Britain 'taking forward' Gaza food airdrop plan: PM Starmer's office
"The prime minister set out how the UK will also be taking forward plans to work with partners such as Jordan to airdrop aid and evacuate children requiring medical assistance," a statement said.
In a phone conversation, Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza "which they agreed is appalling".
"They all agreed it would be vital to ensure robust plans are in place to turn an urgently needed ceasefire into lasting peace," according to a readout released by Downing Street.
"They discussed their intention to work closely together on a plan.... which would pave the way to a long-term solution and security in the region.
They agreed that once this plan was worked up, they would seek to bring in other key partners, including in the region, to advance it," it added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
17 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Britain ready to fight China over Taiwan, backs peaceful resolution
British Defence Secretary John Healey has said the UK is ready to fight China alongside allies like Australia if tensions over Taiwan escalate into conflict, Russia Today reported citing a UK-based media group. "If we have to fight, as we have done in the past, Australia and the UK are nations that will fight together," Healey said, when asked whether Britain would help Taiwan prepare for a possible confrontation with China. However, he later clarified that he was speaking in "general terms," adding that Britain still prefers disputes in the Indo-Pacific to be resolved "peacefully" and "diplomatically, " as per RT. His comments come amid rising global concerns over Chinese military activity around Taiwan and the growing Western focus on the Indo-Pacific region. Taiwan's Ministry of Defence (MND) on Monday detected four sorties of PLA aircraft and detected 10 PLAN vessels operating around its territory. In a post on X, the MND stated that four out of four sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). "4 sorties of PLA aircraft and 10 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 4 out of 4 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly," MND stated. Earlier on Sunday, the Taiwanese MND detected four sorties of PLA aircraft and 10 PLAN vessels operating around its territory. The MND stated that four out of four sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ)."4 sorties of PLA aircraft and 10 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 4 out of 4 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly," MND stated in a post on X. The frequent incursions and maritime operations reflect rising tensions between Taiwan and China, a relationship long fraught with geopolitical strain. Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), governs itself independently with its own distinct political and economic systems. However, China continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory under the "One China" principle, insisting there is only one China with its capital in Beijing. The dispute's roots trace back to the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, when the ROC government fled to Taiwan after the Communist Party, led by Mao Zedong, took control of mainland China. Since then, Beijing has maintained its goal of reunification, using military, diplomatic, and economic means to apply pressure on Taiwan and diminish its international space. Despite these efforts, Taiwan maintains its de facto independence, backed by strong public support, and continues to assert its sovereignty amid ongoing external pressures. The MND regularly monitors and publicly reports such military movements to ensure transparency and national security awareness.
Hindustan Times
34 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Push for two-state solution at UN today as war in Gaza rages on
As the war in Gaza rages on, a UN conference in New York on Monday is set to focus on the implementation of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. A pro-Palestinian activist holds a placard as they protest over hunger crisis in Gaza, along Sea Point Promenade in Cape Town, South Africa.(REUTERS) Monday's conference at the United Nations will be co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, where both nations will work to push for an urgent two-state solution to bring an end to the Gaza war as well as the decades-long conflict between Israel and Palestine. Read | France joins 147 countries as it moves to formally recognise Palestine as Gaza war rages on Meanwhile, as pressure mounts on Israel to end the war in Gaza, the Israeli government announced a humanitarian pause in central and northern Gaza and opened aid corridors. However, local reports state otherwise. As per Al Jazeera, several Israeli airstrikes were reported in Gaza City, which is one of the areas where the IDF is said to have halted operations. War in Gaza rages on | Latest developments At the United Nations conference in New York, France is set to take centre stage for the Palestinian cause. Not only will France formally announce its move to recognise the state of Palestine, it will also work towards pushing for a two-state solution with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey. Furthermore, French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot has stated that the EU, along with France, is pushing for a halt in the operations of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. "We expect the Israeli government to stop the operations of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation that has caused a bloodbath in humanitarian help distribution lines in Gaza," Barrot told CBS' Face the Nation on Sunday, adding that the Israeli government has not fulfilled its commitments. As per an Al Jazeera report, at least 63 people across Gaza have been killed after the Israeli military announced a pause in attacks. The Israeli army has stated that its pauses for military operations will last from 10 AM to 8 PM local time in parts of central and Northern Gaza. Furthermore, an aid corridor will be opened between 6 AM and 11 PM. Also Read | Italy's Meloni on France move to recognise State of Palestine: 'Something that doesn't exist…' Meanwhile, mass starvation continues to spread across Gaza. As per the World Food Programme, one in three Gazans have gone days without eating. The World Health Organisation has also warned that over 20 percent of pregnant and breastfeeding women in Gaza are malnourished due to the aid restrictions. Since the Israeli pause, the UAE and Jordan have airdropped supplies into Gaza, but the deliveries have reached very few. UK and Australia have also condemned the famine-like situation in Gaza and called on Israel to urgently approve the movement of UN-backed aid into the Palestinian territory. As per WAFA news agency, Local health authorities have stated that the Palestinian death toll from the Israeli attacks since October 2023 has increased to 59,821, of which the majority of victims are women and children. The war in Gaza broke out on October 7, 2023, after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a terror attack in southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. In response to the Hamas attack, Israel announced a complete siege of the Gaza Strip. Since 2023, Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip have killed nearly 60,000 people. Furthermore, Israel's blockade on UN-backed aid has drastically increased famine and mass starvation across the war-torn strip.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Explained: What is the new 15% US-EU tariff deal and what does it cover?
US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, July 27, announced a wide-ranging trade agreement that imposes a 15 per cent tariff on most European imports into the US. The deal, which was finalised during a brief meeting at Trump's Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, averted the looming threat of a 30 per cent tariff that was set to take effect on August 1. While the headline tariff rate is fixed at 15 per cent, many of the agreement's finer details are still unclear. The deal includes zero tariffs on select 'strategic goods' such as aircraft and aircraft parts, certain chemicals, semiconductor equipment, some agricultural products, and critical raw materials. However, pharmaceuticals, steel, and some farm goods remain outside the scope of this agreement. What is not included in the deal? While the agreement removes immediate tariff threats, several issues remain unresolved. Trump confirmed that the existing 50 per cent US tariff on imported steel will stay in place. Talks will continue on setting steel import quotas and reducing overcapacity in the global market. Pharmaceuticals were not included in this agreement. Von der Leyen clarified that those discussions are ongoing, separate from Sunday's deal. Tariffs on some EU agricultural products also remain unchanged, but with no clear indication of which items are excluded. What impact will the agreement have? The 15 per cent tariff is a significant increase from the pre-Trump average US tariff of about 1 per cent on European goods and above the 10 per cent baseline tariff applied during negotiations. For European exporters, the impact could be considerable as many companies will face the difficult choice of either passing the cost on to US consumers or absorbing losses. The earlier 10 per cent tariff was already enough to prompt the European Commission to slash its growth forecast from 1.3 per cent to 0.9 per cent. Now, with 15 per cent, German industry leaders warn of 'immense negative effects' on export-reliant sectors. Von der Leyen defended the deal, calling it 'the best we could do' and noting that it secures continued access to the US market and brings a degree of stability. How are different sectors reacting, especially carmakers? The car industry, which was gearing for a 30 per cent tariff, sees the 15 per cent rate as a relief. Von der Leyen pointed out that the new rate is significantly lower than the current 27.5 per cent tariff on cars from all countries — which includes Trump's 25 per cent tariff and the pre-existing 2.5 per cent US auto tariff. Still, European automakers remain under pressure. Volkswagen revealed it had already lost $1.5 billion in profits in the first half of the year due to higher US tariffs. Mercedes-Benz, which produces a significant share of its US-sold vehicles in Alabama, said price hikes are likely for future model years. What were the key issues dividing the two sides? Before Trump's presidency, US-EU tariffs were relatively low. According to the Brussels-based Bruegel think tank, the US averaged a 1.47 per cent tariff on European goods, while the EU imposed 1.35 per cent on American products, Associated Press reported. Trump frequently criticised the $235 billion US merchandise trade deficit with the EU, calling the European market unfair — particularly in the automotive sector. However, the EU argues that the US enjoys a substantial surplus in services like cloud computing, travel, and financial services, which helps offset the imbalance. Despite Trump's stance that the EU 'was formed to screw the United States', both sides have recognised the need to preserve their trading relationship. With $2 trillion in annual commerce, the US and EU form the world's largest bilateral trading bloc. How did the deal come together? The last-minute breakthrough came just days before the US deadline to impose new tariffs. Trump and von der Leyen held brief talks at Trump's golf resort in Scotland, joined by top EU trade officials. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the August 1 deadline was firm. 'No extensions, no more grace periods,' he said. Yet he said that Trump remained open to future dialogue. The EU had prepared its own list of retaliatory tariffs targeting hundreds of US goods, including beef, auto parts, beer, and even Boeing aircraft. Without a deal, everything from French cheese to German electronics could have become more expensive for American consumers. What are the concerns going forward? While the agreement avoided an immediate trade war, analysts caution that the deal remains vague in parts. 'There is nothing on paper, yet,' said ING's global chief of macro Carsten Brzeski. He warned that the lack of formal documentation makes enforcement and interpretation difficult. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised the outcome for preserving 'core interests' but expressed disappointment that deeper tariff relief wasn't achieved. (With agency inputs)
