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Diverging Reports Breakdown
613 killed at Gaza aid distribution sites, near humanitarian covoys, says UN
The U.N. human rights office said on Friday it had recorded at least 613 killings in Gaza. The killings occurred at aid points run by the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Of the 613 people killed, 509 were killed near the GHF distribution points, the OHCHR said. The GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza at the end of May and has repeatedly denied that incidents had occurred at its sites.. Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on May 19. There is an acute shortage of food and other basic supplies after a nearly two-year-old military campaign by Israel against Hamas militants in Gaza that has reduced much of the enclave to rubble.
GENEVA, July 4 (Reuters) – The U.N. human rights office said on Friday it had recorded at least 613 killings both at aid points run by the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and near humanitarian convoys run by other relief groups including the U.N.
The GHF uses private U.S. security and logistics companies to get supplies into Gaza, largely bypassing a U.N.-led system that Israel says had let militants divert aid. The United Nations has called the plan “inherently unsafe” and a violation of humanitarian impartiality rules.
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“We have recorded 613 killings, both at GHF points and near humanitarian convoys – this is a figure as of June 27. Since then … there have been further incidents,” Ravina Shamdasani, the spokesperson for the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters in Geneva.
The GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza at the end of May and has repeatedly denied that incidents had occurred at its sites.
Of the 613 people killed, 509 were killed near the GHF distribution points, the OHCHR said.
The OHCHR said its figure is based on a range of sources such as information from hospitals, cemeteries, families, Palestinian health authorities, NGOs, and its partners on the ground. It said it is verifying further reports and cannot yet give a breakdown of where they were killed.
The GHF previously told Reuters it has delivered more than 52 million meals to hungry Palestinians in five weeks, and said other humanitarian groups had “nearly all of their aid looted.” Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on May 19.
The U.N. office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) told Reuters that there have been some instances of violent looting and attacks on truck drivers, which it described as unacceptable.
“Israel, as the occupying power, bears responsibility with regards to public order and safety in Gaza. That should include letting in far more essential supplies, through multiple crossings and routes, to meet humanitarian needs,” OCHA spokesperson Eri Kaneko said in a statement to Reuters.
COGAT, the Israeli military aid coordination agency, was not immediately available for comment.
The Israeli military acknowledged on Monday that Palestinian civilians have been harmed at aid distribution centres in Gaza, saying that Israeli forces had been issued new instructions following what it called “lessons learned”.
Israel has repeatedly said its forces operate near the centres in order to prevent the aid from falling into the hands of Palestinian Hamas militants.
There is an acute shortage of food and other basic supplies after a nearly two-year-old military campaign by Israel against Hamas militants in Gaza that has reduced much of the enclave to rubble and displaced most of its two million inhabitants.
Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin, Editing by Friederike Heine, William Maclean
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EU sticks with timeline for AI rules
The European Union’s landmark rules on artificial intelligence will be rolled out according to the legal timeline in the legislation. The provisions kicked in February, general purpose AI model obligations will begin in August. The Commission plans to propose steps to simplify its digital rules towards the end of the year, such as cutting back on reporting obligations for small companies. Some companies have voiced concerns about the compliance costs and tough requirements of the AI rules.
BRUSSELS, July 4 (Reuters) – The European Union’s landmark rules on artificial intelligence will be rolled out according to the legal timeline in the legislation, the European Commission said on Friday, dismissing calls from some companies and countries for a pause.
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“I’ve seen, indeed, a lot of reporting, a lot of letters and a lot of things being said on the AI Act. Let me be as clear as possible, there is no stop the clock. There is no grace period. There is no pause,” Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier told a press conference.
“We have legal deadlines established in a legal text. The provisions kicked in February, general purpose AI model obligations will begin in August, and next year, we have the obligations for high risk models that will kick in in August 2026,” he said.
The Commission plans to propose steps to simplify its digital rules towards the end of the year, such as cutting back on reporting obligations for small companies.
Some companies have voiced concerns about the compliance costs and tough requirements of the AI rules, which aim to set guardrails on a technology key to multiple sectors of the economy and currently led by the United States and China.
Reporting by Foo Yun Chee Editing by Mark Potter
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China helped Pakistan with ‘live inputs’ in conflict with India, Indian Army deputy chief says
India fought two adversaries during the conflict, with Pakistan being the “front face” while China provided “all possible support” Pakistan has denied involvement in the April attack. Turkey also provided key support to Pakistan during the fighting, equipping it with Bayraktar and “numerous other” drones, and “trained individuals” India had earlier said that although Pakistan is closely allied with China, there was no sign of any actual help from Beijing in the conflict. India’s relationship with China was strained after a 2020 border clash that sparked a four-year military standoff, but tensions began to ease in October.
Summary China gave Pakistan live input during conflict, says Indian Army deputy chief
Urgent air defence upgrades critical, officer says
Turkey supported Pakistan with drones and personnel, he says
NEW DELHI, July 4 (Reuters) – China gave Islamabad “live inputs” on key Indian positions during Pakistan’s deadly conflict with its neighbour in May, the deputy chief of India’s army said on Friday, calling for urgent upgrades to the country’s air defence systems.
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Pakistan has denied involvement in the April attack.
India fought two adversaries during the conflict, with Pakistan being the “front face” while China provided “all possible support”, Lieutenant General Rahul Singh said at a defence industry event in New Delhi.
“When the DGMO (director general of military operations) level talks were going on, Pakistan … said that we know that your such and such important vector is primed and it is ready for action … he was getting live inputs from China,” he said.
Singh did not elaborate on how India knew about the live inputs from China.
The Chinese foreign and defence ministries, and Pakistan army’s public relations wing did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
India’s relationship with China was strained after a 2020 border clash that sparked a four-year military standoff , but tensions began to ease after the countries reached a pact to step back in October.
India had earlier said that although Pakistan is closely allied with China, there was no sign of any actual help from Beijing during the conflict.
Regarding the possibility of China providing satellite imagery or other real-time intelligence, India’s chief of defence staff had said such imagery was commercially available and could have been procured from China or elsewhere.
Pakistani officials have previously dismissed allegations of receiving active support from China in the conflict, but have not commented specifically on whether Beijing gave any satellite and radar help during the fighting.
Beijing, which welcomed the ceasefire in May, has helped Pakistan’s struggling economy with investments and financial support since 2013.
The Chinese foreign minister also vowed support to Pakistan in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity when he met his Pakistani counterpart days after the ceasefire.
Singh said that Turkey also provided key support to Pakistan during the fighting, equipping it with Bayraktar and “numerous other” drones, and “trained individuals”.
Turkey’s defence ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Reporting by Sakshi Dayal in New Delhi, Additional reporting by Asif Shehzad in Islamabad; Editing by Kim Coghill
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In new threat to UK’s Labour, former leader Corbyn in talks to start new party
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is in talks to start a new political party. He said the government had “refused to deliver the change” voters expected. The announcement could further divide Labour’s traditional left-wing support. The party suffered its most bruising week in government when it was forced to abandon key planks of planned welfare reform, which blew a hole in its budget plans. Labour now also consistently trails the insurgent, right-wing Reform UK party, which is led by pro-Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, polling firm More In Common said last week. A new party led by Corbyn would win 10% of the vote, reducing Labour’s share from 23% to 20%.
LONDON, July 4 (Reuters) – The former leader of Britain’s Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, announced on Friday he was in talks to start a new political party because Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government had “refused to deliver the change” voters expected during its first year in office.
Corbyn, an avowed socialist who took control of the party in 2015, was its most left-wing leader in a generation, with plans for a sweeping programme of nationalisation. He resigned as Labour leader after the 2019 election when the party suffered its worst defeat since 1935.
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Labour subsequently suspended Corbyn in 2020 and then expelled him from the party following a report into how complaints about antisemitism in the party were handled under his leadership.
Corbyn’s plans to create a new political party could further divide Labour’s traditional left-wing support at a time when the prime minister is haemorrhaging support and the century-long dominance of Britain’s two big parties is in jeopardy.
“The democratic foundation of a new kind of political party will take shape soon,” Corbyn said on X. “Discussions are ongoing – and I am excited to work alongside all communities to fight for the future people deserve.”
The announcement that Labour could face a new threat from a left came after the party suffered its most bruising week in government when it was forced to abandon key planks of planned welfare reform, which blew a hole in its budget plans.
Since comfortably beating the Conservatives in a general election a year ago, Starmer has seen his personal popularity slump. Labour now also consistently trails the insurgent, right-wing Reform UK party, which is led by pro-Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage.
When voters were asked what Labour’s biggest achievement had been since winning the election, the most common answer was “nothing”, polling firm More In Common said on Friday.
A new left-wing party led by Corbyn would win 10% of the vote, reducing Labour’s share from 23% to 20%, the same polling company said last week.
Corbyn, who was elected as an independent member of parliament last year, said the “Labour government has refused to deliver the change people expected and deserved”.
On Thursday evening, lawmaker Zarah Sultana said she was quitting the Labour Party and planned to launch the new party with Corbyn.
Corbyn congratulated Sultana on Friday on her “principled decision” to quit Labour and said he was delighted she will “help build us a real alternative”.
Reporting by Andrew MacAskill Editing by Alistair Smout and Frances Kerry
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Kremlin says it pays close attention to Trump statements after he voices disappointment with Putin call
Kremlin says it closely follows all of Donald Trump’s statements. U.S. president said he was “very disappointed” with his latest conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump said after Thursday’s phone call that he did not think the Russian leader was looking to stop the conflict in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not address Trump’s implied criticism of Putin.
MOSCOW, July 4 (Reuters) – The Kremlin said on Friday that Russia closely follows all of Donald Trump’s statements after the U.S. president said he was “very disappointed” with his latest conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the war in Ukraine.
Trump, who had confidently stated last week that Putin was “looking to settle” the conflict, said after Thursday’s phone call that he did not think the Russian leader was looking to stop it.
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Asked about the comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “Of course, we are paying very close attention to all of President Trump’s statements.”
He did not address Trump’s implied criticism of Putin.
Trump, who returned to the White House in January with a promise to swiftly end the “bloodbath” in Ukraine, said after Thursday’s call: “I didn’t make any progress with him at all.”
Peskov said Putin had told Trump that Russia would prefer to achieve its goals in Ukraine by political and diplomatic means, but in the meantime would continue what it calls its “special military operation”.
He said the Kremlin leader had told Trump that Russia expects to agree a date for a third round of peace talks with Ukraine, following earlier talks in May and June.
Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Lucy Papachristou and Mark Trevelyan Editing by Andrew Osborn
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