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Lammy Urges Immediate Ceasefire During Israel Visit

David Lammy, the newly appointed Foreign Secretary, has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during his first visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories. “I’m here to push for a ceasefire,” he stated. “The loss of life over the last few months… is horrendous. It has to stop.”
In addition to advocating for a ceasefire, Mr. Lammy urged the release of all hostages held in Gaza and an increase in the flow of aid to the territory. On Sunday, he held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority PM Mohammad Mustafa. He also met with family members of hostages who have links to the UK.
Sharon Sharabi, whose two brothers Elie and Yossi were taken hostage on October 7, remarked after their meeting, “Mr. Lammy promised to do everything to bring the hostages home. The UK government has committed to be involved in a process with all the relevant sides.” The Israeli military reported in February that Yossi Sharabi was killed, likely by an IDF air strike, and his body remains in Gaza.
During his meeting with Mr. Mustafa, Mr. Lammy expressed the UK’s commitment to peace and stability, as stated by the British Consulate in Jerusalem. They discussed the importance of an effective Palestinian Authority in achieving peace, and Mr. Lammy reaffirmed support for Mr. Mustafa’s government and its reform programme.
On Monday morning, Mr. Lammy met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Ahead of their meeting, he emphasized the importance of conducting war according to international humanitarian law and stated his intention to press Israeli leaders on this issue.
Expressing frustration over the lack of British aid trucks entering Gaza, Mr. Lammy echoed complaints from aid agencies about deliveries being blocked or delayed by complex inspections imposed by the Israeli military. He described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “appalling” and announced an additional £5.5 million in UK aid to medical charity UK-Med for its work in the territory.
Mr. Herzog introduced Mr. Lammy to the family of Tamir Adar, who was killed on October 7, and whose body was taken into Gaza, and to Yaffa, Tamir’s grandmother, who was taken hostage and later released.
Mr. Lammy also addressed the sales of arms, stating he would “look at the assessment and the legal considerations,” and promised to report to Parliament as soon as possible. Additionally, he indicated that he would make a statement about the future of UK funding to the UNRWA, the UN’s main agency providing aid in Gaza, in the coming days. The UK was among the countries that suspended funding to the agency in January over allegations of staff involvement in the October 7 attack.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, at least 38,584 people have been killed in Gaza during Israel’s offensive. A UN-backed assessment last month highlighted a “high risk” of famine in the territory, with almost half a million people facing “catastrophic levels” of hunger. The ministry also reported at least 141 deaths in Israeli strikes since Saturday, with Israel claiming one of those strikes targeted senior Hamas leader Mohammed Deif.
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Ukraine and US Reach Minerals Agreement Amid Ongoing War

Ukraine has confirmed an agreement with the United States on a minerals deal, calling it a “positive outcome” with “good amendments,” though officials have yet to disclose further details.
Media reports suggest that Washington has dropped an initial demand for a $500 billion share in potential revenue from Ukraine’s natural resources. However, the deal does not appear to include the firm security guarantees that Kyiv had sought.
US President Donald Trump announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to travel to Washington this week to finalize the agreement. The development follows a series of tense exchanges between the two leaders.
While Trump did not explicitly confirm the deal’s finalization, he stated that in return, Ukraine would get “the right to fight on.” Acknowledging Ukraine’s resilience, he added, “Without the United States and its money and its military equipment, this war would have been over in a very short period of time.”
When asked whether US military support for Ukraine would continue, Trump indicated that assistance might persist “until we have a deal with Russia,” stressing the need for a negotiated settlement to end the conflict. He also suggested that any future peace deal would require “some form of peacekeeping” acceptable to all parties involved.
Ukraine possesses vast deposits of critical minerals such as lithium and titanium, alongside substantial reserves of coal, gas, oil, and uranium—resources valued in the billions. Trump has framed the agreement as one that will allow the US to recoup more than it has spent on supporting Ukraine. However, final details of the deal reportedly remain under negotiation.
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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.
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

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.
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.”