Day: August 5, 2025
Massimo Insabato/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images
- A plane from London to Scotland had to turn back as it was coming in to land due to high winds.
- Due to land in Inverness, the easyJet plane flew the roughly 400 miles back to London Luton airport.
- Storm Floris caused power cuts and travel disruption in large parts of the UK.
An easyJet flight was close to landing in northern Scotland before diverting all the way back to where it came from when a major storm stopped it from touching down.
Flight 621 took off from London Luton Airport an hour and a half behind schedule on Monday, due largely to Storm Floris, a major weather event hitting the UK this week. The delays would only get worse for passengers.
After about an hour, the Airbus A319 reached its intended destination of Inverness. However, while Flightradar24 shows the plane descended as low as 2,000 feet, it was unable to land.
Instead, it flew the roughly 400 miles back to Luton, becoming a so-called flight to nowhere.
It touched down around 2:25 p.m., landing back where it started after two hours and 800 miles of travel.
An easyJet spokesperson said Flight 621 was required to return to London Luton, “due to strong winds at Inverness.”
“As the forecast was not set to improve, unfortunately, the flight was unable to operate,” they added.
Storm Floris caused huge disruption across the UK on Monday.
The Met Office warned of wind gusts between 50 and 70 mph, reaching 90mph on some exposed coasts and hills.
More than 70,000 homes were left without power, according to Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks. The network called Floris “the most damaging summer storm in recent memory.”
The UK’s train operator was also working to clear routes, with 119 incidents reported on train lines across Scotland on Monday.
Cirium, the aviation analytics firm, reported that 134 flights were canceled as of 3 p.m. on Monday. Belfast and Aberdeen were the worst-affected airports, it added.
“We are doing all we can to minimise the impact of the weather for our customers, providing options to rebooking or a refund, as well as hotel accommodation and meals for those who require them,” the easyJet spokesperson added.
“The safety and well-being of our customers and crew is our highest priority and while this was outside of our control, we are sorry for the inconvenience caused by the weather.”
Israel Limits Aid to Gaza Amid Ongoing Crisis
Only 674 aid trucks have been allowed to enter the Gaza Strip over the past eight days since the border crossings were reopened on July 27, 2025, according to the Government Information Office in Gaza. This number falls significantly short of the estimated 4,800 trucks needed to address the area’s urgent humanitarian requirements, reports 24brussels.
The office noted that the daily average of incoming trucks remains at 84, meeting merely 14 percent of the minimum necessary aid. It has condemned the widespread looting of the aid, attributing the ongoing crisis to a deliberate strategy by the occupying forces aimed at exacerbating conditions of chaos and hunger in the region.
UNICEF highlighted the tragic toll on children, revealing that an average of 28 children are killed daily in Gaza due to continuous bombings and the devastating effects of prolonged starvation that has persisted for more than 660 days. The organization stated, “Death by bombardments. Death by malnutrition and starvation. Death by lack of aid and vital services. In Gaza, an average of 28 children a day – the size of a classroom – have been killed (…) Gaza’s children need food, water, medicine and protection. More than anything, they need a ceasefire, NOW.”
Reports also indicate that social media platforms are restricting visibility of distressing images depicting the humanitarian crisis, exacerbating efforts to raise awareness. As surfaced in recent tweets, such platforms are flagging and removing content portraying the suffering of Gazan children as “sensitive,” thereby limiting exposure to their plight.
The situation in Gaza remains critical as civilian casualties mount and the gap between the required humanitarian assistance and what is actually delivered continues to widen. As international observers call for an urgent ceasefire and an increase in humanitarian aid, the repercussions of the prolonged conflict continue to challenge the resilience of Gazan society.
Rimantas Šadžius Appointed Interim Prime Minister of Lithuania
Lithuanian Finance Minister Rimantas Šadžius has been appointed as a short-term prime minister following the resignation of Gintautas Paluckas and his government, reports 24brussels.
Šadžius assumed office on Monday and will serve as Lithuania’s caretaker PM until the parliament elects a new government. He is affiliated with the center-left Social Democratic Party of Lithuania and previously held the role of finance minister under Paluckas.
Given that the Social Democrats constitute the largest faction in the Lithuanian parliament, they are anticipated to propose a new prime ministerial candidate. According to local media, the nomination is scheduled for Wednesday. President Gitanas Nausėda will formally nominate the candidate, who must thereafter secure parliamentary approval.
The resignation of Paluckas has triggered discussions regarding the future direction of the Lithuanian government, particularly in the context of ongoing economic challenges. The Social Democrats are expected to outline their strategic plans as a new candidate emerges.
As Lithuania navigates its political landscape, the appointment of Šadžius signifies a continuation of stability during this transitional period. Analysts remain attentive to the upcoming nomination process and potential implications for policy and governance.
Šadžius’s interim leadership could play a critical role in shaping the discussions around fiscal policy and public spending as the country attempts to recover from economic setbacks. The new prime minister will need to address pressing issues, including inflation and social welfare reforms.
Political observers are keen to see how the upcoming nomination will be received by other parties within parliament and what collaborative efforts might be undertaken moving forward.
In conclusion, Lithuania’s political stability hinges on the swift nomination and confirmation of a new prime minister, as the government seeks to maintain confidence among its citizens and international partners during this critical juncture.
