Israeli forces have taken control of the vital Rafah border crossing in Gaza, sparking fears of a full-scale invasion. The move comes as ceasefire talks with Hamas remain uncertain. The UN warns of a potential aid crisis, with the closure of Rafah and another main crossing, Kerem Shalom, threatening the flow of food, medicine, and supplies to Gaza's 2.3 million people. The conflict has killed over 34,700 Palestinians and devastated the Gaza Strip. Despite the uncertainty, there is still hope for a deal to pause the war. The smaller Erez crossing remains open, providing a glimmer of hope for a resolution.

Britain's Home Office has confirmed that border control systems are operational again after a nationwide outage caused lengthy queues and chaotic scenes at airports. The issue, which was not a cyber attack, affected major airports including Heathrow, Stansted, and Gatwick. Border security was not compromised, and officials manually processed passports during the outage. Airports have confirmed that systems are now running normally, and no issues are expected for morning operations. Travellers experienced delays of around 90 minutes before the issue was resolved.

AstraZeneca has initiated a global withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield, citing commercial reasons due to a surplus of updated vaccines. The vaccine, developed with Oxford University, was produced by the Serum Institute of India. Despite admitting to rare side effects, including blood clots and low platelet count, the company denies the withdrawal is linked to a £100 million lawsuit in the UK. AstraZeneca claims the vaccine saved 6.5 million lives in its first year and supplied over three billion doses globally. The company will work with regulators to conclude the withdrawal, as updated vaccines tackle new variants.

Palestinian group Hamas has accepted a three-phased ceasefire deal, including a hostages-for-prisoners swap with Israel. The proposal entails Hamas releasing 33 Israeli hostages, regardless of their condition, in exchange for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners. The agreement, greeted with enthusiasm by crowds, outlines a gradual release process over weeks. However, Israel finds the terms unacceptable, citing perceived softening. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows to continue military pressure on Hamas, rejecting their demands to end the Gaza conflict.

TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, have filed a lawsuit against the federal government over a potential ban in the United States. The move comes in response to a law signed by President Biden requiring the platform to be sold to a non-Chinese company within nine to 12 months or face a ban, which TikTok argues violates users' First Amendment rights. Despite security concerns, ByteDance contends there's no evidence of a security risk. The lawsuit seeks to challenge the constitutionality of the law and halt its enforcement. Meanwhile, a poll shows a majority of Americans support the ban if TikTok remains Chinese-owned.            

John Swinney, following his victory in the SNP leadership race, secured the position of First Minister of Scotland after a vote at Holyrood. The 60-year-old overcame challenges from opposition leaders, with the Scottish Greens abstaining. Swinney pledged to address child poverty and emphasized collaboration across party lines. His appointment comes after Humza Yousaf's resignation amidst controversy. Swinney's wife's battle with multiple sclerosis featured prominently in his acceptance speech. The former Deputy First Minister aims to lead with respect and courtesy while navigating issues such as Scottish independence and environmental policies, charting a new course for the SNP government.

Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's Rafah border crossing, defying international warnings and jeopardizing aid to Palestinians. Despite Hamas accepting a cease-fire proposal, Israel pressed on with its military action, citing unmet demands. The move heightens tensions and raises concerns over a wider offensive in the war-torn region. The incursion follows a series of diplomatic maneuvers and military brinkmanship, leaving little hope for immediate peace. U.S. President Joe Biden cautioned against further escalation, urging restraint from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The situation remains tense as Gaza braces for potential escalation while aid agencies warn of humanitarian consequences.          

UK PM Rishi Sunak criticized China's "authoritarian and assertive" behavior abroad following Sky News' revelation that China hacked the UK Ministry of Defence's payroll system. Sunak stressed the UK's firm stance towards China, ensuring measures to protect against such risks. The hack exposed personal information of military personnel and veterans. China denied involvement, calling the accusations "fabricated and malicious." The attack targeted a contractor system, now offline with a review in progress. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps will address the issue in Parliament. MP Tobias Ellwood suggests China may have targeted financially vulnerable individuals.

Israel's overnight strikes in Rafah, part of a promised military incursion, resulted in at least 23 casualties, including six women and five children, as per hospital records cited by Reuters. Mohamed Abu Amra, who lost five relatives, lamented the devastation, asserting innocence: "We did nothing…we don't have Hamas." The US State Department responded to the Israeli army's control of Rafah crossing, emphasizing the importance of a hostage deal for an immediate ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid in Gaza. The attacks escalate tensions, highlighting the urgent need for diplomatic solutions to prevent further civilian suffering.

In continuation of the Rafah operation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirms military action despite Hamas' acceptance of a ceasefire proposal. The move follows Israeli forces seizing control of the Rafah crossing and shutting down the Kerem Shalom crossing. Amid cheers from crowds, Israel conducted airstrikes on Rafah, with Hamas responding by firing rockets. US President Joe Biden cautioned against invading Rafah, urging restraint. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the intolerable consequences of a ground invasion, urging both parties to pursue a ceasefire.