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South Korea and the United States began their annual large-scale joint military exercise on Monday to better cope with threats by nuclear-armed North Korea, which has warned the drills would deepen regional tensions and vowed to respond to “any provocation” against its territory, Associated Press reported.

The 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield, the second of two large-scale exercises held annually in South Korea, after another set in March, will involve 21,000 soldiers, including 18,000 South Koreans, in computer-simulated command post operations and field training. 

The drills, which the allies describe as defensive, could trigger a response from North Korea, which has long portrayed the allies’ exercises as invasion rehearsals and has often used them as a pretext for military demonstrations and weapons tests aimed at advancing its nuclear program, according to Associated Press.

Donald Trump has said the Ukrainian president can end Russia's war "if he wants to", but there would be "no going into Nato by Ukraine" as part of a peace deal, BBC reported.

Hours before he was due to host Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, Trump also said there would be "no getting back" of the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014, eight years before launching its full-scale invasion.

Trump's remarks follow his summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska that resulted in the US president dropping a demand for a ceasefire and calling instead for a permanent peace deal.

After arriving in the US late on Sunday, Zelensky reiterated his call for allies' effective security guarantees, according to BBC.

Nine countries, including Jordan, the UAE, and Germany, airdropped 161 food packages over Gaza on Sunday, delivering about 106 tonnes of aid, the Israeli military said. Israel coordinated the operation under political directives, denying accusations of deliberate starvation, according to Xinhua.

Aid groups say the drops are insufficient, urging more aid and support for Gaza’s damaged health system. Health authorities reported seven recent deaths from hunger, including two children, raising the famine toll to 258, with 110 children among them.

India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated C.P. Radhakrishnan, the current governor of Maharashtra, as its candidate for vice president. The election is scheduled for September 9, Xinhua reported.

If elected, Radhakrishnan would become India’s 15th vice president. The BJP leads the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).