Middle East latest: Israeli strikes kill 31 in Gaza and 6 east of Beirut; US aid deadline expires

Israel's military announced the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al Sharif, alleging he led a Hamas cell, during a strike on Gaza City, which also resulted in the deaths of three other journalists and a total of seven casualties. Palestinian journalists' groups condemned the incident, citing prior warnings from press freedom advocates and UN experts regarding Al Sharif's safety amid unsubstantiated Israeli claims against him. Want More Context? 🔎

Bobby Whitlock, co-founder of Derek and the Dominos and known for his role in the acclaimed album "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs," has passed away at 77 from cancer in Texas, surrounded by family, as confirmed by his manager. His wife, Coco Carmel Whitlock, expressed her grief and highlighted his journey from poverty to success, stating, "Life is what you make it, so take it and make it beautiful." Want More Context? 🔎

The White House is contemplating inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Alaska for a meeting with President Trump and Russian President Putin, though no final plans have been made. Amid discussions of potential territorial swaps to end the Ukraine war, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu faces backlash for his Gaza offensive, denying starvation claims while asserting Israel's military actions are necessary against Hamas. Want More Context? 🔎

President Donald Trump announced plans to evict homeless individuals from Washington, DC, claiming to improve safety, despite crime rates being at a 30-year low, as stated by Mayor Muriel Bowser. His controversial remarks included deploying the National Guard and raised questions about the legal authority for such actions, as federal control of the city is limited. Want More Context? 🔎

Lachie Samuel, at just 28, was evacuated from his worksite in Western Australia after expressing fears about returning to his room. Originally from New Zealand, he moved to Perth at 19, intending for a fresh start, but his decade-long experience in the fly-in, fly-out mining industry led to overwhelming isolation and mental challenges. Want More Context? 🔎

After launching the NISAR mission with the US, India plans to launch the 6,500 kg Block-2 BlueBird communication satellite in a few months, enabling direct-to-smartphone broadband connectivity. The satellite, using AST & Science's technologies, will be launched aboard Isro's LVM-3-M5 rocket from Sriharikota, further enhancing Indo-US space collaboration. Want More Context? 🔎