aid is not brought in. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. They are still holding 58 hostages, around a third of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. UN, Aid Agencies condemn US-Israel-Backed Gaza aid effort after fatal incident Israel's military campaign has killed over 54,000 people, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. The offensive has destroyed vast areas of the territory, displaced around 90% of its population and left people almost completely reliant on international aid.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reassured allies in the Indo-Pacific on Saturday that they will not be left alone to face increasing military and economic pressure from China, while insisting that they also contribute more to their own defense. He said Washington will bolster its defenses overseas to counter what the Pentagon sees as rapidly developing threats by Beijing, particularly in its aggressive stance toward Taiwan. China has conducted numerous exercises to test what a blockade would look like of the self-governing island, which Beijing claims as its own and the U.S. has pledged to defend. China's army “is rehearsing for the real deal,” Hegseth said in a keynote speech at a security conference in Singapore. “We are not going to sugarcoat it — the threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent.” The head of China's delegation accused Hegseth of making “groundless accusations.” “Some of the claims are completely fabricated, some distort facts and some are cases of a thief crying ‘stop thief,” said Rear Adm. Hu Gangfeng, vice president of China’s National Defense University. He did not offer specific objections. “These actions are nothing more than attempts to provoke trouble, incite division and stir up confrontation to destabilize the Asia-Pacific region,” he said. Hegseth says China is training to invade Taiwan China has a stated goal of ensuring its military is capable of taking Taiwan by force if necessary by 2027, a deadline that is seen by experts as more of an aspirational goal than a hard war deadline. China also has built sophisticated, artificial islands in the South China Sea to support new military outposts and developed highly advanced hypersonic and space capabilities, which are driving the United States to create its own space-based “Golden Dome” missile defenses. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a global security conference hosted by the International Institute for Security Studies, Hegseth said China is no longer just building up its military forces to take Taiwan, it's “actively training for it, every day.” Hegseth also called out China for its ambitions in Latin America, particularly its efforts to increase its influence over the Panama Canal. BYD's Jinan Base reinforces leadership in China’s new energy vehicle sector He urged Indo-Pacific countries to increase defense spending to levels similar to the 5% of their gross domestic product European nations are now pressed to contribute. “We must all do our part,” Hegseth said. Following the speech, the European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas pushed back at Hegseth's comment that European countries should focus their defense efforts in their own region and leave the Indo-Pacific more to the U.S. She said that with North Korean troops fighting for Russia and China supporting Moscow, European and Asian security were “very much interlinked." Questions about US commitment to Indo-Pacific Hegseth also repeated a pledge made by previous administrations to bolster the U.S. military in the Indo-Pacific to provide a more robust deterrent. While both the Obama and Biden administrations had also committed to pivoting to the Pacific and established new military agreements throughout the region, a full shift has never been realized. Instead, U.S. military resources from the Indo-Pacific have been regularly pulled to support military needs in the Middle East and Europe, especially since the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. In the first few months of President Donald Trump’s second term, that’s also been the case. In the last few months, the Trump administration has taken a Patriot missile defense battalion out of the Indo-Pacific in order to send it to the Middle East, a massive logistical operation that required 73 military cargo aircraft flights, and sent Coast Guard ships back to the U.S. to help defend the U.S.-Mexico border. Hegseth was asked why the U.S. pulled those resources if the Indo-Pacific is the priority theater. He did not directly answer but said the shift of resources was necessary to defend against Houthi missile attacks launched from Yemen, and to bolster protections against illegal immigration into the U.S. At the same time, he stressed the need for American allies and partners to step up their own defense spending and preparations, saying the U.S. was not interested in going it alone. “Ultimately a strong, resolute and capable network of allies and partners is our key strategic advantage,” he said. “China envies what we have together, and it sees what we can collectively bring to bear on defense, but it's up to all of us to ensure that we live up to that potential by investing.” The Indo-Pacific nations caught in between have tried to balance relations with both the U.S. and China over the years. Beijing is the primary trading partner for many, but is also feared as a regional bully, in part due to its increasingly aggressive claims on natural resources such as critical fisheries. Hegseth cautioned that playing both sides, seeking U.S. military support and Chinese economic support, carries risk. “Economic dependence on China only deepens their malign influence and complicates our defense decision space during times of tension,” Hegseth said. Asked how he would reconcile that statement with Trump’s threat of steep tariffs on most in the region, Hegseth he was “in the business of tanks, not trade.” But Illinois Democrat Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who is part of a congressional delegation attending Shangri-La, objected to pressuring regional allies. “The United States is not asking people to choose between us and the PRC,” Duckworth said, in reference to the People's Republic of China. Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles welcomed Hegseth’s assurance that the Indo-Pacific was an American strategic priority and agreed that Australia and other nations needed to do their part. “Reality is that there is no effective balance of power in this region absent the United States, but we cannot leave it to the United States alone,” he said. Asian shares mostly decline as uncertainty grows about what's next with Trump's tariffs Still, Marles suggested the Trump administration’s aggressive trade policies were counterproductive. “The shock and disruption from the high tariffs has been costly and destabilizing.” China sends lower-level delegation China usually sends its own defense minister to the conference, but Dong Jun did not attend this year in a snub to the U.S. over Trump's erratic tariffs war. His absence was something the U.S. delegation said it intended to capitalize on. “We are here this morning. And somebody else isn’t,” Hegseth said. Asked by a member of the Chinese delegation how committed the U.S. would remain if Asian alliances like ASEAN had differences with Washington, Hegseth said the U.S. would not be constrained by "the confines of how previous administrations looked at this region." "We’re opening our arms to countries across the spectrum — traditional allies, non-traditional allies,” he said. He said U.S. support would not require local governments to align with the West on cultural or climate issues.

As May draws to a close, the rhythmic thud of drums and the roar of cheering crowds are once again echoing across rivers and lakes throughout China. Amid splashing water and synchronized chants, dragon boats surge ahead in fierce competition as Chinese people celebrate Duanwu Festival on Saturday this year. For millennia, dragon boat racing has remained at the heart of Duanwu Festival, China's first traditional festival inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This explains why it is better known globally as the Dragon Boat Festival. With origins tied to the death of Qu Yuan, a loyal statesman and patriotic poet from more than 2,000 years ago, this ancient tradition has become a modern phenomenon, boosting the popularity of both public fitness and cultural tourism. In Zhejiang Province on China's eastern coast, this evolution was on full display earlier this week during the region's inaugural farmers' dragon boat invitational, as 12 amateur village teams from across the province gathered in the Yinzhou District of Ningbo City. Yu Youfen, from the neighboring city of Zhoushan, stood on the sidelines, still catching his breath after the 500-meter race. For the past fortnight, his team members had been training after their day jobs. "Some of us work in factories, others in fish farming," the team leader said. "Passion for dragon boat racing gives us a reason to come together, to fight for our community's pride." Among the cheering crowd stood a local resident surnamed Chen. His five-year-old son was perched on his shoulders, shouting with the crowd as another boat sped past. "This is already his fifth time watching dragon boat races," Chen said. "He just told me he wants to join the race one day." Boat racing in Yinzhou dates back more than 2,200 years, as evidenced by the discovery of an ancient bronze axe adorned with an image of men in feathered hats racing boats. At the event, a new provincial training base for village-level dragon boat teams was inaugurated in Yinzhou, in a step toward expanding access and reinforcing grassroots participation in this age-old tradition. The scene in Zhejiang echoes a nationwide surge in mass sports enthusiasm -- a result of China's ongoing efforts to enhance public fitness, seen as a cornerstone of the country's long-term ambition to become a leading sporting nation and build a healthy China. While the most iconic races remain concentrated in the water-rich southern regions, dragon boat activities are gaining traction across the country. According to preliminary estimates, dragon boat races will be held in 25 provinces nationwide during the three-day Duanwu holiday from Saturday to Monday. In south China's Guangdong, long regarded as a stronghold of dragon boat tradition, local races began as early as May 1. Over 100 races are scheduled around the holiday period in the provincial capital of Guangzhou alone. Among the races will be the high-profile 2025 Guangzhou International Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament. Set to be held on Sunday, the event, with a history of 40 years, will see the participation of 116 teams and over 4,000 competitors. Seven teams from Russia, the United States, Canada, Malaysia and Kazakhstan are expected to join the action. Meanwhile, in Beijing, the festival is being marked by a sports carnival of over 30 events extending beyond traditional boat racing to include paddleboarding, kayaking and other activities aimed at engaging the public in festive fitness. "The growing popularity of dragon boat racing is expected to attract more people to water sports, helping promote aquatic recreation across China," said Zhai Junshuai, general manager of a water sports club in the northern port city of Tianjin. Zhai also emphasized the potential of this dragon boat racing craze nationwide to invigorate the local economy, which is aligned with China's broader efforts to stimulate domestic consumption. National action plans released in March and April highlighted the integration of sports, culture and tourism as a strategic pillar, calling for more high-quality sports programs and distinctive events. Data from major travel platforms has showcased clear economic ripple effects. Tongcheng Travel reported a 270 percent week-on-week spike in searches for "dragon boat" as of May 19. Data from Trip.com Group shows significant year-on-year growth in bookings for cities with dragon boat traditions. In Foshan, Guangdong, total travel orders rose 167 percent; in Miluo, Hunan Province, considered by many the birthplace of dragon boat culture, bookings jumped 85 percent. To capitalize on the enthusiasm, Guangzhou plans to host over 650 cultural and tourism events related to dragon boating during the holiday, enriching the city's offerings for visitors. More Chinese people are prioritizing health and leisure amid rising living standards, said Li Peigong, president of Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance. "A combination of sports and travel has become a go-to solution that caters to a wide range of needs." Meanwhile, observers underscore the need to further unleash the nation's sports consumption potential. "It is necessary to broaden access to fitness and sports programs nationwide. And teaching people how to play sports will be the first step to boost sports consumption," said Wang Yuxiong, head of the sports economics research center at Central University of Finance and Economics. 

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip blocked and offloaded dozens of food trucks, the U.N. World Food Program said Saturday, as desperation mounts following Israel's months long blockade and airstrikes while talks of a ceasefire inch forward. The WFP said that 77 trucks carrying aid, mostly flour, were stopped by hungry people who took the food before the trucks were able to reach their destination. A nearly three-month Israeli blockade on Gaza has pushed the population to the brink of famine. While the pressure slightly eased in recent days as Israel allowed some aid to enter, organizations say there still isn’t nearly enough food getting in. Hamas on Friday said it was reviewing a U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire. U.S. President Donald Trump said that negotiators were nearing a deal. A ceasefire would pause the fighting for 60 days, release some of the 58 hostages still held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and much needed food aid and other assistance, according to Hamas and Egyptian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. Gaza ceasefire talks gain momentum as Israel accepts a US proposal The WFP said the fear of starvation in Gaza is high despite the food aid that's entering now. “We need to flood communities with food for the next few days to calm anxieties and rebuild the trust with communities that more food is coming,” said agency said in a statement. A witness in the southern city of Khan Younis told The Associated Press the U.N. convoy was stopped at a makeshift roadblock and offloaded by desperate civilians in their thousands. Most people carried bags of flour on their backs or heads. He said at one point a forklift was used to offload pallets from the stranded trucks. The witness spoke on condition of anonymity because of fear of reprisal. The United Nations said earlier this month that Israeli authorities have forced them to use unsecured routes within areas controlled by the Israeli military in the eastern areas of Rafah and Khan Younis, where armed gangs are active and trucks were stopped. Israel’s military didn’t immediately respond to comment. Attacks, gangs, lack of protection hamper UN distribution An internal document shared with aid groups about security incidents, seen by the AP, said there were four incidents of facilities being looted in three days at the end of May, not including the convoy on Saturday. The U.N. says it’s been unable to get enough aid in because of fighting. On Friday, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said it only picked up five truckloads of cargo from the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing, and the other 60 trucks had to return due to intense hostilities in the area. An Israeli official said his country has offered the U.N. logistical and operational support but “the U.N. is not doing their job.” Instead, a new U.S- and Israeli-backed foundation started operations in Gaza this week, distributing food at several sites in a chaotic rollout. Israel says the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation will replace the massive aid operation that the U.N. and others have carried out throughout the war. It says the new mechanism is necessary, accusing Hamas of siphoning off large amounts of aid. The U.N. denies that significant diversion takes place. The GHF works with armed contractors, which is says is needed to distribute food safely. Aid groups have accused the foundation of militarizing aid. Israeli strikes kill at least 60 Meanwhile Israel is continuing its military campaign across Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry said that at least 60 people were killed by Israeli strikes in the last 24 hours. It said three people were shot by Israeli gunfire early Saturday morning in the southern city of Rafah. Three other people were killed, parents and a child, when their car was struck in Gaza City. Gaza's main hospital overwhelmed with children in pain from malnutrition The war began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and taking 250 hostages. Of those taken captive, 58 remain in Gaza, but Israel believes 35 are dead and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there are “doubts” about the fate of several others. Israeli strikes have killed more than 54,000 Gaza residents, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tally.  

A small plane crashed into the terrace of a residential building in western Germany on Saturday and two people were killed, police said. The crash happened in Korschenbroich, near the city of Mönchengladbach and not far from the Dutch border. Four killed in US military-contracted plane crash in Philippines The plane hit the terrace of the building and a fire broke out. Police said two people died and one of them was probably the plane's pilot, German news agency dpa reported. It wasn't immediately clear whether the other person had been on the plane or on the ground. Officials had no immediate information on the cause of the crash.  

The death toll from the collapse of a stone quarry in Indonesia’s West Java province has risen to at least 17, with eight people still missing, officials said Saturday. The victims were trapped in the rubble when the Gunung Kuda quarry in Cirebon district collapsed on Friday. A dozen survivors were found by rescuers. By Saturday afternoon, rescuers had retrieved 16 bodies, while one of the survivors died in the hospital, said local police chief Sumarni. She said rescuers are searching for eight people still believed to be trapped. Officials say at least 2 people are dead and 8 are missing after stone quarry collapse in Indonesia “The search operation has been hampered by bad weather, unstable soil and rugged terrain,” said Sumarni who goes by a single name like many Indonesians. She said the cause of the collapse is still under investigation, and police have been questioning six people, including the owner of the quarry. Local television reports showed emergency personnel, along with police, soldiers and volunteers, digging desperately in the quarry in a steep limestone cliff, supported by five excavators, early Saturday. West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi said in a video statement on Instagram that he visited the quarry before he was elected in February and considered it dangerous. “It did not meet the safety standard elements for its workers,” Mulyadi said, adding that at that time, “I didn’t have any capacity to stop it.” On Friday, Mulyadi said that he had ordered the quarry shut, as well as four other similar sites in West Java. Illegal or informal resource extraction operations are common in Indonesia, providing a tenuous livelihood to those who labor in conditions with a high risk of injury or death. Landslides, flooding and tunnel collapses are just some of the hazards associated with them. Much of the processing of sand, rocks or gold ore also involves the use of highly toxic mercury and cyanide by workers using little or no protection. Earthquake off Sumatra damages over 100 homes in Indonesia Last year, a landslide triggered by torrential rains struck an unauthorized gold mining operation on Indonesia’s Sumatra island, killing at least 15 people.