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UK Emphasizes Ceasefire and Humanitarian Relief in Gaza Amid Palestinian Statehood Debate

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The United Kingdom reaffirmed its long-term support for the recognition of a Palestinian state but stressed that immediate efforts must be focused on alleviating suffering in Gaza and securing a ceasefire. British Science and Technology Minister Peter Kyle, speaking to Sky News on Friday, said the UK desires Palestinian statehood but underscored that “extreme, unwarranted suffering in Gaza” must take precedence right now.

The statement comes in response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent announcement that France intends to recognize a Palestinian state at the U.N. General Assembly in September—an initiative that has drawn sharp criticism from both Israel and the United States. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated in a statement that Palestinian statehood is an “inalienable right,” while emphasizing that a ceasefire is an essential step toward achieving a sustainable two-state solution.

Foreign Minister David Lammy, speaking from Australia, also called for an immediate ceasefire and described the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as “indefensible.” Health officials in Gaza report over 100 starvation-related deaths, mostly in recent weeks, with human rights organizations warning of widespread famine despite food supplies being held up just outside the enclave.

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Tom Hayes Has Libor Conviction Overturned by UK Supreme Court

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Tom Hayes, the first trader ever jailed for rigging interest rates, has had his conviction overturned by the UK Supreme Court after nearly a decade of legal battles. The former Citigroup and UBS trader was found guilty in 2015 of conspiring to manipulate the London Interbank Offered Rate (Libor), receiving a 14-year prison sentence, later reduced to 11 years. The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that Hayes’ trial was unfair due to misdirection by the trial judge, stating that the legal instructions given to the jury were inaccurate and deprived him of a fair opportunity to present his defence.

The court said there was “ample evidence” for a jury to conclude Hayes conspired with others, largely based on his own interviews with the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). However, Supreme Court Judge George Leggatt noted that Hayes should have been allowed to argue that his actions were honest and that his defence deserved proper consideration. Declaring the conviction “unsafe,” the court also overturned the conviction of Carlo Palombo, a former Barclays trader convicted in 2019 of manipulating the euro equivalent of Libor, known as Euribor.

The SFO announced that it would not seek a retrial, stating it would not be in the public interest. Both Hayes and Palombo had challenged the legal foundation of their convictions, arguing that their actions did not violate a clear legal rule. Their victories follow a significant 2022 U.S. court decision that overturned the Libor-rigging convictions of two former Deutsche Bank traders, and come after the complete phasing out of Libor in 2023.

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25 Western Nations Demand Immediate End to Gaza War, Condemn Civilian Deaths Near Aid Sites

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A coalition of 25 Western countries, including Britain, France, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, has called on Israel to end its war in Gaza immediately and condemned the “inhumane killing” of Palestinians—particularly the deaths of over 800 civilians near food distribution sites. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers criticized Israel’s “drip feeding of aid,” describing it as a “dangerous” model that undermines stability and strips Gazans of their dignity.

The nations also expressed grave concern over the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which has replaced the U.N.-led aid distribution network. While the United States and Israel support the GHF’s approach, critics, including the U.N., have warned that it bypasses humanitarian standards and puts civilians at risk. The countries behind the statement urged Israel to lift aid restrictions and allow the safe, unrestricted operation of humanitarian agencies and the United Nations.

Israel dismissed the statement as “disconnected from reality” and accused the international community of ignoring Hamas’s role in prolonging the conflict. As diplomatic tensions rose, Israeli tanks advanced further into Deir al-Balah, intensifying the 21-month war that has killed over 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. Meanwhile, the U.K. announced a new £60 million ($80.9 million) humanitarian aid package for Gaza, signaling growing international pressure on Israel to change course.

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Britain Launches Inquiry into 1984 Battle of Orgreave Clashes

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The UK government has announced a formal inquiry into the “Battle of Orgreave,” a violent and controversial clash between striking coal miners and police in 1984. The confrontation, which took place near the Orgreave coking plant in South Yorkshire, involved over 5,000 miners and a similar number of police officers brought in from across the country during a year-long strike against pit closures by then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s government.

Footage from the scene on June 18, 1984, captured police charges on horseback and miners being beaten with batons, sparking decades of allegations of police brutality and excessive force. Over 120 people were injured, and 95 miners were arrested and charged—only for the charges to be dropped later due to lack of evidence. Campaigners have long demanded transparency regarding the deployment of such a large police force, their tactics, and access to withheld government documents.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed that an inquiry, led by the Bishop of Sheffield, Pete Wilcox, would seek to uncover the full truth behind the events. “We must now establish what happened,” Cooper said. Kate Flannery of the Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign welcomed the move but stressed the need for full access to official records, saying, “We have waited a long time for this day and this is really positive news.”

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Ukrainian Man Detained for Bomb Threats to Czech and Slovak Schools, Suspected Russian Ties

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A Ukrainian man has been detained by a joint investigation team comprising Ukrainian, Czech, and Slovak police on suspicion of sending bomb threats to hundreds of schools across the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Authorities say the threats began in 2024 and disrupted the start of the school year for tens of thousands of students in September. The suspect was apprehended in a coordinated security operation in the early hours in Dnipro, eastern Ukraine.

According to the Czech Security Information Service (BIS), initial findings suggest that the suspect may have also targeted schools in other European countries and that his actions were “most likely financed by an actor from Russia.” Although further details have not been released, the case is being closely examined as part of wider concerns over alleged Russian hybrid warfare tactics involving cyber disruption and sabotage—accusations that Moscow has consistently denied.

Slovak police confirmed via Facebook that the three countries had established a joint investigative team, which also carried out home searches related to the case. Authorities have withheld additional information as the investigation is ongoing, but emphasized the international collaboration behind the arrest and its significance in countering cross-border threats.

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Indian Tycoon Dr Vijay Sankeshwar to Be Honoured with MBA Award

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Indian logistics magnate Dr Vijay Sankeshwar, Chairman and Managing Director of VRL Group, has been named the recipient of the 19th MBA (Multibillionaire Business Achiever) Award, a prestigious honour celebrating extraordinary business impact and social commitment. The award, conceptualized by Dr. Ajit Ravi, is presented by Unique Times in partnership with Manappuram Finance Ltd. The grand recognition ceremony will take place on July 17th at the Sree Gokulam Park Convention Centre, Kochi.

A pioneering figure in India’s transport sector, Dr Vijay Sankeshwar becomes the first-ever recipient from Karnataka, marking a milestone in the award’s pan-India expansion. His leadership has transformed VRL Group into one of India’s most prominent logistics and fleet enterprises.

The award also grants him induction into the Federal International Chamber Forum (FICF)—a global forum for high-impact business leaders, envisioned by Dr Ajit Ravi and reserved exclusively for MBA Awardees.

The MBA Award continues to highlight Indian entrepreneurship on a global platform, emphasizing values of responsibility, ethics, and nation-building.

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Ukrainian Drone Strike Hits Russian Defense Plant in Izhevsk, Killing Three

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A Ukrainian drone strike targeted a factory in the Russian city of Izhevsk on Tuesday, resulting in three fatalities and 35 injuries, according to regional governor Alexander Brechalov via his Telegram channel. Although Brechalov did not disclose the facility’s name, Ukrainian security sources informed Reuters that the attack was carried out by long-range drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

The reported target, the Kupol plant, is known for manufacturing drones and air defense systems and is part of the state-owned Almaz-Antey defense conglomerate. Videos shared by a Ukrainian official showed black smoke rising from what appeared to be a cluster of buildings, reportedly the plant’s production and storage facilities. The strike also caused a significant fire at the site.

Governor Brechalov stated that he had briefed Russian President Vladimir Putin about the incident. Izhevsk is a major defense hub and also houses the globally recognized Kalashnikov arms manufacturing enterprise. Reuters noted that it could not independently verify the claims made by the Ukrainian official.

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Hungarian PM Warns of Legal Consequences Over Banned Budapest Pride March

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned of “clear legal consequences” for those organizing or participating in the Budapest Pride march, following a police ban on the event. The march, scheduled for this weekend, has been deemed illegal under new legislation passed in March, which allows authorities to prohibit LGBTQ parades on the grounds of child protection and use facial recognition technology to identify attendees and impose fines.

Orban defended the ban during a state radio interview, urging citizens to respect the law while stating that Hungary remains a “civilised country” where police should aim to convince people, not confront them. “We are in the world not to make each others’ lives more difficult but easier,” he said, calling this principle the essence of Christianity.

The ban has drawn criticism from human rights groups and Western allies, with over 30 countries, including Britain, France, and Germany, expressing support for Hungary’s LGBTQ community. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also urged the Hungarian government to allow the march. Orban compared her intervention to Cold War-era Soviet control, accusing Brussels of trying to dictate how Hungarians should live.

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NATO Leaders Convene in The Hague for Historic Summit as Defence Spending Target Rises to 5%

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NATO leaders gathered in The Hague for a landmark summit that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described as “historic,” with all 32 member nations expected to commit to raising defence spending to 5% of national GDP. US President Donald Trump attended his first NATO summit since 2019, receiving public praise from Secretary General Mark Rutte for his “decisive action in Iran” and efforts in securing alliance consensus. The summit opened with a royal dinner hosted by King Willem-Alexander, with working sessions scheduled to be brief but significant

The 5% defence investment goal, more than double NATO’s long-standing 2% benchmark, marks a dramatic shift in alliance priorities, spurred by growing concerns over Russian aggression. While 3.5% will be allocated to core defence, the remaining 1.5% covers infrastructure and cybersecurity. Despite initial resistance, major players including Germany and the UK pledged to meet the target by 2029 and 2035 respectively. However, nations like Spain and Belgium voiced concerns, with Madrid seeking an exemption—an idea firmly rejected by Rutte, threatening alliance unity.

Meanwhile, the summit takes place under the shadow of renewed violence in Ukraine, with Russian missile strikes killing 20 and injuring over 160 civilians. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is set to meet Trump during the summit, arrives amid growing calls for NATO members to scale up support for Kyiv. As train services from Schiphol Airport faced suspected sabotage, Dutch authorities are investigating the incident, emphasizing the tense geopolitical climate surrounding the high-stakes summit.

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Labour MPs Rebel Against Government’s Welfare Reform Plans Amid Poverty Concerns

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More than 100 Labour MPs have backed a move to block the government’s controversial welfare reform bill, which aims to cut disability and sickness-related benefits to save £5bn annually by 2030. The MPs have signed a reasoned amendment that could potentially halt the bill’s progress if selected by the Commons Speaker and supported by a majority. Critics argue the proposed changes, which would tighten eligibility for the Personal Independence Payment (Pip), could push an additional 250,000 people—including 50,000 children—into relative poverty.

Despite mounting dissent, Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden defended the reforms, citing the projected doubling of people on long-term sickness and disability benefits by the end of the decade. He stressed the need for action to manage rising costs, which are forecast to reach £70bn annually by 2030. The government maintains that £1bn will be invested to support people back into work, though Labour MPs argue the impact assessments are inadequate and the consultation process insufficient.

Labour’s internal rift deepened after several MPs, including select committee chairs and recently elected members, joined the rebellion. The resignation of whip Vicky Foxcroft and the backlash over earlier votes on winter fuel cuts have galvanized support for the amendment. As the vote looms next week, pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with rebel MPs determined to send the government “back to the drawing board” and reconsider the reforms’ long-term consequences.

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