Palestinian death toll in Gaza surpasses 65,000

The Palestinian death toll in Gaza has risen to 65,062, with 165,697 others injured, since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted on Oct 7, 2023, said Gaza's health authorities on Wednesday.

In the past 24 hours, hospitals across the region received 98 victims and 385 injured ones, the authorities added.

Of those, seven were killed and 87 others wounded while seeking food at aid distribution sites, the data showed.

Since the U.S.- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began distributing aid supplies on May 27, a total of 2,504 people seeking aid have been killed and 18,381 injured.

Meanwhile, the health authorities also reported four more deaths from famine and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll linked to food shortages to 432, including 146 children.

Palestinian death toll in Gaza surpasses 65,000

Palestinian death toll in Gaza surpasses 65,000

Palestinian death toll in Gaza surpasses 65,000

Palestinian death toll in Gaza surpasses 65,000

China has made full preparations for the upcoming autumn grain procurement as the summer procurement approaches its end, according to the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.

For now, the country's total amount of wheat procurement has exceeded 100 million tons.

To protect grain farmers' interests, the government has promptly activated the minimum purchase price program for wheat. Sinograin has opened 164 purchasing sites across two major producing provinces of Henan and Anhui, offering to buy wheat at prices supported by the policy without any volume cap.

"The payment for my grain came through quickly today, and I feel much more at ease now that the minimum purchase price policy has been put into effect," said Hou Erwei, a local farmer.

As the autumn grain crop gradually ripens across the coutry, the autumn grain purchasing season is about to begin, expected to run from late September through the end of April next year.

The Autumn season accounts for approximately three-quarters of the country’s total annual grain purchases, making it the most significant grain procurement and storage period of the year.

This year, grain dryers and smart grain-handling equipment have been included into subsidy, helping ensure that the autumn harvest can be purchased, stored, and transported smoothly.

"At present, grain storage capacity, purchasing funds, personnel, equipment, and other resources are all in place. It is expected that grain purchases during this year's peak autumn harvest season will reach approximately 350 million tons. We will strengthen market monitoring and information dissemination, as well as make effective use of the drying and other services provided by post-harvest grain service centers to help farmers reduce losses and increase their incomes," said Luo Shouquan, director of Grain Reserves Department, National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.

China ready for autumn grain procurement as summer purchase draws to close