UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the United Kingdom will recognise a Palestinian state by September 2025, unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza and takes significant steps toward peace. Starmer’s statement emphasized the need to end what he called the “appalling situation” in Gaza, allow the United Nations to restart aid, and commit to a sustainable two-state solution. Israel’s Prime Minister condemned the announcement, arguing that recognition would encourage terrorism and endanger both Israel and the UK[1][3].
In Ukraine, Russia continues intense bombardment despite an ultimatum from President Trump, targeting more than 70 cities and causing over 30 deaths[1][3]. A UN-backed hunger report warned that famine is developing in Gaza, calling the situation a disaster “unlike anything seen in this century” and demanding urgent international action. Israeli officials contest reports of starvation, accusing international media—citing the BBC specifically—of spreading misinformation about government policies and humanitarian conditions[1][3].
Elsewhere, at least 30 people have died and over 80,000 have been evacuated as severe floods hit Beijing. Chinese authorities, led by President Xi Jinping, have launched extensive rescue efforts. China is currently facing a summer of extreme weather events, including record heatwaves and severe flooding across multiple regions[5].
In the United States, a vigil is underway in New York following a mass shooting event in a city skyscraper, where a gunman killed four people before taking his own life[1]. Additionally, the US Environmental Protection Agency has moved to reverse a longstanding climate policy underpinning emissions regulation, reflecting ongoing debate over American environmental strategies[3].