*Evening News Round-up: Thursday 5 June 2025* *Headlines* *Over 18 000 Newborn Babies Die Annually In The First 28 Days In Zimbabwe* *Zimbabwe Targets 60pc Local Drug Production By 2025 To Slash Import Bill* *Rights Commission Slams Authorities For Unlawful Detention Of 66 Irregular Migrants* *...As Prison Cells Meant For 35 Inmates Now Holding Over 80, Zimbabwe Rights Body Says* *84-Y/O Mufakose Woman Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Sexually Abusing 17-Year-Old Autistic Student* *Tanzania Announces Shutdown Of X Because Of Pornography* *12 Countries Banned From The US: Here’s the Full List* *World Bank To Resume Uganda Funding After Halt Over Anti-LGBT Law* *Trump Speaks With China’s Xi Amid Trade, Student Visa Tensions* *World Reacts To Trump’s Travel Ban, Hits Several Nations Mired In Conflict* *US Group Distributing Aid In Gaza Reopens Sites After Delays* *Russia’s War On Ukraine Intensifies As Peace Talks Appear At Dead End* *Liverpool Tell Barcelona Diaz Is Not For Sale* Join our *Ad-free* News Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VacXkvFJJhzd2UoZYF1F *Stories in Detail:* *Over 18 000 Newborn Babies Die Annually In The First 28 Days In Zimbabwe* According to the 2023–24 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS), 18,500 newborns die each year before they reach 28 days. This equals a neonatal mortality rate of 37 deaths per 1,000 live births. When stillbirths and deaths in the first week are included, the total rises to 24,500 infant losses annually. In a recent address to Parliament, Deputy Health Minister Sleiman Kwidini revealed that 299 newborns died between January and February 2025. Harare recorded the highest number with 111 deaths, followed by Bulawayo (50) and Mashonaland West (33). The ZDHS shows that while 92% of pregnant women receive some antenatal care from skilled providers, up from 87% in 2010, major gaps remain. Only 34% attend their first antenatal visit in the first trimester, and just 9% complete all eight recommended visits. Even among those who get care, many miss key services. A third of pregnant women receive no nutrition counselling, and one in four is not taught how to breastfeed. Access to care also varies widely. In Matabeleland North, 98% of women get skilled antenatal care. In Manicaland, the number drops to 78%. Among women from apostolic sects like Johane Marange, only 2% access skilled care, compared to 97% in wealthier households. Health facilities also face serious shortages. A 2024 Ministry of Health report found that 40% of centres lack neonatal resuscitation equipment, and a quarter have no incubators. In some referral hospitals, one nurse cares for up to 50 newborns—three times the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organisation. UNFPA Zimbabwe Country Representative Miranda Tabifor says the crisis goes beyond statistics. She said: These numbers are not just statistics. They are mothers who should be celebrating life, not mourning it. *Zimbabwe Targets 60pc Local Drug Production By 2025 To Slash Import Bill* Zimbabwe is ramping up efforts to boost domestic pharmaceutical production, with the government setting an ambitious target to increase the proportion of locally manufactured essential medicines from 30% to 60% by the end of 2025. This strategic shift, announced by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, is expected to significantly reduce Zimbabwe’s dependence on foreign drug imports, cutting the national pharmaceutical import bill by at least US$120 million annually. In 2020, Zimbabwe’s import expenditure on medicines stood at a staggering US$220 million per year. By shifting to local production, authorities say the country will not only save valuable foreign currency but also improve access to life-saving medications and enhance national health security. "The growth of the local pharmaceutical sector is a key pillar in our broader industrialisation and public health strategy," a senior health ministry official said. "The COVID-19 pandemic taught us the importance of self-sufficiency in healthcare, and we are determined to build a resilient pharmaceutical industry." According to official data, Zimbabwe’s pharmaceutical market was valued at approximately US$400 million in 2023, presenting vast potential for domestic growth. Encouragingly, the industry has seen a surge in local participation, with the number of pharmaceutical producers increasing by 56% — from just 9 companies in 2020 to 14 active manufacturers as of this year. Government incentives such as tax breaks, duty-free importation of raw materials, and access to industrial financing have been credited with attracting new players into the sector. Authorities are also working closely with regulatory bodies to streamline licensing and ensure quality control through the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ). In addition to supporting local production, the initiative aims to stimulate job creation, develop skilled human capital, and drive investment in pharmaceutical research and innovation. Public health experts have applauded the move, saying it will help make essential drugs more affordable and widely available. "Local production allows for faster distribution, better quality monitoring, and less vulnerability to global supply chain disruptions," said Dr. Tendai Makoni, a medical economist. However, challenges remain, including limited access to specialised equipment, gaps in pharmaceutical research capacity, and the need for sustainable partnerships with international technology providers. The government has pledged to address these hurdles through a National Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Strategy, which will include collaboration with universities, regional blocs such as SADC, and multilateral development agencies. If successful, Zimbabwe’s localisation drive could position the country as a regional pharmaceutical manufacturing hub — not only serving its own population but also supplying neighbouring markets in southern Africa. *thezimbabwemail* *Rights Commission Slams Authorities For Unlawful Detention Of 66 Irregular Migrants* THE Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has condemned the detention of 66 irregular migrants of various nationalities, stating that their continued imprisonment violates their rights as they are neither facing criminal charges nor awaiting trial. According to ZHRC, the 66 detained at Harare Remand Prison are from Burundi, Ethiopia, Malawi, South Africa, Libya, Mozambique, China, Pakistan, Taiwan, India, the United Kingdom, France and Cape Verde. In a press statement Wednesday following its recent human rights monitoring visit to Harare Remand Prison, ZHRC urged authorities to immediately end the practice of detaining migrants indefinitely. "There were 66 irregular migrants of different nationalities whose detention was in violation of their rights as they were not facing any criminal charges and were not awaiting trial. "In light of these findings, ZHRC urged relevant authorities to take immediate action to desist from imprisonment of irregular migrants whose issues should be handled without resorting to indefinite detention," the statement reads. Zimbabwe currently does not have detention facilities for irregular immigrants that are not prisons. Some illegal immigrants end up staying in prison for more than ten years awaiting deportation. According to Immigration Chief Director Respect Gono last year, as of September 23, there were 368 jailed illegal immigrants, 274 were awaiting deportation, 61 were serving prison sentences, and 33 were awaiting trial for various offences. *NewZW* *...As Prison Cells Meant For 35 Inmates Now Holding Over 80, Zimbabwe Rights Body Says* HARARE — Prison cells meant to hold 35 inmates are now crammed with more than 80 people at Harare Remand Prison, where broken phone lines have cut off detainees from families and two university students were barred from writing exams while in custody, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission said Wednesday. The commission visited the prison on April 29 to investigate the conditions of detention, particularly for inmates arrested in politically sensitive cases such as journalist Blessed Mhlanga and 94 others held following protests on March 31. “Inmates experienced inhumane living conditions mostly due to overcrowding,” said the commission, led by chairperson Fungayi Jessie Majome. “Prison cells designed for 35 inmates were holding more than 80, leading to unsanitary and degrading living conditions.” The commission added: “Numerous detainees raised allegations of police abuse during their arrests, including physical violence and theft of personal belongings.” The state-run TelOne phone lines at the prison have broken down, leaving many inmates unable to communicate with their families even in emergencies, the report said. The commission also raised concern that Mhlanga, a first-year law student, and a 22-year-old economics student from the University of Zimbabwe were denied the opportunity to sit for their exams. “Some of the inmates reported significant violations of their rights to education and healthcare,” the commission said. “Mhlanga, a first-year law student, and another University of Zimbabwe Economics student were denied the opportunity to sit for their examinations while in custody.” There were also reports of police abuse during arrest, including physical violence and theft, according to the commission. The commission identified 66 irregular migrants of various nationalities who were being held without criminal charges and were not awaiting trial. It said detaining them violated their rights. The ZHRC said it had taken steps to secure redress, including getting assurance from the officer in charge that injured inmates would receive medical help, engaging TelOne to restore phone lines, and contacting the University of Zimbabwe to help the students reschedule their exams. The commission also said it was encouraged by the release on bail of Mhlanga and the other detainees after its visit. “Protecting human rights is paramount,” the commission said. “There is need to address all outstanding issues and to uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals including those in detention.” *84-Y/O Mufakose Woman Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Sexually Abusing 17-Year-Old Autistic Student* Harare – An 84-year-old woman from Mufakose has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the sexual abuse of a 17-year-old autistic student. Erica Gurure was found guilty after a full trial presided over by Harare regional magistrate Letwin Rwodzi. The court heard that Gurure would pay the boy amounts ranging from US$10 to US$50 in exchange for his silence. The case highlights the vulnerability of autistic individuals, who often struggle to communicate and interact with others. Autistic people may find it difficult to understand the thoughts and feelings of others and can be easily overwhelmed by sensory stimuli such as bright lights or loud noises. The State, represented by Cecilia Mashingaidze, successfully proved that the abuse took place over a period of time last year. The court was told that Gurure first encountered the boy on his way home from school and invited him to her house. Upon arrival at Gurure’s residence, she led the boy to her bedroom and instructed him to lie down. The prosecution detailed how Gurure then forced herself upon the teenager, before telling him to return home and warning him not to disclose the incident to anyone. The court further heard that Gurure would repeatedly call the boy and abuse him on numerous occasions, each time paying him varying sums of money, from US$10 to US$50. The assaults did not occur during school holidays, as the boy would spend those periods visiting his uncle. On February 14th, the boy was on his way back from school when he was intercepted by Gurure, who once again took him to her house and abused him. After the assault, she gave him US$10, instructing him to go to the market. At the market, the boy purchased two pairs of boxer shorts, a T-shirt, and a pair of socks. He then boarded a kombi to Ruwa but became lost in the area. Fortunately, a Good Samaritan came to his aid and took him to Ruwa Police Station, where he was eventually reunited with his uncle. The incident led to the discovery of the abuse and the subsequent arrest of Gurure. *Tanzania Announces Shutdown Of X Because Of Pornography* Tanzania has decided to block access to social media platform X because it allows pornographic content to be shared, the information minister has said. The content was contrary to the East African state's "laws, culture, customs, and traditions," Jerry Silaa told a local TV station. Tanzanians have reported that access to X has been restricted in the last two weeks after political tensions rose and the police account was hacked, but there has not yet been a total shutdown of the platform. A Tanzanian rights group posted on X that Silaa's comments reflected a "troubling pattern of digital repression" ahead of October's presidential and parliamentary elections. Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan's government has been accused of becoming increasingly repressive as it campaigns to remain in office. In its post, the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) said that X, then known as Twitter, faced a similar shutdown in the run-up to the 2020 election, and the "recurrence" of restrictions raised "serious concerns about the openness of digital space" in Tanzania. The popular social audio app Clubhouse and messaging service Telegram are also inaccessible without the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPN), the rights group added. It said it was troubling that while the minister confirmed the government's role in blocking X, government officials and public institutions continued to use the platform. "This inconsistency confuses the public and undermines the credibility of the government's position," LHRC added. In his interview, Silaa linked the ban to X's announcement last year that it would no longer block "consensually produced and distributed" adult content. The minister was quoted as saying that X has "permitted explicit sexual material, including same-sex pornographic content" in breach of Tanzania's online "ethics guidelines. "Even on YouTube, you might notice that some content is inaccessible. That's part of our broader effort to protect consumers and ensure that all online platforms operating in our country comply with our laws," Silaa said. On 20 May, internet watchdog Netblocks reported that X was unavailable in Tanzania following reports that the official police account had been hacked, showing pornographic material and falsely claiming that the president had died. Pornographic content also appeared on the hacked YouTube account of the tax authority, AFP news agency reported. It is unclear who carried out the hacking, but it coincided with a government crackdown on Kenyan and Ugandan human rights campaigners who had gone to Tanzania to show solidarity with main opposition leader Tundu Lissu. He has been detained on a charge of treason after he said he would spearhead a campaign to boycott the elections if the laws were not changed to allow for a free and fair poll. Kenya's former Justice Minister Martha Karua was among those deported after arriving at the international airport in Tanzania's main city Dar es Salaam, ahead of a court appearance by Lissu. He denies the treason charge, saying the case is political. Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Uganda's Agather Atuhaire were allowed to enter, but were then detained for several days. After returning home, Atuhaire told the BBC that she had been blindfolded, "violently" stripped and sexually assaulted. On Monday, Mwangi said he too had been sexually abused in detention and was told by his torturers to say "asante" (thank you in the Swahili language) to their president. Dar es Salaam's police chief denied the allegations, saying they were "opinions" and "hearsay". Regional rights groups have called for an investigation, and Amnesty International said Tanzanian authorities should hold to account those responsible for the "inhuman" treatment. President Samia has said that her government will not tolerate activists from other East African states "meddling" in Tanzania's affairs and causing "chaos". She inherited the presidency following the death in 2021 of then-President John Magufuli, and was widely praised for allowing greater political freedom. But her critics say she is showing the same authoritarian tendencies as Magufuli as she prepares to contest her first election as the ruling party's presidential candidate. The government says Tanzania is a stable democracy, and the poll will be free and fair. *BBC* *12 Countries Banned From The US: Here’s the Full List* *KEY POINTS* • The proclamation applies to citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. • Citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela are subject to partial restrictions. • The ban is set to begin Monday. The Trump administration signed a proclamation Wednesday suspending travel to the U.S. for citizens from 12 countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Citing national security interests, the proclamation states that the identified countries lack sufficient vetting and screening processes needed to detect foreign nationals who may pose safety or terrorism threats to the U.S. The proclamation also partially restricted entrance for nationals of seven other countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. Other considerations include a country's information-sharing policies, presence of terrorists, visa overstay rates and whether citizens who are sent back are readily accepted, it said. The ban is set to take effect on Monday at 12:01 a.m. ET. In a video released by the White House Wednesday night, Trump said that on his first day in office, he directed the secretary of state to perform a security review of "high-risk regions" to make travel restriction recommendations. He also cited the Sunday attack on Jewish protestors in Boulder, Colorado in the video. The man charged in the attack, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, is an Egyptian national. Egypt is not named in the new travel ban. The policy mirrors a similar travel ban announced in January 2017, one week into Trump's first term, which banned travel from seven Muslim-majority countries. That policy, while largely criticized, was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. That ban was later ended by President Joe Biden in 2021. Democratic lawmakers have voiced opposition to the ban on social media. They include Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass, who posted on X, "Make no mistake: Trump's latest travel ban will NOT make America safer. We cannot continue to allow the Trump administration to write bigotry and hatred into U.S. immigration policy." The new policy applies to foreigners from the named countries who are outside of the United States and who lack visas to enter as of Monday, June 9. Certain travelers are excepted from the rule, it states, including U.S. permanent residents, athletes traveling to attend major sporting events, and immediate family members with "clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship," citing DNA as an example. *World Bank To Resume Uganda Funding After Halt Over Anti-LGBT Law* The World Bank said on Thursday it would resume funding to Uganda, nearly two years after the global lender suspended new financing to the country in response to an anti-LGBT law that imposes penalties including death and life imprisonment. The bank halted funding to the East African country in August 2023 after Uganda's parliament passed the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), saying the law contradicted its values. The bank had worked with Ugandan authorities to put in place strong measures to mitigate against potential harm from the law, a World Bank spokesperson told Reuters via email. "We have now determined the mitigation measures rolled out over the last several months in all ongoing projects in Uganda to be satisfactory," said the spokesperson, who asked not to be named. "Consequently, the Bank has prepared three new projects in sectors with significant development needs – social protection, education, and forced displacement/refugees – which have been approved by the Board." The World Bank is one of Uganda's biggest sources of external financing, especially in infrastructure construction in the transport sector. AHA mandates the death penalty for so-called "aggravated homosexuality" which includes among other categories having same-sex relations with a disabled person or where gay sex results in transmission of a terminal illness to a victim. It also decrees a 20-year sentence for "promoting" homosexuality. *Reuters* *Trump Speaks With China’s Xi Amid Trade, Student Visa Tensions* United States President Donald Trump has spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping by phone as the two countries continue to clash over trade relations, which Trump has sought to aggressively reshape through a series of tariffs. The Chinese state media outlet Xinhua reported that the phone call on Thursday took place at the request of the US. Trump had said the day before that reaching a deal with China was proving difficult. In the first readout of the call, Trump posted on his social media site, Truth Social, "I just concluded a very good phone call with President Xi, of China, discussing some of the intricacies of our recently made, and agreed to, Trade Deal. The call lasted approximately one and a half hours, and resulted in a very positive conclusion for both Countries." "There should no longer be any questions respecting the complexity of Rare Earth products. Our respective teams will be meeting shortly at a location to be determined. During the conversation, President Xi graciously invited the First Lady and me to visit China, and I reciprocated," he added. Trump also noted the conversation was focused almost entirely on trade and that neither the Russia-Ukraine war nor the Iran nuclear talks were mentioned. On Wednesday, Trump had posted: "I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!". For his part, Xi was quoted by Chinese State TV as saying after the call Thursday, the two countries should strive for a win-win outcome and that dialogue and cooperation are the only right choice for both. The two sides should respect each others’ concerns, he added. Xi also stressed that the US should handle the Taiwan issue very "carefully". China and the US reached a 90-day agreement on May 12 to bring down tariffs amid a trade war initiated by the Trump administration, but tensions have remained high since then. Washington imposed significant tariffs on Beijing, but eventually eased off amid concerns about the potential economic fallout of a sustained trade war between the world’s two largest economies. Critics have accused Trump of causing enormous disruptions in the global economy and then backing down when China or the European Union hit back forcefully. The Trump administration has also launched a crackdown on Chinese international students living in the US, threatening to revoke student visas of those associated with the Chinese Communist Party or who the government claims pose vaguely defined threats to US national security. More than 277,000 Chinese students were enrolled in US universities during the 2023-2024 academic year. China said such steps, along with others targeting China’s technology sector, violate the temporary trade truce reached with the US in May. "These practices seriously violate the consensus," the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing said in a recent statement. While disputes between Washington and Beijing over issues such as trade and technology have been a common feature of their relations for decades, these tensions have ratcheted up as Trump sets out to change what he sees as a global imbalance of commercial exchange between the US and other countries, including China. *Reuters* *World Reacts To Trump’s Travel Ban, Hits Several Nations Mired In Conflict* As part of Trump’s intensified crackdown on immigration, a cornerstone of his previous time in the White House and on the campaign trail, he announced on Wednesday that nationals from 12 countries – Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen – will be banned. Seven countries will also be subject to partial restrictions, which will mean they will no longer be able to apply for immigrant or non-immigrant temporary visas. However, some temporary work visas will still be allowed. Trump cited an attack in Boulder, Colorado, where a man threw a petrol bomb into a crowd of pro-Israel demonstrators, as proof of the need for immigration curbs. "The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted," Trump said in a video message from the Oval Office posted on X. "We don’t want them," he added. On June 1, police arrested a man who threw Molotov cocktails towards a group of people attending a rally for the release of captives taken from Israel on October 7, 2023 and held in Gaza. Suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman was charged with a federal hate crime, as well as an array of state charges, according to an affidavit by the US Department of Justice. Soliman is an Egyptian national who has also lived in Kuwait. Neither of these countries, both of which the US has strong, long-term relations with, are on Trump’s list of banned countries. This latest travel ban follows Trump’s executive order during his first term, in which he banned nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries, also known as the "Muslim ban," in 2017. US politics, Canada’s multiculturalism, South America’s geopolitical rise—we bring you the stories that matter. Seven of the countries on the new list of those banned also have Muslim-majority populations, and several are beset by ongoing conflicts. Despite the new suspensions, the ban will not apply to existing visa holders, foreign diplomats, athletes and their teams, among other exemptions. The ban is expected to come into effect on June 9 at 12:01am EDT (04:01 GMT). Here’s how the world has reacted to the ban. *Afghanistan* Afghans who worked for the US during its war against the Taliban urged Trump to exempt them from the travel ban, as it could lead to them being deported to Afghanistan, where they say they will face persecution. Thousands of Afghans who fled Taliban rule, after the chaotic US withdrawal in 2021, had been approved for resettlement through a US programme. But Trump suspended that programme in January, leaving Afghans stranded in several locations. There was no immediate comment on the travel ban from the Taliban-run government. *African Union* The AU, which has seven of the 12 nations on the travel ban list, said the ban would harm "people-to-people ties, educational exchange, commercial engagement, and broader diplomatic relations" that were built with the US over the past decades. "The African Union Commission respectfully calls upon the US administration to consider adopting a more consultative approach and to engage in constructive dialogue with the countries concerned," the bloc said in a statement. *Amnesty International USA* The rights group posted on X: "President Trump’s new travel ban is discriminatory, racist, and downright cruel. By targeting people based on their nationality, this ban only spreads disinformation and hate". *Chad* Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul told the AFP news agency that the Chadian government was "surprised" by the ban and said it "completely disregards" the country’s commitment to tackling terror. President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno responded with a tit-for-tat: "I have instructed the government to act in accordance with the principles of reciprocity and suspend the issuance of visas to U.S. citizens." Itno, who came to power in a coup in 2021, ordered the withdrawal of French and US troops from the country last year. *Congo* "We think it’s a misunderstanding," Republic of Congo government spokesman Thierry Moungalla told a news conference, referring to the travel ban. "Congo is not a terrorist country, does not harbour any terrorists, is not known to have a terrorist inclination." *Oxfam America* President of Oxfam America, Abby Maxman, said the decision was not about "national security". "It is about sowing division and vilifying communities that are seeking safety and opportunity in the United States," Maxman said. *Somalia* The Somali ambassador to the US, Dahir Hassan Abdi, said in a statement that Mogadishu "values its longstanding relationship with the United States". "[Somalia] stands ready to engage in dialogue to address the concerns raised," Abdi said. Somalia has faced years of violence and anarchy after a 1991 civil war, which gave rise to al-Shabab, a group which has ties to al-Qaeda, and has been waging war against the Somali government and civilians for more than 16 years. *Venezuela* Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello described the ban as a "great risk for anyone, not just Venezuelans". "They persecute our countrymen, our people, for no reason," he said. Venezuelan migrants in the US have been targeted by the Trump administration for deportation to El Salvador, many on unproven allegations of being gang members. *Al Jazeera* *US Group Distributing Aid In Gaza Reopens Sites After Delays* A U.S.- and Israeli-backed organisation distributing aid in Gaza said on Thursday it was reopening two distribution sites a day after shutting them following a series of deadly shootings close to its operations. The U.S.-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said only two sites in southern Gaza’s Rafah area would operate on Thursday, after all sites were closed the day before for maintenance. GHF had opened three sites earlier in the week, and one of Thursday’s sites was in a new location, it said. The GHF, which has been fiercely criticised by humanitarian organisations including the United Nations for alleged lack of neutrality, began distributing aid last week. The U.N. has warned that most of Gaza's 2.3 million population is at risk of famine after an 11-week Israeli blockade of the enclave. Meanwhile, Israel announced it had recovered the bodies of two dual nationality Israeli-American hostages from Gaza. Gadi Hagi and his wife Judy Weinstein-Hagi were killed and taken to Gaza after Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack that triggered the war. Fifty-six hostages remain in captivity, with fewer than half believed to be alive. The Israeli military has intensified operations in Gaza since breaking a fragile ceasefire with Hamas in March, taking more territory with the government pushing to wipe out the Islamist militant group. At least 20 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza on Thursday, including four journalists in a hospital in the enclave’s north, local health authorities said. The military said that it had targeted an Islamic Jihad militant who was operating a command-and-control centre. The Hamas-run government media office says that 225 journalists in Gaza have been killed since the war began. The renewed military campaign has further isolated Israel amid mounting international pressure. On Wednesday, a U.S. veto blocked a U.N. Security Council draft resolution, backed by the 14 other members, demanding an "immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire" and full, unrestricted aid access to Gaza. Under global pressure, Israel allowed limited U.N.-led aid deliveries to resume on May 19. A week later, the relatively unknown GHF launched a new aid distribution system that bypasses traditional relief agencies. The GHF halted distributions on Wednesday and said it was pressing Israeli forces to improve civilian safety beyond the perimeter of its operations after dozens of Palestinians were shot dead near the Rafah site over three consecutive days this week. The Israeli military said on Sunday and Monday its soldiers had fired warning shots, while on Tuesday they also fired warning shots before firing towards Palestinians that it said were advancing towards troops. GHF has said that aid was safely handed out from its sites without any incident. The American organisation, which uses private U.S. security and logistics companies to transport aid to its distribution points inside Gaza from where it is collected, has said that it has so far distributed at least 7 million meals. The U.N. and international humanitarian groups refuse to work with the GHF because they say aid distribution is essentially controlled by Israel's military and forces the displacement of Palestinians by limiting distribution points to a few venues in central and southern Gaza. Footage released by the GHF this week showed hundreds of Palestinians crowding its site in Rafah, collecting aid from piles of stacked boxes without any clear system of distribution. Muslims around the world will begin celebrating Eid al Adha from Thursday, a holiday typically marked by slaughtering livestock, but in Gaza food is scarce after nearly two years of war and Israeli siege. *Reuters* *Russia’s War On Ukraine Intensifies As Peace Talks Appear At Dead End* Ukraine has destroyed Russian strategic bombers in an unprecedented undercover drone operation while Russia launched its biggest-yet air raid on Ukraine’s cities and intensified attacks on its northern region of Sumy, when the two sides met for peace talks in Istanbul. The two respective drone operations were emblematic of how direct peace talks, which began on May 15, have not abated the intensity of the conflict and may have deepened it. Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly pledged a response. Russia’s drone-and-missile attack on Saturday night involved 472 Shahed kamikaze drones, four cruise missiles and three ballistic missiles. Ukraine neutralised 385 aerial targets, its air force said, including three of the cruise missiles. Ukraine’s operation Spiderweb came a day later, and hit the types of planes Russia has used to launch those cruise missiles – Tupolev-22M3, Tupolev-95 and Tupolev-160, among others. Spiderweb involved 117 drones smuggled into Russia and launched simultaneously near Russian airfields where the bombers were parked. Video released by Ukraine showed Tu-95s exploding in orange flames as the drones passed over them, demonstrating that their fuel tanks were full and they were in service. Ukraine’s State Security Service (SBU), which carried out the operation, told Ukrainian media 41 planes were hit, which, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, amounted to "34 percent of the strategic cruise missile carriers stationed at air bases". The SBU estimated the damage at $7bn. Western military analysts and open-source media had not fully corroborated Ukraine’s story by Wednesday, but fires and explosions were reported at five Russian bases. For the first time, Ukraine claimed to have hit the Olenya airbase in the Russian Arctic, almost 2,000km (1,240 miles) from Ukraine, where all Tu-95 bombers were reported destroyed. Also reportedly struck were the Belaya airbase in Irkutsk, more than 4,000km (2,500 miles) from Ukraine, where three Tu-95 strategic bombers were reported destroyed; the Dyagilevo airbase in Ryazan, only 175km (110 miles) from downtown Moscow; and the Ivanovo airfield, 250km (155 miles) northeast of the Russian capital, where at least one A-50 was destroyed – a $500m airborne radar Russia uses to identify Ukrainian air defence systems and coordinate Russian fighter jet targeting. Fire was reported at a fifth airfield, also near Moscow. Zelenskyy called it "an absolutely brilliant result, an independent result of Ukraine", and said it had been "a year, six months and nine days from the start of planning". Russia’s Ministry of Defence admitted that "in Murmansk and Irkutsk Regions, as a result of [First Person View] drones launched from an area in close proximity to airfields, several aircraft caught fire," but that similar attacks were repelled in Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur. Russia also said "some participants of the terrorist attacks were detained," although Zelenskyy said "our people who prepared the operation were withdrawn from Russian territory on time." "Russia regularly deploys Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 to launch … cruise missiles against Ukraine," wrote the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank, adding, "The downing of Russian A-50 aircraft has previously temporarily constrained Russian aviation activities over Ukraine." Russian pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Rybar and Ukrainian military observer Tatarigami said Russia no longer builds chassis for Tu-95s and Tu-22s, making them impossible to replace. Bloomberg reported that Russia’s reliance on sanctioned Western components will keep it from putting even damaged aircraft back into service. *Al Jazeera* *Liverpool Tell Barcelona Diaz Is Not For Sale* Liverpool have rejected an approach from Barcelona to speak to forward Luis Diaz. Club sources told BBC Sport that Colombia international Diaz, one of Liverpool's key players in winning the Premier League title last season, is not for sale. The 28-year-old joined Liverpool from Porto in January 2022 and has a contract with the club until 2027. He scored 13 goals and made seven assists in the league as Liverpool won the title by 10 points. Diaz attracted interest from Manchester City last summer and also has admirers in Saudi Arabia. "I'm very happy at Liverpool - I've always said so," said Diaz, who is on international duty for his country's games against Peru and Argentina. "They've welcomed me very well. "The transfer market is opening, and we're trying to arrange what's best for us. I'm waiting to see what happens. "If Liverpool gives us a good extension or I have to see out my two-year contract, I'll be happy. It all depends on them. I'm here to decide and see what's best for us and the future." Speculation about Diaz's future increased after he and his girlfriend both wrote lengthy posts on social media to Liverpool fans that could be interpreted as farewell messages. Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes and Fenway Sports Group's chief executive of football Michael Edwards have looked to refresh Arne Slot's squad early in the transfer window. Last week the Premier League champions completed the £29.5 million signing of Dutch right-back Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen. Liverpool are close to agreeing a club-record £109m fee to sign Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz from Leverkusen, and are in talks to sign Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez for between £45m and £50m. Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili will join the squad after joining Liverpool last summer but spending the season on loan at Valencia. In April, prolific forward Mohamed Salah ended speculation about his future by signing a new two-year contract to keep him at Anfield until 2027, while captain Virgil van Dijk signed a new deal later that month. Trent Alexander-Arnold has joined Real Madrid one month before the end of his Liverpool contract, while goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has been sold to Brentford for an initial £12.5m