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Israeli Strike on Gaza School Kills 22, Reports Say

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Israeli Strike on Gaza School Kills 22, Reports Say

At least 22 Palestinians were killed and over 100 wounded on Sunday in a strike on a UN-run school in central Gaza, which was being used as a shelter for displaced people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The Israeli military claimed it targeted Hamas “terrorists” operating from Abu Oraiban School in the Nuseirat refugee camp.

Witnesses, said that there were no armed fighters at the site and that children were among the casualties. This incident marks the fifth attack on or near schools in Gaza in the past eight days.

In addition to the school strike, residents reported fresh air and artillery strikes in central Gaza on Monday. Five people were reportedly killed when a house in the Maghazi refugee camp was hit. The Israeli military stated that its aircraft had targeted dozens of “terror targets” across the territory in the past day.

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Negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release between Hamas and Israel are reportedly ongoing. This follows an air strike in the southern al-Mawasi humanitarian area on Saturday, which the health ministry said killed over 90 people. The Israeli military said the strike targeted a compound housing senior Hamas leaders, including Mohammed Deif and Rafa Salama. Salama was confirmed killed, but it is unclear if Deif also died. Hamas stated that Deif is in good health.

The recent conflict began on 7 October when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Since then, more than 38,660 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the health ministry. These figures include both civilians and combatants.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that Hamas used the school as a “hideout and operational infrastructure” for attacks against Israeli troops. They emphasized that “numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians,” including using precise munitions and additional intelligence. The IDF accused Hamas of using civilians and civilian structures as “human shields,” a charge that Hamas has denied.

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Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defence force initially reported 15 deaths, mostly women and children. The health ministry later updated the death toll to 22. Hamas condemned the strike as an “extension of the genocide” against displaced Palestinians.

The IDF acknowledged carrying out five strikes on or near schools sheltering displaced people since 6 July, targeting Hamas figures and fighters using these sites as bases. Last Tuesday, hospital officials said at least 29 people were killed in an Israeli strike on a camp for displaced people near a school in Khan Younis. Additionally, 20 people were reportedly killed in three earlier strikes on other UN-run and church-run schools.

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Australian Nurses Suspended Over Antisemitic Video Amid National Crackdown on Hate Speech

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Australian Nurses Suspended Over Antisemitic Video Amid National Crackdown on Hate Speech

Two Australian nurses have been suspended after a video surfaced showing them making violent antisemitic remarks, including threats to harm Israeli patients. The incident, which allegedly took place at a hospital in Sydney, has sparked outrage and is now under police investigation.

New South Wales (NSW) Health Minister Ryan Park confirmed that the two individuals had been stood down immediately and would never work in the state’s healthcare system again. Authorities are conducting a thorough review of hospital records to ensure no patients were harmed, though a rapid preliminary check found nothing unusual.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the video as “sickening and shameful,” emphasizing that antisemitism has no place in Australia. His comments come just days after the country passed stricter hate crime laws in response to a surge in antisemitic incidents.

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The video, shared online by Israeli content creator Max Veifer, appears to have been recorded in a hospital setting. In the footage, a man claiming to be a doctor tells Veifer he has “beautiful eyes” but adds, “I’m sorry you’re Israeli,” before making a throat-slitting gesture and stating he sends Israelis to “Jahannam” (an Islamic concept of hell). A woman later appears on screen, saying she refuses to treat Israelis and will “kill them” instead.

Despite the video being edited with emojis and censoring certain comments, authorities have not questioned its authenticity. NSW Police stated they have identified the individuals involved and are investigating whether criminal charges should be pursued.

Albanese vowed that anyone found guilty of committing hate crimes will “face the full force of our laws.” Park echoed this sentiment, apologizing to the Jewish community and reassuring them that NSW hospitals remain committed to providing “first-class” healthcare to all patients, regardless of background.

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Coca-Cola May Increase Plastic Bottle Use Due to Trump’s Aluminium Tariffs

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Coca-Cola May Increase Plastic Bottle Use Due to Trump’s Aluminium Tariffs

Coca-Cola has warned that it may have to increase the use of plastic bottles in the U.S. if President Donald Trump’s new tariffs make aluminium cans too expensive. The announcement was made by Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey during a call with investors.

Trump’s recent order imposes a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the U.S., a move expected to raise costs for canned food and beverage manufacturers. Quincey acknowledged that Coca-Cola could shift more emphasis to PET plastic bottles to manage affordability.

“If aluminium cans become more expensive, we can put more emphasis on PET bottles,” he said, while noting that packaging costs are only a small fraction of the company’s overall expenses.

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This shift comes shortly after Coca-Cola scaled back its sustainability goal of using 50% recycled materials in its packaging by 2030, adjusting the target to 35-40% by 2035. The beverage giant has been under pressure from environmental groups, which have labeled it the world’s “top global plastic polluter” for six years in a row.

Aluminium cans, despite being pricier, are far more recyclable than plastic bottles. The U.S. imports nearly half of its aluminium, according to the United States Geological Survey, making the tariffs a significant factor in production costs. Unlike in 2018, when some can-makers received exemptions from similar tariffs, Trump has now ruled out any exceptions for products or countries.

In a separate move, Trump also signed an executive order rolling back efforts to replace plastic straws with paper alternatives in government facilities—undoing a policy introduced by former President Joe Biden, who had called plastic pollution a “crisis.”

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U.S. Justice Department Orders Prosecutors to Drop Corruption Case Against NYC Mayor

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U.S. Justice Department Orders Prosecutors to Drop Corruption Case Against NYC Mayor

The U.S. Justice Department has directed federal prosecutors to drop the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, citing concerns that the indictment was hindering his ability to address illegal immigration and crime.

The directive came from Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, a former defense attorney for President Donald Trump, who stated in a memo that no further investigative steps should be taken until after the 2025 mayoral election. The memo also instructed prosecutors to work toward restoring Adams’ security clearance.

Adams, a Democrat, has recently forged a closer relationship with Trump and ordered city law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration raids—a move that critics argue undermines New York’s sanctuary city policies. However, he denies having discussed his case with Trump.

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Adams was indicted in September on five charges related to accepting over $100,000 in illegal gifts and campaign contributions from Turkish officials in exchange for political favors, including allegedly assisting with safety regulation exemptions for a Turkish consulate in New York. He has pleaded not guilty.

Despite the Justice Department’s order, prosecutors have not yet confirmed whether they will comply. Any decision to drop the case must be formally submitted to the court and approved by a judge.

The move has sparked concerns about political influence in the justice system. While Bove’s memo states that the decision does not assess the strength of the evidence against Adams, it acknowledges that his past criticism of immigration policies under the Biden administration “cannot be ignored.”

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Adams, who attended Trump’s presidential inauguration and recently met with him in Florida, has faced backlash from Democratic leaders for aligning with the Republican president. Meanwhile, Trump has previously claimed that both he and Adams were “persecuted” for opposing Biden’s immigration policies.

The Justice Department’s decision to delay potential future prosecution until after the next mayoral election raises questions about the case’s trajectory and whether it may be revisited under a new administration.

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