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UK to Resume Funding UNRWA, Reaffirming Commitment to Humanitarian Aid in Gaza

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UK to Resume Funding UNRWA, Reaffirming Commitment to Humanitarian Aid in Gaza

The UK has announced the resumption of funding to UNRWA, the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees, marking a positive step towards addressing the urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza. This decision follows the suspension of donations in January after Israel alleged that 12 UNRWA staff were involved in the October 2023 Hamas attacks.

Countries such as Japan, Sweden, Finland, and Canada have already reinstated their funding, with the UK now joining them. However, the agency’s largest donor, the United States, has yet to resume its contributions.

Speaking in the Commons, Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized that “no other agency” could provide aid on the scale needed to alleviate the “desperate” humanitarian situation in Gaza. He acknowledged the vital role of UNRWA, which currently feeds over half of Gaza’s population and is essential for future reconstruction efforts.

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Mr. Lammy noted that he had received assurances about UNRWA’s neutrality following a thorough review of alleged links between its staff and terror groups. An internal UN investigation into the specific allegations is ongoing, but a separate UN review published in April found no evidence to support claims that large numbers of UNRWA staff were members of terror groups.

Expressing his dismay at the allegations, Mr. Lammy stated that the UN had taken the claims seriously and had implemented measures to ensure the highest standards of neutrality within the agency. This includes strengthening vetting procedures as recommended by the April review.

The UK’s renewed £21m annual funding will support these management reforms, reaffirming the UK’s commitment to humanitarian aid and stability in the region. This decision highlights the importance of international cooperation in addressing the pressing needs of Palestinian refugees and contributing to the broader goal of peace and development in Gaza.

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Tiger Woods Accepts Five-Year Driving Ban After Reckless Driving Plea

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Golfing legend Tiger Woods has agreed to plead to a reckless driving charge as part of a deal with prosecutors, avoiding the original charge of driving under the influence following a rollover crash in Florida.

The 50-year-old accepted a five-year suspension of his driving licence and a $1,000 (£742) fine under the plea agreement reached with prosecutors in Martin County.

Woods was arrested following the March crash. He passed a breathalyser test but declined further testing for other substances.

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He initially pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence and refusing to submit to testing. Following the incident, Woods said he was seeking treatment and taking time to focus on his health.

Florida State Attorney Thomas Bakkedahl said he was satisfied with the resolution of the case and insisted Woods had been treated like any other defendant.

“No one was injured in the crash, although Woods was forced to crawl through the passenger door to escape the vehicle after it rolled over.

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Police body-camera footage released in April showed Woods in the aftermath of the crash. He appeared calm as he told officers: “I looked down at my phone, and all of a sudden, boom.”

Woods told police he had not consumed alcohol that day. He also acknowledged taking prescription medication earlier that morning, although the names of the medication were redacted from the footage.

Officers said they suspected his normal faculties had been impaired by an “unknown substance”. Authorities later reported finding two white pills in his pocket, which were identified as hydrocodone, an opioid commonly prescribed for pain.

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After the incident, Woods acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and said he was stepping away to seek treatment and focus on his wellbeing.

The crash was the second time Woods had been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

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Norway’s King Haakon Takes Oath as Nation Mourns Late King Harald

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Norway’s King Haakon VIII has sworn an oath before parliament in Oslo, marking the first major formal step in his reign following the death of his father, King Harald V.

During Tuesday’s ceremony, parliament also observed a minute’s silence in honour of Harald, who died on Friday.

Haakon’s wife, Queen Mette-Marit, was absent from the formal ceremony as she continues to recover from a lung transplant.

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Following the parliamentary proceedings, mourners began gathering at the Royal Palace in Oslo to pay their respects to the late king.

King Harald’s coffin is lying in state at the palace, where members of the public will be able to pay their respects until 8 September.

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Nepal Flood Death Toll Surpasses 1,000 as Rescuers Search for Trapped Workers

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The death toll from devastating floods along Nepal’s border with Tibet has surpassed 1,000, according to the country’s disaster management authorities.

More than 3,900 people remain missing, including over 600 workers believed to be trapped inside a vast network of mud-filled tunnels at hydropower projects along the Trishuli River.

Rescuers have been pumping air into the tunnels in an effort to keep those trapped alive. A team managed to enter one of the tunnels on Monday but was forced to withdraw after finding no survivors.

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Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah said 279 people had so far been rescued from the affected sites.

The international rescue effort is being led by Chinese and Nepalese military personnel, with experts from India, South Korea and Australia also taking part.

Families of the missing workers have expressed frustration over the pace of the rescue operation.

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Nepal relies heavily on hydropower and has invested extensively in projects along its mountainous river systems. Authorities said at least 11 hydropower projects, either completed or under construction, were damaged by the floods.

Rescuers began pumping air into one tunnel over the weekend, but relatives of those trapped said the measure should have been introduced sooner.

Prime Minister Shah said rescue efforts had been intensified, describing the floods as an extraordinary disaster and warning that climate change was increasing risks across the Himalayan region.

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