Green aliens in Manila and a Māori warrior: photos of the day
Students demonstrate to mark the 50th anniversary of the student martyrs of the University of El Salvador – who died in defence of university autonomy and the rights of the Salvadoran people – and to protest against the state of emergency and the policies of Nayib Bukele's government Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
Palestinians mourn outside al-Shifa hospital morgue, where bodies of people killed a day earlier while waiting for food were brought. Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli forces killed at least 30 people when they opened fire on a crowd waiting for humanitarian relief in the north of the Palestinian territory Photograph: Bashar Taleb/AFP/Getty Images
Israeli rightwing activists watch the northern Gaza Strip during a rally calling for the re-establishment of Jewish settlements in the strip Photograph: Ohad Zwigenberg/AP
A young woman dressed as an angel adjusts her burqa as she rests after performing in a ceremony to commemorate women and children killed in the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, at the Imam Khomeini grand mosque Photograph: Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
A house damaged by flood water Photograph: Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations/Reuters
An undocumented gardener who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and later released from a processing facility in El Paso, Texas, after his wife paid a $5,000 bond, stands wearing an ankle monitor outside his home in California Photograph: Will Lester/AP
Clashes erupt between protesters and Buenos Aires city police outside the National Congress during a demonstration demanding higher minimum pensions Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
Religious images on the wall inside a house damaged by an earthquake in Jutiapa Photograph: Álex Cruz/EPA
A security guard gestures to members of the animal rights group Peta, who are wearing alien outfits, during a protest in the city's financial district Photograph: Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images
Municipal workers clean up the coastal sidewalk and the road after sea swells dumped more than 280 tonnes of sand on to an area of the Leblon neighbourhood Photograph: Pablo Porciúncula/AFP/Getty Images
People look at dead whales on Heisaura beach in Chiba prefecture. According to local reports, four whales were found washed ashore Photograph: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
The prime minister of the Solomon Islands, Jeremiah Manele, accepts a challenge by a Māori warrior during a welcome ceremony at parliament Photograph: Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images
A local artist, Hangno Hartono, sits near an alien figure during the Indonesia UFO festival
Photograph: Dita Alangkara/AP
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The Independent
11 minutes ago
- The Independent
Gaza latest: Trump envoy to enter Gaza after Netanyahu talks as nearly 100 aid-seekers killed in Israeli fire
Arab nations tell Hamas to 'disarm' and end rule of Gaza after Starmer ultimatum Arab nations have taken the unprecedented step of telling Hamas to lay down its arms and surrender control of Gaza. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt called for the terrorist group to 'disarm' and disband. It is the first time these countries have condemned Hamas and demanded it play no part in the future of Palestine. The landmark shift comes after Sir Keir Starmer issued Israel with an ultimatum, pledging to recognise Palestine if Benjamin Netanyahu's administration fails to take steps to end the war in Gaza by September. The three Arab countries joined 14 other nations, including Britain and France, in calling for the disbandment of the group. Arab nations tell Hamas to 'disarm' and end rule of Gaza after Starmer ultimatum Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt said the terrorist group must play no part in the future of Palestine Shweta Sharma1 August 2025 05:30 At least 91 killed in chaos after firing during aid collection in Gaza At least 91 Palestinians have been killed and over 600 wounded in the past 24 hours while attempting to access desperately needed humanitarian aid, the Gaza health ministry said on Thursday. The toll includes 54 people who were killed near the Zikim crossing in northern Gaza while waiting for food on Wednesday. Officials warned that the death toll is likely to rise further, as many of the wounded were taken to isolated, poorly equipped hospitals in the north that are struggling to function amid ongoing shortages and destruction. Israel's military acknowledged that its forces had fired warning shots as crowds gathered around aid trucks, but said it had no knowledge of injuries caused by Israeli fire. A security official, speaking anonymously, claimed the gunfire came from within the crowd during clashes between Palestinians scrambling to secure aid. Scenes of desperation have continued to unfold in Gaza as dozens of people sprint toward parachuted food parcels dropped from the sky. With land routes into Gaza effectively sealed, aid organisations have increasingly resorted to air drops, but the deliveries have triggered chaos on the ground. Stampedes and skirmishes have erupted around the drops, as starving civilians jostle, scream, and fight for the limited supplies. 'I went and my children prayed that I'd return with food. They haven't eaten or drank anything for two days,' said Eslam al-Telbany, a displaced woman from Jabaliya, who was carrying a sack of flour and a bottle of cooking oil when she was attacked and bitten in the chaos. She dropped the aid and returned home empty-handed. Shweta Sharma1 August 2025 05:15 Trump expresses frustration over Gaza aid efforts: 'People are very hungry' US president Donald Trump voiced concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling the situation 'terrible' and questioning the effectiveness of US aid efforts. His comments came as he was questioned on whether ' what's taking place in Gaza is a genocide'. "It's terrible what's occurring there. It's a terrible thing. People are very hungry," Mr Trump told reporters. "You know, the United States gave $60m for food and it's a shame, because I don't see the results of it. And we gave it to people that in theory are watching over it fairly closely. We wanted Israel to watch over it." Mr Trump's remarks come as his envoys, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Ambassador Mike Huckabee, continue their visit to the region. Shweta Sharma1 August 2025 04:45 White House says Witkoff held 'very productive' meeting with Netanyahu The White House said on Thursday that special envoy Steve Witkoff and ambassador Mike Huckabee held a "very productive" meeting with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials to discuss urgent humanitarian assistance for Gaza. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the meeting focused on accelerating food and aid delivery to the besieged Palestinian enclave. 'President Trump is a humanitarian with a big heart, and that's why he sent Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to the region in an effort to save lives and end this crisis,' Ms Leavitt said. According to the statement, Mr Witkoff and Mr Huckabee are scheduled to enter Gaza on Friday to inspect existing distribution sites, coordinate further aid delivery, and speak directly with local residents to assess the scale of the humanitarian crisis. Their visit comes amid growing international concern over widespread hunger and deteriorating living conditions in Gaza, where aid agencies have repeatedly warned of severe access restrictions. Shweta Sharma1 August 2025 04:30 Comment: Is Keir Starmer already U-turning on Palestine? The statement Keir Starmer made on Tuesday announcing the government's intention to recognise the state of Palestine sounded as if it had been drafted and re-drafted so many times that no one thought to check if it still made grammatical or logical sense. Hence the initial confusion: did this mean Britain will recognise Palestine or not? The statement said the government would do so at the United Nations General Assembly in September 'unless…' the Israeli government did four things. But one of the conditions listed was a commitment to a two-state solution, something to which Benjamin Netanyahu would never agree. So it seemed clear that, whatever the deliberate ambiguities of the rest of the statement, recognition would be going ahead in September. It was a victory for those members of the cabinet who had been pushing for it – David Lammy, Shabana Mahmood, Yvette Cooper, Wes Streeting and others – with the support of the silent majority of Labour MPs. The Independent's chief political commentator John Rentoul writes: Is Keir Starmer already U-turning on Palestine? As Canada's Mark Carney becomes the latest world leader to recognise Palestine, critics claim the British prime minister is backing away from his own declaration, says John Rentoul Jabed Ahmed1 August 2025 04:00 The history of the two-state solution Conflict occurred in British-ruled Palestine between Arabs and Jews who had migrated to the area, seeking a national home as they fled antisemitic persecution in Europe and citing biblical ties to the land throughout centuries in exile. In 1947, the United Nations agreed a plan partitioning Palestine into Arab and Jewish states with international rule over Jerusalem. Jewish leaders accepted the plan, which gave them 56% of the land. The Arab League rejected it. The state of Israel was declared on 14 May 1948. A day later, five Arab states attacked. The war ended with Israel controlling 77% of the territory. Some 700,000 Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes, ending up in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria as well as in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In a 1967 war, Israel captured the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, from Jordan and Gaza from Egypt, securing control of all territory from the Mediterranean to the Jordan valley. Although 147 of the 193 UN member states already recognise Palestine as a state, it is not itself a UN member, meaning most Palestinians are not recognised by the world body as citizens of any state. Jabed Ahmed1 August 2025 03:00 Mapped | Israeli settlements in the West Bank Jabed Ahmed1 August 2025 02:00 Watch | American nurse's emotional plea for Trump's envoy to come and see Gaza devastation with his own eyes Jabed Ahmed1 August 2025 01:00 Why not enough food is reaching people in Gaza even after Israel eased its blockade Why not enough food is reaching people in Gaza even after Israel eased its blockade International outcry over images of emaciated children and increasing reports of hunger-related deaths have pressured Israel to let more aid into the Gaza Strip Jabed Ahmed31 July 2025 23:59 What would recognition of Palestine as a state mean for refugees? Sir Vincent Fean, a former British consul general to Jerusalem and now a trustee of the charity Britain Palestine Project, explained to The Independent that recognition of Palestine as a state would mean that if Palestinian passports were issued, they would subsequently be recognised by the UK as passports of a state. However, Sir Vincent said Palestinian statehood would not affect the UK's refugee system. 'Does it impact the tally of refugees coming to the UK? No,' he said. This is because he expects the visa regime the UK currently has with Palestine – where travel is only allowed between the two after a successful visa application – would continue. He added that Palestinian statehood 'wouldn't particularly change the right of return for Palestinians to their homeland'. He said this was a 'long-standing right', although it would require negotiation with Israel. Jabed Ahmed31 July 2025 23:00
BBC News
42 minutes ago
- BBC News
El Salvador scraps term limits, paving way for Bukele to seek re-election
El Salvador's congress has approved constitutional reforms to abolish presidential term limits, allowing President Nayib Bukele to run an unlimited number of times. The reform, reviewed under an expedited procedure, will also extend term times to from five to six years, while the next election will be brought forward to 2027. Mr Bukele, who has been president of the Central American nation since 2019, is a polarising figure. His major crackdown on crime has proved popular among voters, but human rights groups say thousands have been arbitrarily arrested."Today, democracy has died in El Salvador," said Marcela Villatoro, an MP with the opposition Republican National Alliance (Arena). The reform was adopted by Bukele's 57 supporters in the Legislative Assembly, and voted against by only three opposition members. Critics say the move will entrench one-party rule in the country."Thank you for making history, fellow deputies," said the president of the Legislative Assembly, Ernesto Castro, from the ruling New Ideas party, after counting the 44, won a second term last year despite a clear prohibition in the country's constitution. El Salvador's top court, which is filled with Bukele-backed judges, ruled in 2021 that it was the leader's human right to run overhaul will also shorten the president's current term by two years, to synchronize elections in 2027, as presidential, legislative and municipal elections are currently his popularity, Mr Bukele remains a controversial figure. His crime crackdown has caused murder rates to fall. But human rights groups say that thousands have been arbitrarily arrested during his anti-gang estimated 75,000 people have been arrested under emergency measures that have been repeatedly extended."The day before vacation, without debate, without informing the public, in a single legislative vote, they changed the political system to allow the president to perpetuate himself in power indefinitely and we continue to follow the well-travelled path of autocrats," Noah Bullock, executive director of rights group Cristosal, said. In a report in December, Amnesty International criticised the "gradual replacement of gang violence with state violence".
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Erin Molan Stellar magazine cover sparks furious backlash over her views about Israel's war in Gaza: 'Never reading this publication again'
A magazine cover featuring Erin Molan has sparked a ferocious backlash over the TV presenter's strong stance supporting Israel in its conflict with Gaza. This weekend's edition of Stellar, which is published in News Corp's Sunday newspapers, is being promoted on Instagram and some readers are furious that Molan appears on the front. The former Sky News Australia host has publicly condemned Hamas since its raids on the Jewish state on October 7, 2023, and in recent months has been reporting from Israel on the Middle East war. While some fans - including model and influencer Bec Judd - were quick to congratulate Molan on taking out the cover position, others could not see past her pro-Israel views. 'No thanks Stella... No one I would support,' wrote one. 'So tone deaf,' said another. A third posted: 'Free Palestine ps never reading this publication again.' Several other users threatened to boycott Stellar. Some of the comments are too inflammatory to publish. The Times of Israel ran a profile piece on Molan in May under the headline 'Erin Molan vs. the world: From Australian news anchor to pro-Israel firebrand.' 'Molan has found herself increasingly recognized in Israel, where people on the street often flock to her, eager to thank her for her support,' it reported. The story quoted Molan, who is Catholic, describing her reaction to the October 7 outrages. 'It was never complex to me or grey or fuzzy,' she said. 'It was black and white as to who evil was in this scenario.' Molan has maintained that stance amid Israel's retaliation and the ongoing human crisis in Gaza. Former Sky News Australia colleague Sharri Markson moved quickly last year to quash a conspiracy theory that Molan had been sacked from the network for her pro-Israel views. In December, Markson wished Molan her well in her future pursuits and wrote on X that it was 'categorically untrue' the 41-year-old had been booted off Sky 'because of her Zionism'. in their reporting of the onetime Footy Show presenter's removal by Sky. Daily newspaper Israel Hayom referred to Molan's response to the October 7 massacre in which more than 1,200 Israelis - mostly citizens - were killed and 254 taken hostage. 'Molan has been a vocal supporter of Israel on her Sky News Australia program,' the newspaper stated. 'Strongly condemning both Hamas' actions against Israeli civilians and the pro-Hamas demonstrations that have erupted worldwide, repeatedly using her platform to address the ongoing war.' Israel National News covered the presenter's axing under the headline: 'Sky News Australia fires pro-Israel host Erin Molan.' 'Australian news anchor Erin Molan, who repeatedly defended Israel in the year since the October 7 massacre, has been fired by Sky News Australia,' its story began. Molan posted an impassioned nine-minute video to X in December, repeatedly mentioning the Middle East conflict and thanking everyone who had supported her. 'So that's done now,' she said of her Sky job. 'But I am not. In fact, I'm just getting started. 'So I'm sorry to those who had hoped otherwise. I'm somewhat surprisingly much harder to kill off than you'd think. 'You see the problem is - and it's always been this way with me - I just care too much. 'About you, about the world, about a peaceful existence for every single child.' Molan has called Hamas terrorists 'blood-thirsty killers' and said she would continue 'fighting for every single hostage still captive in Gaza'. Markson's post on X came shortly after Molan's video went live. 'I have to clear up this notion that her departure from Sky is because of her Zionism - this is categorically untrue,' she said. 'No media outlet globally has shown more leadership or clarity on Israel's fight against terrorism and our own battle against antisemitism than us at Sky News Australia and News Corp.' Although network insiders suggested Molan was caught off-guard by the decision to cancel her show, Sky insisted they had ended their partnership with the host on amicable terms. Molan presented her weekly news program, Erin, for the final time on November 29. The decision to cancel Molan's show comes just months after the breakfast radio program she co-hosted alongside comedians Dave Hughes and Ed Kavalee was scrapped by Southern Cross Austereo's struggling 2DayFM station in August. The cancellation of Molan's two key hosting roles is understood to have come at a significant financial cost to the journalist. Sources said she had been pulling in about $200,000 a year for her 2DayFM radio gig and a further $150,000 a year from her job with Sky. Molan joined Sky News Australia in July 2022 after parting ways with Nine after 11 years at the network.
