May 13 (Reuters) - The World Food Programme said on Wednesday it had halved emergency food assistance in Syria due to funding shortages, warning that millions remained vulnerable despite signs of stabilisation in parts of the country.

The U.N. agency's biggest donor, the United States, has slashed its foreign aid under President Donald Trump, and other countries have also made or announced cuts in development and humanitarian assistance.

Four people were thrown out of the first Eurovision Song Contest semi-final, which saw attempts to disrupt Israel's performance, organisers said Wednesday.

As 28-year-old Israeli singer Noam Bettan began his performance of "Michelle" during Tuesday's live show, a protester could be heard shouting "Stop, stop the genocide", and "Free, free Palestine".

Israel's participation in Eurovision 2026 has caused Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia to pull out of the world's biggest live televised music event.

DUBAI, May 13 (Reuters) - A unit of state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said on Wednesday that one of its tankers struck by Iranian drones last week has leaked a small amount of fuel off the coast of Oman, underscoring the ecological risks stemming from the Iran war.

Tehran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has made navigating the vital shipping corridor a precarious task. Hundreds of vessels remain trapped in the Gulf.

By Alistair Smout

LONDON, May 13 (Reuters) - Britain will legislate to strengthen its ability to deal with proxies for malign state actors, taking powers to make it possible to ban them in light of increased activity in Britain and a rise in antisemitic attacks.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the government has to "deal with malign state actors" in the wake of a series of attacks on Britain's Jewish community.

By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Maayan Lubell and Dawoud Abu Alkas

CAIRO/JERUSALEM/GAZA, May 13 (Reuters) - Israel has escalated its attacks in Gaza in the five weeks since halting its joint bombing with the U.S. in Iran, redirecting its fire back on the ruined Palestinian enclave where the military believes Hamas fighters are tightening their grip.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 120 Palestinians, including eight women and 13 children, were killed in Gaza since the Iran war was paused on April 8 - 20% more than in the five weeks prior when Israel was flying sorties over Iran.

By Nandita Bose and Jana Choukeir

WASHINGTON/DUBAI, May 13 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump headed to China on Wednesday for a high-stakes summit with President Xi Jinping, saying he does not expect to need Beijing's help to end the war with Iran and ease Tehran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking before departing Washington, Trump played down the role China could have in resolving the conflict, which has continued to block maritime traffic through a waterway that normally carries one-fifth of the world's oil supply.

By Alexander Chituc

May 13 (Reuters) - Amnesty International and Human Rights First on Wednesday urged Poland to stop cooperating with U.S. deportation flights transferring Ukrainian nationals via its territory, saying the practice may breach international law.

In a joint statement, the groups said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had carried out at least two such operations via Poland in November 2025 and March 2026, deporting more than 50 people to Ukraine.

NEW DELHI, May 13 (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "significantly" cut the size of his motorcadeto save fuel, a government source said on Wednesday, days after he urged citizens to tighten their belts amid a surge in energy prices triggered by the Iran war.

Modi appealed to people on Sunday to adopt austerity measures, including avoiding unnecessary foreign travel, using public transport, reducing gold purchases and cutting their use of cooking oil, as soaring global energy prices put pressure on the country's foreign exchange reserves.

By Aftab Ahmed and Saurabh Sharma

NEW DELHI, May 13 (Reuters) - The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran is set to cast a shadow over atwo-day meeting of the foreign ministers of the BRICS grouping that kicks off in New Delhi on Thursday, testing the bloc's ability to reach a unified position and produce a joint statement.

The grouping, which originally included Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has expanded over the years with the inclusion of Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

Lebanon's health ministry said 22 people including eight children were killed on Wednesday as Israel intensified strikes on the country, with several deadly raids hitting south of Beirut.

The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said Israeli airstrikes had pounded around 40 locations in Lebanon's south and east.

The fresh raids came on the eve of a new round of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in Washington brokered by the United States, as Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah remains strongly opposed to the move.