Heavy rains that have soaked swathes of northern China killed four people and left eight missing on Monday, state media reported, as downpours forced thousands to evacuate across the capital city and surrounding areas. Authorities in Beijing have issued the country's second-highest warning for rainstorms and the highest for floods, with the downpours expected to last into Tuesday morning.

Passengers on a US domestic flight were forced to evacuate onto a runway due to a brake fire just ahead of the plane taking off in Denver, the airline stated. American Airlines Flight 3023 was departing for Miami on Saturday but "experienced a mechanical issue" while accelerating ahead of takeoff at Denver International Airport and 173 passengers and six crew "deplaned safely".

Jordanian and Emirati planes dropped food into Gaza on Sunday, as Israel began a limited "tactical pause" in some military operations to allow the UN and aid agencies to tackle a deepening hunger crisis.

The Palestinian territory is gripped by dire humanitarian conditions created by 21 months of war and made worse by Israel's total blockade of aid from March to May. The Israeli military also said it had conducted a drop, parachuting seven pallets of aid into the territory.

A ceremonial welcome was held at the airport, featuring a guard of honor and a cultural performance by Maldivian students to mark the 60 years diplomatic ties between Maldives and Sri Lanka.