The International Panel of Cholera and Malnutrition (IPC) will officially declare a famine in Gaza City, home to around 500,000 people, on Friday morning. The declaration comes after the IPC warned of imminent famine in parts of Gaza last year. Famine criteria are met due to extreme food scarcity, with at least 20% of households facing severe lack of food and 30% of children suffering acute malnutrition. The IPC also reports that nearly 12,000 children under 5 have been found to have acute malnutrition, including over 2,500 with severe malnutrition. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry has reported 271 deaths from starvation, mostly children, in the last three weeks alone.
An investigation by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call found that among nearly 53,000 people killed in Gaza as of May 19, 2025, approximately 8,900 were identified as fighters from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. In contrast, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claim that their records do not accurately reflect the situation, stating they have a "fundamental lack of military understanding".
UN Secretary-General António Guterres is urging an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, warning that a military operation against Gaza City would cause "massive death and destruction". He made the call while attending the Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Japan. The UN chief also criticized Israel's new settlement project in the occupied West Bank, which he said would divide the territory and undermine a two-state solution. Guterres expressed concern over geopolitical divides among superpowers preventing the UN Security Council from intervening in global conflicts.
India at the Heart of Asia-Pacific Diplomacy: A Shift Towards Cooperation Over Confrontation Indian Foreign Minister not specified, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the significance of India-China ties, stating that a healthy relationship serves both countries' fundamental interests. India appears to be reassessing its long-term costs with China, its second-largest trading partner and a key player in BRICS cooperation. The Modi government's South Asia policy is constrained by Hindu nationalism and hostility towards Pakistan, limiting regional engagement to tactical manoeuvres. However, economic ties with China continue to deepen, and both nations share converging interests in multilateral platforms like the SCO and BRICS. India's visit to China offers a chance for a broader foreign policy prioritizing cooperation over confrontation, moving away from zero-sum narratives and embracing indivisible security. Chinese President Xi Jinping will host Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from August 31 to September 1. The gathering aims to strengthen unity and cooperation among regional players amid a turbulent international situation. The SCO has previously agreed on cooperation in counterterrorism, renewable energy, and the digital economy, with the upcoming summit expected to conclude with the signing of the Tianjin Declaration. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's recent visit to New Delhi marked an unusually positive tone from Beijing, with leaders emphasizing cooperation and regional stability. The move includes lifting restrictions on critical materials for India, addressing fertilizer concerns, and resuming direct flights, border trade, and journalist visas. Both countries also agreed to expand people-to-people exchanges. China has extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit China for the upcoming SCO Summit in Tianjin, which Modi has accepted. US Trade Adviser Nisha Haley says India is crucial for the US to maintain a strong partnership as it's the only country that can serve as a counterweight to Chinese dominance in Asia.
India has rejected US pressure, strengthening its ties with Russia instead. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia in July 2024, India and Russia agreed to collaborate on shipping through the Northern Sea Route, a move that counters US influence in the region.
India has raised objections at the United Nations and boycotted China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) summits, strongly opposing any extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Afghanistan. In response, India is advancing alternative initiatives such as the Chabahar Port and the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), intensifying diplomatic engagement with Russia's President Vladimir Putin, and highlighting sovereignty violations on global platforms.
A Palestinian woman, Fayyad, was declared dead in Gaza but found alive in an Israeli detention center months later. The group claims Israel is committing a double crime by denying detainees their rights and practicing enforced disappearance. At least 11,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have gone missing since October 2023 due to intense bombardment and military obstructions.
Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar concluded his Moscow visit by signing the Protocol for the 26th IRIGC-TEC with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The session also saw participation from a wide range of stakeholders at the India-Russia Business Forum, where coordination between the Forum and Working Groups under the IRIGC was emphasized. Jaishankar discussed bilateral relations with Lavrov, including trade, connectivity, Defence, military-technical cooperation, and new Indian Consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to global multilateralism, including collaboration in G20, BRICS, and SCO, and stressed the need for UN Security Council reforms. Regional issues such as Ukraine, the Middle East, West Asia, and Afghanistan were also discussed. Jaishankar reiterated India's firm stance on dialogue and diplomacy, while raising concerns over Indians serving in the Russian Army.
Japan's pledge to provide a security guarantee for Ukraine alongside other allies strengthens Nato's plan to open a liaison office in Tokyo, potentially alleviating concerns that it may antagonize China. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba declared Japan's commitment to discussing its role in Ukraine's post-war security order, following US President Donald Trump's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders.