Almost a third of people in Gaza not eating for days, UN food programme warns BBC NEWS By Maia Davies Published 25 July 2025,
International concern has risen this week with warnings that starvation has gripped Gaza
Almost one in three people in Gaza are going days without eating, the UN’s food aid programme has warned.
“Malnutrition is surging with 90,000 women and children in urgent need of treatment,” the World Food Programme (WFP) said in a statement.
Warnings of starvation in Gaza have intensified this week. Nine more people died of malnutrition on Friday, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry – bringing the total such deaths since the war began to 122.
Israel, which controls the entry of all supplies into Gaza, says there is no restriction on aid getting into the territory and blames Hamas for any malnutrition.
An Israeli security official said on Friday that airdrops of aid into Gaza could be allowed in the coming days – something aid agencies have previously cautioned is an inefficient way to get supplies into Gaza.
While local media reported the United Arab Emirates and Jordan would carry out the latest drops, a senior Jordanian official told the BBC that its military was yet to receive permission from Israel to do so.
The UN has described the move as a “distraction to inaction” by the Israeli government.
The move came amid mounting international concern about humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
On Friday, Germany, France and the UK called on Israel to “immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid” into the territory.
In a joint statement, they called for an immediate end to the “humanitarian catastrophe that we are witnessing in Gaza,” and to the war itself, adding that Israel must “uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law”.
“Withholding essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable,” read the statement.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he could not “explain the level of indifference and inaction we see by too many in the international community – the lack of compassion, the lack of truth, the lack of humanity”.
Addressing the Amnesty International global assembly, he said more than 1,000 Palestinians had been killed while trying to access food since 27 May – when the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began distributing supplies as an alternative to the UN-led system.
01:04 Contains upsetting scenes. Media caption, ‘I’m so tired’: Mother of starving Gazan baby speaks to BBC
A US security contractor who worked for the GHF in May and June 2025 told the BBC on Friday that he had “without question… witnessed war crimes” during that time.
Anthony Aguilar said he saw the IDF and US contractors using live ammunition, artillery, mortar rounds, and tank fire on civilians at food distribution sites.
The retired soldier said: “In my entire career, I have never witnessed the level of brutality and use of indiscriminate and unnecessary force against a civilian population until I was in Gaza at the hands of the IDF and US contractors.”
In its response, the GHF said the claims – which came from “a disgruntled former contractor who was terminated for misconduct a month ago” – were “categorically false”.
Trump says Hamas ‘didn’t want deal’ as US and Israel leave Gaza talks
He went to get aid and didn’t come back – stories of people killed in Gaza
French pledge to recognise Palestine is a gamble – so will Starmer follow suit?
Meanwhile, the future of talks to secure a new ceasefire and hostage-release deal remains uncertain, after the US and Israel withdrew their negotiating teams from Qatar.
US President Donald Trump said Hamas “didn’t really want to make a deal”.
“I think they want to die,” he said.
Hamas has expressed surprise about the US remarks.
A senior Hamas official also told the BBC’s Gaza correspondent that mediators had informed the group negotiations had not collapsed, and said the Israeli delegation was expected to return to Doha next week.
Israel launched a war in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
More than 59,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Israel imposed a total blockade of aid deliveries at the start of March and resumed its military offensive against Hamas two weeks later, collapsing a two-month ceasefire. It said it wanted to put pressure on the group to release its remaining Israeli hostages.
Although the blockade was partially eased after almost two months amid warnings of a looming famine from global experts, the shortages of food, medicine and fuel have worsened.
Most of Gaza’s population has been displaced multiple times and more than 90% of homes are estimated to be damaged or destroyed.
On Thursday, France announced it would official recognise a Palestinian state in September – a move which angered Israel and its main ally, the US.
A day later, more than a third of UK MPs signed a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling for the UK to follow suit.
But Sir Keir indicated such a move would not be imminent – it would have to be part of a “wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution” – a Palestinian state alongside Israel. (BBC NEWS)
Cricket World Cup: England on verge of early exit after eight-wicket thumping by Sri Lanka in Bangalore
SKY NEWS UK
By Ali Stafford
Thursday 26 October 2023 15:27, UK
England have now lost four of their opening five matches in India and need several scenarios to go in their favour to keep their slim semi-final qualification hopes alive; watch England vs India on Sunday live on Sky Sports Cricket (8.30am start)
Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler show their dejection during England’s defeat by Sri Lanka
Defending champions England are all but mathematically out of the Cricket World Cup as Sri Lanka cruised to an emphatic eight-wicket victory in Bangalore.
Jonny Bairstow (30) and Dawid Malan (28) put on a 45-run opening stand after England won the toss and elected to bat, only for a flurry of wickets to see Jos Buttler’s side dismissed for just 156 inside 33.2 overs in Bangalore.
Ben Stokes top-scored with 43 in an innings where six players failed to reach double figures, as Lahiru Kumara (3-35), the returning Angelo Mathews (2-14) and Kasun Rajitha (2-36) helped bowl out England for their lowest total of an already disappointing tournament.
England’s heavy defeat to Sri Lanka – as it happened
Scorecard | World Cup table | Results/fixtures
Stream the Cricket World Cup and more top sport with NOW
Play Video – Wood out as England set Sri Lanka a chase of just 157!
Mark Wood is stumped for five England’s final wicket to set Sri Lanka a chase of just 157
David Willey (2-30) took two early wickets to briefly raise England’s hopes, before Pathum Nissanka (77 not out) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (65no) fired an unbroken 137-run partnership for the third wicket to guide Sri Lanka to an emphatic victory in the 26th over.
England have yet to be officially eliminated from the competition, despite registering just two points from five matches and being joint-bottom of the table, although would need to win all four of their remaining matches and for several other results to go in their favour if they are to have any chance of reaching the semi-finals.
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How Sri Lanka put England on the brink
England – making three changes from their record-breaking loss to South Africa – were fortunate not to lose a wicket from the opening delivery when Sri Lanka decided against reviewing a Madushanka yorker that hit Bairstow’s pad first, with replays showing it would have gone on to clatter leg stump.
England got lucky off the first ball against Sri Lanka as the ball appeared to hit Jonny Bairstow’s pad first but wasn’t sent for a review
Bairstow and Dawid Malan negotiated a moving new ball to put on 45 for the opening wicket, including 15 from one Rajitha over as they scored quickly on a fast outfield, only for Angelo Mathews to make the breakthrough in his first ODI bowling spell since March 2020.
Also See:
Scorecard: England vs Sri Lanka
England’s thrashing as it happened
Latest Cricket World Cup table
Cricket World Cup: Latest headlines
Mathews needed just three balls to have Malan (28) caught behind after a successful review, with England suffering another setback in the 10th over when a huge mix-up saw Joe Root (three) sent back by Bairstow when chasing a risky single and being run out trying to dive back into his crease.
Joe Root walks off before the review after a mix-up with Jonny Bairstow to gift Sri Lanka’s second wicket
Stokes almost chipped one to extra cover as he struggled for rhythm early in his innings, while Bairstow (30) hacked a length ball from Rajitha to leave a simple take at mid-on and captain Jos Buttler (eight) fell to a superb Mendis catch off Kumara to leave England languishing at 77-4.
Livingstone (one) lasted just six balls until he was trapped lbw by Kumara, with his immediate review unsuccessful, while Moeen Ali (15) offered some brief respite with a 37-run stand for the sixth wicket until a loose shot presented a routine catch at backward point.
England's Chris Woakes reacts after Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka hits a four on his delivery during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup match between England and Sri Lanka in Bengaluru, India, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Image:
England’s Chris Woakes reacts after Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka hits a four on his delivery
Samarawickrama produced a brilliant diving catch at point to dismiss Woakes off Rajitha without scoring, with Stokes’ one-man charge and boundary burst ended when he picked out the sub fielder at deep mid-wicket.
Sharp work from Mendis saw Rashid (two) run out at the non-striker’s end, having seen the England batter backing up out of his crease, before the Sri Lanka keeper wrapped up the innings with a stumping off Theekshana after Wood (five) danced down the wicket.
Play Video – ‘What has happened here!?’ | Rashid run out at the non-striker’s end
Adil Rashid run out at the non-striker’s end as Sri Lanka reacted by throwing down the stumps while he was out of his crease and a direct hit had him run out
Willey got England off to a strong start when a leading edge from Perera (four) looped up to Stokes at mid-off, while Mendis almost fell with the next ball as his nick just evaded Root at slip and raced for a boundary.
Mendis (11) top-edged Willey and left a ballooning catch for Buttler behind the stumps, leaving Sri Lanka 23-2, before Nissanka and Samarawickrama confidently made chanceless half-centuries to push them towards their victory target.
England's Chris Woakes reacts after Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka hits a four on his delivery during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup match between England and Sri Lanka in Bengaluru, India, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Image:
England’s Chris Woakes reacts after Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka hits a four on his delivery
Sri Lanka breezed past the 100 mark in the 17th over and brought up their century stand four overs later, before Nissanka secured victory in style as he blasted Rashid for a huge six with the fourth ball of the 26th over.
Victory moves Sri Lanka to four points and fifth in the standings, with the top four at the end of the round-robin campaign reaching the semi-finals, while England drop one place to ninth in the 10-team table and see their net run rate – which could determine qualification – worsen to -1.63.
Pathum Nissanka smashes huge six to seal eight-wicket victory to leave England on the verge of an early exit from the Cricket World Cup.
Buttler: ‘No clear answer’ to England’s struggles
England captain Jos Buttler: “We’ve not just been short of our best, but by a very long way. As captain, you feel that a lot. I’m disappointed for myself and all of the boys that we’ve not given a good account of ourselves.
“There is no clear answer [to the struggles] at the moment. If there was one golden nugget that we were obviously not doing then we would try to pick that up. I can’t fault the guys’ efforts, we’re just playing a long way short of our best.”
Jos Buttler says he can’t put his finger on why England aren’t reaching the standards they set themselves.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain, speaking to Sky Sports: “Ravi Shastri uses the right word there, ‘outplayed’. I’d add another word in there – completely outplayed with bat, with ball and in the field.
“Jos Buttler can have no complaints. Won a toss, this time he decided, ‘we’ll have a bat’ and the batting let him down again, 156 all out. That’s three massive losses, now four if you include Afghanistan.”
The Cricket World Cup continues Friday, as Pakistan face South Africa (9am on Sky Sports Cricket, 9.30am start), before a double-header on Saturday sees Australia take on New Zealand (5.30am on Sky Sports Cricket, 6am start) and the Netherlands play Bangladesh (9am on Sky Sports Mix, 9.30am start).
England are next in action against hosts India on Sunday (8am on Sky Sports Cricket, 8.30am start), with their qualification hopes in the balance. Sri Lanka are next in action on Monday and can boost their semi-final hopes against Afghanistan (8am on Sky Sports Cricket, 8.30am start). Stream the Cricket World Cup and more top sport with NOW.
Sri Lanka has the Fastest Economic Growth in South Asia
COLOMBO (News 1st)
Sri Lanka recorded a strong economic performance in the first quarter of 2026, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growing by 5.1 percent.
According to the Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka’s GDP at constant prices rose to Rs. 3,652,503 million in the first quarter of 2026, compared to Rs. 3,476,664 million recorded during the same period in 2025.
At current prices, GDP reached Rs. 9,164,652 million, reflecting an 11 percent increase compared to the previous year, further underscoring the expanding scale of the economy.
The growth was driven by contributions from all three major sectors of the economy, with industry emerging as the strongest performer. Industrial activities expanded by 7.2 percent, supported by robust gains in construction and mining, as well as steady improvements in manufacturing.
The services sector, which remains the largest contributor to Sri Lanka’s economy, recorded a 3.4 percent expansion, with notable growth in financial services, insurance, information technology, and tourism-related activities. Increased economic activity and improved domestic demand played a key role in supporting the sector’s performance.
Agriculture, although showing more modest gains, also returned to positive territory with a 1.1 percent expansion, reversing a contraction recorded during the same period last year. Growth in certain crop segments helped offset declines in fisheries and some plantation crops.
The first quarter performance came amid ongoing recovery from external shocks, including the impact of Cyclone Ditwah and emerging global pressures toward the end of the period, particularly geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region.
Eight children killed in shooting in Louisiana The suspected gunman was shot and killed by police following a chase. SKY NEWS UK Monday 20 April 2026 05:51, UK
Eight children between the ages of three and 11 have been killed in a mass shooting in Louisiana.
Local police, who responded to a call shortly after 6am, say they were shot in a “domestic incident” at different homes.
Shreveport police spokesperson Chris Bordelon said seven of the eight children who died were related to the gunman. Two women, including the gunman’s wife, were also shot and critically wounded.
The gunman, identified as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, died after a police pursuit that ended with officers firing on him, according to Mr Bordelon.
Councilman Reverend James Green consoles people outside the scene of the shooting. Pic: AP
Mr Bordelon said the crime scene extended across three locations, adding: “This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen.”
At a news conference outside a home where one of the shootings occurred, officials requested patience and prayers from the community.
Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said: “I just don’t know what to say, my heart is just taken aback… I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.”
The city’s mayor, Tom Arceneaux, said: “This is a tragic situation – maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” adding: “It’s a terrible morning.”
In a statement, state police said their detectives have been asked to investigate and that no officers were harmed in the shooting of the suspect.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said in a statement he and his wife were heartbroken.
“We’re deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers and first responders working tirelessly on the scene,” he added.
இந்தச் சிங்கள மற்றும் தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு உங்களுக்கு மகிழ்ச்சியையும், செழிப்பையும், நல்வாய்ப்பையும் கொண்டு வரட்டும். உங்கள் கனவுகள் அனைத்தும் நனவாகும் இனிய புத்தாண்டு நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்!
Wishing you all a happy, prosperous, and fortunate Sinhala and Hindu New Year!
May this year be filled with success and may all your dreams come true.
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